Can you see the Statue of Liberty without going to the island?
LIBERTY STATE PARK, N.J.: This waterfront park on the New Jersey side of the harbor offers the closest view you can get of the statue without sailing past on a boat or stepping onto Liberty Island.
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BATTERY AND LOWER MANHATTAN: To see the Statue of Liberty without getting on a boat, just head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, an area known as the Battery (subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).
For an unforgettable view of the statue and Ellis Island, head to The Battery (formerly known as Battery Park). Located on the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, it's a great vantage point for taking in fabulous views of the New York Harbor, Governor's Island, Brooklyn, the New Jersey Shore, and the Verrazano Bridge.
TICKETS FOR THE STATUE OF LIBERTYTechnically, there is no cost to visit Liberty Island. What you have to pay for is the ticket for ferry passage and whether or not you would like access to the statue's pedestal or her crown. (Crown tickets have an additional fee).
STATEN ISLAND FERRYStill, without a doubt, this is the best view of the Statue of Liberty you can get for free. In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry is one of the very best things you can do for free in NYC.
BUDGET FRIENDLY: For an ease on the wallet water view of the Statue of Liberty, hop on the Staten Island Ferry. You won't get as close as you would with a paid cruise, but this FREE ride across New York Harbor runs 24 hours a day.
How long is the entire trip? Sailing time to each island is approximately 15 minutes. If you remain on boat for ride only without visiting either monument, it will be one hour and fifteen minutes. If you visit both islands the time depends on the time you spend on both islands.
It's also worth noting that while the statue is visible from boats going in both directions, it is much closer to the route taken by ferries going to Staten Island. Riding the Staten Island Ferry is the best way to see the Statue of Liberty.
Inevitably weekends are busier than mid-week, but it really is all relative and there is truly no quiet time to visit the statue. Our recommendation is to catch the first ferry departures Tuesday–Thursday if you really want to beat the crowds and get inside the museums ahead of anybody else.
To get to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty you'll need to purchase a ferry ticket through our partners at Statue Cruises. The only merchant authorized to bring passengers to the islands, Statue Cruises' tickets give you access to ferries, the grounds, the museums, and audio guides.
Sit on the starboard side, (right) as you leave Manhattan and the port side, (left) as you return from Staten Island. I've never really explored that borough but, if you're there in the summer you could see the Yankees minor league affiliate play baseball. Helpful? Sit on right hand side going out.
Taking the ferry to the Statue of Liberty is an absolute must! Not only does it offer unparalleled views and incredible experiences - it's also a great opportunity for some iconic pictures with Lady Liberty herself! Don't forget your camera – this is an experience not soon forgotten!
Unfortunately, getting there is slightly complicated. Whether you're coming from New York or New Jersey, you have to take the Statue Cruises ferry to get to Liberty Island. From New Jersey, you would board the ferry at Liberty State Park (which actually has its own parking lot).
As a tour guide, a question I hear a lot is: “Is it worth it to see Ellis Island?” For those who have no familial connection or relation to the people who passed through, its importance and influence can often be overlooked. Which is why I am here to tell you that it is absolutely, 100% worth it.
Depending on which way you are going, if you just missed a boat, you have a 20 to 40 minute wait for the next one. The New York ferry runs from Battery Park to Liberty Island to Ellis Island and back to Battery Park.
Visitors arrive and depart Liberty Island and Ellis Island, located in New York Harbor, via ferries operated by Statue City Cruises. These ferries leave from two locations: The Battery, at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, and Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey.
It's worth the visit but you have to be fit to climb up those 315 steps, in a tiny staircase at the end. Just be aware of the security: they do not allow you to take anything with you except your tickets and your camera, if you go to the crown.
Make sure to keep your visit to the statue shorter, so it's closer to 2 1/2 hours, and you can save some time for Ellis Island. To see all of Ellis Island would take a few hours. But if you're in a rush and don't want to skip it, I'd say 1 hour to see the highlights.
Visitors climb 354 steps to reach the crown and 192 steps in order to reach the top of the pedestal. There are 25 windows in the crown which symbolize 25 gemstones found on the earth. The seven rays of the Statue's crown represent the seven seas and continents of the world.
If you want to go inside the Statue of Liberty, you must buy a Pedestal Access or Crown Access ticket. General Admission tickets do not get you access inside the statue. If you are interested in tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, read more below.
A trip up to the crown includes walking up a double-helix spiral staircase. The Statue's Crown can only be accessed by climbing 162 stairs. There is no elevator service to the Crown. The climb is strenuous.
A trip up to the crown includes walking up a double-helix spiral staircase. The Statue's Crown can only be accessed by climbing 162 stairs. There is no elevator service to the Crown. The climb is strenuous.