In a nutshell
- The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island in New York Harbor — Ellis Island is right next door. The official Statue City Cruises ferry takes you to both islands.
- Statue of Liberty tickets should always be booked online in advance — there are several options, and we walk you through all of them in this article.
- Our honest take: skip the crown or pedestal climb and go for the General Admission day trip instead — you’ll see the statue up close, explore Ellis Island, and honestly won’t miss much.
- Prefer to stay on the water? A boat tour around the Statue of Liberty gives you a seriously great view of Lady Liberty from the water.
What Do You Need to Know About Statue of Liberty Tickets Beforehand?
Before we get into how to get there and what to expect on-site, let’s start with the most important thing: buying your tickets.
One thing upfront: the ticket options are pretty straightforward. Phew, lucky you.
Where's the Best Place to Buy Your Statue of Liberty Ticket?
Where you buy your Statue of Liberty tickets depends on what you want to do there. These are your options:
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island without access to the statue (General Admission)
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Pedestal Access (Pedestal Access)
- Statue of Liberty with Pedestal & Crown Access (Crown Access)
All three ticket types are available on the official Statue of Liberty website.
Third-party providers GetYourGuide and Tiqets only sell Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tickets without statue access.
You cannot buy pedestal or crown access tickets on-site. You absolutely must book those online in advance! On-site (Battery Park and Liberty State Park), you can only buy ferry and island access tickets — with extremely long wait times.
Entry to the crown is only permitted for visitors at least 4 feet tall!
What 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 | To the ticket shop |
| Reserve with Pedestal Access | $32.80 | |
| Reserve with Crown Access (Pedestal & Crown Access) | $32.80 |
Also important: All tickets are non-transferable and already include your ferry ticket.
Statue of Liberty Tickets from Third-Party Providers
| What? | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Ferry | from 24€ | Buy at GetYourGuide |
| from 27€ | Buy at Tiqets | |
| Boat Tour around the Statue of Liberty | from 21€ | Buy at GetYourGuide |
When Are Which Statue of Liberty Tickets Available?
- Islands (General Admission): Book at least three to seven days in advance.
- Islands + Pedestal (Pedestal Access): Book at least two to four weeks in advance.
- Islands + Pedestal + Crown (Crown Access): Book at least three to four months in advance.
In general, you can book your Statue of Liberty tickets up to six months in advance.
Can You Visit the Statue of Liberty on a Whim?
A spontaneous visit is only possible from the outside — either by walking around Liberty Island or joining a boat tour in New York.
You can’t just show up and go inside the Statue of Liberty. For that, you need to book a ticket online in advance.
Statue of Liberty Sold Out: Now What?
If pedestal and crown access is already sold out during your New York trip, don’t be discouraged.
You can still take a trip out to Liberty Island and see the statue up close from the outside.
Or jump on a boat tour — you’ll see Lady Liberty from some really great angles that way.
And honestly? There are actually better viewpoints in New York than the inside of the Statue of Liberty anyway.
Check these out:
Are There Combo Tickets for the Statue of Liberty?
No, the Statue of Liberty isn’t bundled with other New York attractions in a combo ticket.
That said, your trip to Liberty Island always includes Ellis Island — so you’re already getting two iconic spots in one go.
Is the Statue of Liberty Included in a New York Pass?
Access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island is included in both the New York Pass and the New York Explorer Pass.
Pedestal and crown access is not included in any pass. You always have to book those tickets separately.
Our Ticket Recommendation: Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty is obviously an absolute classic in New York. But honestly? In our opinion, you can skip the climb to the crown or pedestal. The view is fine, but in a city like New York there are simply better spots for that — like The Edge or Top of the Rock.
That said, the side trip to Liberty Island and Ellis Island is absolutely worth your time.
Even without going inside, it’s worth the trip just to see the statue up close, snap some photos, and soak up a bit of history. The Immigration Museum on Ellis Island in particular is genuinely fascinating and moving.
So instead of pedestal and crown tickets, we recommend an easy day-trip package — ferry included, access to both islands, and all museums covered.
