Staten Island Ferry Whitehall Terminal

So I come here twice a day almost everyday (no not for the ambiance). Overall the building serves it’s purpose. It gets people where they need to go. The bathrooms are a bit sketchy but generally well maintained (granted you should probably squat).
The food options are getting better I think, lots of junk food but a restaurant did just open I’ve never eaten at as well as a Wendy’s whose gluten free menu includes a plain baked potato — yum. No seriously it’s pretty good. There’s also a farmers market every Tuesday and Friday.
Really the only reason to come here is to ride the free ferry to get the view of the Statue of Liberty. If you’re looking for a nice lunch or something historic, this is not the spot for you. Unless of course you’re homeless and looking for somewhere warm to sit, then common in.

Great experience! Best way to see the Statue of Liberty and city scrapes of lower Manhattan FOR FREE PEOPLE. Bring your camera.
Go on a weekday in the afternoon to avoid rush hour commute times.

What a lovely terminal! Bright and airy lots of windows. There is a big information screen, clean bathrooms, a bar, plenty of food places.
A few days per week there is a small farmer’s market on the second level with seasonal fruit/​veg, honey, soaps, apple cider donuts. Win.

Free! It can’t get better! And the view?! Great view of Statue of Liberty. You can see Ellis Island in the distance too. And Manhattan, of course. Why would you pay $$$ for a cruise?!
It’s old but pretty clean for public transportation. Service is frequent and the staff are polite. Almost everyone is a tourist (I heard at least 5 languages being spoken other than English).
We didn’t get off at Staten Island due to our time crunch. We just got off the ferry, walked inside the terminal, and boarded the same ferry for return.
We stood outside for both legs. The first leg we stood on the side where we could get a good view of the Statue of Liberty. On the way back we stood outside to get a view of Manhattan.

This was a great way to see the Statue of Liberty, and we didn’t have to wait in the crowds like some of the other reviews said. We went during the day; you can check online to see when the crowded times are. It looks like there’s a lot of people that crowd around the doors, but everybody was able to fit on the ferry. Sit on the right side if you’re headed toward Staten Island and the left side on the way back if you want to see the Statue of Liberty. I get seasick; I didn’t have any trouble because the boat was very steady. Go outside and stand on the railing if you want to see the statue because people crowd around to see it. This was a free, efficient way to see the statue. Be careful with the people that are around the Subway station when you get off because they were trying to sell tickets. I’m not sure if they actually work there and you don’t need tickets to go on this ferry. You do need a ticket if you want to go up into the statue. We were able to get off the ferry and then get right back on to head back. Do you do you have to exit the ferry and reboard to head back to the original terminal.

NEEDS SOME POLISHING UP
WHY THE F*K DO YOU PEOPLE NOT REPLACE THE EXIT DOORS ON THE STATEN ISLAND SIDE WITH AUTOMATIC DOORS? THIS IS JUST DUMB. People are swinging doors open hitting each other, it’s like common sense, WTF?
I hope the «Ferry people» are reading this. 1. The Green Market is awesome. The food offerings in the terminal are CRAP. Overpriced sh*t food for the most part.
Staten side — Dairy Queen? Cotton Candy? Are you people serious. Can you like, open up some healthy offerings besides this chain and junk deli crap?
I guess their target market is the less educated crowd but they need to fix that one up. Not everyone wants to be force fed fast food.

Free ²⁴⁄₇ ferry service every half hour of each day… What’s there to complain about? Whole place is usually pretty clean especially considering it is a public transportation station… open late at night… doors open for anyone of NY to linger in. I’ve seen people spit on the floors and drunk/​hostile people cause a ruckus, but what do you expect really?

