A shuttle between lower Manhattan and Staten Island
In the 1700s, ferry service between Manhattan and Staten Island was limited to private individuals who provided the service via sailboats. But since 1905, New York City's Department of Transportation has been operating the Staten Island Ferry. The ferry service along the 5.2-mile run between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island is approximately a 20-25 minute trip. Vehicles used to be allowed on board, but the practice has been banned since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The Ferry is free of charge and runs 24 hours a day.
The Staten Island Ferry on a hot summer evening is the best boat ride in town and it's FREE. Once the ferry gets going, a breeze picks up and for 20 blissful minutes you're outside, on the water, cool and comfortable. The lingering light and humidity give everything around you an ethereal look and if you breathe deeply enough through your nose, you'll get an iodized whiff of the beach and the ocean.