Roosevelt Island Tramway NYC
The great unknown for mass tourism: take a ride on the Manhattan cable car for incredible views of the city.
Views of Roosevelt Island | ©Clay Leconey
The Roosevelt Cable Car is not one of the most popular tourist attractions among travelers visiting New York, but it has a lot of charm and offers beautiful views of the city. In addition, it is a very economical ride because you only need the Metrocard to travel, the same card to travel by bus or subway.
Why take the cable car to Roosevelt Island?
The Roosevelt Cable Car is the only cable car that connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in New York. It is a small elongated island located in the East River, which in the past was home to several hospitals and a prison, but today is a residential area brimming with green spaces, luxury buildings, sports facilities and even the campus of Cornell University.
The Roosevelt Cable Car is located in the Upper East Side neighborhood, very close to the southeast corner of Central Park. It is an ideal tourist attraction to complete the visit to this New York neighborhood after visiting some museums and walking its luxurious streets.
I recommend it for
- Complete the visit to the Upper East Side.
- Have new views of Manhattan.
- Get to know Roosevelt Island.
- Enjoy a very economical plan: the ticket is cheap and you can get on with the Metrocard.
Why do I like it?
I like it because it is a very quiet place to go for a walk to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. On Roosevelt Island there are several small parks that you can add to the list of the 10 best parks in New York, plus overlooks along the water perfect for taking some nice pictures of the trip and to let the kids play outdoors for a while in case you are traveling with your family.
When to take the Roosevelt Cable Car?
Since the cable car is a means of transportation that connects Roosevelt Island to Manhattan, my advice is to avoid peak hours to go up as this is when New Yorkers use it to commute to work or back home. So, best to avoid going up between 7 and 9 AM and 5 and 7 PM.
Each cabin holds about a hundred people so if it is crowded and if you can't get next to the windows, you won't be able to enjoy the view. For example, you can ride the Roosevelt Cable Car at noon when you go to the Upper East Side. Once aboard, the cabin slowly rises and you 'll get a bird's eye view of the city- the cars look like miniature!
As you go along, the cable car follows the Queensboro Bridge and flies over the East River. Behind the bridge you will see the Downtown skyscrapers and the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance. Closer you can see the spires of the Chrysler Building or the Empire State Building.
Roosevelt Cable Car schedule
- Sunday through Thursday open from 6 am to 2 am.
- Fridays and Saturdays it operates from 6 am to 3:30 am.
How long is the cable car ride?
Although it may seem like the Roosevelt Cable Car moves slowly, in reality the ride only takes 3 minutes and you'll be on the other side in no time.
How to ride the Roosevelt Cable Car?
If you are in Manhattan, you have to go to 59th Street and 2nd Avenue, where the entrance is located.
The cable car runs every 7 to 15 minutes depending on the time, so the wait will not be too long.
Once you get to Roosevelt Island you can get off for a walk around the island or if you want to return to Manhattan after the ride you will have to get off anyway, go through the turnstiles, pay again and get back on. This process is mandatory for all passengers.
Is it safe? Does it stop?
Yes, this transportation system is one of the safest in existence. Don't worry, it is rare for the cab to stop in the middle of the ride.
Isabel's Traveller Tip
In the spring, the banks of the East River are a great place to enjoy the cherry blossoms on Roosevelt Island with the New York skyline in the background.
How much does it cost to ride the Roosevelt Cable Car?
A single ticket to ride the Roosevelt Island Cable Car is $2.75, the same as a ticket to ride the New York subway.
If you plan to use public transportation regularly to get around the city, I recommend that you purchase the MetroCard, a rechargeable card valid for the subway, bus and Roosevelt Cable Car.
The MetroCard can be recharged for:
- Single rides (Pay per Ride).
- Unlimited rides for 7 days.
- Unlimited rides for one month.
Where and how to get the Metrocard?
To get the Metrocard you have to go to any metro station, where you will find the ticket vending machines. If it is the first time you buy a Metrocard you will have to choose the option "Get a new card" which has a $1 charge. Otherwise you just have to select the option "Recharge your card" and enter the balance you want.
Then you can choose the type of Metrocard: Regular Metrocard and Unlimited Ride. The last step is the payment method. You can use cash, bank card (ATM) or credit card to purchase the transportation card.
If you want to know more about the Metrocard, in the article New York Subway Guide I tell you everything you need to know about this card and to orient yourself and get the most out of the New York subway.
Is there another way to get to Roosevelt Island?
That's right. Roosevelt Island can be reached by subway from both Manhattan and Queens. The subway stop is called Roosevelt Island and is on the F line.
