Every visit to the Statue of Liberty starts with the same ferry, run by Statue City Cruises, the only operator allowed to land on Liberty and Ellis Islands. One ticket covers the boat, both islands and both museums; what you choose is whether to go inside the statue’s pedestal or climb to the crown, which is usually booked three to four months ahead, and whether to go with a guide. Allow at least four hours for both islands, and start before 2pm.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island: tickets, crown access and how to visit
Statue of Liberty tickets and tours in New York: which to book
Every option that lands on the islands uses the same authorised ferry; tours add a guide and a reserved boarding time. Prices checked on 15 October 2026; live prices in your currency are shown on each card.
Where available, you can reserve now and pay later. Payment dates and eligibility depend on the experience and the options shown at checkout.
Finding experiences…
Guided tour with reserved ferry access
From $59Meet your guide at Castle Clinton in Battery Park. Choose a 2-hour express tour or the comprehensive tour of about 4 hours, which includes Ellis Island; the museums are self-guided. Pedestal and crown access are not included. Early tours have the shortest waits.
Ferry, museums and audio guide at your own pace
From $49The basic option includes the ferry to both islands, the Statue of Liberty Museum, the Ellis Island immigration museum and an interactive audio guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Guided options are led in English and Spanish. Pedestal and crown access are not included.
Pedestal or crown tickets
$26.30Sold only by the authorised ferry operator, for adults including the ferry and both islands (children 4–12 $17.30). Crown tickets usually sell out three to four months ahead, are limited to four per household and need photo ID; climbers must be at least 42 inches (107 cm) tall. The pedestal has a lift.
Lower Manhattan walking tour with a Statue of Liberty ferry
From $39A guided walk past Federal Hall, the Stock Exchange, Trinity Church and the 9/11 Memorial. Choose the option with a round-trip ferry ticket to visit both islands on your own afterwards; the walking-tour-only price does not include the statue.
Express cruise past the statue (no landing)
From $29A guided round trip from Pier 16 at South Street Seaport that gets close to the statue and passes One World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge. It does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour
$81A guided tour of the unrestored hospital complex, run with Save Ellis Island, for ages 13 and over (under-18s with a parent or guardian). Closed-toe shoes are required, and the route has stairs and uneven floors, so it is not wheelchair accessible. The price includes the ferry.
Staten Island Ferry (free)
FreeRuns 24 hours a day from the Whitehall Terminal at the southern tip of Manhattan, every 15 to 20 minutes at weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes otherwise. It passes the statue at a distance and does not stop at either island. Ignore anyone selling tickets: it is free.
Planning your Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island visit in New York
Which Statue of Liberty ticket do you need?
General admission is enough for most visitors: it covers the round-trip ferry, both islands, the Statue of Liberty Museum, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and an audio tour in 12 languages. It does not let you inside the statue.
A pedestal ticket adds the observation deck about 10 storeys up on the pedestal, with views over Fort Wood and the harbour, for 30 cents more. A crown ticket includes the pedestal and the climb to the crown. Once pedestal and crown tickets sell out, general admission is the only option.
Is the Statue of Liberty crown worth it?
Only if you are comfortable with a tight spiral staircase and plan months ahead: the crown is reached by 162 narrow steps from the pedestal, with no lift, and your time at the top is limited to 10 minutes. About 500 people a day can go up, and tickets are usually booked three to four months ahead.
There are strict rules. Each household or card can buy at most four tickets, each person may book the crown once every six months, names cannot be changed, and every adult must show photo ID. Bags are not allowed: you may take only water in a plastic bottle, a phone, a camera and medicine. The last crown entry is at 3:30pm from mid-October to the end of December (1:30pm on Christmas Eve).
Guided tour or on your own?
Go with a guide if you want the history explained and a reserved ferry time; go on your own if you prefer to linger, because every ticket includes an audio tour. On most guided tours the guide talks outside, and you explore the museums yourself. Neither option includes the pedestal or crown, which you book directly with the ferry operator.
