In a nutshell
- The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island just south of Manhattan, right next to Ellis Island. Ferries from Statue City CruisesCruises go to both islands.
- Tickets for the Statue of Liberty are easiest to book online ahead of time. There are a few ticket types for the visit, which we explain in detail in the article.
- If you don’t plan to visit the Statue of Liberty, you can also take a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty. It actually gives you an even better view of Lady Liberty.
What Do You Need to Know about Statue of Liberty Tickets in Advance?
Before we dive into how to see the Statue of Liberty and what to expect during your visit, let’s first look at how to choose and buy your ticket.
Here’s what you should know ahead of time: ticket options are limited. So it’s great you’re planning now.
Check out our article about how to bus tickets for NYC attractions
#1 Where is the best place to buy your Statue of Liberty ticket?
Where you get your tickets for the Statue of Liberty depends on what you want to do there. These are your options:
- Ferry to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island without going inside the statue (General Admission)
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with access to the pedestal (Pedestal Access)
- Statue of Liberty with access to the pedestal & crown (Crown Access)
All three Statue of Liberty tickets are sold on the official website.
The third-party provider GetYourGuide only offers tickets for the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island without pedestal or crown access.
You can’t buy pedestal or crown tickets on site. These must be booked online ahead of time! On-site at Battery Park and Liberty State Park, you’ll only find ferry tickets with island access – expect long waits.
Access to the crown is only allowed for visitors who are at least 1.20 meters tall!
#2 What kind of Statue of Liberty tickets are there and how much do they cost?
Statue of Liberty tickets from the official provider
| What? | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve Ticket (Liberty Island & Ellis Island) | $32.50 | Buy Your Ticket Here |
| Reserve with Pedestal Access | $32.80 | Buy Your Ticket Here |
| Reserve with Pedestal & Crown Access | $32.80 | Buy Your Ticket Here |
The official provider offers discounts for children aged 4 to 12 and for seniors 62 and up.
Good to know: All tickets are personalized and include the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.
Statue of Liberty tickets from third-party providers
| What? | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Ferry | $27 | Buy Your Ticket Here |
| Statue of Liberty Cruise | $23 | Buy Your Ticket Here |
#3 When are which Statue of Liberty tickets available?
- General Admission: Book at least 3 to 7 days in advance.
- Pedestal Access: Book at least 2 to 4 weeks in advance.
- Pedestal + Crown Access: Book at least 3 to 4 months in advance.
In general, you can book your Statue of Liberty tickets up to 6 months ahead of time.
#4 How to see the Statue of Liberty spontaneously?
A last-minute visit to the Statue of Liberty is only possible from the outside. You can still visit Liberty Island or take a boat tour in New York to see it.
You can’t climb the statue without a ticket. These must be booked online in advance.
#5 Statue of Liberty fully booked: What now?
If pedestal or crown access is already sold out during your New York trip, don’t worry.
You can still take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and walk around the island.
Or enjoy a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty – it’s a great way to see it from different angles.
And honestly, there are even better views of the city than from inside the statue.
Check them out here:
#6 Are there combo tickets for the Statue of Liberty?
No, the Statue of Liberty isn’t included in combination deals with other New York attractions.
But every trip to Liberty Island, where the statue stands, always comes with access to Ellis Island. So you’re really getting two top sights in one visit.
#7 Is the Statue of Liberty included in a New York Pass?
Yes, both Liberty Island and Ellis Island are included in the New York Pass and the New York Explorer Pass. For all the details, check out our New York Pass Comparison.
Pedestal and crown access aren’t included with any pass. You’ll always need to book those tickets separately.
Our Ticket Recommendation: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is, of course, a must-see when you’re in New York. But honestly? We think you can skip the climb to the crown or pedestal. The view’s decent, but with so many incredible viewpoints in NYC – like The Edge or Top of the Rock – it’s not really worth the effort.
Still, you should absolutely visit the Statue of Liberty by taking the ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island.
It’s the best way to see the statue up close, snap some great photos, and dive into its history. The Ellis Island Museum especially is well worth your time.
