Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Express Ferry & Audio Tour

Battery Park to Liberty Island: Skip the Ferry Line, Keep the Harbor Views

You get a 30-minute Battery Park orientation, express ferry boarding, and self-guided audio tours of Liberty Island and Ellis Island in eight languages. Entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is included. The ferry ride back offers views of the Manhattan skyline and Freedom Tower. Plan for four to five hours total, and book morning departures if Ellis Island is a must.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Statue of Liberty15m · entry included
2. New York Harbor30m · entry included

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour

• Guided tour of Battery Park and Castle Clinton
• Go through TSA and board ferry to Liberty Island
• Pick up multilingual audio guide on Liberty Island
• Take photos and learn Statue of Liberty history
• Visit Statue of Liberty Museum
• Take ferry to Ellis Island
• Visit Ellis Island grounds and Wall of Heroes
• Explore Ellis Island Museum and Great Hall
• Take ferry back to Battery Park

The experience

The 30-minute orientation at Battery Park sets the shape of your day before you board. Your guide walks you through Castle Clinton and explains what you'll see once you're on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, which stops matter, where the light hits best for photos, what the museum layout actually is. Then you move through TSA screening and get express boarding to the ferry, which saves the time most visitors spend in the queue watching other groups shuffle ahead.

Once you're across New York Harbor, you pick up your multilingual audio headset at the kiosk on Liberty Island. The audio guide is available in eight languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Hindi and Korean), and it walks you through the statue's history and construction while you stand in front of it. You get access to the new Statue of Liberty Museum, which holds the original torch and the building's archives. The museum is self-guided, so you move at your own pace through the exhibits.

The ferry then takes you to Ellis Island, where the Immigration Museum sits in the Great Hall where millions of immigrants were processed. Your audio guide continues here, narrating the stories of arrival and the building itself. On the way back to Battery Park, the ferry crosses the full width of New York Harbor, and you see the Manhattan skyline and Freedom Tower (the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere) from the water. The whole experience runs roughly four to five hours depending on how long you spend in each museum and on the island grounds.

One practical note: the tour departs at different times throughout the day, but if you book a 1 PM departure or later, you may not reach Ellis Island before it closes. Also, TSA-grade security screening happens before boarding, so no liquids, alcohol, weapons or large bags get through. Minors under 18 need to be with an adult 25 or older. In February 2025, express boarding is temporarily suspended due to construction, so the ferry access is standard speed.

What’s included

Your day includes the 30-minute Battery Park and Castle Clinton orientation with an English, Spanish, or French-speaking guide, express ferry boarding to Liberty Island, multilingual audio tour headsets for Liberty Island and Ellis Island, entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum, ferry tickets to both islands, entry to the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum, and a ferry ride back to Battery Park with views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline. Family-friendly audio tours for children ages 6–10 are available in the same languages as the adult tours.

Before you book

Operated by Attractions4us LLC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see both Liberty Island and Ellis Island in one trip without arranging tickets separately or waiting in the ferry line: the express boarding and pre-tour orientation are what fit both islands into a single morning or afternoon.

Traveler reviews

3.10★★★★★★★★★★

39 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages are the audio tours available in?

English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, and Korean. Family-friendly audio tours for children ages 6–10 are also available in all these languages.

Does this tour include access to the Statue of Liberty crown or pedestal?

No. The admission covers Liberty Island and the museum only. Crown and pedestal access require separate paid tickets not included in this tour.

What time should I book to make sure I see Ellis Island?

Book a departure before 1 PM. Tours departing at 1 PM or later may not reach Ellis Island before it closes for the day, depending on queues and the season.

Is there a guide with me the whole time?

A guide gives you the 30-minute Battery Park orientation and assists with ferry boarding. On Liberty Island and Ellis Island, you use the audio guide to tour at your own pace. The guide does not enter the museums with you.

What items are not allowed through security?

No liquids, alcohol, weapons, or large bags. TSA-grade screening is mandatory before boarding the ferry.

Can I bring a stroller or wheelchair?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.

Do I need to be accompanied by an adult?

If you are 17 or under, yes. An adult 25 or older must accompany you.

What if the Statue of Liberty Museum or Ellis Island is closed on my date?

Due to local regulations, these sites may not be open on certain dates. Check your specific tour date before booking.