A well known secret amongst those who visit New York City is that taking the Staten Island Ferry is a great way to get a view of the Statue of Liberty without having to spend half a day heading out to Liberty Island.
Instead, the Staten Island Ferry sails past Liberty Island, allowing visitors to get a view of the island and the famous statue from a distance.
What is the Staten Island Ferry?
The Staten Island Ferry is a public commuter ferry that makes its way between Battery Park in Lower Manhattan to Staten Island. People use the ferry to make their way back and forth to get between the two boroughs like a bus. It departs from ferry terminal buildings in Manhattan and Staten Island.
The ferry ride takes around 30 minutes in each direction. The ferry is free to ride. It operates 24 hours per day.
The ferry’s route goes past the Statue of Liberty, making it a free way to view the Statue of Liberty without having to go to Liberty Island.
Where & How to Take the Staten Island Ferry
If you are planning to go on Staten Island Ferry, we have some tips and useful things for you to know to get the most out of your ride to see Lady Liberty.
Firstly, you can take the Staten Island Ferry from the ferry terminal at Battery Park. Officially known as the Whitehall Terminal, most people will commonly call it the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
The correctly ferry terminal is clearly signed with the huge words “Staten Island Ferry” on the frontage.
As you approach the ferry terminal, it is likely that you will be met or approached by people standing outside. They may claim to tell you that you are going to the wrong terminal (without even knowing what your plans are) and try to redirect you to sign up for a cruise. Just be aware these are touts and you should not pay any attention to them. They may offer to get you tickets to the Statue of Liberty – however, this is false as there is only way to get to Liberty Island and that is with Statue Cruises.
Therefore, do not fall victim to this scam. You can just walk past the touts and head straight for the Staten Island Ferry terminal building.
After you have made your way past the touts, you will find yourself at the Staten Island Ferry building. This is a modern looking building by the water.
Make your way in and take the escalator up to the floor above.
At the top of the escalator, you will find the gates that lead to the ferry.
Here is a pro tip.
If you wish to get a view of the Statue of Liberty without having to take the ferry, you can do from the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.
At the top of the escalator, turn right and head out of the doors and on to the terrace. From the terrace, you will be able to look across the water and see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
However, this view does not compare with the view that you can get from the water.
Boarding the Free Ferry to Staten Island & Which Side to View the Statue of Liberty
To get a view of the Statue of Liberty from the water, take the orange-coloured Staten Island Ferry.
The Staten Island Ferry sails from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan south across the water to Staten Island.
The public ferry is free, so don’t be duped by anyone who claims that they can sell you tickets.
In the ferry terminal, after heading past the gates at the top of the escalator, you can join the rest of the crowd waiting for the ferry at the doors.
Once the all clear has been given for you and everyone else to board the ferry, make you way on to the ferry.
The ferry has three decks and it has outdoor decks.
The boat ride takes around 30 minutes one way.
To get a view of the Statue of Liberty, find a spot on the right hand side of the boat you are making your way from Manhattan to Staten Island.
As you sail away, on a clear day, you will be able to get a good view of the skyscrapers of Manhattan, getting smaller and smaller as you sail further out.
Before long, the Statue of Liberty will come into view on the right. It is a distance away – roughly 3,400 feet or 1 km away. Nonetheless, you can still take a photo with Lady Liberty in the background, even with a phone camera.
Our recommendation is not to wait for the “perfect” shot. Instead, take multiple shots and you can choose the best one after. If you are constantly waiting for the “perfect” picture, you may find that you have missed your opportunity.
Even further away in the distance, you will be able to see Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and Ellis Island.
Arriving at Staten Island
When you arrive at the Staten Island, you will have to disembark from the ferry. Leave the ferry, making sure to take any of your belongings with you.
You will disembark into the ferry terminal on Staten Island.
If you want to make the return journey back to Manhattan, you need to make your way out of the arrival hall.
Make a left and head down the corridor to the ferry that is departing back to Manhattan.
Often, you will find that many of the people on the ferry are also tourists and they will also be making their way to the return ferry.
What to See from Staten Island to Manhattan
You will have another journey back from Staten Island to Manhattan onboard the ferry.
There are a few options that you can do for the return journey.
When making the journey from Staten Island to Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty will be on the ferry’s left this time around. If you missed getting pictures the first time around, or simply wish to take more, for example from a different deck on the ferry, then you can head over to the deck on the left hand side of the ferry to snap more pictures.
Of course, if you are tired of all the standing about, perhaps you may want to just take a seat inside the cabin of the commuter ferry.
An alternative vantage point that you can enjoy while traveling on the ferry in the direction from Staten Island to Manhattan is on the right hand side of the ferry.
Looking to the right, you will be able to see the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The bridge connects Staten Island to Brooklyn. It is named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian Florentine explorer who was the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North American back in 1524.
As you approach Manhattan, you will be able to get a good view of Governors Island. This was once a military controlled island that defended New York harbor.
It is now a recreational island with facilities like bike rentals and glamping grounds. It also has historic buildings that you can view and visit.
Additional Useful Things to Know
Here are a few other useful tips to know when planning your Staten Island experience.
Within Whitehall Terminal at Lower Manhattan, you will find that there are different food stalls and outlets where you can get a bite to eat.
As you are exiting the terminal, just before taking the escalators down to the ground level, there is a Dunkin’ Donut outlet.
You can also find a Pizza Plus, a Wendy’s and a few other eateries. There is also a news agent, Liberty News and Gifts, which also sells little snacks.
Another useful tip to know is that there are public restrooms within the terminal building. They can be found next to the entry gates at the top of the escalator. With it being so hard to find a restroom in New York, it is useful to know that there is a public convenience here.
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