Biking the Hudson River Greenway

Offering spectacular water views and sunsets, The Hudson River Greenway is a welcome contrast to the urban landscape of Manhattan. The 11-mile bike route runs along the Hudson River – from the southern tip of Manhattan at Battery Park up to the Bronx – with dedicated bike paths that are closed to cars.

Renting a bike is the best way to enjoy the popular attractions dotting the Greenway. You can also take advantage of the many entrances and exits that lead to some of Manhattan’s most popular nearby sights – including the 9/11 Memorial, the High Line, Times Square and Central Park.

Citi Bike is a great and affordable way to see enjoy the Hudson River Greenway. A Day Pass costs only $12, and a 3-Day Pass is $24 – which is like getting your third day free! You can take as many rides as you want while your pass is active, and the first 30 minutes of each ride is included in the pass price.*

Grab a bike from one of the 20 stations surrounding the park when you're ready to start rolling. Dock your bike at any other station when you want to explore on foot, and pick up another bike when you’re ready to ride again.

You can also use Citi Bike to navigate the rest of the city – get to restaurants, a Broadway show, the Empire State Building, or just back to your hotel at the end of the day. With 750 stations across NYC, Citi Bike is the best way to get around and sightsee along the way.

*If you want to keep a bike out for longer than 30 minutes at a time, it's only an additional $4 per 15 minutes. See our Pricing page for more details.

If you're riding with children under 16 or are looking for a guided tour, traditional bike rental would be a better bet. We recommend Blazing Saddles or Bike and Roll.

Check out our recommended route for biking along the Hudson River Greenway:

Before you embark on your ride along the Hudson River Greenway, there are some important cycling laws you should know about:

Cyclists must ride in the designated bike lane
Ride in single file for safety
Pedestrians always have the right of way
Helmets are required for children ages 14 and under (but are recommended for everyone)
See more riding and safety tips on our Rules of the Road page.

We've pulled together some of the most popular things to see and do along the Hudson River Greenway. If you're using Citi Bike, you can dock your bike whenever you want to explore on foot and pick up a new bike when you're ready to continue your ride.

Hudson River Park
Stretching from Battery Park up to 59th street, this park-with-a-view is teaming with things to do and see. Activities include beach volleyball, flying trapeze lessons, kayaking, riding a hand-carved wooden carousel, bike riding and visiting the many playgrounds and dog parks.

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Millions visit this Hudson River-based museum, which features the legendary Intrepid aircraft carrier, the Enterprise space shuttle, the world’s fastest jets and a guided missile submarine.

Battery Park
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, this 25-acre historical park is a display of fountains, gardens, monuments and sculptures, with a backdrop of the Financial District. It is home to Castle Clinton, a fort built in the early 1800s, as well as the terminals for the Staten Island Ferry and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries. In warm weather, it is a popular destination for outdoor music and theater.

Chelsea Piers
A series of piers on the Hudson River, this massive complex includes film and TV production facilities (NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, The Blacklist), a health club and spa, a gymnastics center, two basketball courts, an indoor soccer field, batting cages, a rock climbing wall, dance studios, Bowlmor Lanes bowling center, the Golf Club with a multi-story driving range, and twin full sized ice skating rinks at Sky Rink.

Mini Golf
Manhattan’s only 18-hole miniature golf course can be found at Pier 25 in Tribeca. This popular destination for children and adults alike features waterfalls, streams, a pond, foot bridges, sand traps, a cave and water views.

Riverside Park
This four-mile waterfront park runs from 72nd street to 158th street along the Hudson River, and is a scenic landmark of New York City. It’s a favorite escape for locals with sports fields, courts, a skate park and the Hudson River Greenway bike lane.

The 79th Street Boat Basin
A popular filming location, the 79th Street Boat Basin is a marina and casual cafe located right on the Hudson River. It is the only place in the city that allows year-round boat residency.

George Washington Bridge
As you ride up the Hudson River to northern Manhattan, take in the panorama of the world’s busiest motor vehicle bridge. The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension that spans the Hudson River between Washington Heights and Fort Lee, New Jersey. But it’s not just the 100 million vehicles a year that ride this bridge – there’s also an estimated 17,000 cyclists and 900 pedestrians that venture over it each day. If you’re feeling inspired, hop off the Greenway and take your bike across for a view from above.

See the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway Map for more info.