That’s why we suggest going for a simple excursion ticket that includes the ferry and full access to both islands and their museums, rather than getting pedestal or crown access – the General Admission Ticket.
Book your Ticket for an Excursion to Liberty Island and Ellis Island Online
How to Get to the Statue of Liberty
You can only get to the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island by taking the official Statue City Cruises ferry. There are two departure points:
Liberty State Park (New Jersey)
The ferry ride to Liberty Island takes around 15 minutes. Once you arrive, it’s a short walk from the dock to the Statue of Liberty and the museum.
Afterward, just head back to the dock and take the next ferry to Ellis Island.
Once you’ve finished exploring Ellis Island, the ferry brings you back to where you started.
How much is the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?
A round trip to Ellis Island and Liberty Island costs $25.50 for adults. Access to both islands and all museums is inclusive.
Tour of the Statue of Liberty
To help you plan your visit to the Statue of Liberty, here’s everything you need to know, plus some helpful tips for your time on the island:
Waiting times and security at the Statue of Liberty
Wait times at the Statue of Liberty depend on the time of day, the day of the week, and the season.
With a pre-booked ticket, plan for about 30 to 60 minutes including the ferry and security check.
If you arrive without a ticket, you might wait up to 2 hours or more on busy days. The line for tickets alone can be long. So it’s definitely worth booking ahead!
What can you take with you and what not?
You can bring:
- Small backpacks or bags
- Water bottles (plastic or metal, no glass)
- Snacks or food for a picnic
- Phones, cameras, power banks
- Strollers (a travel buggy is ideal for New York)
These items are not allowed:
- Large backpacks or suitcases
- Weapons or sharp objects
- Glass bottles
- Alcohol
- Drones
- Bikes or scooters (including e-scooters)
- Animals (except service dogs)
How much time should I plan for the Statue of Liberty?
- Liberty Island & Ellis Island without entering the statue: 3 – 4 hours
- Liberty Island & Ellis Island with pedestal access: 4 – 5 hours
- Full visit with pedestal & crown: 5 – 6 hours
Is the Statue of Liberty barrier-free?
Liberty Island is fully accessible. This includes the ferries, walkways, visitor centers, and the Statue of Liberty Museum.
However, there are some limitations for the pedestal and crown.
The pedestal has elevator access, though it may occasionally be closed due to safety reasons. Be sure to check the official website in advance.
The crown is only reachable by a narrow staircase with 162 steps. There is no elevator, so the crown is not barrier-free.
What Can You Do at the Statue of Liberty?
A trip to Liberty Island offers more than just seeing the statue. Here are the highlights:
The Statue of Liberty
She’s the main attraction and the reason millions take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty every year: Lady Liberty.
You can simply walk around and admire her from outside, take photos, and enjoy the views – or go inside the pedestal or even climb up to the crown.
Inside and around the pedestal, you’ll find the Statue of Liberty Museum and the first viewing platform. It’s nearly 30 meters high and gives you a great view of Manhattan, New York Harbor, and Ellis Island.
The crown is mostly a viewing platform with small windows that look out over the harbor and skyline. It’s a tight space and visits to the crown are limited to about 10 minutes.
Statue of Liberty Museum
The Statue of Liberty Museum focuses on the statue’s history, meaning, and symbolism.
Here, you can see the original torch from 1886 (a new one replaced it in 1984), step into an immersive theater experience, and explore exhibits featuring historic photos, original sketches, and the Inspiration Gallery—where you can create your own art.
The museum is located near the base of the statue. You don’t need a separate ticket—just use your ferry ticket for entry.
View of Manhattan
From Liberty Island, you get a direct view of the southern tip of Manhattan. The skyline with One World Trade Center and the towering buildings of Wall Street looks incredible from here.
Walks & Picnics
Liberty Island isn’t just the site of the statue—it’s also a peaceful place for a walk with great views. A scenic path circles the island and lets you enjoy different perspectives of the statue.
There are plenty of benches and grassy spots along the way, perfect for a picnic. You’re welcome to bring your own food and snacks.
Crown Café
If you’d rather not picnic, the Crown Café on Liberty Island is a good option. Despite the name, it offers more than just coffee and snacks—you’ll also find American-style cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries, and sandwiches.
