Roosevelt Island

Well, I’m not from NY so when I had heard of «Roosevelt Island» it didn’t cross my mind that people actually lived here and that it was so beautiful.
I’ve been coming here to show my «tourist» friends another perspective of NYC.
This island is so beautiful and relaxing that I have pinned it as my «stress reliever» place.
You can take a nice long walk or just seat down and enjoy the view of the city and its skyline at the Southpoint Park or the Four Freedoms Park.
At the other end of the island there is the lighthouse and the octagon (which I discovered was a private resident and tourists are not really allowed but I went in and took pictures of the beautiful well structured stairs).
There’s also a nice restaurant (Grill-​Brunch place) where you can seat and have some food or just have a nice cold beer.
I didn’t give 5 stars because I think the island could be more commercial and there could be more stuff to do. But in general, it’s a really nice area of NY where you can go to either take a walk or sit down to talk to a friend, or get your mind cleansed from the crap you hold onto yourself.

It’s just an island with nothing much here to do. I think if you want to get out of the city but still being close to it it’s a nice and quick escape place from it. Other than that there’s honestly not much to do here besides lying on the grass or just enjoying the water and the skyline view.

I initially went to see Four Freedoms park, so I’ve only walked to the northern end. Four Freedoms park is beautiful! I plan to return to experience the entire island. It had gorgeous views and was not crowded. Check it out!

Kleine Insel im East River, die schon ziemlich in die Jahre gekommen ist.
Es führt eine Promenade rings um die Insel, was ein netter Spaziergang ist.
Nur wen’ge Menschen sind hier unterwegs.

This is a Nyc gem. very family oriented, very safe and calm. nice place to spend the sunday with family

Nice little island away from the main island. It’s like I was on a vacation in a small town. They had one train, a bus that circled the island and a bus that went back to manhattan. One major road (main st) with all your stores, shops, boutiques and schools. They have a elementary school and a middle school. There’s a town grocery store, a mega Gristedes. I even passed a Starbucks and a Subway as I walked. It took me about 20 minutes to walk the length of the island.

My family briefly considered moving here during the 1970s, when the first condos and co-​ops were opened. Prior to that, several hospitals were located on Roosevelt Island. Since the area was relatively isolated (the only ways out were via the tramway and a bridge to Queens), my family decided not to move there. The population has grown since then, but it still has a small community atmosphere. A friend of mine lives there, and she loves it.
It’s a small island, and you could easily walk from one tip of the island to the other in about a half hour, if you walk quickly. I wouldn’t recommend it though. The island offers some great views of Manhattan, Queens, and even Brooklyn (you can see a bit of it from the southernmost tip), so you would want to take a leisurely stroll.
On the northernmost tip there is a lighthouse, and a nice park to have a picnic. You can walk along the west coast of the island to FDR Four Freedoms Park (I wrote a review for that a while ago), which has some really nice views.
My friend has taken snow photos in the winter, which are really nice. However, the best time to visit, in my opinion, is probably late-​April into May. At that time the cherry blossoms bloom on the west coast of the island. They are quite beautiful and make for great photos with Manhattan and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge in the background.
In terms of dining, Roosevelt Island has a few decent places, and a Starbucks. Aside from a Greek place, and the Starbucks, I haven’t been to any of them. Most of the places are on the main strip of the island.
If you plan to visit Roosevelt Island, the most fun way is via the Roosevelt Island Tramway. You can use your metrocard, and the views are great.
You can drive to Roosevelt Island, but I wouldn’t really recommend taking a car. The streets are small, and, aside from a parking garage where you have to pay, parking is scarce. Also, you can not travel everywhere by car. There is a free bus service that takes you around the island however.
All-​in-​all, Roosevelt Island is a great place to visit and spend an afternoon.

I’ve lived on this island for a better part of a year now. I’ve experienced the warmth of the area, the chilly breeze of the river and the harsh cold of the NYC snow.
Over my year of living here I have explored every inch of the island. On the northern end is a small yet beautiful light house. At the southern end is the 4 freedoms park. Everything in the middle is the Main Street USA which all the residents live off of.
There aren’t many stores on the island and since living here I’ve seen a conscience store close. We have several restaurants but they are primarily located in the transit zone. There is Fuji sushi, Nonna’s pizza, a bar and grill as well as Starbucks. Most of these places are frequented by tourists and the tower residents. However there are several more places beyond this point that are less frequented and its a shame. Only those who live beyond the train and tram know of these places.
There is Main Street Sweet, Wholesome Factory, a modern convince and deli store as well as China 1. We even have a liquor store, antique type shop and a beautiful church.
These stores are amazing in their own right and I will discuss that in their own reviews.
What I enjoy most about the island is the easy of getting around. There is a free red bus (which fills up fast with lazy people who can’t even walk one stop) but no matter what I walk all the time. I live at the far northern end so my walks to the train or tram can take up to 20 minutes. I hate being lazy like most other residents.
Anyway there is so much more to write which I will do at a later date when I have the time to update this review.

