Statue of Liberty Tickets, Ferry, Crown & Pedestal Guide
The basic ticket gets you onto Liberty Island and Ellis Island, but not inside the Statue. Here’s which ticket gets you the grounds, the pedestal or the crown, where the one official ferry leaves from, and what to book before it sells out.
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Seeing the Statue of Liberty is easy. You can wave at her from a dozen spots in Lower Manhattan. Visiting her is a different thing: a boat, a security line, an island, and a choice between three tickets that cost almost the same and give you very different days. Get that choice right and the rest is simple.
The Quick AnswerWhich Statue of Liberty Ticket Should You Buy?
Book the Pedestal ticket if you can get one. It costs just 30 cents more than General Admission and gets you inside the monument. If pedestal is sold out, General Admission still gives you both islands and both museums. Go for the Crown only if climbing to the top is the whole point of your trip.
General Admission
$26 adult- ✓ Official round-trip ferry
- ✓ Liberty Island grounds
- ✓ Statue of Liberty Museum
- ✓ Ellis Island + Immigration Museum
- ✓ Audio tour
- ✗ Inside the Statue
Pedestal Reserve
$26.30 adult- ✓ Everything in General
- ✓ Inside the pedestal
- ✓ Fort Wood & pedestal exhibits
- ✓ Pedestal observation level
- ✗ The crown
- ⚠ Limited — book ahead
Crown Reserve
$26.30 adult- ✓ Everything in Pedestal
- ✓ The climb to the crown
- ✓ Bragging rights for life
- ⚠ 162 narrow steps, no elevator
- ⚠ Very limited, advance only
| Option | Best for | Adult price | What you don’t get |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Admission | Most visitors, families, both islands | $26 | No access inside the Statue |
| Pedestal Reserve | Getting inside without the big climb | $26.30 | No crown |
| Crown Reserve | History lovers, bucket-listers, fit climbers | $26.30 | An easy day. It’s a tight, steep climb |
| CityPASS / multi-pass | Travelers doing several paid attractions | Varies | Pedestal and Crown aren’t included |
| Harbor cruise | Water views, sunset, short on time | Varies | Usually doesn’t land on the island |
Prices from the National Park Service fee table, checked September 28, 2026. Pedestal and crown access depend on availability.
Statue of Liberty Ticket Prices
An adult ticket is $26. Pedestal or Crown access adds 30 cents. The museums, the audio tour and Ellis Island are included.
| Ticket | Under 4 | Ages 4–12 | Adult 13+ | Senior 62+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ferry / General Admission | Free | $17 | $26 | $23 |
| Pedestal access | Free | +$0.30 | +$0.30 | +$0.30 |
| Crown access | Restricted | +$0.30 | +$0.30 | +$0.30 |
| Ranger tours | Free | |||
| Audio tour | Included | |||
| Ellis Island Hard Hat Tour | Not open to under-13s | +$55 | +$55 | |
What you’re actually paying for: the National Park Service doesn’t charge an entrance fee for the islands or the museums. The $26 is a ferry fare to the only boat allowed to land there. That’s also why park passes like America the Beautiful don’t cover it.
Because pedestal and crown access cost pennies, the real price of those tickets isn’t money. It’s how early you book.
Where to Buy Official Statue of Liberty Tickets
Statue City Cruises is the only ferry company authorized by the National Park Service to dock at Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Official tickets come from Statue City Cruises online, or from its ticket office inside Castle Clinton in The Battery.
On the New Jersey side, Statue City Cruises also runs the departure from Liberty State Park. Tour companies and booking sites resell official ferry tickets, often bundled with a guide. That’s fine, as long as you know what you’re paying for. No reseller is “the official” ticket.
The National Park Service warns about aggressive, unauthorized ticket sellers around The Battery who misrepresent what they’re selling and overcharge. Many of the boats they push only sail past the Statue. If it isn’t a Statue City Cruises ferry, it doesn’t dock at Liberty or Ellis Island. The only place to buy authorized tickets on site is inside Castle Clinton.
