Getting to Staten Island
Staten Island is the southernmost of New York City's five boroughs, separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull and from the rest of New York by New York Bay. It is the least densely populated and most suburban borough, so getting there is a different experience from arriving in Manhattan or Brooklyn. Visitors generally arrive by one of three ways: the free Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan, a bridge by car, or a bus.
The Staten Island Ferry
The ferry is the most visually pleasing option for arriving on the island, as it passes by Liberty Island and offers stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and New York Harbor. It is free and operates 24 hours a day out of Battery Park in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island; even during the early morning hours, it never runs less than once every half hour at the half hour. The 25-minute ride is also sometimes a faster trip from Lower Manhattan to Staten Island than a corresponding trip by car or bus. Bicycles are allowed on the lower decks, where there are usually bike racks.
St. George Ferry Terminal is also a terminal for the Staten Island Railway and many of Staten Island's local buses, making it the main hub for onward travel around the island.
Arriving by Car
Motor traffic can reach the borough from Brooklyn by the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge and from New Jersey by the Outerbridge Crossing, the Goethals Bridge, and the Bayonne Bridge. Tolls apply on these crossings, and the Bayonne Bridge and Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge use an All-Electronic Tolling System, meaning no cash payments are allowed; without E-Z Pass, your toll is paid via Tolls-By-Mail.
Arriving by Bus
A moderately priced option is to take an express bus from Manhattan to Staten Island. These are especially handy when you are traveling to places on the South Shore, which is the furthest section of Staten Island from the ferry and has fewer local routes running than the more densely populated North Shore. Most express buses run solely on weekdays and go by the acronym SIM (for Staten Island to Manhattan). For lower Manhattan, the SIM2 is popular, whereas the SIM10 serves midtown. Fares are payable via OMNY.
There is also the option of taking the S53, S79, or S93 buses from the 86th Street subway station of the R train in Brooklyn. These bus routes cross the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge into Staten Island, and fares are payable via OMNY. The S53 serves the North Shore and goes through Port Richmond and West New Brighton; the S79 serves the Mid-Island region and the South Shore, going along Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue to get to the Staten Island Mall; and the S93 runs rush hours only and goes to the College of Staten Island, serving the neighborhoods near the Staten Island Expressway and Victory Boulevard. From Bayonne, you can take the S89 Limited bus during rush hours from the 34th Street Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station; this bus runs down Richmond Avenue and serves sections of the North Shore, Mid-Island, and South Shore.
Getting Around by Rail
The subway doesn't go to Staten Island — it is the only borough not connected to the New York City Subway system. Instead, the island has one MTA rapid transit line, the Staten Island Railway, which runs from the ferry terminal at St. George to Tottenville. It is a hybrid of a railroad and a subway line: fares are the same as a subway ride, and it runs 24 hours, at intervals from 15 minutes during weekday rush hours to hourly overnight, synchronized to the ferry schedule. Fares are collected only at St. George Ferry Terminal and Tompkinsville, and include a free transfer to or from the buses or subway in Manhattan. During rush hours, express service is provided and the locals terminate at Great Kills.
Getting Around by Bus
Bus routes cover the island pretty thoroughly, and there are two types of buses. Local buses run routes all over Staten Island and are distinguished by the S before the route number (for example, S55, S78). During rush hours, some buses run Limited and stop at major cross streets and transfer points; limited route numbers are always in the 80s and 90s, and the numbers of the local and limited routes usually correspond (S62/S92, S46/S96). Express buses are distinguished by the X in the coded display on the front of the bus (for example, X1, X17); these run from Staten Island to Manhattan, have more comfortable cloth seats, and cost more than local buses.
Many local buses terminate at the St. George Ferry Terminal, and most bus routes on the island meet up there. Other major transfer points include Port Richmond, with some buses terminating at Richmond Terrace at Port Richmond Avenue; the Staten Island Mall; and the Eltingville Transit Center on the South Shore. Fares can be paid with OMNY.
Buses run close to schedule, but service on Staten Island is sparse outside of rush hours, and even during peak hours, the most frequent headway is 10 minutes. Because of this, it helps to be prepared: either pick up a schedule for routes that you'll plan to take, check the Guide-A-Ride boxes at bus stops for exact times, or use the MTA's BusTime system to track buses. A word of caution: Staten Island buses are usually reasonably reliable on weekdays, but do not count on the schedule or MTA route advice timings to be accurate on Sundays, and consider making alternate arrangements if your schedule is not completely open for the day.
Walkability and the Shape of the Island
Staten Island is the most suburban and least densely populated of the boroughs, so walking works best in specific areas rather than as a way to cross the island. The North Shore — especially the neighborhoods of St. George, Tompkinsville, Clifton, and Stapleton — is the island's most urban area, and it includes the St. George Historic District and the St. Paul's Avenue-Stapleton Heights Historic District, both of which feature large Victorian houses. The East Shore is home to the FDR Boardwalk, the world's fourth-longest boardwalk. The South Shore is now very suburban, and the West Shore has the island's fewest residents and the most industrial development. Given this layout, plan on combining walking in the denser North Shore neighborhoods with buses or the railway for longer hops.
Practical Tips for Visitors
- The ferry is free, runs 24 hours a day, and never runs less than once every half hour overnight — it is the simplest and most scenic way to reach the island from Manhattan.
- St. George Ferry Terminal is the main hub: the Staten Island Railway and many local buses start there, so it is the natural place to begin exploring.
- Fares on the railway match the subway fare, and fares are collected only at St. George Ferry Terminal and Tompkinsville; your ride includes a free transfer to or from the buses or subway in Manhattan.
- Pay bus fares with OMNY. Express buses to Manhattan cost more than local buses.
- Service is sparse outside rush hours, so check schedules, Guide-A-Ride boxes at stops, or the MTA's BusTime system before you set out.
- Be cautious about relying on posted schedules on Sundays, when buses may not run to the times shown.
- If you are heading to the South Shore, the express buses from Manhattan are often the handiest option, since that area has fewer local routes than the North Shore.
- Bicycles are allowed on the ferry's lower decks, where there are usually bike racks.