The Best Way to see the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty speaks for itself. Its the most famous sculpture in the world and an iconic New York City landmark. Standing tall on Liberty Island, a short distance off Lower Manhattan, the Statue has welcomed new arrivals into New York’s harbour since 1886. If you haven’t seen it in person, you haven’t really experienced New York. Sure, its crowded and cliche, but I can’t imagine making a trip to New York without taking in Lady Liberty. I’ve been there numerous times (though not since the latest construction work completed on the island). In this post I’m going to let you know how you too can visit the Statue of Liberty.

• With so much to do in New York, I’ve got just the post for you. Check out my detailed 4 day itinerary HERE.

Statue of Liberty Basics:

• Where? Ferries depart to the Statue of Liberty from Castle Clinton Monument, Battery Park, New York
• When? Ferries depart from Battery Park to the Statue of Liberty every 25 minutes. The first boat leaves at 9.00am. The last boat back leaves Liberty Island at 4.25pm.
• Admission: General Admission to the Statue of Liberty (including the ferry ride and access to Ellis Island) is $24.00 USD for adults. Children aged 4 to 12 years cost $12.30. You can also purchase tickets including Pedestal and Crown access. The Statue of Liberty is part of the New York Sightseeing Pass and City Pass.
• How to Get There: If you’re staying in Midtown, it takes about 25 minutes to take the Subway to Lower Manhattan. The closest subway station to Battery Park is South Ferry Station, which is on the 1 line.
• Website: https://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

What is the Statue of Liberty?

Today, the Statue of Liberty is one of the United States’ most defining icons, however it may surprise you to learn that the original idea for the Statue had nothing to do with the USA. The brainchild of the sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, the Statue was originally conceived to be a colossal structure to guard Egypt’s Suez Canal, drawing inspiration from two of the Wonders of the Ancient World – the Colossus of Rhodes and the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Funding however didn’t materialise, and plans were on the back burner. That changed in 1865 when a group of French activists led by Bartholdi’s friend, Edouard Rene Lefebvre de Laboulaye, proposed to make a gift to the United States as a symbol of triumph of the independence movement and democracy. Bartholdi was quickly brought on board.

Work on the Statue began, with Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel) designing its internal framework. It was assembled in Paris, while work began at the site of what would become Liberty Island, in New York Harbor. The Statue was reassembled on its Liberty Island pedestal 21 years after work began, and was dedicated on October 28, 1886. Lady Liberty quickly transformed into an icon of its new home, touching the hearts of many in the face of strict immigration laws. The Statue of Liberty became a beacon to immigrants and freedom, as embodied by Emma Lazarus’ poem, The New Colossus, inscribed on its pedestal.

Over the many years since, Lady Liberty’s role has evolved with the times – used in political movements, military campaigns and so much more. The Statue of Liberty today is the embodiment of America.

How to Get to Liberty Island

The only way to actually visit the Statue of Liberty is to take a ferry operated by Statue City Cruises. Its the only company that legally is allowed to dock on Liberty Island, so keep that in mind when you see other operators claiming to operate cruises to the Statue – they may well pass it, but you won’t get to set foot on the island. Assuming you’re staying in the city (they also run ferries departing from New Jersey), you’ll need to head to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. Once you arrive there, you can redeem your ticket at the Castle Clinton Monument, which is a short walk from the South Ferry subway station.

My two golden rules for visiting the Statue are: (1) prebook your ticket, and (2) get on the first boat of the day. If you don’t have a pre-booked ticket, you’ll have to wait in a line that gets extremely long (we’re talking hours later in the day). If you’re planning to head up to the Crown (more on that below), you’ll need to book your ticket at least 3 months in advance to avoid disappointment. In any event, aim to arrive at least half an hour before the first ferry of the day so that you can get off to Liberty Island as soon as possible.

You’ll need to clear airport style security before boarding the ferry (no open water bottles or large bags allowed). Once you’re on board, its a scenic ride across the water. I strongly recommend that you sit on the right hand side of the ferry’s top deck – you’ll get the best views as you approach the Statue. On board, you can also buy snacks and drinks.

