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Find your Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tours from Battery Park City, New York - all options
On this guided tour from Battery Park City in New York, you’ll hear the powerful stories of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island and discover the creation and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty as your expert New Yorker secures reserve-line ferry tickets and rides with you to Liberty Island; choose the Comprehensive Tour and you’ll continue to Ellis Island for a guided walk around landmark highlights like the wall of honour, then explore the multiple floors of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration at your own pace with an included audio guide, plus you’ll have time to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum after your guide prepares you for what you’ll see inside - or pick the Liberty Express option for a focused two-hour guided experience across the water and on the island where your guide shares key facts and tips if you want to visit the museum on your own afterward.
About this activity in Battery Park City
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Highlights
- Hear first-hand stories about immigration and the creation of the Statue of Liberty from an expert New Yorker as you cross New York Harbor.
- Skip the main ticket lines with reserve-line roundtrip ferry access and enjoy sweeping skyline views en route to Liberty Island.
- Choose the Comprehensive Tour to add a guided visit to Ellis Island’s American Immigrant Wall of Honor plus an audio-guided visit to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
- Explore the Statue of Liberty Museum at your own pace after your guide prepares you for what you’ll see inside; the Liberty Express option offers a focused 2-hour guided experience on and around the island.
Important Information
- This experience is wheelchair accessible, allows strollers and service animals, and operates in all weather - dress appropriately and expect airport-style security screening before boarding the ferry.
- Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure; tours leave promptly and there are no refunds if you miss the boat. Early departures typically have the shortest wait times.
- Pedestal and crown access are not included in the tour; lockers for large items are available on Liberty Island for a small fee, and gratuities are not included.
- Photography is permitted (no tripods or monopods). Food is available for purchase on the ferry and on the islands, and children aged 3 and under travel free with a paid adult ticket.
Meeting Point
Meet at the ferry departure area in Battery Park (near Castle Clinton National Monument). Look for guides wearing orange hats or blue shirts/jackets and plan to arrive 15 minutes early to pass security and board on time.
Includes
- Hear a New Yorker’s expert history of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island during the comprehensive guided tour that departs from Battery Park City, New York.
- Join a comprehensive guided tour of Ellis Island that includes access to the American Immigrant Wall of Honor and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration (audio guide included).
- Take a guided tour of Liberty Island with roundtrip Reserve‑Line ferry tickets that offer stunning views of the NYC skyline during your crossing.
- Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island - self‑guided time is included so you can learn how this sculpture became an American icon.
- Your ferry ticket grants access to both Liberty and Ellis islands so you can explore both historic sites during your visit from Battery Park City.
Excludes
- Gratuities are not included in your booking.
- Lockers for large items on Liberty Island are available for a separate fee (available for $0.25) and are not covered by the tour.
- Access to the pedestal and crown of the Statue of Liberty is not included; entry to the crown or pedestal is excluded from this tour.
- The Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration are self‑guided: licensed tour guides are not permitted inside those museum spaces.
Other
- This experience is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all physical fitness levels, making it a great choice for families and multigenerational groups visiting the area.
- Infants and small children may ride in a pram or stroller; children aged 3 and under ride free with a paid adult ticket.
- Service animals are allowed, and public transportation options are available nearby for easy access from Battery Park City.
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the tour start; tours depart promptly and late arrivals cannot catch up - no refunds are provided for missed departures.
- Earliest tours typically have the shortest wait times; later departures may encounter longer lines when visiting the islands.
- Your ferry ride includes food-for-purchase options onboard, on Liberty Island, and on Ellis Island during your visit.
- Tours operate in all weather conditions - dress appropriately for outdoor time on the islands and skyline views.
- All visitors undergo airport‑style security screening before boarding the ferry; photography is permitted but tripods and monopods are prohibited.
- Guides are easy to spot on the pier and ferry as they wear orange hats and/or blue shirts or jackets.
- Note that pedestal and crown access are excluded from guided tour areas; guided tours are not allowed inside the pedestal or crown at the Statue of Liberty.
Customer Reviews
10
/
10
Based on 10 Reviews
Summary:
Learning about the rich history of Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty was very meaningful & almost overwhelming. Our tour guide was Owen. His voice carried well and despite being a larger group it was very easy to hear everything he said. He was spectacularly knowledgeable about both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. He was able to help set the importance of these two places in the history of NYC, the USA & the world.
The boat rides from Manhattan to Liberty Island, from Liberty to Ellis Island, and from Ellis Island back to Manhattan were fun and afforded fantastic views of NY Harbor.
The fact that you are able to spend however much or little time as you’d like on Ellis Island allows individual group members to tailor their visit as they’d like.
Again, ask for Owen, he was absolutely wonderful. He made the tour memorable. He was both fun and very organized… the best of both worlds!
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Summary:
Our tour guide Joe was an absolute delight. Very knowledgeable of the area and events of the time. He shared a number of fun facts and cleared up a few myths too. Happy to assist with the photo opportunities along the way.
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Summary:
Liam is a great guide and balanced the amount of information and fun and freedom in our visit to the Statue of Liberty!
Made the trip so much better having the snippets around the history and building of this amazing monument.
Highly recommend using Liam
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Know more about Battery Park City
On this guided tour you’ll ride the reserve-line ferry to Liberty Island to learn about the creation and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty, visit the Statue of Liberty Museum on your own, and-if you choose the Comprehensive Tour-continue to Ellis Island for a guided walk of landmarks including the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
The Comprehensive Tour includes access to Ellis Island and an audio guide; after the guided portion ends you can continue exploring the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration across multiple floors at your own pace.
The Comprehensive Tour includes guided visits to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island with an audio guide for the museum, while the Liberty Express is a shorter two-hour guided experience focused on the Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island, with your guide offering facts and tips for an optional self-guided museum visit afterward.
Yes. Roundtrip reserve-line ferry tickets with skyline views are included, and your expert New Yorker will board the ferry with you to Liberty Island and, on the Comprehensive Tour, to Ellis Island.
You’ll have time to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum as your guide prepares you for what you’ll see inside, but museum visits are self-guided because tour guides are not permitted inside the museum.
Yes. The tours are suitable for families and all fitness levels, wheelchair accessible, allow strollers for infants and small children, and depart from Battery Park City with nearby public transportation options.
