Staten Island Ferry

Running between Staten Island and lower Manhattan, the Staten Island Ferry is the only non-vehicular transportation between the two locations. The city of New York operates the ferry and provides transportation to over 20 million people a year.

In the 1700's, individually owned ferries provided transportation for people to and from Staten Island. Around the turn of the 20th century, the city of New York took over the ferry service and added five new ferries to the service. The history of the ferries has included the sinking, bombing, and crashing of a few ferries.

The city of New York runs the ferry solely to transport people from Staten Island to Manhattan; however, the 5-mile, 25-minute ride provides patrons with excellent views of New York Harbor. From the deck of the ferry, patrons can also view Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, as well as the skyscrapers that line lower Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry makes 109 trips daily that run every thirty minutes, twenty four hours a day, Monday through Friday (more frequently during rush hour). The ferry terminal in lower Manhattan is located at 4 South Street, which is south of the Financial District of Manhattan. The St. George Terminal on Staten Island sits at 1 Bay Street, which is on the northeast shore of Staten Island.