Governors Island in
New York (NY)

The opening of Eco Art on Island – II, organized by the Taiwanese American Arts Council, turned House 17 and its lawns into a meeting ground of ecology, art, and community. Twenty artists explored resilience through recycled and natural materials, cityscapes, and reflections on technology. Outdoors, Wang Guo Ren’s Deer God: Migration Trajectory – New York Chapter, built from driftwood and paint, stood as a spectral guardian recalling Taiwan’s sika deer and colonial history. Nearby, John Chia-Hsuan Kuo’s Gaia Formosa – The Elegant Lady honored Taiwan’s women and plants, weaving symbolism of grassroots resistance and democratic awakening into ceramic form. Indoors, paintings of urban greenery, stark black-and-white photographs, and clay sound vessels by Eugenie Chao carried viewers from memory to ecology, touch to listening. At noon, cellist Shu-Wei Tseng and violinist Laura Thompson filled the gallery with a lyrical duet, their music mingling with sculptural presences. Later, Julia Hsiao-Chu Hsia’s dance performance extended the theme into embodied movement. On the porch, visitors shared fruit and pastries, reinforcing the event’s atmosphere of conviviality. Eco Art on Island – II offered more than an exhibition: it was a moment of gathering, reminding us that ecological reflection thrives in community, art, and shared rituals of care.

Governors Island is simply breathtaking — a true hidden gem of New York that combines history, nature, and pure beauty in the most wonderful way. The moment you step off the ferry, you feel like you’ve entered a completely different world, far removed from the noise and rush of Manhattan. What makes the island so special is its unique blend of wide open green spaces, quiet shaded corners, and stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and the skyline. The natural beauty here is remarkable: rolling meadows, tree-lined paths, colorful flowers, and art installations that blend perfectly with the landscape. It’s the kind of place where you just want to slow down, breathe deeply, and take it all in. Walking or biking around the island is pure joy. Everywhere you look, there’s something beautiful — from the old historic buildings to the peaceful waterfront. The atmosphere is calm and inviting, and you can always find a spot to sit by yourself and simply admire the view. In the middle of a bustling metropolis, Governors Island feels like a green sanctuary. It’s where nature, history, and relaxation meet, and it leaves you with the feeling that you’ve discovered something truly special.

I've been to the island quite a few times already, usually accompanying friends visiting the city. It's a very unique (for New York) experience of looking at the city but feeling secluded at the same time.

I visited Governors Island after some friends recommended it and booked us the QC NY Spa experience. Honestly, I’d never even heard of Governors Island before they mentioned it! We arrived at the Battery Maritime Building at Slip 7 just before 10 a.m., and the ferry line was already long. Pro tip: if you have a QC Spa reservation, the ferry is free. Boats run every 30 minutes, and the ride is only about 7 minutes, perfect for anyone like me who gets seasick, since it’s literally just across the water. With about 15 minutes to spare before our spa check-in, we wandered over to Castle Williams (aka the Haunted Fort). Built in 1811 as part of New York’s harbor defenses, it later served as a military prison and picked up a reputation for ghostly sightings and eerie stories. Rangers told us to come back at 4 p.m. for the historical artillery demonstration, where they show how cannons were loaded and fired back in the 1800s. Unfortunately, a heavy rainstorm cut our plans short, so we just lined up early for the ferry back. I was bummed we didn’t get to explore more of the island. I spotted food trucks and bike rentals that I’d love to check out next time. That’s okay though, it just gives me the perfect reason to come back and explore this historic and unique island a little deeper.

What an experience ! I highly recommend to do it. It is a little adventure to go and spend the day over there. First you have to take the boat (the public one at $2,90 the trip) After you can spend the day in an empty "city". It looks a bit like a "ghost town". You can rent a city bike over there and just enjoy the day without any cars around you with some amazing photo spots of NYC/status of liberty in the background. Follow this account if you want to discover more fun activities to do in NYC, the Big ?. Victor

It was awesome. I felt like I had traveled back in time. The organizers paid major attention to detail and made the experience smooth and enjoyable, from check-in to the time I left. My only suggestion is regarding the baskets for 2. There should have been 2 cookies and 2 pastries (one for each person). I'm already planning for next year.

take the short ride with the ferry, enjoy the view of the manhattan skyline and find yourself in a surprising place with lots of visible and explorable history, hidden gems like bird watching stations, gardening projects, hammocks and restaurants ... somehow mixed with a distinctive diy vibe. take one of the citibikes for a tour around the island ?

