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Things to Do in Staten Island (2026)
The Staten Island Ferry is the best free attraction in New York City, running 24/7 between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island. The 25-mβ¦ π’ Ride the Free Ferry
The Staten Island Ferry is the best free attraction in New York City, running 24/7 between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal in Staten Island. The 25-minute ride offers stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Lower Manhattan skyline. Grab a spot on the outdoor deck for the best photos, and remember that the ferry is free for pedestrians, though you'll need a MetroCard or OMNY for connecting buses or the subway.
ποΈ Explore Snug Harbor
Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden at 1000 Richmond Terrace is a 83-acre oasis with historic buildings, museums, and themed gardens. Highlights include the Chinese Scholar's Garden, the Noble Maritime Collection, and the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art. Admission to the grounds is free, but some attractions charge a small fee, like $5 for the Chinese Scholar's Garden. It's open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and you can get there by taking the S40 bus from the ferry terminal.
π¦ Discover Historic Richmond Town
Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue is a living history village that recreates life on Staten Island from the 17th to the 19th century. You can tour original buildings, watch costumed interpreters demonstrate crafts, and visit the museum. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children, and it's open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. To get there, take the S74 bus from the ferry terminal to Richmond Road.
ποΈ Relax at South Beach
South Beach and Midland Beach offer a boardwalk, fishing piers, and a calm shoreline perfect for a summer day. The boardwalk stretches for 2.5 miles and is great for biking or walking, with free exercise equipment along the way. There are also picnic areas and playgrounds, and the beach is patrolled by lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Take the S51 bus from the ferry terminal to reach the beach.
π Taste Local Pizza
Staten Island has a fierce pizza rivalry, with spots like Joe & Pat's in Castleton Corners and Lee's Tavern in Dongan Hills serving up thin-crust pies since the 1960s. Joe & Pat's, at 1758 Victory Boulevard, is famous for its fresh mozzarella and light sauce, while Lee's Tavern at 60 Hancock Street offers a classic bar pie. Expect to pay around $15 to $20 for a large pie. Both are easily accessible by bus from the ferry terminal.
π³ Hike the Greenbelt
The Greenbelt is a 2,800-acre network of trails and parks that includes the Staten Island Greenbelt, High Rock Park, and LaTourette Park. The white-blazed trail offers a moderate 3.5-mile hike through forests and wetlands, and you might spot deer and rare birds. The Greenbelt Nature Center at 700 Rockland Avenue provides maps and exhibits, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm. Take the S74 bus to Rockland Avenue and Manor Road to start your hike.
π¨ Visit the Tibetan Museum
The Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art at 338 Lighthouse Avenue is a hidden gem housed in a stone building that resembles a Himalayan monastery. It contains one of the largest collections of Tibetan art in the Western Hemisphere, including sculptures, paintings, and ritual objects. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors, and it's open Wednesday to Sunday from 1pm to 5pm. Take the S74 bus to Lighthouse Avenue and follow the signs.
πΊ Sample Local Brews
Staten Island's craft beer scene is growing, with Flagship Brewing Company at 40 Minthorne Street near the ferry terminal and Kills Boro Brewing Company at 20 Bay Street. Flagship offers tours and a taproom with rotating beers, while Kills Boro focuses on small-batch brews. A pint typically costs $7 to $9. Both are within walking distance of the St. George Ferry Terminal, making them easy stops before or after the ferry.
fwiw the Tibetan museum is even better than the guide lets on, the view from the meditation garden out over the harbor is unreal on a clear day and hardly anyone knows about it. also if you go, the little path down Lighthouse Ave has some of the oldest Victorian houses on the island, worth a slow walk.
solid list but the pizza section is missing the actual local favorite. Joe & Pat's is good for tourists but most SI people I know swear by Nunzio's on Hylan or Goodfella's. Also nobody mentions the Sri Lankan food scene on Victory Blvd around Tompkinsville, that's genuinely the best reason to get off the ferry these days. New Asha and Dosa Garden are worth the trip alone, and you won't find that anywhere else in the five boroughs. Forget the boardwalk in summer too, hit it in October when it's empty and you can actually see the water.
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3 Days in Staten Island: Itinerary 2026
Start your day at the St. George Ferry Terminal, where the free Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan runs every 15 to 30 minutes and takes about 25 minutes. From tβ¦ π½ Day 1: St. George & Snug Harbor
Start your day at the St. George Ferry Terminal, where the free Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan runs every 15 to 30 minutes and takes about 25 minutes. From there, walk 10 minutes to the Snug Harbor Cultural Center at 1000 Richmond Terrace, open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, with a $5 suggested donation for the Chinese Scholar's Garden. Grab lunch at the Harbor Eats cafe inside Snug Harbor, then explore the Noble Maritime Collection and the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art. In the late afternoon, stroll through the Snug Harbor Botanical Garden, and for dinner, head to Enoteca Maria at 27 Hyatt Street for its rotating lineup of grandmother chefs from around the world.
ποΈ Day 2: Historic Richmond Town
Take the S74 bus from the St. George Ferry Terminal to Historic Richmond Town at 441 Clarke Avenue; the ride takes about 35 minutes. This living history village opens Wednesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM, with adult admission at $10. Spend two to three hours touring the 17th-century buildings, including the Voorlezer's House and the Guyon-Lake-Tysen House. For lunch, stop by the Richmond Town Cafe for sandwiches and salads. In the afternoon, walk 15 minutes to the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art at 338 Lighthouse Avenue, which has a serene meditation garden and a $10 entry fee. End the day with dinner at the Manor Restaurant at 917 Manor Road, known for its classic American fare and cozy atmosphere.
