Hoow can you see the Statue of Liberty when you are short on time and want to save on the ticket price? Did you know you can take the Staten Island Ferry from downtown Manhattan and enjoy an amazing view of Manhattan and Brooklyn as well as Lady Liberty without paying a dime? Here are a few things to know about the Staten Island Ferry before your next visit to New York City!

What to Know about the Staten Island Ferry

On the day we rode the Staten Island Ferry it was very windy but the trip was a perfect piece of our full New York City walking tour. We didn’t have alot of time, but we knew that this was the best way to get a great view of the Statue of Liberty.

Cost: FREE

The Staten Island Ferry is FREE! It takes about 30 minutes to cross over to Staten Island and about 30 minutes for the return trip.

Check the Schedule

Typically the ferry runs every 30 minutes 24 hours a day, every day. Check the schedule here. When you get to the ferry loading dock, it will probably be quite full, but don’t get concerned. The Staten Island Ferry transports approximately 70,000 people a day.

Enjoy the View

When you leave Manhattan and head out toward Staten Island, you can get a really nice view of Lady Liberty. Enjoy the view and the wind!

On the return trip, we opted to sit on the opposite side deck so we could enjoy the view of Brooklyn as we were coming back toward Manhattan.

Snacks are Available

There are snacks available on the Ferry as well as in the terminals before you board.

Hold on to your Camera

Be prepared to take lots of pictures, but make sure you use the strap around your wrist. The boat is moving and you don’t want to lose your camera over the edge.

The Staten Island Ferry is one of the last remaining ferries in the New York City area and provides 22 million people a year (70,000 passengers a day not including weekend days) with ferry service between St. George on Staten Island and Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan.

The Staten Island Ferry is run by the City of New York for one pragmatic reason: To transport Staten Islanders to and from Manhattan. Yet, the 5 mile, 25 minute ride also provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! One guide book calls it “One of the world’s greatest (and shortest) water voyages.” From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You’ll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.

Have you ever ridden the Staten Island Ferry? What’s your favorite memory of the Statue of Liberty? I’d love to hear!

Get directions to the Staten Island Ferry.