Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty Tour: Immigration Museum

The immigration center was once a hospital and a war fort before it became the gateway millions passed through.

A skip-the-line Ellis Island tour from Battery Park in New York City with a local guide, professional photographer and guaranteed entry past the queue. The three-hour tour includes a ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty with facts and photos from the boat, then a full walk of the immigration museum, photo galleries and the historic building where arrivals were processed. Minimum age is 18. The tour runs in all weather.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty Tour

• Begin tour at Battery Park
• Ferry ride past Statue of Liberty
• Photo shoot from ferry
• Arrive at Ellis Island
• Explore immigration museum
• Visit photo galleries
• Tour immigration history exhibits
• Shop at immigrant history store
• Eat at immigrant-themed cafeteria
• Use Family Record Search Center

The experience

The tour starts in Battery Park and boards a ferry that stops at the Statue of Liberty on the way to Ellis Island. Your guide shares facts about the statue during the crossing and arranges a photo shoot from the ferry when conditions allow. From there you move to Ellis Island itself, where the real journey begins: the museum and the building that processed over twelve million immigrants as they arrived in America.

Once on the island, you walk through the immigration center's galleries and the main building where newcomers were examined, questioned and either admitted or turned away. The guide leads you through the spaces where families waited, where doctors checked arrivals, where names were recorded. The tour also includes time in the photo galleries and access to the Family Record Search Center, where you can search for your own ancestors if they came through this port. The island has a restaurant themed to immigrant food and a shop focused on immigration history.

Skip-the-line access means you bypass the queue at the ferry terminal and move straight to boarding. The professional photographer guide handles the camera work on the boat and at the island, so you get images without stopping the group to set up shots yourself.

What’s included

• Local guide in English.
• professional photographer guide.
• guaranteed skip-the-line ferry access.
• ferry ride past the Statue of Liberty with guide commentary and photo shoot.
• full tour of the immigration museum and historic building.
• access to photo galleries.
• time at the Family Record Search Center to search your own family history.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by YES Tours NYC

Is this one for you?The private tour with a professional photographer means you get images without managing a camera yourself, and the skip-the-line access cuts the wait at Battery Park. Choose this if you want the full immigration story with photos and no queue negotiation.

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Top questions

What exactly is the immigration museum at Ellis Island?

The immigration center is the main building where arrivals were processed between 1892 and 1954. It includes galleries documenting the immigrant experience, the rooms where medical exams and interviews took place, and records of the millions who passed through. The building itself is the artifact: the spaces where decisions about entry happened.

Do we actually go inside the Statue of Liberty or just see it from the ferry?

The tour passes the Statue of Liberty by ferry and your guide shares facts and arranges photos from the boat. The full visit is to Ellis Island. The statue is a stop on the crossing, not a separate destination.

How much walking is involved on Ellis Island?

The tour is three hours total and includes walking through the immigration center and its galleries. You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The island is wheelchair accessible and service animals are allowed.

Can I search for my family history while I'm there?

Yes. The Family Record Search Center on Ellis Island lets you look up ancestors who came through immigration. The tour includes time to use it, though a full genealogy search may take longer than the tour allows.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for wind and rain, as you'll be on a ferry and outdoors on the island. The museum buildings provide shelter during the indoor portions.