It's on 5 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Cost$2.90
- Address59th Street and 2nd Avenue
- From my guide, updated March 2026.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway costs the same as a subway ride ($2.90 with OMNY or your MetroCard) and gives you an aerial view of the East Side of Manhattan that rivals any helicopter tour. You float above the Queensboro Bridge, the East River, and the whole Upper East Side skyline from inside a cable car. It takes about four minutes each way and it’s genuinely thrilling.
Board it at 59th Street and 2nd Avenue. Go at dusk for the best light. When you get to Roosevelt Island, walk to the southern tip to Four Freedoms Park, which has another incredible view back toward Manhattan. This whole excursion costs under $6 round trip and gives you one of the most unique perspectives of the city.
The Roosevelt Island Tramway (59th Street and 2nd Avenue) is a commuter aerial tram that takes you from the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island for the price of a subway swipe ($2.90). The ride takes about four minutes and the views of the East River, the skyline, and the Queensboro Bridge are genuinely spectacular.
Roosevelt Island itself is worth exploring for an hour. The Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip (designed by Louis Kahn) is a powerful memorial that almost no tourists visit. The smallpox hospital ruins are hauntingly beautiful. And the whole island has a strange, quiet energy that feels nothing like Manhattan, despite being a five-minute tram ride away.
The views of NYC from the Roosevelt Island tram are some of the best in the city. Which is why I consider this one of the best things to do in New York City with kids. The tram takes you from the Upper East Side to Roosevelt Island for the price of a subway ride ($2.95).
The trip to Roosevelt Island is a nice way to escape the bustle of the city and have a few calm moments to regroup. Make sure to swing by Four Freedoms State Park while on the island. It’s a memorial dedicated to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, celebrating the “Four Freedoms” he articulated in a speech in 1941.
This one always surprises people: there’s an actual aerial tramway in New York City, and it costs the same as a subway ride. The Roosevelt Island Tram floats over the East River, giving you incredible skyline views and a totally different perspective of Manhattan.
It’s short, just four minutes, but thrilling. On the other side, you can explore the quiet island and visit Four Freedoms Park, which feels like a whole other world from midtown.
Tip: Bring snacks and let your kid run along the riverfront.
This is one of those hidden gems locals love to share. For the cost of a subway swipe, you’ll glide over the East River in a red tram with sweeping views of Midtown Manhattan. Once you land on Roosevelt Island, take a stroll down to Four Freedoms Park, let the kids explore the open lawns, and soak in the slower pace. It’s a peaceful break from the chaos of the city.