You can dine indoors or outside with views of the Statue of Liberty.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is a small island next to Liberty Island that once served as the main entry point for immigrants arriving in the United States.
Today, it’s home to the Immigration Museum, where you can explore historic rooms, browse old photographs, and hear moving personal stories from past immigrants.
You can reach it by taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty from either Battery Park or Liberty State Park. When you book a ticket to visit the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island is automatically included. The ferry route includes both islands, and you can choose which one to explore first.
And just like Liberty Island, Ellis Island has a dining spot too—the Ellis Café.
Boat Tour Around the Statue of Liberty
If you don’t need to step onto Liberty Island or go up to the statue, then a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty might fit your sightseeing plans better.
The cruise lasts about 50 minutes and gives you an unbeatable view of Lady Liberty from the water.
There’s live English commentary on board to tell you all about the sights along the way.
Book A Boat Tour Around the Statue of Liberty Online
The History Of the Statue of Liberty Explained in Brief
The Statue of Liberty isn’t just a giant green figure with a torch—she carries deep meaning.
She stands as a symbol of freedom, hope, and the American dream. And fun fact: she didn’t even come from the U.S.
The idea for Lady Liberty came from France. The French wanted to give the U.S. a gift to celebrate 100 years of independence—a sign of friendship and shared values. And what do you give an entire country? Apparently, a 93-meter statue made perfect sense.
So the French handled the design. Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi led the project, and Gustave Eiffel—yes, the guy behind the Eiffel Tower—designed the iron framework. The Americans were responsible for building the base. Classic division of labor.
But the whole thing took way longer than planned. Why? Funding issues. In France, donations poured in. In the U.S., not so much.
It wasn’t until publisher Joseph Pulitzer (yes, that Pulitzer) launched a massive fundraising campaign, promising to print every donor’s name in his newspaper, that things picked up. Suddenly, everyone wanted to be involved.
In 1886, it finally happened: The statue arrived in New York, shipped in crates, and was assembled on Liberty Island. There she stood—huge, still copper-colored, and packed with meaning.
For millions of immigrants, she was the first glimpse of America.
Imagine spending weeks on a cramped ship and then—bam—there’s Lady Liberty with her torch. Welcome to the land of opportunity.
She’s had a few rough patches. During WWI, an explosion damaged her robe, and after 9/11 she was temporarily closed.
Today, she’s more than just a tourist attraction—she’s a true icon of American identity. And even if you’ve seen a thousand photos, standing in front of her hits different. You feel it—she means freedom in New York Harbor.
FAQ about the Statue of Liberty New York
How much does a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty cost?
The Staten Island Ferry is completely free.
And: Beware of Scams! Unauthorized vendors near Battery Park may try to sell overpriced or fake tickets. Always get you tickets through Statue City Cruise (online, phone or at the booths) or via the third-party provider GetYourGuide.
How old is the Statue of Liberty?
The statue was unveiled on October 28, 1886. So it will be 140 years old in 2026.
Is the Statue of Liberty a man or a woman?
The Statue of Liberty is a representation of a female figure.
Who is the Statue of Liberty?
What is the Statue of Liberty holding?
The Statue of Liberty is holding a torch in her right hand. This is supposed to stand for the light of freedom that illuminates the world.
In her left hand she is holding a plaque that reads JULY IV MDCCLXXVI. This is the date of American independence – July 4, 1776.
What do the 7 spikes on the Statue of Liberty mean?
The spikes on the crown of the Statue of Liberty represent the seven seas and the seven continents.
And that in turn means something like: Freedom is a universal right.
Which is the largest statue in the world?
The largest statue in the world is currently the Statue of Unity in India. With its pedestal, it is 240 meters high.
For comparison: the Statue of Liberty is “only” 93 meters high. So the Statue of Unity is 2,5 times as high as Lady Liberty.
These were our tips for your visit to the Statue of Liberty
Have you ever visited the Statue of Liberty? Or do you have questions about planning your trip or getting tickets? Just leave us a comment—we’d love to hear from you!