Visiting the Statue of Liberty is often at the top of NYC visitors’ lists of things to do, and with good reason. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island are two deeply important historical monuments that encapsulate a significant portion of New York City’s history.

But is it worth visiting the actual Statue of Liberty when you come to NYC?

We’re gonna answer that question and so much more in this article.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Brief History of the Statue of Liberty
• Visiting the Statue of Liberty – Island Access vs Pedestal vs Crown
• Ellis Island Overview + Hard Hat Tour Review
• Common Statue of Liberty Scams
• Cheapest Ways to See the Statue of Liberty

Let’s look at them all below. 👇

Quick Links:

• Buy a general Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island ticket here
• See if Pedestal Access Tickets are available here
• See if Crown Access Tickets are available here
• Book a Hard Hat Tour of Ellis Island here

PS- See our full Statue of Liberty article with photos and extra info here.

A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States, “The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World” is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by President Grover Cleveland on October 28, 1886.

Any ferry ticket that provides access to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located, also provides access to Ellis Island and the associated museum.

Before riding the ferry, you must pass through security similar to airport security measures, and plan on waiting in line for security screening and boarding the ferry. Typically, you can factor in 15-30 minutes to get through security and onto a boat.

The full Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island experience will take at least 3 hours, but can be as long as 5-6 hours depending on crowds, lines, and how fast you go through the museum.

One of the most important things to know about purchasing ferry tickets for the Statue of Liberty is that Statue City Cruises is the only official, sanctioned provider. While they offer their tickets through places like Get Your Guide, you must verify that the provider is Statue City Cruises, like this option.

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Ellis Island

The main attraction at Ellis Island is the historical museum, which features many artifacts, informational displays, and slices of immigrant history.

We’ve found the documentary shown in the museum, “Island of Hope, Island of Tears,” to be one of the best parts. This short movie shows every half hour.

We’ve visited the Liberty & Ellis Islands multiple times, and by far our favorite experience has been the hard hat tour of the abandoned Ellis Island complex.

Statue of Liberty Scammers

As you walk around Battery Park, you’ll often be approached by scammers trying to sell you Statue of Liberty tickets. They often target people trying to board the Staten Island Ferry (more on that later).

The scam is that the tickets they sell don’t actually stop at Ellis Island & Liberty Island (where the statue resides). Instead, you end up on a boat that goes by the Statue of Liberty.

Free Ways to See the Statue of Liberty

Here are the cheapest ways to see the Statue of Liberty:

• Staten Island Ferry
• From Governor’s Island
• From Lower Manhattan
• Ferry-Only Ticket – Under $30
• One World Observatory – $40+

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