An icon recognized the world over. A beacon of hope to millions of 19^th and early 20^th century immigrants. A symbol of freedom.

This is the one and only Statue of Liberty.

Visited by over 3 million people a year, a visit to the Statue of Liberty is a must-do for anyone’s first (or subsequent) trip to New York.

But where to begin? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!

Statue of Liberty Fast Facts

Location: New York, New York, USA

Year of dedication: 1886

Sculptor: Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi

Builder: Gustave Eiffel

Height: 305 ft 1 in, or 93 m

UNESCO World Heritage Site Year of Inscription: 1984

A short history of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French people to the United States of America. The idea for such a gift was conceived by a Frenchman, Édouard René de Laboulaye, who was impressed by America’s ideals of liberty.

His friend, the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, was enthusiastic about the idea, and in the 1870s began to visit the United States in the hopes of promoting the statue. He also found the perfect setting for the statue – Bedloe Island, now called Liberty Island, from where it could be seen by all ships entering New York Harbor.

Bartholdi based the statue on Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. The torch she holds is meant to enlighten, while in her other hand the tablet is inscribed with the date July 4, 1776, the date America adopted the Declaration of Independence.

Construction of such a large statue – it was the tallest statue of the world at the time – was complex, so Bartholdi turned to the engineer Gustave Eiffel to overcome the challenges of erecting the statue that was to stand in New York’s windy harbor.

The statue was assembled in France, then brought over piece by piece to America. It stood atop a pedestal, which itself was built atop an old fort. At one point, lack of funds threatened to halt the erection of the pedestal. As part of the fundraising effort, poet Emma Lazarus donated an original work, “The New Colossus.” A line from the poem (“Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” has become synonymous with the Statue of Liberty.

Finally, on October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled to the public. The ceremony included a parade down Broadway and was presided by then-president Grover Cleveland.

Beginning in 1892, millions of immigrants began coming to the U.S. through New York. The Statue of Liberty was the first thing they saw of their new homeland. With most coming to seek a better life than in the lands they left, the Statue came to symbol hope as well as freedom.

These new arrivals were processed at nearby Ellis Island. After inspection, the new immigrants would go on to find homes all over the U.S. Until its closure in 1954, an estimated 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island.

Both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are U.S. National Monuments, New York City Landmarks, and are registered in the U.S. National Register of History Places. In 1984, the Statue of Liberty was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for being a “masterpiece of the human spirit” and “a highly potent symbol – inspiring contemplation, debate, and protest – of ideals such as liberty, peace, human rights, abolition of slavery, democracy, and opportunity.”

Essential information before you go

Opening Times

9:00 am – 5:30pm daily*

Last admission to the Statue is at 4:30pm

*Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. There may be extended hours in the summer and shortened hours in the winter.

Note that the Statue of Liberty is located on an island and that Ellis Island is an island. There is no other way to get to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island except by ferry. You can take the ferry either from New York (as most visitors do) or New Jersey.

The last ferry heading to the island departs New York and New Jersey at 3:30pm.

Tickets

Technically, you don’t need a ticket to enter the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. They’re fee-free by law.

You do, however, have to pay for the ferry to get to the islands. There is no other way to get to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island except by ferry.

There is also an additional fee to visit the Statue of Liberty Pedestal and Crown. Access to these parts of the statue are not included in the price of the ferry.*

*Note that if you have a pass such as the New York Pass by GoCity, access to the Pedestal and Crown are not included and must be purchased separately.

Four types of tickets can be purchased.

1. General admission includes:
   • Round-trip ferry service
   • Statue of Liberty Museum and Grounds
   • Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration
   • Audio tour
2. Pedestal Reserve includes:
   • Everything included in the General Admission ticket, plus:
   • Statue of Liberty Pedestal
3. Crown Reserve includes:
   • Everything included in the Pedestal Reserve ticket, plus:
   • Status of Liberty Crown access
4. Save Ellis Island Tour includes:
   • Everything included in the General Admission ticket, plus:
   • Ellis Island’s Hart Hat Tour

Ticket prices vary depending on type and time of year, but start at $26 per adult. Check the website for exact prices.