Further to my crossed by Queensboro Bridge via the cable railway, I automatically continued by a small stroll in Roosevelt Island.
This small piece of isolated island by East River deserves amply that we linger there. She spread only on hardly more of 1,86 Mile. Many red buses offers the possibility for the tiny sum of one quarter to stop on various important points of interests.
Content itself with a simple walk along the river is as well and very restful. In the morning in particular, we meet so much less people than on Manhattan, sometime it takes several minutes before meeting another person on his way.
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Suite à ma traversé du Queensboro Bridge via le téléphérique, j’ai machinalement poursuivi par une petite balade dans Roosevelt Island.
Ce petit bout d’île isolé par l’East River mérite amplement qu’on s’y attarde. Elle né s’étends que sur à peine plus de 3 km. De nombreux bus au couleur rouge offre la possibilité pour l’infime somme de 25 cents de s’arrêter sur plusieurs points d’intérêts.
Se contenter d’une simple promenade à pied le long du fleuve est aussi bien et très reposant. En matinée notamment, on croise tellement moins de gens qu’a Manhattan, on mets parfois bien plusieurs minutes avant de rencontrer une autre personne sur son chemin.

Somehow when I visit the island I feel I’m intruding on the privacy of the residents. Passing one street I saw people tending to a community garden. It’s their neighborhood you visit not a tourist attraction.
I was with two cousins from out of town. It was all about the tram ride and exploring a new space they had not seen. We walked around. Enjoyed the site of the old hospital that had a spooky abandoned feel too it. My goal was to see the lighthouse up close. After walking and not planning our visit ahead of time we decided to go to the lighthouse some other day. I still haven’t returned. If I do I will be sure it is a warm sunny day. The day I went with family it was in March. It was rather cold and windy.
If you read my tram review you’ll realize why I will be taking the train when I go!

Great escape from the congestion and noise of the Upper East Side. Tons of green space and very safe for the kids. Roosevelt Four Freedoms park is a nice off-​the-​beaten-​path stop. Tram and the F stop make the island an easy commute. Free island shuttle bus is convenient, possibly too convenient, as it makes stops about every 30 feet.

The island is mostly residential with a park on the south end. In general I would say skip this island if you’re visiting unless you have extra time to kill and really want to take the cable car. Better views could be had elsewhere.

Once a sanctuary for smallpox patients and the mentally ill, Roosevelt Island is a small strip of land no bigger than a couple of miles right in the middle of the East River.
I decided to spend my Saturday afternoon here on the Island as it is an ideal place for photo-​ops and picturesque views of Manhattan (not very much so for Queens lol). This Island is like a small community in itself isolated from the hustle-​and-​bustle of Manhattan right across the river. There were gardens, parks, restaurants and even a Starbucks! The Island has also been featured in prominent films such as Spider-​Man. Living on the Island doesn’t seem bad at all considering that Manhattan is literally no more than 5 – 10 minutes away, and everyone probably knows each other considering how small the Island is.
Overall, I enjoyed my first experience on the Island. I definitely look forward to returning here and capturing some awesome shots here during the nighttime. I also recommend taking the Tram as it provides spectacular views of the East River and the avenues of Manhattan especially during sunrise and sunset.

Have you ever played «Myst», the point and click puzzle adventure game on PC, in the early 90s??? Odds are that you have, or at the very least have seen someone playing this game. Why bring it up? Because Roosevelt Island reminds me of this game for some reason (s).
Reason (s) you ask??? Well, «Myst» takes place on an island… this is an island. There’s a lighthouse in «Myst»… lighthouse here too. Difficult to get to this place… getting to the isle of «Myst» was a mystery. «Myst» was devoid of inhabitants, save for the protagonist… Roosevelt Island is (relatively) desolate, especially when compared with the rest of NYC proper.
It appears that access for any vehicle traffic (car, bicycle, hoverboard, etc.) can only be made via the Roosevelt Island Bridge, connecting Astoria with this 2 mile long island. Access can also be had by way of the the Tramway found in Manhattan (… the F train too). I took the former, atop my old faithful bicycle, Lucinda.
The vibe of this place is very ethereal and unreal. How such an enclave can go relatively untouched in such a bustling city is something to behold. As I made my way up to the most northern coast of the island, I can count on both hands how many people I passed by on the way (just a few joggers); sure I could hear the sounds of some children playing here and there, but other than that, it was a quiet urban bike ride.
Despite the amount of architecture found on site, as well as the recorded population statistics of around 10,000 people, the place fells isolated, almost like a ghost town. Creepy to some, peaceful to most… it was something that I enjoyed quite a bit. Some contemplation by the northerly located lighthouse occurred, a quick ride to the southern tip, then a sampling of the «local» fare… not much to do here, but that’s not why one would come here.
I foresee many more quiet bike rides to the lighthouse in the future.

