Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Dos and Don’ts for Your Visit
As two of the most popular attractions in New York City, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are probably on your must-see…
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#1 rated Statue of Liberty tours
Voted one of the top 10 experiences in the world — by travelers like you
Our globally award-winning tour features an all-inclusive visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Enjoy guaranteed ferry tickets and a local guide who’s a true NYC expert. It’s hands-down the best way to experience the Statue.
See ToursNot your typical Statue of Liberty tour
Expert guides to inform and delight
See the real New York with an NYC local. Get fun facts, stories, and insider travel tips to make your trip better.
Make the most of your time
Take advantage of no-wait roundtrip ferry tickets and a streamlined itinerary. More sightseeing, less waiting.
Worry-free flexible booking
Our tours have a generous 24-hour cancellation policy. If something comes up, cancelling is stress-free.
Choose from two guided Statue of Liberty tours
20,133 reviews
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The comprehensive tour and visitHighlights:
- Ferry to Liberty Island
- Guided tour of Liberty Island
- Visit to the Statue of Liberty Museum
- Guided tour of Ellis Island
98 reviews
Statue of Liberty Express
The fastest way to see the StatueHighlights:
- Ferry to Liberty Island
- Guided tour of Liberty Island
- Visit to the Statue of Liberty Museum
*Explore Ellis Island on your own if you want to extend your trip, and take the ferry back to Battery Park at your convenience.
What you'll see and do
Your tour starts at Battery Park, where you’ll meet your guide at Castle Clinton. This is a landmark in its own right — Castle Clinton is a historic fort once considered as a possible site for the Statue of Liberty.
Then it’s all aboard the ferry to Liberty Island. We’ll have no-wait roundtrip ferry ... Read more
Your tour starts at Battery Park, where you’ll meet your guide at Castle Clinton. This is a landmark in its own right — Castle Clinton is a historic fort once considered as a possible site for the Statue of Liberty.
Then it’s all aboard the ferry to Liberty Island. We’ll have no-wait roundtrip ferry tickets for you so you can avoid the crowds. On the ride over, you’ll learn about the history of the Statue of Liberty and how perceptions of this symbol have changed over the years.
Once at Liberty Island, your guide will show you the grounds and tell you more about what you will see inside the Statue of Liberty Museum. Following the guided portion of your tour, you’ll have time to visit the museum. It’s pretty cool — it contains “flames” from Lady Liberty’s torch, some of the statue’s original structure, and more.
Taking our full Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour?
If you’re taking our express tour, your guided experience ends on Liberty Island. You’re welcome to make a stop on your own at Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park.
If you’re taking our most popular, full tour of both Liberty and Ellis islands, then you’ll hop back on the ferry with your guide and cruise over to Ellis Island. Here, you’ll learn about the millions of immigrants who came to America between 1892 and 1954, passing through Ellis Island on their journey to citizenship. Your guide will point out significant monuments on the grounds, including the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
You’ll also get the inside scoop on the Ellis Island National Immigration Museum so you know what to expect as you tour it on your own. Spend as long as you want on Ellis Island before returning by ferry to Battery Park, the end of your perfect NYC adventure!
Statue tour itinerary
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Castle Clinton
The sandstone fort that doubles as our meeting point and a national monument
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Ferry
With beautiful views along the way
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Statue of Liberty
Where you can tour the grounds and visit the Statue of Liberty Museum
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Ellis Island
Included with our full tour or an optional stop on your own with our express tour
Plan your Statue of Liberty experience
Meeting point
Steps outside the North Entrance of Castle Clinton in Battery Park
Security screenings
Required before entering the ferry or statue
Refund policy
100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time
Statue tour reviews
21,582
Owen was so informative and fun. The best. Our first visit to NYC, and it was such a good choice to do this tour.
Gina
Awesome tour
Peter was a very informative tour guide. He informed us he was the 2nd best tour guide in NYC lol. We hope our rating elevates him to Number 1. Tour is highly recommended and definitely worth the money. Museum was wonderful. It was a moving and solemn experience. Don't rush yourselves, allow plenty of time and go early. Awesome day.
— Daniel
Excellent!
The boat ride was very enjoyable. Seeing all the sights from the water made our New York trip so much more fun and our guide Chris Triebel gave us so much information most of which I had never known. All our family members encouraged us to cancel our trip due to Covid and all the fall out. But when we arrived, New York was everything we remembered and even more. Best trip ever, so glad we didn't cancel.
— Explorer 101
Fantastic experience
Great tour with plenty of history - advice - and humour about two such important and visited places. This is the second time we have been but the first time guided and it is WELL worth the money to get the full experience.
— Nate
FAQs for visiting the Statue of Liberty
Does this tour include the immigration museum on Ellis Island?
In the interest of time, our express tour doesn’t include a guided visit to Ellis Island, though you’re welcome to visit on your own, and your ferry ticket will take you there. Our full Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour does include visiting Ellis Island with your guide. Since guiding isn’t allowed inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, your guide will let you know what to look for before you visit on your own. Museum admission is free.
How long is the tour?
The guided portion of our express tour is about 2 hours. You can stay as long as you want after the tour ends at Liberty Island and return to Battery Park when ready. Total time should be about 3 hours, but allow an extra hour if you plan to visit Ellis Island on your own. The full tour takes closer to 5 hours, 4 of these spent with your guide.
How much walking is there?
We’ll be on our feet for most of the tour, and there are some stairs. The ferry ride over has some limited seating, and your guide will lead you on a walking tour of the grounds to point out the different sights. If mobility is an issue, please arrange for a private tour.
Does this include a guided tour inside the Statue of Liberty Museum?
The National Park Service doesn’t allow any guiding inside the Statue of Liberty Museum. Your guide will give you a thorough introduction to the museum so you can explore it on your own and know what to look for.
What is the cancellation and refund policy?
We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time for this tour.
What is the policy on gratuities?
Tips are always appreciated by our guides but never expected. They should be given if you believe your guide did an outstanding job and if you personally want to demonstrate your appreciation to the guide.
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