Things to Do in Greenport, NY: Carousel, Oysters & Wine (2026)

The best things to do in Greenport are riding the antique carousel in Mitchell Park, exploring the East End Seaport Museum and eating oysters at a local oyster farm’s market. Greenport is a village of 2,583 people on Long Island’s North Fork, the only incorporated village in the Town of Southold.

Settled in 1682, Greenport built ships and sent out whalers, and it has been the Long Island Rail Road’s North Fork terminus since 1844. During Prohibition its boatmen knew the local waters well enough to outrun the Coast Guard, and waterfront spots like Claudio’s poured the illegal liquor.

Mitchell Park and the Greenport Carousel

The village waterfront park centers on the Jess Owen Carousel House, which shelters a carousel about 100 years old. It was a gift from the Grumman Aircraft company, and riders still reach for the brass ring. The park sits on the harbor off Front Street, steps from the shops.

★ Good to know The carousel runs daily from the end of the school year through Labor Day and on weekends the rest of the year, with a few holiday closures.

East End Seaport Museum

The maritime museum fills the former Long Island Rail Road station house by the ferry dock. Exhibits cover the North Fork’s life on the water, and the museum also keeps the Village Blacksmith shop running. In summer it runs boat trips out to the Long Beach Bar “Bug” Lighthouse.

★ Good to know It’s open on weekends; the museum also hosts the Greenport Maritime Festival, usually in September, so check its site for the date.

Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market

This oyster farm runs a casual market and raw bar on Carpenter Street. The menu changes with the season and what’s available, but there are always oysters. It’s a quick way to taste what the local bays grow.

★ Good to know It’s closed early in the week, so plan an oyster stop for Wednesday through Sunday.

Claudio’s

Claudio’s has stood on the Main Street waterfront since 1870, and one family ran it for 148 years before selling in 2018. Today it’s a restaurant, bar and marina with docking for boats up to 120 feet. Weekends bring live music on the deck.

★ Good to know It’s closed on Tuesdays; reserve for a weekend table near the water.

Railroad Museum of Long Island

The Greenport half of this two-site museum sits in the old LIRR freight house next to the station. The museum collects rail cars, locomotives, artifacts and train layouts, and it is restoring LIRR steam engine No. 39 to run again. Kids can climb into a historic caboose.

★ Good to know The Greenport site opens Saturdays and Sundays in season; the second site is in Riverhead.

Kontokosta Winery

Greenport’s own winery sits on the bluffs over Long Island Sound, just north of the village on North Road. The Kontokosta family runs the vineyard and farm themselves. You can taste in the tasting room or carry a glass out to the meadow and the bluff.

★ Good to know Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come basis, but pets and outside food aren’t allowed.

North Ferry to Shelter Island

The North Ferry links Greenport with Shelter Island across the harbor, and it’s the easiest short boat ride in town. Train and bus riders can walk on at the Greenport dock. Boats run late into the night.

★ Good to know On summer Friday and Saturday nights through Labor Day, the last boat from Greenport leaves at 1 a.m.

Lavender by the Bay

Just east of Greenport in East Marion, this lavender farm is at its best when the purple rows bloom. The farm isn’t meant as an all-day trip, so pair it with wineries or Orient. It’s minutes from the Cross Sound Ferry dock at Orient Point.

★ Good to know Hours change through the season and depend on weather; the farm’s blog posts the best bloom times, usually early summer.

Also in town

Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. pours at 234 Carpenter Street, and the restored Old Kindergarten Schoolhouse on Front Street serves as the village’s historic interpretive center.

When to goJune through September is peak season, when the carousel runs daily, the lavender blooms and the museum runs lighthouse trips. September brings the Maritime Festival and harvest season at the wineries.

How long to stayOne day covers the village; give it two to add wineries, Shelter Island and Orient.

Heads upSeveral key stops open only on weekends outside summer, so check hours before an off-season weekday trip.

Getting hereLong Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in Ronkonkoma is the closest airport with scheduled airline service, about 1 hour west by car; LIRR shuttles also run from Ronkonkoma to Greenport.

Can you get to Greenport by train?

Yes. Greenport is the eastern end of the Long Island Rail Road’s Main Line, with shuttle trains from Ronkonkoma, where you connect to trains from New York City. The Hampton Jitney’s North Fork line also runs to the city.

How do you get from Greenport to Shelter Island?

Take the North Ferry from the Greenport dock. It’s a short harbor crossing, and walk-on passengers from the train and bus can board right there.

Is the Greenport carousel open year-round?

It runs daily in summer and on weekends the rest of the year, with closures on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Sunday. Rides are sold singly or in 15-ride bundles.

Are there wineries in Greenport?

Yes. Kontokosta Winery sits on the Sound just north of the village, and more than 40 vineyards dot the East End. For more New York trips, see Cooperstown and our small towns in New York.

Where to find them

Mitchell Park and the Greenport Carousel 115 Front St., Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
East End Seaport Museum 100 3rd St., Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market 211 Carpenter St., Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
Claudio's 111 Main St., Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
Railroad Museum of Long Island Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
Kontokosta Winery 825 North Rd., Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
North Ferry to Shelter Island Greenport, NY 11944 Website Directions
Lavender by the Bay 7540 Main Rd., East Marion, NY 11939 Website Directions