The Statue of Liberty & World Trade Centre Tour: Ellis Island, 9/11 sites and One World Observatory

Itinerary

To begin this Lower Manhattan tour, you will hop on one of the first boats to Liberty Island from Battery Park.

Once you reach the towering Statue of Liberty, enjoy privileged access to the statue pedestal and have a closer view of Lady Liberty, which was a gift from the French government to the United States of America during its 100th year of Independence.

You will return to your ferry for a short cruise to Ellis Island, which served as an immigrant processing station from 1892 until 1924. Here your guide will take you around the island, pointing out the Stairs of Separation and will give insight into the horrors that immigrants faced once they reached here.

At Ellis Island, you will visit the Immigration Museum that houses a large collection of artifacts, photographs, prints, videos, interactive displays and temporary exhibits. You will also come across the American Immigrant Wall of Honor that lists 60,000 names of the men and women who passed through Ellis Island on their way to the United States of America.

Spend time exploring the island on your own or head back to Battery Park with your guide. After a lunch break, meet your guide in front of St Peters Church, at the intersection of Barclay and Church Street at 2:45pm.

The St Paul’s Chapel is Manhattan’s oldest surviving church building. Your guide will show you a more personal side of 9/11 during your visit to the church and will take you to the American Express Eleven Tears Memorial, the Winter Garden and Brookfield Place.

Moving forward, you will head to the 9/11 Memorial which commemorates the victims of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. You will see the two Reflecting Pools, each with a large, manmade waterfall cascading down its side, at the footprints of the Twin Towers. The pools are inscribed with nearly 3,000 names, listing the victims of the 9/11 attacks and the attack of February 26, 1993.

At the memorial, you will also visit the Fireman Memorial and see the fascinating Survivor Tree, which was recovered from the rubble of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks.

At the end of the tour, visit the brand new One World Observatory and see breathtaking 360-degree views over New York City. With pre-reserved tickets, you will directly enter the building and see videos on how the observatory was constructed. Board a Sky Pod elevator that will take you from the first floor to the 102nd in just 43 seconds. While you ascend the elevator will light up, animating the changing skyline of New York from 1600s to the present day.

Once you reach the top, enter a circular room with floor to ceiling windows from where you will enjoy never-seen-before panoramic views of the City of New York. Enjoy your time at leisure as you soak up the incredible views.

Your tour ends at the One World Trade Center Observatory after your guide provides your admission and prepares you for your visit inside. The address of the Observatory is 1 World Trade Center, on Vesey St and West St.