Roosevelt Island Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Roosevelt Island. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise

• 7-Day Philadelphia, D.C, Niagara Falls, Boston Tour From New York

• AIANY Climate Change Tour in New York

• New York Urban Wildlife Sunset Boat Tour

• New York City Instagrammable 1-Day City Tour

It’s free to visit Washington Island on your own, but there are plenty of tours that help you learn more about this panoramic spot. Boat tours that skirt the island start at US$148, while photography tours that snap photos of the island’s top sights cost from US$149.

The top attraction on Roosevelt Island is the Roosevelt Island Tram, the only aerial cable car in New York City, which runs between the island and Midtown Manhattan. Other sights include the atmospheric ruins of the Smallpox Hospital, the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, and the lighthouse on the far northern tip.

Despite its compact size, Roosevelt Island is home to a variety of eateries—most are clustered near the Cornell Tech campus in the island’s center. In addition to casual coffee shops and fast food joints, the island offers more upscale options serving American and international cuisine for all budgets.

Roosevelt Island is easy to explore on foot or by bike; there are two Citi Bike bike sharing stations on the island. You can also get around with the free RIOC Red Bus, which makes several stops on the island. The Q102 bus connects the island with Queens, while ferries run daily to the island.

Yes, Roosevelt Island is good for kids. It’s bookended by Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park and the Lighthouse Park, and is sprinkled with small parks, playgrounds, and green spaces. Kids love riding the aerial tramway and ferry, and traffic is light on the island, making exploring safer for tots.