Things to Do in Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty
The harbor, the Financial District and the old neighborhoods where the city began.
See top-rated activities »About Lower Manhattan
The southern tip of Manhattan is where the Dutch founded New Amsterdam in the 1620s, and the streets still follow their crooked lines. Wall Street, Trinity Church and Federal Hall, where George Washington took the oath as the first president, are a few minutes apart, and Battery Park looks out across the harbor to the Statue of Liberty. The statue, a gift from France dedicated in 1886, stands on Liberty Island, and nearby Ellis Island was the country's busiest immigration station from 1892 to 1954.
Both islands are part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, run by the National Park Service, and the only authorized ferry is Statue City Cruises, which sails from Battery Park and from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Buy tickets from Statue City Cruises directly; pedestal and crown access are limited and must be reserved in advance, and crown tickets often sell out weeks or months ahead. Allow at least half a day for both islands, including the security screening before boarding. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration fills the restored main building, and its records let visitors search for ancestors who passed through.
A short walk north, the National September 11 Memorial fills the footprints of the twin towers with two large reflecting pools ringed by the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks of 2001 and 1993. The memorial plaza is free; the museum below it requires a ticket. One World Trade Center, at 1,776 feet the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, has One World Observatory near its top. If you would rather see the harbor without a ticket, the Staten Island Ferry runs free, around the clock, from the Whitehall Terminal and passes within view of the statue.
Farther north, Lower Manhattan's neighborhoods change quickly. Chinatown is a maze of dumpling shops, bakeries and markets, the Lower East Side has the Tenement Museum, which tells immigrant family stories inside restored apartments, and SoHo, TriBeCa and Greenwich Village offer cast-iron buildings, small parks, jazz clubs and Washington Square Park. The walkway of the Brooklyn Bridge starts near City Hall.
Don’t Miss
The 1886 statue and its museum; pedestal and crown access require advance reservations.
The restored immigration station, with exhibits and passenger records for family research.
The only authorized ferry and ticket seller for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Twin reflecting pools in the towers' footprints, with a museum beneath the plaza.
Indoor viewing floors near the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
A free 25-minute crossing of the harbor with views of the statue and the skyline.
Guided tours through restored apartments where immigrant families lived on Orchard Street.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Lower Manhattan
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. See & Do NY may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Lower Manhattan — FAQ
Where do I buy Statue of Liberty tickets?
From Statue City Cruises, the National Park Service's only authorized ferry operator, on its website or at its ticket offices in Battery Park and Liberty State Park. Ferry tickets include Ellis Island. Be wary of street sellers and look-alike sites.
Can I climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty?
Yes, with a crown reservation booked through Statue City Cruises. Crown tickets are limited and often sell out months ahead, and the climb is a narrow spiral staircase of more than 160 steps from the pedestal.
Is the 9/11 Memorial free?
Yes, the outdoor memorial plaza and pools are free and open to the public. The 9/11 Memorial Museum beneath the plaza requires a timed ticket.
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