Where can I purchase tickets?

There is only one authorized official provider for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tickets. They are Statue City Cruises; you can visit their website here.

How do I get the tickets I purchased online?

To pick up tickets purchased online, you’ll first need to head to The Battery (formerly Battery Park) to pick up the tickets at Castle Clinton. The Battery is located at the very southern end of Manhattan.

Be sure you have your I.D. with you to pick up the tickets. If you’re coming from abroad, you’ll need to show your passport.

Should I purchase tickets in advance?

Purchasing tickets in advance if you want to see the Crown is a must; reservations are required. Tickets to the Crown are extremely limited (only 500 a day) and sell out far in advance.

In fact, I would book the Crown tickets a few weeks – or even a few months – if possible.

The day I visited, for example, there were no tickets available for the Crown access for the next two months.

Reservations are also required to visit the Pedestal, even if you don’t intend to go up to the Crown. As with the Crown tickets, purchase your Pedestal tickets as far in advance as possible.

If you’re just heading to the island without wanting to visit the Pedestal or Crown, reservation is not required.

Audio Guides

Self-guided audio tours are free with every purchase of a boat ticket. No reservation required.

Pick up the audio guide at the kiosk right next to the café/gift shop area, located shortly after you enter Liberty Island.

What time of year is best to visit?

Any time of year! Summer is the height of tourist season, so you’ll be contending with more crowds.

Personally, I believe the best time to visit is in the spring or fall. The weather is still good and the crowds are more manageable.

What time of day is best to visit?

If you plan to visit both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, go as early in the day as possible, as it’ll be a bit less crowded.

The morning is also the best time to get pictures of the Statue of Liberty. This is when the lighting is most favorable, as the sun hits Lady Liberty’s face directly.

If you’re interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty with fewer crowds, and don’t need to go to Ellis Island or have optimal lighting for your Statue of Liberty photos, going a little later in the day, once the crowds have thinned out, is a solid option.

What is the recommended length of time to visit?

If you just want to see the Statue of Liberty, plan on spending 2-3 hours (including the round-trip ferry ride), if not more.

If also visiting Ellis Island, add another 1-2 hours.

You could spend the entire day at both islands if you really want to.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll likely be standing and walking a lot during your visit. This is especially true if you plan on climbing the steps up to the Crown.

You’ll want to keep an eye on the weather, as much of the experience is outdoors. Bring an umbrella or rain jacket for rainy days.

Bottled water is good to bring any time, but especially on hot days.

Don’t forget that it’s always a little colder on the water and islands. This is refreshing on hot summer days, but can be uncomfortable the rest of the year, especially in winter. Be sure to dress accordingly.

What should I not bring?

You will need to go through security before getting on the boat that takes you to the islands.

Besides the obvious things like weapons and illegal drugs, large bags and drones are not permitted.

Access to the Pedestal/Crown has even more restrictions. Among the items not permitted at the Pedestal/Crown are:

• Food
• Drinks
• Backpacks and other bags (only bags not exceeding 8” x 17” x 19” are allowed)
• Tripods
• Non-folding umbrellas
• Pointed items

Don’t worry, though. There are lockers right next to the Pedestal access where you can store these areas. (If you don’t see them at first, the National Park Service Ranger can point them out to you.)

Be sure to have coins for the lockers. You’ll need a 25-cent coin to lock the locker. You can get this back when you retrieve your items.

There is a change machine that converts bills into 25-cent coins. It’s best if you have a $1 bill. The small I had was a $5 bill and I got $5 worth of 25-cents back, which was more coins than I wanted to have.

How to get there

Note that the Statue of Liberty is located on an island and that Ellis Island is an island. There is no other way to get to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island except by ferry. You can take the ferry either from New York (as most visitors do) or New Jersey.

The last ferry heading to the island departs New York and New Jersey at 3:30pm.

