The Statue of Liberty is a symbol of New York, and of America as a whole. The neoclassical copper statue commemorates the friendship and aid that France extended to American settlers in 1776 in their fight for independence from Great Britain.

The Symbol of Liberty has stood on Liberty Island below Manhattan since 1886 and is now one of the world's most sought-after tourist attractions.

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The statue itself depicts the Roman goddess of freedom, Libertas.

In her right hand, she holds a torch raised above her head, while in her left hand, she clutches a plaque with the inscription JULY IV MDCCLXXVI, which is the date in Roman numerals for July 4, 1778, the day the US declared its independence.

At the base of the statue are depicted broken chains, a symbol of emancipation from slavery.

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The height of the Statue of Liberty and a visit to the Crown

The copper statue itself measures 46 metres from the feet to the tip of the torch, but stands on a 47 metre high granite base, making the total height from the ground 93 metres.

There is a viewing platform in the crown, which the statue wears on its head, that can be visited.

Access to both the pedestal and the crown is by stairs only.

There are 215 steps to climb to reach the viewing platform of the pedestal and another 162 very steep steps to reach the crown.

Visiting the pedestal

You can visit the viewpoint at the top of the pedestal at any time - although places are limited, so booking in advance is recommended, but places are often available if you buy on the spot on the same day.

The observation deck offers beautiful views of Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey.

A visit to the Crown

You must book tickets to the Crown well in advance. Seating is limited to only a few dozen per day and we recommend booking at least 1-2 months in advance!

Two museums

Directly in the pedestal you will find a small museum about the history of the construction of the Statue of Liberty.

In a modern building near the wharf there is a gift shop, a café, a restaurant and another museum with models of parts of the statue such as the toes, the torch or the face.

Entrance to both museums is already included in the total admission price and you pay nothing on site.

Entrance fees and ferries

The Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island can only be accessed by purchasing tickets on the official website statuecruises.com.

Tickets include boat transportation from the Battery Park dock or the Liberty State Park dock in New Jersey. You must always board where you purchase your ticket from, but you can return from the Statue of Liberty to a different location than where you started.

There are 3 ticket options to choose from, the prices from both ports are the same.

The prices are final, so they include taxes and fees.

• General Admission Includes admission and ferries to Liberty Island and Ellis Island, as well as admission to the Statue of Liberty Museum.
  • 25,50 usd - Adults
  • 22,50 usd - Seniors 62 and over
  • 16,50 usd - Children under 12
• Pedestal Reserve Ticket Includes additional admission to the Statue of Liberty. Tickets are limited and require early booking (ideally at least 1 day in advance)
  • 25,80 usd - Adults
  • 22,80 usd - Seniors over 62 years of age
  • 16,80 usd - children under 12 years of age
• Crown Reserve Ticket – 24,80 USD will be allowed extra access to the Crown. Please make reservations at least 2-6 months in advance.
  • 25,80 usd - Adults
  • 22,80 usd - Seniors over 62 years of age
  • 16,80 usd - children under 12 years of age

Boats depart from Battery Park every 15-20 minutes from 8:30am to 4:00pm.

• The official website of the National Statue of Liberty Monument: nps.gov/stli
• The only official ticket seller and ferry operator: statuecruises.com

Ferry Schedules

Ferries depart daily from 9:00 am to 3:15 pm approximately every 15 to 20 minutes and are often crowded.

The sailing time from both Battery Park and Jersey City is approximately 15 minutes.

There are free toilets inside the boat and a small bistro where you can pay with cash only.

Practical info and our experience

On Liberty Island, you'll find a free drinking fountain near the cafe, from which you can tap your own bottle.

There are several cafes and restaurants.

Free toilets are available right at the statue, museum and dockside.

You can only enter the granite pedestal viewpoint and the crown without luggage. These can be stored in the lockers outside the entrance, which are functional after inserting a quarter (0,25 usd). You can only pay in cash, but there is a money changer on site that will change you out of cash.

You will get your quarter back when you reopen the locker.

We recommend going to the statue in the afternoon, when it is generally less crowded than in the morning and mid-morning.

Before boarding the ferry you have to go through security like at the airport, but there are no long lines (you will usually wait no more than 5 minutes).

How to see the Statue of Liberty for free?

If you don't feel like paying, you can also see the Statue of Liberty from a few dozen feet away on the Staten Island cruise. The boat departs every 30 minutes from Staten Island Ferry (about 5 minutes from Battery Park) and is free.

Boats sail to Staten Island 24 hours a day, so feel free to enjoy the nighttime views as well.

Other great views of the statue can be had directly from Battery Park or Liberty State Park in New Jersey, where the ferries depart from.

Accommodation with a view of the Statue of Liberty

Want to keep a symbol of America in plain sight? Book a stay at one of the luxury hotels that offer views of the South Fork of the Hudson River and the statue itself.

• Hyatt Regency Jersey City **** in New Jersey
• Casa Cipriani New York ***** in Manhattan

The Story and History of the Statue of Liberty

You already know the most practical information you need to visit, but how and where did the statue actually come to be?

France's gift to the Americans

The initial idea for a grand monument to liberty came from the mind of a French marquis named Édouard René de Laboulay, president of the French Anti-Slavery Society and an important thinker of the time. After all, it was the French who made a significant contribution to the independence of the United States when they fought side by side with them against the British. Laboulaye hoped that France's formidable gift would also build up the French people to overthrow the reign of terror of Napoleon III.

Fréderic August Bartholdi was commissioned as the chief sculptor, who, on a visit to New York, was intrigued by the very small island at the entrance to the harbor that all ships had to pass by.

Lack of money and the intervention of Pulitzer

The first proposal came in 1870, but the project was constantly struggling with a lack of money and, at first, with a very lukewarm attitude of New Yorkers, who began to change their minds only after the threat that the statue would eventually be built in Boston.

The original completion date of 1876 (the 100th anniversary of US independence) was missed, and so the finished torch arm was sent to the World's Fair in Philadelphia. It took another 10 years before the statue was completed and on July 4, 1886 it was unveiled in Paris, where it was being completed.

After that it was again disassembled into 300 parts and sent by ship to New York, where, again due to lack of funds, the massive granite base was still missing. Efforts to raise contributions for its construction from wealthy businessmen were unsuccessful, and it was the famous journalist Joseph Pulitzer who was instrumental in raising sufficient funds. He came up with a massive campaign in his newspaper, The World, with the idea that the statue was a gift from the French people to the American people. After this announcement, ordinary Americans began to contribute on a large scale to the construction of the pedestal.

The final unveiling took place in New York City on October 28 , 1886.

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