General Admission vs. Pedestal vs. Crown Tickets
| General | Pedestal | Crown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round-trip ferry | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Liberty Island grounds | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Statue of Liberty Museum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ellis Island + Immigration Museum | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inside the pedestal | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Up to the crown | — | — | ✓ |
| Extra security check | — | Yes | Yes |
| Physical effort | Easy | Moderate | Hard (162 steps) |
| How hard to book | Easy | Book ahead | Book well ahead |
| Best for | Most visitors | The sweet spot | Bucket-listers |
Statue of Liberty Ferry Tickets: What’s Included?
One ferry ticket covers the whole loop: out to Liberty Island, on to Ellis Island, and back to where you started. You don’t have to stop at both islands, but it’s included if you want to.
- 1The Battery (NYC) or Liberty State Park (NJ)
Show up at the time on your ticket.
- 2Airport-style security
Can take an hour or more at peak times.
- 3Board the ferry
Grab an outside spot on the upper deck for the approach photo.
- 4Liberty Island
Grounds, museum, and the pedestal or crown if you booked it (extra security check).
- 5Ellis Island
The National Museum of Immigration. Allow real time here.
- 6Back to the side you started from
NYC riders return to NYC, NJ riders to NJ.
What Does the Time on Your Statue of Liberty Ticket Mean?
The time printed on your ticket is when you’re allowed to join the security line. It isn’t a guaranteed departure, and it isn’t your pedestal or crown time. On summer days, weekends and holidays, security plus boarding can take an hour or more. Plan the rest of your day around that, not around the time on the ticket.
Battery Park vs. New Jersey: Which Statue of Liberty Ferry Should You Take?
Take the ferry from whichever side your day starts on. Both departures are official, both stop at both islands, and you come back to the same side you left from.
🏙️ The Battery, Manhattan
- Official ticket office inside Castle Clinton
- Easy by subway from anywhere in Manhattan
- Stops at Liberty Island first
- The busier departure point
- Pairs with the 9/11 Memorial, Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge
🌳 Liberty State Park, New Jersey
- Official Statue City Cruises departure
- Parking on site, handy if you’re driving
- Stops at Ellis Island first
- Often a calmer security line
- Great if you’re staying in Jersey City or Hoboken
The catch: the ferry brings you back to the side you started from. If you start in Manhattan and end up in New Jersey, getting home becomes its own trip. Pick your side based on where you’ll be that evening.
Statue of Liberty Ferry Schedule & Ferry Times
Ferries run all day, but the schedule changes with the season, so check the current timetable for your date on the Statue City Cruises site before you go. A few rules hold all year:
- Early is better. The National Park Service recommends an early ferry if you want to see both islands.
- Late starts cost you Ellis Island. Board after early afternoon and you’ll be rushing through the Immigration Museum, or skipping it.
- Security, not the boat, is the bottleneck. Build in an hour at peak times.
- Watch the last boats. The last ferries leave the islands in the late afternoon. Don’t get caught short.
Statue of Liberty Crown Tickets: What to Know Before You Book
The crown is a climb, not a viewing deck. It’s 162 steps up a tight spiral staircase inside the Statue, and it’s one of the rarest tickets in New York. Book as far ahead as you can.
Crown tickets are reservation-only and aren’t sold on Liberty Island. Up to four crown tickets per order.
Adults need photo ID, and every climber gets a crown wristband.
From the Statue’s feet to the crown, on a narrow double-helix staircase. About 377 steps in all, from the ground.
Very young children can’t go up.
You look out through the crown’s little windows. It’s about being there, not the panorama.
Worth it if: you love history, you’ve always wanted to do it, and tight spaces and stairs don’t bother you. Skip it if: you want a big open view, you have mobility concerns, or you’re traveling with small kids. Pedestal gets you inside without the ordeal.
