Aesthetic: Beautiful island between Manhattan and Long Island City with a trail and views What to check out: The lighthouse and tram Parking: Sparse Rating: We enjoyed our day walking around, taking pictures with the sculptures and lighthouse, and seeing NY from the waterfront read more

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Roosevelt Island, I finally visited a friend living on the island on the East River.the island is accessible by bridges, a tram, subway. In the past, I took the tram just for fun. This time I traveled by subway. Near the subway is a corridor of buildings and eateries; One was reviewed independently. We mostly walk through the Southtown and southern part of the island with tall buildings, Cornell Tech, Riverwalk, and Four Freedoms Park. This area is just beautiful, peaceful, removed from the bustling Manhattan East Side where I'm from. The ruins of the Smallpox Hospital are located here. We took the free bus that goes around the 2-mile island for a sightseeing tour. read more

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Fun little stop between Queens and Manhattan. The Island which has schools, parks, and other historical markers oh and did I mention a spooky smallpox hospital. The Island is best walked, and sadly I was there a bit late for many of the areas, it was a fantastic location for shots of the Manhattan and LIC skyline. There are multiple way to arrive on the island including the Subway, buses and the tram which are the easiest modes if just stopping buy read more

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An easy tram ride getaway on a beautiful day! Not only does this small island have housing, it hosts some historical landmarks. We had one sunny day on our visit to NYC and made a day walking along the trails around this entire island. We saw beautiful parks, beautiful 360 degree views surrounding the island, viewed the first smallpox hospital built in the 1800s, walked through the Four Freedoms Park dedicated to FDR, came across a wildlife and cat sanctuary, walked through Lighthouse park, and took pics near the Nelly Bly sculptures. This little island has so much to see and do. Teams of people were playing sand volleyball and the cherry blossom trees were just starting to bloom! A perfect day trip getaway from the hustle and bustle! read more

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STEPH JUDGEMENT: Way more interesting than I expected. We were short on time so we only got to visit the southern part, but we still had a swell time! After we got off the tram we thought it'd be fun to rent electric bikes but alas there was only one that was working so we had to give that up. But a bus pulled up just then and we found out that it was the free island bus so we hopped on. We decided to check out the South Point park, which turned out to be the home of a cat sanctuary (among other things)! A former smallpox hospital used to be a cat sanctuary for the island's feral cat population, but after the hospital was deemed unsafe, the sanctuary was moved to another spot in the park, where volunteers from the Wildlife Freedom Foundation care for and adopt out the cats. We caught a glimpse of some of the sanctuary's content residents on the day of our visit. The smallpox hospital is still around and fenced off, but you can see it through the fence. it is worth a look, as it's a gorgeous ivy-covered gothic ruin like you might run into in a video game (super Elden Ring vibes). Just past the hospital was the Four Freedoms park, which was magnificent, with a giant bust of FDR, expansive walkways, groves of trees, and majestic views of Manhattan across the water. There were chairs and benches everywhere, and wasn't very crowded, as the weather was about to turn. There was a snack bar with some outdoor seating and umbrellas, but those were getting put away by the staff in anticipation of the said weather. We wished we could've seen more of the island, but we were out of time. Oh well, an excuse to return next time! read more

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New York is not just all tall buildings, rat-racing people, luxury brands, wonderful museums and excellent Broadway shows. One of the quiet and warm afternoons, we took the Roosevelt Island Tramway and headed to Roosevelt Island. I was happy to see an island away from the city center, quiet cul-de-sac with clean parks, beautiful flowers and trees and an excellent place to take walks and leisurely runs. Yes, they also have some small restaurants and eateries which allows you to dine over sushi, grilled plates, burgers or just plain regular delights that can please anyone who isn't picky about anything. If you wanted to see a church, they also have them but unfortunately, they were closed for the day. Tram ride is 2.90 each way and is worth the fun for anyone who just wanted to see another side of beautiful New York City. So, if you're in New York, head down to the Roosevelt island Tramway station and travel to an island away from the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

Roosevelt Island - Roosevelt Island Bridge 2025 - Parks Near Me

Gorgeous experience. I went during the spring of 2026 and trees were in bloom and the atmosphere was amazing. Lots of couples out holding hands! read more

Had some time to kill so decided to stop by this little island to do some exploring. It's super peaceful here. Low crowds, minimal traffic, and very quiet. We walked along the water front and explored some great parks the island has to offer. We loved the view of the city especially and welcomed the change of pace. There's multiple ways on and off the island, but I'd recommend doing the tram for at least one of them as it is a slightly unique experience. read more

