The Ultimate NYC Ferry Guide

You can live in New York for years and completely forget you are on an archipelago until you step onto a boat. The NYC Ferry changes the geometry of the city. With the late 2025 route optimizations, the system has turned multiple subway transfers into direct water rides.

Yes, they serve beer. They also serve wine, coffee, and average snacks, but the real draw is the view. Grab a seat on the top deck, wait for the horn to blast, and watch the Manhattan skyline pass by. At $4.50 a ride, it is one of the cheapest sightseeing cruises in the world. It is also a highly practical transit network if you live along the East River, down in South Brooklyn, or out on the Rockaway peninsula.

Here is everything you need to know about riding the ferry in 2026, followed by a guide to the best landings and what to do when you step off the gangway.

Ticketing and Tips for 2026

Website

First things first: you cannot use your OMNY or MetroCard on the NYC Ferry. The system is run by a private operator, so you need a separate ticket. The easiest way to pay is by downloading the official NYC Ferry app and buying a ticket on your phone. You activate it right before you board and show the color screen to the deckhand.

A standard one-way ticket is $4.50. If you plan to ride semi-regularly, buy the 10-trip pass for $29, which brings the cost down to $2.90 per ride. Discount programs are available for seniors, people with disabilities, New York City high school students, and Fair Fares participants, who pay just $1.45.

Every ticket includes a free 120-minute transfer. You can take the Astoria line down to Wall Street, hang around for a few minutes, and jump on another route on the same swipe. Bicycles are allowed on board for free, but you must reserve a $0 bike ticket in the app.

The December 2025 optimization overhauled the map. The Rockaway and Soundview routes were combined, allowing direct rides from the Bronx and Midtown down to Sunset Park and the beach. The East River route now splits into A and B lines during peak hours and non-winter weekends to speed up commutes. The boats run year-round, and the indoor cabins are heavily heated in January, but the open-air upper deck is the real reason to ride.

The East River Landings

Wall Street / Pier 11

Financial District · Gouverneur Lane at South Street · $4.50

This is the central nervous system of the NYC Ferry. Almost every route converges here, turning Pier 11 into a chaotic mix of finance workers in fleece vests, tourists heading to DUMBO, and surfers hauling boards to Rockaway. It is a highly efficient transfer hub. Walk five minutes inland and you are deep into the narrow streets of the Financial District.

Go for: direct connections to almost anywhere on the water. Know before you go: lines for the Rockaway boat in July get massive, so show up at least 20 minutes early.

DUMBO / Fulton Ferry

DUMBO · Old Fulton Street and Water Street · $4.50 Website

You step off the boat directly into Brooklyn Bridge Park with the bridge towering overhead. It is the most photographed ferry landing in the system for good reason. The landing deposits you perfectly for a walk through the neighborhood cobblestone streets or a long afternoon on the grass at Pier 1.

Go for: the definitive view of the lower Manhattan skyline. Know before you go: check our DUMBO Guide for the best places to grab a slice or a cocktail after you dock.

South Williamsburg

Williamsburg · South 8th Street and Kent Avenue · $4.50 Map

Located just south of the Williamsburg Bridge, this landing serves the quieter, more residential side of the neighborhood. It is the perfect drop-off point if you want to avoid the chaotic crowds of Bedford Avenue. Walk up Broadway to find historic diners, excellent natural wine spots, and a slightly slower pace than the north side.

Go for: a peaceful entry point into Brooklyn. Know before you go: during peak hours and summer weekends, make sure you are boarding the East River B boat.

North Williamsburg

Williamsburg · North 6th Street and Kent Avenue · $4.50 Map

This is where the masses board. The North Williamsburg stop drops you next to Marsha P. Johnson State Park and the neighborhood densest concentration of bars, vintage shops, and restaurants. It is an ideal starting point for a Saturday out, dropping you right into the thick of it without dealing with the L train.

Go for: immediate access to the best shopping and drinking in the neighborhood. Know before you go: expect to stand during the ride to Manhattan, as seats fill up quickly here.

Greenpoint

Greenpoint · India Street and the East River · $4.50

Bypassing the G train for a straight shot to Midtown makes Greenpoint feel entirely connected. Grab a coffee from a nearby cafe on Manhattan Avenue and walk west toward the water. It is a wildly efficient commute and a great way to enter the neighborhood on a weekend.

Go for: the easiest possible commute to Midtown East. Know before you go: read up on the neighborhood in our Greenpoint Guide.