There are various subway and bus stops that take you to The Battery.

For the subway, take one of the following options:

• 4 or 5 (green line) to Bowling Green
• R or W (yellow line) to Whitehall
• 1 (red line) to South Ferry

During your visit

Yay! You’ve purchased your tickets and are in southern Manhattan! Here’s what to see and expect:

Entry:

If you ordered tickets online, you’ll first need to head to The Battery (formerly Battery Park) to pick up the tickets at Castle Clinton. Be sure you have your I.D. with you to pick up the tickets. If you’re coming from abroad, you’ll need to show your passport.

Once you have your tickets, make your way through the park to the area where you’ll catch the ferry to the island. (There will be signs.)

You’ll enter a small structure where you’ll have to go through security screening (i.e. metal detectors).

After security, you’ll be herded in line to catch the ferry.

The ferry follows one route. It stops at Liberty Island (Statue of Liberty) first, then goes to Ellis Island, before returning to New York.

Note: You can also get to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from New Jersey.

What to see and do:

View of Lower Manhattan from the ferry

You won’t be able to miss it, but it’s worth mentioning that the views of Lower Manhattan as you’re taking the ferry are absolutely unbeatable.

Statue of Liberty

This is what everyone comes to see – Lady Liberty herself.

The best views of the statue are from the water, so be sure to have your camera ready to snap those pictures while you’re on the ferry ride over.

Once on Liberty Island, you’ll be able to take photos from just about anywhere, but you’ll mostly see the statue’s back.

For the best views of the front, walk along the walkway until you get to the front of the statue. This is also the best spot to take those closeup shots of Lady Liberty.

There’s so much to say about the statue. I’ll just leave you with a few fun facts:

• The Statue of Liberty is made of copper and was originally reddish-brown in color, just like a copper penny. (They are made from the same material, after all.) The statue turned green thanks to the effects of oxidization. The green color is official called “patina.”
• The statue was originally meant to be used as a lighthouse to guide ships to port, but the light it emitted was so dim, this idea was eventually abandoned.
• Visitors used to be able to visit the torch. This was closed after an explosion in 1916 damaged the statue’s torch access. (In case you’re wondering, the explosion was an act of sabotage.)
• She’s flexible (to an extent). It can get windy in New York and during thunderstorms, the statue can sway.
• Seven spikes emanate from the statue’s head. These have been erroneously said to represent the Seven Seas or the Seven Continents, but they actually represent a halo, symbolizes liberty’s divine nature.

Statue of Liberty Museum

On the northwest side of the island, you can find the Statue of Liberty Museum. Admission is included in the ticket price.

The well-put-together museum describes mostly the construction and raising of the statue itself, from its design by Bartholdi to its physical construction by Eiffel to the fundraising efforts needed to pay for the statue and finally to its glittering opening ceremony.

You can also see the statue’s original torch – the very one seen by millions of immigrants to the U.S. Severely damaged, it was removed during the 1984 restoration and replaced by a closed copper version instead.

Pedestal

Unlike the statue itself, the Pedestal was designed by an American, Richard Morris Hunt. 89 ft (274 m) in height with 24 ft- (6m) thick walls, it was designed to support the statue’s massive and heavy frame.

There are 215 steps – or 10 stories – to the top of the Pedestal, which you can also reach by elevator.

Once at the top, you’ll reach the observation deck, where you’ll have amazing views of New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan.

Pedestal Museum

There’s a small museum in the Pedestal. Unlike the Statue of Liberty Museum, which focuses heavily on the construction of the statue, this museum talks more generally about the statue’s history, as well as the Statue of Liberty as a cultural icon.

Crown

From the pedestal, there are 162 stairs up a narrow, low, winding staircase in the statue’s hollow interior up to her Crown.

The National Park Service warns that those suffering from heart or respiratory conditions, mobility impairment (there is no elevator access to the Crown), vertigo, or a fear of heights or closed spaces should think twice about visiting the Crown, and I would have to agree. Being slightly afraid of heights myself, my legs felt wobbly initially, until I was able to mentally get over my fear and continue the climb.

