Attraction
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Met on Fifth Avenue is one of the world's great encyclopaedic art museums, spanning five thousand years of art from every corner of the globe.
Statue of Liberty National Monument
The copper statue gifted by France in 1886 stands on Liberty Island, reached by ferry from The Battery or Liberty State Park with Ellis Island included.
At a glance
- Type
- National monument
- Area
- Liberty Island, New York, United States
- Official site
- nps.gov
Good to know
- Ferry access only
- Statue of Liberty Museum
- Ellis Island museum included
- Airport-style security
Why we recommend it
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France and was dedicated in 1886, and it still stands guard over New York Harbor from Liberty Island. Seeing it from the Battery or a passing ferry is one thing; standing beneath the pedestal and looking up at the copper figure is another, and it is worth giving the visit a proper half day or more. The monument is run by the National Park Service.
The only way onto the island is by ferry, and Statue City Cruises is the only authorised ticket seller. Boats leave from The Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan and from Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Every ferry ticket includes the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, which tells the statue's story and displays the original torch, and a stop at Ellis Island, home to the National Museum of Immigration. The Ellis Island halls, where millions of immigrants were processed, are as rewarding as the statue itself, so leave time for both.
Going inside the monument takes planning. Pedestal tickets, which take you up to the observation balcony at the top of the pedestal, and crown tickets are sold in limited numbers online through Statue City Cruises, and the crown sells out well in advance. The climb from the statue's feet to the crown is 162 steps on a narrow spiral staircase, and there is no lift to the crown, so it is not suitable for everyone.
Expect airport-style security before boarding. The time printed on a ferry ticket is when you should join the security queue rather than a departure time, and at busy periods the wait can be an hour or more. Taking one of the first boats of the day is the easiest way to beat the crowds, and it leaves a full day for both islands. Bring a layer for the crossing, as the harbour can be breezy even in summer.
From Manhattan, the ferries leave from Castle Clinton in Battery Park, a short walk from the South Ferry, Bowling Green and Whitehall Street stations. Afterwards, you can stroll up through the Financial District to the 9/11 Memorial, or catch the free Staten Island Ferry next door for another view of the statue on the way back.
Statue of Liberty National Monument FAQs
How do you get to the Statue of Liberty?
Only by ferry. Statue City Cruises is the only authorised ticket seller, with departures from The Battery in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
Does the ferry ticket include Ellis Island?
Yes. All ferry tickets include the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
Can you climb to the crown?
Yes, with a limited crown ticket booked online in advance. It is 162 steps from the statue's feet and there is no lift to the crown.
What is a pedestal ticket?
A limited ticket, sold online only, that gives access up to the observation balcony at the top of the pedestal.
How long are the security queues?
Everyone goes through airport-style security, and waits can be an hour or more at peak times. The time on your ticket is when to join the security line.
How long should you allow?
Plan on at least half a day, and most of a day if you want to see both Liberty Island and Ellis Island properly.
When is the quietest time to go?
Early morning ferries are usually the least crowded, and they leave time for both islands.
Who manages the monument?
The National Park Service.