It is almost impossible for a tourist to plan their first trip to New York, in the United States, and not visit or at least see the Statue of Liberty. A symbol of North American freedom, it is undoubtedly one of the main tourist attractions with its 93 meters high, imposing to the eyes of those who see it from afar or up close.
Seeing the Statue of Liberty is almost a must for anyone visiting New York for the first time. Going to Liberty Island, where the monument presented by the French is located, is the main trip, but those who don't have time can also take a ferry to State Island, where it is possible to have a good view of the statue – and also from the southern part of Manhattan.
If you are interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty on your trip to New York, continue following this text and we will bring you all the details and information about this important tourist attraction in the United States.
History of the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French to the Americans to commemorate the centennial of the US Declaration of Independence. But it was only inaugurated 10 years later, in October 1886.
The Statue of Liberty was completed in France in 1884, and the following year it was disassembled into more than 300 pieces and packed in boxes to be sent to New York. Its structure is made of cement, copper and steel and was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with the participation of Gustave Eiffel, famous for creating the Eiffel Tower.
Where is the Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, New York. To visit the Island and the Statue, tourists must take the boat that leaves from Battery Park, in Lower Manhattan. There is also the option of leaving Liberty State Park in Jersey City, New Jersey if someone is staying in that area.
The tour also includes a stop at Ellis Islandthe island where most immigrants initially stopped when arriving in the United States many years ago and where the Immigration Museum is located today.
-
-
Images Publicity Statue of Liberty Tickets
Tickets to the Statue of Liberty
There is only one official company that sells tickets for the 'Liberty Island / Statue of Liberty + Ellis Island' combo, which is Statue City Cruises. It is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid queues and guarantee your place. It can be purchased online, with a scheduled appointment, or at the locations where the boat leaves. Be careful with scalpers, who will try to sell you fake tickets.
Although Statue City Cruises is the official company, there are also other agencies authorized to sell tickets to the Statue of Liberty, such as Civitatis.
Buy tickets for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour here
There are usually three different types of tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty:
- With access to the island where the statue is, but without being able to climb it. It costs US$25 (children and young people aged 4 to 12 pay US$16 and over 62s pay US$22);
- With base access the Statue of Liberty, which costs US$25.30 (children and young people aged 4 to 12 pay US$16.30 and over 62s, US$22.30);
- With access to the crown – this package has the same value as the previous one, but with much more restricted dates for reservations. It is recommended to buy well in advance.
In addition to being able to visit both islands, with the round-trip ferry ride, those who purchase the ticket are entitled to audio guides and visit the Statue of Liberty Museum.
What to do on Liberty Island
Okay, the Statue of Liberty is the big star of the place and, of course, everyone will want to climb closer to it and take lots of photos. But the national park also offers other activities that you cannot miss:
- Statue of Liberty Museum: Entry is already included in the package, and at the Museum you will be able to learn more about the history of the statue, see the original torch and a replica of the statue's face.
- View of Manhattan: Lower Manhattan is a beauty in itself. Take some time to make several clicks.
- Shopping: Tourists who are tourists don't leave an attraction without making a purchase, right? And of course there is a souvenir shop on site, to everyone's delight.
The best time and times to visit the Statue of Liberty
As with any tourist attraction, vacation months and holidays tend to have more visitors and the chance of waiting in line for more than an hour or much longer to board the ferry is huge.
A best choice Make sure you plan to take the trip early in the morning – the first ferry usually leaves at 9 am.
Remember that this is one of the most popular attractions in New York and all ferries usually leave full.
Also, be prepared to go through a search like the ones we see at airports, so be prepared to go through metal detectors and face new lines.
The journey from the starting point in lower Manhattan to Liberty Island takes about 20 minutes. And the entire tour (visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island) usually lasts 4 hours, not counting the waiting time for boarding lines.
View of southern Manhattan
Free and quick alternative to seeing the Statue of Liberty 'up close'
As not everyone who visits New York has enough time to enjoy all of the city's attractions (and, let's face it, we would need a month to enjoy everything), there is another option to see the Statue without having to go to the island where it is located. .
When I went to NY, I only stayed in the city for 3 days. And, in the rush of wanting to do everything, I decided to exchange the trip to the Statue of Liberty for another quick and free trip: taking a ferry that goes to Staten Island, crossing the Hudson River and passing relatively close to the Statue.
