Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour

From$49.99

4 hours

New York City, USA

About this activity

Experience the rich history of America's iconic landmarks with priority access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, guided by an expert providing engaging historical insights.

Highlights

Priority access to iconic Statue of Liberty
Explore historic Ellis Island Immigration Museum
Engaging pre-ferry historical tour
Expert guide sharing captivating stories
Breathtaking views of New York Harbor

Full description

Discover the rich history of America's iconic landmarks with this comprehensive tour. Enjoy priority access to the Statue of Liberty, allowing you to explore its pedestal and museum at your leisure. Then, delve into the stories of millions of immigrants at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Before boarding the ferry, an expert guide will provide a pre-ferry tour, sharing captivating tales and historical context that bring these sites to life. This experience offers a unique opportunity to connect with America's past while enjoying breathtaking views of New York Harbor.

Included / Excluded

Priority reserved access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Pre-ferry tour providing historical context and insights
Expert guide sharing engaging stories and facts

Food and beverages during the tour

Itinerary

Guided tour of Battery Park & historic Castle Clinton, along with orientation to make the most of your time on Ellis Island - especially if choosing the option with Self-Guided Audio Tours. This portion of the day is with English speaking guide.

Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE

Go through TSA and board the ferry to Liberty Island. If the pre-ferry tour option was chosen, you pick up your multilingual audio guide for Liberty Island at the kiosk once you get off the ferry & spend time touring the island with the audio guide. If the guided tour was chosen, the guide will give you a guided tour of the island in English, show you the best spots to take photos of the Statue of Liberty and give you some free time to explore.

Duration: 1h 30mAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE

Take close-up photos of the Statue of Liberty and learn about its history. (Paid Admission is for Liberty Island - not access to the crown or pedestal)

Duration: 15 minAdmission: YES

Visit the new Statue of Liberty Museum which holds the original torch and learn more about the building of the monument and its history. On the Guided Tour - this portion is self-guided as guided tours are not allowed in the Museum.

Duration: 15 minAdmission: YES

Take the ferry to Ellis Island and enjoy the grounds of Ellis Island and visit the Wall of Hero's. Look to see if you can discover your families name. This portion is guided on the guided tour.

Duration: 30 minAdmission: NOT_APPLICABLE

Spend time at the Museum and visit the massive Great Hall where immigrants were processed. If the pre-ferry tour option was chosen, you pick up your Multilingual Audio Guide for the Museum as you enter the Museum. If the guided tour was chosen, your guide cannot go inside the Museum with you, but will brief you on where to go once inside.

Duration: 30 minAdmission: YES

Take the ferry back from Ellis Island to Battery Park. On the way enjoy panoramic views of New York Harbor including the Manhattan Skyline and the Freedom Tower - the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

Duration: 30 minAdmission: YES

Meeting point

Start Location

Unknown location

Important information

Know before you book

The tour operates rain or shine; cancellations due to weather are rare.
Photography is permitted, but tripods and professional equipment may be restricted.
Large bags and backpacks are not allowed; consider bringing a small bag or backpack.

Know before you go

Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking and standing for extended periods.
Bring a valid photo ID for entry to the sites.
Check the weather forecast and dress appropriately for the day's conditions.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

Wheelchair Accessible
Stroller Accessible
Easy Public Transport

Good to know

Audio tours are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Arabic.
Family friendly audio tours designed for children ages 6-10 are also available in the same languages.
A mandatory airport grade security screening is conducted prior to boarding the ferry. This means no alcohol, weapons or large bags are allowed.
Depending on the queues, and time of year, any tour departing from 1pm onwards may not make it to Ellis Island before it closes for the day,
Minors (17 or under) must be accompanied by an adult (25+)
Due to local regulations, the Statue of Liberty Museum, Ellis Island, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum may not be open on the date of your visit
February 2025 – Due to construction, priority boarding is temporarily suspended
If there are only a few French-speaking or Spanish-speaking guests on the tour, you will be in a tour group with English speakers as well, and will have a bi-lingual guide who will give commentary in either both French and English, or both English and Spanish

Traveler reviews

3.5

27 reviews

Ferry ride

Just only a ferry ride and walk to the place of ferry and around the attractions Statue of Liberty and Ellis island.

Vijaya_KMay 19, 2026VIATOR

This was a great tour!

Martin was amazing! Very personable and knowledgeable. Took us right where we needed to be. Everything was nice, orderly and easy!

Paul_MMay 8, 2026VIATOR

Statue of Liberty

Gale very nice person. The tours were National Parks. We did. not know why we needed Viator tours. Which we love the tour company and have used over the years. But this one left us bewildered.

Terri_SMar 29, 2026VIATOR

What an Experience

A wonderful 3.5-hour Viator tour that was both enriching and enjoyable. Our guide-the tall Martin was exceptionally knowledgeable, bringing history to life with engaging stories, thoughtful insights, and a genuine passion for the city. Every stop—from the Statue of Liberty views to the Manhattan skyline and historic landmarks—felt meaningful and well-paced. What made the experience even more special was the group itself—warm, curious, and respectful fellow travelers who added great energy and conversations throughout. It felt less like a tour and more like a shared journey. Highly recommended for anyone looking to explore with depth, comfort, and great company.

ARPAN_GMar 27, 2026VIATOR

Brooklyn Boy Review

I think it's really set up nice. I do believe that people should know that you don't get to actually go in the Statue unless you have special tickets. Alos, that there is very limited seating on the Ferry.

Robert_KFeb 16, 2026VIATOR

Additional information

Audio tours are available in English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Russian and Arabic. Family friendly audio tours designed for children ages 6-10 are also available in the same languages. A mandatory airport grade security screening is conducted prior to boarding the ferry. This means no alcohol, weapons or large bags are allowed. Depending on the queues, and time of year, any tour departing from 1pm onwards may not make it to Ellis Island before it closes for the day, Minors (17 or under) must be accompanied by an adult (25+) Due to local regulations, the Statue of Liberty Museum, Ellis Island, and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum may not be open on the date of your visit February 2025 – Due to construction, priority boarding is temporarily suspended

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