Lower Manhattan with Kids: Lady Liberty, the Bull and the Bridge
Downtown packs a lot into a small area: the Statue of Liberty is a ferry ride away, Wall Street and its bronze bull are a few blocks from the dock, and the Brooklyn Bridge starts a short walk from the 9/11 Memorial.
Book the Statue of Liberty ferry ahead, for the earliest boat you can manage. Everything else on this day is free.
One day · Downtown
A morning on the harbour, an afternoon among Wall Street's statues and memorials, and a sunset walk over the river.
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Morning
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (opens Google Maps)
Ferries leave from Battery Park and stop at Liberty Island, then Ellis Island. Buy tickets only from the official ferry operator, and add pedestal or crown access early: they sell out.
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Lunch
Lunch near the Battery (opens Google Maps)
Stone Street, a cobbled lane a few blocks from the ferry, is lined with places to eat.
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Afternoon
Charging Bull and Fearless Girl (opens Google Maps)
The bronze bull on Broadway, then Fearless Girl, who now faces the New York Stock Exchange a few minutes away.
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Afternoon
9/11 Memorial pools (opens Google Maps)
Two pools where the Twin Towers stood. Free and calm; younger kids may have questions, so decide beforehand how to talk about it.
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Late afternoon
The Oculus (opens Google Maps)
A white station hall shaped like a bird taking off, with shops and restrooms.
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Sunset
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (opens Google Maps)
From City Hall, walk out to the first tower and back, or all the way to Brooklyn and take the ferry or subway back.
Tips for the Statue of Liberty
- Official tickets only: buy from the official ferry operator, linked from the National Park Service site. Sellers around Battery Park often sell other boat rides.
- Security is like an airport's: leave big bags at the hotel.
- Pedestal and crown tickets are limited and sell out well ahead. The grounds are open with any ferry ticket.
- Free alternative: the Staten Island Ferry passes close to the statue, free, but doesn't stop there.
Questions
How long does the Statue of Liberty take?
Plan on most of a morning: security, the ferry, Liberty Island and Ellis Island add up to about four to five hours.
Is the 9/11 Memorial suitable for children?
The outdoor pools are calm and free; many families visit with kids. The museum underneath is more intense, and better suited to older children.