Quick Facts
- Height: 305 ft (93 m) from base to torch tip
- Opened: October 28, 1886 — gift from France
- Steps to crown: 354 total from base, 162 from pedestal
- Annual visitors: around 4.5 million
- Operator: National Park Service + Statue City Cruises (official ferry)
- Only one official ferry — anything else is a cruise that passes by, not a landing
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Ticket Types & Prices
| Ticket | Adult price | What it includes | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reserve | $25.50 | Ferry + grounds + Ellis Island | 1 week |
| Pedestal | $25.50 | Above + pedestal museum + observation deck | 2-4 weeks |
| Crown | $28.50 | Above + climb to crown | 3-6 months |
| Hard Hat Tour | $85 | Guided access to non-public areas | 2-3 months |
| Kids (4-12) | $16 | Any of above at reduced rate | Same as adult |
All tickets are sold only through statuecitycruises.com. Third-party resellers either mark up heavily or sell "skip-the-line" upgrades that do not actually exist — the ferry has one line for everyone.
How to Book Crown Access
The crown is the hardest ticket in New York after Hamilton. Here is the system:
- Tickets release 4 months in advance on statuecitycruises.com
- Only around 240 crown tickets per day (compared to 3,000+ for grounds)
- One adult per crown ticket must accompany children aged 4+
- No children under 4 — the climb is considered unsafe
- No bags, strollers, water bottles or cameras with straps — lockers at the base ($2)
- The climb is 354 steps up a narrow spiral staircase, no air conditioning, single file
If you have claustrophobia, back problems or a fear of heights, skip the crown. The final section is a nearly vertical climb with almost no room to turn around.
Pedestal Access
The pedestal is the stone base, 10 stories up. It offers:
- The excellent Statue of Liberty Museum (opened 2019) — original torch on display
- Observation deck looking up into the statue's interior frame
- Outdoor terrace with harbor views
- Elevator available — unlike the crown, no climb required
- Much easier to book than crown — often available 1-2 weeks out
Ellis Island
Every ferry ticket includes Ellis Island, the main immigration station that processed 12 million arrivals from 1892 to 1954. The ferry runs Liberty Island → Ellis Island → Battery Park.
- Great Hall — the restored main registry room, astonishing
- American Family Immigration History Center — search arrival records by surname
- Wall of Honor — 775,000+ names of immigrants, add yours for a $150 donation
- Audio tour — free, 90 minutes, narrated by Tom Brokaw
- Hard Hat Tour of the unrestored hospital wing — separate $85 ticket
Most tourists blow through Ellis Island in 30 minutes. Give it 90. The audio tour is one of the best museum experiences in America and it is free with your ferry ticket.
Free Alternatives
If you do not need to land on Liberty Island, these options give you great views at no cost:
- Staten Island Ferry — free, 25 min each way, passes within 600m of the statue. Runs 24/7 from Whitehall Terminal. Sit on the right going out, left coming back.
- Battery Park — free harbor views from the southern tip of Manhattan, statue clearly visible 2km away
- Liberty State Park, NJ — free, closer view than Battery, picnic lawns
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1 — frames the statue with the Manhattan skyline
- Governor's Island — $3 round-trip ferry, excellent statue views, open May-Oct
Best Time to Visit
| When | Crowds | Weather |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays 8:30am first ferry | Lowest | Best photos, cool |
| Weekdays midday | Moderate | Warm, queues grow |
| Weekends in summer | Chaos | 2 hour ferry queue |
| Late afternoon | Lower | Limited time before closure |
| November-March | Low | Cold but clear, short queues |
Book the 8:30am or 9am ferry from Battery Park. Arrive by 8am to clear security. You will be off Liberty Island before the 10:30am wave arrives.
What to Bring
- Photo ID (required for crown access, recommended for all)
- Printed or mobile ticket with QR code
- Refillable water bottle — fountains on Liberty and Ellis
- Sunscreen and hat — Liberty Island has almost no shade
- Layer — harbor wind is 5-10 degrees cooler than Manhattan
- Small backpack only — large bags turned away at security
- Patience for airport-style security screening at the ferry terminal
Do not bring: large bags, tripods (not allowed on Liberty Island), food (food allowed outside only, not inside pedestal or crown), drones (federally banned over the harbor).