Governors Island and Ellis Island - possible to do both on same day?
 

I'll be in NYC briefly next week visiting my son, and I hope a friend can come along. If she does, we want to visit both Governors Island and Ellis Island, if possible. This will be on a Friday (10/2) - I know that Governors Island is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. She lived on G. I. for several years when her husband, who was in the Coast Guard, was stationed there. Now that it's been opened to the public, she'd love to go there for a nostalgic visit. She'd also like to visit Ellis Island - her grandfather was the person in charge there at one time, so that has special significance for her, also. It wasn't open to the public when she was living in New York on G. I., so she's never visited.

I don't know how long to allot for our Governor's Island visit, but we wouldn't want to rush it. Any advice from anyone who may have gone there? If we took the first ferry of the day, would we have time to go back to Manhattan, and get a ferry to Ellis Island, and have enough time to visit there (we wouldn't get off on Liberty Island)?

Which brings me to another question - I don't know exactly where the ferries to Governors Island and Ellis Island leave from, but I do understand that at least the Ellis Island Ferry has heavy security, like boarding a plane. Do they leave from different places, and will we need to go through security twice, or do they leave from the same place, and go through security once? I know that can take a lot of time.

Lastly, all the threads about Ellis island I've read on here say to buy your ferry tickets online ahead of time - but if we're going to Governor's Island first, and are unsure of when we'll get back to Manhattan, is it really that risky to wait and buy tickets on the day we'll be there? As I said, this will be on a Friday,

Thanks for any guidance.

Yes the ferries leave from differnt terminals. THe Ellis Island Ferry is at the west side of Battery Park and the GI Ferry is to the left of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal.

If you want to do both on the same day, take the Ellis Island first morning ferry over spend a couple of hours and then walk over to the GI ferry and spend the rest of the day.

The Ellis Island tours are very heavy in the afternoon, so you would be waiting online for a long time. I think you can also get your tickets online so you might try that before you get here.

If you want a fun restaurant close by, try Fraunces Tavern on the corner of Broad ST, just 2 or 3 blocks from the GI Ferry.

Yes, I'd definitely do Ellis Island first. It's the longer line and more unpredictable with regard to how long the visit will take. You'll be missing a lot if you limit your visit to 2 hours, but that's probably all you'll be able to afford.

I'd estimate it to be about a 10-minute walk from the Statue of Liberty ferry to the Governor's Island ferry. You'll be able to see the Governor's Island ferry just to the left as you exit the subway in front of the Staten Island Ferry (if you get out at the north end of Battery Park, then you won't, and that's actually closer to the Statue of Liberty ferry).

I'd save a bit of time and grab a quick bite once you get onto Governor's Island. There are some decent fast-food opportunities there. On Fridays, be aware that the ferry runs only every half-hour, and the last ferry is at 3pm.

I don't know if your friend lives in the NYC area, but if your friend wanted to visit on the weekend of October 11, there will be some free tours of the buildings, which are otherwise not open to the public. That's Open House New York weekend, when a lot of buildings downtown are open for free tours. I've done this, and it's a lot of fun. Sorry you're not going to be here that weekend.

While you can do both in one day, I think you'd be shortchanging Ellis Island by doing it and not get the full impact of the site, as you need more than a couple hours for that. I'd save it for another day.

No, I disagree with HowardR - and agree with everyone else - if you get first ferry tix for Ellis Island, you will be there before 9AM, spend 3 - 4 hours there (any more and museum fatigue sets in), take the Ferry back to Manhattan and have a nice lunch and get an afternoon ferry to Governors. On Fridays there are several art performances and such, and it is open until 8PM or so - it is very pleasant to stroll the place on a nice afternoon. You can easily spend 3PM - 6PM or 7PM there.

The National Park Rangers conduct tours of the historic areas of Governors Island and include history of the island which should be of interest to your friend.

I based my previous contribution based on previous comments about spending a couple hours at Ellis Island. and, to me, two hours does not do justice to Ellis Island.

I spent about 2 hours at Ellis Island and could have easily spent 3 more.

Especially if you know you have had relatives passed through.

The reason to buy tickets to Ellis Island in advance is to avoid standing in a ticket buyers line and risk not being able to get on the ferry you want since it's first come first serve. It sounds like this is perhaps a day trip and if you won't be in NYC in time to make the first ferry, the second ferry of the day is also ok. It just gets much more crowded as the day goes on. From where are you coming? If from NJ or Pa. you might want to consider going to Ellis Island from the NJ side where it's less busy. I agree with everyone else that doing Ellis Island first is a better idea.

Governor's Island closes at 5pm on Fridays. The last ferry is at 3pm, so mp is incorrect on the timing but makes a good point if you can get on the first ferry, it definitely gives you more time.

I still wouldn't bother with a "leisurely" lunch in the Financial District. I'd grab a quick bite on Governor's Island.

wow, Doug is right, sorry - A friend was there last wee and it was open quite late - maybe those were the summer hours(?) Sorry, should checked before I have posted.

The fact that Governor's Island closes at 5 p.m. makes for a very tight and difficult experience for anyone to get an appreciation for Ellis Island and Governor's Island on the same day.

Wow, lots of replies, thanks. I'm sure it would be optimal to visit these two places on separate days, but we may only be in town for one day, not sure yet, it depends on my friend's schedule. We'll drive from the Boston area, arrive late in the day on Thursday, stay at my son's apartment which is at the very top of Manhattan, and drive home either Friday night or Saturday (have to be back by Saturday night, for sure). If we can leave on Saturday, then we'll split the visits into two days. There are other things we'd like to do in the area if we have time, like visit the Tenement Museum (I went several years ago and found it fascinating) and walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Governor's Island is at the top of the list, because she lived there when her kids were small, and it's only open on weekends (and only through Oct.11). According to the Governors Island website, on Fridays the ferry to G.I. only leaves once an hour; on the weekends it's more frequent, which is the reason I was thinking we should go there first, to be sure we got a spot on a ferry. But if we have to do both on the same day, I guess we'll go to Ellis Island first, since that seems to be the consensus, and just try to be very disciplined about making sure to leave in time to go to G.I. as well. Thanks for all the information.