Visiting the Statue of Liberty: Everything You MUST Know + Free Options 🗽

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is often at the top of NYC visitors’ lists of things to do, and with good reason. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are two deeply important historical monuments that encapsulate a significant portion of New York City’s history.

But is it worth visiting the actual Statue of Liberty when you come to NYC?

We’re gonna answer that question and so much more in this article.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Brief History of the Statue of Liberty
• Visiting the Statue of Liberty – Island Access vs Pedestal vs Crown
• Ellis Island Overview + Hard Hat Tour Review
• Common Statue of Liberty Scams
• Cheapest Ways to See the Statue of Liberty

Let’s look at them all below. 👇

Quick Links:

• Buy a general Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island ticket here
• See if Pedestal Access Tickets are available here
• See if Crown Access Tickets are available here
• Book a Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island here

Note: This article was written by a real human who lives in NYC, not artificial intelligence. 🥸

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Podcast Episode

Want to hear more podcasts like this? Head here.

Brief History of the Statue of Liberty

A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States, “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.

Designated as a National Monument in 1924, employees of the National Park Service have been caring for the Statue of Liberty since 1933.

Related Reading: Financial District Neighborhood Guide

Visiting the Statue of Liberty – Island Access vs Pedestal vs Crown

Let’s begin with an overview of how Statue of Liberty tickets work and where you can purchase them.

Any ferry ticket that provides access to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located, also provides access to Ellis Island and the associated museum.

Before riding the ferry, you must pass through security similar to airport security measures, and plan on waiting in line for security screening and boarding the ferry. Typically, you can factor in 15-30 minutes to get through security and onto a boat.

The full Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island experience will take at least 3 hours, but can be as long as 5-6 hours depending on crowds, lines, and how fast you go through the museum.

One of the most important things to know about purchasing ferry tickets for the Statue of Liberty is that Statue City Cruises is the only official, sanctioned provider. While they offer their tickets through places like Get Your Guide, you must verify that the provider is Statue City Cruises, like this option.

Other ticketing providers often do not actually go to the island but simply go near the Statue of Liberty. This is one of NYC’s worst tourist traps and scams (more on that later).

When in doubt, purchase directly from Statue City Cruises on their website or verify that they are the provider when buying from third-party vendors like Get Your Guide, Viator, or other similar platforms.

All ticket options include a complimentary audio tour of both Liberty & Ellis Islands.

Let’s look at the three options for tickets to the Statue of Liberty. 👇

• Island-Only Access
• Pedestal Access
• Crown Access

Island-Only Access

This is the most common ticket option and is less than $30. It provides access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, including the museum located on Ellis Island, which is worth setting aside time for (more on that later).

It does not provide access to the pedestal or crown of the statue. This still gets you very close to Lady Liberty (see below) and all of the informational plaques throughout the island.

Pedestal Access

The Pedestal Access ticket is ONLY purchasable through cityexperiences.com, and can sell out weeks in advance. It costs less than $30, but again, you must plan ahead if you want to take advantage of this option.

This gets you closer to the statue than the general ticket and offers a higher vantage point of the surrounding area. The pedestal is accessible via an elevator or stairs.

Crown Access

This type of access ticket is ONLY purchasable through cityexperiences.com, and it sells out MONTHS in advance. It is less than $30, but again, you must plan well in advance to secure this ticket option.

This is the most unique and sought-after experience on Liberty Island. Keep in mind that you must climb 162 steps, which they describe as “tight and narrow.” So, if you are physically unstable, this is not a suitable option.

Additional Options – Statue of Liberty Tours

There are also many group, semi-private, and private tours of the Statue of Liberty. We are advocates of tours if your financial situation allows. It is the best way to learn the deeper history, context, and stories of this iconic landmark.

Here are a few popular tour options. ⤵️

You’ll Have to Check It Out – The Dead Rabbit

We absolutely loved our experience at The Dead Rabbit in Lower Manhattan. It’s the perfect spot for post-Statue of Liberty drinks & food.

The Dead Rabbit is an Irish bar housed in a townhouse originally built in 1828, with three levels and unique bar options at each level. They offer free & paid music events on many evenings

The Dead Rabbit was voted the World’s Best Bar in 2016!