A fun place to hang around on a sunny Saturday afternoon. The ferry is free for IDNYC holders.

Great spot to have a get-away for a day then go to Red Hook and have a great evening. Went for the Jazz Festival with a bunch of people dressed as 1930s flappers and it was great! A bunch of vendors and a good time. Also, Citibikes or you can bring your own.

A peaceful escape just a short ferry ride away, perfect for a relaxed date or weekend hangout. Renting bikes is a fun way to explore the open spaces and scenic views, and there are plenty of cute spots to grab food or drinks. It feels calm but still full of things to do — from lounging in hammocks to walking by the water. A great mix of nature, good eats, and a little adventure without leaving the city.

We been here a couple times in different seasons (summer & fall). The short ferry ride is smooth with beautiful views! All passengers ride free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11am. Reservations are still recommended $5dlls round trip!We brought lunch with us & have a great picnic. Also, depending on the season they have different activities. You can rent bikes (different types) or you have the option of CitiBike. They are different areas along the island, with hammocks, different playgrounds, a huge slide, chairs to enjoy the view, food court, a lavender field that smell so good,all the beautiful buildings & historical landmarks! You can buy merchandise of the island. You’ll definitely won’t regret the visit!

I am not sure what I thought the island looked like? Maybe a Governors mansion, or two? A dock? I couldn't have imagined 174 acres of undeveloped American history, complete with canons, trenches, decaying buildings and ones being updated but respected its own GLAMPground, giant slides, food carts, DRINKS, a hammock lawn, lambs, and MORE. We weren't able to even see a fraction of the attractions this incredible little bit of a land, a 5 minute $3 ferry ride away from the New York City Metropolis, has to offer. I kept trying to relate it to things I knew...but it is unlike anything I've ever visited. As we sat there listening to Cajun music watching the array of rental bikes and pedestrians go by, it was easy to forget we were just a hop skip and jump away from the most amazing city in the world. But, everywhere you looked glimpses of the high rises and famous skyline could be spotted, even though we were walking through an green field with nothing but the sunshine and breeze around us. Saturday was madness, Sunday was much more relaxed. We even got to hit the Taco Stand, highly recommend 10/10. This entire activity was highly recommended, I'd go back to explore Governors Island more, and although it is referred to as Manhattans backyard, I will now be calling it NYC's Camground. Adding this Collective Retreats location to my to do list! Imagine waking up to the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Flip through for the photos of that glamping experience. Incredible.

First time at Governors Island and the experience was amazing. But be sure to rent a bike so you get around the island because if you want to walk, it’s a long walk. When I got there, I started out exploring castle Williams The place was big. It has history. They even had a mini sculpture of the building. You can even see where the old prisoners used to live. Then we walked to where the bike rental was, and rented one of the Surrey to help us travel through the whole island. We saw a lot of amazing views, including hammock, Grove, the play lawns, and of course the slides. The slides was really fun, especially the one that you had to climb on the top. During our bike ride through the island, there were beautiful scenery because you can ride your bike along the river .you will be able to catch breathtaking views of New York City and statue of liberty. The only thing that’s missing is that they don’t have too many food options there. Overall, it’s a great experience to ride the ferry two governors Island. If you do go visit, I suggest bike renting a bike. Oh I almost forgot for the ladies wanna get pampered they even have a spa ?!? amazing right?

We came here to pass some time and had a nice time. The extra exercise was nice, and the views were awesome as well. There was a pretty good view of the Statue of Liberty. There weren’t many bathrooms, but the ones we went into were pretty clean. The food trucks there were alright, and overall we had a good time!

Governor's Island was a fun time. Lots of military history and interesting places to explore. Governor's Island also had several small food stops and places to rest. Bathrooms are limited but available. I would recommend the free guided tour. Plan on spending at least 2 hours plus to tour the Island. Check the ferry times to plan accordingly.

