Seeing the Statue of Liberty is a highlight of any trip to New York City!
Visiting the Island:
If you want to set foot on the island that houses the Statue of Liberty, you’ll need to book a ticket through Statue City Cruises. They are the only concessioner authorized by the National Parks Service to provide ferry service to the island. A General Admission ticket includes an audio tour, access to the path the encircles the island, and the Statue of Liberty museum. A Pedestal Reserve ticket grants you additional access to the concrete structure that supports Lady Liberty and you can climb up to the top of the pedestal (just below her feet). A Crown Reserve ticket allows you to climb all the way up the statue to admire the view from inside her crown!
During busy times of the year, it’s advised to pre-book tickets in advance as they often sell out. This is particularly true if you’re interested in climbing to the crown!
All tickets to the Statue of Liberty also allow you to visit Ellis Island. (Ellis Island has their own behind-the-scenes Hard Hat Tour.)
Because you’ll need to go through security and take a ferry to and from the island, you should plan a couple hours for your visit. Longer if you’re intend to visit Ellis Island as well.
From the Water:
Even if you opt not to visit the island itself, you can still get some great views of the Statue of Liberty from the water.
Staten Island Ferry: The Staten Island Ferry is a popular option and, best of all, it’s free! This ferry runs 24 hours a day with boats leaving every 15-30 minutes…and passes by the Statue of Liberty along it’s route. The ferry ride each way is approximately 30 minutes, but you’ll need to disembark and reboard at Staten Island, so you should probably plan on about 1.5 hours for a round trip from Battery Park.
Statue of Liberty Cruises: A variety of companies offer cruises centered around viewing the Statue of Liberty including Circle Line Sightseeing, Liberty Cruises, and Majestic Harbor Cruises. Or for a unique experience, head out on a tall ship with Manhattan by Sail.
The Beast: If you’re in the mood for a little more excitement, consider The Beast! This 30 minute tour offers views of the Statue of Liberty along with a trilling speedboat ride.
From the Air:
For the really adventurous, consider taking a helicopter tour that will give you an aerial view of the Statue of Liberty. Multiple companies provide tour options including Liberty Helicopter and HeliNY Sightseeing.
From Land:
If you’re tight on time, you can certainly see Lady Liberty from land. Battery Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and One World Observatory offer some of the best views, albeit at a considerable distance.
Those Liberty Mutual commercials you’ve seen on TV? Unfortunately there’s no place on land to get that particular view of the statue. (The shot was pieced together using Hollywood magic!)
