How to Get to Pier 36 NYC
Plan your trip to Pier 36 at 299 South Street with practical subway, driving, parking, taxi and rideshare information before your New York skyline cruise.
Where Is Pier 36 in New York City?
Pier 36 is located at 299 South Street on the East River waterfront in Lower Manhattan. The pier sits near Montgomery Street, beneath the FDR Drive and close to the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Lower East Side, Chinatown and South Street Seaport.
The location is convenient once you know where you are going, but it should not be confused with the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side. Pier 36 is on South Street on the east side of Lower Manhattan. Entering the complete address into your navigation or rideshare app helps prevent your driver from taking you to the wrong cruise terminal.
Guests traveling for an NYC Skyline Cruises departure should allow enough time to locate the correct boarding area after reaching the pier. Several events, vessels and waterfront operations may be active in the surrounding area, so arriving early makes check-in much easier.
Taking the Subway to Pier 36
The F train to East Broadway is generally the most convenient subway option for reaching Pier 36. From East Broadway, use the Rutgers Street and Madison Street side of the station, then walk east toward the waterfront. Continue toward South Street and proceed north toward Pier 36 near Montgomery Street.
Subway routes, station exits and weekend service can change because of maintenance. Check current MTA service before leaving and allow additional time if your trip requires a transfer. A navigation app can provide updated walking directions from the station after you arrive.
Delancey Street–Essex Street can also be useful for some travelers, especially when arriving on the J, M or Z lines or when connecting from another Lower East Side destination. However, it generally involves a longer walk than East Broadway. Guests carrying luggage, traveling with young children or managing limited mobility may find a taxi or rideshare easier for the final portion of the trip.
Closest Subway
Take the F train to East Broadway and continue east toward South Street.
Taxi or Rideshare
Enter Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002.
Allow Extra Time
Plan for subway changes, Lower Manhattan traffic and check-in.
Getting to Pier 36 by Taxi, Uber or Lyft
A taxi or rideshare is often the simplest choice for families, groups, visitors carrying bags or passengers arriving from another attraction. Use the complete destination: Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002.
Before the ride begins, confirm that your driver is taking you to South Street near Montgomery Street. Do not simply request the “New York cruise terminal,” because that phrase may direct the driver to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side instead of Pier 36.
Traffic can slow considerably in Lower Manhattan, particularly during weekday rush hours, weekends, major events and street closures. A trip that appears short on a map may take longer than expected. Build a traffic cushion into your schedule rather than planning to arrive exactly when boarding begins.
When you reach South Street, look for Pier 36 and follow the instructions provided with your cruise confirmation. The exact vehicle, check-in point or line position can vary according to the day’s cruise operations.
Driving Directions to Pier 36
Pier 36 is located just off the FDR Drive at South Street and Montgomery Street. Navigation apps are helpful, but drivers should still review the general approach before leaving because highway exits, construction and local street conditions can affect the final route.
Use 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002 as your destination. As you approach the waterfront, watch for signs for South Street, Montgomery Street and Pier 36. Avoid entering directions for the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, which is across Manhattan on Twelfth Avenue.
From the FDR Drive Southbound
Use the South Street and Manhattan Bridge area exit. Continue toward South Street, where Pier 36 is located near Montgomery Street.
From the FDR Drive Northbound
Continue north along South Street beneath the elevated FDR Drive, pass the Seaport and Manhattan Bridge area, and proceed toward Montgomery Street.
From New Jersey
Drivers commonly enter Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel or George Washington Bridge and then connect toward Lower Manhattan and the FDR Drive.
From Queens or Long Island
Travel toward Manhattan, connect to the FDR Drive southbound and continue toward the South Street and Manhattan Bridge exit area.
From Brooklyn
Choose a bridge or tunnel route based on current traffic, then proceed toward South Street in Lower Manhattan. Allow extra time around bridge approaches.
From Upper Manhattan
The FDR Drive southbound is usually the most direct highway approach. Exit near South Street and the Manhattan Bridge, then continue toward Pier 36.
Parking Near Pier 36
Guests should not assume that parking will be available directly beside the cruise boarding area. Pier 36 is an active waterfront and event location, and access can vary depending on operations taking place that day.
Public parking garages and paid lots are available throughout the Lower East Side, Chinatown and nearby Lower Manhattan neighborhoods. Because inventory and rates change, reserve a space through a parking service before leaving whenever possible. Enter the garage address separately into your navigation app after booking.
When selecting a garage, compare its walking route to Pier 36 rather than looking only at straight-line distance. Elevated roads, waterfront access points, construction and major intersections can make two garages with similar listed distances feel very different on foot.
Street parking is limited and subject to posted regulations, alternate-side restrictions, commercial zones and temporary closures. It should be treated as a possible bonus rather than the main transportation plan. If you are driving for a specific cruise departure, a reserved garage is generally the safer option.
Allow time to enter the garage, receive your parking ticket, walk to South Street and locate check-in. Passengers who arrive near departure time may find that parking takes longer than the drive itself.
How Early Should You Arrive?
