Overview
Governors Island is open to the public daily year-round. From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, the Island is open from 7am-10pm Sunday through Thursday and 7am-11pm Friday and Saturday, with the South Island Park (including Picnic Point, the Hills, Hammock Grove, and the Play Lawns) closing at dusk.
Getting Here
From Manhattan: Ferries operated by the Trust for Governors Island run daily from the Battery Maritime Building, located at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan. Click here for schedules and tickets.
From Brooklyn: Seasonal ferries operated by the Trust for Governors Island run Saturdays, Sundays, and Holiday Mondays from May 24-September 21, 2025, from two Brooklyn locations: Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin. Click here for schedules and tickets.
NYC Ferry, the City's public ferry service, also serves Governors Island daily year-round, with stops on the Lower East Side, Wall Street, and along the Brooklyn waterfront. The Trust for Governors Island does not operate NYC Ferry, and tickets for NYC Ferry cannot be purchased on the Governors Island website. Click here for NYC Ferry information, ticketing, and schedules.
Hours
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
7:00 am—6:00 pm
Getting Here
Governors Island is accessible by ferry from Manhattan and Brooklyn every day of the week.
Memorial Day 2025
Governors Island is open as scheduled on Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day), from 7AM to 10PM. Ferries will be running on a weekend schedule from 10 South Street, Red Hook/Atlantic Basin, and Pier 6/Brooklyn Bridge Park. NYC Ferry will operate on a weekend schedule, with the Wall Street/Pier 11 shuttle serving Governors Island. Many food vendors will be open for additional holiday hours, weather permitting.

Notice: Temporary Slide Hill Closure
Slide Hill is temporarily closed for planned maintenance in preparation for the summer months. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Food and Drink
Click here for a current list of food vendors on Governors Island. Hours are weather dependent and are subject to change. Visitors are also welcome to bring their own food and eat at one of the many picnic tables scattered throughout the Island. Visitors may not bring alcohol onto the Island but can purchase on-Island and consume it in designated areas.
Notice: Picnic Point Road Closure
Due to site prep for an upcoming event, portions of the roadway along Picnic Point are temporarily closed. Click here to view a map. The Picnic Point grilling area remains open for use.
Services for Non-English Speakers
Governors Island's website can be translated via Google Translate. Visitor maps are available in Simplified Chinese and Spanish. During the summer months, Visitor Guides are available at the Soissons Landing Welcome Center in English, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.
Restrooms
Indoor restrooms are located inside the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Arts Center at Governors Island near Soissons Landing and at Yankee Pier, the west end of Liggett Terrace, South Battery, and near Slide Hill. All restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Free Digital Guide on Bloomberg Connects
Discover Governors Island from your phone with our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Use the app to plan your visit, then easily access helpful insights on site. Afterward, dive deeper into your favorite parts of the Island at home–or anywhere, anytime! Download the app via the QR code, then search for or scroll to Governors Island to start exploring. |

Accessibility
All ferries going to and from Governors Island, as well as the grounds of the island itself, are accessible to those in wheelchairs. Not all buildings on the Island are wheelchair accessible. Building 110, located next to Soissons Landing, is wheelchair accessible. All restrooms are wheelchair accessible. The Trust for Governors Island operates an accessible tram from Memorial Day to Labor Day, stopping at each ferry landing approximately every 30 minutes.
Group Visits
Groups visiting Governors Island are encouraged to limit themselves to 40 individuals or fewer. Those wishing to reserve more than 40 ferry tickets should email groupvisits@govisland.org at least two weeks in advance of their visit. The Trust for Governors Island offers special waived ferry fares for non-profit community-based organizations, youth camps, and senior centers throughout New York City, subject to availability. Please email groupvisits@govisland.org at least two weeks in advance of your requested visit date to learn more.
Zero Waste
The Trust for Governors Island continues its dedication to environmental stewardship through its Zero Waste Island initiative. In partnership with Earth Matter NY, we aim to reduce the amount of landfill waste from the Island by:
- Ensuring all trash stations include a color-coded, clearly labeled compost bin.
- Mandating that serviceware from all vendors and events on the Island is compostable.
- Composting all organics collected on the Island at Earth Matter’s Compost Learning Center and returning the finished product to the Island’s landscapes.
- Prohibiting plastic straws, plastic bags, and Styrofoam.
- Creating a community of tenants, partners, vendors and events that are committed to composting and recycling.

Notice: Kayak Launch Out of Service
Due to necessary repairs, the Kayak Dock at Pier 101 is currently not in service. Please stay tuned for updates as we work to restore landing for human-powered vessels.