What to Do When You Arrive at the Statue of Liberty

Liberty Island is fairly small, but you’ll still spend a decent amount of time here (I’d budget around an hour and a half, or more if you’re heading up the Crown). Obviously the main thing to see is the Statue of Liberty itself. While you may want to rush inside its Pedestal, I like to start my time at the Statue with a walk around the island’s perimeter. Not only will you get stunning photos, both of the Statue from all angles, and looking across the water back at the city, there’s also a really interesting audio guide (included with your ticket) that takes you along the path, giving you some historical context to the Statue. You’ll find park rangers handing out the audio guides as your disembark at the dock.

Going into the Pedestal

You should definitely go inside the Pedestal when you visit the Statue of Liberty. You have to go through another security checkpoint to enter and you need to have pre-booked your entry time. To get to the top of the Pedestal, you’ll need to ascend 215 steps – thats about the equivalent of 10 floors, so be ready to do the work. I accidentally exited the Pedestal early before going up the Crown and had to climb this set of stairs twice the first time I visited the Statue – that was a leg burning experience! While there is an elevator, its only available for those who can’t use the stairs for accessibility reasons. Once you’re at the top, you can go outside and enjoy the panoramic views.

The Statue of Liberty Museum

The Pedestal used to contain a small museum about the Statue of Liberty. That changed in May 2019, as the exhibits were moved into a purpose built Museum elsewhere on Liberty Island. I haven’t visited the new Museum, but admission is now included with your ferry ticket. Unlike the Pedestal, you don’t need to reserve a time to go inside, so it makes the Museum more accessible to those travellers who aren’t as prepared.

The Museum is comprised of three galleries. The first is an immersive multimedia experience that chronicles the history of the Statue. This is followed by the Engagement Gallery, which focuses on the process of the Statue’s design and construction. The Inspiration Gallery ends the experience with a focus on reflection. This last hall also houses Lady Liberty’s original torch, which was replaced in 1984. When you’re finished, you can go up to the Museum’s rooftop terrace for more photo shoot opportunities.

Ascending to the Crown

The ultimate Statue of Liberty experience takes you right up to Lady Liberty’s crown, for unrivalled views of New York Harbor. Tickets to the crown are extremely limited, and will sell out months in advance, so make sure you book them as soon as you’re planning to head to the Statue of Liberty. It only costs a few dollars more than general admission. You should also be aware that to get to the Crown, you’ll need to ascend an extremely steep spiral staircase of 393 steps (and come back down again). There’s spots where you can rest along the way, but its probably not suited for those that are claustrophobic.

From the Crown viewing point, you’ll be able to see the Statue’s current torch up close. You’ll also see the book of law in her left hand. The book is inscribed July IV MDCCLXXVI, which translates to July 4th, 1776, the date of American Independence. I learnt a lot from the park ranger at the top of the Crown, as he pointed out the subtle symbolism of various parts of the Statue’s design that I was able to see up close.

• Sadly access to the Crown is currently unavailable as the Statue of Liberty undergoes its phased post-covid reopening. Its set to reopen at a future date. Check the official website for further details.

After the Statue of Liberty

When you’re finished exploring Liberty Island, get back on the ferry from the island’s main dock – make sure its not the ferry that goes back to New Jersey though. There’s no ferry that goes directly back to Manhattan, but you’ll want to head to Ellis Island anyway. While its not as well known as the Statue of Liberty, I actually think its even more interesting, so count on spending a few hours there before you’re back in the city. It is included in your ticket and is definitely worth a visit.

Before you leave the Statue of Liberty, you can grab a snack at the island’s cafe. Personally I wasn’t the biggest fan of the selection here, so I recommend holding over until you get to Ellis Island, which has a great cafe.

• I’ve written about Ellis Island in another post that you can check out HERE.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty is an experience that you’ll never forget. Its an essential part of any New York itinerary, and hopefully this post has helped you plan out your visit to Lady Liberty. I’d love to hear about your experiences at the Statue of Liberty. Until then, I leave you with the legendary words of Emma Lazarus embodied by this icon – “give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breath free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift the lamp beside the golden door!”