Roosevelt Island is tucked on the side of Manhattan Island. There is a road bridge linking it to Queens and there is also a cable car which can take you across the East River to the island from Manhattan where the terminal is on 2nd Avenue. I would definitely recommend this as a good way to get to the island. You can use your metro card to get across there and swipe again to get back. There are terminals at both stations that you can use to get a metro card of top up your existing one. Alternatively you can use your debit or credit card. There are a number of buildings on the island with offices and apartments. At the southern end of the island is the park and there are lots of lovely views from the island of the surrounding area. The Queensboro Bridge bisects the island however it is not possible to access the island from the bridge or vice versa. use the cable car instead.

I'm a born and bred New Yorker but I've never been to Roosevelt Island. I know! How? My friends offered to show me around. This was a great way to spend a beautiful Sunday. It was sunny with clear blue skies, and most of the cherry blossoms were blooming. We took a comfortable stroll on the riverfront promenade, which was crowded with families, picnickers, and tons of people taking selfies. As you walk along the promenade, you'll come across the dilapidated ruins of the Smallpox Memorial Hospital before arriving at the 14-acre Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in the south all the way up to the northern tip. Keep walking and you'll see the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and the amazing statues commemorating the ground-breaking work by American journalist, Nellie Bly. Other than the promenade, there's not much to see or do. There are plenty of parks for recreational activities and playgrounds for little ones. There are no restaurants or delis, besides a few Chinese takeout places and a Duane Reade. I recommend bringing food or eating first before you come. I really enjoyed the walk, and it wasn't that crowded. I can imagine how busy and crowded the island will be when summer officially arrives.

If you're looking for a quiet place to go in NYC, Roosevelt Island is one of those places. Hop on the tram or the subway at standard MTA fare and ride the RI buses for free through the island. The choice is yours between exploring the lighthouse and the girl puzzle monument at the northern point or strolling through the park and the remnants of the smallpox hostpital at the southern point.

Great way to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Took the free shuttle bus around the island. Then walked the southern tip to the Roosevelt memorial. Great views all around. Took the tram over to the island and returned back to Manhattan on the F train.

Green space and peacefulness next to Manhattan. Walked the length of the island on a beautiful day. Took the subway there and the tramway (a must!) back to Manhattan. Stopped twice to relax at cafés and once for lunch. Watched part of a local soccer match and walked through the community garden run by RI Garden Club volunteers. Lots of families were out for a stroll, and some took picnics. If I worked in Manhattan, I might want to live on RI.

This island in the middle of the East River feels worlds away from bustling Manhattan. You can take the F train to get here or ride the unique Roosevelt Island Tramway that rides alongside the Queensboro Bridge and high above the East River offering interesting views of the river and Manhattan skyline. We were staying in Queens and walked here across the Roosevelt Island Bridge and then strolled along the riverside promenade which offers nice views of Manhattan across the East River. It's a peaceful although somewhat sleepy place. Not really a lot to do here but if you're looking for some peace and quiet this might be okay. On the northern end of the island is the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse and Park. On the southern end is the FDR Four Freedoms State Park where you can see a memorial and the ruins of a former Smallpox Hospital from 1854.

RI is one of top five go to spots each summer when I visit the city. As many point out, it’s an oasis just a stones throw from the organized chaos of the city. It’s about a four mile walk to circle the island, but there is plenty of shade and places to sit. Each end of the island offers great views and a relaxing place to reflect. This was my first visit since the completion of the Cornell complex. They did a nice job of incorporating the building into the existing space with its own plaza area.

Nice, small but busy island. We took the subway in and tramway back to Manhattan. Once you come out of the subway or tramway, there is a red bus stand, that will take you to the northern part of the island for no charge, but there are no signs anywhere. If you don't do research, you won't know what to do! At the northern tip, there is a sculpture garden and a small lighthouse, nice area to relax and take the view in.

Roosevelt Island is a beautiful Island in the East River of NYC. It is often skipped, but has a lot of things to offer. These include the Roosevelt Island tram, the abandoned smallpox hospital, Lighthouse park, the Four Freedoms State Park, and the amazing views of Manhattan’s east side of course. There are also many restaurants, a hotel, and a free red bus on the island. There are many parks, and overall, Roosevelt Island is a great place to spend your afternoon. I highly recommend!