Things to do in Staten Island

Our most recommended things to do in Staten Island

NYC: One World Observatory Skip-the-Line Ticket

NYC: One World Observatory Skip-the-Line Ticket

Skip the ticket line and ascend via SkyPod to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere in less than 47 seconds. SkyPod provides a thrilling virtual time-lapse visual experience showing how New York City has changed from the 1500s to today. At the observatory, elevate your senses as you take in the iconic sights, surrounding waters, and panoramas of the Manhattan skyline and beyond from this unique Downtown location. Enjoy unbeatable aerial views of the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, New York Harbor and the 9/11 Memorial. Engage with Skyline Concierges at City Pulse and learn incredible stories of New York. Step onto the Sky Portal and see real-time life on the streets below you. Surround yourself with the rhythms of the city in the See Forever Theater. Dine or drink at the café, bar, or restaurant. Upgrade to Combination or All-Inclusive Tickets and enjoy skip-the-line access to the elevators. Access expedited security via the priority security line. The Digital Skyline Guide, an interactive, virtual reality iPad guide to New York City, is also included. All-inclusive tickets also have the added benefit of a flexible arrival time on your scheduled day to visit. For the VIP experience, take the Mastercard VIP Guided Tour option which includes an expert guide for an informative and engaging experience. On this 60-90-minute tour of all 3 observatory levels (floors 100-102), your guide will point out famous landmarks while sharing the city's rich history. The Combination, All-inclusive and VIP Tour tickets include a credit to Drink or Shop. $5 for Combination tickets. $15 for All-inclusive and VIP Tour tickets

New York: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus

New York: Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus

Experience the perfect introduction to New York with a Hop on Hop off Big Bus tour. Relax on an open-top double decker sightseeing bus while listening to insightful and engaging digital commentary. The bus route takes you on a captivating journey through New York's rich history and vibrant modern life, as well as its many memorials and museums. Hop off at any stop to explore the city's most iconic sites, including the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State Building, Broadway, and the One World Trade Center with its 360-degree view of the skyline. Pay tribute to the memory of those lost in the tragic event at the 9/11 Memorial just steps away. Explore Lower Manhattan on the Downtown tour, including popular neighborhoods including the Flatiron District, Battery Park, SoHo & NoHo, Greenwich Village & East Village, Chelsea, and the Financial District. Wander around Wall St. to see the famous Stock Exchange and Charging Bull. Eat your way through Little Italy and Chinatown, shop at the high-end boutiques in SoHo, or see the open-air observation deck at The Edge in Hudson Yards. Then make your way to the Upper East Side, home to some of New York’s most popular museums. Explore the Frick Collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met). The Uptown Loop takes you through Midtown, passing by Grand Central Terminal and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Downtown Loop is a 90-minute circuit, while the Uptown Loop is 75 minutes. Many guests choose to ride a full loop to see the city before deciding where to hop off on the next loop around. Buses arrive every 10-15 minutes on the Downtown Loop and every 30 minutes on the Uptown Loop throughout the day.

NYC: Circle Line 2h Harbor Lights Cruise Skip-The-Box-Office

NYC: Circle Line 2h Harbor Lights Cruise Skip-The-Box-Office

The first, the original, the iconic Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Visitors’ #1 choice for sightseeing cruises in New York. With over 80 million passengers and counting, forget the rest and choose the best for your visit. Circle Line offers the largest fleet of sightseeing vessels with the largest boats. Comfortable seating with lots of legroom and outdoor and indoor space for the best views of the New York skyline. With a drink in your hand, purchased from the fully stocked bar, feel the breeze on your face and be mesmerized by the shimmering skyline as our award-winning tour guides provide an overview of all the major NYC highlights. Get endless photo opportunities to make you an Instagram star as you sail past legendary attractions such as the Statue of Liberty and get perfect views of the One World Trade Center, Empire State Building, Little Island Park, Battery Park, and more. See where millions of immigrants were processed when they arrived in America at Ellis Island, cruise past Governors Island, the South Street Seaport, and Brooklyn Bridge. Marvel at unrivaled views of the Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, and Chrysler Building, and discover the East Village, United Nations Building, and USS Intrepid from a different perspective. 

