Why families will enjoy it
The Roosevelt Island Tramway links Second Avenue at East 59th Street with Roosevelt Island by cable car. The cabins rise beside the Queensboro Bridge and travel above the East River, turning a short piece of the city's public transport network into one of New York's most distinctive elevated journeys.
What to expect
Opened in 1976, the tram was originally intended as a temporary connection while subway service to the island was developed. It remained popular after the subway arrived and was comprehensively modernized in 2010. Two independently operated cabins now allow service to continue on one side when the other requires maintenance.
Plan your visit
The crossing reveals the dense edges of Midtown, the bridge structure, river traffic and Roosevelt Island's narrow shoreline in a single moving panorama. On the island, the terminal connects with local buses and a walkable sequence of residential areas, Cornell Tech, parks and the memorial landscape at Four Freedoms Park.
