Statue of Liberty Tickets: Crown, Pedestal & Ellis Island Guide

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most recognizable monuments on earth, but the ticketing system has layers that confuse first-time visitors. There are three tiers of access — grounds only, pedestal, and crown — each with different price points, booking windows, and physical demands. Getting this right before you book saves both money and disappointment.

The Three Ticket Tiers Explained

Grounds-only / Reserve ticket The base tier. Your ferry ticket takes you to Liberty Island and Ellis Island. You can walk around the island, view the statue up close from ground level, visit the museum in the statue’s base (free entry as part of the ticket), and spend time at Ellis Island. You do not enter the pedestal or climb toward the crown.

Adult price: from $24 as of 2026 (includes ferry + grounds access)

Pedestal Access Adds entry into the statue’s base and pedestal via elevator, taking you up to viewing platforms at the statue’s feet. The views of New York Harbor and the Manhattan skyline are excellent from here. This is the most popular upgrade and is the one we’d recommend for most visitors who want an interior experience.

Adult price: from $26 as of 2026

Crown Access The ultimate tier. From the pedestal level you climb an additional 354 steps — a narrow, winding double helix staircase — to reach the statue’s crown. The crown has 25 small windows. Visibility is limited but the experience of being inside Lady Liberty at that elevation is genuinely special. The climb takes 15–20 minutes and the staircase is steep and tight — not suitable for anyone with claustrophobia, vertigo, or limited mobility.

Adult price: from $26 as of 2026 — same price as pedestal, but capped at very low daily numbers

Note: all prices are for the Statue Cruises ferry package. Children under 4 ride free. Senior and military discounts apply.

Booking Timeline: The Crown Is Ruthlessly Competitive

Crown tickets open 6 months in advance and are the scarcest commodity in New York City tourism. A daily cap of a few hundred visitors means the release date is the only realistic window. Set a calendar reminder, go to statuecruises.com at midnight Eastern on your target release date, and be prepared for a queue.

Pedestal tickets are easier but not trivial. Book 2–4 weeks in advance for summer visits; 1–2 weeks is usually fine in spring and fall.

Grounds-only tickets are the most available tier but popular weekend departures in summer still sell out. Booking 1 week ahead is generally fine, but don’t rely on walk-ups in July and August.

Ferry Schedules and Departure Points

Ferries depart from two locations:

Battery Park, Lower Manhattan — the primary departure point for most visitors. Accessible via the 4/5 train to Bowling Green or the R/W to Whitehall Street. First ferry typically at 8:30 am; last departures in late afternoon vary by season.

Liberty State Park, Jersey City, NJ — less crowded, free parking available, and the views of Manhattan from this side of the harbor are excellent. Access via NJ Transit to Liberty State Park station.

Both piers use the same ferry system and tickets. Arrive at least 30–45 minutes before departure — security screening, ticket scanning, and boarding queues at Battery Park can be slow, especially in summer.

Ellis Island: Don’t Skip It

Every Statue of Liberty ferry ticket includes Ellis Island. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is genuinely one of the best free museums in the United States — the Great Hall (the main immigration processing room) is stunning, and the exhibits on what immigrants encountered and endured are deeply moving.

Budget at least 1.5 to 2 hours for Ellis Island. Most visitors underestimate how much time the museum deserves. The American Family Immigration History Center on-site lets you search passenger records from the Ellis Island era — if your family came through this port, it’s worth a look.

Practical tip: Take the Statue of Liberty ferry first (morning), then Ellis Island after. This sequencing means you’re in better shape for the optional crown climb in the morning, and you have the afternoon for Ellis Island’s more leisurely museum pace.

Third-Party Ticket Platforms

Klook, Viator, and GetYourGuide list Statue of Liberty experiences. These are typically guided packages — either a guided walking tour of Liberty Island, a private history tour, or a bundled ferry experience. They cost more than the direct ticket but add interpretation and guaranteed group logistics. Browse Statue of Liberty packages on Klook for instant confirmation options.

If you want the ferry-only experience and self-guided audio tour, book direct through Statue Cruises. If you’d prefer a knowledgeable guide narrating the history, a third-party operator adds genuine value.

Accessibility

The ferry is accessible. The grounds of Liberty Island and the Ellis Island museum are largely accessible. The elevator to the pedestal level is accessible. The crown staircase is not accessible and requires the ability to climb 354 steep, narrow steps.

Combining With a New York City Day

From Battery Park it’s a short walk to Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and the South Street Seaport. Most visitors spend 4–5 hours total on the ferry, Liberty Island, and Ellis Island — a full half-day activity.

For the rest of your New York stay, see our New York City things to do guide and the full New York City guide for hotel and restaurant recommendations by neighbourhood.

What to Bring

• Comfortable walking shoes (the island has long walking loops)
• Layers — the harbor is cooler and windier than midtown Manhattan
• Water (no drinking fountains on the ferry; limited options on Liberty Island)
• Sunscreen — you’re exposed on the ferry and island
• Small daypack (large bags go in lockers if doing pedestal/crown)
• ID — required for crown ticket holders (names are checked against the booking)

Pro Tips

• Book crown tickets the day they open, 6 months out. There is no other reliable strategy.
• The 10 am–11 am ferry hits the island at peak light for photography — the morning sun illuminates the statue’s face and torch.
• Kids under 4 are not permitted in the crown — bring grounds-only tickets for mixed age groups.
• The audio tour available at the ferry terminal is worth collecting — it adds narrated history throughout both islands.
• If you didn’t get crown tickets, consider pedestal access on a weekday — Liberty Island is noticeably less crowded Tuesday through Thursday.