Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour

Every visit to Liberty Island and Ellis Island runs on the same boats. The National Park Service allows a single ferry concession to land passengers on the islands, from Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey, so a "tour" is always one of two things: an official ferry ticket on its own, or that same ticket with a guide walking beside you. Anything that does not land, however it is sold, is a harbour cruise. Our Statue of Liberty guide explains the ticket levels and the scams around Battery Park; here we look at how to shape the day.

On your own or with a guide?

Going alone suits most people. The ferry ticket includes an audio guide for both islands, the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island is well laid out, and National Park Service rangers give free short talks on the islands when staff are available. At Ellis Island the museum does most of the storytelling itself, in the baggage room, the Great Hall and the stairs where doctors once watched arrivals climb for signs of illness.

A guided tour adds a person who manages the logistics and fills in the story. It suits first-time visitors to the US who want the immigration history explained, school-age children who will not sit through an audio guide, and anyone nervous about the security queues. It does not suit people who like to linger: groups follow a set pace and usually give Ellis Island less time than it deserves. A guide cannot get you past security or onto an earlier boat either, whatever the listing implies.

Pedestal, crown or grounds only

This is the bigger choice. Grounds only is fine for a first look, and the view from the island's promenade is close and complete. The pedestal adds the museum-like interior of the base and the balcony view over the harbour and Lower Manhattan, reached by stairs or a lift. The crown is a different undertaking: a narrow double spiral staircase with no lift, tight headroom and a short stay at the top, looking out through small windows. Children must meet a minimum height, and the Park Service advises against the climb for anyone with heart or breathing problems, claustrophobia or a fear of heights. It is a memorable story more than a great view.

The hospital wards

On the south side of Ellis Island stands an abandoned hospital complex, closed to ordinary visitors. Small-group hard hat tours, run by the nonprofit Save Ellis Island and restricted to visitors aged 13 and over, go inside the wards; they need a separate ticket on top of the ferry. Availability changes from season to season, so check before planning around it.

Our pick: a self-guided day with pedestal tickets on the first boat, Liberty Island first, then a long unhurried stay at Ellis Island.

Book the ferry through the official concession's website, reached from the National Park Service's Statue of Liberty pages. Pedestal and crown places are limited; crown tickets in particular sell out months ahead in summer, go only to named visitors, and are not sold on the day. Every crown visitor except minors must show photo ID matching the name on the ticket, and children must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall.

If you want a guide, look for tours that state clearly they include the official ferry and landing on both islands. Then check:

• whether the ticket is grounds, pedestal or crown
• whether the guide stays for Ellis Island, or leaves you after Liberty Island
• the group size and the meeting point (Battery Park or New Jersey)
• the refund policy if the ferries are suspended by weather

A guided tour does not change how you reach the islands; it only adds a person to the day. So book the ferry element early even for a guided visit, and confirm the tour's own ticket level in writing. Before you go, check the Park Service alerts page. The monument has closed during federal government shutdowns and for security events in the past.

• Your ticket time is for security, not the boat. Arrive early on summer weekends.
• Travel with a small bag. Suitcases and large packages are refused, and there are no lockers at the screening areas. Quarter-operated lockers wait at the monument entrance for pedestal and crown visitors.
• Take the New Jersey side if you are driving or staying west of the Hudson. Queues at Liberty State Park are often shorter.
• Eat before you board. Food on the islands is basic.
• Dress for the wind. The ferry deck and the pedestal balcony are exposed; our what to wear guide covers the seasons.
• Save your energy for Ellis Island, which rewards two hours or more. Leave the rest of the day light, as in our three-day itinerary.