This is a public transport that leaves Manhattan from the State Island Ferry station, and the journey takes just 20 minutes. Once you get to the other side, in Staten Island, just disembark and wait again to return – if you're lucky (I was!), it's still possible to return on the same ferry. In the end, I “spent” about 1 hour on the tour and, leaving there, I even went to see the Stock Exchange/Wall Street area, which you can walk to.
Tip: On the way there, go up to the top floor of the ferry and position yourself on the right side, to take the best photos of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. And on the way back, stay on the left side.
This is the view we have from the ferry to Staten Island
Curiosities about the Statue of Liberty
With more than 130 years of history, there is no shortage of curiosities and questions about the Statue of Liberty. Shall we check some out?
What color is the Statue of Liberty?
The greenish color we see on the Statue is not its original. It is green, in fact, because of the oxidation of copper.
How tall is the Statue of Liberty?
In total, the Statue of Liberty is 92.9 meters tall. There are 46.9 meters of base and another 46 m of statue. To climb to the pedestal, visitors face 192 steps. To go to the crown, there are 354 steps.
On the island you can get a better idea of the size of the monument – 46.9 m base and 46 m statue
Does the tour to the Statue of Liberty operate every day?
Officially, the monument is only closed twice a year, during the traditional Thanks Giving festival (second Thursday in November) and at Christmas. However, depending on weather conditions in New York, the tour may be suspended indefinitely.
The Statue's original torch
The original gold and copper torch in the Statue's raised right hand once served as a lighthouse. In 1984, during a restoration project, it was replaced. Since 2019, it has been one of the attractions at the Statue of Liberty Museum.
What is the name of the Statue of Liberty?
Believe it or not, what we know as the Statue of Liberty has an official name: “Liberty Enlightening the World”. Did you know about this?
What is the history of the Statue of Liberty?
The Statue of Liberty was manufactured in Paris and was a gift from France to commemorate the centennial of the United States Declaration of Independence. She is the symbol of American freedom and represents “Libertas”, the Roman goddess of freedom.
Head of the Statue of Liberty and, Paris, in the year 1885
What is written on the Statue of Liberty plaque?
With the right arm raised, we see a torch of fire at the top of the Statue, which represents freedom. On the left hand is a tablet/plate with July 4, 1776 written in Roman numerals, which is the date of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum
When purchasing a ticket to the Statue of Liberty, the visitor also has the right to stop at Ellis Island, which many people are unaware of – after leaving Statue Island, the ferry makes a stop at the Immigration Museum before returning to Manhattan .
The stop is optional. There are even people who already know the Statue of Liberty and buy the tour just to visit Ellis Island.
For those who love history – and museums – the tour is truly unmissable. Originally the place welcomed immigrants who arrived in the United States to try a new life. For a more complete experience, with a 60-minute guided tour of Ellis Island, you can purchase a special ticket that costs extra.
Photo Release Ellis Island Foundation
Tips for a good tour of the Statue of Liberty
1 – Buy tickets in advance
Be sure to buy your ticket on the day, as the Statue of Liberty is one of New York's main attractions, there is a good chance that all times will already be sold out. Plan your tour well and buy in advance.
2 – Beware of scalpers
You will probably find people on the street offering tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty. Run away from them! They want to catch unsuspecting tourists who have left to buy tickets on the day and it is already sold out. Always purchase tickets for the statue on the official website or at some accredited partners, such as Civitatis website.
3 – Arrive early
When purchasing the ticket, you already choose the time of the visit. Plan well so as not to arrive to catch the ferry at the last minute, as delays may occur along the way. And if you purchased the ticket that gives access to the crown, for example, the ideal is to plan to arrive at the island an hour in advance.
4 – Be careful with what you take on the trip
Before heading out on your tour, be aware that large bags are not allowed on Liberty Island or Ellis Island – and there are no lockers at the departure points in New York and New Jersey if you want to store your suitcase.
According to the official site attraction, backpacks, strollers and large umbrellas are also not allowed inside the Statue, as are food and drinks.
Who here already knows and had a good (or bad) experience at the Statue of Liberty? We are curious about your opinion.
