Statue of Liberty Tickets: options, when to buy them, how to access...
It is the undisputed symbol of New York. From Liberty Island it watches over the city and receives every day thousands of visitors willing to explore it and enjoy its views. Do you want to know how? I'll tell you how to get tickets.
Views of the Statue from the ferry | ©Hellotickets
If there is one icon that represents New York, it is the Statue of Liberty. Visiting it or going around it by boat is an experience you can't miss on your trip to New York, if only for the postcard views of Manhattan from Liberty Island.
Buying your tickets in advance will save you two lines: the ferry line to Liberty Island and the line to get to the Statue. Here are the best ways to visit the Statue:
Visit three of New York City's most iconic landmarks
Ideal if you want the experience to be as complete as possible, since in addition to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Islands, it includes the 9/11 Memorial.
Four-hour visit with a guide
Perfect if you want to know all the details, as an expert guide will accompany you during a private and unique experience that will reveal all the details of the story.
Take a ferry ride to the Statue to see it up close.
If you want to see the most famous lady of the city without having to invest a lot of time and money, go to her by boat to take the best pictures. The views of Manhattan from the ferry will make the excursion worthwhile.
How much does it cost to visit the Statue of Liberty?
Prices to visit the Statue of Liberty can vary depending on whether you choose to buy a standard ticket or a guided tour, but tours usually start at 50 Euros and include tickets, ferry and an expert guide.
If you prefer to go on your own, you can find tickets starting at around 20 Euros for the pedestal, but you will have to buy separate ferry tickets and pay for a guided tour if you choose to visit the Statue and Liberty Island with a guide.
Buying tickets for the Statue of Liberty at the box office
The big disadvantage of buying tickets on the spot is that you will have to wait in line and you may also have to wait for the next ferry if there is a large crowd of tourists.
Are tickets to the Statue of Liberty included in any of the city's sightseeing passes?
The Statue of Liberty's claim to fame also makes it a must-see attraction on the city's main tourist passes. If you still don't know what they are, how to use them or if they are convenient or not, I invite you to read my article on New York Pass and other passes.
Anyway, if what interests you is to get to the point and see which passes include the entrance to the Statue of Liberty, I leave here a list of what they are and by the way, I link you to the practical guide I have prepared about each of them. I'm sure this will help you decide which one is the one that best suits your trip!
How to go to the Statue of Liberty?
If you are thinking about going to Liberty Island on your own, you should know that there is only one company that operates ferries to the Statue of Liberty, and that is Statue of Liberty Cruises. You can take an express cruise to the Statue of Liberty if you are short on time but don't want to miss the experience.
Boarding points
- Battery Park, which is located south of Manhattan. Being the main pier, it is the most crowded with visitors, so again, try to go early in the morning. To get there, it is best to take the subway to Bowling Street or South Ferry.
- Liberty State Park, which is in New Jersey. If you don't want to wait in a long line for the ferry, or are staying nearby, this is a good alternative option.
Schedules
There is a ferry to the Statue of Liberty every 25 minutes. When you arrive at the Battery Park pier, if you have already purchased your ticket, you simply go through security and enter the ferry directly. The ferry will take you directly to Liberty Island in about 15 minutes, and little by little you will see the Statue of Liberty closer and closer.
At the end of your visit, you can take the ferry to Ellis Island (where you can visit the Immigration Museum) or return directly to Manhattan. Visiting Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island will take you about 5 hours. This will seem like a no-brainer, but try not to miss the ferry back! The Liberty Island guards will have to order a special pick-up service for you, and guess who they'll make pay for it?
When to visit the Statue of Liberty?
As you might expect, the Statue of Liberty is one of New York's most popular attractions, so it's hard not to run into a good number of tourists. That said, try to go as early in the morning as possible. If you manage to get to Liberty Island before 10:00 am, you'll save yourself a lot of crowds.
Of course, most visitors go to the Statue of Liberty on weekends, so if you can, try to go Monday through Friday. If you can still only go on weekends, Sundays are the best day in terms of tourist concentration.
How can I climb the Statue's Crown?