Hunters Point South

Long Island City · Center Boulevard and 54th Avenue · $4.50 Map

Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunters Point South Park form one of the best waterfront green spaces in the city. The landing drops you right into the park. It is a stunning place to watch the sunset behind the Chrysler Building and the United Nations headquarters.

Go for: golden hour walks along the East River. Know before you go: there is a seasonal outdoor bar right next to the landing serving cold beers.

East 34th Street

Murray Hill · East 35th Street and FDR Drive · $4.50 Map

The northern terminus of the East River route and a major transfer point for the Astoria and Rockaway-Soundview lines. It is a slightly awkward landing, wedged against the FDR Drive, but it gets you into Midtown without dealing with the subway. You have to cross the highway via a pedestrian bridge, which drops you out near the hospitals and First Avenue.

Go for: skipping the Lexington Avenue subway line when heading to Midtown. Know before you go: the walk inland is steep and loud, but highly efficient.

The Astoria Landings

Brooklyn Navy Yard

Fort Greene · Flushing Avenue and Vanderbilt Avenue · $4.50 Website

Tucked inside a working industrial complex, this landing feels like a secret. You have to walk through the ground floor of Building 77 to get to the boat. The Navy Yard is home to film studios, distilleries, and manufacturing spaces. The ferry makes getting here incredibly easy, especially if you are coming from Manhattan.

Go for: access to the food hall inside Building 77. Know before you go: you are at the very edge of Fort Greene, making this a great back door into the neighborhood.

Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island · East Main Street near the Tram Plaza · $4.50

Most people take the tram to Roosevelt Island, but the ferry is the superior move. The landing sits under the Queensboro Bridge, dropping you onto the narrow strip of land between Manhattan and Queens. Walk south to Four Freedoms Park for wild brutalist architecture and sweeping views of the city.

Go for: a weird, quiet afternoon exploring the island. Know before you go: the island is largely residential, so bring your own coffee before you start walking.

Astoria

Astoria · 3-10 Astoria Boulevard · $4.50 WebsiteMap

Located at Halletts Point, the Astoria landing is a bit of a walk from the neighborhood main thoroughfares, but it is worth it. It sits right next to Socrates Sculpture Park and the Welling Court Mural Project. It is the perfect entry point for a long afternoon of eating and drinking your way east toward the trains.

Go for: a scenic route to some of the best Greek food in the city. Know before you go: map out your meal with our Astoria Guide.

The South Brooklyn Landings

Corlears Hook

Lower East Side · 397 FDR Drive · $4.50 Map

This landing provides a crucial link to the deep Lower East Side, dropping you in Corlears Hook Park near the Williamsburg Bridge. It saves you the long hike from the F train at East Broadway. From here, you can easily walk up into the neighborhood for natural wine, late-night food, or small gallery shows.

Go for: avoiding a 20-minute walk from the subway. Know before you go: pair this with our Lower East Side Guide to plan your night.

Atlantic Avenue / Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6

Brooklyn Heights · Brooklyn Bridge Park Greenway · $4.50

Located at the southern end of Brooklyn Bridge Park, this stop drops you next to massive flower fields, sand volleyball courts, and a very good pizza place. It is a fantastic place to start a weekend afternoon, allowing you to slowly walk north through the park or east into the brownstone-lined streets of Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights.

Go for: direct access to the most active part of the park. Know before you go: use our Brooklyn Heights Guide to find a good dinner spot inland.

Red Hook

Red Hook · Ferris Street and Clinton Wharf · $4.50 Website

Red Hook is famously disconnected from the subway system, which makes the ferry the absolute best way to get here. The boat drops you off right near the massive warehouses and artists' studios that define the neighborhood. You are a short walk from key lime pie, excellent dive bars, and massive hardware stores.

Go for: the most civilized way to visit a neighborhood with no trains. Know before you go: check our Red Hook Guide for the best places to eat seafood nearby.

Bay Ridge

Bay Ridge · Bay Ridge Avenue and Shore Road · $4.50

Tucked way down in South Brooklyn, the American Veterans Memorial Pier provides incredible views of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. Taking the boat all the way down here is a trip in itself. The neighborhood is famous for its dense concentration of excellent Middle Eastern and Italian food, all just a short walk up the hill from the water.

Go for: sweeping views of the harbor and the bridge. Know before you go: find the best places to eat in our Bay Ridge Guide.

