Over 3 kilometres long and only about 200 metres wide, the island in the middle of the East River attracts locals and tourists alike for its beautiful riverside promenades, its unparalleled views of Manhattan and its historic hospital memorial.

The red cable car that takes you to Rossvelt Island is famous.

Our recommendations

• Visit when the weather is nice, the island is ideal for walks or picnics
• Stop by the Panorama Room bar for spectacular views of New York City
• If you want to visit the whole island, set aside at least 2 hours

Top hotels with views of New York

Walks along the river

Roosevelt Island is an oasis of calm more or less in the middle of New York City, and there are beautiful long walking paths along both sides of the island, perfect for running.

Between the paths are large grassy areas where you can picnic in good weather.

You can also enjoy beautiful views of Manhattan from the southern half of the island.

There are several places along the walking trails where you can use free toilets.

There are also great views of the beautiful Queensboro Bridge with its cable car in the middle of the island.

Discover the ruins of the old hospital and the historic lighthouse

At the very southern tip of the island, visit the ruins of the old smallpox hospital, which is gradually being converted into a memorial with a small museum.

Between 1856 and 1972 it was a hospital primarily for contagious diseases, especially smallpox.

Only the exterior walls of the building remain, which now serve as a memorial.

On the other hand, at the northern end of the island, stop by the beautiful stone lighthouse from 1872.

Red cable car or metro?

Roosevelt Island is reached by the famous suspended cable car, which is fully integrated into the public transport system and carries the same fares as the metro.

The cable car runs about once every 10 minutes from the 2nd Avenue level, and the ride offers nice views of the city and the Queensboro Bridge.

While the cable car is a great experience, it's a bit more practical to take the subway, which has a station in the middle of the island. The Orange Line F stops here and takes you to the Central Park area, Midtown Manhattan and Downtown.

From the cable car and subway station, you can take the Q102 bus line to the north end of the island to the lighthouse.

For more information on getting around New York, tickets and prices, see Transportation.

Hotels on the island

In the middle of Roosevelt Island, a 1-minute walk from the cable car station, you'll find the highly rated Graduate by Hilton New York ****.

For example, this hotel also features the Panorama Room, a highly rated rooftop bar with great views of the river and Manhattan.

• For information, hours and reservations at the Panorama Room: hilton.com/panorama-room.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in New York.