Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*
Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
By Top Dog Tours NYC
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About
Make the most of a trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with this private, half-day tour. There’s no getting lost in a big group on this tour, as a guide tailors the experience to your sole preferences and interests. You get the complete experience as entrance to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island museum, and ferry rides are all included in this tour.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 6-99
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour tailored to your interests
- Guide’s expertise and attention provides more than a self-guided tour
- See panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline from the ferry
- Enjoy this only-in-New-York experience
- Personal expert guide
- Private tour
- Guided Tour of Battery Park
- Guided Tour of Liberty Island
- Guided Tour of Ellis Island Grounds
- Statue Ferry Ticket
- Entry/Admission - Statue of Liberty
- Entry/Admission - Ellis Island
What's not included- Gratuities
- Meet your guide in Battery Park for your private half-day tour. From there, head to the pier and board the Statue of Liberty ferry. As you sail across the harbor, your guide will point out the important landmarks in the city skyline. Once on Liberty Island, your guide leads you around the Statue of Liberty. This private tour ensures an intimate experience—questions and conversation are welcome throughout. Next, continue to Ellis Island via ferry. Learn about the history of immigration to New York as the guide walks you through the Great Hall, just as an immigrant would have a hundred years ago. The tour ends here, allowing you to explore the museum at your own pace before catching a leisurely ferry ride back to Manhattan.
- Start:
- 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004, USAYour guide will be on the steps outside of the north entrance of the Alexander Hamilton Customs House (Museum of the American Indian), holding a white flag with a blue checkered border with our logo. This is the entrance facing the buildings in Manhattan with 4 statues.
End:- Ellis Island, United StatesThe tour concludes on Ellis Island. If you wish to spend more time visiting the museum, your guide can provide instructions on how to get back to Battery Park. Your guide can also take you back to Battery Park if you wish to return at the conclusion of the tour.
- Wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 31003P15- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- Duration is subject to ferry schedule and time guest wishes to spend on Ellis Island
- Food and drink is available for purchase on the Statue Ferry, Liberty Island, and Ellis Island
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, please wear appropriate shoes
- Operates in various weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Photography is allowed, however monopods or tripods are not allowed
- No weapons of any kind are allowed at the statue (including pocket knives, pepper spray, Swiss Army knives, etc.). There is no place to check these items before going through security, so please leave these items at home
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult at least 21 years of age.
- Pedestal and Crown Access is not included.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 31003P15
From
C$279.59
per adult
Select date and travellers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 1 Bowling Green, New York, NY 10004, USAYour guide will be on the steps outside of the north entrance of the Alexander Hamilton Customs House (Museum of the American Indian), holding a white flag with a blue checkered border with our logo. This is the entrance facing the buildings in Manhattan with 4 statues.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- Ellis Island, United StatesThe tour concludes on Ellis Island. If you wish to spend more time visiting the museum, your guide can provide instructions on how to get back to Battery Park. Your guide can also take you back to Battery Park if you wish to return at the conclusion of the tour.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- 874ginae0 contributionsAmazing experienceLoved our tour guide Joel. Very knowledgeable and professional. He made the tour fun. Will highly recommend him to anyone participating in these toursWritten January 21, 2025
- mattpL8942KI0 contributionsExcellentVery informative and knowledgeable guide, very accommodating in allowing us to use restrooms and amenities. Some extremely interesting details included, thoroughly enjoyable afternoonWritten January 20, 2025