The Rockaway-Soundview Landings

Soundview / Clason Point

Soundview · Clason Point Park · $4.50 Website

Located at the tip of Clason Point Park in the Bronx, this landing offers a direct route down the East River. With the new combined line, Bronx residents can stay on the boat past Manhattan and ride all the way down to Rockaway Beach without transferring. The area around the dock is residential, but it provides a critical transit lifeline for the neighborhood.

Go for: the starting point of the longest ferry ride in the city. Know before you go: this is a quiet, functional stop, so grab your snacks before you arrive.

East 90th Street

Upper East Side · FDR Drive and East 90th Street · $4.50 Map

For decades, the Upper East Side felt entirely cut off from Queens and Brooklyn. The East 90th Street landing changes the math. You can now get from Yorkville to Astoria in a matter of minutes. The landing is located near Carl Schurz Park, a highly manicured green space that feels miles away from the noise of the city.

Go for: the easiest connection between the Upper East Side and Queens. Know before you go: you will have to cross the FDR Drive pedestrian bridge to get back into the neighborhood.

Stuyvesant Cove

Kips Bay · FDR Drive and East 20th Street · $4.50 Map

A highly utilitarian stop that services the massive residential complexes of Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village. It is a very quiet landing, sitting on a narrow strip of park space against the highway. It is incredibly useful if you live in the East Village or Kips Bay and want to get out to the beach without transferring trains.

Go for: a fast escape from the east side of Manhattan. Know before you go: it gets very windy on this stretch of the river, so bring a jacket.

Sunset Park / Brooklyn Army Terminal

Sunset Park · 140 58th Street · $4.50 WebsiteMap

The Brooklyn Army Terminal is a massive concrete complex that was once the largest military supply base in the United States. Today, it houses light manufacturing and artists. The landing is rugged and industrial, but it drops you perfectly into Sunset Park. Walk inland to find some of the best tacos and dim sum in the city.

Go for: industrial architecture and a direct route to amazing food. Know before you go: grab a map from our Sunset Park Guide to navigate the avenues.

Rockaway

Rockaway Beach · Beach 108th Street and Beach Channel Drive · $4.50 WebsiteMap

Taking the A train to the beach takes forever. Taking the ferry takes about an hour from Wall Street, and you get to drink a beer on the water while you do it. The landing is on the bay side of the peninsula, so you have to walk a few blocks across to hit the ocean. On hot July weekends, the boats get packed, but it remains the absolute best way to get to the sand.

Go for: the definitive New York summer day trip. Know before you go: you can buy a Rockaway Reserve ticket for $12 to guarantee a spot on summer weekends.

The St. George Landings

Battery Park City

Battery Park City · Vesey Street and North Cove Yacht Harbor · $4.50

Located right next to the massive Brookfield Place complex, this landing serves the west side of Lower Manhattan. The water here is choppy, and the yachts in the harbor are huge. It is a sleek, corporate-feeling stop, but it provides a crucial link up the Hudson River and out to Staten Island.

Go for: direct access to the west side without transferring. Know before you go: you are steps away from the World Trade Center transit hub if you need a train.

Midtown West / Pier 79

Hell's Kitchen · 12th Avenue and West 39th Street · $4.50 Map

The only NYC Ferry stop on the Hudson River in Midtown. It shares a terminal with the massive commuter boats heading to New Jersey. The city runs a free shuttle bus from this terminal across 34th Street, which makes getting into the core of Midtown highly efficient.

Go for: the free shuttle bus connection into Midtown. Know before you go: the walk from the water to 9th Avenue is long and bleak, so definitely take the shuttle.

St. George

Staten Island · 1 Bay Street · $4.50 WebsiteMap

Yes, the Staten Island Ferry is free, but the NYC Ferry offers something different. The St. George route connects Staten Island directly to the west side of Manhattan, bypassing the Battery completely. The new December 2025 routes also connect it directly to Bay Ridge and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The landing sits right next to the minor league baseball stadium and the massive Staten Island Ferry terminal, giving you multiple ways to get back.

Go for: a fast, direct route from Staten Island to Midtown West or Brooklyn. Know before you go: if you just want to see the Statue of Liberty for free, take the massive orange Staten Island Ferry next door instead.

The Shout NY Take

The subway is for when you need to be exactly on time. The ferry is for when you remember that you live on an archipelago. The $4.50 fare is a tiny price to pay to see the city from the outside looking in. Download the app, grab a seat on the top deck, and let the wind mess up your hair. It is the best commute in New York.