//
Borough and county in New York, US
Photo: Beyond My Ken, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
A small park that is not much more than a clearing and some trees. A monument to the man the park was named for, Roald Amundsen, stands in the center of it.
A large park on the South Shore known from its large collection of wildlife, from birds to wildflowers. True to its name, the park is a known habitat for blue herons.
This deceivingly small park has two large asphalt playgrounds, two smaller ones, a grass field, a baseball field, basketball courts, and a jungle gym. It is always peaceful and rarely crowded, as it is shared by Public School 50 during school hours.
Only in the first stages of development, this mega-park is set to be 2,200 acres—three times the size of Central Park. It will cover the wild areas of the Fresh Kills, and the former Fresh Kills Dump. The first section of the park, Schmul Park, in Travis, features a large and colorful playground for kids, along with basketball courts, handball courts, and an open grass field.
Dating back to 1663, this fort was used during both the American Revolution and the War of 1812. It remained active until 1995. It is now semi-active, with its main use being local headquarters for the United States Coast Guard. Tours are available.
This park was operated as a United States Army airfield from 1919-1969. Now, it is a large, mostly grass park with baseball fields, soccer fields, and a children's playground.
This park is home to a large woodland and a number of beaches. A small portion of the beach is closed for radiation screenings.
A humongous collection of woodlands and parks (2,800 acres!), the Greenbelt is a collection of nature you wouldn't expect to see in any major city, let alone New York. The Greenbelt covers much of the Mid-Island, so it's best to know which part you want to go to beforehand. A good place to start is the Greenbelt Nature Center an educational facility in the center of the park. The park is a great place for hikers, and a map of hiking trails can be found here
This park is home to the creek that shares its name, as well as a variety of wildlife. One of the most notable is the purple martin. The park has one of the very few colonies in the New York Metro.
Nature preserve on the South Shore with hiking trails and shoreline access. Fishing is permitted along the beach or the freshwater pond inside the area. Most of the land is minimally developed, and is an excellent place to observe wildlife. An abandoned orphanage on-site, after which the area was named, burnt down in 2000.
This beach is a pleasant place to relax. The water is safe enough to swim in, but it's not the best you can get (you'd get a better deal down the Jersey Shore or on Long Island). The boardwalk, one of the longest in the United States, is great for running or biking.
The former estate of Arthur Von Briesen is now a small, hilly park.
A large park with a carousel.
Dates back to 1680, and held an abortive peace conference during the Revolutionary War.
American woman Jacques Marchais had a dream of traveling to Tibet. While she never made it, her extensive collection of Tibetan artifacts was made into a museum in 1947. The museum now holds over 120 pieces of beautiful Tibetan art. The museum's authenticity was praised by the Dalai Lama.
Staten Island's September 11th memorial honors all of its residents that lost their lives on Sep 11, 2001.
Snug Harbor
This is the largest collection of Greek revival, temple style buildings in America. A true architectural gem featuring the Staten Island Botanic Garden, which features an authentic Chinese Scholar's garden (created by actual Chinese scholars!). There is also an art museum, the John A. Noble Collection, on the grounds. This is one of the most beautiful places in New York, a place even the most jaded New Yorker will marvel at.
Go to a game of this independent Atlantic League baseball team. Come for a relaxed, fun time, away from the smothering hustle and bustle of the major leagues.
It's in West New Brighton, and is a fun destination for younger children as well as animal enthusiasts. The zoo used to have the most snake species of any zoo in the world. It no longer holds that title, but still has a substantial reptile wing.
Come and visit one of the largest public library collections in the world. Just sit down with one of the millions of good books and relax. You can also use a computer or take books outside of the library, although you first must register for one of the library's famous red and blue cards. For the history buff in you, every Staten Island branch has a file cabinet marked Staten Island Local History with fascinating documents relating to Staten Island's history. A list of Staten Island locations can be found below.
Another large movie theater, the Atrium is also great for taking in a movie.
It is reasonably priced and has tasty dishes besides pizza.
Specializes in an extraordinarily thin pizza that is one of the best slices in the city. Uniquely thin without too much cheese, Joe and Pat's slices are some of the lightest in the city. Try the eggplant fries.
A small pizzeria known for its authentically Italian thin crust pizza. Unlike New York pizza, it is cooked in a wood-fired oven. It has been featured on the TV show Throwdown with Bobby Flay.
The original store of the successful chain of stores serving light, refreshing ices. The chain has numerous other locations in the New York Metro, including a handful in other Staten Island neighborhoods. They are in New Dorp, Great Kills, Eltingville, Huguenot, and Pleasant Plains. The full list can be found here.
The cemitas are to die for, a sandwich with your choice of meat, with avocado, chipotle peppers, quesillo, and beans. One of the best sandwiches you'll ever have.
Fun Tex-Mex restaurant with generous portions, bar is on the lower level, and restaurant is upstairs.
Spanish restaurant with live music occasionally. Tapas and sangria bring some much needed class to the neighborhood. A short walk from the ferry and a great place to eat.
A restaurant with authentic Spanish food.
One of the more elegant eateries. Its fine decor and delicious meals belie the outrageously inexpensive prices. Sundays offer a lunch and dinner buffet.
Offers many of the same items at competitive prices. Has been named #1 by the Village Voice Cheap Eats in the past. Featured on Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. Try a mutton roll! There are several Sri Lankan groceries that dot the street about a 15-20 minute walk from the ferry.
As of 2020, this is Staten Island's first brewery in nearly 60 years. There are some locally crafted beers in the tap room. The tap list is always changing.
The Staten Island Mall is the largest mall in New York City and the center of retail life in Staten Island, anchored by Macy's and JCPenney. There is also a large food court and a variety of smaller stores. In the vicinity, there are a number of sizable shopping centers.
Taking up 400,000 square feet, this mall houses a small number of large stores.
A smaller shopping center, Hylan Plaza is still home to a number of retail stores alongside numerous mom-and-pop shops. It's located along a line of smaller shopping centers.
Only outlet mall in New York City
This market sells products only grown on-site.
By car
Staten Island can be reached by bridge from Brooklyn and New Jersey.
By bus
A moderately priced option is to take an express bus from Manhattan to Staten Island.
By bus
Bus routes cover the island pretty thoroughly. There are two types of buses:
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Newark · International · EWR
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about Staten Island and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
6 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.