Which ferry is best for the Statue of Liberty?

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.



People Also Ask

Warning: Statue City Cruises is the ONLY ferry service authorized by the National Park Service to sell tickets for, and provide transportation to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Numerous third-party vendors sell tickets at higher prices or for boats that do not land at the islands.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

When visiting the Statue of Liberty be prepared for a long day. Queues to the ferry can take anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. The Statue of Liberty and museum take approximately 90 minutes to see and Ellis Island is another one hour to 90 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

You can get the latest schedule on Statue Cruises' Departure Schedule web page. If you are going to be at Ellis or Liberty Island after 4 PM, make sure that you understand when the last ferry leaves. If you miss the last boat you must swim back, and the water is really cold even in the summer.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

2. STATEN ISLAND FERRY: Take the subway to Bowling Green or South Ferry and hop on a Staten Island ferry for a free ride across New York Harbor. The boats run 24 hours a day. There's always a crowd of tourists on deck taking photos as the boat passes the Statue of Liberty.

MORE DETAILS

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.


MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Book your tickets for Lady Liberty's crown well in advance. For those who want to view Manhattan from the inside of the iconic crown, I can tell you it's a fantastic way to experience the statue and see New York Harbor.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

How much time you will need will depend much on what time of the year you are there and what time of day you choose. It also depends on whether you have pedestal and crown tickets. The ferries to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island depart every 15-20 minutes.

MORE DETAILS

Pedestal Access Those with reservations to the pedestal, the stone base that the Statue of Liberty sits on top of, must secure the following items in a locker: ALL FOOD & DRINKS (except water in a clear plastic bottle) ALL BACKPACK-STYLE BAGS (including over-sized bags, drawstring bags, and backpack purses) Strollers.

MORE DETAILS

Overall, almost everyone who came through Ellis Island (around 98% by some counts) was admitted. By contrast, 60% of the immigrants who arrived at Angel Island—most of whom were Chinese—were detained, and it took weeks or months to be released; the longest detention Lee found was 756 days.

MORE DETAILS

Far away from Ellis Island, in every sense, lies Angel Island. The immigration station there was built on the exclusion of one national group, those originating in China, and prejudice and racism against Asian people generally. Detainment and detention rates were far higher than for those who arrived via Ellis Island.

MORE DETAILS