You step off the free Staten Island Ferry at St. George and the harbour opens behind you: the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the Lower Manhattan skyline all in one sweep of water. A few blocks inland, Victorian houses climb the streets of the St. George Historic District, and the pace drops immediately.
Staten Island suits travellers who want open space, waterfront and history without the crowding of the other boroughs. It is the most suburban of the five, and much of it is parkland, so a visit here is mostly about walking, shoreline and a handful of small museums.
This guide covers the parks, museums and other places worth your time, plus how to string the best of them into a single day.
Top things to do in Staten Island
1. Snug Harbor Cultural Center
Snug Harbor holds the largest collection of Greek revival, temple-style buildings in America, and the grounds include the Staten Island Botanic Garden with its authentic Chinese Scholar's garden, plus the John A. Noble Collection art museum. It is the island's single strongest draw for architecture and gardens together.
Take the S40 or S44 bus from the ferry terminal at bus ramp D. Because the site is spread out, set aside a proper block of time rather than treating it as a quick stop.
2. Staten Island Ferry
The free ferry connects the borough to Manhattan across New York Harbor and gives you views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Lower Manhattan on the crossing. It is both your arrival route and a sight in itself.
It lands at St. George, which puts you within walking distance of the ferry terminal, the ballpark and the start of the North Shore's urban stretch, so plan your day outward from the landing.
3. The Greenbelt
The Greenbelt is a collection of woodlands and parks covering much of the Mid-Island, with hiking trails and a nature centre at its middle. It is the place to go if you want raw nature rather than manicured park.
It is operated by the Greenbelt Conservancy and open dawn to dusk. Because it is so large, decide which section you want before you set out; the Greenbelt Nature Center at 700 Rockland Avenue is the sensible starting point, and trail maps are available there.
4. Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town sits at Richmond Road and Arthur Kill Road and is one of the island's principal history sites. It pairs naturally with the island's older roads, which follow the line of Lenape foot trails along the south side of the ridge.
Reach it on the S74 or S84 to Richmond Road and St. Patrick's Place, then continue on foot to see how the historic core sits within the present-day neighbourhood.
5. Fort Wadsworth
Fort Wadsworth dates back to 1663 and was used during both the American Revolution and the War of 1812, remaining active until 1995. It is now semi-active, serving mainly as local headquarters for the United States Coast Guard, and tours are available.
It is part of the Staten Island Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area and is open 6AM–8PM. Take the S51 or S81 to any of the seven stops inside the park.
6. South Beach & Boardwalk
South Beach is a pleasant place to relax, and the boardwalk is one of the longest in the United States, good for running or biking. The water is safe enough to swim in, though it is not the best beach you will find in the region.
Take the S51 or S81 to any stop along Father Cappodano Boulevard. Come for the boardwalk rather than the swimming, and treat it as a slow afternoon.
7. Conference House
Conference House dates back to 1680 and held an abortive peace conference during the Revolutionary War. It stands at 298 Satterlee Street, and the Lenape burial ground known as Burial Ridge lies unmarked within Conference House Park, on a bluff overlooking Raritan Bay.
Take the S78 from bus ramp A to Hylan Boulevard at Craig Avenue, then walk one block south. Combine the house with the park's shoreline, and keep in mind that the burial ground is unmarked.
8. Alice Austen House
The Alice Austen House at 2 Hylan Boulevard is one of the island's historic house museums, set on the North Shore near the water. It is a short, focused visit that fits neatly alongside the harbourfront.
Take the S51 or S81 from bus ramp D of the ferry terminal to Hylan Boulevard.
9. Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
American woman Jacques Marchais dreamed of travelling to Tibet but never made it; her extensive collection of Tibetan artifacts became a museum in 1947, now holding over 120 pieces, and its authenticity was praised by the Dalai Lama. It is at 338 Lighthouse Avenue.
It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 1PM–5PM, and admission is free. Take the S74 to Richmond Road and Lighthouse Avenue, then walk a few blocks north up Lighthouse Avenue.
10. Staten Island Museum
The Staten Island Museum occupies Building A at 1000 Richmond Terrace at Snug Harbor, which makes it an easy first or last stop of the day. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11AM–5PM.