Roosevelt Island - Map - Parks Near Me

This place is different from the rest of NYC in its entirety. It is not busy, packed or in the center. Offering history through its abandoned buildings, peace through their views, great photos through the scenery and even great picnic spaces. This is also a great place to take pictures with NYC in background that are closer than NYC. The best way to come in is the scenic one which would be through the tramway. read more

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Roosevelt Island New York, NY 10044 It's kind of a novelty to walk along this urban island in between Manhattan and Queens. It definitely has the feel of a suburb; it's best to see it for yourself at least once. #rooseveltisland #lighthousepark #lighthouse #smallpox #smallpoxhospital #franklindelanoroosevelt #fdr #fourfreedomspark read more

A pretty stop away from the hustle and bustle of midtown Manhattan. We visited Cornell Tech, the smallpox hospital, the FDR Four Freedoms Park, The Room, and excellent views of the UN. Wear your walking shoes. read more

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Come here when the weather is nice and you have some time to walk around. Enjoy the quirky tram ride and pretty views of Manhattan and the East River. Check out the occasional art installations and public parks. Even do some birding. Lots to see nature-wise for a smaller island! read more

Roosevelt Island - Parks Near Me

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Spring is here on the island! Altho I feel like it's almost gone but seen some colors yesterday. It was overwhelmingly crowded ! So felt like needed to leave & before that took some pics . The island is still clean most of the areas , there are some construction going around which isn't fun ! Posting some pictures from yesterday, if you planning on visiting then you should do so before rest of the blossoms are gone .Btw , I did went on a Saturday so it was my bad, should have went on weekdays ! I did try to post recent pictures on this updated review but it doesn't let me, will try to post them directly through the picture option. read more

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When we heard about the smallpox hospital and cat sanctuary, Roosevelt Island was high on our list of things to do during our visit to New York this summer. Part of Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is a thin, two mile long island located in the East River. People reside on the island, and there are several interesting attractions, such as a former small pox hospital, a cat sanctuary, and several parks. There is also a university campus on the island (tip: if you need a bathroom, a bite to eat, or wifi, go to the university campus). Roosevelt Island is accessible by a tram, the subway (F train), ferry, or a bus from Queens. We went to Roosevelt Island on the tram, but left using the subway. While on Roosevelt Island, we saw: South Point Park, Four Freedoms Park, the cat sanctuary, the smallpox hospital, and the FDR Hope Memorial, as well as a lot of Canada geese and baby goslings. (I love baby goslings and was disappointed that we would be out of town when they would be hatching in Vancouver, but I was able to see them on Roosevelt Island.) Roosevelt Island is a lovely place and if you have the time, it is definitely worth a visit. [Yelp collections: East Coast 2022; NY Summer 2022] read more

The majority of visitors come here solely to ride the tram. The tramway provides a breathtaking view of the city. If you're not afraid of heights, I recommend taking it both ways. It's surprisingly sturdy. You could probably walk around the island in about an hour and a half, maybe two. There are plenty of restaurants, if you get hungry. Take a walk along the riverside trail for spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. You can also see Queens skyline, if you hit the opposite direction. Visit the lighthouse, the beautiful Roosevelt Island Garden Community, the eerie former Smallpox hospital, and the Four Freedom Park. 5 stars. read more

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we took a fun team ride to beautiful, quiet Roosevelt Island. Definitely recommend, especially if you have already met your $34 Metro limit since the tram was then free read more

What a beautiful island! It is a small island that is located between Manhattan and Queens. Quiet neighborhood....there is only one street- "Main Street" that takes you from one end to the other end of the island. It is a nice spot to walk if you want to get away from the city for a bit. There aren't many places to eat around, but you still can find a few restaurants and a Starbucks on the island. To get to Roosevelt Island by public transportation, you can take Q102, or the F train, or the RI tram from 59th on 2nd Ave. There is only one bridge to get to the island by driving. You would have to go through LIC to get to Roosevelt Island. Also, there is a free red RI shuttle bus on the island that takes you from the RI Tram station to The Octagon (last stop). On one end of the island, you can see the lighthouse and the other end has Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park. Best time to visit is during Cherry Blossoms season around March/ April read more

