Staten Island Ferry
Whitehall in Manhattan to St. George. About 25 minutes. Free. Boats run 24 hours. Best cheap view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty.
Borough
Staten Island
The borough most people see from the water first. Free ferry, a North Shore town center, beaches on the south side, and more parkland than people expect.
Places
St. George
Ferry terminal, borough hall, and the ballpark. Empire Outlets is next to the slip. SIR trains start here. This is the walkable North Shore downtown.
Snug Harbor
Former sailors’ home on Richmond Terrace. Museums, gardens, and concert halls on the campus. S40 bus from the ferry, or a short walk west along the terrace.
Stapleton / Tompkinsville
Next towns south of St. George on Bay Street. Tompkinsville Park and the Stapleton waterfront. SIR stops at both. Bay Street is the commercial strip.
New Dorp / Midland Beach
East Shore. New Dorp Lane is the shopping street. Midland Beach is the public beach and boardwalk. SIR to New Dorp, then a bus toward the water.
Tottenville
Far south end of the island, last stop on the SIR. Conference House Park sits on the water facing New Jersey. Quiet residential streets around Main Street.
Freshkills
Former landfill being turned into parkland in the center of the island. Limited public access now. Check NYC Parks for the current open sections and tours.