- Bel30120 contributionsA great informative and interesting tour!We really enjoyed this tour with Percy, as it was both informative and interesting! We got to see some cool landmarks and hear about how they related to the history of comic books, like who created Wonder Woman (so fascinating!) and how Marvel filmed the Avengers at Grand Central.Written January 20, 2025
- rebeccafK3015OL0 contributionsGood tour would recommendPercy was very good she was very knowledgeable about everything was funny, kind friendly would recommend to other people.Written January 18, 2025
- ineseugeniaf0 contributionsSúper Cameron. Super tour. SuperheroesCameron is a big superheroes fan and an enthusiastic super guide. We loved his explanations and enjoyed the tour a lot!!Written January 17, 2025
- L7666XRpaulb0 contributionsExcellent and informativeWe walked the Marvel and Dc tour this afternoon with Patrick. He was excellent, engaging and interesting, he catered to all ages of the group and all knowledge bases from the novice to the comic obsessed. I know we thanked him on the tour, even though our feet were in bits by the end he even gave us a decent range of local eateries to get dinner at after his talk. Bit of advice do this on a go city pass for best value.Written January 6, 2025
- S5053ZAjessical0 contributionsDefinitely a go to if you enjoy history and good food!Cameron was very knowledgeable about the history of the Lower East Side. The food stops were delicious and they all had a good history to them! My belly was full the entire time!Written January 4, 2025
- ariannacP52WW0 contributionsWonderful tour in the new york nightlifeWe had a wonderful tour with our amazing guide Kaley. She first gave us some background of Greenwich and then we hang around for the most important spots. She gave us pieces of advice for the best bars and let us dive in the real new york nightlife.Written January 1, 2025
- auseng0 contributionsChelsea, High Line, and meat packing walking tourTour was good. Beautiful part of the city with a lot of history. Guys was knowledgeable and we did ask a lot of questions. Will come back again to explore more.Written December 31, 2024
- jessicalI7464ZJ0 contributionsGreat tour!Went on a rainy evening with my husband and 11 year old daughter. Stories were great, we went to many stops, and Gabby was fantastic with my daughters questions and chatter during our walks!Written December 30, 2024
- danz9720 contributionsReally dissapointing. Standing tour more likeWent on the Marvel/DC Superhero walking tour. Was a pretty bad time and dissapointing for the following reasons. - Only 3 stops from between start and end with REALLY long periods of standing up to 30 minutes in the freezing cold. - Misleading advertising. Was more of a comic book history tour with new york landmarks thrown in. - Really poorly planned. The content was bloated and packed with irrelevant information to the locations to stretch the time out. It felt like very little effort had been made considering so much of New York is home to famous shots from super hero films. All in all, for the price it felt like an enormous rip off and would suggest steering clear of this company.Written December 29, 2024
- 957shelleyf0 contributionsBest Tour Ever!Patrick was an AMAZING tour guide! This tour was way better than expected. Highly recommend this company. …also recommend requesting Patrick. Thank you tor an awesome experience … we learned so much! Fun time. We went back and several stops after our tour. Lots of fun!Written December 28, 2024
- S3170OPcarlag0 contributionsSuperheroes in NYThe tour was really interesting, we learnt a lot of new things. John was really an amazing guide: clear, entertaining, very well prepared on the topic.Written December 28, 2024
- Voyage465923242320 contributionsVery interesting tourWhen you book this with a NY city pass you get charged a fee on top make sure you get any money owed refunded before you leave NYWritten December 24, 2024
- RuthieO100 contributionsFun way to explore the Village!The stories were wild! Definitely a unique way to experience the city and learn about the crazy history here. Joel was a great guide, and a great storyteller. He definitely kept us on our toes! Would highly recommend.Written December 21, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
169 reviews
Excellent
161
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
3
Terrible
2
SandyBiker
Davis, CA22 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
Our guide, Victoria, was so great. She provide history and background of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island while moving us seamlessly through the tour. She knew where to stand for best spots for photos and even took our best shot. She provided history stories and related them to current events. Also, the extra bonus was her recommendation for other things to do during our trip to Manhattan. Great tour.