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Even though I've been on the tram just once before in my life, I didn't have a deep level of curiosity that would have led me to get off. I just figured the aerial ride was the main attraction. That was back when I was a twenty-year-old ad agency intern and assumed Roosevelt Island was where the inmates ran the asylum. Flash forward a few eons later, and here I was with Jamie W. when I suggested we take the normally $2.75 tram ride on our limitless Metro pass. This time I was mature enough to explore a bit of the island on our own. It turned out to be more bucolic than I expected with lots of green space across the two-mile length of the island. Walking on the promenades on either side provides great panoramic views of Manhattan and Queens. There's an unexpected state-of-the-art college campus, Cornell Tech. At the southern tip is the FDR Four Freedoms Park, and the northern point is flanked by a small lighthouse. In between there are several historical landmarks including the Octagon (the last remnant of an insane asylum) and an abandoned smallpox hospital. But the island's old reputation as a big institution has long been overshadowed by its gentrification and the resulting suburban vibe - complexes of apartment buildings, at least four restaurants, a Starbucks and a Duane Reade. I'm going to time our next trip in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. RELATED - Exploring NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ZvQA2F read more

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We had a fun few hours exploring Roosevelt Island from the top to the bottom and in between. It's amazing that this amount of peacefulness exists alongside Manhattan! Arriving on the tram and being greeted by one of the local buses, it's awesome how the bus is free. It makes a big loop of the island which was great for getting from here to there along the way. The lighthouse, the Octagon, a Starbucks, the Smallpox Hospital, Four Freedoms Park, the cat sanctuary and probably a few more things that will be reviewed in the next day or two. And then instead of taking the tram, we took the metro to Queens. Adventure here is off the charts. Other than ferries, there are only THREE methods to access Roosevelt Island. The Tramway from Manhattan, the Subway (F train) and the vertical lift Roosevelt Island Bridge. Parking on the Island is extremely limited. There are outlets of the Citi Bike or you can take the free bus to get around. [Review 15670 overall - 263 in New York - 1174 of 2021.] read more

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Roosevelt Island is One of my favorite places to get away from the hussle & bussle with out really leaving the city itself. I enjoy wandering around the island. The pace is slower, lots of green spaces, historic landmarked buildings ,pedestrian friendly and no shortage of relaxing views of the water. There are lots of historic spots like the Octagon which used to be an insane asylum, the remains of the small pox hospital, and the cute lighthouse ( currently in construction) at the tip of the island! If new & modern is what tickles your fancy then make sure to check out Freedom park & the Cornell tech campus. There's a cafeteria in the latter where i buy coffee & use the restrooms after. It's always clean. The chairs/ benches outside the cafeteria are perfect for people watching. Feels nostalgic watching the young, bright & hopeful vibes of its students going about their business. Oh i almost forgot to mention how beautiful it is at springtime. One of the prime spot to enjoy cherry blossom in the city! Aaaaand i get excited to ride the tram like its the first time. Beautiful view of the river, bridge & the buildings below. Best experience you can buy for $2.75!!! read more

Roosevelt Island - Parks Near Me

This is definitely a must visit place especially on a beautiful day. I came here by taking the MTA. You can get here by car or the tram as well. It is a beautiful island. One end you have the Four Freedom Park and at the other end you have the beautiful famous lighthouse/ small pox hospital and the beautiful statues/artwork. Walking along Roosevelt Island, you can admire the beautiful skyline of Manhattan downtown. Roosevelt Island is quite small and you can walk from one end to the other end in less than 45 mins. There is one big grocery store, one hospital, one university/college and a few residential apartments and parks etc. Basically on this small little island, it has everything what a community would need. It is a beautiful island and is definitely worth visiting. read more

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It's great to visit here. peaceful a great view in Manhattan. If you see the Roosevelt island bus which is a red color it's free. Duan read, supermarket, library, Starbucks, etc...... So you don't need to buy food or get drink before you get in. Perfect day to go there for sunny day. If you go there 1st time, I highly recommend to take the ropeway :) (tramway) F train is not running many times during the weekend. Please check it before you go. Another option is ferry! Easy access to East side/midtown/downtown Manhattan/Williamsburg/Queens great environment! Perfect for picnic, walking, relaxing, library etc...... read more

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Worth taking a fun tram ride over to the island to spend an afternoon and walk around. Terrific city skyline views which offer terrific photo ops. The old smallpox hospital ruins are hauntingly beautiful. Pathways to take a stroll or a run on. A few parks to throw down a blanket and have a picnic on a nice day. I ran a Turkey Troy 5K here not too long ago. After all my years living in Manhattan I'm surprised I hadn't been here before. It's quite nice actually. read more

