How to visit all 5 boroughs by boat in a single day

At The New York Groove, we believe in seeing the whole city, and that means getting yourself to all five boroughs any way you can. 

In our very first issue back in 2023, we laid out the strategy for traveling to all five boroughs by boat in one day, a truly delightful and powerful way to navigate our archipelago city. It’s as good an idea as we ever had, so in honor of Labor Day weekend, we’re updating the guide with new destinations, current schedules and new ways to Master and/or Commander the city by sea, all for just $18. (Note all schedules are weekend schedules but you can easily adapt for weekdays as well.)

Boat 1, borough 1: Staten Island, ahoy

Start by taking the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan at 10:30 a.m. 

Nothing against Staten Island (something against two of its native sons) but we’re starting with the most isolated borough for good reason: getting there early on the free ferry from Lower Manhattan lets you ride this nautical vibe of a day right into the National Lighthouse Museum, which opens at 11 a.m. (The start of this does not count as your Manhattan stop yet, be patient.)

Inside its building (formerly the location of the United States Lighthouse Service General Depot) you’ll find a collection of miniature lighthouses from around the world and exhibits about lighthouse history. It’s about a five minute walk from the ferry, and admission is just $7.

Boat 2, borough 2: Lunch in Bay Ridge 

Take the NYC Ferry to Bay Ridge at 12:14 p.m. on the St. George Line

Now you get into the NYC Ferry system and you’ll use it to hop across the water to South Brooklyn. Once you get off in Bay Ridge, you can kill about two hours here. You can make your way to Owl’s Head Park, which has stunning views of the water. Or walk about 18 minutes over to Third Avenue and get some bites to eat: we’ll recommend Brooklyn Firefly for pizza, or Féria Cafe for hearty and creative toasts. Pop up to Three Jolly Pigeons for a pint before you go if you’ve got time. 

Boat 3, borough 3: Manhattan by sea 

Take the South Brooklyn ferry to Pier 11 Manhattan at 2:32 p.m. 

Get off in Manhattan and walk your sea legs over to the Seaport district and you will truly be the waterdog now, man. There are many things you can feast your salty eyes on here, including the South Street Seaport Museum, where an $18 ticket includes access to the tall ship Wavertree and the 1908 Lightship Ambrose too. You can also just look at the boats for free.

Before you leave, you’ll want to grab a snack here because the next part of the journey is when you’ll really be settling in to life at sea. 

Boat 4, borough 4: The Bronx is boating 

Take the Rockaway-Soundview ferry line to Soundview in the Bronx at 4:35 p.m. 

It’s very cool that you can take a ferry to the Bronx; it’s unfortunate that those ferry stops happen to be near nothing of particular note. This is your time to bask in the pure bliss of the city’s many waterfront parks.

The ferry drops you at Clason Point Park, a small nub of a park jutting out into the water. It boasts serene views of the waterfront across to the Whitestone Bridge, and down to College Point in Queens. Enjoy stretching your legs now, because it’s time for the coup de grace of this whole day. 

Boat 5, borough 5: The leisure cruise 

Take the Rockway-Soundview line to Rockaway at 6 p.m. 

Now we’re gonna really cook, so lock in for one of the longest rides you can take on the NYC Ferry. The ferry ride from the Bronx to Rockaway is about two hours, and you get a stunning panorama of the city as a reward. Getting on in the Bronx also ensures you will have a seat if the Rockaway ferry is crowded with beachgoers.

This leg of the ferry route will take you along the changing skyscapes of Manhattan’s east side and the Brooklyn Queens west side, passing under all the East River bridges, the lightly spooky Mill Rock, and past the low-squat buildings of Rikers Island and the Vernon C. Bain Center, New York City’s only floating prison barge that “temporarily” opened 31 years ago. Then the boat turns at the south edge of Bay Ridge, taking you past Coney Island before pulling into Jamaica Bay and docking in the Rockaways. If you make this trip before the end of September, you’ll be on the boat as the sun sets over the bay, a serene and beautiful way to end your day at sea. 

Now you’re in the Rockaways for night time and it’s time to celebrate your journey. Hop over to Postcard Brewing, just 400 feet from the ferry stop, for bayfront views and live music (friend of The Groove Rob Bryn is playing music there this very weekend). You’ll also be near the Rockaway Hotel, which hosts live music and other events at night (the ne plus ultra of beach town events — a Sublime cover band concert — is coming up the weekend this is being published, for instance).

The last boat leaving Rockaway departs at 9:17 p.m. but you’re back on land now, and the trains run all night. 

Alternate boat 5, borough 5!

If you don't want to commit to going all the way to the Rockaways, take the same boat and get off at E. 90th, transfer to the Astoria line departing at 6:51 p.m. for a quick boat ride to Astoria. The ferry is a few minutes walk from Socrates Sculpture Park, which is a fun and contemplative place to end the journey.

Boat notes

• NYC Ferry tickets cost $4.50 each. Ferry times are subject to change but we worked with the current published schedules. If you’re setting out for a full day on the high seas, make sure to double check the day’s schedules on the app (not the website) before you go.
• Ferry tickets are good for 120 minutes after you activate them. You may spend less than $18 because of this. Get the ferry app to save you time, and you won’t lose track of your tickets either.
• The NYC Ferry boats have snack bars, with draft beer and wine and things to nosh on. The concession stand on the Staten Island Ferry, recently reopened on certain boats, is the lowkey best dive bar in town.
• Mix and match these routes as you please. If you use this guide, tag us!