Book your Liberty Island and Ellis Island tickets online
How to Get to the Statue of Liberty
You can only reach Liberty Island by taking the official ferry operated by Statue City Cruises. There are two departure points:
Battery Park (Manhattan)
Liberty State Park (New Jersey)
The ferry ride to Liberty Island takes about 15 minutes. Once you arrive, a short walk from the dock brings you directly to the Statue of Liberty and the Statue of Liberty Museum.
When you’re done there, head back to the dock and catch the next ferry over to Ellis Island.
After your visit to Ellis Island, the ferry takes you back to your starting point.
How a Statue of Liberty Visit Works
To make sure your trip runs smoothly, here’s everything you need to know — plus our tips for what to expect on-site:
Wait Times and Security at the Statue of Liberty
Wait times vary depending on the time of day, day of the week, and season.
With a ticket booked in advance, expect around 30 to 60 minutes of wait time (including the ferry and security).
If you show up without a ticket, you could be looking at two hours or more of waiting — just the line at the ticket booth alone eats up a huge chunk of time.
So: book in advance — no exceptions!
What Can You Bring and What's Not Allowed?
What you can bring to the island:
- Small backpacks or bags
- Water bottles (plastic or metal are best — no glass bottles)
- Snacks for a picnic
- Cell phones, cameras, power banks
- Strollers (for New York, we recommend a travel stroller)
What you are NOT allowed to bring to the island:
- Large backpacks or suitcases
- Weapons of any kind or sharp objects
- Glass bottles
- Alcohol
- Drones
- Bicycles or scooters (including e-scooters)
- Animals (except service animals)
How Much Time Should You Plan for the Statue of Liberty?
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island without statue access: 3–4 hours
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island with Pedestal Access: 4–5 hours
- Statue of Liberty with Pedestal & Crown Access: 5–6 hours
Is the Statue of Liberty Accessible?
Liberty Island itself is fully accessible. This applies to the ferries, visitor centers, pathways, and the Statue of Liberty Museum.
Access to the pedestal and crown is, however, only partially available.
The pedestal is accessible by elevator. Due to safety regulations, the elevator may occasionally be closed — check the official website before your visit for the latest info.
The crown can only be reached via a narrow staircase with 162 steps. Crown access is therefore not available for visitors with mobility limitations. There is no elevator to the top.
What Can You Do at the Statue of Liberty?
A trip to Liberty Island offers more than “just” a visit to the statue itself. Here are the highlights:
The Statue of Liberty
Okay, she’s obviously the absolute highlight — the reason millions of people take the ferry to Liberty Island every year: Lady Liberty herself.
You can simply admire her from the outside, take photos, and walk around the statue, or climb up into the pedestal or even all the way to the crown.
Inside and around the pedestal, you’ll find the Statue of Liberty Museum and the statue’s first observation deck. The pedestal platform stands nearly 100 feet high and offers a beautiful panorama of the Manhattan skyline, New York Harbor, and Ellis Island.
The crown is primarily an observation platform. From up there, you look out through small windows over New York Harbor and Manhattan. The space is very tight, though, and your time in the crown is limited to ten minutes.
Statue of Liberty Museum
The Statue of Liberty Museum dives into the history, significance, and symbolism of the statue.
On display is the original 1886 torch (the statue received a new one in 1984), along with an immersive theater, historic photographs, original drawings, and the Inspiration Gallery — where you can try your hand at your own artistic creations.
The museum is in a building near the pedestal. No extra ticket needed — your ferry ticket gets you in.
Views of Manhattan
From Liberty Island, you’re looking directly at the southern tip of Manhattan. It’s a perfect vantage point for the skyline — One World Trade Center, the skyscrapers of Wall Street, all of it.
Walks & Picnics
Liberty Island isn’t just home to the Statue of Liberty — it’s also a lovely spot for a stroll with stunning views. There’s a nice loop path around the island where you can see the statue from all different angles.
There are also plenty of benches and grassy areas perfect for a picnic. Feel free to bring your own snacks.
Crown Café
Not in the mood for a picnic? The Crown Café on Liberty Island has you covered. Despite the name, it’s not just coffee and pastries — it’s proper American food: cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fries, and sandwiches.