Ellis Island: what to see in 2026
Start in the Registry Room, the Great Hall on the second floor, restored to its appearance of 1918–24, where up to 5,000 people a day were once processed. The National Park Service suggests an hour for the Registry Room, two to three hours to include the third floor, and half a day for a ranger tour and the film as well.
Ellis Island is being renovated under the Ellis Island Reimagined project, so expect some building noise. Parts of the second-floor exhibition ‘Through America’s Gate’, all of ‘Peak Immigration Years’ and the third-floor changing exhibition are closed; the first-floor exhibits are open.
To look up an ancestor, use the free online Arrival Records Collection of the Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation, now more than 100 million passenger records. Passenger IDs saved before 1 April 2026 no longer work, and the on-site family history centre is closed while a new one is prepared.
Seeing the Statue of Liberty without landing
If you only want a photo, you do not need to visit the island: the free Staten Island Ferry passes the statue at a distance, and sightseeing cruises from Manhattan slow down close to it. Neither stops at Liberty or Ellis Island, so they suit short stays rather than a full visit.
How to get to the Statue of Liberty ferry in New York and New Jersey
Ferries to Liberty and Ellis Islands leave from Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey. Times shown are approximate journeys from the statue.
From Battery Park, Manhattan
Take the 1 to South Ferry, the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green or the R to Whitehall St; buses M5, M15 and M20 also stop at South Ferry. The ticket office and security screening are next to Castle Clinton in Battery Park. The time on your ticket is when to join the security queue, not a ferry departure, so arrive 30 minutes early. There is no parking at the Battery.
Boats from Battery Park stop at Liberty Island first (about 25 minutes), then Ellis Island (about 20 minutes on), and return to Manhattan in about 10 minutes. On the autumn timetable (13 October – 20 November 2026) the first boat leaves at 9am and the last at 3:30pm; the last boats back leave Liberty Island at 5pm and Ellis Island at 5:15pm.
From Liberty State Park, New Jersey
Boats from Liberty State Park in Jersey City stop at Ellis Island first, every 30 to 40 minutes. The park has paid parking, and the Liberty State Park light rail station is about a mile’s walk away.
Near the Statue of Liberty ferry in Lower Manhattan, New York
1Ellis Island
about 20 min by ferryThe National Museum of Immigration and the Registry Room, the second stop on the ferry loop from Manhattan.
2Castle Clinton, Battery Park
about 25 min by ferryThe New York ticket office, security screening and ferry pier; meeting point for many guided tours.
3Liberty State Park, New Jersey
by ferryThe New Jersey ferry terminal, with paid parking; boats from here stop at Ellis Island first.
4Staten Island Ferry, Whitehall Terminal
5 min walk from Battery ParkThe free ferry to Staten Island, which passes the statue; it runs 24 hours a day.
5Charging Bull and Wall Street
5 min walk from Battery ParkBowling Green’s bronze bull, the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall, a short walk north of the ferry.
69/11 Memorial
about 15 min walk from Battery ParkThe memorial pools on the site of the Twin Towers, free to visit; easy to combine with the statue in one day.
When to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York
Take the first ferry of the day if you can: queues for security and the boats are shortest in the morning, and both islands take four hours or more.
- Start before 2pm; later than that leaves too little time for both islands.
- Book pedestal and crown tickets as early as possible, especially for weekends and holidays.
- From mid-October to the end of December the last pedestal and crown entry is at 3:30pm, and 1:30pm on Christmas Eve.
- Ferries do not run on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day; they run in rain and shine on other days.
Statue of Liberty ferry security and bag rules
Expect airport-style screening before you board, and a second check before entering the pedestal or crown.
- Suitcases, carry-on luggage and large parcels are not allowed; any bag must fit the X-ray scanner (24.2 × 17.9 inches).
- Bags taken into the pedestal must be no larger than 8 × 17 × 19 inches; nothing but water, a phone, a camera and medicine is allowed in the crown.
