Ellis Island Reviews

My second trip to Ellis Island. Both sets of my grandparents came through Ellis Island from Poland and Slovenia and this was another chance to honor their voyages. This time we took the escorted hardhat tour (at an extra cost) through the unrestored hospital facilities, which as a former nurse, I found especially interesting. The Grand Hall is impressive and the museum artifacts expansive. One is able to do ancestry look ups, view films, visit the two gift shops with a marvelous selection of items, or eat at the immigrant cafe. Beautiful views of the Manhatten skyline from the grounds. Also worth a view is the outdoor Immigrant Wall Of Honor - I have had my two sets of grandparents, an aunt and a uncle names engraved on that wall in their honor - consider this tribute if you have a family member who immigrated through Ellis Island. Three to four hours is a minimum visit time. Ferry also stops at Liberty Island but we just viewed from the ferry as we wanted to spend a majority of our time on Ellis Island. Would be nice if they had SEPARATE ferries to each.
sight.

So glad we took time to see all Ellis Island had to offer. There are many exhibits, though I most enjoyed the one that took you through what it would have been like to immigrate through the island.

There’s a cafe here that had a decent variety in food options and wasn’t way over priced, like I thought it may be.

Me and my friends arrived on Ellis Island by accident and we didn't like it at all the museum was empty and there was nothing to do the only thing was the view but in general I do not recommend it.

Trip to Ellis Island is always fascinating. Typically it is done after having been on the Liberty Island on the way back towards downtown NYC. One gets spectacular views of the surroundings from this island. It also houses the Ellis Island Museum which is worth visiting.

I took the hard hat tour and highly recommend it! It was a much more intimate experience. But it involved quite a bit of walking

Really interesting place, slightly disappointed with the layout as it’s like looking at lots of photographs rather than seeing what the place would have actually been like. I get why it is done this way and still found it very interesting. Recommend you take the statue tour and visit here too.

As I am not a fan of history, for me this island was not very interesting, but for sure for people, who are interested is very nice experience

We went on the hard hat tour of Ellis Island, which takes you into parts of Ellis Island closed to the public. If you're a historian this tour is so interesting with a lot of original artefacts still in place, including the original drawers in the morgue. The tour guide was excellent, the pace was good and the tour groups not too big. Really glad we booked

Beautiful and interesting museum, lovely view of Mannhatten, the food in the restaurant is great. We had lovely weather and stayed for a long time.

This place is the foundation of American History.
Through these doors, millions of Europeans became Americans and had a better life in this country.

I believe that if you want to know the future, you need to understand the past. And what is a better place to do so than Ellis Island.

We came first to Ellis Island before going to Statue of Liberty. We caught the ferry from Liberty State Park and was much easier than going from Battery Park in NY. 17 years ago we were here to visit the 1st time. I caught a horrible migraine midway & never really saw Ellis Island. A lot has changed since then as far as technology and just the way things are set up. All in a good way.
Make sure to get your free audio for the tour. It makes it so much better & helps guide you along so you miss nothing. We spent about 1 1/2-2 hours here. So much to see & read. Take your time to fully enjoy this amazing place. This is where audio helps if you don’t like to read. It does it for you with extra info. We had a great visit, brings you back to another time & place. We were lucky I guess and had no long wait time for the ferry at any point. They run fairly often .. 20 -30 mins. Boats hold a lot of people.

It is a moving place in which one can imagine the anxiety of emigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. Beautiful presentations: passports, posters and drawings to remember that time.

It's occured 15 years ago, but I still dream to return. During these 15 years, I became myself an immigrant to Canada, and in this way I familiarized with certain difficulties of immigration. So' I guess you can understand it better with your immigration experience. In spite of the fact that the Ellis Island is saturated with ideology, which I detest as a phenomenon, I love it. And I'll come back soon, with my children.

Ellis island is a great place to learn the history of immigrants coming to America. The building has a lot of exhibits and displays, and you can look up any of your ancestors that came to the US through Ellis Islamd.

The ferry boat takes you from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty and then to Ellis Island and back to Battery Park. It only costs $18.50($14 for seniors) and that includes admission to both parks!

We got on the first ferry in the morning and walked around the Statue of Liberty using the (included) self-guided audio tour. Then we spent the rest of the day on Ellis Island. We explored on our own until the last Hard Hat Tour of the day at 2:30. The tour was so interesting and totally worth the cost. It was a highlight of our week in NYC. You get such a sense of the history of immigration. Then we caught one of the last ferries back to Battery Park.

Our boys just learned about Ellis Island in school and we thought it would be a great time to go. They loved it. It was very educational.

We added Ellis Island to our tip to Liberty Island. Although we had no relatives who went through Ellis Island, it evoked images of the impressions of those who passed through its halls. The Great Hall was smaller than I expected from photos.

If anyone is going to Liberty Island, I recommend a stop at Ellis Island.

We went on a Thursday in October and tried to catch the earliest ferry. There were NO lines. Security was quick but thorough (no taking off shoes but metal detector that I tripped twice and had to do a scan with a wand. We did the hard hat tour which was interesting but definitely not for anyone with back, leg or foot issues. We learned a ton of info that really is not as well known about the facility including contributions to medical knowledge and all kinds of public health and staffing details that you just don’t imagine.

We arrived at 9am, got through security and onto the 9:20 or 9:30am ferry. The tour starts 2-1/2 hours after your ferry ticket/security check-in time and we arrived with enough time to do a good hour-ish of the audio tours plus eat lunch and go to the bathroom before our tour. Food was typical for a museum/sightseeing location but honestly was much better quality than most. Including the hot chocolate.

No significant line leaving the island around 3pm. All staff friendly and helpful. Bathrooms and facility very clean.

The location is great for the views, the boat ride across the bay is really nice. It is interesting to learn about the first families that crossed the big Atlantic pond, great historic icon full of nostalgia. We couldn't trace our ancestors but we still enjoyed walking around the place. There always is a line, so make sure you are not pressed when visiting.

This review is more a warning to visitors to New York
We arrived in New York last week (15 October) and really wanted to get to Ellis Island.
We tried!!!
We took the subway own to south ferry and when we emerged we were surrounded by a swarm of hawkers who harassed us into buying tickets to their own ( not what we wanted )tour of the bay.
They raised their voices a few times when we tried to walk away and were generally intimidating .
They also lied about accessibility to Ellis Island on other tours.said the museum was closed .
Still really angry about those guys .
Will probably never get the chance to go to Ellis Island.
Sad that a city allows these pests and hawkers to operate unmolested.
Sort it out New York.
These people have left a bad taste.
And visitors .. stay strong and walk away.

I visited Ellis island in the middle of a teeming september rainstorm. Make sure your driver (if using vehicle)drops you at the correct destination BEFORE s/he starts the car. Otherwise, you may end up at the staten island ferry as did we. It's not far from the correct ticket booth and dock but still, a pain.
First timers - pre order tickets, start out early and disembark at the statue of liberty before moving on to ellis island. It takes time to do both so allocate most of your day. The trip, even in rain, is worth it. Ellis island is interesting but I can't see children enjoying it that much if you really intend to stop and read everything. The exhibits with artifacts, costumes and large photos will grab them. Otherwise, this is a fairly older teen/ adult destination. (Statue of liberty is a treat for all.) I was with a cousin who shares with me eastern European and immigrant roots and she was basically done within 2 hrs tops (including coffee.)
The ferry trip back was beautiful since the sun decided to join us.
If you just want the ride and are satisfied by waving at ms. Liberty from a deck, ride the staten island ferry. It used to be - in the last century- an affordable "first date" and is still a well appreciated ride (if you're not a commuter ;)

While the Statue of Liberty is the touristy thing that all travelers must do, set aside plenty of time to visit this museum (at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours). The history on this island is fascinating and the museum is well constructed and with plenty of guides and park rangers present to answer questions. Well worth the visit.

This was just an ok place to visit. We stopped because the ferry to the Statue of Liberty stops here. It's great because of the history but also a bit boring.

This was one of the main reasons for our return trip to NY and we're very glad we came back. Ellis Island is an important part of America's history, as well as that of many other countries too.
We got an early ferry across which we were glad about as by the time we left it was starting to get really busy. It's a magnificent building and the restoration work is fantastic. There is so much to see, to read, to take in, the accounts of the people who passed through as well as the artefacts which are now exhibits.
A truly fascinating place, rich in history and the photos and words help to make you feel what it must have been like to be there at the height of the immigrants passing through.
At least 2-3 hours is needed and it's well worth it, something not to be missed.

The visit is very interesting and moving. I recommend a picnic in the gardens with a view of the statue on one side and the skyline on the other.

Definitely make sure you stop here on the Ellis Island and Liberty Island stops. The building is magnificent and there is so much history and so many stories here, whether you have a personal connection or not. There are so many exhibits, all worthwhile, and the audio tour is very informative. It has people who actually experienced Ellis Island telling their stories, which was fantastic.

I read about the ferry situation from other reviewers, and they are correct in that it is best to get there early, as in before 9:00 am. You also may want to head back on the earlier side, as the lines to get back on the boats get really long. We left from Jersey City which appeared to not be quite as crowded.

Don’t skip this stop on your statue cruise! This is a beautiful building, and you need to take the free Park Ranger tour to fully appreciate it. We actually did the tour twice with two different guides who told the same story in completely different ways. I don’t remember our second guide’s name, but she was an amazing story teller! Overall, it was truly interesting and I learned many things I didn’t know before from the tour guides. The first floor has some informative exhibits on the ground floor that might be interesting for foreign visitors (it was mostly information we learn in school about the history of the US). Worth a couple of hours to explore as the tour is free and the visit is included in your statue cruise ticket.

This very informative about how people immigrated from other countries and passed through Ellis Island on their way to the United States. There is a lot of history for history buffs. Take this trip and the trip to the Statute of Liberty at the same time. Get more value for your money.

the current island is actually an extension of the original one and today it turns out to be larger than liberty island; the part that can be visited is the northernmost one, where the immigration museum is located and you can go around it in the adjacent gardens; limiting itself only to the outside, I think it is more interesting that of liberty island which offers excellent views to photograph the statue of liberty

One of my favourite places I visited.
The boat to the island catches amazing views of Manhatten.
The island itself has a great cafeteria for those unsure whether there was any refreshments.
The audible handset was great and to top it of to find out I had a large number of family from my parents village who went through was fascinating.

We opted not to do both Liberty and Ellis, but the sail by Lady Liberty was breathtaking nonetheless. Especially in a time when our freedoms as Americans are being curtailed, and not sure how much longer she will be allowed to stand, I found actually look at her visage from the ferry very inspiring.

We debarked at Ellis Island, where my family came through over a century ago, and it is an amazing place. We got in an early hard hat tour, but if I were to do it again, I'd get to Ellis early, and go through the Museum first, because it gets sooooo crowded and noisy later that it's impossible to even hear yourself, much less look at exhibits thoughtfully. The hard hat tour of the hospital was a highlight of our NYC stay; well worth it and very well done. I felt bad not having a cash tip for our guide; he was excellent. After the tour we attempted the cafe and the exhibits, but they were overrun by school groups screaming, running, cutting in line, oh my goodness it was truly awful. I don't know where the adults were. In any case if you want to see the museum, go on the earliest sail, and book the hard hat tour for later. Bring your own food and water; you can't even get in line to buy the overpriced crap they sell.

My only reason for a 4 was the crowding. Otherwise the experience was a total 5. It's a great part of the American experience.

We went in the hard hat tour and it was tons of fun! Our tour guide, Fred, shared a some if the stories, and was very friendly and kind.

I thought Ellis Island would just be a tourist trap with a few bits to keep you amused but it was honestly one of the most fascinating and beautiful museums I've ever been too. You could easily spend all day in there and learning so much. It really enlightened me with what was really happening and tells the story of these people in a beautiful way. We times things a little badly so only had an hour or so on the Island so next time I'll be back. I also recommend watching the little video they have set up in the theatres and you learn a lot through that. We also stopped & got chatting to a cleaner who was super knowledgable, friendly & helpful that really made the trip even better.

To me this was one of the most important part of our trip to new York.. sadly for me I wish I had had a whole day to take in all of the info. Right at the beginning of America being invaded by Europeans onwards. So well presented. I would really love to go back. A real must

We visited Ellis Island after our climb up into Liberty's crown, It is a very short trip, maybe 10 minutes. I highly recommend collecting your audio tour and following the route as suggested. With wonderful displays and extra interviews with survivors/ immigrants that went through Ellis Island played through telephones you get a real feel for how intense this must have been for weary visitors just wanting to step foot on the mainland, which is almost within touching distance, almost taunting them. This was without doubt the highlight of my visit to New York, so well laid and restored brilliantly.

Wonderful experience. I have relatives who moved to the USA in the early 1900s and so looking at their experiences was really interesting. Ferry reasonably priced but you have to book in advance.

Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty, served as the United States' largest immigration station from 1892 to 1954. Named after its 18th-century owner, Samuel Ellis, the island was expanded over time by landfills.

Before it became an immigration station, Ellis Island was used for various purposes by the U.S. government, such as serving as a munitions arsenal during the War of 1812. The federal government bought the island in 1808 and it was used as a fort during the Civil War.

