Governors Island Opens for Season

Governors Island - one of city’s most popular FREE destinations - reopens for the season this weekend, on Saturday, May. 1.

It’s just one more indication that NYC is back in business and open for business.

Governors Island Photo by Timothy Schenk

Take the ferry to a car-free playground of more than 100 acres of bike trails and hiking trails, shaded hammock and spacious sunny lawns, picture postcard views of vistas of downtown Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn, art exhibits, crafts workshops and more. And nearly everything is FREE. Yes, FREE.

If you’re a first-timer, take a FREE guided tour of the Island with Friends of Governors Island volunteer docents. Tours leave from Soissons Landing on weekends at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm.

Or, take a self-guided tour through the island’s history and features on Urban Archive’s app or website.

There are seven miles of car-free paths, making Governors Island a pedaler’s paradise, and you can bring your bike on the ferry for free. Or, rent bikes, surreys, pedal cars, scooters and more from Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals, or from three Citi Bike stations across the Island.

Adventures at Governors Island also returns this season, with a zipline, climbing wall, problem-solving maze, and mini-golf, just steps from Liggett Terrace.

The Urban Farm also reopens Noon to 4pm. There are environmental learning programs at GrowNYC’s Teaching Garden, a working urban farm with rows of crops, greenhouses and more, and Earth Matter’s Compost Learning Center and Soil Start Farm is a fully functioning compost center that turns material from throughout NYC into nutritious compost for use on the Island and elsewhere.

FREE art exhibits open this weekend

Arts, culture and science programs return in and around the historic houses of Nolan Park and Colonels Row.

See PHREATIC!, an exhibition of works presented by NYU’s Gallatin School at the New York Virtual Volcano Observatory house, Nolan Park 11, 11AM–5PM.

Outside West Harlem Art Fund at Nolan Park 10, see two public art installations: Regatta III/8 Candy Blue & Teal by Gilbert Boro and Garden Sentinel by Michele Brody.

More exhibitions open next weekend, including works by students and faculty at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Architecture and Urban Design program, a group exhibition of photography, film and more at Protocinema, and New Art Dealers Alliance’sNADA House, which includes works by more over 50 artists across five houses on Colonels Row.

Everything to Explore on Governors Island

The award-winning park features cozy hammocks, spacious lawns, and breathtaking views, with miles of paths for biking and playgrounds for kids.

Plus, explore free arts and culture programs, public art installations, and environmental learning at the Urban Farm.

Everything to do on Governor Island this weekend

Photo by Timothy Schenck

Duke Riley’s Not for Nutten welcomes visitors in the Governors Island Ferry Waiting Room at the historic Battery Maritime Building.

Inspired by nautical traditions of the past and modern environmental crises, this long-term commission by the Trust for Governors Island will greet visitors as they prepare to board our Manhattan ferries and journey across the Harbor.

Not for Nutten explores the Island’s history and our relationship with water

Learn more about the piece and see it yourself starting opening day

Get Ferry Tickets to Governors Island

Reserve your ferry tickets at govisland.org.

Ticket reservations are required for visitors, with May and June dates available now.

Governors Island’s Brooklyn ferries will serve two locations on weekends in 2021:

Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park
Atlantic Basin in Red Hook: enter near the corner of Pioneer and Conover Streets (and enjoy PortSide NY‘s Pandemic Pop-Up Park near the landing)

Ferries also run daily from Lower Manhattan.

Governor Island ferr ies are FREE for kids 12 and under, seniors 65 and up, residents of NYCHA housing, military servicemembers, Governors Island members, and for everyone on weekends before noon.

Learn more about Governors Island ferries and book tickets

See full health and safety protocols before your visit

Photo by Julienne Schaer

Ewe Will Love the New Gardening Team.

Sam, Chad, Flour, Evening and Philip Aries will live in Hammock Grove through the summer, to help control invasive species.

These eco-friendly landscapers love to eat phragmites and mugwort, invasive herbaceous plants that can stifle the growth of other species native to the NYC area.

Stop by to say hello, but please don’t feed or touch them!

Photo: Governors Island

Governors Island Eats and Drinks

A broad selection of food and beverage vendors will satisfy any craving.

Get your favorite Island eats like Island Oyster’s summer fare, Jamaican fusion cuisine at Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, Korean-inspired tacos at Kimchi Taco and more, and try tasty new options like Mai Bpen Rai’s Thai-style green papaya salads and Malai’s ice cream treats inspired by South Asian flavors.

Pictured here - Fauzia’s serves up Jamaican fusion like jerk chicken, curry goat, fresh coconuts and cool drinks.

Grills are also available by reservation.

Check out the full food and beverage lineup

Photo by Sarma & Co. Photography

Support Critical Care for The Park

The Friends of Governors Island raises nearly 75% of the funding needed to care for the Island’s open spaces, but Governors Island can’t do it without you.

Help ensure the Island is healthy, beautiful and ready for you to enjoy by making a donation to the Critical Care for the Park Fund.

Funds raised give gardeners the support they need to care for the Island’s lush rolling hills, vibrant flowers and young forest.

Learn more and make a gift