Plan to arrive at Pier 36 approximately 30 minutes before your scheduled cruise. Boarding commonly begins about 15 minutes before departure, but arriving earlier gives you time to locate the correct area, present your ticket and handle any last-minute questions.
A boat must follow its operating schedule and cannot always wait for late passengers. Subway delays, traffic congestion, parking searches and unfamiliar streets can all add unexpected time. Guests coming from outside Manhattan should be especially conservative when planning their arrival.
Keep your digital ticket available on your phone and increase the screen brightness before approaching check-in. It is also helpful to keep your confirmation email accessible in case staff need to verify the departure time or reservation details.
Use the restroom before boarding if necessary, but do not wander far from the check-in area once boarding is close. Restrooms are available onboard, and the vessel also provides indoor and outdoor viewing areas with limited seating.
Have Tickets Ready
Open your digital ticket before reaching the check-in line.
Arrive 30 Minutes Early
Give yourself time to find the boarding area and check in.
Board on Time
The cruise must follow its scheduled harbor departure.
Walking to Pier 36 From Nearby Attractions
Pier 36 can be reached on foot from several Lower Manhattan neighborhoods and attractions. It is near the Lower East Side, Chinatown, the Manhattan Bridge and the East River waterfront. The Manhattan entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge and South Street Seaport are also within the broader Lower Manhattan area.
Walking can be an enjoyable option when the weather is comfortable and you have enough time. However, city blocks near large bridge approaches and waterfront roads may feel longer than expected. Use live walking directions and avoid choosing a route that places you on an inaccessible side of the FDR Drive.
If you plan to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge before your cruise, leave a generous buffer. The pedestrian walkway can become crowded, and visitors often stop for photographs. Our Brooklyn Bridge cruise guide explains how to combine the bridge and cruise in one sightseeing day.
Guests arriving early can also explore our guide to things to do on the Lower East Side before heading to the waterfront.
Things to Do Near Pier 36
Pier 36 is close to several neighborhoods and attractions that can be combined with your cruise. Chinatown offers restaurants, bakeries, markets and historic streets. The Lower East Side provides museums, food destinations and neighborhood history, while South Street Seaport offers waterfront paths and views of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Visitors who want to focus on the waterfront can walk toward the Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge or Seaport before or after departure. Travelers who prefer a relaxed schedule can arrive early, have a meal nearby and then head to the pier with enough time to check in.
Do not schedule an attraction so tightly that a delayed admission, long restaurant wait or crowded pedestrian route makes you late for the boat. Cruise departure should be the fixed point in the day, with nearby sightseeing planned around it.
For more planning ideas, read our Manhattan skyline guide, compare our NYC sightseeing cruise guide, or learn more about the main NYC skyline boat tour.
What to Expect on Your NYC Skyline Cruise
After boarding at Pier 36, the approximately 90-minute sightseeing cruise begins near the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge before continuing toward Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor. The route offers views of the skyline, One World Trade Center, Governors Island, Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.
Guests can move between the indoor cabin and open-air viewing areas when it is safe to do so. Live English narration helps identify major landmarks, while the open deck provides clear photography opportunities throughout the trip.
Complimentary beer, wine, soda and bottled water are available onboard. Seating is provided but may be limited, and many guests prefer to move around as the vessel approaches different landmarks.
Weather on the water can feel cooler and windier than conditions on land. Comfortable clothing, secure footwear and a light layer are useful even on warm days. Families can review our family-friendly NYC boat tour guide for additional planning information.
Pier 36 Directions and Parking FAQs
These are common questions guests ask when planning transportation to a New York skyline cruise departing from Pier 36.
Pier 36 is located at 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002. It is on the East River waterfront near Montgomery Street, the Manhattan Bridge and the Lower East Side.
East Broadway on the F line is generally the most convenient subway station. Use current MTA information and live walking directions because service and station access can change.
Do not assume parking will be available directly at the cruise boarding area. Reserve a nearby public garage or paid parking space in advance and allow time to walk to the pier.
Enter Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York, NY 10002. Confirm that your driver is going to South Street near Montgomery Street, not the Manhattan Cruise Terminal on the West Side.
Plan to arrive approximately 30 minutes before departure. Boarding generally begins around 15 minutes before the scheduled cruise, and extra time protects against traffic, parking and subway delays.
No. Pier 36 is on South Street on the East Side of Lower Manhattan. The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is on the West Side and is a completely different location.
Yes. You can walk from the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge to Pier 36. Leave extra time for crowds, photographs and navigating the streets near the bridge approaches.
The vessel must follow its scheduled departure and may not be able to wait for late passengers. Arrive early and build extra travel time into your plans.
Yes. Restrooms are available onboard, along with indoor and outdoor viewing areas.
Yes. Complimentary beer, wine, soda and bottled water are available onboard during the sightseeing cruise.
Start Your NYC Skyline Cruise at Pier 36
Arrive at 299 South Street with enough time to check in, board and enjoy a 90-minute cruise featuring the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty views and complimentary drinks.
Reserve Your Seats