New York City lures countless travelers with its iconic landmarks, big energy, and sophisticated culture. Everyone is going to have their own experience in this thriving metropolis, but there are some places and experiences that always seem to find their way onto every visitor’s New York City itinerary. One such experience is a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, easily one of the best things to do in NYC. Lady Liberty is an international symbol for New York and a sight not to be missed, which is why planning your visit and tickets to the Statue of Liberty before you get there is so crucial.
To help you out and give you one less thing to worry about, we’ve put together this guide on how to buy tickets to the Statue of Liberty that will show you which Statue of Liberty tickets to get and where to get them.
Quick Answer – Where to Buy Tickets to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island:
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island: Ticket Options with Ferry
- Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Early Access Tour
- 60-Minute Cruise Around the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Best Ways to Get Tickets to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
With a memorable New York landmark that everyone wants to visit, it makes sense that there are different ways to visit and organize tickets. Here we’ll take you through where to buy tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, explaining each of the options, their advantages, and why booking tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in advance is a good idea.
1. Line Up in Person (Not Recommended)
As with any popular tourist attraction in a destination like New York City, the worst way to go about buying tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is to line up for them on the day you want to visit. On arrival, you’ll likely have to wait in a line for the ticket office before you then join the security line, which isn’t a great use of your precious vacation time.
On top of that, same day tickets to the crown aren’t available while same day tickets for pedestal access are limited and there’s no guarantee there will be any available when you arrive. Your best chance for in-person tickets is during the winter low season when visitor numbers are at their lowest.
Finally, a word of warning about unauthorized ticket sellers who might approach you around Battery Park. These ticket sellers are known to often overcharge tourists or even sell fake tickets, so simply avoid them at all costs.
2. Book Online (Recommended)
A much better solution that will save you time and stress is to buy skip-the-line tickets to/for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island online well in advance of your trip. By booking tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you have the peace of mind of knowing exactly when you’ll be visiting and what you’ll be able to see on the day. And, yes, your ticket for the Statue of Liberty also doubles as a ticket to Ellis Island, letting you visit both sights in one trip.
General admission tickets can be purchased through GetYourGuide. And should your plans change, you’ll be glad to hear that these tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance and are fully refundable.
3. Book a Guided Tour
Taking a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is a great way to get the most out of your visit. Your licensed tour guide will take you around the islands and will share fascinating stories and history about this beloved New York landmark. General tours for Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty aren’t available through the official website, so we recommend booking through this link; this tour also includes the chance to take the first ferry of the day.
Another of the best New York City tours that we think is worth sharing doesn’t actually take you to the Statue of Liberty but rather right around it on a cruise of New York Harbor. This cruise tour is perfect for those tourists looking to get the perfect shot of the statue as well as the Brooklyn Bridge and New York City skyline.
4. Purchase a New York Tourist Pass
There are many different tourist passes available to help tourists in New York save money and make the most of their time sightseeing. Because they are such essential spots to visit, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tickets are included as options in many such passes.
You definitely should shop around to find the right New York pass for you, but we recommend the Go City New York Explorer Pass for its flexibility, customizability, and ease of use. With it, you can choose to include the general admission visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island along with over 95 other great New York attractions, museums, and tours.
Useful Information for Visiting the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Hours of Operation
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are open to the public every day of the week throughout the year except for Thanksgiving and December 25. Opening hours vary for each season, and there may be reduced opening hours on US federal holidays and Christmas Eve.
Opening hours for the island are from 9:30 to 16:30, with the last entrance to the pedestal typically being an hour before the island closes. However, it is more important to know the timing of the last ferries leaving New York and the State of Liberty. The last ferry to depart for the islands is at 15:30, while the final ferry leaves Liberty Island at 17:00 and Ellis Island at 17:15.
What’s the Best Time to Visit the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island?
Tickets aren’t the only thing that will impact your experience at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. When you visit also greatly determines what you can expect from your visit, both in terms of weather and how busy it will be with fellow tourists.
The best time of the year to tour the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is during the fall months of October and December or in June just before summer properly starts. At this time of year, you’ll be treated to pleasant weather for outdoor sightseeing and tourist numbers are still fairly manageable, although it is New York after all. The busiest time of year to visit is during the height of summer, when it’s also hot and humid, making it all round a good time to avoid.
As for when during your visit to go, it’s best to aim for a midweek visit, as locals and interstate visitors are more likely to come over the weekend. No matter which day you decide to come, first thing in the morning is the smart play as things tend to get busy around noon. This is also a useful tip for ensuring you allow enough time to visit both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in one day.
How to Get to the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The only way to reach the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is by ferry. There are two ferry routes to the island, one from Battery Park in New York City and one from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. The best route for you will depend on where in New York or New Jersey you’re coming from, but we’ll highlight the most useful options.
To get to Battery Park, visitors can either take the 1 train to South Ferry subway station or take the 4 and 5 lines of the Lexington Avenue Express to Bowling Green subway station and walk through the park from there.
As for getting from Liberty State Park, tourists can take the West Side-Tonnelle and the Hoboken-Tonnelle services on Hudson-Bergen Light Rail to Liberty State Park Station or take a separate ferry from the World Financial Terminal in New York City to Liberty Landing Marina close to Liberty State Park.
How Do Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Tickets Work?
To know what kind of tickets to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island you’ll need, it’s important that you understand how the tickets work. That way you know exactly what’s included in your ticket and won’t feel disappointed if you miss anything.
