Visiting Ellis Island and Liberty Island

In addition to visiting the Brooklyn Bridge and exploring 9 budget-friendly locations in New York, don’t forget to visit the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island. Why? Because the Statue of Liberty isn’t just a must-see icon when you’re in New York, it’s also one of the symbols of the United States.

 

So make sure you don’t miss the chance to visit Liberty Island while you’re in New York!

 

To visit Liberty Island, you can check out the Statue Cruises website. There, you’ll find several packages to choose from, ranging from the most affordable ticket that includes a ferry ride to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, along with an audio tour and access to the Statue of Liberty park, to other tickets that allow you to ascend to the pedestal and even up to the crown of the statue.

 

You can choose a ferry for this trip that departs either from New York or New Jersey. A year and a half ago, we chose to depart from New York, and two weeks ago, we decided to board from New Jersey. Besides staying in New Jersey during our second visit, we also wanted to experience something different.

 

If you depart from New York, you’ll gather at Battery Park. However, if you depart from New Jersey, the meeting point is at Liberty State Park. The meeting point at Battery Park is easier to reach by public transport compared to Liberty State Park, which requires about a 25-minute walk from the train station. But if you have plenty of time, like we did, it’s also fun to have a picnic at Liberty State Park before boarding the ferry.

 

The queue at Battery Park is usually more crowded than at Liberty State Park, even though we took the ferry from Battery Park during the cold winter months, whereas our trip from Liberty State Park was during the summer, which is a busy season for visitors.

 

Before boarding the ferry, you’ll need to show your purchased ticket (either online or bought on-site) and go through a security check similar to airport screening.

 

Ellis Island

 

If you choose to depart from New Jersey (Liberty State Park), your first stop will be Ellis Island.

This island used to function as a transit point for immigrants arriving in America and wanting to enter through the port of New York. Now, it’s a tourist destination, and the building that once served as the administrative office has been turned into a museum.

 

In this museum, you can learn about the history of immigrants who entered America through Ellis Island. You’ll discover where these immigrants came from, when they arrived in the United States, and what their reasons were for coming to America.

 

You’ll also learn about their struggles, the challenges they faced, and the significant impact they had on the development of the United States. For those studying American Studies or interested in history, this museum is a place where you could easily spend hours. Oh, and there’s no time limit on how long you can explore Ellis Island.

But don’t forget, we still have a second destination: Liberty Island!

 

Liberty Island

 

That afternoon, the weather was quite hot when our ferry docked at Liberty Island. However, this didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the visitors on the island. It was quite different from our visit a year and a half ago, likely because it was winter back then, resulting in fewer visitors.

 

Just a suggestion for friends from Indonesia: it’s better to visit Liberty Island during the summer because visiting in the winter can be quite challenging. The wind is strong, making the cold air even more biting. Even I, a Minnesota winter survivor, found it chilly there. Imagine how tough it would be for someone coming straight from Indonesia. It’s really tough! Hehehe

 

The photo above was taken a year and a half ago. Don’t be fooled by the clear sky; during winter, a clear sky often means it’s extremely cold, whereas overcast and snowy days are somewhat “warmer.” That afternoon, when this photo was taken, the temperature was around -25 degrees Celsius. HAHAHA

 

But during our second visit, it was quite the opposite, with the sweltering summer heat. Hehehe

After disembarking from the ferry, we immediately entered the door leading to the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. The pedestal is the structure beneath the statue. By purchasing the Pedestal Reserve Ticket, you can climb up to this structure and take photos at the feet of Lady Liberty.

 

To reach the pedestal area, you can either use the stairs or take the elevator. This ticket type costs $18.50. Besides being able to photograph the Statue of Liberty up close, from the pedestal area, you can also take pictures of Brooklyn and Manhattan from afar while enjoying the gentle breeze.

 

Oh, we deliberately didn’t buy tickets to go up to the crown of the statue because I’m a bit afraid of heights. Hehehe

After taking our fill of photos at the pedestal area, we descended to the first floor of the building beneath the Statue of Liberty. Here, you can take clearer photos with the statue. It’s a must-visit spot for taking pictures with Liberty.

 

We then headed to the Liberty Museum. This museum is quite new, as it wasn’t there a year and a half ago. It was still under construction at that time.

 

You can probably guess what’s inside this museum, right? Yes, it’s about the history of the Statue of Liberty. The story behind this statue is quite interesting.

 

In short, the statue was a gift from France, funded by the French people, but the pedestal and surrounding area were built by the United States, with funds from the American people.

 

In fact, the U.S. government even issued bonds to raise money for the construction of the pedestal and surrounding area. So it was like borrowing money from the people to build the infrastructure for this monument. Hehehe

 

Visiting Liberty Island and Ellis Island is best scheduled as a half-day trip to fully enjoy the experience and take in the sights. Especially for those traveling to New York not just for photos but also to gain knowledge.

 

Spending time at the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island and at the Liberty Museum will give you a deeper understanding of the history of the United States and how it has influenced the country’s current state and progress.

 

Oh, and you can also buy souvenirs at the gift shops on both islands. Or you can simply take a photo as a souvenir.

 

Whatever your plans, a trip to New York wouldn’t be complete without visiting Ellis Island and Liberty Island. Make sure not to miss it!