South Street Seaport: What to See in NYC’s Old Port

South Street Seaport was New York's main commercial port throughout the 19th century. It mattered so much that many people describe it as the city's first world trade center.

The port stretched from what is now Battery Park up to the Brooklyn Bridge, and South Street ran right along it, which is why in the 19th century it was known as the street of ships.

On the neighborhood's cobblestone streets, laid out around Fulton Street, you'll find shops, restaurants and one of the most entertaining maritime museums in the world, where you can actually sail on its historic vessels!

What to do in South Street Seaport

This historic district in New York, with 400 years of history behind it, sits very close to the Brooklyn Bridge. In fact, its piers are one of the best places to see the bridge across its full span.

What remains of the old port is Schermerhorn Row, a block of red brick warehouses built in 1813, along with the piers and the ships of the Seaport Museum, which make a striking contrast with the modern skyscrapers.

South Street borders the Financial District, so you can keep exploring New York by checking out the sights of Wall Street.

Here's my list of what to see and do in South Street Seaport:

1. Pier 15

The Pier 15 you'll visit today is part of the rebuilding of the piers after the battering of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

This is where the Hornblower cruises depart from, the ones that specialize in events, and there's a bar on a comfortable open-air terrace.

But the best part is the pier's second level: a park with green space and plenty of benches where you can rest or simply relax with the view of the Brooklyn Bridge and the breeze off the East River.

2. South Street Seaport Museum

This maritime museum is one of the most interesting in New York, especially if you love the history of seafaring or are traveling with kids.

There you can learn about New York's maritime past, climb aboard the decks of historic ships docked at Pier 16, and in summer you can even sail on a 19th-century schooner or a tugboat.

Seriously, don't skip the South Street Seaport Museum. New York owes everything to its port, the gateway for the millions of immigrants who gave the city the mixed identity we love so much.

A special mention goes to Bowne & Co Stationers (211 Water Street), the South Street museum's shop. You can pick up stationery, posters, postcards and notebooks printed on a century-old press. A very special place to buy New York souvenirs that actually mean something.

3. Pier 17 mall

After Hurricane Sandy, Pier 17 and the mall that operated there were so badly damaged that they were demolished and replaced with a modern shopping center: Pier 17 (89 South Street), which opened in 2019.

The idea behind the design of this complex of shops and restaurants is to turn South Street Seaport into a major tourist and dining destination in Lower Manhattan (the rooftop has some excellent restaurants).

The Pier 17 rooftop also doubles as a venue for events and concerts in summer, and in winter it becomes an ice skating rink, the Winterland Rink. There's plenty to do on this revamped pier.

4. Titanic Memorial

At the start of the Fulton Street pedestrian walkway (corner of Fulton Street and Pearl Street), you'll see the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse, built in 1913 to honor the memory of those who died aboard the ocean liner on April 15, 1912.

It stood on a church roof until 1967, when it was donated to the South Street Seaport Museum, which installed the monument in its current spot.

5. Fulton Market

Between Fulton and Beekman streets you'll find the renovated Fulton Market building (11 Fulton Street). There's a movie theater inside, plus a few bars and shops.

This market has been in the same location since 1822. Today, with a facade redesigned in 2015, it has become a favorite after-work spot for executives from the Financial District.

6. TKTS South Street

South Street has another one of those wonderful TKTS booths, where you can buy same-day tickets to Broadway musicals for up to 50% off. It's located between Front and John Street.

Read more details in the guide to buying discounted Broadway tickets.

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Address

South Street Seaport sits at the southeastern tip of Manhattan, between the Brooklyn Bridge and Wall Street.

How to get there

Subway lines A, C, 2, 3, J, Z, 4, 5. Fulton Street station

Map

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