Roosevelt Island Tramway
4.7(9.2K)google
4.4(337)yelp
FamilyScenic LookoutSunsetNight ViewOutdoorBudget-FriendlyMust-SeeRiver
Overview
Providing an extraordinarily thrilling, scenic, and highly affordable aerial transit experience, the Roosevelt Island Tramway is an iconic red cable car system that glides beautifully over the East River. Operating smoothly since 1976, this unique urban transport suspends passengers up to two hundred and fifty feet in the air, flying immediately alongside the grand cantilevered steel structure of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. Commuters and travelers enjoy spectacular, unobstructed panoramic bird's-eye views of the Manhattan skyscraper skyline, United Nations headquarters, and active tidal waters.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 30-45 minutes
Best TimeMid-April during the cherry blossom bloom or at clear golden hour sunsets. When boarding from Manhattan, try to stand near the rear or west-facing windows for an incredible high-altitude view of the East River, Queensboro Bridge, and Midtown.
Getting ThereThe Manhattan terminal is located at 2nd Ave & 59th St. Take the N/R/W/4/5/6 subway to 59th St-Lexington Ave station and walk one block east. You can enter the tram gates directly using a standard NYC OMNY tap or MetroCard.
Travel Tips
- Money-Saving Hack: The tramway is integrated directly with the MTA OMNY and MetroCard transit systems. Do not buy premium sightseeing tickets; simply tap your smartphone via Apple Pay or swipe a standard transit card at the turnstiles (Manhattan at 2nd Ave/59th St or Roosevelt Island) for just $2.90 each way.
Photo Tips
Photo Spots
- Pro-tip: The tram cabins are standing-room-only with zero seating. Securing a vantage point is cutthroat; move briskly to the dead front or dead rear windows relative to the tram's direction upon boarding. Once moving, maximum crowding makes shuffling positions impossible.
- Best Shot: Stand by the right-side window when departing Manhattan, or the left-side window when heading back from Roosevelt Island. This specific placement offers an unobstructed, parallel view of the geometric Queensboro Bridge steel trusses and East River ferries below.
Reviews
Positive
- For the price of a standard NYC subway ride, you can experience an aerial tram suspended over the East River; the views of Midtown Manhattan and the Queensboro Bridge are spectacular and offer incredible value.
- The tram ride is very smooth and quickly connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in just a few minutes, making it one of the best ways to experience New York's unique public transit.
- The large glass windows inside the cabin provide expansive views, and watching the sunset and Manhattan lights turn on in the evening is incredibly romantic.
Heads up
- During commuter rush hours or the spring cherry blossom season, lines to board get extremely long, and the cabin becomes packed like a can of sardines.
- The interior of the cabin lacks air conditioning, making it as hot and stuffy as a sauna during summer afternoons, leaving you sweaty even for a short ride.
- Since it serves as an essential commuter tool for island residents, tourists with large luggage or strollers will find it highly inconvenient during crowds and may face annoyed looks from locals.