To visit the Statue of Liberty, you have to take the Statue City Cruises ferry, the only carrier authorized by the National Park Service (NPS). The adult ticket costs $26; access to the pedestal or the crown is an option that must be reserved. Beware of unauthorized sellers around Battery Park.
The statue stands on Liberty Island, in New York Harbor; you can only get there by boat. This page compares official purchase and resellers using the rules published by the NPS, details the three access levels and gives the sunset time on the 15th of each month so you can see the statue in the best light. For the rest of your stay, see our guide to visiting New York.
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Statue of Liberty: key facts
- Access: only by Statue City Cruises ferry, departing from Battery Park (New York) or New Jersey (checked on 15 October 2026 on statuecitycruises.com).
- Full fare recorded on 15 October 2026: $26 (ages 13 and over); $23 (62 and over); $17 (ages 4–12); free under 4; pedestal or crown: + $0.30 — subject to change, check before you go (checked on 15 October 2026 on nps.gov).
- Reservation: recommended by the NPS; in practice mandatory for the pedestal and the crown ("Reserve" tickets).
- Hours: the NPS refers to the ferry schedules, published on the official ticket site.
- Crown: minimum height 42 inches (1.07 m); not allowed under age 4.
- Information checked on 15 October 2026 on nps.gov and statuecitycruises.com.
Tickets: official seller vs resellers
The NPS is unambiguous: Statue City Cruises is the only ferry provider authorized for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It also warns of many "aggressive and unauthorized" ticket sellers, often near The Battery, who may lie about prices and sell fake tickets. The only official point of sale on site is the Statue City Cruises ticket office in Castle Clinton, at The Battery.
| Criterion | Statue City Cruises (official) | Unauthorized street sellers | Platforms and tourist passes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Status | Only carrier authorized by the NPS | Unauthorized (NPS warning) | Generally resell the carrier’s ticket |
| Adult price | $26 (taxes and fees included) | Prices often presented misleadingly | Variable, compare with the official price |
| Pedestal / crown | "Pedestal Reserve" / "Crown Reserve" options | Not guaranteed | Depends on the offer |
| Cancellation | Refund if cancelled at least 24 hours before departure | — | Reseller’s own conditions |
| Age | Ferry + visit ticket | Pedestal | Crown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 4 | $0 | $0 | Not allowed |
| 4–12 | $17 | + $0.30 | + $0.30 |
| Adult (13 and over) | $26 | + $0.30 | + $0.30 |
| Senior (62 and over) | $23 | + $0.30 | + $0.30 |
Each ticket includes the round-trip ferry, access to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty Museum, the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration and the audio guides. NPS ranger programs are free, subject to availability.
Opening hours
The NPS simply says the statue can only be reached by ferry and refers to the carrier’s schedules. These vary by season and departure point: check them on the official ticket site when you book, choosing your departure point first (New York or New Jersey).
Best time to visit
The table combines the sun times at Liberty Island and the Central Park normals.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Avg. high | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:18 am | 4:53 pm | 9 h 35 min | 4.2 °C (40 °F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| February | 6:50 am | 5:30 pm | 10 h 41 min | 5.7 °C (42 °F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| March | 7:08 am | 7:02 pm | 11 h 55 min | 9.9 °C (50 °F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| April | 6:17 am | 7:35 pm | 13 h 18 min | 16.6 °C (62 °F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| May | 5:39 am | 8:06 pm | 14 h 27 min | 21.9 °C (71 °F) | 101 mm (4.0 in) |
| June | 5:24 am | 8:29 pm | 15 h 05 min | 26.5 °C (80 °F) | 115 mm (4.5 in) |
| July | 5:37 am | 8:26 pm | 14 h 48 min | 29.4 °C (85 °F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| August | 6:06 am | 7:54 pm | 13 h 48 min | 28.5 °C (83 °F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) |
| September | 6:36 am | 7:05 pm | 12 h 29 min | 24.6 °C (76 °F) | 109 mm (4.3 in) |
| October | 7:07 am | 6:16 pm | 11 h 09 min | 18.1 °C (65 °F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| November | 6:42 am | 4:38 pm | 9 h 56 min | 12.2 °C (54 °F) | 91 mm (3.6 in) |
| December | 7:12 am | 4:29 pm | 9 h 17 min | 6.8 °C (44 °F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
On the water, the wind accentuates the cold: from December to February, average highs stay below 7 °C (45 °F). Rain is spread across the year (80 to 120 mm, or 3.1 to 4.7 in, a month). Details are on our page on the best time to visit New York, with month pages such as New York in April.
