Roosevelt Island Tramway NYC

The Roosevelt Island Tramway isn't one of the most popular tourist attractions among travellers visiting New York, but it has a lot of charm and offers beautiful views of the city. It's also a very inexpensive ride because you only need your Metrocard to travel, the same card you use to get around by bus or underground.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway is the only one that connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island, a small, elongated island located in the East River, which in the past was home to several hospitals and a prison, but is now a residential area brimming with green spaces, luxury buildings, sports facilities and even the Cornell University campus.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway connects to the Upper East Side neighbourhood, very close to the southeast corner of Central Park, and is an ideal tourist attraction to round off your visit to this New York neighbourhood after visiting some museums and strolling through its luxurious streets.

I recommend it if you want to

Why do I like it?

I like it because it's a very peaceful place to go for a walk and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. Roosevelt Island has several small parks that you can add to the list of the 10 best parks in New York, as well as waterfront viewpoints that are perfect for taking beautiful photos of your trip and letting the kids play outdoors for a while if you're travelling with your family.

A single ticket for the Roosevelt Island Tramway costs $2.75, the same as a ticket for the New York Underground.

If you plan to use public transport regularly to get around the city, I recommend purchasing a MetroCard, a rechargeable card valid for the Underground, buses and the Roosevelt Island Tramway.

The MetroCard can be recharged for:

Where and how to get a Metrocard?

To get a Metrocard, go to any underground station, where you will find ticket machines. If this is your first time buying a Metrocard, you must select the option "Get a new card", which costs $1. Otherwise, simply select the option "Recharge your card" and enter the amount you wish to top up.

You can then choose the type of Metrocard: Regular Metrocard or Unlimited Ride. The last step is the payment method. You can use cash, debit card (ATM) or credit card to purchase the transport card.

If you want to know more about the Metrocard, in the article New York Subway Guide I tell you everything you need to know about this card and how to get the most out of the New York subway.

Since the cable car is a means of transport that connects Roosevelt Island with Manhattan, my advice is to avoid rush hour, as this is when New Yorkers use it to get to work or return home. Therefore, it is best to avoid travelling between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Each cabin can hold around 100 people, so if it's crowded and you can't get a window seat, you won't be able to enjoy the views. For example, you can take the Roosevelt Island Tramway at midday when you go to the Upper East Side. Once on board the cabin, it rises slowly and you'll be able to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city. The cars look like miniatures!

As it moves forward, the cable car sticks close to the Queensboro Bridge and flies over the East River. After the bridge, you'll see the skyscrapers of Downtown and the Brooklyn Bridge in the distance. Closer by, you can see the spires of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.

Roosevelt Cable Car Timetable

How long does the cable car ride take?

Although the Roosevelt Cable Car may seem to move slowly, the journey actually only takes 3 minutes and you'll be on the other side in no time.

If you are in Manhattan, you have to go to 59th Street and 2nd Avenue, where the entrance is located.

The cable car runs every 7 to 15 minutes depending on the time of day, so you won't have to wait very long.

Once you arrive at Roosevelt Island, you can get off to take a walk around the island, or if you want to return to Manhattan after the trip, you will have to get off anyway, go through the turnstiles, pay again and get back on. This process is mandatory for all passengers.

Is it safe? Does it ever stop?

Yes, this transport system is one of the safest around. Don't worry, it's rare for the cabin to stop mid-journey.

Isabel's Traveller Tip

In spring, the banks of the East River are a great place to enjoy the cherry blossoms on Roosevelt Island with the New York skyline in the background.

Yes, Roosevelt Island can be reached by underground from both Manhattan and Queens. The underground stop is called Roosevelt Island and is on the F line.

You can also take the New York ferry to the Astoria neighbourhood in Queens, which stops at Roosevelt Island. The NYC Ferry was created to improve connections between New York's boroughs and relieve congestion on the underground. However, it is also a fun adventure for tourists. You can also choose to take a cruise to see the architecture of Manhattan. Either way, you'll be able to admire the wonderful skyline of the Big Apple.

If you want to know more about this means of transport, check out my article Practical Guide to the New York Ferry, where I tell you everything you need to know about its routes, timetables, prices and more.

The Roosevelt Island Tramway connects Manhattan Island with Roosevelt Island. As I mentioned earlier, you can take advantage of your visit to the Upper East Side to explore Roosevelt Island and complete your tour of this area of New York. Despite its small size, it has some tourist attractions that are well worth a visit, and you can even take some magnificent panoramic photos of Manhattan with your camera.

Once there, you can take a walk around the island to enjoy new views of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building, as well as the East River skyline. You can also see the United Nations building from here.

In addition, next to the cable car stop, there is a free red bus called the Red Bus that travels around the island and has several stops, so if you don't have much time to walk around, you can use the bus and hop on and off whenever you want. You can check the timetables and stops here. You can track the Red Bus when you are on Roosevelt Island using the NEXT Bus app.

North to south tour of Roosevelt Island

To return to Manhattan, you can choose to take the underground, the ferry or the cable car again. If you took the cable car to Roosevelt Island, it might be a good idea to take the ferry back to enjoy a fun boat ride on the waters of New York. If you're travelling with your family, the children will have a great time travelling by cable car and boat. It's an experience they won't forget!

The Astoria line of the NYC Ferry stops at Roosevelt Island and returns southbound to Midtown Manhattan and Wall Street. Once you arrive, you can continue your tour of the city and take a tour of Lower Manhattan, Wall Street and the 9/11 Memorial.

If you want to know more about what you can see in this part of the Big Apple, don't miss my article on 10 things to see and do at Ground Zero in New York.