6 tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Planning to visit the Statue of Liberty? Here are my 6 tips to make your visit even more unforgettable. Follow the guide...

1/ Take the first ferry

Start your visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island by taking the earliest ferry of the day. You’ll photograph the Statue of Liberty without crowds. That’s how you get the perfect shot.

When you arrive on Liberty Island, head toward the large American flag and you’ll find the audio guide desk. Pick one up. The audio guide is free and offers interesting explanations.

Liberty Island is small but full of hidden corners. In a shaded pathway, you’ll find several sculptures honoring the statue’s creators, including Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the statue, and Gustave Eiffel, who engineered its iron framework.
Take time to enjoy the view of New York from a bench. Don’t rush through like visitors who snap a photo and catch the next ferry.
Spend time in the Statue of Liberty Museum. You’ll see the original torch. Many hurried visitors skip the museum roof, but the view is worth it.

After Liberty Island, explore Ellis Island, where immigrants arrived last century. It’s a piece of American history.
Plan at least 90 minutes for the museum, though you can spend longer if you read all the displays.
Walk around the main building and take in the stunning view of Manhattan. Ellis Island sits just across the water from the skyscrapers. Incredible.

Here’s a great tip: instead of rushing back to Manhattan, plan to eat lunch on Ellis Island. A small cafeteria serves burgers at reasonable prices, and the terrace is lovely. On a clear day, the setting is unique: you’re in the middle of New York Harbor, with Manhattan on one side and the Statue of Liberty on the other.
If this is your first time in New York, don’t miss the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. For more information, visit the page on the Statue of Liberty and the one on Ellis Island.

For a complete tour of Liberty Island and Ellis Island, book our guided tour. The 4-hour tour includes ferry tickets, access to Liberty Island, entry to the Statue of Liberty Museum, access to Ellis Island, and entry to the Ellis Island Museum. A great way to see everything efficiently.
Visit the page for our guided tour of the Statue of Liberty.