It strikes the delicate balance of well-crafted, unique cocktails in a no-frills, unpretentious setting.. Think Irish pub meets cocktail lounge.

Check out The Dead Rabbit here.

Ellis Island Overview + Hard Hat Tour Review

Owned by the U.S. government, Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 million immigrants arriving at the Port of New York and New Jersey were processed there; as many as two-fifths of Americans may be descended from these immigrants.

The main attraction at Ellis Island is the historical museum, which features many artifacts, informational displays, and slices of immigrant history.

We’ve found the documentary shown in the museum, “Island of Hope, Island of Tears,” to be one of the best parts. This short movie shows every half hour.

Hard Hat Tour Review

We’ve visited the Liberty & Ellis Islands multiple times, and by far our favorite experience has been the hard hat tour of the abandoned Ellis Island complex.

This 90-minute tour takes you into the abandoned hospital complex that treated thousands of immigrants entering America through Ellis Island. The abandoned hospital, closed to the public for over 60 years, now offers a unique view of unrestored buildings, including the contagious disease wards, autopsy rooms, laundry facilities, and staff quarters.

Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about Ellis Island and the historical period it represents. There was time for questions, and the guide was very helpful in giving a greater context to the importance of Ellis Island to America’s history.

We highly recommend adding the Hard Hat Tour to your Ellis Island experience!

Note: The cost of this tour does not include your ferry access ticket; you must purchase that separately.

Beware of Common Statue of Liberty Scams

As you walk around Battery Park, you’ll often be approached by scammers trying to sell you Statue of Liberty tickets. They often target people trying to board the Staten Island Ferry (more on that later).

The scam is that the tickets they sell don’t actually stop at Ellis Island & Liberty Island (where the statue resides). Instead, you end up on a boat that goes by the Statue of Liberty.

Anyone who approaches you on the street in the Battery Park area should be ignored. Follow the signs and the information on your purchased ticket. Do not fall for this scam!

Cheapest Ways to See the Statue of Liberty

Here are the cheapest ways to see the Statue of Liberty:

• Staten Island Ferry
• From Governor’s Island
• From Lower Manhattan
• Ferry-Only Ticket – Under $30
• One World Observatory – $40+

Staten Island Ferry – Free

The Staten Island Ferry gets you pretty close to the statue, allowing you to get some great pics, and it’s 100% free.

You do not need to buy a ticket, and the ferry leaves every 30-60 minutes, depending on the time of day.

If you time the ferry correctly, the entire round-trip excursion can take less than 90 minutes, and you get two opportunities to see the Statue of Liberty.

This is what we recommend for most people who want to see the Statue of Liberty for free!

From Governor’s Island – Free on Weekends

Governor’s Island provides some phenomenal views of the Statue of Liberty. Additionally, the Governor’s Island Ferry is free on Saturdays and Sundays before 11am, although reservations are still recommended.

On normal days, the ferry costs $5 for a round-trip ticket.

From Lower Manhattan – Free

There are many spots to see the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan. You won’t be super close, but you still can see the statue in the distance.

Here are some of the best spots to see the Statue of Liberty in Manhattan (links open the Google Maps location):

• At the very bottom part of Battery Park
• Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park
• Battery Park Esplanade near Brookfield Place
• Pier 57 Rooftop Park (see our full Pier 57 review here)
• Little Island

Ferry-Only Statue & Ellis Island Ticket – Less than $30

We covered this in detail, but the regular Statue of Liberty access ticket, which also includes a visit to Ellis Island, is less than $30.

It’s a solid option, but it requires a significant portion of your day.

One World Observatory – $40+

The One World Observatory is a great observation deck option, offering extremely unique, aerial views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

It’s the cheapest option if you go after 8 pm, but a ticket generally costs around $40.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty Recap & Next Steps

You should feel confident in what it takes to see the Statue of Liberty during your visit to New York City. Remember that traveling to the island will take at least 4-5 hours, so plan accordingly.

Get a ticket here.

If you’re going to go out, we also highly recommend adding on the Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island.

The best free option is the Staten Island Ferry.

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