One Day in New York: Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Times Square
One day in New York, three of the most iconic sites in the city, and a route that actually makes geographic sense. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island take up the morning and part of the afternoon — plan them first, because the ferry is the one thing you cannot wing. The 9/11 Memorial is a ten-minute walk from the ferry terminal, and it’s the right follow-up: quieter, slower, and heavier in a way that makes the rest of the day feel earned. Times Square comes last, at night, when it actually delivers on its reputation. This is the first-timer New York day.
In this article
Quick answer: This itinerary works because the geography lines up: Battery Park ferry terminal to Liberty Island, Ellis Island, the 9/11 Memorial, a proper food break, then Times Square after dark. Keep the morning anchored around the Statue of Liberty ferry, because ferry times and access tickets are the part you need to plan around. If you start early, you can finish Lower Manhattan by late afternoon and still have enough energy for Times Square when the lights actually make sense.
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Lili’s Picks
This is what I’d book
The one booking I would protect for this day is the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tour on Viator. The route is easy on paper, but the ferry timing, island order, security line, and Ellis Island pacing are what decide whether this morning feels smooth or chaotic.
Why I like booking this through Viator: it gives the day structure before you arrive. If your selected listing shows Reserve Now & Pay Later and free cancellation, you can hold the plan, check the exact terms, and avoid locking the whole NYC itinerary too early.
- Best if you want: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to feel meaningful, not just like a ferry loop and a few photos.
- Why it works: a guide adds context to Liberty Island, immigration history, and Ellis Island, while the set route keeps the rest of your one-day plan realistic.
- Not ideal if: you only want the cheapest possible island visit or you prefer to move completely at your own pace.
- Before booking: confirm the departure point, start time, ferry access details, included islands, pedestal or crown access rules, cancellation window, Reserve Now & Pay Later availability, and how much time the tour leaves for the 9/11 Memorial afterward.
This is where I’d stay
The hotel I would shortlist for this route is Courtyard New York Manhattan/Midtown West on Booking.com. It sits at 461 West 34th Street, which makes the morning subway to Battery Park simple and keeps you close to Times Square at the end of the night without sleeping directly on top of the billboards.
- Best if you want: a practical Midtown base for a first NYC trip, especially if Times Square, Penn Station, Hudson Yards, and Broadway are all on your list.
- Why it works: you can take the 1 train south to South Ferry in the morning, then walk back from Times Square at night instead of ending the day with another long transfer.
- Not ideal if: you want a quiet, neighborhood-heavy stay or a hotel with a classic luxury feel.
- Before booking: compare the total price with taxes, room type, breakfast, cancellation terms, destination fees, subway access, and recent guest comments for your exact dates.
The Day at a Glance
| Time | Stop | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Battery Park ferry terminal | Aim for the first ferry — crowds build fast |
| 8:30 AM–1:00 PM | Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island | Allow 3–4 hours; guided tour recommended |
| 1:00 PM–1:30 PM | Walk to 9/11 Memorial | 10 min on foot from Battery Park |
| 1:30 PM–4:00 PM | 9/11 Memorial + Museum | Pools are free; Paid timed ticket; reserve ahead |
| 4:00 PM–8:30 PM | Food, rest, explore | Greenwich Village, Soho, or the High Line |
| 9:00 PM+ | Times Square at night | Free; 30–45 min is enough |
Morning: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Take the first ferry of the day. The official Statue City Cruises ferry departs from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan (and also from Liberty State Park in New Jersey) — the first morning sailings often leave around 8:30 AM, but schedules change by date, so check the official ferry schedule before locking your day. They are worth taking when available. The crowds on the island build significantly as the morning progresses, especially in summer. An 8:30 AM arrival means you have Liberty Island largely to yourself for the first hour.
Liberty Island. The statue is bigger than most visitors expect and smaller than many others do — the actual copper figure is 151 feet tall, but the full monument including the pedestal stands 305 feet. The island itself has a museum at the base covering the statue’s construction and its place in American history, a café, and wide promenades with views of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and New Jersey in every direction. Allow about 45 minutes on Liberty Island before boarding the ferry for Ellis Island.
Pedestal and Crown access. The standard ticket gets you onto the island and into the monument’s lobby. Pedestal access — the exterior viewing platform roughly halfway up — requires a separate access ticket. Crown access (climbing to the very top) is much more limited and needs separate planning; if the crown is your goal, check the official Statue City Cruises availability as soon as your travel dates are confirmed.
Ellis Island. The second stop is Ellis Island, where more than 12 million immigrants were processed between 1892 and 1954 — the entry point for a substantial portion of the American population. The National Museum of Immigration inside the main building is excellent: original arrival records, photographs, the recreated Registry Room where immigrants waited to be processed. Plan at least 45 minutes here, longer if immigration history is a specific interest. The American Family Immigration History Center in the same building allows you to search passenger records if you have ancestors who came through Ellis Island.
The return ferry brings you back to Battery Park by roughly 1:00 PM if you took the first sailing. From there, the 9/11 Memorial is a ten-minute walk north.
Early Afternoon: 9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial occupies the footprints of the Twin Towers: two enormous reflecting pools, each nearly an acre in size, set into the ground where the towers stood. The design — called Reflecting Absence, by Michael Arad and Peter Walker — has water falling from all four sides into a central void, and then again into a smaller square void in the center. The names of the 2,977 people killed on September 11, 2001 and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing are inscribed in bronze around the edges of both pools.
