The world-famous Statue of Liberty in New York City is a national monument. Everyone is welcome here. It’s good in theory. In reality, though, you need to do some planning to see the green-coppered Lady Liberty.
Last updated: August 31, 2026
Statue of Liberty National Monument
The Statue of Liberty is one of America’s most cherished treasures. It’s a symbol of freedom, democracy, and better life, a life that millions of immigrants create for themselves.
The green-coppered lady towering over New York Harbor was the first sight immigrants from Europe were waiting for at the end of their long ocean voyage. It was a coveted sight and a promise.
The majority of the travelers stayed in the new land. Yet still many were denied entry and forced to go back to their poverty-stricken homelands after they failed a physical examination at the immigration screening point on Ellis Island.
The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island have changed their duties since then. Yet their significance hasn’t been forgotten. Millions of people travel to New York City to see the green goddess in person and tour the now partially abandoned immigration island.
Our Story: Settled for the Pedestal
The Statue of Liberty wasn’t the only one, but nevertheless an exciting excuse to fly across the country to NewYork. Both Dylan and Roshan were eager to see Lady Liberty. The dream was to climb to the Crown of New York’s landmark.
Bringing this dream to live, however, wasn’t as straightforward as we expected. All tickets were sold out weeks in advance. We had to settle with the Pedestal Reserve admission.
How to Visit the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty stands on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay. Smaller than an average urban park, the isle sits between New York City and Jersey City.
You can’t walk or drive to the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The only transportation available is a ferry, which you pay for while booking your tour of the Statue of Liberty.
The ferries depart from Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Battery Park in Manhattan daily. The boat ride takes approximately 15 minutes. Security screening at either of the parks and the Pedestal screening at the monument can take up to 1 hour 30 minutes.
TIP: Make sure to arrive at Liberty State Park or Battery Park at least 30 minutes before your scheduled boat departure.
READ MORE: How to Walk across Brooklyn Bridge (Manhattan to Brooklyn)
Visit the Statue of Liberty from New York City
- If you are in New York City, head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, the area known as Battery Park.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before the time indicated on your ticket.
- The official ferry service that operates between the Statue of Liberty and NYC and Jersey City is Statue City Cruises. Their individual vessels have their own distinct names.
TIP: Make sure to board the right boat when heading back to New York City or Jersey City.
- The ferry from New York City takes you to Liberty Island first. You are welcome to spend as much time as you need here (visitors normally take 2 – 2.5 hours to explore the island).
- When you are ready for the second part of the excursion, head back to the dock, board the right boat and cruise to Ellis Island. The south side of the island is abandoned. Only guided tours “Hard Hat Tour” (visitors are required to wear hard hats due to the decaying state of the historic structure) are available here. Separate tickets are needed to join this tour. The northern side of Ellis Island is fully restored and open for self-guided tours. Access to the northern side is already included in your general admission ticket.
TIP: If you are not interested in visiting Ellis Island (we chose to skip it due to rain and fairly miserable weather that day), you can stay on the boat as those who want to explore the islet disembark and travelers returning to NYC board.
- The ferry sails back to Battery Park where you started your Statue of Liberty excursion a few hours earlier.
Visit the Statue of Liberty from Jersey City
- If you’re traveling from Jersey City, arrive at Liberty State Park 30 minutes prior to your ferry departure time.
- From here, you will be visiting Ellis Island first. You can get off the boat and explore the isle-museum or continue your journey to Liberty Island. The ferry returns to Jersey City after dropping off the passengers at the Statue of Liberty.
TIP: If you wish to go back to Ellis Island after seeing the green lady up close and climbing to its pedestal or crown, boat the ferry bound for Ellis Island (the one that initially arrived from NYC). You don’t need to purchase another ticket as long as you don’t exit the transit system back on the mainland.
The Gift of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States. The iconic monument was designed by French sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The engineer of the internal metal framework was none other than Gustave Eiffel, whose legacy is commemorated in Paris’s most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower.
The Statue of Liberty, disassembled in 350 pieces, arrived in New York on June 17, 1885. It took some four months to reassemble the sculpture that was officially dedicated on October 28, 1886.
How to Visit the Statue of Liberty National Monument: Admission
The Statue of Liberty National Monument encompasses two islands and several distinct structures: the 151-foot copper sculpture (Lady Liberty itself), the granite Pedestal, the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the main immigration building.
The Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island as well as the former immigration building on Ellis Island are free to visit and open to all regardless of their types of admission tickets.
You can get up close to the Statue of Liberty itself only if you hold a Pedestal or Crown Reserve tickets.
- Pedestal Reserve tickets (we were able to get only these) allow access to the top of the Statue of Liberty’s Pedestal. Be ready to climb 215 steps to the feet of the copper lady where stunning views of the harbor and New York City skyline open up. These tickets are normally sold out days, occasionally weeks in advance.
TIP: An elevator is available for visitors who can’t climb the stairs. The wait time to get inside the windowless cabin can be long.
TIP: The Pedestal is an open-air space. It can be quite windy and cold out here. So, dress in layers.
- Crown Reserve tickets include general admission, access to the top of the Pedestal and the Crown of the Statue of Liberty. You will climb additional 162 narrow and steep stairs from the top of the Pedestal to the Crown. There is no elevator. The walk to the top of the statue is strenuous and not suitable for everybody. These tickets are sold out months in advance.
TIP: The Crown of the Statue of Liberty is the highest level you can access. The vistas from here are as good as can be. Yet it may not be the best option if you want to see the entire Statue of Liberty. In this case, the lower you are, the better the views you get. So the Pedestal and even the general admission ticket that allow you to explore the entire island can work perfectly.
READ MORE: Visit Stephen A. Schwarzman Building – New York Public Library
Security Screening
The visitors of the Statue of Liberty National Monument go through several security screenings. The first is right before you board a boat in Battery Park or Liberty State Park. You can still have food and water with you at this point.
The second screening is conducted at the entry into the State of Liberty Monument. At this point, no bags, no food are allowed. You can take only a bottle of water with you. The rest of your belongings, including any food, can be stored in a locker outside.
