The Battery — most people still call it Battery Park — sits at the very southern tip of Manhattan, a 25-acre waterfront park facing New York Harbor. NYC Parks and the Battery Conservancy officially restored its historic name from "Battery Park" back to "The Battery" in 2015, which is why you'll see both names used interchangeably. It's the departure point for the official Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry, it sits right next to the free Staten Island Ferry terminal, and it connects on foot to the 9/11 Memorial a mile up Broadway. For most visitors it's a transit point as much as a destination — but it's worth more time than the 20 minutes most people give it on their way to a ferry.
Castle Clinton and the Statue of Liberty ferry
Castle Clinton sits inside the park, a circular sandstone fort built in 1811 to defend the harbor. It's had several lives since — a concert hall and opera venue, the country's first immigrant processing center in 1855 (decades before Ellis Island took over that job), and an aquarium — and today it's run by the National Park Service and doubles as the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry.
Statue City Cruises is the only ferry service authorized to land passengers on Liberty Island and Ellis Island — every other boat you'll see advertised near the park is a harbor cruise that gets you a view, not a landing. As of August 2026, base round-trip General Admission tickets run $26.00 for adults (13+), $23.00 for seniors (62+) and $17.00 for children 4-12, per the National Park Service's official fee table; kids under 4 are free. Pedestal and Crown Reserve tickets add about 30 cents to the base fare but sell out fastest — worth confirming current pricing directly on statuecitycruises.com before you go, since ticket prices are exactly the kind of thing that changes without much notice. Book ahead if you want crown or pedestal access — those sell out days in advance in peak season. Budget 3.5 to 6 hours total if you're doing both islands, once you count security screening, ferry transit and time on each island.
The official ferry vs. the ticket sellers outside the park
This is the one thing worth knowing before you arrive: as you approach The Battery, people in vests with official-looking logos will try to sell you "Statue of Liberty tickets" or wave you toward a shorter line. They're not affiliated with the National Park Service or Statue City Cruises. Some of what they sell are tickets to harbor cruises that never actually land on the islands — boats based elsewhere that just sail past. Others are straightforwardly counterfeit. NYPD has run repeated stings on these operations, and Statue City Cruises has posted scam-alert signs outside its own booth because the problem keeps recurring. The fix is simple: buy your ticket inside Castle Clinton at the official booth, or online in advance at statuecitycruises.com, and ignore anyone approaching you before you get there.
The free alternative: the Staten Island Ferry
If you don't need to set foot on Liberty Island, the Staten Island Ferry — departing from the Whitehall Terminal immediately next to The Battery — is free, runs year-round, and passes close enough to the Statue of Liberty for a genuinely good photo, especially from the right-hand side heading out. It doesn't stop at the island, and you'll want to ride it round-trip since Staten Island's terminal isn't a destination in itself, but for a quick skyline-and-statue view with zero cost and zero ticket line, it's hard to beat.
SeaGlass Carousel
Near the Staten Island Ferry terminal at the Battery's southeast corner, the SeaGlass Carousel has run since August 2015 — an aquarium-themed ride inside a glass-and-steel pavilion shaped like a nautilus shell, with giant illuminated fiberglass fish standing in for the usual carousel horses. It's a few dollars a ride; check the official site for current hours and pricing. It's at its best after dark, when the fish light up.
Gardens and green space
Away from the waterfront, The Battery's interior is planted rather than paved. The Gardens of Remembrance and the Battery Bosque — four acres of garden "rooms" under 140 mature London plane trees — were both designed by the Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf, the same planting style behind the High Line's naturalistic look uptown. It's a good place to sit for ten minutes between the ferry line and whatever's next on your list.
War memorials
The East Coast Memorial, dedicated in 1963, honors the thousands of American servicemen and merchant mariners who died in the Atlantic during World War II — a granite plaza with an eagle sculpture facing out toward the harbor. A Coast Guard Memorial sits nearby. Neither takes long to see, but both are worth the few minutes if you're already walking the waterfront.
Views of the harbor
The whole point of standing at the southern edge of Manhattan is the view: the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island out in the harbor, Governors Island closer in, and the Verrazzano Bridge visible on a clear day toward the Narrows. Sunset is the best time to be on the promenade — the light comes in low over the water and the ferry crowds have usually thinned out by then.
How much time to allow
For The Battery on its own — the promenade, the gardens, the memorials, a look at Castle Clinton from outside — 30 to 60 minutes covers it. If you're catching the official ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, block out most of a half-day once you factor in security screening and time on each island. If you're just riding the free Staten Island Ferry round-trip for the view, add about an hour.
Getting to The Battery
The 4 and 5 trains stop at Bowling Green, right at the park's edge. The 1 train stops at South Ferry. The R and W stop a couple of blocks north at Whitehall Street. All three put you within a five-minute walk of Castle Clinton. From here it's about a mile — roughly a 15-minute walk — up Broadway to the 9/11 Memorial, passing Bowling Green (New York City's actual oldest park, laid out in 1733, not The Battery) and the Charging Bull statue along the way.
Frequently asked questions about The Battery
Is Battery Park the same as The Battery?
Yes. NYC Parks and the Battery Conservancy officially restored the historic name 'The Battery' in 2015 — most locals and official signage use that now, though 'Battery Park' still shows up everywhere online and on older maps.
Do you catch the Statue of Liberty ferry from Battery Park?
Yes — the official ferry, run by Statue City Cruises, departs from inside Castle Clinton at the southern end of The Battery. It's the only ferry authorized to land on Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
Is The Battery free to visit?
The park itself is free, all day, no ticket needed — the promenade, gardens, war memorials and harbor views cost nothing. You only pay for the SeaGlass Carousel or a Statue of Liberty ferry ticket.
How do I avoid the ticket scammers near Battery Park?
Only buy Statue of Liberty tickets inside Castle Clinton or in advance at statuecitycruises.com. Anyone outside the park in a vest offering tickets, discounts, or a 'faster line' is not the official seller — walk past them.
What subway stops are near The Battery?
The 4 and 5 trains stop at Bowling Green, the 1 stops at South Ferry, and the R and W stop at Whitehall Street — all a short walk from the park.
Can I see the Statue of Liberty for free from The Battery?
You can see it from the shoreline, and you can get a closer, moving view for free on the Staten Island Ferry, which departs from the Whitehall Terminal right next to the park. It just doesn't land on the island.
How far is The Battery from the 9/11 Memorial?
About a mile, roughly a 15-minute walk straight up Broadway, passing Bowling Green — the city's actual oldest park — and the Charging Bull statue on the way.