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United States

New York

Yellow cabs thread the skyscraper canyons. The subway runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

Staten Island Ferry / NYC Ferry / NY Waterway

Three separate ferry systems - and the subway's OMNY works on none of them. The Staten Island Ferry is completely free, no ticket, no gate. NYC Ferry is bought in the app or at a pier machine and shown to the deckhand.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Work out which ferry company you need
    Several separate operators run "the ferry" here, from different piers at different fares. Pick yours by destination.
  2. 2
    Just walk onto the Staten Island Ferry
    No ticket needed - just walk on from the waiting room at Whitehall (Manhattan) or St. George (Staten Island).
  3. 3
    Buy your NYC Ferry ticket before boarding
    You can't buy on board - get your ticket on the official app or from the vending machine at the landing.
  4. 4
    Activate the ticket right before you board
    Activate only once you're at the slip. Show the screen or the paper ticket to the deckhand as you board.
  5. 5
    For NY Waterway, buy a ticket for your route
    The private Hudson River crossings. Buy a ticket for your specific route at the pier office or in its own app.
  6. 6
    Transfer to a different route within 120 minutes
    An NYC Ferry ticket can't be reused for the return leg on the same route; only transfers to a different route are free.

Fares

Single fares5

Staten Island Ferry (free)
No ticket, no gate. Runs 24/7 year-round; the crossing takes about 25 minutes.
0 USD
NYC Ferry one-way
Unused tickets last 90 days from purchase; 120 minutes once activated. No sales on board.
4.5 USD ≈ $5
NY Waterway one-way (varies by route)
A fuel surcharge is added on top, set per route (4.88-6.5%). Bikes ride free.
7.7〜18 USD ≈ $8–18
Governors Island ferry (adult, round trip)
Everyone rides free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11am; under-12s and over-65s always free.
5 USD ≈ $5
Statue of Liberty / Ellis Island ferry (adult)
Only one authorized operator may dock there. Covers both islands and their museums; ages 4-12 pay $17.
26 USD ≈ $26

Passes & multi-ride2

NYC Ferry 10-Trip Pass
App-only purchase; works out cheaper per ride than single tickets.
29 USD ≈ $29
NYC Ferry Unlimited 2-Day
App-only - 48 hours of unlimited travel on every route. Not sold at the landing machines.
15 USD ≈ $15

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
No fare gates; OMNY tap-to-ride is not accepted by any of the ferry operators.
IC card
Neither an OMNY Card nor a MetroCard works on the ferries.
App tickets
NYC Ferry and NY Waterway both sell and show tickets in their own apps.
Paper tickets
Printed at the landing ticket machines; show it to the deckhand.
Cash
Official FAQ: cash and all major cards; nothing sold on board.

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
24h; NYC Ferry 6:00-22:00
Frequency
Every 15-30 min (SI Ferry)
Fares from
0 USD+

Heads-up

  • Ticket touts around The Battery

    Never buy a ferry ticket from someone approaching you on the street. Only one operator is authorized to land at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and its only on-site window is inside Castle Clinton. The Staten Island Ferry has no tickets at all.

  • A one-way ticket won't cover the return on the same route

    An NYC Ferry one-way ticket cannot be used for the return leg on the same route. The free transfer only covers a different route within 120 minutes of activation, so buy a separate ticket for the way back.

Timetable

Operating hours 24h; NYC Ferry 6:00-22:00
Typical duration About 25 minutes between Whitehall and St. George; NYC Ferry routes run roughly 8-120 minutes end to end
Check the official site for the latest times and service status