outoftown

Will be in Manhattan later this month doing the usual sightseeing stuff, and am trying to figure out the best way to get from our hotel a few blocks north of Times Square to Battery Park to catch the ferry.

It looks as if the N/R is the one to take (get on at 49th/off at Whitehall St). Are there any transfers that we would need to make due to construction near the WTC site, or is there a better route to get to these two destinations? Or should we just think about a cab? Would be making this trip during morning rush.

Also, can find no info on what it means that the trains run full time and part time. Their website does not explain this well.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

xxx

Take the N/R to City Hall, get out and walk to the Trade Center Site (3 blocks south) and then go about 6 more blocks south and you are at Battery Park.

NYer

If you are a few block North of Times Square, walk down to the Times Square station for the 1&9 line, get off at the South Ferry and you are right there.

By the way, every time I have people come to New York I tell them one of the first things to do is ride the ferry. You get a great view of the Statue of Liberty and the city and it doesn't cost you a dime!

outoftown

Nyer:
Please tell me if I am wrong, but the Staten Island Ferry does not stop anywhere, right? We want to tour Ellis Island, so we would have to take that one and pay the $10? I don't mind paying it, but free is better!

NYer

I am sorry, every time I hear ferry I just assume Staten Island, I forget all about the Ellis Island ones.

Yeah, the Staten Island ferry doesn't stop anywhere along the way. If you want to tour Ellis island you'll have to pay the $10, like you said no big deal. I still think the 1&9 is your best bet getting off at South Ferry as opposed to N&R, you will get off a lot closer to the Ellis island ferries.

Bea

New Yorker, it she gets off at City Hall on the N/R, she can see the pretty park at City Hall, St. Pauls Chapel, WTC site, and spend a little badly needed money in the financial district (check out the Federal Building and the NYSE) instead of just hauling ass to the ferry. See?

NYer

Bea,

Let's examine the original post...

"am trying to figure out the best way to get from our hotel a few blocks north of Times Square to Battery Park to catch the ferry."

If Outoftown wants to see all the sights and sounds of downtown then great, there are more than enough guidebooks/conceirges/panhandlers that can help them out with that. You are right, downtown needs some money pumped into it, and there is a lot to see along the way. But the question was not "how can I waste some time getting from point A to point B" instead this was a very direct question, that needs a direct answer. Also, if you have ever tried to catch the ferry out to Ellis/statue of liberty then you know that getting there early is crucial (hence the going at rush hour comment). To get there early you need to shortest most efficient path, which I provided. See?

outoftown

Please don't argue! NYer has actually provided the info I needed, as I want to get to the ferry first thing in the a.m. to avoid the lines. Then we plan on spending the rest of this day "meandering" around downtown, catching city hall, WTC, Tenement Museum, Little Italy, Chinatown, and if time allows, SoHo and the Village.

If I should plan something else, I am definately open to suggestions. I have just heard from other Fodorites that ferry lines can be long later in the day.

x

Go to the subway entrance at 50th and BRoadway. Take a#1 or #9 train DOWNTOWN to the last stop - South FErry. No subway change to make. Forget the cab - the subway is faster.Trains run day and night.After returning from Ellis Island walk up to WTC site and continue north to Chinatown, Little Italy, Soho and theVillage

Philip

You can take the 1 or 9 downtown to get to Battery Park. The stop will be "South Ferry". (If it's closer for you, you can catch it at 50th Street & Broadway) Make sure that you are in one of the first five cars because South Ferry is a short platform and only first five cars will open.

If you are visiting the Statue island, you will need to get off first. Once you get to Ellis Island I don't believe you can go back to the statue.

Full time and part time trains are usually designations for trains that will travel outside the area you will be visiting. If you are on the 1 or 9, they will always stop at South Ferry (that's the last stop). Sometimes a local train will fall behind and have to travel express to make up the time. Usually they announce this (if you can hear it) but you'll know because a bunch of people start cursing and getting off.

r-travels

Question for NYers: Is Liberty Park better to avoid the lines?

Seems I read somewhere that it can be easier to take PATH to NJ, visit Liberty Park (and Science Center) and take the ferry from there to SOL & Ellis. Any validity to that?? Thanks.

NYer

r-travels,

Ok, you got me...I'm stumped. I am one of those "live in New York never been to the Statue of Liberty" people so as far as trying to determine the most efficient way to do it I have always just dispensed the "get there early" advice. Your plan sounds like a good one, if for no other reason it works in Liberty Park and Science Center into the plan. I'll ask around at work and see if I can find anything out about this.

tommy

I don't know about the lines, but I think that the extra time taken to get to Liberty Park will not make it any faster. You will have to take a subway from your hotel to the PATH station at 34th St. Then you will take the Path to Jersey City, where you will have to transfer to the HudsonBergen Light Rail to get to the Science Center. All during the morning rush at both major transportation hubs on the west side. IMO, the sites in lower Manhattan are more interesting than the Science Center, especially if you don't have kids with you.