Free round-trip ferry tickets on the weekends before 11am only - booked on their website; says make sure to be there 15 min before. Very quick ferry ride but a bit shaky. Used to take my boys here when the ice cream cone-shaped island's top portion only was open to the public. A lot of free activities then. So now, we wanted to see the "cone" portion. After climbing the boulder, near the Harbor School, we started our walk. Paved roadways, nice grass, lots of greenery, great views. Passed by an area of tents, which I read can be rented. Some red chairs but could use more though under the trees - need places to sit after a long walk in the heat. Some tables at Picnic point. There is Slide hill now - 4 slides under trees. On the way to Hammock Grove walked by the Urban Farm which was closed that day, saw the sleeping sheep. I counted around 11 hammocks and a few more were being hung up. Make sure to bring drinks for your walk. We did see some vending machines (one by slide hill where we got ours - $2 each, cash or card ). Can bring picnic food/blanket too bec so much lawn area, unless you want to just buy from food vendors there, mostly around Liggett Hall and Colonels Row. Can rent bikes, surreys, pedal cars. Restrooms at the Arts Center near the ferry dock on the island (check map for other locations); and at the Battery Maritime terminal.

We visited Governors Island on a sunny Saturday, and it was a fantastic experience! The ferry from Brooklyn was only $5 per person, making it an affordable getaway. Once on the island, we rented a bike car for $32, which was perfect for exploring. The views were absolutely stunning, with plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the scenery. Highly recommend this as a day trip for anyone looking to escape the city and enjoy some fresh air and beautiful sights.

Get off at Whitehall Street - South Ferry Station, purchase a ferry ticket ($5, round trip) to Governors Island, and board the ferry that runs every 30 minutes. You will arrive at the island in 8 to 10 minutes. I was disappointed because the lavender field I had high expectations for was so small. Considering that construction is in progress here and there on the island, the future of the island is promising. I think there are still a lot of areas that need to be improved. There are ways to go around the island by walking, riding a city bike, or riding with a group of people and pedaling together. I think the island will be even more beautiful in the fall.

The island was a military base, with 172 acres. It's 800 yards (732m) from tip of Manhattan - a good distance for open water swimming ha ha ha - don't think it'll be reality bec too busy of traffic. The short ferry ride takes 10 minutes, ground to ground, and cost $4 round trip @ Beaux-Arts Battery Maritime Building (1909), east of South Ferry (the top floor is Cipriani's event space) There are residents living on the island. We circled the island. There are many bicyclers (tri and quad), some are brought by the riders, some are rented on the island.

A fun trip! The island is a historical spot with cool old buildings, and now has a ton of art collective places. There are events that go on, and interesting food and snacks. You have to pay for the ferry to get there, but other than that you can choose how expensive the excursion is. It's definitely worth a visit if you've never been, I find it a relaxing break from the city. Be sure to read about it on their website for event details and history if that interests you, it's pretty cool.

This is a great place to go to get away from the city for a little while. A lot of grass to sit on and relax. Sometimes there are events like music going on. A bunch of historical houses that you can go inside. A lot of history and awesome architecture.

Loved it here! It's a lot of walking and there are houses filled with artwork that are very creative and innovative. There is also a fort. I took millions of pictures, I will post them. There was also a car show and a jazz dance festival. This was back in 2010 and back then it was free.

Such a nice place! Very beautiful view and interesting museums (castle and art gallery)! You can also rent a bike on this island and it’s will make your trip easier!

Definitely one of my favorite places to visit absolutely beautiful island to visit and spend an afternoon. Full 360 view of lower nyc area. Playgrounds,eateries, restaurants, events. Only way in us by ferry however it's very cheap under $5 round-trip. Visiting here its a no brainer. Make sure to bring a bike or rent one on site. Best way to explore this awesome place.

Take the ferry on a weekday to avoid crowds. We came on a Tuesday, the place was so nice and quiet. Enjoyed the playground and hammocks. You can also see the Statue of Liberty from the island.

The park is gorgeous, well-maintained and full with plants. Very relaxing and spacious. The view of Manhattan is beautiful too. Food is expensive, though, as well as the bike rental; and way more trash bins would be needed.

Fantastic place to come and picnic with friends and family, barely a 5-10 minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan. There's something for everyone here - a historic fort and a castle / converted cell block, food courts and ice cream trucks, a rolling green to play frisbee or ball or picnic under a tree, swing sets for the kids, a bike rental, and a lookout point with a view of the Statue of Liberty. There are lots of visitors but also ample space so you won't feel crowded.