Visiting the Statue of Liberty

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is as educational as it is inspiring. As an added bonus, the ferry trip across New York Harbor offers beautiful views of New York and New Jersey.

See one of the world’s most recognizable symbols
of freedom and democracy!

Hours
Getting There
Prices and Ticket Purchasing Information
Tips for Visiting the Statue of Liberty

Overview

The Statue of Liberty, a long-time international symbol of freedom and liberty, is located on Liberty Island. Most tourists only visit the grounds around the statue. With a little extra planning, you can go into the museum and pedestal levels of the statue, and even up into the crown as outlined below.

Ellis Island, once the nation’s foremost federal immigration station, is now the site of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Over 40% of Americans today can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island.

Ferries make round-trips between Manhattan and the two islands throughout the day. You can visit either one or both islands on your trip. These sites are only accessible by ferry service provided by Statue Cruises.

Learn more: Statue of Liberty Facts and History

Hours

Open Daily 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed on Christmas Day

If you want to visit both islands, make sure you are on a ferry that departs by 2:00 p.m. (and note that the security line before boarding the ferry can take 1 to 2 hours).

Getting There

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island requires taking a ferry from either New York or New Jersey. The ferry from New York leaves from Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. The ferry first stops at Liberty Island, where the statue is located, and then Ellis Island, where the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is located. Ferries run this route throughout the day.

Tickets can be purchased online in advance through Statue Cruises or you can purchase them at Castle Clinton National Monument, located near the Ferry Terminal.

Directions to the Ferry Terminal/Castle Clinton

By subway, take the 4 or 5 train to the Bowling Green Station. Walk South to Battery Park. Follow signs for Castle Clinton and Statue of Liberty Ferry. You can also take the 1 train to South Ferry (the last stop) or the R/W train to Whitehall Street.
By bus, take the M1, M6, or M15 bus to South Ferry.

Prices and Ticket Purchasing Information

Admission to the Statue of Liberty grounds and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum is technically free, but you have to purchase a ferry ticket to get there. One fee includes all three rides - to Liberty Island, from Liberty Island to Ellis Island, and from Ellis Island back to Manhattan.

Ferry Ticket Prices

Adults: $13
Seniors (62 and over): $10
Children 4-12: $5

Options for Purchasing Tickets

You can purchase round-trip ferry tickets upon arrival at the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park (near the ferry terminal).

You can purchase a Reserve Ticket online in advance. You will have a specific day and time to arrive at the security screening zone, reducing the amount of time you wait in line. Purchasing a Reserve Ticket also gives you the choice of adding a Monument Access Pass and/or a Crown Ticket (see below).
Click here to purchase a Reserve Ticket online through Statue Cruises.
You can purchase a 3-Day Flex Ticket in advance, which allows you to make your visit anytime within a three day period. This saves you the trouble of purchasing a ticket upon arrival but does not give you priority entry into the security screening facility. The Flex Ticket does not include a Monument Access Pass or a Crown Ticket.
Click here to purchase a 3-Day Flex Ticket online through Statue Cruises.

The prices are the same for all three options but you may save time standing in line if you purchase tickets in advance.

Add a Monument Access Pass

A Monument Access Pass allows entry to the museum gallery and pedestal observation levels of the Statue of Liberty. It is available at no extra cost when purchasing a Reserve Ticket online from Statue Cruises. The pass can also be picked up for free at the ticket booth at Castle Clinton on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is not available once you get to Liberty Island.

Add a Crown Ticket

Visitors can now access the crown of the Statue of Liberty. A crown ticket is available for an additional $3/ticket when you purchase a Reserve with Crown Ticket online through Statue Cruises. This ticket also includes a Monument Pass. Crown Tickets sell out fast, even months in advance. Check the Statue Cruises website for availability and reserve early.

Note: Monument Pass and Crown Ticket holders have to go through a second screening on Liberty Island, which may take up to an hour during peak season.

Audio Tour

You can purchase an audio guide for both islands for $8. If you purchase a Reserve or Flex Ticket online, you can choose to purchase an audio guide at that time. If you do not purchase ahead of time, audio guides are available at the Liberty Island gift shop.

Tips for Visiting the Statue of Liberty

If you don't have a specific reservation time, arrive early because the security lines can get very long.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is not a quick trip. If you can’t devote at least half a day to this, then skip it. Seeing both islands takes some time (minimum of 3 hours not including security lines and more if you do the audio tour) so you will need to depart the ferry terminal no later than 2 p.m.

Every visitor must go through a security check-point before boarding the ferry. The lines for this can be quite long and extend well into Battery Park. You will most likely have to wait in line for 1 to 2 hours depending on the crowds so factor this in as well. There are no locker storage facilities available.

Essential New York City Guide Tip
Pace Yourself! Although it's a worthwhile experience, the lines make visiting these two historical sites a rather lengthy endeavor. Many visitors have lost their stamina by the time they reach Ellis Island, the last leg of the trip. This causes them to really rush their time on Ellis Island or be too worn out for it altogether. We suggest saving some of your energy, and starting early enough in the day, to allow time explore the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. You can even choose not to get off the ferry when it reaches the Statue of Liberty and instead continue on to Ellis Island. You will still get excellent views of the statue from the ferry.