You can eat inside or grab a table outside with a view of the Statue of Liberty.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island is a small island right next to the Statue of Liberty — and once the main gateway for immigrants entering the United States.
Today it’s home to the Immigration Museum, where you can explore original rooms, old photographs, and personal stories from immigrants of the past. Genuinely moving and fascinating.
You get there by ferry from Battery Park or Liberty State Park. When you book a Statue of Liberty ticket, Ellis Island is always included. The ferry takes you first to the statue, then on to Ellis Island — or in reverse, depending on how you plan your day.
Ellis Island also has its own café — the Ellis Café — similar to the Crown Café on Liberty Island.
Boat Tour Around the Statue of Liberty
Not interested in going inside the statue, and visiting Liberty Island itself isn’t a priority? Then a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty might be a better fit for your plans.
The tour lasts about 50 minutes and gives you an unobstructed view of Lady Liberty from the water — honestly one of the best ways to see her.
There’s live English-language commentary throughout, explaining everything you see along the way.
Book a boat tour around the Statue of Liberty online
The History of the Statue of Liberty — A Brief Overview
The Statue of Liberty isn’t just some big green lady holding a torch — she carries a whole lot of meaning.
She’s a symbol of freedom, hope, and the great American Dream. And she didn’t even originate in the US.
The idea for Lady Liberty actually came from France. The French wanted to give the Americans a gift for the 100th anniversary of their independence — a token of friendship and shared values. And what do you give an entire country? A 305-foot-tall statue. Obviously.
So the French designed the whole thing. Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was the creative mind behind it, and Gustave Eiffel — the genius behind the Eiffel Tower — handled the iron internal structure. The Americans had to build the pedestal themselves. Fair enough.
But the whole project ended up taking much longer than planned. Why? Money problems. Fundraising was underway in France, while in the US things were pretty much at a standstill.
It wasn’t until savvy newspaper publisher Joseph Pulitzer (you may have heard the name) launched a massive fundraising campaign — promising to name every donor in his paper — that things really got moving. Suddenly everyone wanted to be part of it.
In 1886, the moment finally arrived: the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York by ship, packed in crates, and was assembled on Liberty Island. And there she stood — tall, copper-colored at the time, and full of meaning.
For millions of immigrants, she was the very first thing they saw of America.
Just imagine: weeks on a cramped steamship, and then — BOOM — Lady Liberty with her torch. Welcome to the land of unlimited opportunity. Incredible.
Lady Liberty had only a handful of dark moments. During World War I, an explosion damaged her skirt, and after 9/11 she was temporarily closed.
Today she’s not just a tourist hotspot but a true cornerstone of American identity. And even if you’ve seen her in pictures a thousand times, when you’re actually standing in front of her, you feel it: she means every bit of that freedom she’s holding up in New York Harbor.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Statue of Liberty New York
How old is the Statue of Liberty?
The statue was unveiled on October 28, 1886. That means in 2026 it will be 140 years old.
Is the Statue of Liberty a man or a woman?
The Statue of Liberty depicts a female figure.
Who does the Statue of Liberty represent?
What does the Statue of Liberty hold in her hands?
In her right hand, the Statue of Liberty holds a torch — representing the light of freedom that illuminates the world.
In her left hand, she holds a tablet inscribed with JULY IV MDCCLXXVI: the date of American independence — July 4, 1776.
What do the 7 spikes on the Statue of Liberty's crown mean?
The seven spikes on the crown represent the seven seas and the seven continents.
The message: Freedom is a universal right.
What does the Statue of Liberty have to do with Germany?
The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty was designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt.
He was one of the most prominent architects of his time in the USA — with German roots.
Beyond that, the Statue of Liberty’s deeper historical connections are primarily with France.
What is the largest statue in the world?
The largest statue in the world is currently the Statue of Unity in India. Including the base, it stands 240 meters tall.
For comparison: the Statue of Liberty is “only” 93 meters tall — making the Statue of Unity about 2.5 times as tall as Lady Liberty.
