Roosevelt Island Tramway
A commuter aerial tram across the East River linking Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, priced the same as the subway, offering affordable views of the Midtown skyline and the Queensboro Bridge.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway opened in 1976 and is one of the few urban commuter aerial trams in North America. It departs from the station at Second Avenue and East 59th Street and flies about 4 minutes over the East River to Roosevelt Island, passing close to the Queensboro Bridge, with views of Midtown's towers and the river. The fare is the same as the subway, and you can tap with OMNY or a MetroCard. On the island, you can walk to the Four Freedoms Park at the southern end and the ruins of the Smallpox Hospital, then return by the F subway or a ferry. Lines are long during rush hour, so it's best to avoid the morning and evening peaks.
Opening hours
Approx. 06:00–02:00 next day (extended Fri and Sat)
Nearby sights
- United Nations Headquarters
- Fifth Avenue
- St. Patrick's Cathedral
- Grand Central Terminal
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Museum of Modern Art
- SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
- Rockefeller Center & Top of the Rock