You can also take the NYC Ferry to the Astoria neighborhood of Queens which stops at Roosevelt Island. The NYC Ferry was created to improve the connection between New York's boroughs and decongest the subway. However, it is also a fun adventure for tourists. After all, it is a cheaper alternative to the tourist cruises and allows you to see the wonderful Manhattan skyline as well.
If you want to know more about this means of transport, check out my article Practical Guide to the New York Ferry where I tell you everything you need to know about its routes, schedules, prices and more.
What to see on Roosevelt Island when getting off the cable car?
The Roosevelt Cable Car connects Manhattan Island with Roosevelt Island. As I mentioned before, you can take advantage of the visit to the Upper East Side to visit Roosevelt Island and complete the route through this area of New York. Despite its small size it has some tourist attractions that are well worth a visit and you can even make some great panoramic views of Manhattan with your camera.
Once there you can take a walk along the island to see new views of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, as well as the skyline of the East River. Also from here you can see the United Nations building.
Also, next to the cable car stop there is a free red bus called Red Bus that travels around the island and has several stops, so if you don't have much time to walk around the island you can use the bus and hop on and off whenever you want. Here you can check the schedules and stops. You can track the Red Bus when you're on Roosevelt Island through the NEXT Bus app. You can get it through the Apple Store.
Roosevelt Island north-south route
- On the north side of the island stands a small lighthouse called the Blackwell Island Light, which was built in 1872 to point the way to the New York City Insane Asylum, a mental hospital on the island.
- The only surviving remnant of that institution is The Octagon, a tower that has been rehabilitated and currently serves as the lobby of a luxury development. It is located a few minutes south of the lighthouse.
- Then head south along the west shore and you' ll see several waterfront overlooks and parks. Roosevelt Island is quiet and the contrast with bustling Manhattan is very striking.
- In the center of the island is the Chapel of the Good Shepherd (543 Main Street), built in 1888 by the Episcopalian church. It was restored in 1975 and is now a community center.
- Around the church on Main Street there are several restaurants, cafes and a few supermarkets where you can buy something to eat if you work up an appetite. There is also a library and an art gallery.
- At the corner of Main Street and East Road you will see the Blackwell House, a wooden cottage that is considered the sixth oldest cottage in New York. It was built in 1796 for the Blackwell family, who long owned the island and gave it its name at first. Today it is a small museum that tells the history of the island through exhibits, pictures and documents.
- If you continue strolling south, after crossing the Queensboro Bridge below, you will find the buildings of the Cornell University technology campus, which was opened in 2017. In the past this site was home to a prison ( Blackwell's Island Penitentiary) and a hospital ( Goldwater Memorial Hospital) that cared for the chronically ill.
- Moving forward you will reach an esplanade surrounded by silence where the island's wildlife roams freely. In this area you can make a good photo session of the Manhattan skyline. You will see several skyscrapers such as the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building or the United Nations building along the East River. Also, in this area are located the public baths of Roosevelt Island.
- The next stop is Southpoint Park. Here you will find a building known as Strecker Memorial Laboratory, which in the past was used as a morgue and pathological laboratory but today is used as a subway substation.
- Very close to this place there is a cat sanctuary, where children can peek into to meet these cute little animals. By the way, in Roosevelt Island you will find several playgrounds where the kids can play at their own pace. One in the Main Street area and another in The Octagon.
- Then you will see the remains of the Smallpox Memorial Hospital, a center dedicated to the care of smallpox patients in the past. Did you know that the architect who designed it was the same one who built the famous St. Patrick's Cathedral? His name was James Renwick Jr.
- And finally, we arrived at Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, also known as Four Freedoms State Park. At the entrance there is a ticket booth where you can make a $5 donation to help the conservation of the park, although it is not mandatory, you can get in for free.
- It is quite a nice park from where you have beautiful views of the Manhattan skyline. Also, looking east and towards Queens you will see Gantry Plaza Park and the Pepsi sign, a spectacular panoramic view of a peculiar corner of New York! You won't stop taking pictures. The park is open Wednesday through Monday from 9 AM to 5 PM. It closes on Tuesdays.
- At the end of the tour you can take the Red Bus back to the starting point and continue exploring New York.
How to return to Manhattan from Roosevelt Island?
To return to Manhattan you can choose to use the subway, the ferry or the cable car again. If you took the cable car to Roosevelt Island, a good idea may be to take the ferry back to enjoy a fun boat ride on the waters of New York. If you're traveling as a family, the kids will have a blast riding the cable car and boat - it's an experience they won't forget!
The NYC Ferry's Astoria line stops at Roosevelt Island and on the return trip goes southbound towards Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street. Upon arrival you can continue your tour of the city by visiting the Financial District and Ground Zero.
If you would like to know more about what you can see in this part of the Big Apple, don't miss my article on 10 things to see and do at Ground Zero in New York.