Battery Park: New York's Southern Tip and Harbor Gateway

Battery Park occupies the southern tip of Manhattan Island — the point at which the Hudson and East Rivers meet before flowing into Upper New York Bay, and the site from which Staten Island Ferry and Statue of Liberty ferries have departed for generations. The park itself is a 25-acre green space with commanding views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the New Jersey waterfront. The National Museum of the American Indian, housed in the extraordinary 1907 Beaux-Arts Custom House designed by Cass Gilbert, is free to enter and presents one of the most significant collections of Native American art and material culture in the country — wildly undervisited given its quality and location.

Castle Clinton, a circular stone fort in the centre of the park dating to 1811, now serves as the ticket office for Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry tours operated by Statue Cruises — purchasing tickets in advance online is strongly recommended as same-day availability is limited during peak season. The Statue of Liberty National Monument on Liberty Island is a 15-minute ferry ride away — crown access (via extremely narrow internal stairs) must be booked months in advance, but the museum at the base and the island grounds are accessible on the standard ferry ticket.

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are a 5-minute walk north of Battery Park — the twin reflecting pools in the footprint of the original towers and the underground museum constitute one of the most powerful memorial experiences in the country. The Staten Island Ferry from the nearby Whitehall Terminal offers free harbour views including the Statue of Liberty on every 20-30 minute crossing — one of the best free activities in New York. The Financial District and Stone Street's historic tavern row are immediately adjacent, making Battery Park a natural starting point for exploring lower Manhattan.