Very interesting island. Been to NYC too many times and really never knew it existed. Saw in in the TV show "Blacklist" - although it has been in quite a few shows we learned. Currently getting a facelift, with new landscaping and walkways. Should be done by the end of 2021 - they said. The Tramway was very cool. Part of the MTA, so it only costed $2.75. Worth the visit. read more

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Great place to visit and makes you feel like you aren't in NYC. Take the tramway over for a whopping $2.75 for amazing views of NYC and just the experience of riding it. We spent two hours walking around Roosevelt Island. It is just a very relaxing place to visit with a fair amount of history. I would highly recommend visiting Roosevelt Island, you won't be disappointed. read more

This is my favorite hangout when I just want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. The most popular time to go is Cherry Blossom season. I love checking out the smallpox hospital when I'm there. It has a lot of history. Moreover, it has this eerie vibe. I recommend taking the tram to this destination. It's a cool experience when you are in it. read more

I recently discovered that this is a wonderful place to spend time during covid. You can walk or bike the entire island in less than an hour. There are so many sights to see(lighthouse park, F. Roosevelt park, Capobianco Field, the tramway, but my favorite is the view from Cornell Tech Campus, there is a gorgeous Public field where you can have a picnic. It's my new favorite green space. I would never drive here, would only take the tram for leisure and the best way is by WALKING or biking from Astoria. I don't recommend driving or relying on public transport if you are coming from queens. read more

Roosevelt Island - Roosevelt's Four freedoms park - Parks Near Me

This is a great spot to visit. There is a beautiful park on one side. If the weather is good then it will be a great experience. There's also some history on that island, learn a little more about history of NYC. Take a ferry for cheap to get there then take the tram into the city or take a ferry across the water to get to the city. read more

I'm not participating in a ruse, because a ruse has been done on me before, and the Ruse-Felt really bad on my end. This island is named after how the ruse felt, hence Ruse-Felt Island. Roosevelt Island is just weird. Of course I always think of that movie with Jennifer Connelly. Crap movie really. Awful ending. Post-spoiler spoiler alert. She's super cute though. Just a bad movie. Not sure why she didn't do more top movies between awesome Labrynth and the overrated Beautiful Mind, and that one. People live here. Plenty of them, though not by NYC standards. Twelve thousand of them live here which really just makes it a small NYC neighbourhood, but so secluded from the rest of them that it makes it an eerie little village within a massive megacity. But I certainly wouldn't live here. It's a strange community and I have mixed feelings about it. If, though, you walk down to the south end of it for example, the views are absolutely beautiful. So it has to get 4S. read more

Can't believe I've never visited Roosevelt Island. A great little spot to spend the afternoon. We took a cab over and the tram home. It would be a fun little place to rent a city bike and ride the length of the island. Great little park at the southern tip that's currently under construction but still worth walking out to the end. read more

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Great spot for cherry blossoms in the mid April. What I love about this place is that there're not many people. It's perfect for these days where you want to avoid the crowd! I already went there twice this season, and it's the best to park on the West side of the island because that's where you see more cheery trees. In the middle of the area, they will have a market for veggies and fruits on Saturday AM. read more

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Enjoyed the island for the first time with great experience. Visited visitor center and got an island map for $1 donation. The lady explained the island has one parking garage which is located by the Roosevelt Island Bridge. There are meter parking to try your luck. $2 an hour. 8 hours max. 7-7 pm. After 7 pm and Sundays are free. We took the tram and ferry. Kids ran around at parks. Scooters allowed. Disadvantages are only one restroom at the busy southern part of island. It was poorly maintained. When we used them at 5 pm, it was smelly and out of toilet paper. Not much eatery places in the southern part of island either where the ferry, tram station abd cherry blossom promenade are. Not even a single street side vendor. There is a cafe at Cornell Tech which closes at 5 pm on Saturday. You have to venture out to the middle part of the island to see more local deli or restaurants. Starbucks is next to F train station. I saw Subway the restaurant but no other chain restaurants I saw. read more

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Roosevelt Island is a must see place. 1) Getting here is nice, you need to take the tram, which itself is a great trip. 2) On the island, the lighthouse, Southpoint park, Four Freedoms Park, bust of Roosevelt and Small pox hospital. 3) Won't regret it. Slightly better than Governor's Island in my opinion. read more