Written March 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
djleftwich
Oak Ridge, TN2 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Alyssa was amazing. She was Knowledgeable, flexible and personable. She was able to give rich history that made Lady Liberty speak loud and clear of her history. After an explanation of the role of Ellis Island the people of the past materialized and you could feel the hope, the fear and the desire to get through the "process" to establish an amazing new life.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dee C
1 contribution
Jul 2021
James was a truly great tour guide. He was very well prepared and his knowledge of the Statue and of US immigration history was impressive. Also, he was especially attentive to our comfort, finding places for us to sit in the shade and pointing out the best spots to take photographs. And finally, he was able to relate well to each of us who ranged in age from 9 to 76. James was a great guide in every way.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philipe L
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Couples
My wife and I booked the Private Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour for $380 USD. We have travelled all over the US and internationally and this was, without a doubt, the worst experience that we have ever had on a tour.
The tour began at 10:30 am and after meeting our guide, we joined a massive line to go through security before boarding the boat. The tour guide, who had apparently given this tour before, informed us that the line would take approximately 45 minutes and that the time of the tour contained a buffer for wait times.
However, the line took more than 2.5 hours and we waited in 95-100 degree weather with little shelter. We didn't board the boat until after 1 p.m. and our time with the guide was over at 2:30 p.m. As a result, we were rushed through the Statue of Liberty tour, with only the opportunity to take a few photos. We had no time to visit the museum or explore the grounds.
On the way to Ellis Island, the tour guide explained that she couldn't leave the boat because her time had expired as it was past 2:30 p.m. This clearly contradicts the advertisement that the guide provides a tour of the grounds at Ellis Island. As a result, we explored Ellis Island and the museum independently without the full value of a guided tour. We understand that the tour guide cannot enter the Ellis Island museum, but she never even left the boat.
Furthermore, your site provides no mention of long lines or extensive waiting. In all of our travel experience, private tours have given us skip-the-line privileges, and, even after paying nearly $400, we waited in line with everyone else. Had we known the line would take so long, we would have cancelled and planned another activity, seeing as we were only in New York for a short period of time.
Rather than immediately posting a negative review, we contacted the tour company, explaining these issues to them and have received no response from anyone. We certainly did not receive anywhere near the full value of the private tour and recommend extreme caution to anyone planning to book this activity.
The tour began at 10:30 am and after meeting our guide, we joined a massive line to go through security before boarding the boat. The tour guide, who had apparently given this tour before, informed us that the line would take approximately 45 minutes and that the time of the tour contained a buffer for wait times.
However, the line took more than 2.5 hours and we waited in 95-100 degree weather with little shelter. We didn't board the boat until after 1 p.m. and our time with the guide was over at 2:30 p.m. As a result, we were rushed through the Statue of Liberty tour, with only the opportunity to take a few photos. We had no time to visit the museum or explore the grounds.
On the way to Ellis Island, the tour guide explained that she couldn't leave the boat because her time had expired as it was past 2:30 p.m. This clearly contradicts the advertisement that the guide provides a tour of the grounds at Ellis Island. As a result, we explored Ellis Island and the museum independently without the full value of a guided tour. We understand that the tour guide cannot enter the Ellis Island museum, but she never even left the boat.
Furthermore, your site provides no mention of long lines or extensive waiting. In all of our travel experience, private tours have given us skip-the-line privileges, and, even after paying nearly $400, we waited in line with everyone else. Had we known the line would take so long, we would have cancelled and planned another activity, seeing as we were only in New York for a short period of time.
Rather than immediately posting a negative review, we contacted the tour company, explaining these issues to them and have received no response from anyone. We certainly did not receive anywhere near the full value of the private tour and recommend extreme caution to anyone planning to book this activity.
Written July 4, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debra A
Washington DC, DC32 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
A great private tour led by Cecilia, who was there early and was incredibly friendly and helpful, smoothing the whole day for us. She tailored the tour time and the historical information and details she shared with us to meet our preferences, including reducing walking time and building in lots of sit-down breaks to suit our needs. She also shared loads of contemporary information about living in NYC and took some great photos for us! Thanks, Cecilia!
