Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Private NYC Tour with Ferry

Two Islands, One Guide, the Stories That Built America

You meet your guide at Battery Park, take the ferry to Liberty Island to explore the pedestal museum, then cross to Ellis Island to walk the immigration station where millions of arrivals were processed. The ferry, all entry fees, and the guide's expertise are included. The tour moves at your pace, not a group's schedule, and you spend as long as you need at each stop before heading back to Manhattan.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Manhattan Skyline15m · entry included
2. Statue of Liberty2h · entry included
3. Ellis Island1h · entry included

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour

• Meet guide at Battery Park
• Ferry ride to the islands
• Visit Statue of Liberty
• Tour Ellis Island

The experience

There's something about standing at Battery Park on a clear morning, watching the ferry load, that makes you realize you're about to walk where millions of people first set foot in America. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island aren't just landmarks. They're the threshold where entire lives changed direction. A private guide changes how you experience that weight. Instead of moving through crowds, you get someone who knows the actual history, the names, the routes people took when they arrived with nothing but hope and a suitcase. The ferry ride itself frames the whole thing: you're crossing the same water, seeing Manhattan recede the way immigrants saw it appear.

Your guide meets you at Battery Park and walks you through what you're about to see before you board. The ferry ride to Liberty Island takes you past the Manhattan skyline: the view shifts as you move, and it's the same view that greeted people a century ago, except now you're seeing it with someone who can tell you what it meant. At the Statue of Liberty, you're not just standing in front of a monument. You're standing in front of a choice people made, a direction they turned toward. The pedestal has its own museum, and your guide walks you through it, connecting the artifact to the actual moment. Then you cross to Ellis Island, where the real story lives. The immigration station is still there: the registry room, the benches, the hallways where families waited to be processed or turned away. A guide who knows this place doesn't just point. They help you hear the echoes.

The whole experience moves at your pace, not a schedule's. You're not herding with a group of forty or checking your watch against a bus departure. Round-trip ferry tickets are included, museum access on both islands is included, and your guide is there the entire time. The only thing to know: Battery Park sits in downtown Manhattan, which gets windy, so dress in layers. Security screening happens before you board the ferry. It's airport-style, so leave the backpack at the hotel if you can, or plan to check it into a locker on Liberty Island for a quarter. Prohibited items are strict (no weapons, no large umbrellas, no drones), but the rules exist to keep the islands safe for everyone moving through them.

What’s included

• Your day includes meeting your private guide at Battery Park, round-trip ferry tickets to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, access to the Statue of Liberty pedestal and its museum, access to the Ellis Island immigration museum, and a guided tour of both sites.
• Your guide provides historical context and expertise throughout.
• Security screening is required before boarding the ferry and entering the statue pedestal.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private Liberty Express, 2 hoursGuide in English · 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00

4-hour Liberty & Ellis tourGuide in English · 09:00 and 10:00

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00, 11:00 and 12:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by ExperienceFirst

Is this one for you?This tour is for travelers who want to understand the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as history, not just as photo stops: a private guide removes the logistics of ferries and tickets, so you can focus on the stories and the weight of the place.

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Top questions

How long does the whole tour take?

The itinerary covers Battery Park, the ferry ride, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island, but no fixed duration is specified. Plan for a full morning or afternoon. Your guide adjusts the pace to your interests.

Is the ferry ride included?

Yes. Round-trip ferry tickets to both Liberty and Ellis Island are included in the tour price.

Can I go inside the Statue of Liberty?

Yes. Access to the pedestal and its museum is included. Note that security screening is required, and backpacks must be checked into lockers (small fee applies).

What's included in the Ellis Island visit?

Access to the Ellis Island museum and the immigration station. Your guide leads a tour of the historic building and explains the arrival process.

Is this tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The tour is wheelchair accessible, and transportation options are wheelchair accessible. However, some areas of the islands have uneven terrain. Check with your guide about specific needs.

What items are not allowed?

Weapons, locking blades, tools, large non-folding umbrellas, tripods, laptops, luggage, coolers, drones, and aerosol-propelled items are prohibited. Backpacks and large items must be checked into lockers on Liberty Island.

What if the weather is bad?

The tour operates in all weather. Dress appropriately: downtown Manhattan is particularly windy. If the seller must cancel, you can reschedule or receive a refund.

Can I bring children?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed.

Where do I meet my guide?

At Battery Park, before heading to the ferry terminal.

Is food included?

No. Food and beverages are not included and must be checked into lockers if brought to the islands.