Have done the Circle Line tour in the past and thought we might enjoy the ferry. Does anyone know which subway to take in order to get to the ferry. I will be in the area of 318 W. 48th Street. Will it require changing trains and would it be better to take a taxi or the bus?

Get the green 4,5 heading toward Brooklyn but get off at Bowling Green or take the red 1,2,3,9 to South Ferry.

Personally, I like to get off at City Hall and walk to the ferry. You walk right through Wall Street past the Federal Building (George Washington was inagurated on the steps), past Trinity Church (where he prayed and the pope visited), past the NYSE, and a small detour takes you through Battery Park and you can view the sphere that was at the World Trade Center Plaza. The dome is beautiful and awe inspiring in its beat up, battered glory. You can also make a quick detour through Castle Clinton.

I'm afraid GoTravel is a little confused. The 4 and 5 are the Lexington Avenue (east side) line and will be of no help. And on the Broadway line only the 1 and 9 go to South Ferry - where you need to get the ferry. The closest stop to you is at 50th st and Broadway. You need to take the 1/9 - or Broadway local - downtown.

Do not attempt to identify the subways by color - this is not how they are signified - and if you ask someone local how to get to the red line they won;t have a clue what you're talking about. Subways are properly designated by the number or letter (1 or 2, A or D) or perhaps by the line (Lexington Ave, Sixth Ave etc) and if local or express.

There is no need to change trains. A bus would take forever and a cab would be quite expensive and could take forever, depending on traffic.

The ferry runs every 15/20 minutes during the day and the trip to Staten Island takes about 30 minutes.

Okay, get on any train heading toward Brooklyn.

Exit, "Bowling Green", "South Ferry", and all trains stop here (tongue in cheek okay? Stop being literal) "City Hall".

NYtraveler, I'm doing the best I can after 257 bottles of Pinot Grigio

I used to communte by the Staten Island Ferry years ago. The earlier post is correct, take the 1 train to South Ferry and be in one of the first 4 cars, if I remember correctly. It is one of the oldest subway stops so the platform is not long enough for all the cars, only the first few will open their doors.

If you wanted to see more of the area, you might get off a stop or two earlier, and see City Hall, St. Pauls Chapel, The World Trade Center, Trinity Church, Wall St. NYSE, Amex, Wall St Bull, (yes there is a huge Bull statue on Broadway, north of the Customs House), American Indian Museum (US Customs House), Battery Park, Holocaust Museum, Ft. Clinton, Fraunces Tavern, Mother Elizabeth Seaton's Church and more that I can't think of right now, lol.

Have a wonderful time while you are here.

In addition to the 1/9, you could also go to 49th street and 7th Avenue and take the R or W heading to downtown/brooklyn. On that train, you would get off at Whitehall street.

Sabrina -

As you can see - there are many trains that head downtown (most of which end up going to Brooklyn rather than South Ferry) and give you the option to see others things as well as get on the ferry. It just depends on what you want to do.

If you decide to get off at one of the earlier stops to see some things and then walk down to South Ferry be sure you have a good street map - this is the oldest part of the city and doesn;t operate on the grid system as it does further uptown.

Also be sure you have the subway map so you can find your way back if you decide to see some other things after the ferry ride. You can download a map - for study now - and it is interactive on-line - if you go to the mta (metropolitan transit authority) web site.

Due to recent knee problems, I need to head straight for the ferry and not do too much walking. This will be my first New York subway ride in years. I realize that I must do walking to subway stop, climb stairs etc. Would like to try this, as everyone says the ferry ride is a great trip. Would like to take the subway that takes me the closest to the ferry.

So then, from 318 W. 48th St., you should head over to the 1/9 subway stop at 50th and Broadway. The downtown stations are on the west side of Broadway (so you'll come to those first, since you're coming from Eighth Avenue.) Be sure to be in one of the first four cars, and ride it to the end of the line, which is South Ferry.

It has been a long time since I took the S.I. ferry,. How much is it?

It's free.

The ferry is free, each way, and you can even get a snack on board.

I would suggest taking the ferry just at dusk, so the return trip you get to see the city lights and the light on the Statue of Liberty, is really beautiful.

Have a fun trip.

Please do not take the 2 or 3 to South Ferry as they do not stop at South Ferry. they head east from Fulton Street, stop at Wall Street, then go to Brooklyn. Brooklyn is a wonderful place, but not if you're trying to catch the Staten Island Ferry.

I've taken too many rides on the 2/3 with tourists who were surprised, confused, etc. to find themselves in Brooklyn.

I lived on Staten Island for 20 years and it wasn't free then. I haven't lived there since 1990 though. I had no idea that they no longer charge. Didn't they also refurbish the ferry terminal? How are they paying for that if it is free? Wow, learn something new everyday.

AllanNYC is right, don't confuse the 2 or 3 with the 1 or 9. But, if you get on at 50th street, you won't make a mistake -- that's a local station and only the 1 & 9 stop there. Plus you won't have to wade through Times Square.

I remember when the ferry still charged -- but didn't you only have to pay in one direction? Something like 50 cents. I think they realized that the costs involved with collecting the fares were high, so they just made it free. The ferry building is indeed refurbished.