The Statue of Liberty is the foremost symbol of the United States, the national monument. This magnificent statue, which defends all the values associated with its name, has become one of New York’s main tourist attractions.
Visit the Statue of Liberty & Liberty Island
Overview of your visit to the Statue of Liberty
It is often seen in American films. It is the emblem of the United States in the same way as the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty is absolutely fascinating. So imagine yourself taking a close look at this titanic monument.
To visit the Statue of Liberty is to realise the “American dream” by discovering one of the iconic monuments of New York and the USA. No trip to the Big Apple is complete without a visit to this legendary statue. Board a ferry and treat yourself to a unique cruise on Liberty Island. Before you fly to New York, it’s important to prepare your trip well and book your trip to the Statue of Liberty in advance. Here’s all the information you need to plan your trip.
Standing 93 metres tall, the Statue of Liberty stands proudly on Liberty Island in New York City Bay, close to the neighbouring island of Ellis Island, located in New York Harbour south of Manhattan.
This iconic monument, listed as a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, represents the United States’ commitment to freedom and democracy. Its historic importance as a symbol of welcome for migrants has made it one of the most visited sites in the world.
During your stay in New York, a visit to the Statue of Liberty is a must. While tourists come to see the Statue of Liberty to learn more about it and its captivating past, there are other aspects of the attraction that still fascinate (or will fascinate) many people.
So the answer to the question “Can you visit the Statue of Liberty?” is yes, but what exactly can you do at the Statue of Liberty?
We’ll get to that straight away, and also answer the many questions that visitors often ask about the Statue of Liberty.
- How does the tour work?
- How long does the tour last?
- When can I visit the Statue of Liberty?
- How much does the tour cost?
How do I visit the Statue of Liberty? Discover the full itinerary
Boat trip
Access is only possible by boat. If you live in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Harlem, then head for Battery Park in lower Manhattan to board one of the Statue City Cruise ferries.
Before boarding, visitors must show their ticket or New York Pass. If you are using one of the New York Passes, you will be given a link to make a reservation for the day of your visit. You will also need to present your reservation voucher with your Pass.
There is a ticket office at Castle Clinton in Battery Park, where you can buy a ticket, but it’s unlikely to be for the same day as the boats are fully booked in advance. You will also have to go through a security check, which takes between 20 and 45 minutes on average.
If you live in New Jersey, you can also take a Statue City Cruise boat from Liberty State Park.
The boat starts with a tour of the island, before docking on Liberty Island. Once you’re on the island, head down the main walkway to the ticket office to pick up a free audio guide.
With your headphones on, stroll around the statue and enter the different numbers on your audio-guide to listen to explanations and anecdotes about the history and events linked to the island and the statue.
Visit the Liberty Island Museum
The Statue of Liberty Museum is a must when you’re on Liberty Island. The entire history of the Statue of Liberty is recounted in this museum, from the ambition of its creator Auguste Bartholdi to the techniques used to build such an edifice, not forgetting models of the projects and the interior of the statue and its pedestal.
This is a collection of historical objects relating to the Statue of Liberty that is unique in the world, from the copper plates to the first torch it held up in 1886.
Descent to Ellis Island and visit to the Immigration Museum
Once you’ve completed your visit to Liberty Island, all you have to do is return to the boarding platform for your second destination: Ellis Island. You can choose to go down to Ellis Island to visit the National Immigration Museum, which tells the rich history of immigration to the United States and lets you relive the tumultuous experiences of millions of migrants who have passed through the island.
You can also choose to stay on the boat and return to Manhattan, but we highly recommend a visit to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum, which we describe here.
Interested in visiting the inside of the Statue of Liberty?
You’ll have to climb the 354 steps inside the Statue of Liberty. Once on the pedestal (the little heads you can see in the photo on the right below), you’ll enjoy a view of New York harbour, the Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan.
It is also possible to visit the crown of the Statue of Liberty, but this requires special “crown ticket to statue of liberty” and a reservation many months in advance.
How much does a visit to the Statue of Liberty cost?
You’ll find lots of prices on the internet for visiting the Statue of Liberty, but there’s only one company authorised to take you to Liberty Island and that’s “City Experiences”, which has been awarded the concession by the national parks for the next few years.
City Experiences offers 3 prices, with the price variation lying in access to the different parts of the statue: the island, its pedestal and its crown. All include the ferry to Liberty Island to walk around the statue, admission to the Statue Museum, the ferry to Ellis Island and admission to the Immigration Museum.
If you buy a New York Pass (except the Flex Sightseeing Pass), you get access to the walk around the statue, the two museums and the ferry to the two islands, so you save the $25 entrance fee, not to mention the dozens of other activities the pass provides.
