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 sailing around it is an experience not to be missed 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 queues: the ferry to Liberty Island and the museums. Here are some of the options available.
How to buy tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty
If you're travelling to New York and want to visit one of its most iconic monuments, we recommend buying tickets for the Statue of Liberty in advance. The official authorised operator for individual ticket sales is Statue City Cruises. At Hellotickets, you can book a guided tour to soak up all the history that the Lady Liberty has to tell.
Buy tickets for the Statue of Liberty at the ticket office
The big disadvantage of buying tickets on the spot is that you will have to queue up no matter what, and you may also have to wait for the next ferry if there is a large crowd of tourists.
Visit the Statue of Liberty with a guided tour
If you prefer to learn more about the history of the monument and its significance, a good option is to book a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty, which also includes Ellis Island. You will be accompanied by an expert guide who will explain everything about the construction of the statue, the role it played in immigration and the secrets of Liberty Island. They will also help you get around more easily during the visit and make the most of your time.
Types of tickets and visits to the Statue of Liberty
Whether you prefer to visit on your own or with an expert guide, there are several ways to explore the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Here are the options available, from basic tickets to complete tours with museums included:
Individual tickets
- General admission: includes the ferry, access to Liberty Island and the Statue Museum, as well as admission to Ellis Island and its immigration museum.
- Pedestal ticket: allows you to climb to the pedestal of the statue, in addition to all of the above. Advance booking is required.
- Ticket with access to the crown: the most exclusive and limited option, giving access to the highest point of the statue. Places are very limited.
- Tickets for school groups or educational excursions: these are managed upon prior request.
Guided tours
- Tour with ferry, museums and bilingual guide (4 hours) — from S$104 Includes access to Liberty Island, Ellis Island and their museums, with English/Spanish guide or audio guide.
- Cruise with access to Liberty and Ellis Island — from S$88 Flexible option with ferry, museums and English-speaking guide or multilingual audio guide.
- Classic, express or VIP early morning tour — from S$76 Choose between a full tour, express tour or premium early morning tour.
- Private tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island — from S$106 Personalised tour with a guide just for your group, ferry and museum tickets included.
- Statue of Liberty + 9/11 Memorial combo tour — from S$106 Add a stop at the memorial or the 9/11 Museum to your visit.
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 and include admission, the ferry and an expert guide.
If you prefer to go on your own, you can find tickets for around £20 for the pedestal, but you will have to buy ferry tickets separately and pay for a guided tour if you choose to visit the Statue and Liberty Island with a guide.
Are tickets to the Statue of Liberty included in any New York tourist passes?
The appeal of the Statue of Liberty also makes it an essential attraction on the main sightseeing passes in New York. If you still don't know what they are, how they work or whether they are right for you, I invite you to read my article on New York Tourist Cards
In any case, if you want to get straight to the point and see which passes include admission to the Statue of Liberty, here is a list of them, along with links to the practical guide I have prepared for each one. I'm sure this will help you decide which one is best for your trip!
How to get to the Statue of Liberty?
If you're thinking of visiting 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 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, located in southern Manhattan. As the main pier, it is the busiest, so again, try to go early in the morning. To get there, it is best to take the underground to Bowling Street or South Ferry.
- Liberty State Park, located in New Jersey. If you don't want to wait in a long queue for the ferry, or you are staying nearby, this is a good alternative option.
Timetable
Ferries depart every 25 minutes. When you arrive at the Battery Park pier, if you have already booked your cruise to the Statue of Liberty, simply go through security and board the ferry. The ferry will take you directly 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 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 about 5 hours. This may seem obvious, but try not to miss the return ferry! The guards at Liberty Island will have to call for a pick-up service, and guess who will pay for it...
When to visit the Statue of Liberty?
As you might expect, it is one of New York's most popular attractions, so keep this in mind when booking your ticket to the Statue of Liberty. It is difficult not to encounter a large number of tourists on the way there. That said, try to go as early as possible in the morning. If you manage to get to Liberty Island before 10 a.m., you'll avoid the big crowds.
Logically, most visitors go to the Statue of Liberty on weekends, so if you can, try to go Monday through Friday. If you can only go on the weekend, Sundays are the best days in terms of tourist crowds.
How can I go up to the Statue's Crown?
You can go up to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty by paying a supplement or purchasing a specific ticket. The appeal of climbing to the crown of the Statue of Liberty is more to see the monument itself from the inside, as the views from the top are not that spectacular. If you choose this option, I recommend booking your tickets for the Statue of Liberty well in advance, as they are the first to sell out.
Where to eat when visiting the Statue of Liberty?
When planning where to eat during your visit to the Statue of Liberty, you have two options: eat before or after your visit, or go to the café on Liberty Island or Ellis Island, where a meal usually costs between £12 (around £11) and £15 (around £14), with options such as salads, burgers and sandwiches.
If you take my advice and book a visit to the Statue of Liberty in the morning, you'll be back at Battery Park just in time for lunch, which is why I recommend a few restaurants that will make your mouth water. However, if the following list doesn't quite 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 looking delicious and authentic.
- Toro Loco NYC: a Mexican-inspired restaurant with a menu of amazing tacos, nachos, quesadillas and burritos. Perfect for a quick bite or to take away and continue exploring New York.
- Café 11: here you'll find sushi, wraps and vegetarian options, mainly to take away, if you prefer a light and healthy meal. The downside is that they're not open at weekends.
- 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 bun filled with lobster meat and sauce. It's not for everyone, but if your mouth is watering just reading this, don't think twice and give it a try!
Tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty
If you already have one foot on the ferry and can't wait for the day of your trip to arrive, take note of some useful tips before organising your visit to the Statue of Liberty:
- Avoid weekends: Try to go Monday through Friday, preferably in the morning.
- Lockers: When you arrive at the Liberty Island pier, you will walk a short distance to the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Before accessing the statue's pedestal, you will need to leave your belongings (except your mobile phone, camera and wallet) in a locker at the base of the statue.
- Don't forget to bring cash: The lockers cost 25 cents, so remember to bring cash (or notes for the change machines).
- Bring the essentials: To climb to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, you will have to leave all your belongings in the lockers except for your ticket and your camera. For this reason, I recommend that you bring only the essentials on this visit.
- 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 tear yourself away, you can take the ferry to Ellis Island, which is a must-see.
Visit Ellis Island
On Ellis Island, you can visit the Immigration Museum, with more than thirty rooms displaying exhibits about the times when New York welcomed immigrants from all over the world. Something I found quite interesting about this museum is that it has an ancestor search service where you can see if any of your distant relatives ever lived in New York.
If you want to see more of the area around the Statue of Liberty, there are several options available. You can:
- A private tour of Ellis Island with tickets to the Statue of Liberty.
- A guided tour that includes Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the 9/11 Memorial.
Other interesting activities in New York
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty from a different perspective, there are numerous spots in New York that offer the best views of the Statue of Liberty, but you can also book a helicopter flight. You'll see not only the Statue but also the most impressive skyscrapers in 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's your first time in New York or you're a frequent visitor, you'll know that the city is huge and there are lots of 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. Here's my review of the two tours that I think are the most comprehensive: Upper and Lower Manhattan Tour and New York Contrasts Tour.
If, on the other hand, you have time to spare and feel like getting out of the city to discover its surroundings, here is my article on 17 Day Trips from New York so you can explore all the options.