π³ Day 3: Greenbelt & Zoo
Begin at the Greenbelt Nature Center at 700 Rockland Avenue, open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and pick up a trail map for the 35 miles of paths. Hike the Blue Trail to Moses Mountain for a moderate 2-hour round trip with views of the Manhattan skyline. Afterward, take the S62 bus to the Staten Island Zoo at 614 Broadway, open daily from 10 AM to 4:45 PM, with adult tickets at $12. Have lunch at the Zoo's Wildside Cafe or walk 10 minutes to the nearby Cafe Milano at 401 Forest Avenue for pizza and pasta. In the late afternoon, explore the Greenbelt's Willowbrook Park, which has a carousel and a lake for paddle boating.
π Getting Around
Staten Island's public transit is served by MTA buses and the Staten Island Railway, both of which accept MetroCards and OMNY. A single ride costs $2.90, and a 7-day unlimited MetroCard is $34. The Staten Island Ferry is free and connects St. George with Manhattan's Whitehall Terminal. Buses like the S74, S62, and S78 run frequently, but allow 30 to 45 minutes for cross-island trips. Taxis and rideshares are available but can be expensive; for example, a ride from St. George to Historic Richmond Town costs about $20.
π½οΈ Where to Eat
Staten Island has a diverse food scene, from Italian classics to Sri Lankan specialties. For breakfast, try the Colonnade Diner at 2001 Victory Boulevard, open 24 hours, with hearty omelets around $12. For lunch, visit the Bayou at 1072 Bay Street for Cajun and Creole dishes, or the Lakruwana at 668 Bay Street for a Sri Lankan buffet on weekends ($15.95). Dinner options include the Stone House at Clove Lakes Park (1150 Clove Road) for American fare with a view, and the Beso at 11 Schuyler Street for Spanish tapas. Many restaurants are concentrated along Bay Street, Forest Avenue, and Victory Boulevard.
π¨ Where to Stay
Most visitors stay near the St. George Ferry Terminal for easy access to Manhattan. The Hilton Garden Inn at 1100 South Avenue is a 10-minute drive from the ferry and offers rooms from $150 per night. The Hampton Inn & Suites at 1120 South Avenue is another reliable option with free breakfast. For a more local experience, consider the boutique hotel The Staten Island Hotel at 1415 Richmond Avenue, which has a pool and gym. Budget travelers can find motels along Hylan Boulevard, such as the Days Inn at 2899 Hylan Boulevard, with rates starting at $100.
π‘ Insider Tips
Purchase a MetroCard at the St. George Ferry Terminal vending machines to avoid paying cash on buses. Many attractions offer free admission on certain days, such as the Staten Island Museum (1000 Richmond Terrace) with pay-what-you-wish on the first Friday of the month. Wear comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot, especially in Snug Harbor and the Greenbelt. Check the MTA website for weekend service changes, as the Staten Island Railway sometimes runs on a modified schedule. Carry cash for smaller eateries and farmers markets, like the St. George Greenmarket on Saturdays.
π Evening Entertainment
For evening fun, catch a show at the St. George Theatre at 35 Hyatt Street, a historic venue with performances ranging from concerts to comedy. The theater's box office is open Monday to Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM, and tickets typically start at $30. After the show, grab a drink at the Flagship Brewery at 40 Minthorne Street, open until 10 PM on weekends, which offers local craft beers and occasional live music. If you prefer a quieter night, take a sunset walk along the Franklin D. Roosevelt Boardwalk in South Beach, which stretches for 2.5 miles along the Atlantic Ocean.
One thing worth knowing about the ferry: the ride itself is genuinely the best free attraction in the city, so don't treat it as just transport. Stand on the right side going toward Manhattan for the Statue of Liberty, left side coming back for the skyline. Locals grab a spot on the outdoor deck even in cold weather because the view beats anything you'll pay for.
On the food side, the guide's Sri Lankan pick is good but I'd send you to New Asha on Victory Boulevard instead. Smaller, cash only, and the string hoppers with coconut sambol are the real deal. Lakruwana is more of a scene on weekends with the buffet, New Asha is where people actually go for lunch.
For Day 3, the Blue Trail to Moses Mountain is worth it but the footing gets muddy after rain, so check the weather before committing. And the Tibetan museum closes earlier than you'd expect on weekends, so hit it before Richmond Town if you're doing both in one day.
Good writeup, the Enoteca Maria pick is spot on and worth stressing that the grandmother chef rotation means the menu is never the same twice, so don't go expecting a specific dish.
One angle the guide skips entirely is the South Beach boardwalk in the morning rather than sunset. If you're up early, the FDR boardwalk around 7 AM is basically empty, you get the ocean on one side and the Verrazzano on the other, and there's a decent bagel spot on Sand Lane for after. It pairs well with Day 3 if you're staying anywhere near the railway.
Also on the Tibetan museum, the $10 is fair but the real draw is the view from the hill, and the staff there are genuinely knowledgeable if you ask questions instead of just walking through.