The most important thing to understand about visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is that there’s really no such ticket to visit the islands itself. What you’re actually paying for with general admission tickets is the ferry trip to both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. There’s actually no real fee for exploring the grounds of Liberty Island or going to the Statue of Liberty Museum, but you will need to pay more to visit the pedestal or the crown.
When booking tickets, you’ll be asked to select a time for your entry through security at the ferry terminal at Battery Park rather than for an exact ferry departure or entry into the pedestal or crown.
For visits to the pedestal and crown, advanced reservations are required and there is a limit to four tickets per booking for the crown. These bookings, and especially ones for the crown, can quickly sell out, so be sure to get them as early as possible. It is not possible to get Statue of Liberty tickets that include access to both the pedestal and the crown, only one or the other.
Once you’ve purchased your tickets, you will receive an email with your e-tickets, which you should print out and bring with you. The exception to this is crown tickets, which can only be collected at will call after providing photo ID and your credit card.
Editor’s Note: Access to the crown is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but there are plans for it to reopen at a later date.
How Much Do Tickets for the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island Cost?
The cost of Statue of Liberty tickets differs depending on what kind of ticket you get and where you get it. But to give you a sense of what prices are like, below you’ll find the ticket prices as presented on the official website of the Statue of Liberty.
General admission tickets for adults covering just the ferry cost $23.50, while tickets that include access to the pedestal or access to the crown cost $23.80. Children’s tickets cost $12.00 for general admission and $12.30 for access to the pedestal or crown. Seniors’ tickets cost $18.00 for general admission and $18.30 for access to the pedestal or crown.
Adult tickets cover any visitor between the ages of 13 and 62, while tickets for children are for those aged 4 to 12. Children under four years of age enter free. Ranger tours on Liberty Island and Ellis Island are free to visitors, and audio tours are included as part of any ticket.
Hotels Near the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Since the Statue of Liberty is sure to be one of the main attractions you visit while in New York, finding somewhere to stay with easy access to it is no doubt useful. While it’s location in Upper New York Bay may make it hard to stay close by, there are places to stay in Manhattan that will get you as close as practically possible. If you don’t feel like doing your own research, allow us to recommend a few options that might work.
What’s more special than views of the Statue of Liberty? Many rooms and suites at the four-star New York Marriott Downtown boast views of the New York landmark and harbor, making it an excellent luxury option for your visit. The hotel also provides elegantly styled rooms, an on-site fitness center, and its own burger bar.
The perfect balance of location, value, and comfort can be found at the Hilton Garden Inn NYC Financial Center/Manhattan Downtown. This three-star hotel in the Financial District is a two-minute walk from Battery Park and offers contemporary rooms with great views and all the essential amenities one needs for a pleasant stay.
You’re going to have a hard time finding budget options in Downtown New York. One of the nearest good options is Nap York Youth Hostel just off Central Park in Hell’s Kitchen, which offers easy subway access to Battery Park. The hostel offers chic dorms and pods, a shared kitchen, and great staff. For more options, be sure to check out our New York hostel guide.
Security Process at the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Before boarding the ferry to the Statue of Liberty, visitors will first need to pass through a security screening. It’s helpful to know what you’re allowed to bring with you and what is involved in the screening to ensure this process goes smoothly.
Items prohibited from being brought through security include but are not limited to scooters, skateboards, markers (permanent and erasable), and firearms. Drones are not permitted to be brought to or used at the Statue of Liberty. Suitcases and large baggage cannot be brought onto the ferries and there are no locker storage areas, so it’s best to store your bags before coming.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are some health measures in place to keep visitors safe. The main one to note is that masks are required to be worn in all park buildings, on public transportation, and in crowded outdoor spaces.
Visiting Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island With a Disability
Visitors with disabilities will find a broad variety of accessibility measures in place to assist them with their visit to the Statue of Liberty.
For people with visual impairments, there are Braille park brochures, tactile displays, and audio tours to help you experience the site. There are also audio guides with ASL available for the museum for those visitors with hearing impairments.
There are ramps to provide easy access to those with mobility issues around Liberty Island, including up to the Statue of Liberty Museum. For access inside the pedestal, visitors can use ramps and elevators to reach each of its levels. Unfortunately, access to the crown is only possible via stairs, making it unsuitable for visitors with wheelchairs or mobility difficulties.
FAQ – Facts About the Statue of Liberty
When Was the Statue of Liberty Built?
Construction began on the torch-bearing arm of the Statue of Liberty in May of 1876, and the finished statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
How Old Is the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty is 146 years old as of 2022.
Who Built the Statue of Liberty?
Sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi was responsible for the design of the Statue of Liberty, while famous French civil engineer Gustav Eiffel built the metal framework that supports it.
Why Was the Statue of Liberty Built?
The people of France built the Statue of Liberty as a gift of friendship to the people of the United States in honor of the Union’s victory during the American Civil War.
What Is the Statue of Liberty Made Of?
The Statue of Liberty was constructed with a copper skin exterior and an iron support structure.
Where Is the Statue of Liberty Located?
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, at the mouth of the Hudson River on Upper New York Bay.
Now that you have all this information, it’s bound to be a much easier process planning your visit. Hopefully you now see why it’s wise to plan your trip properly and why skip-the-line Statue of Liberty tickets are so crucial to a stress-free visiting experience.
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