Adults pay $8, students and seniors $5, and children aged 2–12 pay $2. Pair it with the Staten Island Children's Museum, which is at the same Richmond Terrace address at Snug Harbor.
11. National Lighthouse Museum
The National Lighthouse Museum is at 200 The Promenade at Lighthouse Point, close to the St. George waterfront. It is a compact museum that suits the harbour setting.
It is open Thursday to Sunday, 11AM–4PM. Slot it into the same stretch of your day as the ferry landing and the North Shore.
12. Postcards
Postcards is Staten Island's September 11th memorial, honouring all of its residents who lost their lives on 11 September 2001. It is a few blocks' walk from the St. George Ferry Terminal.
Because it sits so close to the terminal, it works well as a quiet pause at the beginning or end of a day built around the ferry.
13. Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo in West New Brighton is a good destination for younger children and for anyone interested in reptiles; it once held the most snake species of any zoo in the world and still has a substantial reptile wing. It is at 614 Broadway and open daily, 10AM–4:45PM.
Adults pay $10, seniors aged 60 and over $7, children aged 3–16 $6, and children under 2 go free; entry is also free on Wednesdays after 2PM. Take the S48, S98 or S53.
14. Great Kills Park
Great Kills Park is home to a large woodland and a number of beaches, all within the Gateway National Recreation Area's Staten Island Unit. It is open 6AM–8PM.
Take the S78 or S79 to Great Kills Park. Note that a small portion of the beach is closed for radiation screenings, so stay on the open sections.
15. Staten Island FerryHawks at Richmond County Bank Ballpark
The Staten Island FerryHawks play in the independent Atlantic League at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at 75 Richmond Terrace, within walking distance of the St. George Ferry Terminal. It is a relaxed, unhurried alternative to major league baseball.
Because the ballpark is so close to the ferry, a game fits easily onto the end of a day that starts in Manhattan.
If you only have one day
Morning. Take the free Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan for the harbour views, then walk from the St. George Ferry Terminal to Postcards and on to the National Lighthouse Museum at Lighthouse Point. If you have time before lunch, the Staten Island Museum at 1000 Richmond Terrace at Snug Harbor opens at 11AM.
Afternoon. Head to Snug Harbor Cultural Center on the S40 or S44 from bus ramp D, and give the Greek revival buildings, the Staten Island Botanic Garden and the Chinese Scholar's garden the bulk of your afternoon. If you are travelling with children, the Staten Island Children's Museum is at the same Richmond Terrace address.
Evening. Return towards the water for South Beach & Boardwalk, reached on the S51 or S81 along Father Cappodano Boulevard, and walk the boardwalk as the day cools. Finish with a Staten Island FerryHawks game at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark, a short walk from the ferry terminal, or simply take the ferry back with the harbour lit up behind you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Staten Island without a car?
The free Staten Island Ferry connects the borough to Manhattan across New York Harbor, and the Staten Island Railway runs from the ferry terminal at St. George to Tottenville. MTA bus lines cover the island, and the Wikivoyage listings give specific bus routes for each park and museum. Staten Island is the only borough not connected to the New York City Subway system.
What are the park opening hours?
Parks operated by the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation are open 6AM–1AM, but the Greenbelt is operated by the Greenbelt Conservancy and Gateway is operated by the National Park Service, so their hours differ: the Greenbelt is open dawn to dusk, and the Gateway sites listed here are open 6AM–8PM. Parks affiliated with schools are open dawn to dusk, and it is good etiquette to stay out of a park while schoolchildren are playing in it.
Which museums are free or cheapest?
The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is free. At the Staten Island Museum, adults pay $8, students and seniors $5, and children aged 2–12 pay $2. The Staten Island Zoo charges adults $10, seniors aged 60 and over $7, children aged 3–16 $6, with children under 2 free, and entry is free on Wednesdays after 2PM.
When should I visit the museums?
The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art is open Wednesday to Sunday, 1PM–5PM, and the Staten Island Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday, 11AM–5PM. The National Lighthouse Museum is open Thursday to Sunday, 11AM–4PM, and the Staten Island Zoo is open daily, 10AM–4:45PM.
Decide which stretch of the island you want most, check the bus route for it, and start planning your day around the ferry.