Statue of Liberty Guided Tour with Optional Ellis Island
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About this tour
This guided tour takes you by ferry across New York Harbor to Liberty Island, where a live guide walks you around the grounds and tells the story behind one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. You'll get open harbor views of the Manhattan skyline with Ellis Island in the distance, plus a look at the Statue of Liberty Museum. If you choose the Ellis Island option, you also get entry to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration with an audio guide. Expect to spend a good part of your day between the ferry, the walk, and both islands.
Highlights
- Ferry ride across New York Harbor with views of the Manhattan skyline and the statue
- Climb to the crown for panoramic views over New York City and the harbor
- Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum to learn the story behind the monument
- Walk Liberty Island with open harbor views toward Manhattan and Ellis Island
- Learn why the statue became a global symbol of freedom and new beginnings
- See the copper figure up close, weathered from reddish-brown to its now-familiar pale green
- A gift from France dedicated in 1886, with an iron framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel
Places You Will Visit
Included / Excluded
- Access to Liberty Island
- Entry to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration (if selected)
- Live guide
- Guided walking tour
- Audio guide on Ellis Island (if selected)
Good to Know Before You Visit Liberty Island and Ellis Island
The statue is best known for its outline from a distance, but there's more to see once you're on the ground, and how much depends on your ticket type. The Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island covers the monument's origins, the France-United States collaboration behind it, and the engineering that holds it up, with the original torch preserved inside alongside historical photos and models. Pedestal tickets let you climb into the base and out onto a balcony with views of the harbor, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline from directly beneath the statue. The crown is the highest accessible point, reached by a narrow spiral staircase to small windows looking out over the water; those tickets are very limited.
Out on Liberty Island, open promenades give you the statue from several angles, with the waterfront path facing Manhattan being the best spot for photos of the monument against the skyline. If your ticket includes Ellis Island, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration sits a short ferry hop away; between 1892 and 1954, more than 12 million immigrants were processed through its Great Hall, and the restored station now tells their stories through exhibits and photographs.
You reach both islands by ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey, and public transit to either departure point is easier than dealing with parking. Typical operating hours run from 09:00 to 17:00, with last entry to the monument at 15:30, though times shift by season and the site closes on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Check the current ferry schedule before you go, since first and last departures vary.
Weather in New York
Local time 8:44 PM, UTC-04:00
Available Days / Times
- Monday : 09:00, 11:00
- Tuesday : 09:00, 11:00
- Wednesday : 09:00, 11:00
- Thursday : 09:00, 11:00
- Friday : 09:00, 11:00
- Saturday : 09:00, 11:00
- Sunday : 09:00, 11:00
Last updated: Oct 22, 2026
Important Information
- Ferry vs cruise: ferry tickets land on Liberty Island and usually Ellis Island; sightseeing cruises circle the harbor for close views but don't stop on the islands.
- The ferry is the only way to reach the statue; there's no bridge or land access, and all departures leave from Manhattan or New Jersey.
- Crown access needs a separate reservation and often sells out months ahead.
- Allow plenty of time: with ferry transfers, security screening, and both islands, most visitors spend 3 to 5 hours.
- A city pass or combo ticket can save time and money if you're seeing several NYC attractions.
- Guided options add narration and often priority ferry boarding for a more structured visit.
- Morning departures are best; ferries and security lines get busier later, especially on weekends and in peak season.
- Liberty Island and Ellis Island are wheelchair accessible, but crown access uses a narrow staircase and isn't suitable for those with mobility limitations.
- On sightseeing cruises, infants usually sit on a parent's lap unless a separate seat is booked.
- Security screening is mandatory before boarding the ferry.
- Large bags and certain items may be restricted at security screening.
- Eating, drinking, and smoking are not allowed inside the statue.
- Photography is allowed; tripods and commercial filming require permission.
- No pets on the monument or islands, except service animals.
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