TELEFÉRICO DE ROOSEVELT ISLAND AND WHAT TO DO ON THE ISLAND

We have to confess something: the first time we traveled to New York we decided not to go to Roosevelt Island because, foolish of us, we believed that his cable car was a total tourist and that it was not worth it. We couldn't go wrong anymore! During these weeks that we have spent in New York, we took the opportunity to cross the island during a sunset and we simply loved it! In this post we are going to give you some tips to get on the Roosevelt Island cable car and visit the island.

His name is Roosevelt Island Tramway and it was built in 1976, at which time it was the only cable car in North America. It crosses from Manhattan to more or less the center of Roosevelt Island, but does not go further to the part of Queens. Specifically, the Roosevelt Island cable car is taken on 59th Street with the 2nd. To ride you will need to have the card Metrocard, the one you use in the subways or buses of New York, and it goes perfectly with the weekly. It is really as if you are riding on any other transport.

The journey from Manhattan to Roosevelt Island takes about 3 minutes, and although it seems little, the experience will be incredible. The cable car rises more than one thinks (up to 76 meters above the ground) and in a moment you will see yourself flying over the skyscrapers of New York and crossing the East River, with the Queensboro Bridge always by your side.

We took it around 5pm and we had to do some tail: when we arrived they were just boarding a cabin and we were out. We had to wait for some 20 minutes to ride on the next one. Anyway, it was a period in which the service had been reduced for some reason, so we don't think you have to wait too long. If you want to save the time of the lines, you can get to Roosevelt Island by subway and return by funicular, although the truth is that we believe it is worth “wasting” some time and doing both routes with the tramway.

If you have Vertigo don't worry too much: I suffer it (although not at exaggerated levels) and the views from the cable car are so beautiful that you don't even have time to be afraid. Just do not watch the movie of Spiderman before going 😉

Which is the best time to take the Roosevelt Island Cable Car? We took it to go in the afternoon, we stayed for a couple of hours on the island, and we returned when it was already getting dark. We think it's a good plan, so you see it both during the day and with the unique lights of New York at night.

Just when you arrive at the island's cable car station there is a bus stop. System red buses that go around Roosevelt Island is free, so you can go up and decide where you want to start the visit. Our advice and what we did, is that you get on the red bus and get off at the northernmost stop (where there is a lighthouse), and from there start down by the ride that overlooks Manhattan. Roosevelt Island is about 3 km long (1 hour approx).

Something that we found very curious is that on the island about 15,000 people live. The feeling we had, walking far and wide, is to be like in a town with wonderful views of the city. There are children who ride bicycles or scooters, very few cars, people jogging along the river and an unusual tranquility. Certainly something worth seeing and a perfect plan to forget for a few hours the stress of the city.

If you are lucky (like us hehe) you can even walk among blooming trees. We looked like Japanese taking so many pictures of the cherry blossom but it was like a magnet!

In addition to walking and enjoying the views, there are a few things to do in Roosevelt Island, look:

- Know theFranklin D. Roosevelt Park and take a thousand photos with the Manhattan skyline on one side and Queens on the other.

- Upload to hill that separates the island in two and keep taking pictures like crazy: look where you look there are images to capture, and from here you have the best views of the famous Pepsi sign (from the side of Queens).

- See (even outside) the old Smallpox Hospital. Did you know that there were only hospitals and penitentiaries in the past? This, in particular, was the place where smallpox sufferers were quarantined. It is somewhat gloomy, we are not going to lie, but it is one of those places that you do not expect to see a few steps from Times Square.

- At the north end of the island you will find the lighthouse Blackwell Island Light. When we went (April 2019) I was with scaffolding.

- Within walking distance there is some curious building, like The octagon (where he leaves the bus) that was once a psychiatric center, or the Dayspring Church.

- More or less in the middle of the island, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd and the Blackwell house, one of the oldest houses in the city.

But we insist, the best thing to do in Roosevelt Island is to walk without haste and enjoy the panoramic views of Manhattan!

And now the big million dollar question: Is the Roosevelt Island cable car worth it?If you have little time on your trip to New York, we would advise you to take out an hour, even just to get on the cable car, cross the island and return (obviously if you take a short walk to the south, better than better!). And is that in itself, the views from the cable car, especially returning to Manhattan, if they are worth it!

Here you have an interactive map with all the interesting points on the island of Roosevelt:

A little useful information to plan your visit to Roosevelt Island:

• Open every day from 6am to 2am (Friday and Saturday until 3.30am)
• There is a tramway every 7-15 minutes
• The station is on E 59th St with 2nd Avenue. The nearest subway is Lexington Av / 59 St
• The ticket costs like the metro: $ 2.75 and you must use the metrocard. If you have a weekly bonus, it is included. If you do not have a bonus and pay the ticket, you will have to go down to the other side (you cannot stay in the cabin) and to return you will have to pay another ticket again.
• More information: //rioc.ny.gov/

Go up to Roosevelt Island cable car and taking a walk around the island, contemplating great views of the Manhattan skyline, is one of the best alternative plans on a trip to New York.