Fun activities to do on Governors Island for families in NYC
Hey Families! We know that families are always looking for new and fun exciting places to visit. Governors Island New York is a 172-acre island in the heart of New York Harbor. It is a world unto itself, unique and full of promise. If you are looking to escape the daily city life without having to go too far, check out Governors Island New York. With a ton of exciting activities for the family, beautiful views, good food, and so much more, you can have a perfect weekend here. This blog covers so many Governors Island NYC Activities.
The great news is that Governors Island New York is open every day 7 am-6 pm. To ensure the health and safety of all visitors during this time, they have implemented new protocols including a new ticket reservation system to ensure social distancing on their ferries, requiring face coverings, enhanced cleaning, and more. Families are encouraged to take advantage of the Island’s wide-open park spaces by engaging in passive recreation activities like biking, birding, and picnicking.
Please make sure to call and check their website before visiting as timings and activities can change on a daily basis.
Fun activities to do at Governors Island, NYC
Hammock Grove
Want to just relax on a summer day? Head to Hammock Grove to relax and swing in the Island’s iconic red hammocks. Kick back in peaceful nooks among the lush foliage of the park. You may even see the Statue of Liberty and the City skyline peeking over you! This is a perfect summer activity especially for parents, while the kids play at the Hammock Grove Play Area. Make sure to get there on time because they fill up very fast. This is one of the most fun Governors Island NYC activities.
Play Area
The Hammock Grove Play Area is perfect for all kids and ages. It features play structures that kids will love to climb and swing on to their hearts’ content, located on the south end of Liggett Terrace. If you would like your kiddos to cool off on a hot day, check out the three sprinkler pools/play fountains near Liggett Terrace which includes 90 water jets located in the hedge maze.
The Hills
The Hills offer lush rolling landscapes, grassy overlooks, exhilarating slides, unforgettable views, and a permanent installation by British artist Rachel Whiteread. They are different man-made hills offering different activities and experiences for the whole family.
Slide Hill
Another super fun activity for the kids. Zoom down the hillside at Slide Hill! Located in the beautiful parkland on the southern half of Governors Island, Slide Hill offers a variety of slides that are bound to delight young visitors and families. Scramble up the Timber Climb or take a winding path up the hill and fly back down. Slide Hill features three shorter slides, including a family slide built for two people to ride down at once. Thrill-seekers will get a rush on the fourth slide: a curving, 57-foot-long, three-story-high slide, the longest in NYC!
Grassy Hill
Perfect for some relaxing time and to enjoy some beautiful views, Grassy Hill, rising 25 feet, offers gentle slopes and views overlooking 30 acres of the new park.
Discovery Hill
Discovery Hill, rising 40 feet, features ornamental trees and shrubs, as well as Cabin, a permanent site-specific installation by acclaimed British artist Rachel Whiteread. Such fun Governors Island NYC activities.
Outlook Hill
Outlook Hill, rising 70 feet, offers both a winding, accessible path to a plaza at its summit and a granite ‘scramble’ for those who seek a quicker ascent. Visitors can enjoy unparalleled, 360-degree views of the Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the city skyline.
Glamping
Who doesn’t love glamping(camping in style)? Rejuvenate and relax at this transformative island retreat! One of the most unique escapes, you’ll be surrounded by sprawling green space and waking up to views of the Statue of Liberty, the New York Harbor, and the Manhattan Skyline. This would be a perfect getaway for families or even a couple can enjoy this. Expect gourmet meals, electricity, Wifi, deluxe bedding, yoga and wellness sessions, and so much more at Collective Retreats.
Art
Art is a significant part of Governors Island and there are some beautiful installations that will be open for you to check out. This remains most people’s favorite Governors Island NYC activity. Since opening to the public in 2005, Governors Island has been a dynamic, unique venue for arts and culture to be both discovered and created in NY. The Island is home to site-specific, long-term artworks within the park, and public spaces. Check out Shantell Martin’s The May Room, Rachel Whiteread’s Cabin, and Jacob Hashimoto’s Never Comes Tomorrow.
Biking
Take advantage of Governors Island’s 7 miles of car-free biking! Bring your own bike or rent one from Blazing Saddles near Liggett Terrace or Citi Bike at the ferry landings. Heightened cleaning and safety protocols have been implemented for all rentals. Take a beautiful bike ride with gorgeous views on a beautiful summer day. Free Bike Mornings on Governors Island allow visitors to borrow a bike for free for up to one hour every weekday between 10 am and noon.