Written January 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike S
Evans, GA1 contribution
Jun 2022
Luke, our tour guide, just exuded energy and was extremely approachable and friendly. His knowledge and the way he articulated everything in his storytelling manner made it possible for my mother, whose second language is English, to understand most of what was being told. The way he ties in previously mentioned historical facts to points later on in the tour was masterfully done.
In addition, Luke knew all the hacks to getting on the ferry early, where to stand, and when to start making your way to the exit. We most definitely used that when we departed Ellis Island after he left us at the conclusion of the tour. Thanks Luke and Top Dog Tours for a wonderful experience!
In addition, Luke knew all the hacks to getting on the ferry early, where to stand, and when to start making your way to the exit. We most definitely used that when we departed Ellis Island after he left us at the conclusion of the tour. Thanks Luke and Top Dog Tours for a wonderful experience!
Written June 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dt_ca
Newport Beach, CA50 contributions
Feb 2020
Joel did a fantastic job of being engaging and informative at both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The sheer size of the statue and the amount of immigrants that came through Ellis Island was daunting. I would recommend this company AND Joel highly.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana B
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States10 contributions
It was my first time visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and obviously it can be quite chaotic and confusing. BUT, Abigail was a perfect guide for this express introduction.She has a great disposition and enthusiasm for her job. She also worked hard to keep communication amongst a large group, shortening wait times and keeping the tour moving. It was a great experience and will use experience first for my next NYC tour. Thanks Abigail!
Written July 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
John K
1 contribution
Oct 2024 • Couples
Talk about one of the most embarrassing experiences of our lives. Folks. There are huge lines when it comes to this attraction -- lines you cannot avoid. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and a great guide. However, she's been taught (all the guides are taught this) how to "cut the line." She's employed many techniques and even though we were concerned, she kept using the quote, "It's not a line, it's a herd." Basically, all the guides are taught how to brazenly drag their private tour around the sides and through open spaces to cut the line. Needless, one gentleman got irate at this behavior. At the Statue of Liberty, heading to Ellis Island, she ran into this gentleman again. He started screaming at her, calling her a "Weasel" and making a horrible scene. Our tour guide shoved this man, which turned into an altercation and someone had to intervene. The whole experience was ruined and the rest of the tour we were worried about running into this man again.
What should have been an enjoyable tour turned into an embarrassing nightmare.
What should have been an enjoyable tour turned into an embarrassing nightmare.
Written October 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grace C
Baltimore, MD3 contributions
Apr 2023
What a great tour conducted by TopDog tour guide, Luke. His enthusiasm and knowledge of the main tour attractions as well as his historical anecdotes did not disappoint. Would definitely recommend this tour and especially our guide Luke. Thanks for a memorable 4 hours.
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi can you still go inside the statue of liberty crown?
Written February 9, 2022
Would be ok to get let us wonder on our own or just get an abbreviated tour once we get to “Lady Liberty?”
Written July 27, 2021
Hello :) my mother and grandmother are coming in town at the end of the week . My grandmother is handicap and I’m not sure if she will want to get off on the island but I know she wants to be on the boat to see it . Is this possible ? Thank you so much :)
Written September 24, 2019
There were several handicapped persons on our tour. A couple of them in wheelchairs. I suggest going early before it gets crazy busy. If she feels up to getting off the boat, everything is done at your own pace, with several places to rest in the shade.
Written September 25, 2019
Can we do the hard hat tour at Ellis Island with this tour?
Written July 31, 2018
Go to the TripAdvisor site and search for statue of liberty...you will have an option of booking through Viator.
Written July 19, 2018
No it was an additional cost at the pedestal level.
Written July 8, 2018
Yes. The staff help yo get in and out of the boat
Written June 2, 2018
Moises Salvatierra
Neuquen, Argentina
I will be in New York since may 21 to may 25, what day do you available? Can pay with credit card?
Written May 1, 2018
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.