Statue of Liberty Pedestal Tickets: Are They Worth It?
For most people, yes. For 30 cents you get inside the monument, the historic Fort Wood walls, the pedestal exhibits and an outdoor observation level, without the crown climb.
Pedestal tickets are limited, so book ahead. A few may be released on the day, but don’t count on them. Much of the pedestal is served by an elevator, but the outdoor observation level at the very top isn’t wheelchair accessible. There’s a second security screening before you go in.
Statue of Liberty Crown vs. Pedestal: Which Should You Choose?
🏛️ Pedestal
- Access: inside the base and Fort Wood
- Effort: manageable, with elevator help
- View: open-air, over the harbor
- Availability: limited, book ahead
- Best for: most visitors, families
👑 Crown
- Access: all the way to the top
- Effort: 162 steep, narrow steps
- View: through small windows
- Availability: very limited, book far ahead
- Best for: history buffs, bucket lists
Our take: Pedestal for the experience, Crown for the story. They cost the same, so choose on how much you want to climb, not on price.
Are Ellis Island Tickets Included?
Yes. Every Statue of Liberty ferry ticket includes Ellis Island and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration. There’s no separate admission.
This is the part of the day people underestimate. The Immigration Museum, in the restored Great Hall where millions of immigrants were processed, is often the emotional high point of the trip, especially if your family came through here. The one extra-cost option is the Hard Hat Tour of the abandoned hospital buildings on the island’s south side: $55, ages 13 and up, and it sells out.
How Long Does It Take to Visit the Statue of Liberty?
Plan on four to six hours for the full trip to both islands. The ferry and the security line take up more of that than people expect.
Liberty Island only: security, the ferry, the grounds and the museum.
Add pedestal or crown access (extra security and the climb).
Both islands, with proper time in the Immigration Museum.
Both islands at a relaxed pace, plus lunch and a Lower Manhattan walk after.
Can you do Liberty Island and Ellis Island in one day? Yes, and you should. Just start early. It’s the single best piece of advice for this trip.
Best Time to Visit the Statue of Liberty
The shortest lines, the most time for both islands, and soft morning light on the Statue.
Noticeably calmer than weekends, especially outside school holidays.
Long security lines and heat on an open island. Go early and bring water.
Thin crowds and easier pedestal tickets, but the harbor wind is serious.
Statue of Liberty Hours
These are park hours, not the ferry schedule. The first and last boats matter more to your day, so check both before you go.
Statue of Liberty Ferry vs. Harbor Cruise
Take the ferry if you want to stand on Liberty Island. Take a harbor cruise if you want the view from the water and don’t want to spend half a day doing it.
⛴️ Official ferry
- Lands on Liberty and Ellis Islands
- Both museums included
- The only way to get pedestal or crown access
- A half day, or more
🛥️ Harbor cruise
- Close-up views from the water
- Usually doesn’t land on the island
- Often shorter, sometimes at sunset or with a guide
- Good for short trips and photos
Harbor cruises are a legitimate way to see the Statue. The only mistake is buying one because you thought it would take you onto the island.
Best Ways to Tour the Statue of Liberty
Self-guided
The official ferry plus the included audio tour. The best value, and plenty for most people.
Ranger programs
Free talks by park rangers on the islands. Check the day’s schedule when you arrive.
Guided Liberty + Ellis tour
A third-party guide handles the logistics and tells the stories. Good for first-timers who want it all explained.
Hard Hat Tour
Ellis Island’s abandoned hospital complex. Ages 13+, $55, and one of NYC’s most memorable tours.
Statue of Liberty CityPASS & Attraction Passes
CityPASS covers the official ferry, both islands, both museums and the audio tour. It doesn’t include pedestal or crown access.
If getting inside the Statue matters to you, book the Pedestal or Crown Reserve ticket directly. A pass makes sense only if you’ll use enough of its other attractions to beat buying tickets one by one.