We took the Staten Island Ferry for its amazing view of the Statue of Liberty, so once we actually got to Staten Island, we didn’t know what to do! It seemed like Staten Island had its own culture aside from that of Manhattan or Brooklyn. Unilocal didn’t really say there was anything spectacular to see, so we just stayed here in the terminal until the next ferry came so we could take it back to Manhattan.
This terminal was actually where I saw more homeless people that at anywhere else in NYC. They were sleeping all over benches in the middle of the day on a Saturday. I am torn because I feel that I should advise you Unilocalers that it is smelly and uncomfortable here because of the homeless, but at the same time I know that they are good people that are just passing through hard times.
There were signs up for a new Ferris wheel they are going to put up at the terminal, a mega Ferris wheel that will have views of the city. Can’t wait for that!

Riding the Staten Island Ferry is one of my favorite things to do. I am envious of people that get to do it all the time. Whenever I am on NY I try to take a ride. #1 IT’S FREE! #2 CAN’T BEAT THE VIEWS. The ride is about 25 minutes long from Staten Island to Battery Park. You can’t stay on the ferry though, you need to exit and re board through the terminal. Round trip can be done in about one hour. You get a great view of the Statue of Liberty on route. If you’re traveling to NY on a budget I recommend staying at the Hilton Garden Inn on Staten Island and taking the ferry to Manhattan. The hotel is half the price of a Manhattan hotel great service, free parking and a shuttle to the ferry. What’s not to love?

Why is it so clean? Where are all the sketchy people? For all the Law & Order grisly deaths/​shenanigans that fictitiously go down here, it’s surprising that they don’t look like they could go down here.
New York City at almost its finest, and surely at its most surprising.

A great and FREE way to catch a glimpse of the city and the Statue of Liberty. The terminal itself was very clean and offered a variety of F&B. Sirprisingly the restrooms were very clean and the line moved fast. WiFi and charming stations are available as well.

This is a great way for tourists to see the Statue of Liberty and take a ride on the bay for free.
The line can get pretty long, so expect a wait. The ferry leaves every 30 minutes. If you want to take photos, sit where there is an open window, so you can have an unobstructed view. Once you deboard on Staten Island, you will need to follow the crowd to get back in line to take the ferry back. Or browse before doing so.

Yes. This is a FREE ferry! I couldn’t believe it. This was my first time on the ferry and was pleasantly surprised. The station and the ferry were very cleaned.
Great way to see NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry departs every 15 minutes or so and runs all day. So convenient for those traveling to and from work and for tourists like me!
I would love to ride the ferry to/​from work. How awesome would it be to see the Statue of Liberty every day! And not to mention not having to drive to work. Why doesn’t Chicago have something similar?

Surprisingly very clean.
The station as well as the ferry were very clean.
We did a round trip… just got on… and got off… repeat.
Very pretty… ANNNDDD it is FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!

This was my first time on the SI ferry and I really enjoyed myself. It’s a pleasant way to see the skyline and the Statue of Liberty — for free — while enjoying a nice trip on the water.
However… the way people line up at the doors to be let onto the ferry. It was so comical. It’s like cattle witting to be pushed into a slaughterhouse. These people act as though they won’t get on the ferry or won’t get a «good seat». I understand wanting to get home but jeez, what sheep!

My friends from out of town often complain about how expensive NYC is.
«How do you afford such high rent?»
«Why does a beer cost so much?»
«How was I supposed to know she was a hooker?!»
What they don’t realize [aside from the obvious], is that there are so many free things to take advantage of in this big, beautiful city of ours. First and foremost is this luxurious boat ride to the exotic Isle of Staten. Not only does it afford you some picturesque views of the Manhattan skyline and Lady Liberty, but you can also drink aboard this venerable institution. (I’ve also heard that they didn’t used to card aboard the boat, so young hoodlums would take it back and forth and drink themselves into a stupor. That’s just hearsay, though.)
The Staten Island Ferry is like a beautiful slice of NYC life, right down to the guys rummaging through the garbage for bottles and cans. (Yes, he was Asian. And yes, he was better dressed than me.)

