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Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tour by CityTales

1 Battery Place, New York, New York

Description

The Statue of Liberty is one of New York City's iconic monuments. Gifted by the French people, designed by the sculptor F.A. Bartholdi and partially constructed by Gustave Eiffel in 1886, it sits on an enormous pedestal on Liberty Island, just south of downtown Manhattan. Bearing a torch, 93m from ground level, it was welcoming immigrants to a new world - those were directed towards the immigration station on nearby Ellis Island, which has now been turned into a museum. The activity reviewed here leaves from Battery Park and takes visitors on a guided tour to Liberty Island and Ellis Island with stops at the Statue and admission to Ellis Island and the National Immigration Museum.

Access & Transport

Meeting point is at One Battery Park Plaza, on the plaza in front of the Starbucks at the corner of State and Pearl Street. There are 3 underground stations within a 2mins' walk: Whitehall St (N, R, W), South Ferry (1) and Bowling Green (4, 5).

Instructions & Recommendations

The walking tour covers approximately 6km so wear comfortable shoes and arrive 15-20mins before the scheduled departure time. Security screenings are involved so do not bring any sharp object (the type you would not be able to take on a flight). Note that access to the Crown at the Statue of Liberty is NOT included. No refund for cancellations less than 24h before the tour scheduled start.

Meta review

The statue is possibly the #1 priority for many travellers to the city and a fair percentage is not necessarily aware of the immigration museum on Ellis Island though it is systematically considered a must do by those who have visited. The tour reviewed here consistently ranks among the best in NYC and customers generally state being very happy with the knowledge and friendliness of the guide who tell the story of those attractions, but there are recurring comments of having little opportunity for in-depth viewing / visiting and that the tour is overpriced since the rest of the info is provided in the museum so one is really paying for a ferry ride.

Environmental & Social

Ferry runs on fossil fuel but not a large carbon footprint per capita (short distance and many passengers). The museum is educational and helps preserve the city's historical heritage.

Conclusion

The statue and immigration museum are among the most popular attractions in the city and should be seen by any first-time visitor to NYC. Whether you decide on a tour or not really depends on how much time you are looking to allocate to those attractions and how comfortable you are arranging ferry trips and a museum visit independently. If history is an area of interest, then chances are you would want to spend longer and choose either a longer tour or go on your own and spend as much time as you like. Budget is also a consideration obviously. In conclusion, this is an excellent tour but the formula may not necessarily yield the best value for you.

Key positive

Seeing the statue up close

Fascinating history of Ellis Island Immigration Station

Key negative

Expensive

Only one tour departure per day

Suitability

Accessible for visitors with reduced mobility

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

August 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
Tour leaves at 09h00

av. transport time:0h 20m

est. visit time:3h 30m

Regulated hours

Start of Season 1:Mar, 01

Season 1

MONDAY08:45 - 12:15

TUESDAY08:45 - 12:15

WEDNESDAY08:45 - 12:15

THURSDAY08:45 - 12:15

FRIDAY08:45 - 12:15

SATURDAY08:45 - 12:15

SUNDAY08:45 - 12:15

Start of Season 2:Jan, 01

Season 2

MONDAY -

TUESDAY -

WEDNESDAY -

THURSDAY -

FRIDAY08:45 - 12:15

SATURDAY08:45 - 12:15

SUNDAY08:45 - 12:15

Pricing
Age band
Age band
Regular price / pers.
Senior
65 - 99
US$65
Adult
13 - 64
US$65
Child
4 - 12
US$56
Infant
0 - 3
US$0
Price excluding tip

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