Ellis Island

Explore the Immigration Museum on a 45-minute self-guided audio tour through exhibits including photos, films, archive material, and recordings. Additional audio tour options describe exhibits in more detail via in-depth interviews with historians, architects, and archaeologists. Visitors can also book private Ellis Islands tours to maximize their experience and understanding of the site, or a combo tour of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

• The 45-minute audio tour is available in nine languages and included in the cost of a ferry ticket.

• Book all Ellis Island tickets through Statue City Cruises, the only authorized vendor.

• An audio tour for kids aged 6 to 10 is also available in five languages.

• Ellis Island can be seen up close, for free, from the deck of the Staten Island commuter ferry (though passengers can’t get off at Ellis Island).

• The island and ferries to it are fully wheelchair- and stroller-accessible.

Ellis Island lies off the southwest tip of Manhattan. From New York City, catch a Statue Cruises ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The first ferry stop is the Statue of Liberty, followed by Ellis Island. The closest subway stations to Battery Park are South Ferry (1 train), Whitehall Street (R train), or Bowling Green (4 or 5 train); the M5, M15, and M20 buses stop at South Ferry as well.

Weather permitting, the island is open every day of the year except December 25. Ferries run from 9:30am to 3:30pm, with later departures in the summer and around holidays. Once on the island, you can stay until the last ferry departs, which changes seasonally.

Ellis Island hosts a number of temporary exhibits. Past highlights include New Americans: Photographs by Jill Enfield, featuring 30 wet collodion photographic prints of contemporary immigrant portraits. There is also a small glass house of immigrant portraits made from antique windows that visitors can enter.

Yes, visiting Ellis Island is worth it. The former immigration complex is one of the most meaningful historic sites in the US and is home to the National Museum of Immigration. Visitors can tour the main building and view world-class exhibits and collections of historical artifacts.

No, visitors have to book combination tours. Many visitors visit the island and the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island nearby. Combination experiences typically include ferry transfers from Battery Park in downtown Manhattan and allow free time to explore both islands at your own pace.

It depends. Generally, 2-3 hours are enough to take a self-guided or ranger-led tour and view the exhibits at the National Museum of Immigration. Visiting the Statue of Liberty takes about another 1-2 hours. Ferry rides from Battery Park take about 10-15 minutes.

To avoid crowds, visit Ellis Island on weekdays. And the earlier you can get there, the better, as you will likely dodge crowds and have more time to explore. To guarantee you’ll be one of the first daily visitors, book a ride on the first ferry of the morning, usually at 9am.

One-way ferry rides to Ellis Island take about 10-15 minutes. From Ellis Island to Liberty Island, it’s another 15 minutes. A final 15-minute route takes visitors back to the initial pickup spot, either Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

Yes, ferries to Ellis Island have bathrooms and concession stands with snacks and a small selection of souvenirs. The ferries and restrooms are wheelchair-accessible, and passengers can sit inside or outside. Neither smoking nor drinking alcohol is permitted.