Battery Park: NYC’s Gateway to the Statue of Liberty

Battery Park is a beautiful patch of greenery at the very bottom tip of Manhattan that provides a calm oasis in the bustling city. A place to relax, have a picnic, ride your bike, take in the views, and, of course, start your journey to the Statue of Liberty, Battery Park is a slice of history with a little bit of everything. 

As someone who used to live in Battery Park City, I’ve spent a lot of time in Battery Park, and I quite love the little patch of green that sits at the base of the old skyscrapers around it. It’s a great place to pick up some kitschy souvenirs or a sweet snack from Wafels & Dinges before hopping on the boat to the Statue of Liberty.

Battery Park truly is the gateway to Liberty Island. Want to see it? Here’s everything you need to know about this piece of New York before your next visit.

What to do at Battery Park

Aside from eating and taking your kids to the various play structures, you can also stroll through the grassy areas at Battery Park and explore the views and sculptures. (More on the views later!)

There are gorgeous gardens at The Battery, and during the warmer months, they provide a beautiful backdrop worthy of your Instagram photos.

Visitors will also find more than 20 monuments throughout Battery Park that provide a story about New York’s history.

• The American Merchant Mariners Memorial is right on the water and is dedicated to those who have served for the U.S.
• There’s also a memorial for the Coast Guard.
• You can also find the 15-foottall Korean War veteran memorial, created in 1991.

Local tip: I recommend the Battery Labyrinth. It’s a grassy path in the middle of the park that was created on the first anniversary of 9/11. While it looks like a maze, it’s actually not. It’s not meant to get you lost while you’re walking — it’s meant to help bring you peace. 

Where to begin your Statue of Liberty tour

Castle Clinton is tucked inside Battery Park and that’s where you’ll begin any Statue of Liberty tour — including ours! You’ll be going through security at Castle Clinton and boarding the ferry to take you to Liberty Island or Ellis Island. 

Castle Clinton can be found right on the water, between the SeaGlass Carousel and the American Merchant Mariners Memorial. It’s quite a large building, but it’s set back from the road, so you have to go into the park to see it.  

Local tip: There will be a lot of people around Battery Park trying to sell you tickets to the Statue of Liberty — ignore them! Often, these are only for boat rides past the island, and they won’t actually drop you off on Liberty Island. Only buy your tickets through trusted sellers, like us. The people yelling at you in Battery Park can get aggressive in trying to sway you and tell you where to go, but just walk right past them.

Best views from Battery Park

It goes without saying that the best view from Battery Park is the Statue of Liberty — even though you’re seeing the back of her and you’re a bit far away. 

It’s still a nice panoramic view of Liberty Island and the water, plus Staten Island, New Jersey, Ellis Island, Governors Island, Brooklyn, and the many boats that are constantly on the water. 

There are plenty of places in the park as well as up the Battery Park City Esplanade (the walking path along the water) that provide beautiful views of the sunset over Jersey City and Hoboken on the Hudson River Side. There are lots of benches on the Esplanade as well. This reaches a little bit outside the actual park, but you’re still in Battery Park City, so I think it still counts! 

What to eat at Battery Park

There actually isn’t a ton in the way of food in Battery Park, so if you’re passing through on your way to the Statue of Liberty, you may want to eat before you get there. However, you’re not completely out of luck if you’re in the park already. 

Seasonally, inside Battery Park you’ll find Pixie Scout Canteen and year-round, Wafels & Dinges, great for a sweet treat. Just steps away at Peter Minuit Plaza (where the Staten Island Ferry picks you up), you can find the to-go spot Perros y Vainas. This place is great during the warmer months if you want to grab something to eat and sit in the park. If you go inside the Staten Island Ferry Building, you can also find a few quick options, including Dunkin’ and Subway. 

Local tip: You can’t go wrong with a New York City hot dog from a street vendor — and you’ll find one right outside the park. There are also usually coffee and bagel carts right outside the park as well if you’re stopping by in the morning.

Kid-friendly activities at Battery Park

If you’ve got the kids along, there are plenty of things for them to do in Battery Park — it is a park after all! 

One of the most fun and unusual activities is the SeaGlass Carousel. This indoor carousel puts you and your kids inside giant fish as you spin. Tickets are $6, and the ride is open Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You’ll also find other play structures like slides, treehouses, sandboxes, and more for kids to enjoy. It’s called the Battery Playscape. The hours vary based on the time of year, and you can always find the most up-to-date times on The Battery’s website. Typically, the park opens at 7 a.m. to guests, but the closing time differs in summer and winter depending on when the sun sets. 

Local tip: The city has been doing construction on Battery Park for awhile, making some parts of the kids’ areas inaccessible, so just keep that in mind when you plan your visit. Primarily, the grassy area known as the Battery Oval is under construction through 2026.

How to get to Battery Park

If you’re not staying in the area, a few trains will drop you right at Battery Park. 

• 4/5 train to Bowling Green
• R train to Whitehall
• W train to Whitehall on weekdays
• 1 Train to South Ferry

If you’re taking a bus, you have a few options as well.

• M55, M15, M15 Select Bus Service, M20 to South Ferry
• BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, X1, X3, X4, X8, X14, X15 go to State Street and Battery Place
• X10, X11, X12, X17, X19 to Battery Place

If you’re in a taxi, just ask to be dropped off at Battery Park. If you’re in a rideshare, you can put Battery Park as your destination.

And if you’re walking, put Battery Park into the map on your phone and it’ll get you there. You can enter the park from a variety of places on the street.

What else is there to do in the area?

After you’ve visited Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty and seen everything Battery Park has to offer, venture out into the rest of Lower Manhattan — there’s plenty in the area. The Wall Street Charging Bull is just up the street, and so is the Financial District. 

In about a 10-15-minute walk from Battery Park, you’ll arrive at Ground Zero and the World Trade Center, another one of New York’s best tourist attractions and an absolute must-see. You could easily spend another few hours here (I highly suggest a guided tour) before moving on to one of New York’s other neighborhoods.