Staten Island which is only 30 minutes from Manhattan, is New York’s least-known district. Although it does not have tourist attractions on par with Manhattan, there is always something to visit in Staten Island. 

Staten Island is located in the southernmost part of New York and is the lesser-known borough. It has a population of less than 500,000, making it the least populous borough.

For many tourists, the visit to Staten Island is compensated with the ferry ride to its shores, a cost-effective way of seeing the skyline of Manhatta

Until 1975, Staten Island was called Richmond, like its county. Nevertheless, the City Council renamed it with its original name given to it by the Dutch when they colonized the area. 

Top Attractions in Staten Island

You will find more colonial buildings in Staten Island than anywhere else in New York.

One of Staten Island’s most surprising attractions to visit is Historic Richmond Town, a restored rural town with houses dating from the seventeenth century. The best way to reach this site is to take the S74 bus from St. George Ferry Terminal.

Another place worth visiting is Fort Wadsworth, a fort built by the Dutch during the seventeenth century, which served to protect New York from the incursions of enemy ships.

How to Get to Staten Island?

The Staten Island Ferry provides services between Whitehall Street in lower Manhattan and St. George on Staten Island, where you can take a bus to the different attractions. The ferry ride takes 25 minutes.

If you have a car, it is also possible to get to Staten Island from Brooklyn over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the U.S. The bridge was named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European explorer to discover the island and who changed the history of New York forever.

Suburban character, lush greenery, beaches, and great views of New York Harbor. That’s what you’ll hear about Staten Island. A big misconception is that the island is “boring.” New York’s third-largest but least populated borough, feels a bit secluded from the rest of New York City and the rest of the NYC neighbourhood.
For tourists, Staten Island is mostly known only for The Staten Island ferry which is one of the best things to do in New York City. The famous ferry passes the Statue of Liberty, the landmark of New York Harbor, and does not cost a penny (yes, it’s free). For daily commuters, the ferry is the only link to Manhattan and thus irreplaceable. In this guide, we’ll go over the best things to do in Staten Island.

What is Staten Island famous for?

Staten Island is known for its excellent beaches and is the least populated borough in NYC. The borough is mostly filled with locals, but tourists have been coming to the island recently especially with the new Empire Outlets that opened in the summer of 2019. Also, in pop culture, the famous hip-hop group, The Wu-Tang Clan originated from here.

Top 5 Things to do in Staten Island

The borough may be isolated from the rest of NYC, and it usually doesn’t get the best reputation, but there’s a lot of sights and attractions that need to be seen. The city recently opened a shopping center in the area to attract tourists. Restaurants are everywhere on the island and are definitely worth checking out. With that being said, here are our top 5 things to do in this neighborhood.

What are the top attractions to visit in Staten Island?

1. Staten Island Ferry

Cruise in Staten Island

1. One of the main highlights in Staten Island is the Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry is what takes you to Staten Island in the first place. It’s the most popular choice for everyone. Amazing views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline are another reason to ride the Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry leaves from Terminal 4 at White Hall Ferry.

2. Empire Outlets Staten Island

Outlet in Staten Island

Shopping in Staten Island is now super fun and really worth experiencing. Check out the Empire Outlets right off the Staten Island Ferry. Empire Outlets is New York City’s first and only shopping outlet. It hosts approximately 100 shops of the finest brands, an extensive array of waterfront food and beverage concepts.

3. Staten Island Children’s Museum

Museum in Staten Island

1. Number three on my list and something really fun to do with your kids on Staten Island is the Staten Island Children’s Museum. There are over two million exhibits waiting to be discovered here and this is one of the best places to go to with your kids on Staten Island.

South Beach Staten Island

Park in Staten Island

1. No, not South Beach in Miami, but this beautiful beach in Staten Island invites you to relax and take a stroll and is one of my top 5 things to do in Staten Island. It’s not a busy beach as other beaches near the city. It’s actually goes forgotten which makes it relaxing because on a hot day in the summer you don’t want to feel overcrowding at a beach.

4. Staten Island Museum

Museum in Staten Island

1. With works by Andy Warhol and Marc Chagall, Staten Island Museum is the oldest interdisciplinary museum on Staten Island. Located just two blocks from the Ferry Terminal, it includes a large natural history collection and an unusual art collection.
2. More super fun things to do in Staten IslandIn
3. case you’re wondering what is there to see on Staten Island continue reading. I will share my absolute favorite things to do in Staten Island and more of the top attractions to visit in the borough.
4. The Staten Island September 11th Memorial

Staten Island lost about 274 people on September 11, 2001. Many commuters who worked in the original World Trade Center lived on the Island. To commemorate them, the September 11th Memorial was built. It is located close to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal, behind Richmond County Bank Ball Park, which is the Staten Island Yankees baseball stadium. It was designed in the form of angel wings and is precisely aligned to the skyline in Lower Manhattan.

Check out the Staten Island Zoo

Did you know that Staten Island has a Zoo? It is open all seasons and is perfect for families. It is a small zoo with an emphasis on reptiles. They do not have big animals like elephants and giraffes but nevertheless the Staten Island zoo is a wonderful hidden NYC gem. The locals call it “biggest little zoo”. With over 800 species in all the Staten Island Zoo is one of the many things to do in Staten Island that you shouldn’t miss when visiting the area.

• Historic Houses on Staten Island

Who has seen the movie, The Godfather? In the  Hamilton Park Neighborhood, there are many Victorian terraced houses from the Civil War. There are two large Tudor-style houses. These were featured in the classic film The Godfather (1971). These houses are known as Casa Corleone (110 + 120 Longfellow Road).

One of the most famous remnants of the past is the Conference House, also known as Billop House. It is located on the southernmost point of New York State in Staten Island and was built around 1680. In 1776 English Lord Howe, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin met here to hold a peace conference. There are tours of the historic house offered and run through Friday to Sunday from 1 Pm to 4 PM in April–December. (Address: 7455 Hylan Blvd).

A stroll through St. George and through  St. Pauls Avenue/Stapleton Heights Historic District will take you to many other old historic homes of Staten Island. In order to explore the area, I recommend you to continue from the Ferry Terminal by bus. Click here for a timetable and route network on Staten Island.

South Beach in Staten Island

It might not be Miami, but there’s a South Beach and it’s one of the best things to do in Staten Island. The 1.5-mile-long wooden beach promenade is the fourth-longest in the world. Here, you’ll have a beautiful view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. On the beach promenade, picnic areas and other sports facilities are available for use. The Staten Island beach section is really beautiful and absolutely worth it.

At the north end of the boardwalk is the most popular meeting place for the locals: a dolphin fountain. The Staten Island beach hosts annual events, free concerts, and one or two spectacular fireworks. At the southernmost point, called Ocean Breeze, you’ll see some fishermen trying their luck fishing in the most popular fishing village in New York City.

Military History – Fort Wadsworth

One of the things to do in Staten Island is visiting Fort Wadsworth. The fort played an important role in defending the port of New York nearly 200 years ago. Today it has a special meaning for many runners across the world traveling to NYC for the New York Marathon because right here is where runners line up at the start line for the famous marathon to run across the Verrazano Bridge.