Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

On the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour, you discover the two famous and historical islands of New York: Liberty Island and Ellis Island, both part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. During this walking tour, the guide takes you to visit these important pieces of American history. Learn all about Lady Liberty, the American ideals and the story of immigration.

Book the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour here

Skip the Queue: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

The tour starts at Castle Clinton, where you will meet the guide and continue on to the ferry at Battery Park, avoiding the long queues at the ferry terminal by skipping the line.

The ferry will first take you to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty. The guide will tell you all about the history, construction and restoration of one of the most famous monuments in the world.

Statue of Liberty Tour

Next you’ll get up close to Lady Liberty. The knowledgeable guide will provide you with all the interesting facts, and you can ask questions too if you’re eager to find out more. You’ll also have a chance to quickly visit the Statue of Liberty Museum by yourself, where you can see the statue’s original torch.

There will, of course, be opportunities to take photos and pose with the Statue! You will also have a break to explore, shop for souvenirs, or grab a bite.

Visiting Ellis Island

The next and final stop of the guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour is Ellis Island, which was once the entry point for many US immigrants. It is estimated that the descendants of the 12 million people processed at Ellis Island make up around 50% of the American population today.

After the Ellis Island tour, you can visit the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island at your own pace. Inside the former immigration centre, you can experience the island through the newcomers’ eyes and maybe even trace some of your own family members!

About Eric »

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

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Eric’s Tip: “This is a great tour for everyone who wants to go to the Statue of Liberty (and Ellis Island). If you don’t have a lot of time or wish to spend longer on Liberty Island, you can let your guide know that you want to continue without the group. You can also freely walk around Ellis Island and admire the scenery, or take the boat straight back to Manhattan.”

If you’d like to visit the Ellis Island hospital, which is not normally open to the public, then book the Ellis Island Hard Hat Hospital Tour.

Practical Information

After purchasing, you will receive a voucher that you can print out and use as your ticket for the tour, or show as a mobile ticket on your phone.

• Duration: 4 hours
• Departure point: Castle Clinton National Monument
• Departure Time: 09:00
• How to get there: You can take the subway to the departure location. Take 45 to the Bowling Green station, RW to Whitehall St-South Ferry, or 1 to the South Ferry station.
• Accessibility:  The tour is wheelchair accessible
• Note: Please arrive on time, at least 15 minutes before departure

Book tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour here

You can take the 9/11 Memorial and Statue of Liberty tour as an alternative