Is it worth climbing the Statue of Liberty?

The interior of the head and crown of the Statue of Liberty. Visiting the crown of the Statue of Liberty is one of the most rewarding experiences of any trip to New York City. Visitors get to enjoy views from the small platform in the statue's head which is roughly 20 stories high.



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You can take an elevator to the pedestal level of the Statue, but beyond that, there are just steps. Depending on your pace, it will take about 15-20 minutes to climb to the top of the crown and back, but you might want to spend some time on the pedestal level before or after your ascent.

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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.

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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.

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Crown access is limited due to safety and accessibility requirements and is reservation-based through the Statue City Cruises ticketing process. Depending on the time of year, reservations need to be acquired between four (4) to six (6) months in advance. Access to the crown is by stairs only.

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After visiting the Pedestal and the Statue of Liberty Museum, the climb to the Crown is up a narrow spiral staircase of more than 300 steps (the equivalent of 27 floors) that crosses the entire body of the Statue of Liberty.

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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.

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Being on the 9:00 am slot means there will be less crowds on the grounds of the Statue of Liberty, the Pedestal and even Ellis Island, and your visit will be much smoother. Alternatively, opt for an early afternoon visit – though at that time of day there will definitely be more people than in the early morning.

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Visiting the pedestal is a great addition to your trip to Liberty Island. There are 215 steps or approximately 10 stories to climb to the top of the pedestal. There is an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs. Tickets to the pedestal are limited and can sell out in advance.

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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.

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Getting to the Statue of Liberty Aim to arrive approximately 30 minutes before your scheduled departure time as there's a required security screening of all passengers before boarding.

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For the best land views of Lady Liberty, head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, to an area known as the Battery. Downtown Tour Loop Hop off at: Battery Park/Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty Ferry or Subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).

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However, visitors who wish to enter the pedestal and visit the crown must secure reservations through Statue City Cruises, the ONLY AUTHORIZED ticket seller for Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island. The National Park Service has implemented a reservation system for over a decade.

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Top 6 Ways to See the Statue of Liberty: Land, Sea, and Air
  1. Statue of Liberty from the water.
  2. Statue of Liberty Helicopter Tour.
  3. Statue Cruises.
  4. Battery Park, NYC.
  5. Tour Group in front of Statue of Liberty.
  6. Boat Cruise Statue of Liberty.
  7. Statue of Liberty.


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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.

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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.

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BATTERY PARK This park is at the tip of Lower Manhattan and has expansive vistas of the New York harbor including a view of the Statue of Liberty. You can walk along the waterfront or sit on one of the benches that look out on the water. Our guide to Battery Park lists other things you can see and do in the park.

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Because it is not a traditional building, the Statue of Liberty does not technically have floors as you would have in a traditionally functioning building. The building, however, has 354 stairs, which is roughly equivalent to a 20 story building.

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