You can climb the Crown of the Statue of Liberty by paying a supplement or by purchasing a specific ticket. The fun of climbing the crown of the Statue of Liberty is more to see the actual monument built on the inside, as the views from the top are not as spectacular. If you opt for this option, I recommend booking your tickets well in advance, as they sell out first.
Where to eat when you visit the Statue of Liberty?
When planning where to eat on your Statue of Liberty visit, you have two options: eat before or after your visit, or go to the cafeteria at Liberty Island or Ellis Island, where a menu usually costs between $12 and $15, with options such as salads, burgers, and sandwiches.
If you follow my recommendation and visit the Statue of Liberty early in the morning, you will be back in Battery Park just in time for lunch and that's why I recommend a few restaurants that will make your mouth water. Anyway, if the following list doesn't convince you, check here the best places to eat in New York.
- Inatteso Pizzabar - a popular pizza place in the financial district where you can find salads, meatball dishes, pasta, and pizza, all looking delicious and authentic.
- Toro Loco NYC - a Mexican-inspired restaurant with a menu of tacos, nachos, quesadillas, and burritos that is outrageous. Perfect for a quick bite to eat in or to take away and continue exploring New York.
- Café 11 - here you will find sushi, wraps, and vegetarian options, mainly to go, if you prefer to have a light and healthy meal. On the downside, they're not open on weekends, so keep that in mind before you go.
- Luke's Lobster - the lobster roll, one of the essentials of the American sandwich repertoire, is the specialty of this restaurant. Basically, it is a brioche sandwich filled with lobster meat and sauce. It is not for all tastes, but if your mouth is watering when you read this, don't think twice and try it!
Alex's Traveller Tip
Beware of the hawkers you'll find around Battery Park offering you tickets: most of them are fake!
Tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty
If you already have one foot on the ferry and are looking forward to the day of your excursion, take note of some tips that will come in handy before organizing your visit:
- Avoid the weekend: Try to go Monday through Friday and preferably in the morning.
- Lockers: When you arrive at the Liberty Island pier, you will walk a little and arrive at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Before accessing the statue's pedestal, you will need to leave your belongings in a locker (except for your cell phone, camera and wallet) at the lockers at the base of the statue.
- Don't forget to carry loose change: Lockers cost 25 cents, so remember to bring loose change (or bills for the change machines).
- Bring the essentials: To climb the Statue of Liberty's crown, you will have to leave all your belongings in the lockers except for the ticket and your camera. For this reason, I recommend that on this visit you go with the essentials and nothing else.
- Visit Ellis Island: As I mentioned before, once you finish visiting the Statue of Liberty, you can return to the Liberty Island pier and, if the beautiful views of Manhattan allow you to get away, you can get on the ferry to Ellis Island, a must-see.
Visit Ellis Island
At Ellis Island you can visit the Immigration Museum, with more than thirty rooms with exhibits about the times when New York received immigrants from all over the world. Something I found quite interesting about this museum is that it has an ancestry search service where you can see if anyone from your most distant family ever lived in New York.
Ellis Island Tours
If you want to see more in depth the area where the Statue of Liberty is located, you have different options at your disposal. You can take a private tour of Ellis Island with tickets to the Statue of Liberty or you can book a guided tour that in addition to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty includes the 9/11 Memorial.
Other interesting activities in New York
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty from another point of view, there are many places in the city that will give you the best views of the Statue of Liberty. But it is also possible to fly over Manhattan by helicopter: a flight of about 15 to 20 minutes over the Hudson would bring you closer to see not only the Statue but also the most imposing skyscrapers of Manhattan. Sounds good, right? If you want to read more about this option, I recommend my article on how to take a helicopter ride over Manhattan.
Whether it is your first time in New York or you are already a frequent visitor, you will know that the city is huge and the offer of attractions, things to do and points of interest is enormous. Taking a guided tour is essential to get to know the most important things and understand the history and customs of the city. I leave you here my chronicle about these two tours, which for me are the most complete: Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour y New York Contrasts Tour.
If on the other hand, you have plenty of time and you feel like getting out of the city to discover its surroundings, I leave you here my article on 5 Day Trips from New York so you can explore all the options.