Governors Island
A car-free island just minutes from Manhattan by ferry, ideal for biking, picnicking, and views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.
Governors Island sits in the middle of New York Harbor, less than 1 km from Lower Manhattan. For more than two centuries it was a military site, and its northern side preserves Fort Jay and Castle Williams from the early 19th century. Since 2005, the island has been transformed into a park. There are no private cars, so you can rent a bike to ride around the island or picnic on the hammock grove and lawns. The man-made hill known as The Hills in the south is an excellent spot to view the Statue of Liberty and the skylines of Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. In summer, there is also an open-air spa, QC NY. Ferries leave from the Battery Maritime Building beside Battery Park in Lower Manhattan and take about 7 minutes. Round-trip is about $5, and some morning weekend sailings are free. The island is open year-round, with fewer facilities in winter.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–22:00 (shorter in winter; follow ferry schedule)
Nearby sights
- Wall Street & Charging Bull
- National September 11 Memorial & Museum
- Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
- One World Observatory
- Statue of Liberty
- Brooklyn Bridge
- DUMBO & Brooklyn Bridge Park
- Chinatown, Manhattan