Important Reminder:The Foursquare City Guide app officially sunset on December 15, 2024, with the web version following in early 2025. However, your check-in journey doesn’t end here! Join us on Swarm, where new adventures await.Governors Island
Island, Historic and Protected Site, and National Park
Governors Island, New York
This island is famous for their sunsets. It's one of the most popular in the city!
"Go to the Jazz Age Lawn party held every summer!"(3 Tips)
"short ferry ride from near Battery Park"(6 Tips)
"picnic point for an awesome view"(4 Tips)
"free bike rentals on fridays!"(6 Tips)
214 Tips and reviewsFilter:
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Great place to get away from the city for a day! Lots to do, including: art exhibits, biking, hammocks, picnics, food trucks, views of the Freedom Tower, views of the Statue of Liberty and much more.
Angelica SegarraAugust 1, 2014Beautiful island with lots to do. Free bike riding from 10a-12p everyday. Wonderful view of the city skyline, liberty island and Ellis island. There's food, parks, hammocks, and baseball fields.
Beautiful views, interesting history, peaceful environment, so much to see and do. I will DEFINITELY get the season ferry pass next year!
Upvoted Oct 3
LorenSeptember 18, 2016An under appreciated outing. Fun art that changes up and super easy to get to from lower Manhattan or dumbo for a few bucks. You can bring a bike, citibike, or just walk. Bring a blanket and a book.
Come on a sunny summer day and enjoy exploring and relaxing on this little paradise. You don't really need to hire bikes, just spend a few hours walking around.- ℳ𝒶𝓎♍December 29, 2019A short ferry ride from near Battery Park takes you to the traffic free paradise of Governors Island. 7 miles of great views & historic buildings. A cool place to relax for a few hours and ride bikes!
Kevin O'NeillMay 31, 2017I feel like this spot is *almost* there. New hills are a great addition and don't miss on the slides tucked away in the back (adults and kids alike). Great day trip. Bring a picnic!
Sarah KimDecember 26, 2019Best for day concerts and festivals. Gets a little unbearable at night because of 1) spotty phone service 2) even harder to find your friends because of spotty phone service and now it’s dark too.
Samiha KhanAugust 15, 2015Great for picnics, but there are lots of food trucks on the island now if you don't wanna carry a bunch of stuff. Bring your bikes or rent a bike and go biking all around the perimeter! Nice views.
Regi CMay 19, 2017Great island 🌴 to go during the day. Take the ship 🚢 early and enjoy 😊 the day. Walk and picnic 🍏🍎🍐
Museum of American FinanceJuly 12, 2012The Dutch landed here in the 17th century to establish a trading post. 400 years later NYC is still considered by many as the financial capital of the world. To learn more, visit the MoAF at 48 Wall Read more
loran jonakJuly 4, 2015Free ferry over and back. Great for families with lots of running room for the kiddies. If you didn't bring a picnic, take advantage of the delicious food trucks. There is also a beer garden.
Time Out New YorkJuly 11, 2013Look west to see the august face of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, or stop at the northern end of the island to gaze at lower Manhattan and the recently topped-off One World Trade Center. Read more
The Corcoran GroupAugust 1, 2013An increasingly popular place to see live music, especially famous DJs. Catch a ferry out here, and you'll be rewarded with amazing views of downtown Manhattan.
Perry AzevedoAugust 26, 2015Better than Central Park. Great place to get away from the city on a weekend. Go early and beat the rush that comes closer to noon.
Angelique HoutveenFebruary 26, 2016If you're looking for a place to relax, go here when the sun is shining and just hang out on the chairs. I had a great time, found the much needed silence in New York.
The Ritz-CarltonJuly 20, 2011Governors Island has played key roles in civil war, revolution and two world wars. Now it’s famous for relaxing, picnicking, strolling and cycling. Get there by ferry, maybe explore by kayak.
Kelsey✨September 23, 2019Perfect place to escape the city for a day! Awesome art exhibits, beer, bikes, food, etc.
Get out of heat island Manhattan and enjoy breeze and shade of trees and grasses. Island has been renovated and changing. You might see different scene on island.
Sam StarlingSeptember 6, 2015Take the East River Ferry from Williamsburg for the views of the south of Manhattan, and give yourself a couple of hours to walk around before heading back.
Laura GinsbergSeptember 26, 2016Easy day trip from Manhattan or Brooklyn. The ferry takes 7 minutes and costs $2 round trip. Bring your bike or easily rent there. A nice city escape!
Simon WilsonAugust 11, 2017Good for a day out. Long walks. Bikes - Citibikes and surreys for groups - to hire to ride round the island. Lots of ATMs, food, drink on the island.
Have a seat on "Common Picnic" an interactive installation by Risa Puno for FIGMENT NYC's 2015 Summer Long Sculpture Program, next to the mini-golf course on the South Parade Ground.
ShawnieFebruary 4, 2012The island is only open to the public for a few months every year. Bike riding, concerts, beach parties, picnics, and free rides around the island. Not a lot of food choices here so bring your own.
Amanda C.June 22, 2013Head over to the food court or the East Ferry Terminal for totally free, solar-powered charging stations! Works with iPhone 4, 5, micro USB, and if you have a cable of your own you can plug in & go!
If you need a mini vacation from the city, this is the perfect place. Great food, great atmosphere, and the best view.b
HISTORYApril 8, 2010The island's name stems from British colonial times when the colonial assembly reserved the island for the exclusive use of New York's royal governors.
Daniel McDonoughJuly 12, 2015Fantastic views of lower Manhattan. Beer garden and food trucks in the center of the island.
bring your bike and go around the island. the best swingset in the world is there and it faces the statue of liberty. security is tight on the island, so don't try anything stupid.
Cole KennedyJuly 18, 2017They did a beautiful job restoring this place after Sandy. Come on a weekday and avoid the crowds, so you can slide on the slides without children judging you.
Kmart FashionDecember 2, 2011Best for an escape from the city, w/o committing to a real commute. Our tip: Take a bike with you on the ferry to tour the entire island. Visit the girls & boys room before you go! Trust us on this.
The New YorkerAugust 3, 2012Imagine a playground that parents actually like: “If you create a park-like environment and people feel really free, adults hang out and participate like children do.” -Adriaan Geuze, West8 architect Read more
Dylan McKenzieDecember 14, 2013Ferry ride is fun. Not much to do here, but a quiet place for a bike ride and reading on a nice day. Good swings.
Alison CurtinSeptember 2, 2016NYC's best idea-this National & Public Park space partnership. Have loved visiting over the past 6 or 7 years watching it grow and develop.
C. Sha•Doe McIntoshJune 16, 2013Bring a plastic trash bag, cut to open flat, a large blanket (like 5x7), an umbrella that you can stick in the ground, sun screen, a basket of food (or at least $50 cash for food), and 1920 clothes!
Carmen Gloria RiquelmeJune 16, 2016Rent a bike and ride around the island. It used to be a military fort, but now the houses are empty. Enjoy the parks and the views.
Larisa GrollemondJune 17, 2015Grab some food truck treats, take in the view of lower Manhattan, and take a nap on the grass in front of some abandoned houses. New York at its weirdest/finest.
Adam SherlipApril 24, 2013Governors Island gives you a view of the Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Statue of Liberty and Staten Island. It's a great way to start & put an NYC tour into perspective.
G WongMarch 22, 2012Hidden treasure of NYC, come here in the summer time on the free ferry and check out the historic sites, sometimes there's even concerts and other fun activities!
NEREphotographyAugust 11, 2011A great trip for any photographer, check out the old buildings and Yankee Pier on the back side of the Island. Bring a bike or rent one for ease of travel around the Island. @nerephotography
UzoNYCMay 25, 2014Beautiful place, but not anything you can't recreate in Central Park. I'll go for an event, but not just on my own accord. http://www.uzonyc.com/?p=773
Kinjil MathurAugust 31, 2014rent a bike to see the entire island quickly. They even have 4 seater bikes!
Afi Yellow-DukeJuly 30, 2015Great place for a bike ride with amazing views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Statue of Liberty
D'Agostino SupermarketsJanuary 31, 2012After the American Revolution, the U.S. Army set up camp on the island in fear of another British invasion. The U.S. Army has since been there for the past 200 years. Talk about setting up camp!
MichelleAugust 24, 2017Beautiful park away from the hustle of NYC. We rented bikes which got stolen so I'd recommend also renting locks
HashtagNYUAugust 17, 2016They hold tons of events there all summer long! http://hashtagnyu.tumblr.com/post/146072079746/9-islands-beyond-manhattan-you-should-explore
Drew SicklerSeptember 21, 2016Rent bikes here $15/hour or $30/day to enjoy the entire island. They also offer Citibike if you are a member.
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A unit of the National Park Service in New York City.
Open seasonally from May to September.
Open until 6:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
- Sat–Sun
- 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
(212) 825-3054
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"Every hour (on the half hour) go to the Ranger table for tickets to the rooftop tour (which will be an hour later but there is plenty to do) on the weekend. It's worth it for the views of NYC."
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"Picnic Point is toward the tip of Governors Island. It indeed is a good spot for picnics. You’ll have a great view of the Statue of Liberty from here."
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