Take A Break At Governors Island

If you’re in New York City but you suddenly feel an urge to get away from the crowd and the noise, then you can just simply head to Governors Island. To those who have never been to Governors Island one of the best ways to describe it is to call it an adult playground. If you love art, adventure but hate traffic, then a visit to the island would be a refreshing experience for you. It’s open every day of the week. Operating hours during weekdays is from 10 am to 6 pm. During weekends and holidays, it is open up to 7 pm.
What to do there

One of the main features of Governors Island is the large hilly park where you can zip down a giant slide, view installation artworks, or simply chill at Hammock Grove. It’s also a great place to bike, run, bike, go birding, or have a picnic. If the weather is sunny, then you can go kayaking at Pier 101 or at the Downtown Boathouse. There’s also a glamping site on the western side of the island. If you get hungry, Governors Island offers several options. So whatever you’re craving for there’s a good chance the island has it.
How to get there

To get to Governors Island, you’ll need to ride a ferry from Manhattan’s South Seaport if you’re going on a weekday and from the Atlantic Basin/Red Hook if you’re visiting on a weekend. The capacities of the ferries have been reduced to observe physical distancing to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. A round-trip ticket will cost you $3. If you want to save on cash, then you need to catch the free morning ferry ride which departs before noon every weekend. The ferry ride is also free for city housing authority residents, members of the military, and senior citizens.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Governors Island, New York Harbor, New York City, USA
- Coordinates
- 40.68899, -74.01903
- Access
- Trust-operated ferries run from Lower Manhattan; seasonal Brooklyn ferries operate weekends and holidays May 23–November 1, 2026. NYC Ferry also serves the island but uses separate tickets. The island-area map pin does not identify a landing.
- Admission
- The island is publicly accessible by ferry. Trust-operated adult ferry tickets are $5 round trip; all passengers ride free Saturdays and Sundays before 11:00. Some other visitor categories also ride free. This is ferry fare, not an island entrance fee.
- Opening hours
- Public island hours: daily 07:00–18:00 from September 8 through fall 2026; seasonal hours change. Ferry schedules and weather-related service changes vary.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-26
Map marks the area, not a visitor entrance.
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