New York City Greatest Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Early Access Tour
MyLittleAdventure logo
English / EUR
New York City Greatest Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Early Access Tour
/ United States / New York / Tours & Activities /
See details in English

New York City Greatest Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Early Access Tour

4 h
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Pass By: Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York City, NY 10004

The Statue of Liberty is a figure of Libertas, a robed Roman liberty goddess. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left hand carries a tabula ansata inscribed in Roman numerals with "JULY IV MDCCLXXVI" (July 4, 1776), the date of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. A broken shackle and chain lay at her feet as she walks forward, commemorating the recent national abolition of slavery.[7] The statue became an icon of freedom and of the United States, and a national park tourism destination. It is a welcoming sight to immigrants arriving from abroad.

Bartholdi was inspired by a French law professor and politician, Édouard René de Laboulaye, who is said to have commented in 1865 that any monument raised to U.S. independence would properly be a joint project of the French and U.S. peoples. Because of the post-war instability in France, work on the statue did not commence until the early 1870s. In 1875, Laboulaye proposed that the French finance the statue and the U.S. provide the site and build the pedestal. Bartholdi completed the head and the torch-bearing arm before the statue was fully designed, and these pieces were exhibited for publicity at international expositions.

So, Enjoy views of New York on a 3.5-hour early access tour of the Statue of Liberty. Take one of the 1st ferries to Liberty Island, and climb to the pedestal of “Lady Liberty.” Then, enjoy a guided tour of Ellis Island Immigration Center museum.

Learn the history of one of New York’s most iconic monuments on an half-day early access tour of the Statue of Liberty.

Meet your guide for a little context of the sites around Battery Park. See memorials that many tourists miss, and hear stories about 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, take the ferry to Liberty Island, enjoying priority boarding to get the best seats. Arrive at the Statue of Liberty before the crowds for stunning views back over the city. Follow your guide up to the pedestal, getting closer to “Lady Liberty” than on a regular visit.

Learn how she was gifted to the US by France, and designed by their finest architects, including Gustav Eiffel. Hear how she wasn’t as warmly received as you might think, and about the struggle that got her on her feet and made her special to the people of New York.

Climb back on the ferry to cross to Ellis Island. Follow in the footsteps of 12 million immigrants, and learn about the process they went through to settle in America. Walk the Stairs of Separation to understand the island’s 2 very different names: “The Island of Hope” and “The Island of Tears.” Explore the museum’s impressive collection of interactive displays.

Feel free to stay on Ellis Island a little longer to explore at leisure, or head back to the mainland with your guide by ferry.

Meeting point
Meet your guide at the front entrance of Pier A Harbor House, 22 Battery Place (to the right of the Statue of Liberty ferry and Castle Clinton) Directions by taxi: Tell your driver to drop you off at Pier A Harbor House, Battery Park, near the Statue of Liberty ferry Directions by subway: Take Line 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or Lines 1 or R to Rector Street. Walk towards the water. Pier A Harbor House is to the right of the Statue of Liberty ferry and Castle Clinton.

Important information
Know before you go
• Tour participants must be able to climb and descend 215 stairs from the Statue lobby to the top of the pedestal
• Please note that guests will need to pass through airport-style security to enter the Statue of Liberty. Certain items are not permitted in the Statue of Liberty, and such items will be confiscated and not returned. Please refer to the Statue of Liberty’s guidelines on specific prohibited items
• Please be aware that upon arrival at Liberty Island, if you are carrying a backpack or large bag, you will be required to put your bag(s) into a locker at a cost of $2, payable in bills only (no coins accepted). Please be sure to have dollar bills for the lockers
• This tour is offered in English only
• Please note, early access to Statue of Liberty and arrival before the crowds is only applicable if 8:30 AM/9:00 AM departure is selected.

Duration 4 hours

Read more Show less
Included
  • Local guide
  • Entrance to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum
  • Pedestal tickets for the Statue of Liberty
  • All ferry tickets between Battery Park, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island
  • Priority ferry boarding from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty
Not included
  • Statue of Liberty Crown
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • Food and drinks
  • Guided tour inside the Pedestal and museums, an introduction will be given outside
Additional
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Features
Tourism
85%
Cultural
70%
Original
40%
You may also like
Click to discover other experiences See all
One World Observatory
Collections
One World Observatory 46 Activities
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Collections
9/11 Memorial & Museum 90 Activities
High Line Park
Collections
High Line Park 14 Activities
Bus Tour
Collections
Bus Tour 86 Activities
Statue of Liberty
Collections
Statue of Liberty 146 Activities
Empire State Building
Collections
Empire State Building 24 Activities
Museums
Collections
Museums 128 Activities
Helicopter
Collections
Helicopter 41 Activities
City Pass
Collections
City Pass 40 Activities
From New York
Collections
From New York 110 Activities
See all 57 Collections
Anonymous
Anonymous

New York

  • Information & Tips
  • Collections
  • Tours & Activities

Settings

We use cookies to provide you the best experience. By continuing to browse this site, you accept the use of cookies. For more information, please read our privacy policy.