Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Guided Ferry Tour from NYC

Two ways to see Lady Liberty: quick or deep, both from the water

You board a pre-reserved ferry at Battery Park with a local guide who explains the Statue's journey from France and the island's role in American immigration. The two-hour option ends on Liberty Island. The four-hour adds Ellis Island with an audio guide and free time to explore the Immigration Museum or grab lunch. Both include museum access and return ferry rides, so you're not arranging tickets or timing yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Castle Clinton National Monument10m
2. Statue of Liberty1h 30m · entry included
3. Ellis Island45m · entry included

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour

• Start at The Battery park
• Visit Castle Clinton monument
• Board ferry to Liberty Island
• Guided tour of Statue of Liberty
• Optional visit to Statue of Liberty Museum
• Ferry to Ellis Island
• Explore Ellis Island with audio guide
• Return ferry to Battery Park

The experience

The earliest ferry slot fills fast, and that's the one that actually matters. It's the difference between seeing the Statue of Liberty with room to breathe and arriving when the island is already crowded. Your guide meets you at Battery Park, walks you through Castle Clinton to set the scene, and then you're on the water heading toward Liberty Island. The whole thing starts with context, not just a photo op. If you've got two hours, that's the Express option: guide on the island, the museum, the story of how she got here from France, and then you're back on the ferry watching Manhattan rise up behind you. If you can stretch to four hours, you stay on the boat for another ten minutes to Ellis Island, where the real weight of the place hits different.

Ellis Island isn't a quick walk-through. The Immigration Museum is there, and so is an audio guide that actually works. You move at your own pace through the halls where millions of people landed, got processed, and either moved forward or got turned back. Some travelers spend an hour in the museum, some grab lunch at the cafeteria and sit outside looking back at the Statue, some hunt through the database for their own family names. Your guide doesn't follow you around. You've got the freedom to linger or move on. The ferry back to Battery Park takes ten minutes, and by then you've seen two islands and understood why they matter to the city's story, not just to Instagram.

The tour is a walking tour, so you'll be on your feet at a moderate pace. Nothing extreme, but not a stroll either. Wheelchairs and strollers work fine. The spaces are accessible, and the team asks you to email ahead if you need mobility support. One thing to know: this doesn't include access to the Crown or Pedestal inside the Statue itself, just the exterior and the museum. That's a separate ticket and a separate climb, and honestly, most people don't miss it once they're standing on Liberty Island looking up.

What’s included

• Your day includes a local English-speaking guide at Battery Park, pre-reserved ferry tickets to Liberty Island, access to the Statue of Liberty Museum, and a guided tour of the Statue and island.
• If you choose the four-hour option, you also get a pre-reserved ferry ticket to Ellis Island, access to the Immigration Museum, and an official audio guide for self-paced exploration.
• Both options include the return ferry to Battery Park and a stop at Castle Clinton National Monument before boarding.

Options for this experience

3 options

Express tour of the Statue of Liberty lasting 2 hoursGuide in English · 11:00, 13:00 and 14:00Duration: 2 hours. Pick a two-hour express tour of the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island for added flexibility.

4-Hour Statue TourGuide in English · 09:00 and 11:00The 4-hour option offers a more in-depth visit to Liberty Island and Ellis Island with an expert guide. Duration: 4 hours

Private Statue of Liberty tourGuide in English · 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00NYC private Statue of Liberty tour: Board the ferry to Liberty Island to explore the history of an American icon with an expert NYC guide.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Child (2 to 14 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Walks - USA

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island stories without arranging separate tickets or ferries yourself. The pre-reserved access means you skip the line and board early. Plan for either two hours (Statue only) or four hours (both islands), and expect moderate walking on flat, accessible ground. That's what lets you cover both the monument and the immigration history in one morning or afternoon.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 14 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between the two-hour and four-hour options?

The two-hour Express ends on Liberty Island after the guided tour and museum. The four-hour option includes a ferry to Ellis Island, where you get an audio guide and free time to explore the Immigration Museum, search family records, or eat at the cafeteria.

Do I get to go inside the Statue of Liberty's Crown?

No. This tour includes exterior access to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty Museum, but not the Crown or Pedestal. That requires a separate ticket.

Is the guide with me the whole time on Ellis Island?

No. On Ellis Island, you have an audio guide and move at your own pace through the museum. Your guide is available if you want to return on the ferry with them, but you can also stay longer and take a later ferry back.

What time does the tour start?

It begins at Battery Park. The earliest booking time gets the first ferry, which is the least crowded option. Later times board subsequent ferries throughout the day.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas are wheelchair accessible, and strollers work fine too. Email the Guest Experience team at booking to arrange any mobility support you need.

How long is the ferry ride to Ellis Island?

About ten minutes from Liberty Island. The return ferry to Battery Park takes the same time.

Can I eat on Ellis Island?

Yes. There's a cafeteria on the island where you can grab food and sit outside with views of the Statue and Manhattan.

Is the guide English-speaking?

Yes. The tour is conducted in English by a local guide.