Things to do and see on Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island in New York is located on the East River, between Manhattan and Queens. The Island, named after the former president of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, belongs to the district of Manhattan. You can get there by cable car, subway or ferry from Manhattan. With many things to do and see on Roosevelt Island, it’s a nice addition to your trip. I especially like going there on a mild spring day when the blossom trees on the island are in bloom.

Eric's Index

1 Things to do and see on Roosevelt Island
- 1.1 Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park
- 1.2 Smallpox Hospital
2 How to get to Roosevelt Island
- 2.1 Transportation from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island
- 2.2 Transportation from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan
3 FAQ

Things to do and see on Roosevelt Island

Although Roosevelt Island is fairly small, there are a couple of places that are well worth a visit. You can find most of these points of interest on the southern half of the Island. To get there, just walk to the left when you get off the Roosevelt Island Tram. The other half of the island is residential, so less interesting.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

On the southernmost tip of the island, you can find the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. This newly developed park comprises a large grass field bordered by walls and paths made of white granite.

At the tip, there is a large bust of Franklin D. Roosevelt. It is free to visit and is open six days a week from April to October between 09:00 and 19:00 and from November to March from 09:00 to 17:00 (closed on Tuesdays).

Eric’s Tip: “You can explore Roosevelt Island with the help of my walking route, found in Eric’s New York App. Open the app and select ‘walking routes’ to find the ‘Tudor City – Roosevelt Island’ route that I created myself. During this route, I will take you to different spots on the island and on Manhattan.”

Smallpox Hospital

These days, the Smallpox Hospital is an empty, eerie shell of its former self. It was named after the deadly disease because it was the first hospital in the US to accept patients with the illness.

The ruins are surrounded by fences, so you can only see them from the outside, but it is worth passing by when you are on the island for a visit. It is situated on the south side of Roosevelt Island, above the memorial, so you pass it as you leave the cable car, headed for the memorial.

How to get to Roosevelt Island

There are several ways to travel from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island and back.

Transportation from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island

The most fun way to get to Roosevelt Island from Manhattan is to take the Roosevelt Island Tram. From this cable car, you get great views, and the ride takes around three minutes. You can even pay with your MetroCard. Do you have an Unlimited Ride MetroCard? Then you actually ride for free!

Are you coming from Queens? Then you can either take the ferry or subway line F, or walk or cycle over the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

Transportation from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan

On the way back, you can take the subway, which is the quickest way to get back to Manhattan. Although it is more fun to take the NYC Ferry, because during the boat ride, you have a lovely view of the skyline.

Did you rent bikes to spend a few hours cycling around the city? You can actually take them with you on the ferry! For an extra $1, you can take your bike on the NYC Ferry and have a nice ride around Roosevelt Island.

Eric’s Tip: “I like to grab something to eat in Manhattan, at Pick a Bagel on Lexington Avenue, for example, and then take the cable car over to Roosevelt Island. There, I can enjoy my lunch with a view of the Manhattan skyline. The perfect way to escape the hectic city for a while. Take the ferry back for a nice boat ride and fully relax before continuing on your New York adventure.”

FAQ

Yes, you can visit Roosevelt Island for free. To get there, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway, which costs the same as a regular subway ride. If you have an Unlimited MetroCard, the tram is included at no extra cost. You can also take the subway to Roosevelt Island.

It depends on how much time you'd like to take to look around, but in general, one hour should be enough to explore the highlights of the island.

Yes, you can walk around the island and explore the sights, like the Smallpox Hospital and the park at the southern point. You can also walk north, although there aren't many interesting places to visit in that part. It's also a bit further away from the cable car and subway station.