On January 1, 1892, Ellis Island replaced Castle Garden (located in Battery Park, Manhattan) as the main immigration center for the United States. The first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island was Annie Moore, a 15-year-old girl from Ireland who arrived with her two younger brothers to join their parents in New York City.

From 1892 to 1924, more than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island in search of a better life in America. Most of these immigrants were from Europe, escaping poverty, religious persecution, and political unrest.

The processing of immigrants at Ellis Island involved a series of medical and legal inspections to determine if they were fit for entry into the United States. Those who failed these inspections could be sent back to their home countries.

In 1924, the Immigration Act was passed, which greatly reduced the number of immigrants allowed entry into the United States and effectively ended mass immigration to America. After this, Ellis Island was mainly used as a detention and deportation center for immigrants.

The island was closed as an immigration center in 1954 and declared surplus federal property. It was neglected for many years until it was restored and turned into a museum and national monument. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration opened in 1990 and today, it attracts millions of visitors each year who come to explore the history of American immigration.

Wifi was terrible the link asked to sign up to connect but then sends a pass code to email which is obviously unacceptable if you can't connect to internet

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are easy to visit without an arranged-in-advance tour. You can just catch the ferry and take the audio tour once you're there. This is a terrific place to visit, especially if you have ancestors that immigrated through here.

Visiting here was more moving for me than the Statue of Liberty. I got to walk in the footsteps of my great grandparents when they came to the USA. The museum has a lot of exhibits, I especially liked their collection of anti-immigration newspaper cartoons showing todays xenophobia is certainly nothing new. Very informative and emotional.

We went on a cool, 64°and cloudy day. Visited Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island. The scenery was incredible. Had a drink at the restaurant, View. Rode Q70 and train to and from Queens. Enjoyed ourselves.

Really interesting and nicely laid out with great exhibits (interactive). Lovely little gift shop :-)

So much history and so much to see. When you buy tickets for Statue of Liberty this is included and the audio guide is included. Get the guide and listen to the history. It will amaze you how they migrated here.

They have a section that you can book to find your family that might have arrived.

Just a few years ago everything was neglected here - nice that the building is now well-kept and accessible to visitors. I almost teared up when the voices in the film told of the difficult crossing but also of the hope for a better life.

Walking in the footsteps of our ancestors, seeing what they would have saw and how families were split up depending on what each person could offer in terms of work was truly humbling. Having visited the hall we ventured outside and found the wall with names of those who arrived, even finding our own family names. Emotional and liberating. We even left a piece of Scotland there

Incredible transportation capacity back from Ellis Island. Waited 2h…
Will Not recommend that visit even if the history of the Location is interesting

Visited here and was a little unsure what to expect. I had seen programmes that had featured the museum and thought it looked very interesting, however until you have been there you can not describe how amazing it is.

100% take your own earphones for the audio tour as they are not provided... just the audio machines which would be used like a phone.

A must visit!

My wife and I and our granddaughter visited here after stopping at the Statue of Liberty. While not as visually impressive as the Statute Ellis Island has its own interesting aspects.

We did the basic tour which involves a tour of the main building where immigrants were processed. This was especially important to my wife as both her parents came through as children. There isn't much by way of furniture of the period but there is a museum that does a great job of explaining the historical significance of Ellis Island and the process people coming to America went through to get into our country. Often this is done with the words of the immigrants themselves. This was very well done and is quite expansive so it does take time to get through it all if you want to see and read everything. It probably took a little over an hour so plan accordingly if you are going there after the Statue of Liberty.

While Lady Liberty is the more famous of this couple, for my money Ellis Island is the place you should spend more time. With a large number of interactive exhibits and an optional tour of the island beyond the main building, you can spend a lot of educational time here honoring and remembering those who passed through it on their way to building the America we know today. If you don't have antsy kids along for the ride like I did, plan for a good 3-4 hours to get to everything. It's well worth the time.

Great experience, very educational. 2 hours just fly by. So much to observe. As We are facing immigration issues today, we can all revisit here Ellis island to see how our country was formed and know what your great grand parents experienced. Be educated, be smart and compassionate.
My 18 years old daughter spend much time just learning how USA formed by immigrants from all over the world. She says what she learned in school finally connected, and able to deepen her understanding of this country. After visit here, you can go back to Manhattan with fresh pair of eyes to see everyone’s life and being.
Wished cafeteria offers different types of food, commemorate different ethnic foods.

Excellent museum with a lot of history and great exhibits. Main hurdle is that this is connected to Liberty Island ferries (either New York/Battery Park or New Jersey) so crowds and wait times can be quite high due to limited capacity and need to take ferry. Otherwise an excellent place to visit if you are a fan of museums and local history.

Visited with a friend and what a visit. The audio tour traces the steps of the immigrants with moving recollections from those who experienced it first hand. Highly recommended

I was really surprised at how interesting Ellis Island is. All the hype goes to Liberty Island but the museum here is thought provoking and really well laid out full of interesting information and stories from real people. I wish we could have stayed longer.

The Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour is exceptional! My family of 5 - including 3 teens - all thought the Hard Hat Tour was one of the highlights of our trip to NYC. You get to walk through the abandoned infectious disease hospital on Ellis Island, going through the old laundry room, the morgue, the kitchen, a few different disease 'wards' (like measles, tuberculosis), the room where the very sickest were sent to die, and the former dr residence. You literally wear a hard hat because while they have made the buildings stable, they are not restored (nor will they be - which is part of the cool factor).

This is run by Save Ellis Island non-profit and the volunteer who led our 90 minute tour was wonderful. Highly recommend as an 'off the beaten path' way to get your teens interested in history of our country.

Ellis Island was a stunning museum with a rich history so many Americans can relate to. For an extra fee, you can take a hard hat tour of the abandoned hospital, which was fascinating. Not a ghost tour, but a look into how ahead of their time and humane these doctors were in treating their patients.

Incredible and steeped history of the challenges of immigration to the US. A well-maintained museum by the National Parks Services, but definitely found I needed to have a greater amount of mental energy and focus to stay engaged and make it worthwhile.

This place remembers you in an heart-touching way the emotion that emigrants from Italy and other countries must have felt coming so close to New York and finally being able to enter the city. A well organized exhibition with both historical objects and photos and reconstructions. Absolutely recommend the audio guides!

If you have visited before and even if this is your first time, book the behind the scenes tour or hard hat tour! This leads you, with a guide, to the part of Ellis Island that is not usually open to the public. Get to learn about the hospital and the quarantine part of the island. The price is steep, but really worth while ($45 pp).

We had to wait an hour to get back on a boat from Ellis Island to New York, standing crammed in a line with 200 plus people, 90 degrees, in the full sun. Not to mention it took 45 min of waiting to get on the boat to Liberty Island. Had I known I would have not booked this tour. Not worth it in my option.

This was such a lesson in history. The building is beautiful. So much of the interior seems original. Just walking those hallowed tile floors is awe inspiring. So many immigrants from SO MANY places, not just Europe. Give yourself a few hours to tour.

Setting foot on Ellis island was a little emotional for me as many of my ancestors had walked these very steps over 100 years ago. Enjoyed the information the park service provides about the history and people that came though here , very educational. If your people entered though Ellis island I would recommend a visit to see the first stop on their journey to a new life.

Visiting Ellis Island is astonishing. It’s not as if the exhibits have masses of bells and whistles, and the introductory film is distinctly dated. But none of that really matters. What’s incredible about it, is the stories. The island is haunted by uplifting, tragic and moving accounts of the refugees and economic migrants; men, women and children, who made the horrendous journey from Europe in hopes of a better life. The excellent audio tour (included in the price) really immerses you in these people’s stories, especially since they include interviews conducted with Ellis Island immigrants recorded in the 1970s. There are separate versions of the tour for adults and children and extra info on almost every exhibit if you have the time. The audio sets are like phones though, so it’s easier to use them if you take headphones with a minijack so you can plug in, as this means you can listen without having to hold the phone up to your ear all the time. Getting to Ellis Island is considerably easier than it was in the late 19th century. You can leave from either Battery Park on Manhattan or Liberty State Park in Jersey City (a super cool embarkation point since it’s right beside a vintage railway terminus). Tickets are sold as round trips, via the Statue of Liberty. The timetables are a bit tricky to get your head around but it’s fairly easy to work it out when you get there, as long as you leave plenty of time for queuing. We went to Ellis Island first and then to the Statue of Liberty and I think this is a good way to do it. You get all the history first and then go on to the magnificence of the Statue of Liberty. Prices are cheaper with a CityPASS but even at face value the tickets are very reasonable at $19.25 for adults, $14 for seniors and $9 for kids. An incredible price for a thought-provoking experience.

I am so thankful that Ellis Island was saved and opened to the public for tours. Such a rich history of what many our ancestors had to go through to come to the US. I was able to locate family surnames and I know my family has gone through Ellis Island. It was an honor to walk in their footsteps even though I could never know the desperate, fearful but excited feelings they must of felt coming to America but because of the tour and the real life accounts, it has given me a humbled idea of what it may have been like. I wish I would of packed more comfortable walking shoes for my trip to Manhattan. Unfortunately, but thankfully, we are in the process of planning another trip. We will skip the Statue of Liberty and go directly to Ellis Island to go through everything we had to miss because of my aching feet. But even with feet that couldn't go on any further, it was a great visit and a must see for anyone especially those who love history.

There is no question - an incredible chapter of history with relevance that echoes to this day. But… the experience (at least as we had it) is badly broken. Pre paid tickets earn you an opportunity to get in one of the longest lines I’ve ever been in. The timing of your ticket seems to be meaningless. Once through security you wait in line to board a shuttle boat… for a long time. The day we went was perfect - cool and sunny. But anything less than perfect whether would have been unbearable. With kids?? Even worse. As we got off the boat at our first stop we saw - the line - to get back on the boat. Staggeringly long. Wr quickly realized if we didn’t get back in line we wouldn’t have time to see Ellis Island (we had specifically been told to book a 1:00 or earlier ticket to be sure this wouldn’t happen). Anyhow - point being - they either need to have more boats or find a different way to manage times / tickets. Even as great as Ellis Island was - we felt like we wasted hours and hours standing in line. Cannot recommend.

A very interesting experience that enriches historical knowledge through clear explanations.
(Recommendation: if you do not want too heavy a Guide select the children's route numbers that will give all the information in a more interesting key.)

In my opinion, a must see if visiting in the New York City. Very well organized. A free audio guide, in several languages, is available.

Great shared discovery about the arrival of immigrants. Audio provided and free which allows you to understand the route very well. Different rooms which show the stages, archives, films, audio, very good for sharing this moment of history.
a good moment in American history.

We can here as part of trip to Liberty and Ellis Islands, from Battery Park in Manhattan but opted to return to Liberty State Park so we could explore New Jersey.
Self-guided audio tour contained a lot of information and supported the exhibits on display in the rooms explaining process immigrants had to follow on arrival. For 10 dollars you’d the option to book a slot to check records and find entries for ancestors arriving here in the past. Don’t miss the full list of immigrant names printed in alphabetical order on long curved panels behind the building, accessed through the cafe.

This is a must-do while visiting Statue of Liberty.

A lot of people recommend to visit this before Statue of Liberty, and I did not do it first, but I would definitely agree. That is if you want pictures with less strangers in them.

But it was never super crowded in there or outside.

We paid for the middle tour, which did not grant us access to the other buildings. That is called the Hard Hat tour and you get to see things that the lower tours do not let you see.

I would still say it was a very good time as it was phenomenal to be able to see exactly what the immigrants saw when they first got here. And it's crazy to learn about all the other buildings and what they were used for.

It's hard to understand exactly what it must have been like for people coming here for a better future until you're actually in a place where they came for that better future.

The immigration museum is full of beauty from the architecture to the layout on the inside, to the landscaping.

Very easy to get around.

Definitely think that you should pay for the tour that includes Ellis Island, even if you don't pay for the most expensive tour.

I really enjoyed everything here. The exhibits are so engaging and thoughtful - it was really fascinating to explore. We also ate lunch at the restaurant here and that was a good experience too.

I love Ellis Island and I never get fed up of going there to take in all the history. WARNING when we were getting on the ferry to go over to the island you have to go through the security and they asked us to take off our watches. As we were about to board I went to look at the time and screamed omg my watch I left it at the security. It was an expensive RADO watch. I rushed back and said I left my watch and they pulled out a large bag of watches so obviously a lot of people do it. I said its an expesive gold and white gold rado and I just this minuet left it here it will not ne in that bag, with that an officer pulled my watch out of his top pocket and said is this it? they are onto a good thing believe me. You have to put it into a dish as you do at the airports and with the hussle of moving you along to fill up all the gaps etc its quite easy to forget. I dont know why you have to remove your watches as they didnt ask for the removal of any other jewerly so please be careful. Ellis Island though is a must visit if in NY. I LOVE IT

This island is a stone throw away from Liberty Island. Actually we get there from Liberty, on the same ticket from CityExperiences.

The Island is pleasant to walk around, a cafe to take a break and a museum and library to visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Hard Hat Tour, which takes you around the abandoned Ellis Island hospital, otherwise not open to the public. Cheryl, our tour guide, was great, and clearly has an enthusiasm for this unique place. There are very few sites like this left in New York, so it’s rare to find something not restored, knocked down or developed. The buildings are fairly vast and it’s easy to imagine the stories of the patients here. There are old photographs projected onto the walls as part of an art installation, and this, together with information from Cheryl, really helped to bring this forgotten place to life again. Highly recommended!

