Staten Island Tourism: Discovering New York's Forgotten Borough

Pizza Tours • Walking Tours • Three-Borough Tours

Staten Island, often called New York City’s “forgotten borough,” offers visitors a side of the city many never see. While Manhattan’s skyscrapers and Brooklyn’s trendsetting neighborhoods get much of the attention, Staten Island has its own distinct history, culture, and attractions worth exploring. From sampling slices on a pizza tour to joining a walking tour of historic neighborhoods, or even including the borough in a three-borough day trip, there are many ways to get to know this corner of NYC.

Staten Island at a Glance

Located just a free ferry ride from Lower Manhattan, Staten Island is the least populated of NYC’s five boroughs. This has helped preserve a slower pace, more open green spaces, and a small-town feel in certain neighborhoods. Visitors can find a mix of suburban streets, urban waterfront areas, and parkland that’s rare in other parts of the city.

Its population reflects a blend of cultures, with strong Italian, Irish, and Sri Lankan communities. This diversity is especially visible in Staten Island’s food scene, where a day can include both authentic Neapolitan pizza and fragrant Sri Lankan curries.

Popular Ways to Explore Staten Island

Pizza Tours

Staten Island’s reputation for excellent pizza is well-earned. Some food lovers claim the borough has the best pies in the city, thanks to decades-old family recipes and neighborhood pizzerias. A pizza-focused tour takes you to several standout spots, each with its own style and story.

Walking Tours

A walking tour allows for a closer look at Staten Island’s history and architecture. Popular areas to explore on foot include St. George (near the ferry terminal), historic Richmond Town, and the island’s north shore neighborhoods, where waterfront views meet Victorian-era homes. Walking tours often weave in local history, public art, and lesser-known landmarks.

Three-Borough Tours

Some visitors prefer to see Staten Island as part of a larger journey. Three-borough tours connect Staten Island with Brooklyn and Manhattan in a single day, offering a broader look at New York’s geography and culture. These tours might include a ferry ride, a drive over the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and stops in multiple neighborhoods across boroughs.

Views of the Statue of Liberty

One of Staten Island’s most underrated features is its free and uncrowded views of the Statue of Liberty. The Staten Island Ferry offers an up-close look at Lady Liberty during the 25-minute trip to and from Manhattan. For land-based viewing, waterfront spots like FDR Boardwalk or Alice Austen Park provide scenic perspectives without the lines or ticket costs of Liberty Island.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Attractions

Visitors who go beyond the main streets find a variety of unique sites:

• Alice Austen House – The waterfront home of one of America’s earliest female photographers, now a museum.

• Staten Island Greenbelt – Nearly 3,000 acres of trails, forests, and wetlands in the center of the borough.

• Local Festivals & Events – Street fairs, cultural celebrations, and seasonal markets offer a glimpse into Staten Island’s community life.

Why Staten Island Feels Different

Part of Staten Island’s appeal is how different it feels from the rest of New York City. It’s less crowded, more open, and often more personal. Conversations with locals at a café or market can be as much a part of the experience as visiting a landmark.

Whether you’re joining a pizza tour, taking a walking tour through historic neighborhoods, or fitting Staten Island into a multi-borough itinerary, the borough offers a chance to slow down and see a side of New York that many visitors miss.