Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Guided Tour with Photo Shoot

Two Islands, One Guide With Family Stories From Ellis Island

You board a ferry at Battery Park with a guide whose family came through Ellis Island, visit the Statue of Liberty with a professional photographer, then spend time on Ellis Island exploring the immigration station and family history. The tour includes expert narration grounded in real family stories, a custom photo shoot, and time to move at your own pace on both islands. Book with buffer time if you want to research genealogy or eat on the island.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

• Depart from Battery Park
• Visit Liberty Island
• Tour Ellis Island
• Enjoy custom photo shoot

The experience

The ferry pulls away from Battery Park and the skyline shrinks behind you. Ahead, the Statue rises: copper-green, familiar from a thousand images, but different when it's actually there, getting closer. Your guide boards with you, and within the first few minutes you realize this isn't a script recitation. These guides have grandparents, aunts, cousins who came through Ellis Island. They know the place because their families lived it. The tour covers both Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but it's the personal layer (the names, the routes through immigration, the details about what it meant to arrive) that makes the difference between seeing the monument and understanding why it mattered.

Liberty Island comes first. You get time to move around, to stand where the light hits the statue differently depending on the hour, to read the names on the pedestal. A professional photographer travels with the group, so there's someone actually framing shots instead of you holding your phone at arm's length and hoping. After that, the ferry crosses to Ellis Island, where most people want to spend real time: either walking the halls of the immigration station or tracing their own family's arrival records if they have them. The guide doesn't rush this part. They know some travelers are here for the history, some are here because their great-grandmother passed through that building, and both matter equally. The tour leaves from Battery Park, which is accessible by subway and on foot from lower Manhattan, so getting there doesn't eat your morning.

Bring comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. You're outside on the water, and the wind changes things. The tour operates rain or shine, so plan accordingly. If you're thinking about lunch or spending extra time on Ellis Island digging into family records, the company recommends leaving a gap between this tour and whatever comes next. It's not a quick checkbox experience. You can reach them through the booking platform if you want to ask about timing, accessibility, or anything else before you book.

What’s included

Your day includes ferry pickup from Battery Park, guided access to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island, entry to both islands, a professional photographer who travels with the group for a custom photo shoot, and a local guide with family connections to Ellis Island immigration history. You'll have time to explore the Statue, walk the immigration station, and if you wish, research family records on Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park.

Options for this experience

2 options

Ellis Island Tour (and Statue)Guide in English · 08:30 and 09:00A more focused exploration of the many threads of American immigration and Ellis Island. (Some photos and the basics of the statue are included.)

Statue of Liberty Ellis IslandGuide in English · 09:00Discover the deep history, compelling stories and stunning views of the Statue of Liberty, then trace the woven story of American immigration at Ellis Island.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (6 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 5 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by YES Tours NYC

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want expert narration grounded in real family stories rather than generic facts, and if you're willing to spend the day on two islands instead of rushing through one. The small-group format and professional photographer are what make the experience feel personal instead of crowded.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (6 to 17 years); Child (2 to 5 years); Infant (under 2).

What's included in the tour?

Local guide with family Ellis Island connections, ferry access to both islands, professional photographer, and a custom photo shoot. Entry fees to both islands are included.

Do I need to book tickets separately for the Statue and Ellis Island?

No. Tickets and ferry access are included in the tour. The guide handles logistics.

Can I do genealogy research on Ellis Island during the tour?

Yes. The tour includes time on Ellis Island, and the company recommends leaving extra time if you plan to research family records. Contact the operator through the booking platform to discuss timing.

Where does the tour depart from?

Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Public transportation options are nearby and accessible.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and infants can ride in strollers. Service animals are allowed.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately for wind and water conditions.