I mean… it’s free and you can drink before, after and during your ferry ride. It is a great way to see the Statue of Liberty without paying for a harbor cruise. The ferries leave every 15 to 30 minutes depending on the time of day and are always right on time. It can be crowded, but I have always been able to get on and find a seat. I would time your journey so you get there right as the boat is boarding.
The terminal is very clean and a lot nice than it used to be, so I have heard.

It’s been a while since I last been on the ferry and from what I remember, there’s been some improvements. It’s much cleaner, terminal looks partially renovated and there are plenty of shops to grab a quick bite or something to drink before boarding.
The ferry departs every half hour, so it’s not just free but convenient as well. I was smack in the middle of rush hour and it never felt overwhelmingly crowded.
With so many options of transportation to the ferry this is a great way to go catch a Staten Island Yankee game which is what my boyfriend and I did. Tickets to the game are inexpensive and once you get of the ferry the stadium is a three minute walk. Definitely worth visiting at least once.

LE bon plan à NY si aller sur l’île de la statue de la liberté né vous tente pas plus que ça.
La vue de la skyline de Manhattan est magnifique et on peut apercevoir la statue de la liberté. Les départs sont fréquents donc né vous laissez pas impressionner par la foule.
C’EST GRATUIT !

I really hate doing touristy things so when my friends said they wanted to see the Statue of Liberty, I wasn’t very happy.
When one of our friends suggested taking the Staten Island Ferry to see it I didn’t know what to expect.
The Terminal was very clean and had a bunch of eateries. The ferry comes by every 30 minutes so you never have to wait to long.
The ferry docks and all aboard. There are so many seats that you won’t feel cramped. We had a wonderful view of the Statue of Liberty and got lots of great photos.
The ferry docks at Staten Island. You have to get off the ferry, walk back through the terminal and get back on the same boat. Silly but that is the rules.
Great way to see the Statue of Library. My favorite part in all of it is that you don’t have to wait in long lines.

wir haben uns auch lange überlegt, ob wir die Tour zur Freiheitsstatue buchen oder die kostenlose Fähre nach Staten Island nehmen. Haben uns für die Fähre entschieden. Ich denke, wenn man nur wenige Tage in NYC zur Verfügung hat, ist das die bessere Alternative. Wenn wir aber nochmal nach NYC zurück kehren, werden wir auch mal direkt hinfahren. Da sollte man sich aber defintiv die Tickets vorab kaufen,. Wir waren zur Nebensaison im März und selbst da war die Schlange immens und man musste ca. 2 Std. Wartezeit und etliche Kontrolle über sich ergehen lassen.
Die Fähre geht alle halbe Stunde, Platz ist auch immer. Im Sommer kann man wohl auch oben aufs Freideck, bei uns war es geschlossen. Dennoch haben wir die Statue ganz gut sehen können, natürlich geht sie nicht direkt dran vorbei, aber mit einem guten Zoom bekommt man auch hier super Bilder und einen schönen ersten Eindruck.
Staten Island hat uns aber dann nicht interessiert und wir haben die nächste Fähre dann wieder zurück nach Manhatten genommen. Insgesamt waren wir dann 1,5 Stunden unterwegs (jeweils 30 min. Fahrtzeit und halbe Stunde Aufenthalt bis zur nächsten Fähre).

