Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty, a longtime symbol of freedom and democracy, is one of New York's most recognized landmarks
Located in the New York Harbour, the Statue of Liberty was an international gift of friendship from the people of France and has become an icon of freedom, democracy and the United States.
Designed by Frédéric Barthold, Lady Liberty's robe is representative of the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas, bears a torch symbolising America's pursuit of enlightenment and clutches a tablet bearing the date of America's independence in Roman numerals. Standing 152 feet tall and raised on a 150 foot pedestal, the hand-hammered copper skin and steel support skeleton were shipped from France in 350 pieces, the Statue of Liberty took four months to assemble and was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
Access to the Statue of Liberty is limited to ferries through Statue Cruises departing from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. While many other operations offer sightseeing tours that include the Statue of Liberty, Statue Cruises is the only service offering access to Liberty Island. Free tours are lead by rangers around Liberty Island with no reservations required. Access to any level of the Statue of Liberty requires advance reservation made through Statue Cruises.
The Statue of Liberty's 11 point star-shaped platform is a granite fortification known Fort Wood was a little used military installation until it was taken over by the National Park Service in 1944. The Statue of Liberty's pedestal designed by Richard Morris Hunt faces the southeast to greet ships entering New York Harbor. Inside the lobby, an exhibit of the original torch, observation decks and an interpretive historic exhibit, including life sized replicas of the monument's face and foot. Reservations for access to this area should be made at least a fortnight in advance to avoid disappointment.
Access to the Crown was made available on July 4, 2009, following a closure in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks. Visitors can climb the 354 stairs to the Statue of Liberty's crown of seven spikes, representing the seven continents and oceans in the world. Reservations should be made months in advance to avoid disappointment.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesStatue of Liberty Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Thursday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Address: New York, NY 10004, USA
Phone: (212) 363-3200
Official Website: Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty Reviews
Rated out of 5![]()
This is incredible and a must for anyone visiting New York.
We got out tickets, booked 7 days in advance through the GoCity App.
It was really easy to do and it provides reminders and directions to the site.
We booked our ferry for 9.15am. We had a lovely trip across to Ellis Island. You pull into thw harbour and can then spend as long as you want on the island.
The Statue of Liberty did not disappoint. When you see her in the distance you are underwhelmed. When you see her on the island it is awesome inspiring. We took pictures galore, had a huge bagel and drinks and visited the museum. All of which are great. The views back to New York are breathtaking.
We caught the ferry to the Ellis Island original immigration processing centre, a fascinating look back at the history of the area.
Finally we caught the ferry back to New York.
We all felt the trip exceeded our expectations 💯
Justin Swain - 2 months ago
Amazing experience! One of the must visit places in NYC! If you want to visit the hat you have to buy tickets beforehand and they sell out fast so make sure you get them before you visit. There are a couple lemonade stands on the island but I wasn’t a fan of the lemonade. Make sure you have your own water and some snacks to spend time on the island. The front of the statue gets busy from people taking pictures so it might take a while for your turn to come so plan accordingly. Ferry line gets long too so it might take a couple of ferries for you to get to and from the island. Beware of scam ticket sellers. Buy the tickets either online on the official website or the booths before the boarding dock. You will have to go through security as well. The museum is a must visit too! Don’t skip by it. It’s definitely worth checking out!
Jashan Singh Gill - 6 months ago
This is a must-visit and one of the most iconic landmarks when traveling to New York City. Missing this place would be a real pity.
To get up close for photos, you’ll need to take a ferry, which usually requires booking tickets in advance. The boarding process can take some time, so it’s best to come in the morning.
Be aware that there are quite a few scammers around the area, so it’s important to stay cautious and well-informed before visiting this place.
akharapon ruangkitphaiboon - 2 months ago
For the Crown Tour: tickets can be purchased months in advance online and include access to the pedestal & a small museum at that level. There is an elevator that can take you to the top of the pedestal - if you opt for the stairs, as we did, be prepared for quite a few flights (I want to say eight). There are plenty of places to stop & rest if needed. Once you ascend to the top of the platform, crown access begins for those with tickets, but you can see quite a lot of the structure from the platform too via a glass panel. The crown ascent is an extremely narrow, steep staircase - but there are guardrails on both sides and the line moves very slowly, as it’s a one-way lane through the top of the crown and back down again, so be prepared for stop-and-go the whole time. My 6’2” husband had to be strategic but never actually hit his head; I, at 5’4”, found the staircase perfectly comfortable. It would be very difficult for someone holding a child or for anyone who is claustrophobic. However the views inside are fascinating! And the crown, at the top, is well worth the hike. There’s a thermometer posted at the top of the crown that showed temperatures 30* higher than outside - I can only imagine how hot it gets in August, inside a metal pillar full of bodies. Just something to keep in mind as you plan your trip.
Bottom line: excellent cost to value for two adults, but I would only bring my young children under certain temperatures and I’d come armed with snacks and lots of positive reinforcement.
Amber Johnson - 2 months ago
Visiting the Statue of Liberty felt truly special. Seeing it up close has a completely different impact than pictures.
The ferry ride and skyline views made the experience even more memorable. The museum was also a highlight, especially seeing the original torch up close.
There is a casual café on the island if you need a quick bite, but it is more about convenience than the food itself.
It is one of those places you should not rush. Just take it in and enjoy the moment.
oyku eren - 3 months ago
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Directions
| Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Ferry | 4 minutes |
| N or R | Whitehall Street | 5 minutes |
| 4 or 5 | Bowling Green | 5 minutes |
How to get to Statue of Liberty by Subway
Take the 1 train to South Ferry, turn left into Battery Park or take the N or R train to Whitehall Street, head north toward Pearl Street, turn left on Bridge Street, follow path into park or take the 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green, head south on Broadway, turn right on Battery Place, turn left on Greenwich Street and continue into park.
Look for the Statue Cruise Ticket Office is located inside the Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park purchase the Liberty Island ticket.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Photo Gallery
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The Staten Island Ferry offers a good view of the Statute of Liberty cc licensed photo by Shaun Merritt -
Photo Credit: szeke - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Darshan Simha - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Anthony Quintano - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Jesús Quiles - cc license via Flickr

