Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most noteworthy symbols for New York. It symbolises political freedom and democracy. Located in New York Harbour, it is also seen as the unofficial entrance to New York City and welcomes visitors from all around the world. Given to the United States as a present from the people of France for the centennial of the American Revolution, the statue opened to the public in 1886.
Buy your Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry tickets here

Liberty Island

To visit the Statue of Liberty, you have to take a boat from Lower Manhattan. Before boarding the boat, everyone must go through a rigorous security screening, similar to one at the airport. A visit to the monument itself requires additional screening. Please note that large bags, backpacks, strollers, and other large items must be stored in lockers on Liberty Island. You can rent a locker for a couple of dollars.

Visiting Statue of Liberty

If you only want to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you can book your tickets in advance. You can book your tickets for the ferry on this page. This is a safe and easy way, you don’t have to print tickets and can just show them on your phone. I would recommend however that you buy one of the discount passes to visit Liberty Island where the Statue of Liberty is on, the New York Pass, New York CityPASS, and the Explorer Pass all include a visit to Liberty Island.

The boat will take you first to Liberty Island, where you will disembark and walk to the Statue of Liberty. When you are done with your visit on Liberty Island you can take any boat back that you want. The boat will always go first to Ellis Island, where you can disembark if you wish. You don’t have to pay anything extra for this visit. If you don’t want to visit Ellis Island, you stay on the boat and it will bring you back to Manhattan.

Skip the line Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour

On this guided tour to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you meet at Castle Clinton in Battery Park and head to the ferry where you will be able to skip the line with priority boarding. Once on Liberty Island, you can visit the grounds and go inside the Statue of Liberty Museum. When you are done exploring, head back to the ferry and travel on to Ellis Island. You are then free to stay on Ellis Island for as long as you wish.

If this tour is sold out, see if the Statue of Liberty and 9/11 Memorial tour has availability.

Can I go inside the Statue of Liberty?

There are two ways you can go inside the Statue of Liberty: by visiting the pedestal or by visiting the crown. For both of these, you need to reserve in advance as tickets sell out extremely quickly.

Pedestal

There is an observation deck at the top of the pedestal. You get a close up of the Statue herself from here, plus a nice view of the Manhattan skyline. To get to this lookout point, you can climb the 215 steps or choose to take the lift for a portion of the climb.

Crown

If you want to also visit the crown check here for tickets. When making your reservation, make sure that the name on the ticket for the Statue of Liberty is the same as on your passport. For walking up to the crown, it is 354 steps up and down a narrow staircase. If you are walking up to the crown, the only things that visitors are allowed to take with them are their ticket, camera, and medication. All other items, including wallets and keys, must be stored in a rental locker. For the locker, bring a quarter or a $1 bill.

Statue of Liberty Museum

The Statue of Liberty Museum is the newest addition to Liberty Island. This museum is accessible to everyone visiting the island, so you don’t need to buy extra tickets. In the museum, you’ll find exhibits about the history of the Statue of Liberty and her meaning throughout history to the present day. There’s the ‘Engagement Gallery’ that resembles the sculptor’s studio, where the statue was constructed. The museum also includes a theatre, whereby you can walk by several screens that show you clips of the statue’s construction and cultural significance. Don’t forget to climb up to the rooftop of the museum for great views of the Manhattan skyline!

Can I see the Statue of Liberty for free?

Yes! Take a free ride on Staten Island Ferry. You will pass right by Statue of Liberty, but you cannot stop and get off at Liberty Island. Read more information on Staten Island Ferry here.

Practical Information

• Location: The statue is located in New York Harbor. The ferry departs from Battery Park in Downtown Manhattan.
• Opening hours: Open daily except Thanksgiving and December 25. The first ferry departs from Battery Park at 8:30 or 9:00, depending on the season.