NYC: Circle Line 2.5 Hour Best of NYC Boat Cruise

NYC: Circle Line 2.5 Hour Best of NYC Boat Cruise

The first, the original, the iconic Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Visitors’ #1 choice for sightseeing cruises in New York. With over 80 million passengers and counting, forget the rest and choose the best for your visit. Circle Line offers the largest fleet of sightseeing vessels with the largest boats. Comfortable seating with lots of legroom and outdoor and indoor space for the best views of the New York skyline. Prices are subject to increase closer to the travel date—book early to secure the best rate Enjoy a relaxing cruise of New York Harbor and Manhattan Island as you discover the secrets of the city. You will circle Manhattan, passing 3 rivers, 7 major bridges – including the world-famous Brooklyn Bridge – 5 boroughs, and more than 100 sights in New York’s legendary skyline. Get up close to the Statue of Liberty and see Manhattan just as the great explorers would have seen it at the end of their long ocean journeys. Tour the city by water and see the outer boroughs drift by. Fun and knowledgeable tour guides will bring the city that never sleeps to life, telling fascinating stories about the breathtaking sights as you sail. See it all as you marvel at the best that New York has to offer. Cruise highlights include close-up views of the Statue of Liberty, Randall’s Island, High Bridge, Columbia University, Harlem, Gracie Mansion, South Street Seaport, Brooklyn Bridge, Yankee Stadium, The Cloisters, Grant’s Tomb, and The Little Red Lighthouse.

NYC: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise Skip-the-Line Ticket

NYC: Statue of Liberty Sunset Cruise Skip-the-Line Ticket

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises is the original, iconic, and #1 choice for sightseeing in New York City, with over 80 million passengers and counting. Offering the largest fleet of sightseeing vessels, Circle Line ensures you have the best views of the city’s skyline from both indoor and outdoor spaces. Our boats provide comfortable seating with plenty of legroom, making your cruise a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Set sail for Lady Liberty and enjoy the gorgeous sunset views of the city that never sleeps on this 1.5-hour long sunset cruise. Enjoy some great music as you sail around the New York Harbor on your way out to the Statue of Liberty and snap some pictures of other iconic landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and One World Trade Center. Sit back and relax on the outdoor deck, you've done enough running around during the day, you deserve this!

New York Pass®: 105+ Attractions including Edge NYC

New York Pass®: 105+ Attractions including Edge NYC

Visit 105+ attractions with a single mobile pass and save up to 50% on all your sightseeing vs. buying individual tickets. Simply choose how many days you'll be in New York and get unlimited admission to many of the city's best attractions, tours, and experiences. Valid for the number of consecutive days that you've purchased. Buy online for instant mobile delivery. Get free admission to 105+ Attractions: • Empire State Building (86 Floor Observation Deck) • One World Observatory (102 Floor Observation Deck) • Hudson Yards: Edge Observatory ( 100 Floor Observation Deck) • Top of the Rock (70 Floor Observation Deck with 360 degree views) • Big Bus 1-Day Downtown & Uptown Hop-on Hop-off Tour • Statue of Liberty Ferry & Ellis Island Immigration Museum • NYC Cruise by Circle Line • Madame Tussauds New York • Central Park Bike Rental by Unlimited Biking • The RIDE Museums & Galleries: • 9/11 Memorial & Museum • Guggenheim Museum • American Museum of Natural History • MoMA - Museum of Modern Art • Intrepid Museum • Museum of Sex • Whitney Museum of American Art • Fotografiska New York • Museum of the City of New York • New York Historical Society • Museum of Arts and Design • Museum of Jewish Heritage • Skyscraper Museum • New York Hall of Science • Museum at Eldridge Street • International Center of Photography • MOMA PS 1 • Staten Island Museum • The Paley Center for Media • Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Tours & Cruises • Central Park TV & Movie Sites Walking Tour • Rockefeller Center Tour • The Official Chinatown Walking Tour • How Money Was Made: Wall Street Walking Tour • Harbor Lights Cruise by Circle Line • The Official Little Italy Walking Tour • New York City News Media Tour • Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Neighborhood Walking Tour • Brooklyn Bridge Guided Bike Tour by Unlimited Biking • See 30+ Top New York Sights Walking Tour Family-friendly: • Central Park Bike Tour by Unlimited Biking • 9/11 Museum Workshop: Hands-On 9/11 Tour • Marvel & DC Superheroes Walking Tour • Yankee Stadium Tour • LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, New Jersey or Westchester • Staten Island Zoo • Staten Island Children’s Museum Hidden Gems: • New York Botanical Garden • Catacombs by Candlelight Tour • Harlem Jazz Series – Tuesday and Friday • Cathedral of St. John the Divine • Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden • ARTECHOUSE New York Activate your pass at the first attraction or tour you go to. Once activated, your pass records when and where you first used it and how long it will remain valid for. Your New York Pass is then valid for the number of consecutive days that you've purchased. Attractions and tours are subject to change. Check the digital guide for an up-to-date attraction line-up including opening times and instructions on how to access each attraction before you go. Some tours and attractions require advance reservations. * Savings based on sample itineraries on Go City website.