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!
The web site says it best, but i was already gonna talk about how cool the benches are, how toasty warm it is, how all the tourists turned left out of the subway and here are all the locals, how I walk in here and think :
” excellent, safe, clean, comfortable, efficient public services?!? THANK YOU– THIS IS WHAT TAXES ARE FOR.“
Am I in Canada or Europe?
Nope. New York.
See below for more details of awesomeness.
A 75-​foot-​high entry hall with panoramic views of the downtown Manhattan skyline and the waterfront; Five new escalators, three wide stairways and one elevator inside the entry hall. Rooftop viewing decks with benchesService/​concession spaces available for amenities such as cafes and other concessions. A new state-​of-​the-​art heating and air conditioning system, including a radiant floor. Photovoltalic solar panels that convert sunlight to electricity to supply a portion of the terminal’s power. Police and tourist information offices. New surfaces and fixtures including vandal-​resistance fixtures in bathrooms for ease of maintenance. State-​of-​the-​art public address system. Easy connection to South Ferry Subway Station (1 and 9 lines).Percent for Art installed 28 granite benches entitled Whitehall Crossing that mimic Indian canoes crossing New York Bay. The work was designed by artist Ming Fay.

La statue de la liberté est l’un des monuments emblématiques de New York. Seulement voilà quand on est une tête en l’air comme moi et qu’on se rend compte la veille du voyage que les visites sont complètes jusqu’en janvier, il faut bien trouver un autre moyen de s’approcher de la demoiselle et son île…
Le Staten Island Ferry, c’est clairement le bon plan ! Gratuit, il emmèné chaque jour pas moins de 60.000 personnes de Manhattan a Staten Island et réciproquement, au rythme d’environ 2 ferrys par heure.
Après être entré dans le terminal spacieux et équipes de diverses facilités (snacks, toilettes, etc.), vous faites la file pour entrer dans un ferry de 3 étages qui vous amèné en une vingtaine de minutes a Staten Island.
Sur le ferry, un conseil: mettez vous du côté droit, et a l’avant dernier étage du ferry: vue imprenable sur le sud de Manhattan et sur la statue de la liberté.
Arrivés sur place, un bon conseil: né vous attardez pas a Staten Island, sûrement pas un jour de semaine, c’est assez ennuyeux. Reprenez donc directement le ferry même si vous êtes obligé d’en sortir, le départ dans l’autre sens vous laisse le temps de faire le tour du terminal pour ré-​embarquer.
Parfait pour une petite pause pendant votre visite de Wall Street et ses environs, mais prévoyez un petit pull, ça caille !

La terminal del ferry que lleva a Staten Island tiene un significado diferente para el que viaja por placer: es de donde parte el ferry gratuito que te va a permitir hacer las fotos a distancia de la Estatua de la Libertad y del sur de Manhattan.
El edificio es bastante moderno y funcional, y se ve que está bien pensado para albergar cómodamente a las hordas de turistas que hacen cola para coger los barcos y hacer sus fotos para poder enseñarlas cuando vuelvan a la oficina. Tiene un par de sitios donde puedes comprar refrescos y chucherías varias, y también tiene un sistema de control y vigilancia con señores con chalecos antibalas y perros, pero es que esto son los EEUU.
En cuanto al propio servicio de transporte, es increíble como estos barcos que parecen poco más que tartanas sean tan estables y veloces. Mi recomendación es que os quedéis al final del grupo y os hagáis fuertes en la cola del barco, justo donde cierran el acceso con cuerdas: es el mejor punto para hacer las dichosas fotos sin verse obstaculizado por otra gente o el marco de las ventanas, y además mola un montón que te dé la brisa de la bahía.
La única pega que le pongo es que, sabiendo que el servicio lo usan casi más turistas que habitantes de Staten Island (zona residencial de escaso interés excepto el de comprarte una casa allí) sean incapaces de dejar más de un minuto entre el barco que llega y el que parte, porque si no te quieres quedar tirado media hora al otro lado tienes que pegarte una carrera de escándalo y, aún así, las probabilidades de que te hayan cerrado el acceso del barco de vuelta son muy altas.

Unbedingt mit der Fähre fahren!!!
Die Abfahrt ist alle 30 Minuten, im Wartebereich gibt es kostenloses WLAN. Von der Fähre aus kann man toll die Freiheitsstatue fotografieren und hat darüber hinaus einen tollen Blick auf die Skyline von Manhatten, besonders auf der Rückfahrt.
Warum eine teure (und vorher zu reservierende) Fahrt nach Liberty Island machen, wenn man kostenlos (fast) das gleiche geboten bekommt?