This island is small, located between Manhattan & Queens. You can enter this island by crossing the small bridge from Queens (Long Island City), the subway, or the tram. It’s peaceful here. There are hospitals, low income housing, luxury apartments, few shops, & the small lighthouse at the northeast tip of the island. It’s never crowded here. The view of Manhattan is absolutely breathtaking at night. There are some metered street parking & a multi levels parking lot near the bridge from Queens.

This place was cool. It was like stepping into another land, although its still right in NYC. The tramway over was fun, but it is not air-​conditioned so in the summer, be ware of stinky people.
There is a lot of construction still going on, but once you get past that the lower part of the island has the small pox hospital and the park. There are a ton of cats and geese that roam/​own this island. Also, be ware.
There are a few places to eat but not many. Did not make it to the upper part of the island to see the lighthouse, but I would go back!

I first discovered Roosevelt Island a couple of summers ago after staying in Long Island city for the weekend. I remember pointing out from the window and asking my friend what Island that was. She told me it was Roosevelt Island, where you can only get there by a Tram ride or by subway (F train I believe). I then remember the Roosevelt Tram from the movie Spider-​Man. Then and there I knew, that one day I would come back to explore.
I finally paid my visit to the Island this weekend. After much research and help from a fellow Unilocaler, I knew exactly what I wanted to see and what to do on the Island. I had such a great day there and my tips will follow.
Absolutely take the Tram Ride from 56^th street. The screens will show north or south departing in 6 mins and both go to the same place so take either or. Tram ride is a metro card swipe, and it lasts about 5 mins but the views are incredible. Take the red bus line around which is free (especially on a hot summer day) it will make your visit a lot more comfortable in getting around.
I went to visit the lighthouse on the north end and it was small but beautiful. You cannot walk to the inside of the lighthouse but it is definitely worth a visit. I think all the views of the surrounding waters make this place special. If I lived there, I’d have my lunch there everyday on those red tables. Nothing beats that view, and it is so peaceful. The island is clean and so quiet which it made me love it more.
I then took the redline bus to the South tip which I got off near Starbucks because I was dehydrated and needed to hydrate those cells. After my Starbucks fix I went to visit the gorgeous FDR’s Four Freedom’s park which was the highlight hands down. The FDR memorial entrance is strictly donations only. If you have ever been to the memorial in Washington DC then you will appreciate this more. Of course it is not nearly as big as the memorial in Washington DC but you can experience that little piece of it here. At the end of the memorial there are these steps where you can sit and just take the view in. That part reminded me of the High Line park where you sit on the steps and watch the world pass you by. But instead of watching the chaos in Manhattan, here you have the amazing views of the waters and surrounding buildings. I forgot to mention that on the way to Four freedoms you will see Small Pox Hospital. It looks a little creepy but interesting to know about.
I truly loved it here and I will absolutely be returning here in the Fall. I wished I had come here a long time ago. It truly was a great way to spend my day off from work. So absolutely go and experience it for yourself.

Go spend the day on the island. It’s a nice sight to take the tram there. The island is a little quite but very pretty and clean. Bring a book, a blanket & get a drink @ Starbucks and enjoy seating on the grass. I wish there was more to do, but overall it’s nice way to see the city for just $ 2.75.