What If Crown or Pedestal Tickets Are Sold Out?
- Book General Admission anyway. Both islands and both museums are a full, worthwhile day.
- Check back on pedestal. A few same-day tickets sometimes appear, but it’s not something to plan around.
- Don’t expect crown tickets on the day. They’re advance-only.
- Don’t buy a harbor cruise thinking it’s a workaround. No cruise gets you inside the Statue.
Security, Bags & Accessibility
Security
Airport-style screening before boarding, and a second check before the pedestal or crown.
Bags
Travel light. Large bags aren’t allowed inside the monument. Check the official list of banned items before you go.
Accessibility
The grounds, museums and much of the pedestal are accessible. The crown and the top of the pedestal aren’t.
Dress for the harbor
It’s windier and colder on the water than on land. Wear comfortable shoes.
How to Get to the Statue of Liberty Ferry
- Manhattan (The Battery): take the 1 to South Ferry, the 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or the R or W to Whitehall St. Castle Clinton is inside the park.
- New Jersey (Liberty State Park): there’s parking at the park, and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stops nearby.
New to the subway? Start with our NYC subway tips.
Plan a Day Around the Statue of Liberty
The Classic Downtown Day
First ferry, Liberty Island, Ellis Island, then lunch in the Financial District.
Harbor to Brooklyn
Back from the islands by mid-afternoon, then walk the Brooklyn Bridge at golden hour.
Liberty by Day, Broadway by Night
An early ferry leaves plenty of time to rest before an 8 PM curtain. See what’s on Broadway and pre-theater restaurants.
Two Big Views
The harbor in the morning, then the skyline from above: Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building.
More planning: NYC in one day, NYC with kids and the full NYC sightseeing hub.
Is Visiting the Statue of Liberty Worth It?
Yes, if you actually visit: land on the island, go inside if you can, and give Ellis Island real time. If all you want is a photo, a harbor cruise gets you that in a fraction of the time.
✅ Worth it for…
- First trips to New York
- History lovers and families
- Anyone with an Ellis Island family story
- Pedestal or crown bucket-listers
🤔 Maybe skip if…
- You only have a day or two in the city
- You just want the photo
- You hate lines and boats
- A cruise past the Statue is enough for you
Common Statue of Liberty Mistakes
- Buying from a street seller at The Battery. The only authorized on-site tickets are sold inside Castle Clinton.
- Assuming every “Statue of Liberty tour” lands on the island. Many cruises only sail past. Check before you pay.
- Thinking General Admission gets you inside. It doesn’t. Inside access means a Pedestal or Crown ticket.
- Waiting to book pedestal or crown. Both are limited, and you can’t add them on arrival.
- Treating your ticket time as a boat time. It’s when the security line opens to you.
- Starting late on a two-island day. A late ferry means rushing Ellis Island or skipping it.
- Crossing the harbor from the wrong side. You return to where you started, so leave from the side where your evening is.
- Squeezing it in before a show or game. Getting back from the ferry to Midtown takes real time. Leave a buffer.
Statue of Liberty Tickets: Frequently Asked Questions
How much are Statue of Liberty tickets?
Adult tickets are $26, seniors 62+ pay $23, children 4 to 12 pay $17 and children under 4 ride free. Pedestal or crown access adds $0.30 per person when available. These National Park Service prices were checked on September 28, 2026.
What does a Statue of Liberty General Admission ticket include?
General Admission includes the round-trip Statue City Cruises ferry, Liberty Island grounds, the Statue of Liberty Museum, Ellis Island and the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration, plus the audio tour. It does not include access inside the Statue’s pedestal or crown.
What is the official website for Statue of Liberty tickets?
Statue City Cruises is the only National Park Service-authorized ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Official tickets are sold through Statue City Cruises online and at its ticket office inside Castle Clinton in The Battery.