The memorial itself is free and open to the public. No ticket required to walk through the plaza and spend time at the pools. Allow 30–45 minutes here. The scale and the sound of the falling water have an effect that photographs don’t fully communicate — most visitors end up staying longer than they planned.
The 9/11 Memorial Museum is a different commitment. The museum is underground, built into the foundation of the original towers, and covers the history of the attacks in depth — original artifacts, audio and video documentation, the last communications of those who didn’t survive. It’s a serious institution and requires real time: most visitors need at least 90 minutes, and many stay for two hours or more. The museum uses paid timed tickets, so reserve online in advance and check the current price for your date. If the museum is on your list, factor it into the timing — it will push dinner closer to 6:00 PM.
After the memorial, you have options. One World Observatory — the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere — is directly adjacent and worth a visit if views are a priority, though it adds another 90 minutes to the afternoon. If the day is already feeling full, save it for another day: the observatory deserves attention rather than rushed exhaustion. Brookfield Place, five minutes west, has a good food hall for a late lunch. Greenwich Village and Soho are a short subway ride north if you want to decompress somewhere with more texture before the evening.
Evening: Times Square at Night
From anywhere in Lower Manhattan, Times Square is 20–25 minutes by subway — take the A or C uptown from Fulton Street to 42nd Street–Port Authority, or the 1/2/3 from Chambers Street to 42nd Street. Arrive after 9:00 PM. The LED billboards that define Times Square only dominate the visual field once the sun is fully down, and the difference between Times Square at 6:00 PM and Times Square at 10:00 PM is dramatic.
After a day that started at 8:00 AM with the ferry, thirty to forty-five minutes in Times Square is the right amount. Walk the full crossroads — south on Broadway from 47th to 42nd, back north on 7th Avenue — stand on the TKTS red staircase at 47th Street for the panoramic view of the billboards, and then find somewhere to eat that isn’t directly on the square. Hell’s Kitchen, one block west of 8th Avenue, has the best restaurant density near Times Square at prices that have nothing to do with the tourist zone.
If Broadway is on the list, the TKTS booth under the red staircase sells same-day tickets at up to 50% off — the Times Square booth opens at different times depending on the day, so check TDF/TKTS live inventory before heading uptown and decide whether the evening ends at a theater.
Planning Tips
- Book Liberty ferry tickets early. In summer, morning ferry slots and access tickets are the constraint, so do not leave this decision until you are already standing in Battery Park. If you want pedestal or crown access, check official availability before you build the rest of the day around it.
- Start at Battery Park, not Liberty State Park. Both ferry terminals work, but Battery Park in Lower Manhattan puts you five minutes from the 9/11 Memorial when you return — which makes the day more efficient than crossing back from New Jersey.
- 9/11 Museum tickets. Book online ahead of time — timed tickets are required, and booking online gives you a clearer plan for the rest of the afternoon.
- Pacing. This is a long day physically. The ferry involves a lot of standing and walking on the islands. Budget time after the memorial for food and a genuine rest before Times Square, or the evening will feel like a checkbox rather than an experience.
- What to leave for another day. One World Observatory, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park are all nearby in the broader sense but better saved for a day when they’re the focus rather than additions. Three major stops is already a full day — adding a fourth pushes the pace past what most people actually enjoy.
More from New York
This itinerary covers Lower Manhattan and Midtown in one day — here’s what comes next. The NYC weekend guide maps out the full two-day version, with the best of Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan added to what you’ve already seen.
For the One World Observatory — which sits right next to the 9/11 Memorial and is worth the detour if you have a second day — our One World Observatory guide covers tickets, timing, and the SkyLift experience in full. And for a complete break from the density of Midtown and Lower Manhattan, Central Park is the right counterweight — a half day there resets everything.
Frequently Asked Questions
How early should I book Statue of Liberty tickets?
For June through August, reserve standard tickets and morning ferry slots as early as you reasonably can. Pedestal and crown access need separate availability checks; if the crown is your goal, build the day around the official Statue City Cruises ticket calendar first.
Is the 9/11 Memorial free to visit?
The outdoor memorial — the two reflecting pools built in the footprints of the Twin Towers — is free and open to the public with no ticket required. The 9/11 Memorial Museum underground requires a paid timed ticket. Reserve online before you go so the afternoon timing is clear, and check the current price for your date.
How long does the Statue of Liberty visit take?
Allow 3 to 4 hours for both Liberty Island and Ellis Island together. About 45 minutes on Liberty Island (longer if you have pedestal or crown access), 45–60 minutes at Ellis Island, plus ferry time between the islands and back to Battery Park. Taking the first ferry of the day and returning by 1:00 PM is achievable with standard tickets.
Can I do the Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial, and Times Square in one day?
Yes — this is one of the most common first-timer New York itineraries and it works because the geography is efficient. The Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Memorial are both in Lower Manhattan, ten minutes apart on foot. Times Square is uptown by subway, about 25 minutes from the memorial. Take the first Liberty ferry, finish the memorial by 4:00 PM, rest and eat, then head uptown for Times Square after 9:00 PM when the lights are at full effect.
What is the best way to get to Battery Park for the Statue of Liberty ferry?
Take the 4 or 5 subway to Bowling Green station, or the 1 train to South Ferry — both are a short walk from the Statue Cruises ferry terminal at Battery Park. From Midtown hotels, the subway takes about 20–25 minutes. Rideshare also works but Lower Manhattan traffic in the morning can be slow. Arrive at Battery Park at least 20 minutes before your ferry departure time.