What to see and how long to allow
- Liberty Island: the walk around the statue and the Statue of Liberty Museum.
- The pedestal (Pedestal Reserve option): view of the harbor from the base of the statue.
- The crown (Crown Reserve option): limited quotas, minimum height 42 inches (1.07 m).
- Ellis Island: the National Museum of Immigration, included in the ticket; Hard Hat Tour optional.
- Ranger programs, free.
The official sources do not give a visit duration. Allow for the crossing, the security check before boarding, then two islands to visit: leave yourself a wide time window.
Getting there
On the New York side, departure is from Castle Clinton, in Battery Park (New York, NY 10004), at the southern tip of Manhattan. A second departure point exists on the New Jersey side; choose it when you book.
Common mistakes (based on the official rules)
- Buying from a street seller at Battery Park: the NPS warns of fake tickets and misleading prices.
- Thinking the national parks pass covers the ferry: it does not.
- Going up to the crown with a young child: not allowed under age 4, and minimum height of 42 inches (1.07 m).
- Taking a general ticket and expecting to go inside the statue: the pedestal and the crown require a reserved option.
- Cancelling at the last minute: refunds only up to 24 hours before departure.
Checklist before you go
- Book on statuecitycruises.com (or at the Castle Clinton ticket office), not from a street seller.
- Choose your access level when you book: general, pedestal or crown.
- For the crown, check children’s height (42 inches, or 1.07 m) and age (not before 4).
- Choose the departure point (New York or New Jersey) before looking at ferry schedules.
- Bring warm clothes from December to March: on the water, the wind accentuates the cold.
- Cancel at least 24 hours before departure if you cannot make it, to get a refund.
What to see nearby
Back at Battery Park, you are at the southern tip of Manhattan. Find the city’s neighborhoods, museums and viewpoints in our guide to visiting New York, and the climate month by month on the best time to visit New York.
Frequently asked questions
What is the official website for visiting the Statue of Liberty?
Statue City Cruises (statuecitycruises.com) is the only carrier authorized by the National Park Service. On site, the only official ticket office is at Castle Clinton, Battery Park.
How much does it cost to visit the Statue of Liberty?
Fares recorded on 15 October 2026 on nps.gov: $26 adult, $23 senior (62 and over), $17 ages 4 to 12, free under 4. The pedestal or the crown cost $0.30 more.
Can you go inside the Statue of Liberty?
Yes, with a Pedestal Reserve (pedestal) or Crown Reserve (crown) option. The crown requires a minimum height of 42 inches (1.07 m) and is not allowed under age 4.
Can you see the Statue of Liberty for free?
The NPS does not offer free admission to Liberty Island for visitors aged 4 and over: the ferry is paid and is not covered by the free national park days.
Is Ellis Island included?
Yes, every Statue City Cruises ticket includes access to Ellis Island and its Immigration Museum.
Our sources
- National Park Service, Statue of Liberty National Monument, Fees & Passes, consulted on 15 October 2026.
- Statue City Cruises, Tickets page, consulted on 15 October 2026.
- NOAA / National Weather Service, 1991–2020 normals for Central Park (via our best-time-to-visit page).
- NOAA, solar calculation algorithm; coordinates: Wikipedia / Wikidata (Q9202).
- Method: our methodology.
Updated November 2026.