How to Get to Governors Island From Manhattan: The 10 South Street Ferry

Where the boat leaves from

The Manhattan ferry to Governors Island leaves from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street, the old green terminal at the bottom of Manhattan. Boats run every 30 minutes, with service every 15 minutes during peak weekend hours, 10am to 6pm. Weekday service starts at 7am. Check the day's last departure before you go: the afternoon boats thin out, and the late evening ones are reserved for island tenants and their registered guests.

The island itself is open to the public daily, year round.

What it costs

Five dollars, round trip, for adults. There's no one-way ticket. Every ticket is a return, and you don't have to pick a time to come back, so you can stay as long as you like and get on whichever boat suits you.

It's free if you're 65 or over, 12 or under, an IDNYC holder, a NYCHA resident, a current or former servicemember, or a Governors Island Foundation member. It's also free for everyone on Saturdays and Sundays before 11am, which is the cheapest way to do it and the calmest. Reservations are still recommended even when the ride is free.

Getting to the terminal from our block

We're on John Street, about a 15-minute walk north of the terminal. Head south and you'll hit the water and the terminal with it. If you'd rather not walk it, take the 4 or 5 from Fulton Street one stop to Bowling Green and finish on foot; the terminal is also served by the Whitehall Street and South Ferry stations and by the M9, M15, M20 and M55 buses.

If you're going for a free weekend morning, give yourself time. The 10am and 10:30am boats are the busy ones.

Bikes, strollers and step-free access

There's no surcharge for bikes at any time, which makes the island one of the better cycling days out in the city. Space for bikes and strollers is limited and first come, first served, so an earlier boat is the safer bet. All ferries are wheelchair accessible.

The other ways across

Seasonal weekend and holiday service also runs from Brooklyn Bridge Park at Pier 6 and from Red Hook at Atlantic Basin; in 2026 that ran from May 23 to November 1. NYC Ferry stops at Governors Island too, but that's a separate operator with its own fares and its own app, and those tickets can't be bought through the Governors Island site.

If you're staying with us and want to make a day of it, the kitchen in your suite is worth using before you go. Food on the island is seasonal and the lines at lunch are real, so we'd pack something.