NYC: Circle Line 1.5-Hr Landmarks Skip-The-Box-Office Cruise

NYC: Circle Line 1.5-Hr Landmarks Skip-The-Box-Office Cruise

The first, the original, the iconic Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Visitors’ #1 choice for sightseeing cruises in New York. With over 80 million passengers and counting, forget the rest and choose the best for your visit. Circle Line offers the largest fleet of sightseeing vessels with the largest boats. Comfortable seating with lots of legroom and outdoor and indoor space for the best views of the New York skyline. Take in many of the iconic sites of midtown and lower Manhattan on a semi-circle boat cruise. Enjoy magnificent views of the world's most recognizable skyline and get a close-up look at Lady Liberty and Ellis Island from the water. See the sights with a local tour guide who brings to life the breathtaking sights and the fascinating history behind the Big Apple. Sail down the Hudson River, cruising around the Battery, and up the East River. Pass under the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg Bridges to the United Nations building before heading back to Pier 83, the starting point for your tour.

NYC: Circle Line 1-Hr Statue of Liberty Skip-The-Line Cruise

NYC: Circle Line 1-Hr Statue of Liberty Skip-The-Line Cruise

The first, the original, the iconic Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises. Visitors’ #1 choice for sightseeing cruises in New York. With over 80 million passengers and counting, forget the rest and choose the best for your visit. Circle Line offers the largest fleet of sightseeing vessels with the largest boats. Comfortable seating with lots of legroom and outdoor and indoor space for the best views of the New York skyline. Take a 60-minute cruise of New York Harbor and see the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and city skyscraper views that will leave you speechless. The short, but highly inspirational harbor cruise will sail by the majestic Statue of Liberty, continue to the historic immigration center at Ellis Island, and cruise by the World Financial Center of Lower Manhattan. Stare up at the awesome skyscrapers that make New York’s fabulous skyline come alive. Fun and knowledgeable tour guides will bring to life the breathtaking sights and the fascinating history behind “the city that never sleeps,” as you look out for the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, Governors Island, Brooklyn Bridge, and more.

NYC: Circle Line The Beast Midtown Speedboat Ride

NYC: Circle Line The Beast Midtown Speedboat Ride

Tour New York Harbor in The Beast, a jet-powered, custom-built, 70-foot offshore racing power boat that bursts with energy as it leaves all others in its wake! Your captain will take you up to speeds of 45mph on a thrilling spin down to the Statue of Liberty. It's New York's very own thrill ride—a wet n’ wild adventure through the harbor that will have you holding onto your hat for 30 unforgettable minutes. You’ll soar past the city’s legendary skyline and iconic skyscrapers at a heart-pounding pace. Pause for a close-up of the Statue of Liberty, catch your breath, and then race back to Pier 83. After your ride, head over to Pier 81 BEAST'ro for food, drinks, and exclusive BEAST merchandise to keep the adrenaline going!

From New Jersey: New York City Skyline Tour

From New Jersey: New York City Skyline Tour

Daytime Flight - The City Skyline Experience allows you spectacular views of New York as you fly towards the Manhattan skyline, flying over the Verrazano Bridge! Have your camera ready to capture all the sights of the City, including a selfie with the Statue of Liberty! Flying above the Hudson River to the tip of Manhattan you will be able to behold architectural landmarks like The Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and George Washington Bridge as well as the newest attractions, including Little Island, the Vessel, and Summit One Vanderbilt. You’ll also see one of the world’s most famous urban green spaces, Central Park, and the breathtaking NJ Palisade Cliffs on this 25-30 minute flight. After Sunset Night Flight - You’ll fly up close to the illuminated Statue of Liberty before cruising above the Hudson River to the northern tip of Manhattan. Get a new perspective on the streets of New York as they become a sea of headlights and enjoy the glow of Times Square which shines brightly and can be seen clearly as you fly above the Hudson River. Experience New York like never before on our night flight, only available from our New Jersey location!

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Frequently asked questions about Staten Island

What are the best indoor activities in Staten Island for rainy days?

The best indoor activities in Staten Island for rainy days are:

See all best indoor activities in Staten Island on GetYourGuide

What are the best inexpensive tours in Staten Island?

These are the best activities when you are visiting Staten Island on a budget:

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Other Sightseeing Options in Staten Island

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What people are saying about Staten Island

Overall rating

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3
4.3 out of 5 stars
(1,261 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

Highlight of our trip. What an amazing view. Extremely cold as we went in February so definitely wrap up if you choose to sit outside which I believe are the best views with no obstructions. However if you prefer to be sat inside then you will keep nice and warm as the heat hits you when you walk through the doors so this trip is suitable for all needs. This is a definite must, don't consider it just book it.

5 out of 5 stars

Our tour guide James, was knowledgeable and told us lots of interesting facts on the tour, rather than just the standard information. The schedule was perfect and great vafor money

5 out of 5 stars

Getting on and off wherever you want is just great, no long waiting times and cheaper than on the train...spoken in many languages and very friendly... really top

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent, the whole thing was fun and professional from start to finish, we enjoyed every minute of it

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service good directions overall great experience