Visitors can trace their ancestors through millions of immigrant arrival records. Ellis Island remains a central destination for millions seeking a glimpse into their own family history.

Excellent time for our family (12 & 9 year old boys). You can just buy a ticket and go to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island but we choose to book a tour with Get Your Guide. So
lucky we had Sara L. She told such excellent stories through the entire excursion that kept both of the kids interested. She provided excellent tips as to which side of the boat to sit on for the best pictures (right side when you are leaving Battery Park).

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to visit Ellis Island and what can I say, its just amazing. I was not expecting so much to see, I thought it was just the Great Hall but the exhibits are wonderful. Visitors can trace ancestors who may have come through the immigration area. It is a truly fascinating place and I'd love to make a return visit one day. You'll need a good couple of hours to walk around and take everything in. The ferry goes to the Statue of Liberty then makes a stop at Ellis Island before heading back to New York. There is a schedule of sailings at the ports.

This is truly an emotionally engaging place - one can imagine the lives of the people who passed through its doors. Beautifully presented, thoughful and well preserved. Stories that are well over 100 years old and yet still so actual since many people around the world today find themselves in the same situation as all those families many years ago.

What an amazing experience, from seeing Lady Liberty, to visiting the amazing museum. A must when visiting the Big Apple.

Worth the schlep to get there. The boats are leaving every few minutes. Had a great guide on the island and loved her explanations. Not hard to imagine how the immigrants would have felt.

Our trip to Ellis Island was excellent. We ate at the one restaurant on site and it had many choices, even healthy ones! The outside area was beautiful for lunch with a view. I would say the only drawback to the trip was how they load the boats. It’s nothing short of herding cattle. Even if they made a rope design for people to weave similar to an amusement park, it would be so much better. Fortunately the weather cooperated so it wasn’t bad but that can really be improved upon. Staff incredibly helpful and friendly and so much to see. 4 hours with lunch seemed about right but could have made it 5 if we had read every learning opportunity. Plan accordingly.

Wonderful ferry ride from Battery Park. Great variety of nationalities and ethnicities among visitors. Fascinating information in the actual restored buildings. Beautiful and memorable trip. Highly recommend.

Fantastic place to visit, especially if you have ancestors who have passed through it. There is a huge sense of all the people who have been in Ellis Island and the exhibits and films are all excellent, giving you a true feeling of what they went through to enter USA. Highly recommend to visit.

We loved the hard hat tour. Terribly disappointed with the museum since most of the exhibits were torn down and being reconstructed.

The island was interesting because of its rich history. The horrible thing was the ferry and waiting time. We waited 25 minutes for the first ferry but just got cut off, and then we had to wait another 40 minutes for the next one. This didn’t just happen to me but almost everyone else as well. There were elderly and young children in the crowd that got sunburned from the 90 degree weather. We wasted so much of our precious time in New York and thankfully I did not book anything else right after this island. Please save yourselves the time and do not go here. We waited a entires hour just to be able to go back to New York.

We actually didn't walk through Ellis Island but instead took the Ellis Island Hospital Hard Hat Tour. It was an excellent tour of the hospital grounds. We learned about the short amount of time people were actually on Ellis Island and saw some original rooms and tables etc. My daughter loved it. We had to get back on the ferry so we missed Ellis Island (my second time missing it). Maybe one day.

I sailed to this island with great interest after visiting the Statue of Liberty. Ellis Island, as we know, was a border point where ships carrying emigrants from Europe arrived. Now the emigration clearance building is a museum. I rate the museum itself as average. There are very few exhibits - there are a lot of posters from the era, ship plans, waybills and personal documents of emigrants, also from Poland. There is one bedroom, some period suitcases, but otherwise there is nothing special there. So I think the museum is very average, but the place is a different story. When you take into account that this is where crowds of emigrants came looking for a better life in America, and that this place was their first contact with their dream America, this is a unique place. So I would summarize my impressions as follows - it is worth going there for this place, but not for an average museum.

The visit to Ellis Island is combined with the view of the Statue of Liberty (it is the second stop). Bear in mind that the whole tour will take you about 5 hours so I recommend you leave early. Unmissable to get an idea of what those desperate people may have gone through who, more than 100 years ago, had the courage to leave everything for a land they knew absolutely nothing about. You must take the audio guide at the entrance on the right (it is very well made) to understand a little more. Crazy hence the impact of the view of NY.

I recommend in particular to my fellow Italians to visit Ellis Island, as, among the immigrants who came to NY seeking for fortune, there were many Italians. We should never forget this part of our history, and this is the right place, with the emotions it elicites.

After taking the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, we travelled across to Ellis Island. I thought we would be there max 30 minutes but the teens actually enjoyed it. In particular, they were captivated by the Through America’s Gate exhibit on the second floor. It showed via photos and artefacts the step by step process that immigrants were taken through to qualify for citizenship or be deemed an “undesirable alien” and face deportation. This included a medical examination, legal examination and potentially a hearing of special inquiry. The exhibit highlighted the living conditions, and the raw emotion of the immigrants in a very vulnerable time of their lives. The teens also enjoyed the Research Center where we found the immigration records for a great grandfather who landed on Ellis Island in 1914. Ellis Island captures the beautiful diversity of ethnicity and culture of immigrants entering NY whilst also acknowledging mistakes of the past. A must see.

So much to visit on Ellis island: the National Museum of Immigration has exhibits, theaters, café ....

The museum's three floors exhibitions explain the immigrants' experiences upon arrival.

You can look up ancestors in the American Family Immigration History Center.

Interesting and it also affects you very much.

Visiting here was an amazing and humbling experience. As a descendent of immigrants (some of who came through here), my wife and I loved touring every aspect of Ellis Island, from seeing just how the evaluation process occurred once they got here to learning more about the people who risked everything on the American Dream. The facility is quite large and it has numerous exhibits to view. We came here after touring The Statue of Liberty and it was an amazing day filled with American History.

It takes more guts than you can ever imagine to leave everything you know and hope things will work out in a distance and unfamiliar land. We are both so grateful to our ancestors and this place for helping them accomplish that dream.

Ellis Island is showing the immigration history in an impressive way; especially the Great Hall (registry room). Must see are the photos of the immigrants belongings on the 3rd floor and the photos of the building just before the restoration.

Ellis Island was top of my list of places to visit and it didn't disappoint. Really enjoyed learning the history of the Island and there were so many exhibits to read, Sitting in the big hall gave me goosebumps and really made me imagine what it was like for so many immigrants arriving into NY back in the day.
We visited with a 5 and 9 year old and they also really enjoyed the visit. We picked up some junior ranger activity sheets from the park rngers and these are fantastic for kids! They get a badge and sticker when finished and is well worth doing.
I have marked down on my review because of the restaurant. The food was overpriced (but I expected this) and it was nice enough but the servers were SO rude. Shouting at people to get in the right line and barking orders - not a nice experience.

Ellis island is not quite what i expected, we did it as part of the statue trip, as the boat goes there also so you can add it on for free.
It definately has lots of information, but it might take you 10 hours to read it all. Me and my prtner didnt want to spend the day inside reading, so we only did a quick visit as there wasnt much to see and was more to read. I think if you want to get the most out of it, you have to do the hard hat tour as many people rave about this. Great for a rainy day, but i wouldnt go back otherwise.

Sensational
Very educational
Sad but should still be in use for people to enter this country LEGALLY. Amazing family stories. Loved it

Unless you’re that unique person who can trace their ancestry back to the year dot and the family has never chosen or been required to relocate you should see this place

As part of the Liberty island trip, the boats come to Ellis island before going back to Battery park.
The Ellis island Immigration is impressive and obviously has the sad history of how immigration was like not that long ago.
The self directed audio tour (which is included in the price of the ferry ticket) is easy to use and very informative.
There is lots to see and we did not get the chance to do all the tours but did the main one which was interesting.

We booked the 90 minute "Hard Hat" tour on Ellis Island in October 2021. Basically, you get access to the non-renovated hospital buildings on the island. It's mildly interesting but not worth the cost nor do you need to spend 90 minutes taking this tour. Other than the shells of the buildings, there's little to nothing to actually see and our tour guide offered very little in the way of commentary to spice the experience up. I'd recommend staying in the developed buildings taking the free audio tours available. Much better value and use of time.

Ever want to tour behind the "Authorized Personnel Only" signs? Of course. The Hard Hat Tour enables you to join a very small group and tour the hospitals that have yet to be repaired and remain unopened to the general public. This is a walking tour right through amazing buildings that just scream to be saved - a portion of your tour cost goes toward restoration - a good thing.

Try and pick a nice day that's all really nice great way to see lower Manhattan without being in the city

What a great museum! Packed full of information, easy to follow and it gives a great sense of what it must have been like to be a migrant coming to NYC . You can reach the island on the ferry from new Jersey or from battery park as part of a double ticket. This gives you the chance to visit the statue if liberty too.

Part of the ticket for the trip to Statue of Liberty and back.
They are super efficient with transport with about 25 min between boats that must carry about 700.
The island can be walked around in parts Not all buildings are open.
There is the usual shop and good area.
Good restrooms.
The visual displays are just fascinating and reading , looking at each of the immigrants arriving and being in the same building was spin tingling.
My parents were migrants in the 2950’s and we forget the challenge that faced them in a new land.
Not to be missed.

Went for the second visit in November 2019, this place is full of the history of NY people, you must go and learn about how NY grew and was developed.

I was initially uncertain what to expect but the visit was a great view of the history of American immigration. The museum was very interesting and the guides knowledgeable and friendly.

The former immigration island of Ellis Island is both architecturally and historically very interesting and impressive. One should definitely watch the short film about the hope, fears and expectations of the former immigrants and their families and visit the very interesting museum. In the museum, you can also research your own immigration history if family members have emigrated to the United States.

Hard hat tour is a must! I had no idea how extensive the hospital was, let alone how much they did to take care of the immigrants. It was one of the best hospitals in the U.S.! Don't let the "hard hat" description intimidate you. The place is kept in a certain state of decay, but the way is pretty smooth. We all thought the description would put people off unnecessarily. You should wear good shoes, but everything is pretty level, some short stairs, walking inside and out. Great experience!!!

Had got tickets to go to the statue of liberty and you got to go to ellis Island to that was a good experience ellis Island is the building where the imagination had to go to get checked out before they can enter the United States/ New York

2nd stop of the cruise departing from Battery Park, after a first stop on Liberty Island.
An audio guide is available, and is included in the ticket.
The visit to Ellis Island is very complete and lasts between 2 and 3 hours.

My wife and I recently completed a 9-night cruise to celebrate our upcoming 40th anniversary, which left out of Cape Liberty, NJ. We decided to leave a day earlier so we could tour Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Having ancestors who came to this country in the 1890s, I was very interested in seeing what they would have experienced when they arrived. The main building, which was rehabbed in the 1980s, is very intimidating when you approach it. The size and ornamentation are quite daunting to say the least. Moving through the various stations from the Great Hall to the examination rooms, etc. would have been equally frightening to these new arrivals. But they persevered and started a new life that us future generations are enjoying today!

Allow yourself some time, there is so much to read, watch and look at. Incredible that there are so many pictures and artifacts for us to look at.

I went to visit Ellis Island for the second time - the first being about 15 years ago which I really enjoyed. This place is in dire need of an upgrade.....the whole place is poorly sign-posted from the entrance, to where you pick up the audio tour. The actual audio tour is really poor. Let's hope that such a historical and interesting site gets the tour it deserves because this is an absolute embarrassment for New York.

The best bit was the boat ride past the Statue of Liberty.

A fun trip, very informative with lots to do. The whole island can be easily completed within 3 hours and the ferry to the island is a good opportunity to take pictures of the New York skyline, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was amazing! For Ellis Island it is best to go in the morning as it tends to get quite busy as day goes on. The building area is great and very interactive and informative, however inside is heavily air conditioned so can get chilly and there isn’t much seating in the tour areas. Would recommend as a good day trip for those going to New York. The ferry ride is a must see as it gives a wonderful view of the city especially on sunny days.

Top Tips :
• Bring your own headphones with you to Ellis Island as there is and if you have headphones you won’t have to hold headset to your ear.

Without visiting this island and having the right guide, I would never have understood the history of US immigration. I returned to Manhattan in awe.

It's not worth the wait to get back on the ferry to new York. Terrible ferry service. Had to stand for 2 hours just to get out.

This small island, located right across from Manattan Island and next to Freedom Island, was used as the center where customs procedures and health checks were carried out for those immigrating to America in the early 1900s. The building where millions of immigrants were processed currently serves as a museum. Downstairs, arriving passengers have bags, suitcases and mostly trunks. The upper floor consists of thousands of documents, documents, belongings and photographs. It is impossible not to be affected by what you see; those who were accepted, those who were rejected and sent back, families, the elderly, women and children, sadness, misery, joy, you get many different emotions from those photographs and you feel them in your bones. Be sure to come, live, experience. You already come with a single ticket, including Freedom Island. The ticket includes two island ferry fees and museums. 'There is a fee of $24 per person. Definitely worth taking the time to visit the islands.

Very interesting insight into generations gone by and their struggles to make a better life, which for most was a very much a long and harrowing process. The buildings and exhibits give you great understanding.

We followed one of the best reviews that told us to not worry about what time you RESERVED your ticket for as the ferries leave every 20 minutes. We arrived early and got to Ellis Island early as it does take time to go through Security.
We only paid for the basic Reserved ticket ($18.50), got off at Ellis Island only and did the audio tour (which is included in your price).
Next time we might take th Hard hat tour, but this time it was enough..

In this case, less mythical than many other places, even the nearby Statue of Liberty.
Precisely, the lack of desire to stand in long queues to go and see the Statue of Liberty brought us to a small island, where many of us have distant relatives who have been there.
Very interesting to be able to see, with your own eyes, the places that immigrants first saw

After the Statue of Liberty by boat we reached this place, once a place of "welcome" of our emigrants and emigrants from all over Europe who contributed to the construction of the United States of America. Museum easily visited also thanks to audio guides fortunately also in Italian.

My family visited Ellis Island after going to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty. The story of the immigrants coming to start a new life is fascinating. The old photos are riveting. The medical examinations that they had to undergo was eye opening. Ellis Island is definitely worth a visit to better understand the desires of people who hungered for freedom and to get a new start in life.

I really enjoyed going through Ellis Island. There is a place where you can look up your ancestors to see if they came through Ellis Island, it is paid but worth it if you are interested. The exhibit that showed what it was like for an immigrant to come through Ellis Island was amazing. They have an exhibit on what immigration is like today, which I thought was lacking but overall there is a lot to learn and see at this museum, don't miss it.

Yet another must-see if in NYC. Incredible amounts of history to take in and see. We went to the Statue of Liberty first and then Ellis. Great morning of American history. Also had not heard of the Bob Hope Library on site...a bonus for sure.

The sailing trip from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is a really good 3 in one, which combines the story of the arrival of many immigrants to the United States, with views of the NY skyline and the very symbol of the American values: The Statue of Liberty.

On Ellis Island it is worth taking the audio guide, which gives a good and appropriate long review of the island's history, spicy with eyewitness accounts.

If you have little time, you’d rather skip the landing at the Statue of Liberty than the museum. You can see her from the boat as well as from the island.

We knew we wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty, we weren't sure abut Ellis Island. It proved to be interesting, we walked through the main building using the free (included) audio tour. There are several different tours included on the device, we did the main one. We'd had a long day and spent a lot of time with the Statue of Liberty and so we didn't manage all the tours.

There's a lot of detailed information with real-life examples about the people who arrived at Ellis Island and how they were processed before they were allowed to continue to the mainland. Some didn't succeed and were sent home.

Our first trip to NYC was in 2000 and Ellis Island was probably my favourite trip. 19 years later and that’s still the case.

Really interesting museum. The boat trip across is great for views of the Financial District and the Statue of Liberty. I could have spent longer but the main tour (audio tour) was enough for most of our group.

Fantastic experience where we could explore authentic objects, personal stories and the historic Great Hall, where many began their new lives.

A trip to Ellis Island is both a touching and educational experience that sheds light on the hopes and challenges of the time.

Can definitely be recommended and make good time for the visit - there is a lot of knowledge to go in-depth with.

While going Statue of Liberty we decided to see this Island. You can get off from ship and spend some time and take next cruise to liberty island. Basically it is a big museum shown the history how immigrants came to USA.

You can't miss the immigration museum. I recommend to equip yourself with a self-guide and visit all the environments hearing the corresponding audio 'cause the past helps to better understand our present. It is a unique emotion to hear the testimonies of our emigrants.

This is part of the tour package for $24 each person to go to the ferry, statue of liberty and Ellis Island. It's a great place to walk around and see what happened during that period and you can get food and drinks. indoor restrooms also.

Spent 90 minutes waiting to get off the island. We all baked in the sun. It was 98 degrees and high humidity. It was so bad that I'm shocked that someone didn't die. No, I'm not even exaggerating. We had boats come and go. It was the fourth boat that we finally made it on. The trip to the statue was fine. However, there aren't enough people getting off to visit the island. Since no one got off. No one was able to get on the boat that had arrived to take us off the island. You've got a couple hundred people waiting to leave. They only have room for twenty to twenty five people, tops. There is no shade or covering. So, you just stood there getting cooked as we were all crammed together in a gated area. We were like cattle at the end of the trip. I honestly can't in good conscious recommend the Ellis Island portion of the cruise.

We happened to hear about a hard hat hospital tour while we were eating lunch on the island. It is not included but the $55.00 cost is worth it. We got to go inside the hospital areas and learned so much. These buildings are not owned by the National Park Service. A restoration group is trying to raise money to preserve them but it takes millions of dollars. The cost of the tickets helps in a small way. If you are here, I would highly recommend checking this out.

My bride traces her family's arrival to our country to Ellis Island which I had never been to. So we took the Lexington Avenue Subway to the South Ferry stop and walked to the ferry terminal that transports folks to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ferry rides in New Your waterways are always magical... and this was no exception. Ellis Island offers very poignant insights into what the myriad of immigrants to our shores experienced when they arrived. The displays showing the step by step process that these very brave and determined folks - many with small children; many who spoke only a few words of English (if that) - faced as they passed by the welcoming Statue of Liberty to a new land that they would call home. Picturing what they went through was a very emotional and, yet, exhilarating experience. I hope that all those who think that those from other places should be kept away take an opportunity to visit Ellis Island and see for themselves the character of those who wanted to proudly call themselves Americans!

Stop by a see it once after visiting the Statue of Liberty. A quick visit to scroll through some of the grounds and info is all you need unless you have history here from your family that you want to look into yourself. I enjoyed the visit but most of my family came other means, no need to spend a ton of time here.

After Liberty Island, head for Ellis Island, 10 minutes by ferry, and its immigration museum with three exhibitions.

An audio guide is included in the ferry price. You visit in the shoes of a migrant, even if it is difficult, if not impossible, to imagine what they were really experiencing. The medical check-up room is impressive.

I found the visit informative and not boring. I also enjoyed the exhibition on current migration. This is a museum to put on your program if the subject interests you at all.

Not counting the journeys, you can count on 2 hours to do everything. For the return, you may not be able to take the first ferry that arrives (every 25 minutes) due to lack of seats and will have to wait for the next one. If it's sunny, remember to bring a hat, because the queue is not in the shade.

Would highly recommend the hard hat tour! We got to see the hospital where people were cared for on the island. Irwin was our guide and he was really great. Had so much passion and a personal connection to the island. His knowledge was awesome, he gave us a great overall rundown of the island and afterwards we did a tour of the museum but Irwin had covered most of it in the tour!

We enjoyed this stop on our ferry ride. The ranger talk was very informative and covered areas of three floors. Buy tickets for the ferry ride at Castle Clinton. This ferry will take you to the Statue of Liberty. Spend some time there and then board the next ferry to Ellis Island at your leisure.

Interesting and meaningful visit to Ellis Island. Took the ferry/shuttle from Liberty State Park in NJ and stopped at Ellis Island on the way to the Statue of Liberty.

Really well done restoration of certain areas where immigrants entered the US. Lots of varied exhibits and captioned photos. Self guided audio tour.

Could easily spend 3-4 hours here … or longer.

very interesting. Paid for information on my mother's entry into the United States but only got subsequent visits, not the original one; date and her age were incorrect.

We enjoyed the museum as part of the Statue of Liberty Tour. The audio tour was very good and informative. It is very big and you could easily spend hours there. Lots of information boards in different sections of the museum.

Having been dazzled by the Statue of Liberty it was a thought provoking tour we had here - felt a little ashamed of our past in more than one area.
There is a lot to see although I felt they could have done more to make it more ‘realistic’ in how it would have felt - maybe have the main hall set up as it was and sound effects/voices of the past more prominent. One of our group had been years ago when it was more basic and had said it was more emotional then.
You can tour the old hospital buildings etc which apparently are pretty much left and heart breaking but you have to pay extra which is off putting, especially when you are on a budget.
Worth the visit though for the history and understanding of America’s past.

Well worth the visit, lots to see in the museum and surrounding area, remember to use the audio guides which are provided free of charge. Easy to get to.

Stayed in New York and I can tell you this is an amazing place to find out whereabouts my predecessors ended up in the America. From there the plan was to travel to England to find out even further where and how far back we went.
Ellis Island is good with good security and for obvious reasons!
Well worth taking your time for the research.

Stopped here after our visit to Lady Liberty. This is a great historical location with great exhibits and stories. If you want to do research in the Bob Hope Library you must make a reservation ahead of time. You can also pay to use computers to look things up about your family history.

There was renovation work going on that kind of decreased the calmness i guess you get at the island normally.
But the views are great and the history of the island itself is something that one must experience.

I booked the Hard Hat tour for myself, my husband and 13 y/o. I am so happy I did. We spent 90 minutes learning the history that so many Americans experienced. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and very patient with us folks who wanted to take extra pictures. If you have a day to enjoy Ellis Island (it really took all day to fully enjoy and appreciate all of the artifacts in the museum in addition to the tour), this spot is a MUST DO! I highly recommend!!!

The facilities here are incredible to tour. It is laid out nicely so you can follow the flow that immigrants would have taken when coming to this country. You can see how things have changed over the years and how overwhelming it would have been to come here. It is thought provoking and very interesting. In the future, we would like to take the hard hat tour to dig deeper and see all the areas.

Not much here. Lots of reading and interesting facts about immigration but not very exciting for kids. They were very bored. We could have skipped this. Waited an hour to get back on ferry to Manhattan.

So much to see! We should have spent more time at the exhibits, but since you have to depend on the arrival and departure of the ferries, the amount of time is going to be limited. The only way around it is to arrive early and depart late. What is particularly interesting are photos of areas/rooms before they were repaired or repainted - not that this was the way that the immigrants would have seen them, but to demonstrate the need to preserve our history. And Ellis Island truly does a commendable job, in memorializing and honoring those who arrived.

Take your time to wander through the passages and stairwells at Ellis island.
It is one massive history lesson, one which makes you stand and wonder.

We had a great time at Ellis Island, not only is a learning experience of how the USA was founded and how cultures had to adapt to each other. But we happily learned some family history, not only you can find records of your ancestors, but you can find the origins of your family. In my case we always had doubts of were are families came from, and we now know we are Mexican, French, Italian and Spanish.

I enjoyed my visit to Ellis Island and the museum a lot! I think it is very well done and especially the details about the people who entered the US through Ellis Island all these years ago were amazing. This is a great historical site and I think they did a great job bringing history back to life for all the visitors of the museum.
A tip from my side: make sure to bring enough time to visit the museum, as it is quite big and the exhibitions are all very interesting. It would be a pity to come all the way and not see most of it (all of it most likely is not possible...)
A definite recommendation from my side!

There was far more to see in the museum than I thought there'd be so allow time. You enter the large reception hall, echoing loading with school children when we were there lending some noisy confusion like there probably was at the time. Then there are lots of side rooms on several floors each exhibiting the process peo-ple had to go through to be allowed into the US. Some people passed through quickly, others subject to days of different checks, medicals and tests. Very informative and interesting.

I had more interest in the Statue of Liberty and thought I would visit this last but since the ferry from NJ stops here first, we got off the boat. Wow, I'm glad we did. The Ranger at the info desk set the tone by when we asked for the Junior Ranger booklet, giving my kid a JR sticker and promising the real thing when the activities were completed. We asked for an overview movie, and were directed to the second floor. Though it was half an hour long, my four-year-old sat very quietly through it all. The JR activities were all on the second floor, so that's where we spent our time. The second floor was the Great Hall, and the exhibits gave us an idea of what it was like for an immigrant to come through Ellis. My kid's asking for a second visit already, and next time we'll thoroughly examine all three floors. Easy passport stamps (two at info desk, two at bookstore.) Recommended.

The same boat that leaves Liberty island, stops at Ellis island. The problem is that most chose not to debark for Ellis island. The result is, you can wait forever on Ellis, being at the mercy of how many people debark from a fully loaded boat and most important, to the will of the guy “managing” the loading area how eyeballs how many people debarked and how many he allows to board for the ride back to the shore.
Needles to say the loading area at the Ellis island is open to the elements. Apparently is to much to add a canopy over that area to provide some type of comfort for the people waiting, which is kind of ironic because we just watched a movie in the island museum about how the poor immigrants were hurdled in like cattle or pigs. Well, looks like not much changed on that island as we were treated the same. Actually worst because we didn’t get medical attention or free food like those poor immigrants received once they arrived on the island.
We had to wait in pouring rain for more than one hour to get on a boat. Lightning was going on at the time and I was keep thinking what can go wrong with that and hundreds of people, wet to the bones, huddled together in an open space, with metal rails all around us. Not that the guy “managing” the loading area showed any concern whatsoever.
One pregnant lady started to have a panic attack and was ushered inside. We don’t know what happened to her. Another pregnant lady was right by us and she wasn’t moved to a bench by the guy in charge there, until we started to loudly complain about his lack of care for the people waiting in poring rain, many of them kids.
I asked the guy to request an extra boat because all coming from the Liberty island were full and most nobody will debark in pouring rain. I thought that will be a common sense move.
He started shouted back that he’s trying to explain the situation, which of course resumed to “you all act like a-holes by pushing and shoving”
Eventually an empty boat did arrive and he said he will “load 400”. Again, nobody counted how many were loaded. It was up to him.
I don’t know if the people managing the boat rides are city employees or contractors or just independent, but truly I have never seen people more inept, more rude and so indifferent about other people misery. .

Visited as part of our trip to Liberty Island - book your tickets all in advance. Brilliant Audi guide that takes you on a journey through time as an immigrant arriving at Ellis island.

Well worth paying $10 to us the computers to research any family members that have came through Ellis Island.

So much to see and experience. Fabulous displays, not to mention the beautiful restoration of the main building and the grounds. There is a lot to see. Plan at least 3-4 hours.

Instructive, enriching, really worth seeing. It 'was like taking a dip in the past of our grandparents... Especially those who have children can not go. Even for those who want to better understand America is essential.

I had such a meaningful visit to Ellis Island. Standing in the baggage room, I could literally feel the ghosts of the past, knowing how many people from around the world passed through that room, hopeful, afraid, and not knowing what their futures would hold. I can't imagine what it would have felt like to have done what they did. The museum was wonderful. I was there for 3.5 hours and could have easily spent another hour. There are so many fascinating exhibits about the entire immigration process, starting from the experience before they left their home countries, covering the passage over, and then what happened once they arrived. There were artifacts, photos, passports, ship manifests, and all sorts of things. Learning about the medical and psychological examinations and everything they went through was chilling. It's really incredible how courageous these immigrants were. It was a deeply moving experience and something you really have to experience for yourself. Seeing pictures or reading about it pales to standing in the actual rooms where so many passed through - some to their futures in America, and some only to be sent back to their home country. This is something not to be missed.

This is my 3rd visit, yet I find something new each time. Take your time to truly appreciate the courage of the immigrants to leave Europe and come to the New World with little money in their pocket and a bundle of belongings on their back. Appears the immigration gate was wide open as long as you were physical fit, mentally capable, and free of disease.
The 3rd floor has an overhead view of the Registry Room with photos during various periods of immigration. Imagine your distant relatives from Europe came thru this station determined to make a new life in America.
There is a hard hat tour of renovations to other structures on the Island, but we passed due to time constraints.
Access to the Statue and Ellis is via New Jersey and Manhattan ferries. Pick the one that is most convenient.

It is interesting to see the place and hear the stories of how people entered into our country legally for many years that Ellis Island was open. The museum contains many displays and information about the people that passed through the halls of Ellis Island. If you have ancestors that came through Ellis Island, you can look up information about them on the computers located in a side area of the museum. Very interesting place.

If you pay for the cruise to liberty island this is usually part of that. It’s worth visiting as the buildings are beautiful and the history from it is great to learn about. However it is a museum and nothing else on the island. There’s a lot shut off

Whether viewing Ellis Island from across the river or on a tour of the facility, the impact of the history causes you to pause and think. In fact, when viewing it across the water, the isolation is clear. You can almost feel the emotion of ‘almost there’ that must have been shared by most of the 12 million immigrants who landed here.
This is a ‘must see’ when visiting either New York or New Jersey, particularly if you are one of the nearly 50% of Americans with immigrant parents.

This is one of the coolest museums I have visited in a long time. It is easy to navigate, especially with the headset(guided tour). There are three different tours you can experience. Each focuses on a different thing/different perspective. There are some very powerful exhibits that really make you appreciate everything your ancestors did to get here and stay here. The ferry was easy to find and the trip was quick with beautiful views. I decided not to get off at Liberty Island, but the ferry does stop there if you want to do both. If you know the names of relatives that came through Ellis Island, there are kiosks that help you locate the portion of the wall where their names may be. I would recommend this museum to anyone visiting NYC!

This island is filled with so much history. Pain, sorrow, joy... it’s bittersweet. Some families were separated here, some died here, and some became Americans here! Originally a hospital the buildings are now deserted. You can take a “ hard hat” tour and walk through them with a guide. It’s really all very solemn but, the history is rich!

Wish we could have stayed longer. We took a red eye, AirTram, subway, and bus to get to New York. Needless to say our kids were a little tired and used the video as a nice nap. Such a fascinating part of our countries history.

Amazing place a lot of history.... nice because with the curse to see the Statue of Liberty you can visit it.

The building itself is very beautiful and full of history.
The museum is certainly very interesting but a lot of things to read and that in English, you need a good level of English and time.

Visited Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Absolutely worth the time and money. Amazing views, excellent audio tours and very well organized. I highly recommend putting this on your itinerary. We considered only a cruise past the islands but so glad we decided to do the tours.

Good to see. 50mph winds didn't help. Would recommend going in off peak season as summer seems like it's really really busy

Interesting historical stop. We were on our way out to the Statue of Liberty and this place was the first stop on the ferry. We had to jump out and see it of course. We were interested in seeing where people had thier first steps onto US soil in years gone by.

The pictures of the imigrants on the walls were what brought it to life for us. We enjoyed imagining these individuals experiences at this place while they waited to be allowed into America. The information provided here was worthwhile. It is definitely worth the stop on youir way to Liberty Island.

What I found most interesting were the vintage posters advertising Trips to the New World. The audio guide is useful and detailed, but after a while we left it hanging around our necks, preferring to explore the museum focusing only on the boards that caught our attention.
Recommended visit for a first trip to NYC.

Is it worth it? If you love history and architecture, it's worth every penny. My group was 10 people. I'm not sure the largest group size. Tour guide was incredibly prepared and made the entire time 90 mins go very fast. It was also fun being on parts of the island which the general public did not have access to. Also, a significant part of your fee goes the Save Ellis Island organization.

Ticket price includes (as of 10/17/21) ferry ride to both Ellis Island and Liberty Island. I parked on the New Jersey side (there is NYC side - Battery Park). Parking at that park is $7.00, though they do have a free 2 hour parking area if you don't have any desire to get on the ferry. Great view of the NYC skyline.

Your ticket will show 2 times. First time is the time to get in line for the TSA security check point. Not a strict as an airport, but I had to take off my belt and empty my pockets. They did allow water bottles. 2nd time is the actual start time of the tour (2pm was my tour time). My ticket instructed me to be in line by 11am, in reality the line opened around 1115, and I would say you had until 1115-1130. Before you enter the TSA station, your tickets will be scanned. This is the only time my ticket was scanned. It is about a 5 min + walk from the parking lot to the TSA line. Google Ellis Island Ferry Schedule, as times may change from when I post this. The Ferry left at 11:50 am sharp.

The NJ Ferry goes to Ellis Island first. Pay attention. For whatever reason, after they docked they didn't make any announcements (which they normally do). If you don't get off on Ellis Island, the next stop is Liberty Island. Many of the people did not get off at Ellis Island... My guess, they had no clue they could. When you exit the ferry, you'll see the main building in front of you go. Go into the main lobby, and go to the left where you will see a ranger information stations. They will verify you are on the tour, and ask you to fill out a waiver. At that point, you have to kill a bit under 2 hours. They ask that you show up about 5-10 mins before you tour start time. Lots of good things to see/learn, or go get some over priced food. They offer free audio tours.

The tour last about 90mins. This is where I got into a bit of trouble. The tour ran a few mins long. It was over around 335. The NJ Ferry (not the NYC ferry), departs at 340 for Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty). It is easily a 5 min walk from the end of the tour back to the Ferry line. We had missed it by 1 min, This caused 2 issues. One, that was the last Ferry for the day to Liberty Island, and two, the next Ferry (also the last Ferry back to NJ), wasn't until 515. My friends and I didn't actually get to go "see" the Statue of Liberty and we were sitting around for an hour.

Tips/Notes
If you go to Liberty State Park, where the NJ Ferry sails out, the GPS will get your there, but follow the posted the signs.

The main road, into the park is a cobble stone road. The paid parking will be on your right about a 1/2 mile down. You will see signs. The free 2 hour parking is down a bit further on your left.

There are restrooms near the parking lots, but also nicer ones in the main building, which use to be the old train station (I think)

There is a really nice 9/11 memorial in the park.

If you have any questions, ask any park ranger, or person working behind a ticket counter.

If you get easily sea sick, while the ferry ride is maybe 5 mins tops, but the waiting to depart may mess you up a bit. So be prepared.

The Ferry has 3 decks. Top deck is wide open, mid deck is enclosed and has a large open area, the main deck is completely enclosed and has a food stand. You can get some great photos of the NYC skyline from the Ferry.

Dress for the weather.

Absolutely brilliant tour of the island. So interesting but make sure you get the headphones and follow the tour from room to room. Very thought provoking with lots of items on display. I would recommend about 2 hrs plus to see everything .

I had expected more from visiting Ellis Island. The signage within the museum isn’t very good and there isn’t much one can see or learn there that one can’t do from afar. Maybe the issue is that sections are still closed because of COVID. It is worth stopping by if you are going to or from the statute of liberty but that is about it. Also, if you want to do research be aware that you need to make an appointment in advance and there is a fee.

Caveat!
Expect to spend half a day with getting to the ferry at Battery Park or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

It should be a required visit for every American citizen. We are a nation of immigrants.

Tip: Skip the Statue of Liberty and just take photos if you’re short on time. And go on a clear and not too windy day.

On a recent trip to Ellis Island, we joined the 90-minute Hard Hat Tour of the Hospital Complex, led by knowledgeable Save Ellis Island guide Nick. Wearing hard hats, we ventured into the hospital’s unrestored wings, seeing firsthand how “arrested decay” preserves its poignant history. Every ticket sale directly funds Save Ellis Island’s ongoing restoration efforts. The tour is informative and rich in medical history. If that is something you enjoy, I would recommend this tour. You will also receive novel views of the Statue of Liberty across the Harbour from the hospital buildings. The tour involves uneven floors and stairs, which may cause issues if you have mobility limitations. Also, there are no facilities during the 90-minute tour, which is another thing to keep in mind.

We came to Ellis Island as part of a visit to liberty island. We weren’t very knowledge about Ellis Islands place in the immigration timeline so it was definitely interesting to hear. The audio tour is very descriptive and tells you the story as you’re walking through the building so you get a real feel for what things may have been like for those who came through this island.

The only thing I would say is that we came on a sunny day, but due to it being February, the heating seemed to be on very high which meant some rooms were unbearably warm so we ended up skipping some bits of info as it was uncomfortable to stay in certain rooms too long which was a shame.

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and the information we gained will definitely stay with us!

Statue Cruises is the only way to get on to Liberty Island (and get up close to the Statue of Liberty) and on to Ellis Island. The journey starts either from New York (from Battery Park) or from New Jersey. Standard tickets from New York were $18.50 for adults and give access to the grounds of both islands and to the museums on both.

The museum is very interesting and gave an interesting picture of the history of the nation and how immigration was a long time ago. In some ways things haven’t changed but the process that immigrants went through for access to the country has.

I would recommend that all Americans visit.

Be prepared for the crowds, particularly queuing to get on and off of the boats.

You shouldn't skip Ellis island if you're in New York. It should be perfect day when you visit, it definitely worths it to see museum and open air walking area for everyone who wants to date back.

Ellis Island is a fascinating historic site, offering a glimpse into America's immigrant history. You can visit it as part of the Liberty Island tour, where you’ll see both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island before returning to Battery Park. It's a great way to explore two iconic landmarks in one trip!

Took the family here as part of our NYC trip. You need to take the ferry to Liberty Island and then to Ellis Island. Though Ellis Island tends to be less popular and less hectic than the Statue part of the tour trip.
Unfortunately, due to display closure and renovations, there was not a whole lot to Ellis Island experience this time. The great 'intake room' and then a few side rooms with some displays set up. The Immigration Family History Center was an extra cost and required a reservation. This was disappointing, as you can access the same records from your own computer for free; guess it's the experience of being at Ellis Island that they charge for?
Overall, this is a 'must see' due to it's high historic value, but don't plan on spending alot of time here, just not that much to see or do.

It was very incredebile and it was very beautiful. I really enjoy the hospital uehdhsgdgsuhzheyfhfbjdkd

On my bucket list to do this and wasn’t disappointed
Loads to see with audio descriptions if required
So much information
Thought provoking and sad in places but is a must when in New York
Book your ferry tickets in advance or queues are ridiculous
Do the combined staue of Liberty and Ellis island trip for great photos

Well preserved piece of history. Well documented and the film is a must see, online or at the venue. The Audio self- tour was included in our ferry tix and made it more personal and doable. Additional information was available, if you wanted more details. Spotlessly clean!

Fascinating building with so much history. We stayed a good couple of hours and found we were able to read/do everything. Highly recommend.

Our family of 5 took a weekday 9am ferry recently (tickets in advance, best time to go!!) and the journey was very easy to both Statue of Liberty and then to Ellis. You only need max 30 minutes at Ellis unless tracing family history (which we didn't have), but if first trip to NYC it's a must visit/esp if love history! We had a private guide which made it even better (see review).

the Ellis island immigration museum is in this island, actually ppl spend a few hours to see the museum, as it is very informative, with lots of exhibits, not much to see in the island besides this museum, but the museum is worth to take a look, it's exterior is also beautiful

History of immigration, tons of information on how immigrants made there way through the process of entering the United States. How they arrived at Ellis Island and had to go through a series of examinations to determine their eligibility. If you’re into history this is a great place.

I have visited Ellis Island two different times several years apart and found each visit to be interesting and thought provoking. I highly recommend taking the time for the visit. It’s also one of the most affordable attractions in NYC.

Beautifully restored site with great interpretive museum displays. I noticed the historical account of the Mormons was not exactly accurate, but the museum still tells the compelling story of how we all became Americans and the courageous souls who came as immigrants. For those with ancestors who came to Ellis Island, it's a special place to walk where they did and understand their experiences.

I guess, if you have emigrant ancestors who came through here when they came to the USA, it's a place you might find of personal interest. But if this is not the case, I personally do not recommend wasting time visiting. It has its historical interest, no doubt, and the exhibitions are fine, but I wouldn't consider it a place of general interest.

I'm going to take the opposition on many other reviews and say I was a bit under-whelmed with the museum. I thought there would be more. I would like in the future to do the additional hospital tour. I did not make it into the Name Research area due to time. I loved the outside of the building, the best part was sitting out there having a snack and admiring the architecture. The inside, OK, but I guess i expected more. Seemed like lots of posters to walk around and read. Saw lots of little kids. More for ages 10+ who would understand this and may have learned about in school.

To discover to learn more about immigration to the United States and life at this crossing point, control point.
The explanations provided via an audio guide, maps or even panels cover various themes.

Impressive to visit this island and the office where millions of immigrants were registered after entering America. The museum gives a great impression of what the immigrants had to go through.

I went to the Statue first to avoid the noontime crowds, THEN headed to Ellis Island for some history! There's a TON of information here, so if you're a history nut, be prepared to stay a while. The hard-hat tour of the hospital was amazing (1.5 hours!), so take lots of photos (there's an extra fee for this, but you do get 15% off in the gift shop after buying the ticket).

PS - there are two gift shops, the bigger one is near the cafe but don't skip the one on the other side of the building. I found a couple of things there that the other one didn't have! :)

The twelve million immigrants that passed thru this place were literally the spark that fired our economy at the turn of the twentieth century. In spite of that historical significant, many Americans don't know about this place and what happened here. School children should be exposed to this in their education. They have a moving film about our history that brings us all together. It was a moving visit here.

Absolutely worth the visit. We went there on Sunday at 12.00 and did not queue. The ferry was clean, the staff friendly.

Arrived at 7am and was 5th in line at the Battery Park Security Center. 8am they scanned our tickets and we formed another line where I was 2nd in line. 8:30am they let us in the Battery Park Security Center. 3 minutes later I was done, walking to the line to get on the boat. 9am we were on the boat and on our way to Liberty Island. 99% of the people on the boat got off at Liberty Island, since my primary goal was Ellis Island I stayed on board. 9:35am we got off at Ellis Island. The boats rotate thru Battery Park to Liberty Island to Ellis Island and back to Battery Park for several hours, so don't feel rushed.
The first Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour was 11:30am. I had plenty of time to tour the whole Museum 9:35am-11:25am when we met for the Hard Hat Tour. The Hard Hat Tour was 1.5 hours long. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Ellis Island.

The Hard Hat tour of Ellis Island hospital. 1.5 hours long, amazing history and stories, max of 10 on the tour, worth booking.

Went solo see Statue of Liberty and Ellis island that I hadn’t seen for nearly 20 years. Also want to take photo for my 93 year Dad of his fathers name on the wall of honor.
Signed up for a guided Tour with Christina who was terrific and funny to boot.

Totally recommend it

Most immigrants coming to America took their first steps in America onto Ellis Island. First class passengers had better treatment, but steerage class had to pass a series of examinations before being permitted to enter America. Many millions of contemporary Americans are descended from people who went through Ellis Island. Even if you are not an American, its well worth a visit.

Jaw dropping place full of so much history about the people of our country. Immigration is such a large contributor to our country and we enjoyed seeing so much history in one place. The staff is very knowledgeable and the tours are great. The building is beautiful. There’s a nice view of the Manhattan skyline as well. You have to purchase Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tickets to get there.

After visiting the Statue of Liberty, we took the ferry to Ellis Island and had a lovely stroll around the grounds outside. Took some amazing photos of the New York skyline, and also found our surnames on the immigrants wall for those who came over many years ago!

I cannot recommend the Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island more highly. The museum itself is impressive but this tour which takes you through the parts of the island off limits to the general public is a powerful testament to the great care taken of immigrants who were ill when they first arrived in America. Visiting the now derelict hospitals and hearing the stories of those who once occupied them is a welcome antidote to Ellis Island’s forbidding reputation. Our guide, Nick, was well-informed, wise and endlessly entertaining. There are also opportunities to photograph remarkable views of the island and of the Statue of Liberty which you won’t get elsewhere. Book for the Early Bird tour (10:30, leaving Manhattan at 9:00) and avoid the crowds. The tour raises funds for Save Ellis Island which is continuing the restoration work so by taking the tour you are helping this vital work.

Was grear to see the history. Felt they did a wonderful job showing the immigrant view. Wish we could have stayed longer. Only use the statue boat tour; others are scammers. Don't wait in the line if you already have tickets. There will be a line for tickets when you show up. Just go to the statue tour people closer to the boats. Plan for a full day. Lunch area is crowded. A lot of walking plus stairs.

Stepping into the Ellis Island Museum is a step into history. This is a very emotionally engaging place to visit. The pictures are not always joyous and neither are the tales. Be prepared with an open mind and open heart. Kids also may get bored of all the walking as there are lots of words and explanations. There are some interactive places where kids can pull back windows to learn facts. Our favorite was the music wall and to see how much American music has been influenced by the songs and instruments of other countries. Look out the windows. The museum provides curious views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Take a moment to enjoy the scenery and reflect on the historical significance of the place. Take your time. There is a lot of historical information.

This is a wonderful museum, a great insight into the fabric of the American people, and I'm sure a very emotional experience for those who have personal ties to this place. I found the museum, and whole the experience, very informative and often eye-opening as to the formation of the melting pot that is America. Seeing the large, elegant processing room, polished and sparkling, and knowing that is was once filled with people, looking for a new life...Entering the sterile dormitories where people slept in towers of bunks, like books piled on a shelf...I enjoyed the temporary exhibit on the one thing of importance people brought with them during some of the most recent conflicts, involving refugees from Afghanistan, Syria and Libya.
I booked through State Cruises, and if I can say one thing, it would be to book the ferry from the New Jersey departure. There were so few people leaving from Liberty State Park, it made the process of going through security a breeze! Also, there is a cafeteria on Ellis Island, but there is nothing stopping you from bringing a picnic to enjoy on the grounds outside, with a knock-out view of the NYC skyline! Combined with the Statue of Liberty, plan on spending most of the day visiting here - we took a 9 am crossing, and finally return to Liberty Park around 3 pm.

We were in Stanton island ferry and while waiting a vendor approached us telling us that the only way to purchase tickets was online and showed us a “website” where it showed that tickets could only be purchased online. We were about to leave and conveniently he offered a tour with his company. We went to the Cruises tickets and found out that there are tickets available no problem! Be aware of street vendors go to the cruise ticket booth.

I’ve always wanted to visit Ellis Island and walk the floors my grandfather walked when he came to the US from Poland. This was very heartwarming and very meaningful and memorable. This museum is extremely immaculate, and so much to see and learn. I could’ve spent hours and hours here. The self guided audio tour was amazing and very informative. I hope someday I can go back again. I highly recommend Ellis Island, especially if you have a family history there.

Recommend leaving from the Newark, New Jersy dock. Follow the directions carefully to get to the right parking lot ($7) for the ferry to Ellis Island. Suggest going on the first ferry out. The 9:00 boat actually opens for screening at 9:00 and departs at 9:30. Not full, so we didn't really need to reserve our tickets ahead of time online. The ferry then takes you to the Statue of Liberty and back to the parking lot.

After liberty we stopped at Ellis. The first thing we did was watch the movie which was 40 mins long and explained the entire journey. After that we didn’t really need to go that in depth as we’d seen mostly everything in the film. The funniest part of the day was the realisation of my son as we walked into the main immigration hall was that it was the same room that he’d seen in the film packed full with people. The look on his face was priceless.
This was the best part of the day by far and the rangers were helpful and lovely.
A very interesting and impressive story of those who travelled to find a better life.

The tour gives a stark picture of how immigration had been in the early 1900s, which helps us realize the differences in the process from then until now. Interesting information and photo exhibit, can get and maintain even older kids’ attention.

The Hard Hat Tour is on the expensive side but worth it. It takes you away from Island 1, where the main buildings are, to Island 2 and Island 3, where the hospital and laundry and a few other buildings once were and which you cannot get to otherwise. They have been preserved in a state of "arrested decay" which is quite photogenic in its own way. And yes, you do have to wear a hard hat for most of it, in case some of the decay unarrests itself.

Our tour guide, Melissa, brought a great combination of knowledge and passion to her commentary without overdoing it. She capably answered many questions about Ellis Island in general, not just the hospital aspect.

Also a must if you are a "Godfather Part II" obsessive as one in our group was.

The tour is 90 minutes and take care of food and bathrooms before you start.

I admit to not being too interested in American history as a child but this place is an amazing insight into all historical events that has made America what it is today

I wish we had more time at Ellis Island. We took the official Statue of Liberty cruise, very easy ferry system. So much to see and do at Ellis Island. Wonderful movie that gives the history, lots to see and explore. You can pay a certain fee to use their computer system to look up people. We tried but did not have any luck. Such a huge part of our American History. Everyone needs to see this first hand.

Ellis Island is at the heartbeat of history.
I brought my Greek niece for her graduation from high school. Yes, we did Broadway and Bloomingdales but more importantly we came to where her great grandparents arrived in America.
Armed with Despoula and Michaels’ papers we retraced every step... from the water where she first saw Lady Liberty to the room the Doctors searched her eyes for trachoma- we researched and saw her ship . We said a prayer ...
Yes, we saw the impressive sights of New York but Ellis Island brought her deeply HOME.

By far the best thing we saw in our whole trip to NY. Amazing experience not to be missed. So moving and historic. Really well done attraction. Good honest food in the restaurant too!

Included in the ferry to the Statue of Liberty is the stop at the museum on the island where all the immigrants landed.
Mostly photographic and featuring past memorabilia, it's worth a quick visit

Wow! This is a place brimming with history and interesting facts and ghosts. There is so much to see and do here. The audio tour was excellent. We took the behind the scenes Hard Hat Tour, and it was super informative. The halls of the abandoned hospital are filled with dark pasts and patients that never left. I highly recommend adding this to your visit.

We caught the ferry across from The Statue of Liberty at about 11 am. It wasn’t too crowded and you basically off load straight into the museum
We picked up an audio guide to ensure we learnt everything we could and didn’t miss anything.
For us this was the end of a longer journey having visited the Red Star Line Museum in Antwerp where a lot of the European immigrants bought passage to the New World. We didn’t really learn anything new and to be honest found the museum in Antwerp far more informative.

Every American should visit to understand that the Native Americans are the only true real Americans. Everyone else is descended from an immigrant and as such should perhaps have more compassion for those seeking a better life in the current age.

We were there for several hours and finished our day by taking the ferry back to Battery Park.

The island is home to the Immigration Museum, which I reviewed separately, and can be reached by ferry from Battery Park after stopping at the Statue of Liberty. Even today it transmits a touching page of history, the main building and the various reception blocks are as if suspended in time, the skyline of New York, beautiful seen from here, is a stone's throw away but to the immigrants it must have seemed very far away! A necessary visit to better understand an epochal phenomenon.

You arrive by boat from Battery Park and the stop at the island at the mouth of the Hudson is usually dedicated to visiting the Immigration Museum (combined ticket with Liberty Island).

My great-grandma landed at Ellis Island. I was so excited to see her name while there. I didn’t realize it would cost me $7 to look up a family member. It’s free to make an account on their website and look your family up there - why charge on-site? I am very annoyed by them trying to do a money grab.

We did the hard hat tour. It was incredibly informative and awe inspiring to know what our ancestors did to get into this country.
Probably need advance reservations.

Nice place to visit and hang out. Spent time int he facility and exhibits but also enjoyed having a bite to eat and resting in the park like setting.

Facility should get 5 stars. Excellent.

Prepare to spend alot of time waiting on the ferries. Not enough running and you will spend much of your day in line. Ferries get 1 star.

We did the hard hat tour which took us into part of the hospital that has not been renovated. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable on the history of the other buildings on the island. This was definitely worth extra time and money.

The exhibits are totally informative from the beginnings of immigration from Europe to the modern day immigration from around the world and their challenges and pushback from Americans.

The hall upstairs looks pretty iconic too even though it is not actively in use, it still looks pretty grand to me!

A lot of people only go to Liberty Island and only see Ellis Island as an afterthought, but it in itself is New York's iconic sites as well!

I found the visit truly emotional on a personal level as had loved ones go through Ellis Island in the early 1900's. It has been restored to reflect what the immigrants themselves would have encountered.

We had tickets that took us to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The real winner here was Ellis Island. So many fabulous things to see! We did the free audio tour and really enjoyed it. Spent a lot more time here than we thought we would and it was well worth it.

We have visited the Statue of Liberty previously so decided to take the hard hat tour on this visit. We booked security screening for 12noon with the tour to start on 1:30. I was surprised but it did take 90 mins to get through security and onto the island. It was possible to book the tour in advance online but not with a tour of the statue - so if you want to do both, you may need to get in contact directly or try to book on the day.

The tour starts from inside of the Immigration centre so go the registration desk in the main hall. You will be required to sign a declaration as the hospital buildings are in need of renovation. You must also wear closed shoes. The tour is led by a volunteer guide and lasts for 90 mins. The guides were clearly passionate about the restoration of the building and knowledgeable about the immigration centre and the history. The tour visits different areas of the hospital and reveals aspects of life in the hospital for patients and staff. It was a very valuable trip to have undertaken - highly recommend & provides some financial support to the Save Ellis Island fund.

Our tour was late in the afternoon so we had tea in the cafe and then returned to Battery Park.

On the way back from the Statue of Liberty, the ferry stops by Ellis Island as well. I loved getting to explore the unique immigration history here, and spent the rest of the afternoon here. It's amazing to see the resilience and determination of the people who passed through here.

Ellis Island is the first stop after the Statue of Liberty. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time to explore as we needed to get back to our hotel by a certain time. But we did go into the main museum area and walk around. It was quite interesting to read about the different groups of immigrants that came through Ellis Island. There was also a short 30-minute movie, but we didn’t have time to watch it. It also looked quite pretty to walk around outside with some great views.

We absolutely loved the Hard Hat Tour. It was an added expense but it was totally worth it. Adults and teens agreed that it was so informative and interesting. Although it was long, we never felt bored or like it was too long. Our guide was excellent.

We actually didn’t have time to see the museum, but we will just return and do it next time.

We also had a chance to trace our ancestors which was really great. What a wonderful day we had!

Just seeing this massive high ceiling stone structure with it's 25000 ceramic ceiling tiles is quite inspirational. You have an awkward sence about the place if you or any family members were processed here. You will need an entire day if you plan on seeing the island and the Statue of Liberty. There is a lot to read about and take in, plus you can only ferry to eith or both locations. While there sign in at one of the stations in the search center and once you get home you will be able to do an online search of family ancestry free for 3 months once you register.

There is a ton to see here. The exhibit on the first floor gives an overview of how and why people have come to America from 1500 to the present day. It's a little wordy, but very thorough and interesting.

The second floor explains more of the details about immigrating through Ellis Island, and those exhibits feature more artifacts and individual stories. Overall, a great experience learning about the story of American immigration.

For me, Ellis Island is a must-see for anyone interested in social history. I just really wish there was another way to get there which wasn't via the awful Statue Cruises experience and wasn't lumped in with a visit to Liberty Island. However, it is worth enduring the lengthy queues and aggressive security to see the place where so many thousands of people first entered New York between the 1880s and 1920s. There are actually lots of buildings on the island although only the main building is open to visitors. I spent over five hours here and could easily have spent longer. I was one of the first people into the building in the morning so managed to see the beautiful registry hall completely empty. The displays explaining the process of medical and legal checks the immigrants would have endured were so interesting and moving. Other displays look at the countries where immigrants came from and their reasons for leaving, and attitudes to immigration over the years. Some very interesting anti-immigration cartoons from various points throughout history. On the top floor there is a display about the history of Ellis Island itself, showing the growth of the island and its various uses and when all the buildings were added, and another exhibition shows artefacts from some specific families who entered through Ellis Island. I also really enjoyed seeing some photographs taken of Ellis Island when it was derelict in the 1980s - I wished there were more of those. So eerie and atmospheric. There are also some exhibitions about pre-Ellis Island immigration and about immigration up to the present day. I had to skip these because my brain was full but they looked interesting!

Took the cruise out to both Lady Liberty and Ellis Island.
While at Ellis Island took a free tour with the park ranger and he was awesome! Really brought the history to life and would suggest taking the tour to better your understanding of the immigration processing at the time.
There were several displays to look at and things to learn.

Please note, tickets are something you really need to plan for. Re going to the statue, you need to book at least 2 weeks in advance to walk around the pedestal and even longer in you want to go to the crown.

Additionally, the customer service for the ticket process is horrible!! (not the national parks). She told me if I wasn't able to be there exactly at my ticket stated time I would not be able to go and there were no other tickets available that day. Went anyway and in talking to the ticket counter (run by the national parks) she said that is incorrect and I could go on any ferry during that day. Had I listened to the cruise line customer service person I would haven't gone and miss a great and educational time.

It's about a historic place where the immigrants were coming back in time. Worths to visit especially before or after a visit to the statue of liberty as it's on the way to the base that you took the boat.

We went on a day trip to Ellis Island by Coach to see Ellis Island and how people from the past came here. They took us around and we got great views of the scenes; the luggage; and the time period. It was great! Our date was 6-28-16 on the bus trip. It also gave us a chance to see the Statue of Liberty.

I have wanted to visit Ellis Island for a long time and I certainly was not disappointed. Ellis Island tells an important story about migration to American, and I definitely recommend a trip if you visit New York. The museum has a lot to look around and take in. There is a free audio guide also included in your ticket price. The Cafe food could definitely be improved, they only seemed to serve fast food. I was there in the morning and there were no breakfast options. More healthy options would also be nice. I would definitely advise booking an early security check. I arrived at 8.30 am (my ticket time was 9 am) and there was no line. By the time I returned from the island, just after lunchtime the queue was huge. Ellis Island tells an important story about migration to American, I definitely recommend a trip if you visit New York.

Amazing visit. Walked through processing of the immigrants. Fascinating. Learned so much. Wow! Definitely a must see. There is a restaurant and stores on site. Plan to spend the bulk of your Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island visit here. Well worth it. You will arrive by ferry.

The museum documents the history of immigration through a collection of photos, family memorabilia, and historical records of people who have landed at U.S. ports in the past. Definitely worth visiting, much more interesting than the Statue of Liberty.

I can definitely recommend the guided ranger tour which lasts about 30 mins and leaves on the hour. I think the lady was called Danielle and her grandparents came through Ellis Island from Italy. Really authentic and informative walk around the museum through the eyes of the immigrants that made the journey through the Island.

My mother in law came through Ellis Island to the US. It was moving to think of her a s a yound wife climbing the same stairs to the start her new life her. We when to the records room to find the ship she arrived on and other information. It was so wonderful to see her records.

I would have spent more time listening to the stories and the various itineraries proposed (there are 3), but doing the combo with the statue of liberty, a day is not enough. Attention to air conditioning is very high

Good to see once but found it underwhelming. If on a tighter schedule I wouldn’t recommend unless a specific interest or connection

I visited Ellis Island with the ticket for the Statue of Liberty. The island has a lot of history, but personally, I didn’t find it very interesting. It had an eerie vibe to it. Still, it's worth a visit if you're interested in immigration history.

Our family visited Ellis Island after spending several hours at the Statue of Liberty. We wanted to see Ellis Island but this wasn’t super high on the kids list and the process of visiting both islands can take a long time. We got off and walked around the main building for a bit and were lucky to have short enough lines to get back on the boat fairly soon. If you really want to spend time here going through the exhibits then you should get an early boarding time for the ferry so as not to feel rushed.

I was with my 76 year old mother and 14 year old son so I wanted to be sure we had a pleasant experience and were not waiting in line like cattle for too long. We booked the Pedestal and Ellis Island hard hat tour for a Monday morning (the first hard hat tour is offered at 11:30). We arrived to Battery park at 08:30 as suggested on the tickets. There was already a long line and when I showed our tickets with the timed entry the staff member said it did not matter what time was on the ticket, to just wait in line with everyone, I still do not understand the purpose of the timed tickets? We did manage to get on the 09:00 ferry but we were among the last to get on that first boat. Despite feeling very crowded on the boat, walking up to the pedestal and around the statue of liberty did not feel overcrowded. When I asked a park attendant how much time we should allow to get to Ellis island he recommended the 10:35 ferry to Ellis Island and to start waiting in line at 10:20. I am glad we did this as the ferry to Ellis Island was very full (many guests coming from NYC did not get off the ferry at the statue of liberty meaning less space for those guests trying to get from the Statue of Liberty to Ellis Island). I imagine that later in the day or on an even more crowded day you might have to wait for a 2nd ferry so do keep that in mind with timing. I would have liked to explore more around the Statue of Liberty but there was not time for that. We arrived to Ellis Island at 10:55 and checked in for our hard hat tour (signing some papers) and were told to be back at 11:25. We had a quick bit at the cafe as the tour is 90 minutes and there is no food allowed nor bathrooms available. The tour was amazing and well worth it, very informative and interesting, both my mom and my son enjoyed it very much and the 90 minutes flew by. It was a beautiful day but I imagine it could be quite cold on a rainy or windy day so be prepared. When the tour was over we noticed that there was already a large line for the ferry back to NYC. We did not want to wait to get back to NYC as we had plans for the late afternoon so we did a 10 minute run around the immigration museum and then got in line for the ferry. My mother and son were content, however I would really have loved time to explore the museum. It is a shame that you feel stressed to get the ferry knowing that you may have to wait standing ni line for another 25 minutes for another boat if you are not able to get on the next one and I wish they had a better system for reserving times instead of cramming everyone in.
I also do not understand the ticketing system. You have to buy separate tickets for the Pedestal/Crown and for the Hard Hat tour so if you do both, you are buying 2 x the ferry from Battery Park to the Statue fo Liberty? There should be a way to buy the ferry then add on the tours as they are sold on the same City Experience website?? One of the top tourist attractions in NYC (one of the most technologically advanced cities in the world) and they have not figured out a better way to sell tickets or make the entire experience smoother?!

Used the Go City Pass (Explorer Pass) to visit the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Was able to visit a total of seven tourist locations with this pass and saved a lot of money by using it! Can also choose less or more locations for the pass but the price will adjust.

The museum was AMAZING! Had to take a ferry via either NJ or NY side to get to island. Once at the museum, there is a FREE audio tour where you have to pick up the audio device on the first floor. It starts at the second floor, which is where we spent the majority of our visit and it does a great job at summarizing every room without spending too much time on every detail. The museum does an amazing job just bring the immigrant experience to each visitor from the moment you step on the island to when they leave. It is simply breathing taking.

I would definitely visit again and buy for a tour, such as the hard hat tour, which visits the hospitals on the island that is closed to the public!

One of two stops on the Statue of Liberty tour. In my opinion, just as fascinating as the first. Coming from Manhattan you first go to the Statue of Liberty. However, visiting Ellis Island is a unique emotion. I highly recommend it and above all the visit should be done without haste.

We never tire of visiting. So much to see and do. Great exhibits and personal stories of many immigrants. Worth it for the trip alone. Wonderful views of Manhattan. Highly recommended.

Great experience as always! I always enjoy visiting the island and the museum. The purpose this trip was to see for the forts time our family name in graves in the wall of honor. I would like to thank The Statue of Liberty- Ellis Island Foundation for giving the opportunity to families to inscribe their names and celebrate families’ heritage.

In the package that also included a visit to the Statue of Liberty, we fortunately managed to get on the last boat to visit a symbolic place of the great migrations to the USA especially by our compatriots. The reflections that such a symbolic place and intruder of popular history stimulate are manifold. The beautiful giants representing new American citizens, united despite ethnic, religious, linguistic differences, but with the great glue of class membership. Internationalism practised on one's own skin. A place that should show us the way, in this era so confused and with little hope...

Great piece of preserved history. Must take ferry ride to access experience. Much history contained at the national museum which is under rehabilitation at the moment. Can spend lot of time here with what it all has to offer. Nice video to watch in theatres on two different levels summarize history and Ellis Island in 30 minutes. So much to absorb. Rangers were available and helpful when requests were made for assistance. Don’t miss this opportunity if in the area.

A must see for anyone who is interested in how the United States - a country of immigrants - came to be.
Very poignant for anyone who has moved or migrated, leaving their country behind to create a new future.
Great for kids and adults alike.
View from boat over Manhattan is spectacular.

(Note: Food in cafe is appalling so eat before or bring sandwiches).

We decided to visit Ellis Island by purchasing tickets through state cruises, which offered a fair deal for both the statue of liberty and Ellis Island.
After visiting the first landmark, we headed by boat to Ellis Island, where millions of immigrants came upon arriving to the New world a century ago.
The buildings were restored and looked really stunning, the grounds are beautifully kept and there are lots of reading to do inside, movies to see and pictures to look at.
I did not use the audio guide as I found it quite boring.
We spent nearly 3 hours there and could have stayed even more, then my belly was rumbling and we left for Manhattan.
It was inspiring reading what immigrants went through, how they lived and what they thought of this new world, we both really enjoyed our time and whenever we will visit NY again this will be one of the first attractions we want to go back to.
Simply wonderful, touching and inspiring.

I took the Hard Hat tour of the abandoned hospital booked through Untapped New York (go check out their tours, I did the Grand Central one also, which was just as incredible) . It was such a fun tour. The guide was very knowledgeable as to be expected but she made the tour fun, pop quizzes and stickers given for correct answers, she was very patient with my questions and I learned loads! well worth the money, and spending time on the Island is a great experience. As an Australian I didn't have any relatives to search for, but it was neat seeing and hearing the stories from immigrants and their families, looking at the artefacts preserved in the free museum and listening to the other folks on my tour talk about their ancestors who were processed and spent time on the island as they had journeyed to the US for a better life. it was a humbling experience being in a space where people who came across the world to better their circumstances, some of whom never made it beyond the island to fullfil those dreams. The island needs your support to keep preserving this valuable history. I'm not an American, but I believe it's something people need to save! go do the tour, it's well worth your time even if you've not had family pass through the docks.

We did the Hard Hat Tour. It was so cool. I highly recommend doing it. I would not have taken as much out of visiting without going on the tour. Seeing the hospital was so interesting. Our tour guide was very informative and knew the answer to every question anyone asked.

We had Statue Cruises ‘Reserve’ tickets on the first (9 am) ferry out of Battery Park. We spent more time here than on Liberty Island. The museum tells the story of human migration round the world, as well as the settlement of America over the centuries and the role of Ellis Island as a national immigration centre. There are thousands of photographs, videos, interactive displays, oral histories, personal belongings and other artefacts. A fascinating and thought-provoking, if long and tiring day with lots of walking/standing.

To get the most from your visit, do your research to understand what you can sensibly do in the available time - the museum's website (National Parks Service) offers helpful suggestions. Save time by watching the Island of Hope, Island of Tears documentary ahead of your trip. We would have loved to take a Hard Hat tour (need to pre-book), but couldn’t find the extra time for this. The introductory dynamic World Migration Globe exhibit was eye-catching and interesting, but overlong. The Ellis Experience is a ‘Day in the Life’ style tour which explains the immigration process with moving first-hand recollections, as well as reconstructions of a Hearing Room and Dormitory. There are three supplementary detailed ‘Journey’ tours. Some exhibits are chronological; others are theme based, addressing a different aspect of immigration. You need to follow the exhibits in the right order!! With hindsight we wished we had taken the free Ranger tour. There is also a free audio guide. The toilets weren’t the best. Massive queues and no seats at the café, so we gave this a miss. Boarding of the return ferry was busy and chaotic.

Ellis Island is one of the most popular destinations in the National Park Service, thanks in part to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. No trip to the Statue of Liberty is complete without visiting Ellis Island

Even if you don’t consider yourself a museum person, this is a place I’d recommend to anyone, especially if you’ve never been to Ellis Island before. Ellis Island explores the history of U.S. immigration, with a specific focus on the island as a national immigration center from 1892-1954

Behind the museum, you’ll find the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. On this massive wall, you can find names of immigrants who came to the U.S. Alphabetically engraved on the wall are hundreds of thousands of immigrants, from various time periods.

There is also a large grassy patch that provides the perfect spot to have a picnic with views of New York City and the Statue of Liberty.

We came here precisely because we had booked the Hard Hat Tour. (And highly recommend it.)
Neither of us have any known connections to any immigrants, so the center didn't have the same interest as it would to others, but I was surprised to find an immigrant's name on the wall the same surname as my own maiden name, which is not a common name at all.
Views back toward Manhattan as great here, as well.

I visited a number of years ago and it was ok. However really good and the audio tour which is included in the ticket is worth using. However if you want something extra book into the hard hat hospital tour the guide takes you around the hospital buildings this was 45 dollars but well worth it and lasts 90 minutes the money goes into the restoration of further rooms I thought it was well worth the money the guide was interesting.

I made another trip over to Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island last week. It did not disappoint! Ellis Island is an utterly fascinating look back at American immigration. It is an absolute bargain, too, at about USD 20 per person for the day.

Book well in advance.

Over 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island in the fifty years after 1890. The exhibits at Ellis Island tell the story of the "new immigration" and the efforts to regulate their entry into the U.S. Of particular interest are the exhibits related to the use of science and medical rationales to screen out those individuals deemed unfit for entry.

We took a combo Liberty/Ellis guided cruise tour. I wasn't enthralled about Ellis because my family came to America in the 1600's and 1700's. Nonetheless, it was fascinating to hear about the process of coming to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The people in those times were really not so different than those trying to come today.

The process was daunting and it's amazing how folks made it through. After our guided portion of the tour was complete it was enlightening to visit the photo exhibits in the main building. They painted a very stark picture of the circumstances surrounding the transition the many millions endured to find a better future.

I'm very glad we went.

Fascinating history, sadly we did not have too long to explore, but loved every minute of it. So informative, excellent staff on hand. Will be back

The island and museum is wonderful. Take into account the ferry schedule and plan the bulk of your day here. The museum is expansive with an amazing amount of history on display!!!

Loved the museum and all the photographs and stories. I was able to find my paternal grandparents in the computer system. God Bless all our ancestors who made it over in some challenging conditions.

Visited: 11/07/2023

Not as impressive as Liberty Island, but worth a visit. You can also get good photos/views of the New York Skyline from here without the crowds of Liberty Island. They have done a nice job of the outside, and the museum had lots of information regarding how the Island worked as an immigration site which was interesting.

Be aware of the extortionate price of food and drink on this Island, as they are the only place there. We had lunch and two sandwiches + one drink + one bag of crisps ended up being over $40. Seating was overcrowded, and when busy, impossible to find as well.

The museum here was informative, you easily can spend part the day here. I started with the short film in the theatre, then used these free audio guide around the museum. Didn’t get to complete both floors, will definitely return.

In addition the gift shop is lovely, purchased a few gifts, you can also originate your family name for free. Me and my daughter enjoyed the island and the museum. Pity there was no kosher/vegan options in the the cafe and restaurants there, would have got 5* otherwise 😅

We bought the ticket to get here from Statue City Tours (the only one that drops you off). We got on from Battery Park where there is a screening area similar to any airport. The cruise takes you first to the Statue of LIberty. I'm not sure if you have to get off the boat even if you don't want to go to the statue but we did and saw everything on Liberty Island.
We got back on the ship which took us then to Ellis Island. The experience alone of being on a ship, sailing toward the State of Liberty, and then arriving at Ellis Island is a powerful way to connect many people with their ancestors who might have done something similar. When you get off and go to the main building, there are essentially three main exhibits you can see. The first is essentially the history of immigration before Ellis Island. This is a TON of reading and very few if any artifacts. If you read everything, this will take you a long long time. Teachers will love it but I can't promise the average visitor would.
Going upstairs is where they have the rooms setup as they would have appeared when Ellis Island was in operation. You will see everything from medical examinations to money exchanges to where you would go if they are questioning whether to send you back or not. This part is probably the most important part of what you will see so spend some time upstairs.
There are smaller exhibits scattered around. Some are open and some are closed due to Covid (the research area for your own family history was closed). There is a section about people's responses to immigrant groups coming in (anti-immigration which is a major subject still to this day) as well as the positive attributes that immigrants to this country bring.
The gift shops are nice but can close early so if you want anything and are on the afternoon rides, you might want to shop first. Once you are done, you board the ferry in the same way you did at the Statue of Liberty. This may not be the most glamorous destination you will see on your tour of New York City but it is one of profound importance. If you have a few hours, you should carve some of that out to see this.

Better than visiting Statue of Liberty. Most locals recommend to visit this before Statue of Liberty and I would definitely agree. That is if you want pictures with less strangers in them. It normally is never super crowded either.

Fabulous window into the migrant past of the US. Individual stories, photos and items bring personal journeys / persons to life. Crazy to see the anti-migrant rhetoric almost exactly the same as it is today in the US.

I cannot recommend the ferry experience, which was absolutely horrible (reviewed at Statue City Cruises) however, Ellis Island is well worth it - if only there were some other way of getting. The exhibits are well done and interesting. The arrival building has been stunningly restored - so impressive. There are beautiful views of the Statue of Liberty and and Manhattan from the waterfront behind the museum.

We did the Ellis Island Hardhat tour and it was really awesome. It is a separate ticket so make sure to book it in advance. You still have time to see the rest of the island if you do the tour. The tour takes you to the other side of the island and shows you the hospital and some other important sites not open to the public.

Beautifully kept up. Easy access and friendly staff. We took the ferry from Liberty Park in New Jersey. Great group of people. To think my ancestors and I walked the same grounds 200 years apart! Makes you wonder what their thoughts were arriving in America.

Strongly recommend tagging on to one of the Ranger's tours. Ours, Peter Urban. made the whole experience of the immigration process come to life, and emphasised how much the USA is built from all their efforts.
Wonderful stuff.

What a great experience. Would recommend it to everybody. Great learning experience. Very well done and the area is beautiful.

A truly wonderful experience of how immigrants were treated who arrived at the turn of the century. Only two-percent were turned back to the country from which they came. So very different than today!

The boat ticket to Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty also includes the trip to Ellis Island.
Ellis Island houses the Immigration Museum and shows the history of how people entered America in the past. There are quite interesting displays in the museum and does have free entry. There are also the remnants of Fort Ginbon in the area.
The island has quite nice views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.
It doesn't look like you are able to walk around the island, only in the area around the Museum. There is a tour which does take you to the other side of the island.
I thought it was a nice trip and an interesting place to learn some history.
The boat for New York heads to New York while the one for New Jersey heads to Liberty Island.

Friends wanted to go here and Liberty Island. I didn't. Who wants to stand in those long lines! So glad we went. Lots of ferries moving sightseers quickly and safely. Beautiful displays.

Whether you have an hour, a half day, a whole day, or a week, odds are pretty good that there will be more you want to do and see when it's time to leave. A visit here is meant to be savored, so take your time and delve into whatever it is that strikes your fancy. The rewards are found in the small, personal details, and there is an endless supply to be discovered here.

As a fourth grade teacher, this was a place I have wanted to see for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. This museum was very well done with so much history. I would recommend Ellis Island to anyone who wants to learn more about American history.

Take the early ferry to beat the crowds. Definitely worth the trip to discover America’s immigrant history. I recommend doing a tour as the guides have some interesting stories to tell from this part of history.

Ellis Island, an historical site in New York City, opened in 1892 as an immigration station and apparently processed more than 12 million immigrants. My wife and I visited New York for two days as part of a cruise and enjoyed the opportunity to see up close this historic island.

We came to Ellis Island as part of a
visit to liberty island. We learnt a lot about the island from listening to the
audio tour as we walked around. The rooms in the building were very hot, which spoilt the tour as some rooms we had to skip due to the temperature in them being unbearable which was a shame!

Got the ferry across. Following a visit to Liberty Island. A really moving account of the process immigrants had to go through. Beautifully maintained and definitely worth visiting.

I visited Ellis Island in August 2021. I bought my ferry ticket online the night before. I took Exit 14C on the New Jersey Turnpike and arrived at the parking lot at about 7:20 am. Parking costs $7. The ferry building opens at 7:30 am and the security line for the first ferry opens at 8:30 am (the security is very strict and airport-like). I took the 9 am ferry to Ellis Island. There were only 20 people onboard and the trip takes about 10 minutes. I then visited the Ellis Island Immigration Museum for 3 hours (a separate review). I recommend starting out early as it is less crowded. Later on in the day it was very crowded. I also wish they did a better job of enforcing the mask requirement during the ferry trip. Anyway, it was a great experience.

Regular ferry service with snack bar on boat. Great way to see New York City skyline. Staff were very nice . The museum well laid out and informative. Nice
Cafe on site. Very Interesting place well done.

The stories of immigrants have been preserved in the place they first landed in America, Ellis Island. The history is presented in an interesting way. Be sure to watch the film first. One is sure to recognize the suffering the immigrants had experienced in Europe and on-board ships in steerage. But they all had great hope and expectations. The likely "amazement" of the arriving travelers is explained in the presentations.
A politically-motivated Park Ranger tried to equate Ellis Island immigrants to those entering the U. S. illegally today. Disappointed me.

Wasn't what i expected, was a really sad sad place to come which reminds you of how things were many years ago

Be prepared to spend some time here - We weren't disappointed - lots to see - You can pick up headphones on your way in so that you can walk round and understand what you are seeing. There were guided tours too. So much information very thought provoking and sad in places but is a must visit, so much history and you can also trace family/ancestors on the computers set aside for it - (30 minutes) available at a small price. When you purchase tickets for Statute of Liberty you can also include a trip to Ellis Island - well worth a trip.

Great place to visit even if you don’t have relatives who have passed through.
I liked the way they linked the people working there to their ancestors.
I liked the objects exhibition on the top floor.
I liked the way you walked through the rooms the people landing on Ellis island would have and what would have happened in each one . Highly recommended. Same ticket for liberty island and Ellis island

Localist history for Americans and immigrants, exhibitions based on panels and dioramas without much to contribute

A very different experience for me, I haven't visited anything like that. It says a lot about the American immigrants, how they moved here, what they bought with them and how it all started. A very informative place to visit, learn and explore with picture and images. The early hardships and so many stories about how the struggle started. Now it's a museum where you can watch documentaries, get your passport stamped, read about all the things happened there, why this place was chosen to welcome immigrants and to sit calmly upstairs to imagine all the hustle bustle of those early days. You can watch everything like a movie by walking through that picture gallery. Outside is more beautiful and cool.

The history of Ellis Island is an important piece of the immigration story in America. Ellis Island was for a long time the central immigration point for the United States. The exhibits and museum are okay but could be much better. We did the Skip-the-Line Tour for both Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty. We still waited in plenty of lines - if I would do it over again I would do the cheaper option and just go as early as possible. If you move along at a decent pace you can see both sights in 5 hours. I advise visiting early as lines get longer as the day progresses - especially if the weather is nice.

Was an interesting spot to visit but after a long day around the statue of liberty... No chance to read all those information in the Museum.
Some Interactive places catch your attention and that was helpful for our 2 years ol child to keep going.

We found the museum really interesting and regretted that we hadn’t allowed a bit more time for the visit. The museum is engaging with information being presented in a variety of ways. I had no idea about the scale of migration to NY, an eye opener.