- Lockers are only on Liberty Island and take quarters; there are none at Battery Park or Liberty State Park.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island accessibility
The pedestal has a lift for visitors who cannot climb its 215 steps, but the crown has no lift and the Hard Hat Tour is not accessible. Three free loan wheelchairs are available on Liberty Island, first come, first served, with photo ID.
Mistakes to avoid at New York’s Statue of Liberty
The most common mistake is buying from street sellers in Battery Park: the National Park Service warns that unauthorised vendors charge more or sell boats that do not land on the islands.
- Expecting crown tickets a few days ahead. They usually sell out three to four months in advance.
- Arriving in the afternoon and trying to see both islands. Start before 2pm.
- Bringing luggage. There is nowhere to leave it at the ferry terminals.
- Booking a harbour cruise and expecting to walk around the statue. Only the authorised ferry lands on the islands.
- Paying for the Staten Island Ferry. It is free.
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island FAQ
How much are Statue of Liberty tickets in 2026?
General admission costs $26 for adults, $23 for seniors aged 62 and over and $17 for children aged 4 to 12; under-4s go free. Pedestal or crown access costs $26.30 for adults. Every ticket includes the ferry and both islands.
Can you go up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty?
Yes, with a crown ticket booked in advance, usually three to four months ahead. It is a climb of 162 narrow spiral steps from the pedestal, with no lift, and you can stay 10 minutes.
How long does a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island take?
Four hours or more for both islands, plus queuing time. Start before 2pm, as the last boats back leave Liberty Island at 5pm and Ellis Island at 5:15pm on the autumn timetable.
Where do you catch the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?
From Battery Park in Manhattan, next to Castle Clinton, or from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Statue City Cruises is the only ferry allowed to land on the islands.
Is the Staten Island Ferry a good way to see the Statue of Liberty?
For a free view, yes: it runs 24 hours a day from Whitehall Terminal and passes the statue. It does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island, so you cannot go ashore.
Is Ellis Island included with a Statue of Liberty ticket?
Yes. Every ferry ticket includes Ellis Island and its National Museum of Immigration; boats from Battery Park call at Liberty Island first and Ellis Island second.
What can you not bring to the Statue of Liberty?
Suitcases, carry-on luggage and large parcels are not allowed, and there are no lockers at the ferry terminals. Small lockers on Liberty Island take quarters.
Is the Statue of Liberty open on Thanksgiving and Christmas?
No. Ferries do not run on Thanksgiving Day (26 November 2026) or Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve the last pedestal and crown entry is at 1:30pm.
Is Ellis Island in New York or New Jersey?
Both, according to the National Park Service: the main building is in New York, while most of the enlarged island is in New Jersey, and the whole island is federal property.
Was this guide helpful?
Spotted something out of date? Tell usSources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources on October 15, 2026. Prices and times can change, so confirm them when you book.
- National Park Service: Statue of Liberty fees (updated 2 March 2026) (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: plan your visit to the Statue of Liberty (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: visit the crown (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: visiting the pedestal (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: Statue of Liberty FAQ (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: security standards and prohibited items (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: directions and authorised ferry (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: public transportation (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: physical mobility (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: plan your visit to Ellis Island (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: Ellis Island, how much time do you have? (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: the Registry Room (Great Hall) (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: Ellis Island Reimagined (updated 8 September 2026) (nps.gov)
- National Park Service: Ellis Island FAQ (nps.gov)
- Statue City Cruises: ticket options and prices (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue City Cruises: FAQ (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue City Cruises: Crown Reserve (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue City Cruises: Pedestal Reserve (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue City Cruises: Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue City Cruises: ferry schedule (statuecitycruises.com)
- Statue of Liberty–Ellis Island Foundation: family history and arrival records (statueofliberty.org)
- Staten Island Ferry: FAQ (siferry.com)
- NYC Tourism: Staten Island Ferry (nyctourism.com)
Spotted something out of date? Email support@ticketglide.com.
From prices are indicative. Choose your date and confirm availability, cancellation terms and the final total on the booking page. * Ratings and reviews are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor.
* “What travellers say” summaries are written with AI from recent reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor, covering every star rating (October 2026).