Early Access

Highlights:

• Enjoy a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty

• Visit Ellis Island and follow in the footsteps of 12 million immigrants, taking their first step on the land of freedom.

• Get more from your experience with an expert guide at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum – you’ll walk the Stairs of Separation, visit the Kissing Post and hear tales at the American Immigrant Wall of Honor to put a human context on your visit.

• With small groups of 20 people or fewer, your tour will be intimate, your guide easy to interact with.

Description:

We’ll start our tour with a little context, visiting the sites around Battery Park. The memorials here rarely get the attention they deserve, from visitors rushing past to board the ferry. The stories they have to tell are well worth hearing though, so we’ll spare some time for the Castle Clinton National Monument, Pier A Harbor House, the American Merchant Mariner’s Memorial, the Sphere, and New York Korean War Veteran’s Memorial.

Then it’s off to Liberty Island with pre-reserved ferry tickets from Battery Park to Liberty Island. Once there, you’ll enjoy stunning views back over the city and you’ll dive into the story of how the statue came to be and why it almost wasn’t built at all. 

Gifted to the US by France and designed by their finest architects including Gustav Eiffel (whose Parisian Tower you may be familiar with), Lady Liberty wasn’t as warmly received as you would think. With your expert guide on hand, you’ll hear all about the struggle that got her on her feet and made her even more special to the people of New York.

Then it’s back on the ferry and on to Ellis Island, where you’ll follow in the footsteps of 12 million immigrants. With your expert guide on hand, you’ll learn about the lengthy immigration process they went through, walking the Stairs of Separation to understand the island’s two very different names – ‘The Island of Hope’ and ‘The Island of Tears’. Together you’ll explore the museum’s impressive collection of interactive displays, asking all the questions you want of your expert guide. Our tour ends in Ellis Island, so you can stay a little longer if you’d like, or head back on the ferry with your guide.

With small groups of 20 people or fewer and early morning ferries to the islands, we ensure that your tour is peaceful and relaxed, removing the stress and frustrations of the average visit. And with an expert guide on hand, you’re certain to learn a thing or two, getting more from your experience than you would have on your own. 

Please note, early access to the Statue of Liberty and arrival before the crowds are only applicable if 8:30 AM / 9:00 AM Departure is selected!

Sites Visited: 

• Statue of Liberty Museum 

• Ellis Island Museum 

• Castle Clinton National Monument

• Pier A Harbor House (from the exterior)

• American Merchant Mariner’s Memorial

• The Sphere

• New York Korean War Veterans Memorial

Inclusions:

• Expert local tour guide

• Fully guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum tour

• All ferry tickets between Battery Park, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

• Pre-reserved ferry tickets from Battery Park – Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island

• Small groups of 20 people or fewer

Exclusions: 

• Statue of Liberty Crown

• Gratuities

• Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off

Group Size: 20 people per guide

Reduced price:

- Infants (ages 0-1): free (no reservation required)

- Children (ages 2-14)