Governors Island sits in New York Harbor, about 800 yards off the southern tip of Manhattan and even closer to Brooklyn across Buttermilk Channel. It covers 172 acres, almost all of it car-free, and it's only reachable by ferry — no bridge, no tunnel. For roughly two centuries it was a military post: the U.S. Army built Fort Jay here starting in 1794 and held the island until the mid-1960s, after which the Coast Guard ran a major installation until 1996. The federal government handed most of the island to New York City and State in 2003, and it's been turning into public parkland ever since — now managed by the Trust for Governors Island. It pairs naturally with a ferry connection to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Manhattan terminal sits a short walk from Battery Park.
The Hills and Slide Hill
The Hills, a 10-acre landscape by the Dutch firm West 8, opened in 2016 and gave the flat island its first real elevation. Four hills make up the group: Outlook Hill, the tallest at 70 feet, with the best harbor views on the island; Slide Hill, 40 feet high and home to four slides, including the longest in New York City at 57 feet; Discovery Hill, 40 feet, with a permanent sculpture called Cabin by British artist Rachel Whiteread built into the slope; and Grassy Hill, a gentler 25-foot rise looking back at the Manhattan skyline. All four are open for climbing, picnicking, or just sitting at the top with the harbor spread out below.
Hammock Grove, Colonels Row and Nolan Park
Hammock Grove is exactly what it sounds like — a planted grove threaded with dozens of public hammocks, first-come, first-served, and one of the better free things to do on the island on a warm afternoon. A short walk away, Colonels Row and Nolan Park hold 23 former officers' quarters, brick and wood-framed houses built between the mid-1800s and early 1900s for the Army's ranking officers. Many now host rotating art shows and installations, especially during the warmer months, so it's worth wandering through even if you're not sure what's currently on view.
Castle Williams and Fort Jay
Castle Williams is a circular sandstone fort built between 1807 and 1811 to guard the harbor entrance, working in tandem with Castle Clinton across the water in Battery Park. It's been open to the public since 2011 and is part of Governors Island National Monument, run by the National Park Service. Fort Jay, the older of the two, dates to 1794 and still has its dry moat intact. Both forts are free to enter, but — like the rest of the National Monument — on a seasonal schedule, roughly Memorial Day through the end of October, with interiors typically visited on a free ranger-led tour rather than open walk-in access. Check nps.gov/gois for the current schedule before you go.
Biking the island — and why it's car-free
Governors Island has no private cars, which is most of the reason it feels so different from anywhere else this close to Manhattan. Seven miles of paved, flat paths circle the perimeter and cut through the interior, and biking is genuinely the best way to see all of it in one visit rather than picking a corner and sticking to it. Blazing Saddles rents bikes on the island, weekday mornings often have a free bike-share window, and Citi Bike has docks at the ferry landings and at Picnic Point if you're bringing your ride with you rather than renting on arrival.
Seasonal art and the Statue of Liberty view
Governors Island runs a rotating program of public art and installations through its open season, spread across the historic buildings on Colonels Row and Nolan Park as well as outdoor sites around the island — what's up changes year to year, so check the current program before you go if that's the draw. For the view: Outlook Hill and the island's south shore both look straight out at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island across the harbor, with almost nothing blocking the sightline — one of the least crowded free views of Lady Liberty in the city.
Getting there: the ferry, the seasons, and why we won't publish a timetable
First, the thing most guides still get wrong: the island is open every day of the year. It stopped being a summer-only park in 2021. What actually follows a season is the programming on it — the National Monument buildings, most of the food and art concessions, the long summer evening hours, and one of the ferry routes.
The main ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan, right next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal and reachable by the 1, 4, 5, or R trains; it runs year-round. The Brooklyn landings — Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6 and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin — are the seasonal ones, weekends and holidays from late May to the start of November. Fares, free-ride windows and the exact dates get adjusted every year, so rather than freeze a schedule here that will be wrong by next summer, check govisland.com's ferry page before you plan a trip. Weekend mornings tend to be the cheapest time to ride over.
Frequently asked questions about Governors Island
How do you get to Governors Island?
By ferry only — it's a car-free island with no bridge or tunnel. The main ferry leaves from the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan, next to the Staten Island Ferry terminal. Seasonal weekend service also runs from Brooklyn. Check govisland.com for current departure times and fares before you go.
Is Governors Island free to visit?
The island itself is free to enter. The ferry usually charges a small fare, though it's commonly free on weekend mornings and for kids, seniors, and a few other groups — exact pricing and the free-ride window change, so check govisland.com/plan-your-visit/ferry before you plan around it.
When is Governors Island open?
The island is open daily, year-round — that changed in 2021, and a lot of guides still say otherwise. What is seasonal is everything on top of it: the National Monument buildings (Castle Williams and Fort Jay), most food and art concessions, the summer late hours, and the Brooklyn ferry landings at Pier 6 and Red Hook, which run weekends and holidays from late May to the start of November. Check govisland.com for the current hours before you go.
What are the Hills on Governors Island?
Four landscaped hills built over the island's old landfill: Outlook Hill (70 feet, the highest point, with harbor views), Slide Hill (40 feet, home to four slides, including the longest in New York City at 57 feet), Discovery Hill (40 feet, home to a Rachel Whiteread sculpture), and Grassy Hill, a gentler 25-foot rise facing the Manhattan skyline. West 8 designed them; they opened in 2016.
Can you bike on Governors Island?
Yes — it's one of the best reasons to visit. Seven miles of car-free paths circle the island, Blazing Saddles rents bikes on-site, and there are free bike-share hours on weekday mornings. Citi Bike docks sit at the ferry landings too.
What is Castle Williams?
A circular sandstone fort built 1807–1811 to defend the harbor, matched across the water by Castle Clinton in Battery Park. It's now part of Governors Island National Monument, run by the National Park Service, and has been open to the public since 2011 — though entry today is by free ranger-led tour during the island's peak season (roughly Memorial Day to the end of October), not year-round walk-in access. Check nps.gov/gois before you go.
How long was Governors Island a military base?
Roughly two centuries. The U.S. Army built Fort Jay here starting in 1794 and stayed until the mid-1960s; the Coast Guard then used it as a major installation until 1996. The federal government transferred most of the island to New York City and State in 2003.
Can you see the Statue of Liberty from Governors Island?
Yes, and it's one of the better free views of it in the city — Outlook Hill and the island's southern shoreline both look straight across the harbor toward Liberty and Ellis Islands.