What is the only way to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York?

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.



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Staten Island Ferry The Staten Island Ferry is a free transportation service provided between Manhattan and Staten Island. Each boat is quite large, carrying over 4,000 people. But the route across New York harbor takes you directly in front of the statue.

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STATEN ISLAND FERRY Still, 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.

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STATEN ISLAND FERRY This free commuter ferry travels very close to the Statue of Liberty. You will want to have your camera out and ready to go, as the ferry passes Lady Liberty at a fairly fast speed. Still, without a doubt, this is the best view of the Statue of Liberty you can get for free.

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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!

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Each ferry ride takes about 10-15 minutes. But you might be waiting on the ferry longer if you happen to be one of the first in line. By the time the ferry has stopped at Liberty Island, Ellis Island and ends back at Battery Park, it will be about an hour round trip.

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Without proper planning, many people end their visit much later than expected, so make sure to leave plenty of time to see everything without feeling rushed. At a minimum, you should budget two hours for the Statue of Liberty and an additional hour if you plan to visit Ellis Island as well.

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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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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.

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With convenient highway access and ample parking, the New Jersey departure point at Liberty State Park is the optimum choice to visit the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island via auto, bus or light rail.

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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.

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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).

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During peak seasons, you'll want to consider purchasing tickets even earlier than usual. There's only one way to see Lady Liberty's crown, so tickets tend to sell out very quickly, as there are only approximately 500 per day.

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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.

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ARE BATHROOMS LOCATED ON THE FERRIES, ELLIS ISLAND, AND LIBERTY ISLAND? Yes, bathrooms are located on our ferries, Ellis Island and Liberty Island bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

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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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The park itself is free, but there are costs to go to Liberty Island or Ellis Island by ferry. Parking is free as well, except for the restaurants at the edge of the park. Helpful? There is a parking fee for both NY & Jersey parks to ferry access if you drive.

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TICKETS FOR THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Technically, 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).

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