One of the great symbols of Americana, New York’s Statue of Liberty, along with Ellis Island nearby, has become synonymous with hope and freedom.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Following a long, often dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean, immigrants to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries were greeted by the commanding Statue of Liberty. Their first feel of American soil was at Ellis Island, where new arrivals were processed for immigration. Today, the process of arrival is much different, but the values these classic New York landmarks represent remain the same. Both Ellis Island and Liberty Island lie close to the New Jersey coastline, although a majority of the best boat trips depart from Manhattan. Here are five of the best tours.
Sunset Boat Cruise past the Statue of Liberty
The best value Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty tours don’t actually stop off at either island. Instead, you can take a cruise that passes close by, while providing exceptional views of the world’s finest skyline. This experience is particularly special at sunset, when nature provides an even more remarkable backdrop against which the city’s great landmarks are framed. This sunset boat cruise departs daily from Pier 36 in Manhattan and lasts around 90 minutes. There’s a cash bar on board the boat (drinks not included in the ticket price). From $36 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
For a tour that gives you access the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, and the Ellis Island Museum, while including round-trip ferry tickets, there’s this long-running and perpetually popular choice. Purchasing this tour ensures priority access to the ferry, aboard which you’ll be able to drink in the Manhattan skyline on your way to the islands. The tour is fully guided and lasts approximately four hours. Departures are from Thu-Tue each week at 9am. From $55 per person.
NYC Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour
Another popular guided tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty is available daily from April until Oct, then runs between four and five days a week in winter. Meet your guide in Lower Manhattan, then take a ferry to Liberty Island. As with most tours, entry to the statue’s interior is not included, but you can explore the attached museum and base of the statue. Over on Ellis Island, your guide will give you all the information you need to truly appreciate the extraordinary history of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. From $56 per person.
(Photo: Getyourguide.com)
Manhattan Statue and Skyline Luxury Yacht Cruise
If time is limited and you only wish to see the Statue of Liberty up close, without being crammed onto one of the main ferries, it’s possible to take a cruise aboard a 1920s-style yacht. Departing from one of the Chelsea piers, this 90-minute sightseeing cruise of New York Bay passes through the Hudson Bay, down to Liberty Island, then up the East River towards Brooklyn Bridge. There’s an onboard bar (your first drink is included with your ticket) and plenty of comfortable viewing spaces, including a spacious outdoor deck. From $72 per person.
Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, and Wall Street Tour
The ultimate New York landmarks tour combines the likes of Wall Street, the Charging Bull statue, and the National 9/11 Memorial with a boat trip on New York Harbor, which stops at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Over roughly five hours, this whistle-stop tour will take in all of these sights, starting with a Manhattan walking tour. You’ll then take a ferry out to Ellis and Liberty islands, where you can take your time exploring the museums on both islands (entry included) using a self-guided audio tour. Daily departures. From $248 per person.