Does the Statue of Liberty ferry ticket include Ellis Island?
Yes. Every Statue of Liberty ferry ticket includes a stop at Ellis Island and entry to the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration at no extra cost.
Does a General Admission ticket let you go inside the Statue of Liberty?
No. General Admission covers the grounds and museums. To go inside the Statue you need a Pedestal Reserve or Crown Reserve ticket, which cost $0.30 more but are limited and should be booked in advance.
How do I get Statue of Liberty Crown tickets?
Crown tickets must be reserved in advance through Statue City Cruises and are not sold on Liberty Island. Book as early as you can, since crown access is very limited, and bring photo ID for adults to check in before boarding.
How much are Statue of Liberty Crown tickets?
Crown access costs $0.30 on top of the ferry ticket, so an adult crown ticket is $26.30. The hard part is availability, not price.
Is the Statue of Liberty Crown worth it?
It is worth it if you want the rare experience of climbing inside the Statue and don’t mind 162 narrow, steep steps with no elevator. The view is through small windows, so visitors who want a wide panorama may prefer the pedestal.
Is the Statue of Liberty pedestal worth it?
For most visitors, yes. For $0.30 more than General Admission you get inside the monument, the Fort Wood walls, the pedestal exhibits and an outdoor observation level, without the demanding crown climb.
What is the difference between Crown and pedestal tickets?
Pedestal tickets get you inside the Statue’s base and up to its outdoor observation level, with elevator help for much of the way. Crown tickets include the pedestal plus a 162-step climb up a narrow spiral staircase to the crown. Both cost the same.
Does CityPASS include Statue of Liberty Crown access?
No. CityPASS includes the official ferry, both islands, both museums and the audio tour, but not pedestal or crown access. Book a Pedestal or Crown Reserve ticket directly if going inside matters to you.
Where does the Statue of Liberty ferry leave from in Manhattan?
The Manhattan ferry leaves from The Battery at the southern tip of the island. The official ticket office is inside Castle Clinton, and the closest subway stops are South Ferry, Bowling Green and Whitehall St.
Can you take the Statue of Liberty ferry from New Jersey?
Yes. Statue City Cruises also departs from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey. The ferry stops at both islands and returns you to the same side you left from.
Is the time on my Statue of Liberty ticket my ferry departure time?
No. The time on your ticket is when you can join the security line, not a guaranteed departure. At busy times, security and boarding can take an hour or more.
How long does it take to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?
Plan on four to six hours for both islands, including security and the ferry. Liberty Island alone takes about two to three hours. Take an early ferry if you want to see both.
What are Statue of Liberty hours?
The park is open from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM daily, with last entry into the Statue at 4:00 PM, and it is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ferry schedules vary by season, so check the current timetable for your date.
What happens if Crown or pedestal tickets are sold out?
Book General Admission instead, which still includes both islands and both museums. Limited same-day pedestal tickets sometimes appear but are not reliable, and crown tickets are advance-only.
Does every Statue of Liberty boat tour land on Liberty Island?
No. Only the Statue City Cruises ferry is allowed to dock at Liberty Island and Ellis Island. Many harbor cruises only sail past the Statue, so check what’s included before you buy.
The Bottom Line on Statue of Liberty Tickets
- $26 General Admission gets you the official ferry, both islands and both museums, but not inside the Statue.
- Pedestal (+30¢) is the sweet spot. Crown (+30¢) is a climb, not a view. Both need advance booking.
- Statue City Cruises is the only ferry that lands. Buy online or inside Castle Clinton.
- Your ticket time is when you join the security line, not when the boat leaves.
- Start early to do both islands, and take the ferry from the side where your evening is.
- CityPASS covers the ferry and islands, not pedestal or crown.
Tickets at a Glance
Guide Sections
Tickets & Nearby Sights
Around the Statue Visit
Transit & Planning
Going With a Group?
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