More about: Statue of Liberty Tickets and Tours
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 museum lines. Below, you can learn about some of the options available. They do not include admission to the Statue of Liberty but will allow you to get to the Statue of Liberty, see the surroundings in detail and visit the museums:
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 surroundings of 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 this early morning experience that will reveal all the details of history and allow you to make the most of the day.
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 a lot of money, come by boat to take the best pictures. The views 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 from 50 ¤ and include tickets, ferry and an expert guide.
If you prefer to go on your own, you can find tickets starting at around $20 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 Statue of Liberty tickets included in any New York sightseeing pass?
The Statue of Liberty's claim to fame also makes it a must-see attraction on the main New York sightseeing passes. If you still don't know what they are, how to use them or whether or not they suit you, I invite you to read my article on New York tourist 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 out on 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
A ferry departs every 25 minutes. When you arrive at the Battery Park Pier, if you have already booked your Statue of Liberty ticket, you simply go through security and directly onto the ferry. The ferry will take you directly to Liberty Island in about 15 minutes and you will gradually see the Statue of Liberty getting 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 obvious, but try not to miss the ferry back! The Liberty Island guards will have to order a pick-up service, and guess who will pay for it?
When to visit the Statue of Liberty?
As you might expect, it's one of New York's most popular attractions, so keep this in mind when booking your Statue of Liberty ticket. It's hard to miss a good number of tourists along the way. That said, try to get there as early in the morning as possible. If you manage to get to Liberty Island before 10:00 am, you will 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 still can 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 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 you book your Statue of Liberty 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 visit to the Statue of Liberty, 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$ (about 11 €) and 15$ (around 14 €), with options such as salads, burgers, and sandwiches.
If you heed my recommendation and book a visit to the Statue of Liberty 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. 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 take away, if you prefer to have a light and healthy meal. The downside is that they are not open on weekends.
- 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!
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 arranging to book a visit to the Statue of Liberty:
- 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 short distance 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 need 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 that I found quite interesting about this museum is that it has an ancestor search service where you can see if someone from your most distant family ever lived in New York.
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 do:
- A private tour of Ellis Island with tickets to the Statue of Liberty.
- 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 a different point of view, there are many places in New York that will give you the best views of the Statue of Liberty, but you can also book a helicopter flight. You will see not only the Statue but also the most imposing skyscrapers of Manhattan. Sounds good, doesn't it? If you want to read more about this option, I recommend my article on how to take a helicopter ride over Manhattan.
Whether it's your first time in New York or you are already a frequent visitor, you will know that the city is huge and there are numerous things to see and do in New York. Taking a guided tour is essential to get to know the most important sights 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 Tours in New York y Contrasts Tours in New York.
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.