Boldt Castle visitor guide.

How to get to Boldt Castle

You can't drive to Boldt Castle. Heart Island sits in the river a short way off the Alexandria Bay waterfront, and you can see it from the town docks. You have three ways to get there:

• Shuttle or tour boat from Alexandria Bay. Uncle Sam Boat Tours (opens in a new tab) runs boats from town throughout the day, and many of its cruises stop at Heart Island. Boats also come from Clayton, and from Gananoque and Rockport on the Canadian side.
• A private boat tour. A captain takes just your group, so you can see the castle from the water, cruise Millionaires' Row, and plan time ashore. See Laurentian Tours' private Boldt Castle boat tours.
• Your own boat. Heart Island has plenty of docking for private boats.

Your boat ride and your castle admission are separate tickets. Buy admission at the island, or online through the Boldt Castle website.

Do you need a passport to visit Boldt Castle?

Not if you come from the U.S. side. Heart Island is in the United States, so a boat from Alexandria Bay or Clayton never crosses the border. You only need a passport or other approved document if you arrive from Canada. Boldt Castle is an official U.S. port of entry, and Canadian visitors check in with U.S. Customs and Border Protection when they land. If your tour from Alexandria Bay goes into Canadian water or stops in Canada, bring ID for that part of the trip.

Tickets: castle vs. yacht house

The castle ticket covers Heart Island: the six-story, 120-room castle, the gardens and grounds, and the smaller stone buildings around the island. The Boldt Yacht House is a separate stop on nearby Wellesley Island. It's a huge Gilded Age boathouse where the Boldts kept their yachts and houseboat, and today it holds antique wooden boats on loan from the Antique Boat Museum, plus a restored 1892 steam yacht. A free shuttle boat runs from Heart Island to the yacht house, and it's also reachable by road on Wellesley Island. The combination ticket costs only a few dollars more than the castle alone.

Group rates are available by calling the castle at 315-482-9724 in season. No pets are allowed on Heart Island or at the yacht house, except service animals.

What to see inside

• The castle. Six stories and 120 rooms, with restored and furnished rooms that show how the Boldts meant to live. Restoration is ongoing, so there's usually something new each season.
• The Alster Tower, built as a children's playhouse.
• The Power House, the Entry Arch, the Dove-Cote, the Gazebo, and the Italian gardens.
• The yacht house collection, if you buy the combination ticket.

The castle has no air conditioning or heat, so dress for the day.

The Boldt Castle story

George C. Boldt ran the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City. In 1900 he began building a full-size Rhineland-style castle on Heart Island as a gift for his wife, Louise, with about 300 workers on the job. In January 1904, Louise died suddenly. Boldt telegraphed the island to stop all construction and never returned. For 73 years the unfinished castle was left to the wind, ice, and vandals. In 1977 the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority acquired it and began restoring it with the castle's own revenue. The Bridge Authority still owns and runs Boldt Castle and the yacht house. You can read more on the castle's history page (opens in a new tab).

How long to spend at Boldt Castle

Plan on about two hours to walk through the castle and grounds at an easy pace. Add another hour or so if you take the shuttle to the yacht house. Go early in the day in July and August to beat the biggest crowds.

Visiting Boldt Castle by private boat

A private tour is the most relaxed way to see Boldt Castle. Captain Richard Drake spent ten years running tour boats on this stretch of river for Uncle Sam Boat Tours. Now he runs private Thousand Islands cruises for up to 6 people. They last about 4 hours and start at $450 for 1–2 people (see all rates). You'll see Boldt Castle and the yacht house from the water, plus Millionaires' Row and the shipping channel. If you'd like to go ashore and tour the castle, tell Richard when you book and he'll plan the timing. Castle admission is a separate ticket. You can even add a shore dinner on an island for $45 per person.

Singer Castle: the other castle on the river

Singer Castle (opens in a new tab) on Dark Island, about 10 miles downriver near Chippewa Bay, is a different experience: a guided tour of about 45 minutes through four floors of original furnishings and secret passages. Tour boats from Alexandria Bay go there in season. If you have time for both, see Boldt first.

Where to stay and eat near Boldt Castle

Alexandria Bay is the closest town, with resorts, motels, cottages, and campgrounds within a few minutes of the docks. The Alexandria Bay Chamber's lodging list (opens in a new tab) is a good place to start. For restaurants, see the "Where to eat" section of our things to do in Alexandria Bay guide.