Ever since I saw an episode of the TV show «White Collar» that featured a scene on the Roosevelt Island tram, I was intrigued by the idea of visiting this little island. Unfortunately, many friends told me «there’s nothing to do there,» so three years later, I finally got around to making the trip. Wish I made it earlier! This is a must-​visit for any New Yorker, and for tourists who are staying for more than a few days. Such a unique spot that offers a different perspective on NYC, and so easily accessible!
Getting here:
–Take the tram (cost of a subway swipe, or use your unlimited pass). Pick up the tram at 59^th and 2^nd ave in midtown manhattan. Best bet at the views from the tram are spectacular and there’s nothing like it in the city
–F train has a subway stop here
–There’s a red bridge you can drive over that connects to Long Island City. There’s a big parking deck as well as metered street parking on some of the streets.
What to do:
–When you exit the tram or subway, walking to the southern tip of the island (10 – 15 minute walk) will bring you to the old small pox hospital (now a ruin on the National Register of Historical Places), as well as the new FDR Four Freedoms Park. There is a path along the East River (Manhattan side) that will allow you great views and photo ops of midtown and the UN building. We loved this part of the island, it was empty (even on a summer weekend), relaxing, and gorgeous, as well as being beautifully maintained by the grounds crew. Plenty of bathrooms and water fountains too!
–When you exit the tram or subway, walking to the northern tip of the island (15 – 20 minute walk) will bring you past the old insane asylum (now fancy condos/​apts) and to the lighthouse park, with a large picnic space and charcoal grills. Lots of families here in the summer and a busier crowd.
–Walk Main Street: Main street is so quaint and has one of everything you could need, big grocery store, convenience store, deli, ice cream shop, nail and hair salons, public school, dry cleaner, library, etc. Definitely worth the stroll, you’ll feel like you’re in a different era yet still so close to NYC. Cool to imagine your life if you lived here in one of the many apartment and condo complexes.
–Free red bus that will take you from the tram stop to the Octagon (northern part of island) with a few stops along the way! **The island is only about 2 miles long and very narrow so you can definitely walk it if you’re in decent shape!
Where to eat:
–Main Street Sweets-​incredibly delicious ice cream shop on Main Street
–Food truck in Four Freedoms Park during summer months
–There are a few sit down restaurants (Riverwalk Bar and Grill, Fuji East, Nonno’s Pizzeria) that I haven’t tried yet, but they offer ample outdoor seating
–Starbucks and Subway are the main chain restaurants on the island. There’s also a chinese take out shop.
–Grab a sandwich before you travel here or stop into the deli on Main Street and have a picnic in one of the many grassy areas or benches
–Grill out in the lighthouse park (charcoal grills there) at the northern tip of the island
Would highly recommend an afternoon trip here if it interests you… we’re certainly glad we did and hope to come back in the fall and watch all the leaves on the trees change colors! The closest «suburb» feel to NYC that I’ve found yet!

Ein Ziel für den zweiten oder dritten Besuch in New York.
Dann aber absolut sehenswert.
Man sollte für den Ausflug einen halben Tag einplanen.
Besonders schön: die Seilbahnfahrt — einfach mit einem Metroticket zu bezahlen.
Demnächst mehr Informationen.

