Ferry To Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, a small island south of Manhattan that can only be reached by ferry.

To get on one of the ferries that take you there, if you haven't booked a guided tour, but you already have your tickets to the Statue of Liberty, here are the times, frequency and where the ferry piers are located.

The most convenient option

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour with Ferry

Discover all the magic that surrounds the Statue of Liberty

Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and learn all about their history with a visit to the Liberty Island Museum and the Immigration Museum. With a tour guide or audio guide, which option do you prefer?

From £44 at Hellotickets

With this ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you have the option of a complete tour of Liberty Island, where the iconic monument is located, and Ellis Island. It also includes admission to both the Liberty Island Museum and the Immigration Museum.

In addition, you can choose to experience the full 4-hour tour with an experienced tour guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. Or you can choose a simpler and cheaper option, a guided tour of approximately 30 minutes through Battery Park and, once you get on the ferry, you will continue with an audio guide.

Recommended if... you don't want to miss a single detail of New York's most iconic landmark.

The pier for the Statue of Liberty ferry from Manhattan is located in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan.

If you choose to take the Statue of Liberty ferry from Battery Park, I recommend getting there first thing in the morning as there are long queues to get through the first security check and it can take a while to get on the boat.

The quickest way to get to Battery Park is to take the underground. The nearest stations are South Ferry (line 1), Bowling Green (lines 4 and 5) and Whitehall St (R and W).

Sometimes the New York underground can feel like one city beneath another so to help you get there without any problems, here' s an underground map and my Guide to the New York Subway to help you learn how to use it and get the most out of it.

Yes, another place to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty other than Battery Park is Liberty State Park, outside of Manhattan in neighbouring New Jersey City.

Most tourists tend to board in Manhattan, but if you're visiting New Jersey or staying there, it's also a good option for the Statue of Liberty, as the pier is less crowded and the queue for security will be quicker.

How to get to Liberty State Park?

To get to Liberty State Park by public transport, take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) to the Liberty State Park stop. Then walk to the ticket booth area next to the CRRNJ terminal and continue a little further to the pier area.

From Battery Park the direct ferry to Liberty Island takes about 15 minutes, while from Liberty State Park it takes about 30 minutes because the ferry goes first to Ellis Island and then to Liberty Island.

We compare the different cruises in the table below

The price of a ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty starts at 44 and includes return tickets to Liberty Island and Ellis Island and entrance to the Liberty Island and Immigration Museums. There is also the possibility of taking a free audio tour or if you are looking for a more complete experience you can go accompanied by a tour guide.

I recommend that you purchase it in advance so that you don't miss out on your experience and you can choose the time that suits you best for planning your trip. The cruise departs at 8:45am, 11am, 11:30am and 1pm.

The express cruise to the Stat ue of Liberty is a cheaper experience that can be purchased for 24 Highly recommended if you have limited time, as it lasts approximately 50 minutes, but it will allow you to get close to Liberty Island to take the best snapshots of the iconic monument.

Plus, along the way you'll be accompanied by a tour guide who will fill you in on the history of the Statue of Liberty.

Another plan is the Circle Line daytime cruise through Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty for 29. An approximately 1-hour ride that takes you strategically along the waters of the Hudson, so you'll get a close-up view of some of the city's most interesting sights such as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx; plus of course the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island included.

The cruise departs from Pier 83, located in Midtown, next to Times Square. An expert guide will explain everything you'll see along the way, giving you a different perspective of the city and the New York skyline!

From 9:30 am to 3:30 pm ferries depart daily from the piers of Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey with a frequency ranging from 25 minutes (weekends) to 30 minutes (weekdays).

Since schedules change seasonally and their frequency can be altered during peak tourist season, in order to better plan your visit to the Statue of Liberty, I recommend you first take a look at the ferry schedules where they are constantly updated.

What does the time on your ticket mean?

This is the time to queue at the first security checkpoint before boarding the ferry, not the time the ferry leaves the pier. Once through security you will be able to board the next available ferry at Battery Park or Liberty Park State which depart every 30 minutes for the Statue of Liberty.

How far in advance do I need to arrive at the pier to board?

It is best to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance and even 1 hour earlier in high season to pass through security.

Do tickets to the Statue of Liberty include return ferry transport?

Yes, with your tickets you can take the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island and return to the pier from which you departed at the end of your visit.

Are the ferries accessible for disabled people?

Yes, the ferries to the Statue of Liberty are handicapped accessible, but there are no wheelchairs available to passengers. If you wish to use a wheelchair during your visit to the Statue of Liberty, you can rent one free of charge from the National Park Service by showing a photo ID. Available wheelchairs will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

If I board at a pier at the start of the tour, do I have to return to the same place?

Not necessarily. For example, you can board in New Jersey and disembark in Manhattan, but make sure which way you want to go before boarding the ferry because if you get the wrong destination you will not be able to use your ticket to board these ferries again and will have to find an alternative means of transport.

Is it possible to take photos from the ferry?

Yes, the ferry has a covered part and an uncovered part so you can take photos or videos along the way of the sites you see.

Can I use the MetroCard to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?

No, it is not possible. The MetroCard can only be used to ride the New York underground and bus, as well as the Roosevelt cable car.

Do children and seniors have to pay for a ferry ticket to go to the Statue of Liberty?

No. Like other visitors, these groups must have their own ticket for the cruise, but the price is lower.

Do I have to buy a separate ferry ticket if I also want to visit Ellis Island?

No, you do not. The ferry route includes both Liberty Island and Ellis Island so there is no need to purchase a separate ticket.