With two rivers surrounding New York, ferries are a regular part of getting around the city. NYC Ferry is a commuter service, but it’s well worth using as a visitor, too.
NYC Ferry is a commuter ferry
NYC Ferry serves seven routes across all five boroughs. You can even take it from Manhattan to Staten Island or to the beach in the Rockaways.
Ferries run roughly every 20 minutes.
This is a commuter ferry, not a sightseeing cruise, so there’s no tour guide on board. It’s still well worth a ride for the wonderful views as you travel from one place to another!
NYC Ferry fares
You have two main options for buying NYC Ferry tickets: use a ticket machine at any landing or buy them in the NYC Ferry app. You can also purchase tickets on the NYC Ferry website, but you’ll still need the app to activate them.
- Single ride: $5
- 10-trip pass: $30
OMNY, the contactless payment system used on the subway, doesn’t work here. NYC Ferry has a different operator: it’s run by Hornblower, rather than the MTA, which operates the subway and buses.
Children under 44 inches (1.12 meters) tall ride free with a paying adult.
You can share a 10-trip pass with other people. It already saves you money from the seventh ride!
NYC Ferry routes
Photo: NYC FerryNYC Ferry primarily operates on the East River. You can find the official route map here.
The most scenic option is the East River route. You’ll get wonderful skyline views and pass right beneath the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.
Other ferries
Manhattan is bordered by two rivers, the East River and the Hudson River, so there are several other ferry services here, too.
New York Waterway
NY Waterway is a commuter ferry connecting New York and New Jersey across the Hudson River.
In New York, NY Waterway departs from Midtown/Pier 39, Brookfield Place/Battery Park City, and Pier 11/Wall Street. On the New Jersey side, it serves Edgewater, Weehawken, Hoboken, and Jersey City.
NY Waterway is considerably more expensive than NYC Ferry. Depending on the route, a ticket costs $10–11.75.
Staten Island Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is a free commuter ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island. The 25-minute journey takes you right past the Statue of Liberty, which makes it popular with visitors as well as commuters.