Having worked on the island for 8 months. I’ve seen both the good and the bad here on Roosevelt Island. The island is roughly 2 miles long, and is part of the borough of Manhattan, with a 212 area code. It lies between Manhattan and Queens in the East River.
There’s 3 ways on & off the island:
1) Car — Via the 36^th Ave. Bridge into L.I.C. (The bridge is a lift bridge, that can raise up to let taller boats/​ships through). There’s also the Q102 bus that runs into Queens.
2) Tram — Goes into Manhattan.
3) F Train — Goes into both Manhattan & Queens.
Roosevelt Island is mostly residential, with a few small shops, a few small restaurants including a Starbucks and a Subway, a liquor store, a Gristedes, and 3 main parks. There’s roughly 10,000 residents on the island. The main road, Main Street, runs through the middle of the island, dividing it into 2 halves, East & West (Queens & Manhattan, respectively). There’s 1 luxury co-​op on the island (Rivercross) that’s now privatized, several luxury condos that offer residents to either rent or buy units, a row of «lower income housing» buildings called Eastwood, facing the Queens side, and a very high-​end luxury condominium complex on one end of the island, called The Octagon (which used to be a lunatic asylum). LOL
There’s one large parking garage called the Motorgate, on the island. It has 7 or 8 levels of parking, most of which is open, but there are several reserved areas for residents who purchase passes. Parking on Main Street is very limitied. There’s no parking on the Main St. facing the Queens side, only the Manhattan side. 50-​cents/​15mins and the meters run 24 hours, which means you gotta keep refilling them. lol (With the exception of Sunday of course). It’s economically, cheaper to park in the Motorgate.
On one end of the island facing towards the north, there’s Lighthouse Park, which has a lighthouse, and several BBQ grills open to the public. Great views of both Queens and Manhattan on either side. Lots of open grass areas to chill, relax, throw a frisbee or ball around. In the summer, the BBQ area is almost always packed with families. **Note: You CANNOT bring your OWN grills on ANY parks on the island. It is strictly forbidden and believe me, nosy ass residents will rat you out to Public Safety. You don’t wanna have to pay a fine** For those who like to fish, fishing is permitted on either side of the park. Close to the park is also Coler Hospital.
On the other end of the island, facing towards the south, there’s 2 parks. Southpoint Park and Franklin D. Roosevelt — Four Freedoms Park. Both parks are open to the public all year round. Southpoint Park has some gardens, and 2 historic landmarks, the remains of a Smallpox Hospital and a research lab. FDR — Four Freedoms Park is on the southernmost tip of the island and is the most beautiful park on Roosevelt Island. Covering about 4 acres of land, it’s constructed mainly of smooth white granite, and has a small monument honoring FDR. Spectacular views of L.I.C. and Manhattan and the UN. **Note: NO grills are allowed in either of these parks**
Close to Southpoint Park used to be Goldwater Hospital, that’s now being demolished. Cornell Tech is building a campus where the hospital used to be. Should be done by 2017.
Safety-​wise, Roosevelt Island is quite safe. There’s a Public Safety force that provides 95% of the law enforcement needs on the island. They do not carry firearms, but enforce laws and issue parking summons, and conduct regular patrols around the island either by foot or by vehicle. Officers conduct regular patrols of buildings on both East & West sides of the island. Public Safety has limited manpower, but they’re effective. In extreme cases, when Public Safety can’t handle a situation, the NYPD precinct in charge of Roosevelt Island is the 114^th Pct, that conducts occasional patrols of the island by car. There’s also a Fire Dept headquartered on the island, with fire engines and EMS.
Overall, it’s a nice island. Has easy access to both Manhattan & Queens. If you work in the city, it’s a nice place to live. If you like to invest in real estate, this is prime real estate right here, especially with the construction of the newer luxury condos right now. And of course, its a nice to just come with friends and family and visit the parks, walk around, take pics. :) Throughout the year, around the perimeter of the island, there are many 3k and 5k runs on the weekends. ZogSports hosts many sporting events at the public fields scattered around the island.

On a lark, we ended up on Roosevelt Island, foolish dumb tourists who, after a night of dining and drink wanted to do something different. So, at midnight, we took the Roosevelt Island tramway into R.I. Never been to R. I and boy I’m coming back to explore next time.
It’s a small island about 2 miles long x 800 feet populated with high rises, gardens, a self contained community. It’s serene and beautiful here, just too many high rises… Here you feel as though you are in a separate community, maybe exclusive I dunno, separated from Manhattan and Queens via a couple of subways stops or the tram. Even at midnight, the island is walkable, lots of buildings, hardly any businesses open, a quiet neighborhood.
I love NY, you can go all over town (certain parts of town), without a car, and enjoy the city 24×7.
Tip: There are 2 ways to get into RI: subway and tramway. It’s kinda cool here, there’s a free bus that takes you around the island fah PHREEE and it runs until 2am. In the olden days they hospitals, a prison and asylum. Today it’s totally different.

Le pongo 4 estrellas a esta islita en el East River, no porque en sí sea un lugar precioso, sino porque ofrece unas vistas muy interesantes y diferentes de Midtown Manhattan.
La isla en sí no tiene mucho que ofrecer, no hay edificios bonitos ni restaurantes o negocios que habría que visitar.
PERO: es un sitio muy tranquilo e ideal para admirar el panorama de Manhattan desde diferentes puntos a lo largo de la orilla.
Desde Roosevelt Island, que se extiende más o menos desde la altura de la calle 47 hasta la 85, se pueden ver el Empire State y Chrysler Building, Citigroup Center, Trump World Tower y los edificios residenciales de Tudor City y Sutton Place etc. que dan al río — un contraste muy bonito.
Muy recomendable, especialmente para los que ya han visto todos los sitios imprescindibles de Nueva York, para dar un paseo.
En combinación con un viaje en el teleférico Roosevelt Island Tramway una excursión realmente bonita!

Cogimos el teleférico que te lleva a la isla (tiene el mismo precio que un trayecto en metro o en bus, utilizamos la Metrocard. Las vistas desde el teleférico son espectaculares. LLegamos y dimos un paseo de casi dos horas y vimos el nuevo parque de FD Roosevelt inaugurado recientemente, no puedo ni describir las preciosas vistas que se ven desde la isla, hay un momento en que se ven el Crysler building y el Empire State a la vez… fue emocionante!