Circle Line
Pier 83, West 42nd Street (at the Hudson River)
Manhattan
(212) 563-3200

Summary: While the Circle Line guides may have a reputation for telling stale jokes, we still highly recommend these 3-hour boat tours around the island of Manhattan as the best way to orient yourself to the city and its most famous attractions. For the best views, sit on the port (that is, left) side of the boat.

The Circle Line touts itself as "America's favorite boat ride" and given the huge number of people who take this sightseeing tour every year, it probably is. The boat makes a complete circle around Manhattan island (hence the name), providing glimpses of all five boroughs (Brooklyn the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island) as well as fantastic views of many New York sights including:

In addition, you are likely to see other boats, such as the Staten Island Ferry and even an occasional cruise ship.

Insider Tips
We strongly recommend that you sit on the upper deck, in the back on the left side, for the best views throughout the trip. You may need to arrive a bit early (about a half hour before departure during the busy summer months) to procure one of these seats, but it is well worth it. Since you will be outside in an uncovered area, be sure to bring a hat and/or sunscreen for protection from the sun. If you prefer to sit inside, head for seats by the windows on the left side of the boat, so that you will face closest to the island of Manhattan (where most of the famous sights are visible throughout the tour).

A Sampling of Fun Facts
We love New York City trivia and generally find that the Circle Line's guides provide interesting tidbits of information. The following are a few gems from a recent ride:

We also enjoyed hearing the story of the Little Red Lighthouse, which was brought from New Jersey to warn boats of the dangerous rocks on the shore of the Hudson. Once the George Washington Bridge was completed, the area was so well lit that the lighthouse was no longer needed and was scheduled for demolition. By this time, however, the lighthouse had been immortalized in Hildegard Smith's book The Little Red Lighthouse Under the Grey Bridge and children across the country began a letter writing campaign to save their storybook hero. Their quest was successful and the lighthouse was designated a National Landmark.

Getting There
Since there is no subway station near Pier 83, you will be in for a walk if you take the subway. The quickest train to take is the C or E to 50th Street. Walk west until you reach the West Side Highway, and then walk south four blocks.

If you have never seen Times Square, we recommend that you take a subway there (the N, R, S, 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 trains all have stops at Times Square) and do a little extra walking. From Times Square, walk north on Broadway to 46th Street and then continue west towards the Hudson River.

Buses are a better bet if you don't like to walk -- the M50 (which goes west on 49th Street) drops you off very close by.

While you are in the area, you may also want to visit the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum which is a short walk away at Pier 86.

Other Circle Line Rides
Circle Line also offers narrated cruises that sail from both Battery Park and the South Street Seaport at Pier 16.

The Miss New York sails from Battery Park in a one-hour narrated harbor cruise.

The Zephyr and the Shark both sail from the South Street Seaport. The Zephyr, a luxurious catamaran, boasting three decks from which to take in the magnificent sights of New York, offers a narrated harbor cruise sailing several times each afternoon. The Shark is a 30-minute, high-speed, thrill ride emceed by our fun and knowledgeable captains as it screams past the skyline and brings you within feet of Lady Liberty. The Shark also takes numerous runs each afternoon. You must be 40" to ride the Shark.

For schedule and fare information, please visit the Circle Line's downtown web site.

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