Thankfully, there are a few, very small landings along the way, so you can take a quick breather.

Also, I wasn’t kidding about the staircase being low. My short self was fine, but my 6ft-tall friend had to watch their head the whole time.

Luckily, there are two staircases – one for those going up, the other for those coming down, so you won’t bump into anyone coming from the opposite direction. Not that there would be room to get out of the way, but still.

Once you get to the Crown, you’re limited to about 10 minutes. But the Crown is tiny, much smaller than I had anticipated, so 10 minutes is more than enough time to get your photos.

In case you’re wondering, the Crown has 25 windows.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. On my first visit to the Statue of Liberty, I wasn’t able to make it up to the Crown. Now that I have, I finally feel like my experience is complete.

Ellis Island Immigration Museum

Ellis Island is where millions of immigrants to the United States landed, were processed, and inspected. At the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, you’ll get to learn about their experience – and stand in the same room where their names were recorded.

Researching your family history

One fun thing to do at Ellis Island is research your family history. Follow the signs to “American Family Immigration History Center – Record Search.”

Pay $10 for a 30-minute session in which you can enter your last name (or any first and last name) to search for specific individuals among Ellis Island’s database of 65 million passenger records.

Many people like to come here to search for their family members who arrived in New York between 1892 and 1954. Even if your family history doesn’t extend to that time or place (mine doesn’t), it’s still fun to look through the names – and you never know what you might discover. My friend learned that their family may have originated in a different country than they thought and I found potentially distant relatives I didn’t even know existed.

Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour

Due to time constraints, I didn’t experience this tour this time. If you do opt to include it as part of your visit, the 90-minute guided tour takes to you to the unrestored Ellis Island Hospital Complex.

The Gift Shop

Liberty Island: There’s a gift shop located near the docking area, just after you enter (or just before you depart) the island. It’s adjacent to the café.

Ellis Island: There’s also a gift shop, located in the main building.

Where to Eat

Liberty Island: The Crown Café is located near the ferry dock, just after you enter (or just before you depart) the island. It’s adjacent to the gift shop.

Meals (including hot meals like hamburgers) and snacks are available, as well as desserts.

Be aware that seating is limited, so if you have more than one person traveling in your party, you may want to have someone go and save your seats while the other(s) purchase food.

Ellis Island: There’s a small concession area called Ellis Café that offers snacks and sandwiches.

Restrooms

Restrooms are available on both Liberty Island and Ellis Island. On Liberty Island, they’re located at the Information Center.

If you’re heading to the Pedestal/Crown, I recommend going to the bathroom at the Information Center first before heading up.

Nearby sites not to miss

Liberty Island and Ellis Island are pretty self-contained. However, if you’re heading back on the boat to New York, there are a few sights downtown that you’ll want to check out:

The Battery and Clinton Castle

You’ll have already been to The Battery – formerly known as Battery Park – to pick up your tickets. But visiting the park before or after your trip to the Statue of Liberty is still worth it.

Located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, The Battery was so named for the artillery batteries that were built in the 17^th century by the British to protect the island from invasion. While the park has several attractions and monuments, its most significant is Castle Clinton. Built as a fort just before the War of 1812, no shots were ever fired from the structure, and it later became a customs house (before Ellis Island opened for that purpose) and an aquarium.

Wall Street

Wall Street is known as the financial center of the world, and for good reason; it’s here that the New York Stock Exchange – the world’s largest – is located. The building is a National Historic Landmark.

The New York Stock Exchange isn’t Wall Street’s only significant building. Federal Hall is located just opposite. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on the site.

Also, don’t’ forget the nearby statue of the Charging Bull.

Trinity Church

Trinity Church was founded in 1697, when New York was still under British rule. An Episcopal church, founding fathers George Washington and Alexander Hamilton worshipped here. Hamilton and his wife are buried in the churchyard.

So there you have it! A complete guide to visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Have more questions? Let me know in the comments!