Die Staten Island Ferry sollte bei einem New York Besuch auf jeden Fall mitgenommen werden. Man fährt auf relativ naher Distanz an der Freiheitsstatue vorbei und bekommt ein schönes Panorama von der südlichen Skyline. Gerade auf der Rückfahrt ist das sehr imposant und geil.
Was hier auch schon gesagt wurde, ist, dass man nach dem Anlegen auf Staten Island aussteigen muss, da eine andere Fähre zurück fährt. Daher sollte nicht gebummelt werden, sonst muss man 30 Minuten warten.
Was aber nicht so gefällt, was aber im ÖPNV New Yorks generell der Fall zu sein scheint, ist der Zustand und Qualität der Fähre selbst. Auf die Toiletten will da sicherlich keiner gehen. Die Scheiben sind oll, die Sitzschalen sind abgeranzt und es richt etwas muffelig.
Naja, dafür ist es kostenlos und bei gutem Wetter wird man mit einem schönen Ausblick belohnt.
Tipp: In den Hallen-​Terminals gibt es kostenlos WLAN.

Dieser allgemeine Tipp diese Fähre zu nehmen wird überbewertet. Sie ist kostenlos und daher sehr voll, leider muss man aussteigen, um wieder zurück zu fahren, man kann also nicht auf der Fähre bleiben (Ein-​und Auschecken ist Pflicht).

Schöné Fahrt mir der kostenlosen Staten Island Ferry, dieses Vergnügen ist für je NY Touristen ein muß. Man sollte aber unbedingt warme Kleidung dabeihaben denn die Fähre braust ganz schön los !! Aber man hat während hin.- und Rückfahrt einen einmaligen Blick auf Liberty Island und die atemberaubende Skyline von Manhattan. Auf der Fahrt von und nach Staten Island gibt es keine nennenswerte Catering, aber das stört nicht. Der Ausblick entschädigt für ALLES !!! Die Fähre geht alle 30 min. Unbedingt den Fotoapparat mitnehmen.

Le bon plan pour avoir une vue imprenable sur Manhattan gratuitement!
Pour cela, il suffit de prendre le ferry en direction de Staten Island et de se mettre sur le coté droit du bateau lors de l’aller pour avoir en prime une jolie vue de la Statue de la Liberté.
Il y a un Ferry toutes les trente minutes donc le temps d’attente est plutôt limité.
Il est interdit de rester dans le Ferry lorsqu’il arrive à Staten Island. Si vous né voulez pas rester sur place et visiter les environs, vous devez ressortir du bateau pour ré-​embarquer immédiatement.
Ce qui est assez drôle dans ce bateau, c’est la tête blasée des locaux qui restent bien au chaud en opposition aux touristes qui se regroupent en masse, appareil photo à la main, sur les côtés.
Cela étant dit, pour 0 dollar, cela vous fait une chouette petite balade, et de jolies photos! A mettre sur votre to do list!

Was will man mehr?! Eine kostenlose Fahrt auf der Staten Ferry und man kann Manhattan prima vom Wasser aus bewundern und fotografieren.
Man stellt sich einfach in dem Whitehall Terminal in die Menschentraube und sobald die Türen sich öffnen, strömt man mit den anderen auf die Fähre. Beim Ankunfstort muss man dann von der Fähre runter, einmal durch den Terminal laufen und (wenn man sich vor Ort nicht noch was angucken will) einfach wieder anstellen (hält sich zeitlich in Grenzen) und wieder zurück nach Manhattan fahren.

Vous voulez vous rendre sur Staten Island en partant de Manhattan, et ce gratuitement? Alors ce Ferry est fait pour vous.
Bön moment de détente à se faire bercer par les eaux. Etonnantes vues de la ville.