See the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with a local guide in a group of 8 or fewer
3 hours
Up to 8 people
Guide, entrance fees, ferry
Explore Liberty Island and Ellis Island on a 3-hour semi-private guided tour, starting from Battery Park. Learn immigration history as you visit key sites with an English-speaking guide.
Not wheelchair accessible and not available for guests with walking disabilities. Bring identification, and avoid oversized bags. Sites may face closures or delays due to weather, security, or operations.
Cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the tour start time. No refunds within 24 hours of the start time. No-shows and latecomers are charged the full price.
No. The tour is not available for guests using a wheelchair. A wheelchair option is only available as a private tour.
No. The tour is not available for guests with walking disabilities. Expect outdoor stairs and uneven pathways, and plan for a moderate level of physical fitness.
Bring identification with your age indicated.
Ellis Island stands quietly in New York Harbor, just a short ferry ride from the Statue of Liberty, yet it carries one of the most powerful stories in American history. Between 1892 and 1954, more than twelve million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, hoping for a new beginning on American soil. On this semi-private tour, Ellis Island becomes more than a name in a history book. It becomes a place where you can stand in the same Great Hall where families clutched their belongings, answered questions from inspectors, and waited for the moment that would change their lives forever.
The experience begins with a ferry ride across the harbor, where the skyline of Lower Manhattan rises behind you and Lady Liberty grows closer with every minute. After exploring the Statue of Liberty, the journey continues to Ellis Island, where your small group steps into the restored Immigration Museum. Inside, you will walk through the soaring Registry Room with its vaulted tiled ceiling, see the worn staircases that newcomers climbed under the watchful eyes of doctors, and view personal artifacts, photographs, and recorded voices of the people who arrived here. Your guide brings the rooms to life with stories of hope, heartbreak, and reunion, weaving the broader history of immigration with the individual journeys that defined Ellis Island.
This tour is perfect for history lovers, families with curious kids, and travelers who want a deeper, more personal experience than a crowded group tour can offer. Genealogy enthusiasts often find Ellis Island especially meaningful, since many can trace their own family arrivals through these halls. With a smaller group, you have room to ask questions, linger at the exhibits that move you most, and connect with a chapter of American history that still shapes the country today. For anyone visiting New York, Ellis Island offers an unforgettable bridge between past and present.
Travelers rave about the caliber of guides here, with names like Katherine, Mark, Jonathan, Jeff, and Robin repeatedly earning enthusiastic praise. What stands out most is how these guides balance deep art knowledge with genuine enthusiasm, making complex museum visits feel accessible and fun. Multiple reviewers mention guides tailoring tours to specific interests—whether that's introducing an 11-year-old to fine art or focusing on particular wings that matter most to visitors. Beyond the facts, guests appreciate the storytelling approach, with guides connecting present to past and pointing out hidden gems that would be easy to miss on your own. The personalized attention really shines through. Katherine gets special mention for helping guests navigate the subway and adjusting schedules, while others highlight how guides read the room and adapt pacing accordingly. People consistently note that guides are approachable and engaging rather than stuffy, sharing bonus tips about NYC food spots and entertainment. One minor note: a guest wished for slightly less time in Egypt and broader museum coverage, but they'd still book again in a heartbeat. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the Met's massive scale, these tours seem like the perfect way to make sense of it all.
We really enjoyed this tour. It was our first time at The Met and Mark was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the art.
Lisa Tipton
March 21, 2026
We really enjoyed this tour. It was our first time at The Met and Mark was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the art.
Lisa Tipton
March 21, 2026