Ellis Island
Ellis Island

Ellis Island

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Ellis Island, 10004

The Basics

Explore the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on a 45-minute self-guided audio tour through exhibits including photos, films, archive material, and recordings. Additional audio tour options describe exhibits in more detail via in-depth interviews with historians, architects, and archaeologists. Visitors can also book a private tour of Ellis Island to maximize their experience and understanding of the sight, or a combo tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

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Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options
US$44.00 per adult
Traveler Favorite
Phenomenal experience
Jett, our tour guide was excellent and explained history in a way that we can understand it and enjoy the moment. Definitely I will recommend Jett as tour guide for my family next trip. The whole experience was amazing from Liberty island to Ellis Island. Thank you for the amazing time!!!
Jeannette_V, Sep 2023

Recent reviews from experiences in New York City

Our tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
star-5
Our tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Kenneth_H, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty Tour & Ellis Island: Guided Tour Options
We had a great informative guide. You can tell he loves his job. He was well housed in the history of both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Informative, delivered in entertaining manner
star-5
Informative, delivered in entertaining manner
Delia_M, Sep 2023
Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
Guide had photo album showing supplemental information about Lady Liberty. Interesting facts about immigration and Ellis Island, as well as the Wall of immigrants.
Great way to experience the sights.
star-5
Great way to experience the sights.
Clifton_S, Sep 2023
Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
We have been to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis island before, but this tour was the best. Our guide was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and accommodating. Highly recommended.
Prrfect tour
star-5
Prrfect tour
Kathy_H, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty Tour with Ellis Island & Museum of Immigration
Great guide, Stelina was knowledgeable and pleasant. Lady Liberty was so impressive and we looked for family members at Ellis Island. Great trip!
Very awesome, an American experience !
star-5
Very awesome, an American experience !
Lisa_L, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island & Round trip Ferry
We had a great guide, Vivian, who was not only knowledgeable but fun presenting tour information in an interesting way. Could have spent all day at Ellis Island, but we were not locked in to leave when the tour guide carried on with her group to the 9/11 Memorial while we took the later ferry back. We had done the 9/11 Memorial before we took the ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands .. It was a well filled day ! Recommend all three !
Awesome visit
star-5
Awesome visit
Jermaine_L, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
Wonderful experience. The tour guide Mike was very knowledgeable and funny. A visit to Lady Liberty and Ellis island is a must if you visit NY.
Great experience!
star-5
Great experience!
Jonathan_C, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
Daniel is a great tour guide - extremely knowledgeable and funny. He connected well with our kids. Ellis island was memorable!
The tour was excellent. He was very knowledgeable. His jokes were with the program.
star-5
The tour was excellent. He was very knowledgeable. His jokes were with the program.
Donald_H, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options
His discussion of the islands. How the statue of Liberty was designed and placed to gather on Liberty Island. His knowledge of the history was excellent. His discussion of Ellis Island was great. We learned a great deal about what our Grandparents went through when the came to the island. Would highly recommend James.
Great tour
star-5
Great tour
Lena_H, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty Tour & Ellis Island: Guided Tour Options
Great guide Cherie, knew her stuff and was pleasant and helpful! We got a history of both Liberty island and Ellis Island that was more than just informative! It was well worth the money as we had a lot of time in both locations!
Excellent experience
star-5
Excellent experience
Cathy_D, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty Ellis Island & 9/11 Pools-1st Tour 8:30am
Excellent! It was a great experience!!! Vivian was a treasure and very knowledgeable! The combination of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and The 9-11 pools was just perfect!
Unmissable
star-5
Unmissable
Jennifer_V, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options
James was a fantastic guide, highly recommended. He had an in depth knowledge of the history of the building of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. He kept us moving and on time.
Jett does a great job.
star-5
Jett does a great job.
Kathleen_W, Sep 2023
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour: All Options
We absolutely loved our tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We learned things about both monuments that we didn’t know before. Jett is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, articulate, and a fun guy to have as a tour leader. We really enjoyed the day, and got so much out of his presentation. He is to be commended.
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Things to Know Before You Go

  • The 45-minute audio tour is available in nine languages and included in the cost of a ferry ticket.

  • An audio tour for kids aged 6 to 10 is also available in five languages.

  • Ellis Island can be seen up close, for free, from the deck of the Staten Island commuter ferry (though passengers can’t get off at Ellis Island).

  • Ellis Island and ferries to it are fully wheelchair and stroller accessible.

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How to Get There

Ellis Island lies off the southwest tip of Manhattan. To visit Ellis Island from New York City, catch a Statue Cruises ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The first ferry stop is the Statue of Liberty, followed by Ellis Island. The closest subway stations to Battery Park are South Ferry (1 train), Whitehall Street (R train), or Bowling Green (4 or 5 train); the M5, M15, and M20 buses stop as South Ferry as well.

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When to Get There

Weather permitting, Ellis Island is open every day of the year except December 25. Ferries run from 9:30am to 3:30pm, with later departures in the summer and around holidays. Once on the island, you can stay until the last ferry departs, which changes seasonally.

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Portraits at the Museum

Ellis Island hosts a number of temporary exhibits. Past highlights include New Americans: Photographs by Jill Enfield, featuring 30 wet collodion photographic prints of contemporary immigrant portraits. There is also a small glass house of immigrant portraits made from antique windows that Ellis Island visitors can enter.

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Ellis Island
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Ellis Island?
Q:
What else should I know about attractions in New York City?
A:
As well as visiting the Ellis Island, check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit: