There are certain things you simply have to see on a trip to New York City. The Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island were all high on my list, especially since I was traveling with one of my son’s who had never experienced the Big Apple before.
I had visited some of these ivonioc landmarks before, but it was simply to just get a glace. After this trip I fully understood that there’s a big difference between seeing a famous landmark and actually understanding what you’re looking at.
That’s why one of the things I’m happiest I booked before our New York City trip was a guided tour.
We booked two experiences with City Wonders Tours: the Empire State Building tour and the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour. While I initially booked them as a convenient way to experience some of NYC’s most famous attractions, I ended up appreciating the tours for another reason entirely.
They took some of the planning out of visiting New York City and gave us historical context and stories that we probably would have missed if we had simply bought admission tickets and explored on our own.
Empire State Building
(Alexandra Nolan)Our City Wonders Empire State Building Tour
The Empire State Building is one of those New York City attractions that you think you know before you ever visit it. You’ve seen it in movies, photographs and countless shots of the Manhattan skyline.
What surprised me was how much there was to learn before we even reached the top. It isn’t just simply riding to one of the highest elevations in the city for a lookout point.
Empire State Building
(Alexandra Nolan)
The current City Wonders experience combines a guided walk through Manhattan with admission to the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observatory. The walking portion begins around the Flatiron District and makes its way toward Midtown, passing places such as Madison Square Park, Fifth Avenue, Koreatown and Herald Square while the guide shares stories about New York’s history and architecture.
That was one of my favorite parts of having a guide. New York can feel overwhelming because there is something significant on practically every block. Without someone pointing these things out, it’s incredibly easy to walk right past a building or location without realizing the story behind it.
Then, of course, there is the main event: the Empire State Building.
102 Floor of the Empire State Building
(Alexandra Nolan)
Admission to the 86th-floor observatory is included with the tour, where you get the famous 360-degree views over New York City. City Wonders also offers an option that includes access to the enclosed 102nd-floor observation deck. I highly recommend this option for the ultimate photo ops!
Standing above Manhattan and looking down at the city is one of those quintessential NYC moments that really does live up to the hype. And after spending time walking through the streets and learning about the city below, seeing it all from above felt even more meaningful.
Don’t Rush Through the Empire State Building
One thing I would recommend is giving yourself time to enjoy the Empire State Building experience rather than treating the observation deck as a quick photo stop.
Empire State Building Exhibit
(Alexandra Nolan)
There are immersive exhibits and plenty of photo opportunities inside in addition to the skyline views. The Empire State Building experience includes exhibits covering the building’s construction and history, along with recognizable photo opportunities such as the King Kong exhibit.
And you’ll definitely want time for photos once you reach the observation deck.
On a clear day, the view is incredible. You can spot landmarks throughout Manhattan and beyond, including the Statue of Liberty—the very place we would experience on our other City Wonders tour.
Our Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
If the Empire State Building tour gave us a different perspective on New York City, visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island gave us a different perspective on American history.
Seeing the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan is one thing. Standing on Liberty Island and looking up at her is another.
There’s something incredibly moving about being that close to a landmark that has represented freedom, opportunity and the promise of a new life to generations of people arriving in America.
Statue of Liberty
(Alexandra Nolan)
The ferry ride is part of the experience, too. If you’re leaving from New York, the ferry travels first to Liberty Island and then to Ellis Island.
Make sure your phone or camera is ready during the ride. You get some wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline from the water.
Why You Shouldn’t Skip Ellis Island
Before visiting, I think it would be easy to view Ellis Island as the “second stop” after seeing the Statue of Liberty. Don’t make that mistake. Ellis Island deserves time of its own.
The Main Building is home to the National Museum of Immigration, and walking through it puts a human story behind the millions of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island.
Ellis Island
(Alexandra Nolan)
It’s one thing to read about immigration in a history book. It’s another to stand in the place where families arrived carrying their belongings and hopes for a new life in America.
If your own family has immigration history connected to Ellis Island, you may also want to research it while you’re there. The National Park Service recommends the American Family Immigration History Center for visitors interested in searching immigration records.
For families traveling with children, I also think this is one of those experiences that can make history feel much more real than simply learning about it in a classroom.
What to Know Before Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
There are a few things I wish every traveler knew before heading out.
First, this is not a quick sightseeing stop. Give yourself plenty of time. Between security, ferries, Liberty Island and Ellis Island, this experience can take up a significant portion of your day.
Also, the time printed on your ferry ticket is especially important to understand. According to the National Park Service, it indicates when you should join the security screening line, not the exact time your ferry leaves. During busy periods, security queues can reach an hour or longer.
You’ll go through airport-style security before boarding the ferry, so I would arrive prepared and pack lightly. Large luggage and parcels aren’t permitted, and there aren’t lockers at the initial security screening locations.
If your ticket includes pedestal or crown access, there is an additional security screening with even stricter rules about what you can bring inside.
In other words, this is not the day to carry everything you own around New York City.
What I Recommend Bringing
After doing these tours myself, I’d keep your bag relatively simple:
Comfortable walking shoes. This is probably the most important thing you can bring. You’ll be walking and standing considerably more than you might expect. The National Park Service specifically recommends durable, comfortable footwear for Liberty and Ellis Islands
A portable phone charger. Between maps, tickets, photos and videos, NYC sightseeing can drain your battery surprisingly quickly.
Sunscreen and sunglasses. There isn’t much protection from the sun when you’re outside on Liberty Island or standing on an observation deck.
Water. Summer days in New York can get hot, especially when you’re walking around the city. Water is also available on the islands.
A light layer. Even if Manhattan feels warm, the wind coming off New York Harbor can make the ferry and islands feel different from the city streets.
Your phone or camera. You’ll have some of the best photo opportunities of your entire trip on both tours.
And perhaps most importantly, bring less than you think you need. The National Park Service itself recommends packing light for Liberty and Ellis Islands.
Wear the Right Shoes—Seriously
If there is one fashion sacrifice I’m willing to make in New York City, it’s choosing comfortable shoes. You will walk. A lot.
The Empire State Building tour includes a walking tour through Manhattan before reaching the observatory, while the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island experience involves walking to the ferry, going through security, boarding and exiting boats, and exploring both islands.
This isn’t the day for the cute shoes you can only tolerate for two hours. Choose sneakers or another pair of shoes you already know you can comfortably walk in all day.
Check the Weather Before You Leave
Weather matters more for these particular tours than you might expect. For the Empire State Building, clear skies can dramatically change how far you’re able to see.
For Liberty and Ellis Islands, you’re spending time outdoors and on the water. The National Park Service specifically warns that summer sun and heat can be intense on the islands, while winds off the harbor can make cold weather feel even colder.
Check the forecast that morning and dress accordingly.
Why I Would Book a Guided NYC Tour Again
New York City is one of the easiest places in the world to explore independently. You certainly don’t need a guide to walk down Fifth Avenue, visit the Empire State Building or take a ferry to Liberty Island.
But after experiencing NYC both ways, I think a good guided tour offers something Google Maps can’t. You aren’t just looking at a building. You’re hearing why it matters.
You aren’t just walking through a neighborhood. You’re learning who once lived there and how it changed.
You aren’t simply standing on Ellis Island. You’re hearing stories that help you imagine what it might have felt like to arrive there generations ago.
That’s ultimately why booking our City Wonders tours became one of the things I was happiest we planned before arriving in New York.
New York City is filled with iconic attractions, and you can certainly check them off a sightseeing list.
But sometimes the best travel experiences happen when you slow down long enough to understand the story behind what you’re seeing.
And for us, that made some of New York City’s most famous landmarks feel new again.