Major city · United States
Staten Island
Give Staten Island one full day from Manhattan: the free ferry, Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town and the South Beach boardwalk. Sleep here only if you want quiet and cheap space.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- USD
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (cold, wind on the ferry deck)
- Airports
- JFK · EWR · LGA
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
- United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
- United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
- United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
Staten Island is New York City's least-visited borough, about 470,000 people across a suburban island in New York Harbor. The free 25-minute ferry from Lower Manhattan is the arrival, and it runs 24 hours. Sights are spread out and buses are sparse off-peak, so plan one or two clusters, not a full sweep. It works as a day trip from Manhattan; as a base it trades nightlife and subway access for space and lower room rates.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Staten Island, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the US dollar (USD, $).United States-wide
- SIM or eSIMAT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.United States-wide
- Tap waterTap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.United States-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.United States-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 120 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.United States-wide
- SafetyStaten Island is one of the safer parts of New York City for visitors; the real risks are sparse off-peak buses, unlit park paths after dark…
- RestroomsFree public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations.United States-wide
- Emergency numbers911 police, fire, ambulance · 311 NYC non-emergency city services
- Sundays & holidaysFederal holidays close offices, banks and post offices; national parks stay open.United States-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportJFK John F.
- Getting aroundNo subway reaches the island.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee$3–6
- Street or quick mealDeli sandwich$9–15
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 mi5 km taxi or rideshare3.1 mi taxi or rideshare$15–25
- Metro or bus rideLocal bus or railway ride$2.50–2.90
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum or historic-site entry$5–15
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
- Mid-range bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$180
- High-end bedMotel or hotel double room, a night, per roomUS$320
A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$140 · High US$280
Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- JFK John F. Kennedy International (No direct rail link to Staten Island; taxi or rideshare to the ferry or a bridge crossing, often 45–75 min with traffic.) · EWR Newark Liberty International (Closer to the New Jersey bridges; Goethals and Bayonne bridges lead onto the island.) · LGA LaGuardia (Reach Manhattan first, then the ferry or an express bus.)
Weather and climate
Staten Island: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
4°C39°F
−3°C27°F
8 rd
Feb
6°C43°F
−2°C28°F
8 rd
Mar
11°C52°F
2°C36°F
9 rd
Apr
17°C63°F
7°C45°F
9 rd
May
22°C72°F
12°C54°F
10 rd
Jun
27°C81°F
17°C63°F
9 rd
Jul
30°C86°F
21°C70°F
9 rd
Aug
29°C84°F
20°C68°F
8 rd
Sep
25°C77°F
16°C61°F
7 rd
Oct
19°C66°F
10°C50°F
7 rd
Nov
13°C55°F
5°C41°F
8 rd
Dec
7°C45°F
0°C32°F
9 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No subway reaches the island. The Staten Island Railway runs 24 hours from St. George along the east shore, with fares collected only at St. George and Tompkinsville. Local buses (S-prefix) fan out from St. George Ferry Terminal; express buses (SIM) run to Manhattan, mostly on weekdays. Pay with OMNY. Off-peak waits are long, so check BusTime before you leave a stop.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Manhattan
goDoor to door: About 25 min on the water, plus waiting
Free Staten Island Ferry from St. George to Battery Park, 24 h
The default move: the ferry is the cheapest and fastest car-free link to Lower Manhattan.
Brooklyn
goDoor to door: About 45–75 min
S53, S79 or S93 bus from the 86th Street R station, or drive over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The S79 runs along Hylan Boulevard and Richmond Avenue toward the Staten Island Mall.
Bronx
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Ferry to Manhattan, then subway north
Long for a single day; combine only if you are already staying in Manhattan.
Queens
cautionDoor to door: About 1.5–2 h
Ferry to Manhattan, then subway, or drive via Brooklyn
Better as its own day from Manhattan than from Staten Island.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
St. George (North Shore)
Ferry terminal, Staten Island Railway and most buses meet here; the practical base for a car-free stay.
Tompkinsville
One railway stop from the ferry; South Asian restaurants along Victory Boulevard.
New Dorp / Mid-Island
Commercial strip on New Dorp Lane, railway station, and the closest cluster to South Beach.
Tottenville (South Shore)
Southernmost point of New York State; quiet, far from the ferry, best with a car.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- $60–100 excl. bed
- Mid
- $110–180 excl. bed
- High
- $200+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Motel or hotel double room1 × 1 night × US$180 | US$180 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$140 | US$280 |
| Staten Island Ferry, both ways2 × US$0 · Free, 24 h | US$0 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20 | US$40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | US$50 |
| Trip total≈ US$275 per person per day, bed included | US$550 |
2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | $3–6 |
| Slice of pizza | $3–5 |
| Deli sandwich | $9–15 |
| Local bus or railway ride | $2.50–2.90 |
| Express bus to Manhattan | $7.00 |
| Museum or historic-site entry | $5–15 |
| 5 km taxi or rideshare | $15–25 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Buses are sparse outside rush hours and unreliable on Sundays: build slack into any timed plan.
- The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge toll is charged westbound into Staten Island only, and it is all-electronic: no cash, billed by mail without a transponder.
- The ferry is free and never runs less than every 30 minutes, but the deck is windy and cold from late autumn to early spring.
- Streets do not follow a numbered grid; carry an offline map, since signal is patchy in the Greenbelt and on the South Shore.
Emergency numbers
- Police, fire, ambulance
- 911
- NYC non-emergency city services
- 311
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Staten IslandStaten Island
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
To this address, pleaseTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- NYC non-emergency city services311
Embassy
No embassies on Staten Island; consulates-general and embassies are in Manhattan.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Staten Island Ferry, St. George ↔ Battery Park: free, about 25 min, 24 h
- Staten Island Railway, St. George → Tottenville: about $2.90, fares collected only at St. George and Tompkinsville
- Express bus, Staten Island → Manhattan: about $7.00, mostly weekdays
Say or show
- Excuse me — Excuse me
- Thank you — Thank you
- How much is it? — How much is it?
- Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
- Where is the ferry? — Where is the ferry?
- Where is the toilet? — Where is the toilet?
US tipping applies: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Staten Island. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and humidity), Jan–Feb (cold, wind on the ferry deck) · month by month →
- 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Ferry-to-bed contract for St. George: last railway departures, bus fallbacks, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: St. George and Snug Harbor, Tompkinsville and Stapleton, Historic Richmond Town and New Dorp, South Beach and Great Kills.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Snug Harbor, Historic Richmond Town, Staten Island Zoo, Fort Wadsworth) and eat pages with last orders.
- Storm and ferry-disruption fixtures so gates A–D can go green.