24.50 / adult
18 / senior ( 62 years old)
$12 / child (under 12)
Free for children under 4
24.80 / adult
18.30 / senior citizen
$12.30 / child
Free for children under 4
24.80 / adult
18.30 / senior citizen
$12.30 / child
Free for children under 4³
¹ This access is not included with the passes and we do not recommend buying a ticket just for the pedestal, as it will not add to your experience. However, if you don’t buy a pass, given the price difference, you can choose this entrance and see for yourself if you have time to do so. You should allow an extra 30 minutes to visit the pedestal.
² Please note! These tickets must be booked months in advance. For example, in April at the time of writing, the next available tickets are for 22 August.
The visit to the crown of the statue is for groups of 10 people maximum, and is limited to 6 groups per hour. The ascent is demanding, with 393 steps, including 162 in narrow sections. Access is not possible for people with reduced mobility, as there is no lift.
The temperature also makes climbing difficult, as it can be up to 10°C warmer inside the structure; in summer, the temperature inside can reach 50°C.
³ Children must be at least 107 cm tall and be able to climb the stairs on their own. For security reasons, crown tickets must be collected from the ticket office by the purchaser, together with proof of identity.
Good to know: it takes about 3 to 5 hours for general access! If you don’t have a City Pass and you buy a ticket on a website, check the departure platform so that you don’t take New Jersey if you’re in Manhattan.
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Useful information
Timetable for visiting the Statue of Liberty
Liberty Island and Ellis Island welcome visitors every day from 9.30am to 5pm (except Thanksgiving Day and 25 December, when the attraction remains closed). The ticket office opens at 8.30am and ferries leave every 30-45 minutes, the first leaving Battery Park at 9am.
The last ferry leaves Battery Park at 3.30pm.
Shop and catering
Snack bars are available on the boats for a quick bite to eat, as well as restaurants on Liberty Island. The area is ideal for picnics, but coolers are not permitted. It is also forbidden to bring food from outside.
Souvenir shops are available on both islands.
Disabled access
All boats and buildings are accessible to the disabled except the crown.
Minimum age
Minors (aged 17 and under) may only board a ferry if accompanied by an adult aged 25 or over.
Other tips
To make the most of your visit to both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, it’s important to plan your visit in advance. Book your ticket early. To avoid queues at the entrance, we recommend that you buy your tickets online.
History and significance of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to the United States to celebrate the centenary of American independence (4 July 1776).
It is the work of Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, a French sculptor and painter, who built it based on sketches by Gustave Eiffel in Paris. Originally nicknamed“Liberty Enlightening the World“,“Lady Liberty“ was completed and unveiled to the public in 1886. Since then, she has become a symbol of freedom for people around the world.
It will soon be 137 years since the Statue of Liberty became a symbol of freedom. Inspired by the Roman goddess Libertas, she represents a woman whose identity remains a mystery. She is dressed in a toga and brandishes a torch in her right hand, while her left hand holds a plaque bearing the date of the Declaration of Independence. The seven rays of her crown represent the seven continents of the planet. At his feet are broken chains symbolising the abolition of slavery and oppression during the era of Napoleon III.
Because of its proximity to Ellis Island, the statue has become a symbol of historic hope for the millions of immigrants who have arrived over the years. Because it was also the first monument that migrants saw from the boat before disembarking on the island.
The history of the Statue of Liberty and that of Ellis Island are closely linked. From 1892 to 1954, the neighbouring island played a role in American history as the site that facilitated the entry of millions of immigrants to the United States. It served as the country’s largest immigration post from 1892 to 1954.
Over the years, efforts to restore and preserve Ellis Island have ensured that this important site remains accessible to visitors as a reminder of its historic past.
In short, the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island tour is an unforgettable experience for anyone visiting New York City. We’ll never say it again, the best thing you can do is plan your visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You will now find a list of questions that travellers often ask about the Statue of Liberty. If you have any other questions about the attraction before you fly to New York, don’t hesitate to ask us in the comments.
Frequently asked questions
The length of the visit depends on the attractions you choose to explore. You should allow at least 2 hours to visit one island and 4 to 5 hours to visit both islands and the museums.
The visit can last half a day if you opt to climb the crown.
As the exploration of the two islands lasts 5 hours, it’s in your interest to get on board before 2pm. To take full advantage of all the on-site activities at your own pace, come to Battery Park before 10am.
If you want to avoid the long queues, it’s best to arrive at the ticket office around 8.15am, so you can catch the first boat leaving Battery Park at 9am.
Bags are not allowed inside the attraction, but lockers are available free of charge for you to leave your luggage in before you leave.
Full height: 93m (305 feet)
Pedestal height: 47m (154 feet)
Height of the statue: 46m (151 feet)
Early in the morning, you can take photos next to the sculpture of the Wall Street Bull (Charging Bull), which is very popular during the day. Then there’s the One World Observatory, which is 8 to 15 minutes’ walk from Battery Park. And in the same area, you have the 9 September Museum and Memorial.
How do I get there?
Battery Park
Underground
- South Ferry – line 1
- Bowling Green – lines 4 and 5
- R Whitehall St – South Ferry – lines R and W
- Bus M1, M6 and M15
Très joli