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Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: Immigrant Stories Tour
4.8
10.2k Ratings
New York
Discover the captivating stories of immigrants on a Statue of Liberty tour with ExperienceFirst. Explore Ellis Island and learn about the history of these iconic landmarks.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Castle Clinton National Monument - This sandstone fort is our meeting point, but it’s also a national monument.
- Statue of Liberty - Tour Liberty Island with your guide. See the statue up-close and visit the Statue of Liberty Museum. This is also a great opportunity for photos of the NYC skyline.
- Statue of Liberty Museum - If you choose our Comprehensive 4 Hour tour, you will have time visit the museum on your own (guides not permitted inside the museum) before continuing your tour to Ellis Island.
If you choose our Express Tour, the tour ends at Liberty Island so you can stay as little or as long as you like in the museum.
Our guides are not permitted to enter the museum so this part will be self-guided.
- Ellis Island - Choose our 4 Hour Comprehensive tour and take a tour of Ellis Island as your guide points out sights like the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.
Not included with Express Tour.
- Ellis Island Immigration Museum - Choose our Comprehensive 4 Hour tour and discover the stories of the millions of immigrants who came through here from 1892-1954. Explore this museum at your own pace with your included audio guide before returning to Battery Park at your leisure. Guides are not permitted into the museum so this part is self-guided but our guides will give you facts and tips before you enter to get the most out of your visit.
What's Included
- History of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from an expert New Yorker
- Guided tour of Ellis Island including the American Immigrant Wall of Honor
- Guided tour of Liberty Island
- Roundtrip reserve-line ferry tickets with stunning views of the NYC skyline
- Visit the Statue of Liberty Museum - self-guided
- Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, audio guide included
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Lockers for large items on Liberty Island (available for $0.25)
- Crown and Pedestal (base) access at the Statue of Liberty, entry not included
- Statue of Liberty Museum & Ellis Island National Museum are not guided as tour guides not permitted
Additional Information
Hear the stories of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island and learn about the creation and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty.
On this guided tour, your expert New Yorker will get your reserve-line ferry tickets and ride with you to Liberty Island and afterward, if you select our Comprehensive Tour, to Ellis Island for a tour of the landmarks around the island, such as the wall of honour. Once the tour ends, the exploration doesn’t stop there as you can continue inside the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration to explore its multiple floors at your own pace. An audio guide is included to help. You’ll also have time to visit the Statue of Liberty Museum as your guide prepares you for what you’ll see inside.
Our Liberty Express option offers a 2 hour guided tour across the water, and on Liberty Island, where you’ll learn all about the Statue of Liberty and our expert guide will also give you facts and tips if you wanted to visit the museum on your own after the tour.
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour. The tour departs promptly and if late, you will NOT be able to catch up and will miss the tour. There are no refunds for missing the tour.
- Please note the earliest time tour will have the least wait. Later tours will encounter longer wait times.
- The guided portion of the tour is approximately either 0.5, 2 or 4 hours.
- Food available for purchase on the ferry, at the Statue of Liberty, and on Ellis Island
- Operates in all weather conditions. Please dress appropriately.
- Security screening will take place prior to entering the ferry. Visitors to the park are required to undergo airport-style security screening.
- Photographs are permitted, but tripods and monopods are prohibited.
- Children 3 and under free with paid adult ticket.
- Guides are wearing orange hats AND/OR blue shirts or jackets.
- Pedestal and crown access are not included in your tour. Guided tours are not allowed in the pedestal or crown at the Statue of Liberty
Location
Castle Clinton National Monument
Meet your guide on the steps outside of Castle Clinton's North Entrance. Castle Clinton is inside Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan.
Your guide will have your entry tickets. Just show up and tell the guide your name. They will be wearing an orange hat and/or a blue jacket/shirt.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(10154 Ratings)
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Leanne_s
Sep 21, 2024
Brilliant tour - Second time visiting luckily but the first time to have a guided tour, what can I say, our guide Emily Fish was outstanding, she really had the passion for the history, we learned so much more than the first time, brilliant tour.
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_j
Sep 18, 2024
Statue of Liberty/Ellis island - Such a great excursion with Owen being so knowledgeable the statue’s history came to life ! Highly recommended
Review provided by Viator
Norma
Sep 8, 2024
Check-in with Charlie!! - Charlie was an amazing guide - so knowledgeable, enthusiastic and engaging. He took a group photo with the Manhattan skyline in the background and emailed it to us all - a lovely touch!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Juanpablocd4967wh
Sep 7, 2024
Increible - I really liked the whole tour, Charlie was our Guide and the truth everything was amazing, highly recommended!!!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Evrenogul
Aug 30, 2024
Great tour, great guide - Great tour, very informative and interesting. Our tour guide Anthony went through the history of both the SoL and Ellis Island.
The visit to the museum on Ellis Island is also a must I think.
Review provided by Viator
Jackie
Aug 17, 2024
A day with Lady Liberty! - Our tour guide Citlali kept a group of 22 people together, on time, and engaged during the entire trip! When I first booked our tour, I was a little nervous about a 4 hour day with a 9 year old boy - but Citlali made everything easy and fun! I loved the history she shared and some myths she debunked! Thank you, Citlali!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amoelba
Aug 14, 2024
Charlie made history fun! - Charlie made this tour engaging and interesting even for the teens on this tour. We got escorted to the front of the ferry line, which was very nice because the sun was hot and the line was long. Charlie knew his history and it was great to learn the true stories that the museums leave out.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
352d_marisp
Aug 5, 2024
China town - We did the tour of Chinatown, little Italy and soho with Joseph and it was great!!!! Highly recommended! We take the tour with New York pass
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nannitaupn
Aug 26, 2024
A must ! - Nice experience , the ferry and the islands are amaizing , The statue and the museums are interesting and you can learn a lot , the gifts shops expansive , very crowded and long lines in summer but the logistics is excellent
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cathy_c
Aug 19, 2024
Nice tour guide, but a bit disorganized and not timely. - Tour guide was very nice, but we started a bit late and from that point things were set back the rest of the tour. Also, when she spoke, she was all over the place when she would try to explain things about the statue and it's history and it was extremely difficult to follow. At one point my partner and I had to explain some info about the torch to another couple, because she wasn't answering their question that they asked repeatedly. We were unable to take part in the Ellis Island portion because of the time constraints that were primarily due in part to how far behind we were. The tour was supposed to be 9am-1pm and we didn't even get on the boat to go to Ellis Island until 1145am, which is almost 3/4 of the time we had booked. We were disappointed because we noticed a group that arrived at roughly the same time as us (12:15pm) was heading back to Manhattan after completing both the Statue and the Ellis Island tour. We also noticed that several from our group were heading back to Manhattan after completing Ellis Island along with us, and it seemed they either went on their own to Ellis Island or they joined the group that was making good time. I don't want her to get in trouble because she was extremely kind and trying her best, but we paid $150.00 and feel as though we would've been better off just getting a ferry and headphones for a listening tour.
Review provided by Viator
