Statue of Liberty TipsStand on the port side (right side) at the back of the ferry going out to the Statue of Liberty. It will give you the best views of the city and of the statue as you approach.
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It's up to you where you want to stand/sit, but if you want a prime viewing spot for a picture of the statue, head to the side of the boat that's facing Manhattan. Once it turns to head to Liberty Island, you'll have the perfect view.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Located on the waterfront in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood is Louis Valentino Jr.Pier and Park. This lovely park is the perfect spot for a picnic with unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty, plus Staten Island, New York Harbor, and Governor's Island.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, you can visit Ellis Island by taking a ferry. Ellis Island is free to visit, though there is a fee for the ferry ticket. Only one company has the authorization to provide Ellis Island tickets – Statue City Cruises.
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.
Other highlights include seeing the tablet from above, an up-close view of the torch, and being able to feel the thickness of the copper statue. Anyone visiting the crown must be able to walk up at least 162 steps on a confined spiral staircase.
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.
It takes around 20 minutes to walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty. You can take an elevator to the pedestal level of the Statue but the walk up to the crown itself will take you at least 15 minutes.