Guided Bird Walks with NYC Audubon
Visit NYC Audubon’s seasonal nature center for family-friendly activities, information on the city’s birds and habitats, binoculars to borrow, and opportunities to meet avian-inspired artists at work. Bird walks and nature-themed workshops will also be scheduled on weekends throughout the season. All of the events below are free and open to the public with no registration necessary Meet at Nolan Park House 17.
Check out Castle Williams and Fort Jay
Castle Williams is a circular defensive work of red sandstone on the west point of Governors Island. It was designed and erected between 1807 and 1811, designed by the Chief Engineer of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lt. Col. Jonathan Williams, for whom the fort is named, and considered a prototype for new forms of coastal fortification. You can take a guided tour with the kids to learn more about it. You can also check out Fort Jay.
Governors Island Urban Farm
The GrowNYC Teaching Garden at Governors Island is a one-acre urban farm that aims to engage, excite, and educate its visitors in all aspects of urban farming. The Teaching Garden features over 20 vegetable beds made from recycled plastic lumber, farm-style rows, an aquaponics system, an outdoor kitchen, a large solar oven, a high tunnel greenhouse, fruit trees, several rainwater harvesting systems, a rain garden, and much much more. Urban Farm is closed for hands-on learning this season you can still visit it on weekends from Noon to 4 p.m.
Adventures at Governors Island
Adventures at GI are the perfect attraction for kids. It provides thrill seekers with a zip-line, amazin’ maze, and 25-foot walls to attempt to climb. You’ll be able to see the Statue of Liberty from new heights as you soar past the zip line at a peak of 35 feet high and over 300 feet long. You must be at least 40 inches tall and over 45 pounds to ride or attempt to rock climb three different towering walls. There will also be a new mini-golf adventure course with 18 holes of unique challenges.
Kayaking
Get onto the water with some kayaking! You can get free kayak rentals provided by the Downtown Boathouse. They offer free sit-on-top kayaks for public use at Pier 101. The Boathouse staff gives free instruction and provides all necessary safety equipment. Spend a good family time doing adventures at these Governors Island NYC activities.
Food
Governors Islands has a ton of options for foodies! The list includes almost 20 eateries from food trucks to oysters and ice cream for a hot summer day! There is something for everyone! Vendors set for the opening include: Island Oyster, Taco Vista, Jamaican-fusion establishment Fauzia’s Heavenly Delights, Kimchi Taco, traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean food eatery Makina, Threes Brewing, The Meat Hook, ice pop and slushies haven People’s Pops, Melt Bakery, Venezuelan-style hot dog restaurant Perros Y Vainas, Joe Coffee, Three Peaks Lodge at Collective Retre. You can see more about food here. You can also take your own food and have a picnic if you like.
How to Get To Governors Island From Jersey City
It takes approximately 1h 26m to get from Jersey City to Governors Island, including transfers. There is no direct connection from Jersey City to Governors Island. However, you can take the PATH train to the World Trade Center, then take a walk to Pier 11/Wall St. then take the ferry to Governors Island. The cheapest way to get from Jersey City to Governors Island is to train and ferry. The quickest way to get from Jersey City to Governors Island is by taxi, which would be a little more expensive.
Governors Island is accessible by ferry from the Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street in Lower Manhattan. In addition, seasonal Brooklyn ferry service from Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6 and Red Hook/Atlantic Basin runs weekends and holidays from May 23 to November 1, 2026.
NYC Ferry also serves Governors Island, with several stops in Manhattan and along the Brooklyn waterfront. The Trust for Governors Island does not operate NYC Ferry, and tickets for NYC Ferry cannot be purchased on the Governors Island website.
Visitors must reserve tickets in advance through a new ticket reservation system. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your ferry departure time. They will start processing the line to access the Island 30 minutes before your departure time and will be closing processing 5 minutes before departure to ensure all visitors board safely. BUY TICKETS HERE.
If you would like to pay for tickets with cash, please email [email protected] to make your ticket reservation. Reservations are still required for visitors wishing to pay cash. When you arrive for your ferry, proceed to the ticketing agent to complete your transaction. More tickets will be released in the near future. If you have any issues with your reservation, please email [email protected] . Passengers ride free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11 am.
Other Things To Know
Restrooms
Indoor restrooms are located at Building 110 on Governors Island. Trailer restrooms are available at Yankee Pier, the south end of Nolan Park, the west end of Liggett Terrace, and near Slide Hill. Hand washing and sanitizing stations are also available across the Island. Increased cleaning procedures and schedules will be implemented for all amenities.
Welcome Centers
The Welcome Center at Soissons Landing will be open Wednesdays through Sundays for visitors to get directions, pick up Island essentials or get a complimentary face covering from a Visitor Services team member. Additionally, look for Visitor Services team members in blue shirts across the Island!
Updated June 16, 2026