Ms. Herman was extraordinary and super helpful guide on our trek. We also got a bicycle map that reminded me of my mom having me be the navigator on our road trips. I remember traversing the country in the Chevy Caprice station wagon and uhaul trailer in tow from SF to NJ to move my half-sister and her family. read more

That place is the perfect getaway afternoon from the city. It's super easy to get to by tramway, ferry or subway. I 100% recommend grabbing a citiBike from the port right behind the tramway station and taking a ride up the west die to the light house. When I came, I brought a picnic and settled on the hidden green space at the very bottom of the island to lay out my blanket. There are beautiful views of the east side of the city and it a great quiet place to read a book. With a convenient public restroom. Fair warning: the south side of the island has geese. They're not mean or anything, but the green spaces have a good amount of goose poop, so definitely worth bringing a blanket if you plan to sit. There's also a great visitor center near the tramway. The gentleman at the center, Bill, is super kind and knowledgeable. He was able to answer all my questions and more. read more

Roosevelt Island - Visitor center - Parks Near Me

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I really like this island! It's like an escape from the city scene. The tram is a great way to get on. Fun little ride over Manhattan and the river onto the island. The cherry blossom trees are especially pretty to see. They line the whole river side and it would make for gorgeous backdrops for pictures. I walked from the tram (which resides in the middle of the island) all the way to Freedom Park (yes my feet were dying) and then back. It was fun to explore the Cornell campus haha. I walked around their campus a bit and was tempted to try their ice cream but I knew it wouldn't survive the long trip home and I didn't have any Lactaid (oh the life of the lactose-intolerant). As my feet were extremely tired, I ended up taking the Red Bus all the way to the end and then walked a bit to see the Lighthouse. It's a free bus which is a check in my book! And if you are ever in doubt where to ride the train on Roosevelt Island, just follow the crowd. They will lead you to the train station in swarms. read more

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This small island is packed with history and sights. Though I ventured here last spring to see the cherry blossoms that line the streets near the smallpox hospital, I was more entranced by the views of nyc sitting at the end of the island, past the hospital. You bet I filled my camera roll with at least 100 pics. There's not many stores or restaurants around, but the rolling hills make for a good place to enjoy a picnic. read more

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sandwiched between Manhattan and Queens, opt for Tram ride to reach there It lies between Manhattan Island to its west and the borough of Queens, on Long Island, to its east. It is politically part of the borough of Manhattan, Spanning 2 miles and almost 40 city blocks from 46th to 85th street, this small island is often (literally) overshadowed by the Queensboro bridge which passes right above it. The island is home to one of the city's oldest houses, the Blackwell House. The house is technically the 6th oldest in the city, built in 1796. Basically, this island was home of city's most ill, several hospitals and lunatic asylums. The Octagon, which originally served as the entrance to the lunatic asylum is still standing today. On the west side, The walk along the river just south of the Tram station is also cool, especially right now with those trees turning white and pink. With no urban planning to speak of, it's a mix of old and new; bleak, tall buildings and serene, empty spaces; great views and mediocre shopping. Beautiful Four Freedoms National Park which hosts a season of events including free yoga, concerts, book readings, public talks, and even kite flying. The season runs from May to October. Some of the building still tagged as haunted. There is a walking trail you can explore that loops around the tip of the island. You can see the old insane asylums and prisons - untouched and spooky It is accessible by the F and E trains but the best part of the Island is getting there and it is Tram ride from E 60th Street and 2nd Avenue PS: Never go there on some festivals days. I went there on the cherry blossom festival (14-Apr-19) and it was horrible. There was 1-2 hours line for tram/subway. I left the island by 5 in the evening and I was shocked to see the crowd at the subway station. read more

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First of all, it's fun to arrive by tram (see previous review). You get a neat ride and a nice view for a couple bucks and some change (each way). The island is small, a couple miles end to end, and there is a red bus that will take you all over. There is an abandoned small pox hospital that's interesting to see and photograph and a pretty walk along the river. The FDR freedom park was closed when I visited. From what I understand, the island and tram can get crowded during festivals or when the tree blossoms bloom. Worth a trip, especially if crowds are low. read more

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Came here to check out the island, and from the lighthouse to the smallpox hospital to the Four Freedoms Park to the hidden gem of the gardens, we absolutely LOVED it here! The shops and restaurants were gems, the views spectacular, and the city vibe without the city chaos made us never want to leave. After one visit, I've made it my life goal to live on the island - so I definitely plan on coming back to enjoy it regularly before that dream comes into fruition. read more