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 welcomes thousands of visitors every day, ready 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's one icon that represents New York, it's the Statue of Liberty. Visiting it or going around it by boat is an experience not to be missed on your trip to New York, if only for the picture-postcard views of Manhattan from Liberty Island.
Buying your tickets in advance will save you two queues: the ferry to Liberty Island and the one to get to the Statue. Here are the best ways to visit the Statue:
Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and 9/11 Memorial Tour
Visit three of New York's most iconic landmarks
On this five-hour tour with an expert guide you will travel to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island area, plus a walking tour of Ground Zero.
On this tour you will see three of the most important sights in New York's history: the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the 9/11 Memorial. A guided tour of approximately five hours in which you will have the opportunity to live a very complete experience with an expert guide with whom you will not miss any detail.
The plan also includes the ferry from which you will have spectacular views.
Why I like this option: It is the most complete option because usually tours include the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Islands but not the 9/11 Memorial, an unquestionable visit.
Recommended if... You are someone who likes to get all the details of the visit.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Early Morning Tour
Discover the Statue with a guided tour
Perfect if you want to see the Statue of Liberty without having to worry about transport and waiting time. An expert guide will accompany you on the tour first thing in the morning. You will also visit Ellis Island. The ferry is included.
One of the points I want to make (and which applies to this option as much as any other that takes you there) is that the views of the Manhattan Skyline from the ferry and from Liberty Island are spectacular. The Statue of Liberty is on a small island south of Manhattan and the only way to get there is by boat.
What I like most about this ticket is that, in addition to the historical context that your local guide will explain during the four-hour tour and the Immigration Museum, transportation is included. You will then take the ferry to Ellis Island and visit the Immigration Museum. One of the great things about this tour is that you won't have to wait in queues on the ferries as you'll have priority access.
Why I like this option: This is the best value for money option I've found.
Recommended if... you are thinking of going to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and want to see both sites in depth with the convenience of having transport included and being accompanied by an expert guide.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour
Take a ferry ride to the Statue to see it up close.
If you want to see the city's most famous lady without spending a lot of time and a lot of money, take a boat ride to her for the best photos. The views of Manhattan from the ferry will make the trip worthwhile.
This may be your best option if you're visiting New York for a few days with little time or if you've been there before and just want to take a relaxing cruise around the Statue of Liberty to reminisce about your previous visit and enjoy the sights.
Although this tour only includes the Statue of Liberty Museum, for me the advantages of this activity are clear: you won't wait in line, you won't have to spend extra time disembarking and re-embarking, you can enjoy the best views of Manhattan while taking a nice boat ride and it includes an audio guide with which you can get more details of your visit.
Why I like this option: This is the cheapest tour to get close to the Statue without having to pay the entrance fee.
Recommended if... you don't want to give up the chance to see it up close, even if you don't have the time or budget to go inside.
We compare the three options
Visit three of New York's most iconic landmarks
Ideal if you want the experience to be as complete as possible, as in addition to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Islands, it includes the 9/11 Memorial.
Four-hour guided tour 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 city's most famous lady without spending a lot of time and a lot of money, take a boat ride to her for the best photos. The views of Manhattan from the ferry will make the trip 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 around 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 Statue of Liberty tickets 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 are large crowds of tourists.
Are Statue of Liberty tickets included in any of the city's sightseeing passes?
The lure of the Statue of Liberty 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 whether they are suitable for you or not, I invite you to read my article on New York Pass and other passes.
In any case, if what you're interested in is getting to the point and seeing which passes include admission to the Statue of Liberty, here's a list of what they are and, by the way, I'll link you to the practical guide I've prepared about each of them. I'm sure this will help you decide which one is best suited to your trip!
How to go to the Statue of Liberty?
If you're thinking of going to Liberty Island on your own, there's only one company that operates ferries to the Statue of Liberty, and that's Statue of Liberty Cruises. You can take an express cruise to the Statue of Liberty if you're short on time but don't want to miss out on the experience.
Boarding points
- Battery Park, which is located south of Manhattan. As the main pier, it's the most crowded, so again, try to get there early in the morning. To get there, it's best to take the underground to Bowling Street or South Ferry.
- Liberty State Park, which is in New Jersey. If you don't want to wait in a long queue for the ferry, or you're staying nearby, this is a good alternative option.
Timetables
There is a ferry to the Statue of Liberty every 25 minutes. When you arrive at the pier at Battery Park, if you have already purchased your ticket, simply go through security and board the ferry directly. The ferry will take you straight to Liberty Island in about 15 minutes, and you'll gradually see the Statue of Liberty getting closer and closer.
At the end of your visit, you can catch the ferry to Ellis Island (where you can visit the Immigration Museum) or head straight back to Manhattan. Visiting Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island will take you about 5 hours. This may seem obvious, 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 to miss a good number of tourists. That said, try to get there as early in the morning as possible. If you manage to get to Liberty Island before 10am, 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 to Friday. If you can still only go on weekends, Sundays are the best day for crowds.
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 attraction of climbing the crown of the Statue of Liberty is more to see the actual monument built from the inside, as the views from the top are not as spectacular. If you choose this option, I recommend you book 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 on 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'll be back in Battery Park just in time for lunch and that's why I recommend a few mouth-watering restaurants. However, if the following list doesn't convince you, check out the best places to eat in New York here.
- Inatteso Pizzabar - a popular pizza place in the financial district where you can find salads, meatball dishes, pasta, and pizza, all of which look delicious and authentic.
- Toro Loco NYC - a Mexican-inspired restaurant with an amazing 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'll find sushi, wraps, and vegetarian options, mainly takeaway, if you prefer 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 this restaurant's speciality. Basically, it's a brioche sandwich filled with lobster meat and sauce. It's not for everyone, but if your mouth is watering from reading this, don't think twice and try it!
Alex's Traveller Tip
Beware of the hawkers around Battery Park offering you tickets - most of them are fake!
Tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty
If you've already mentally got 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 you organise your visit:
- Avoid the weekend: Try to go from Monday to 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 mobile 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 notes for the change machines).
- Bring the essentials: To climb the Statue of Liberty's crown, you will have to leave all your belongings at the ticket booths 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 have finished 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 hop on the ferry to Ellis Island, a must-visit.
Visit Ellis Island
At Ellis Island you can visit the Immigration Museum, with over 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 ancestor tracing 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 the area where the Statue of Liberty is located in more depth, there are several options available to you. You can take a private tour of Ellis Island with tickets to the Statue of Liberty or you can book a guided tour that includes Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty as well as the 9/11 Memorial.
Other interesting activities in New York
If you fancy seeing the Statue of Liberty from another point of view, there are a number of places in the city that will give you the best views of the Statue of Liberty. But it's also possible to fly over Manhattan in a helicopter: a 15-20 minute flight over the Hudson will get you close to seeing not only the Statue but also Manhattan's most imposing skyscrapers. 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're already a frequent visitor, you'll know that the city is huge and the range of attractions, things to do and points of interest is enormous. Taking a guided tour is essential to get to know the most important sights and understand the history and customs of the city. Here is my report on 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 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.