Statue of Liberty tour with pedestal access and Ellis Island
Meet NYC’s most famous lady up close and in person on our Early Access Statue of Liberty Tour.
Start the 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 priority boarding to get you the best seats on the ferry – and since you leave so early (often on the first ferry, depending on the time of year) you’ll arrive at the Statue before the crowds. Once there, you’ll enjoy stunning views back over the city and a guided tour that takes you right into the pedestal.
Here your guide will teach you a little about the city’s greatest icon. 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.
Then it’s back on the ferry and on to Ellis Island, where you’ll follow in the footsteps of 12 million immigrants: 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. Your 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 groups of 20 people or fewer and early morning ferries to the islands, your tour will be 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.
Sites Visited:
- Statue of Liberty Museum and Pedestal
- Ellis Island Museum
- Castle Clinton National Monument
- Pier A Harbor House (exterior)
- American Merchant Mariner’s Memorial
- The Sphere
- New York Korean War Veterans Memorial
