Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island
The ferry, the crown (if you booked months ago), and the genuinely moving Ellis Island museum.
The call
Worth it if you are watching the budget and you are traveling with kids.
Why
- 01
The boat approach is a real lump-in-throat moment, and Ellis Island's immigration museum is far better than anyone expects.
Our read - 02
The catch: a half-day round-trip, airport-grade security, and crowds at every step.
Our read - 03
The crown is reached by 162 stairs up a double-helix spiral staircase with no elevator — a strenuous, claustrophobic climb that pays off with a view through Lady Liberty's windows.
nps.gov - 04
There's no entrance fee to the islands or museums — you only pay for the ferry, which is the single most cost-effective iconic experience in the harbor.
nps.gov
Is it a fit?
Go if
This is your first trip to New York
Even a grounds-only visit delivers the close-up and the skyline view back at Manhattan; reserve pedestal or crown access if you want to go inside.
You are watching the budget
On a budget, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island still earns its price.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island works.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island works.
Think twice if
You are planning for two
For romance, look elsewhere.
You only have one day
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
You care about the visual experience
For beauty & photography, Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island is hit or miss.
Plan it well
- Cost
- $25 ferry (crown +$1, books out months ahead)
- Timing
- First morning ferry to beat lines and crowds on the islands.
- Booking
- Adult ferry $26 (kids 4–12 $17, seniors $23); crown/pedestal access adds a small surcharge and must be reserved well in advance through Statue City Cruises.
- Allow
- Half day
- Accessibility
- Grounds and pedestal are wheelchair accessible; the crown is not — 162 stairs, no elevator.
- Getting there
- Statue City Cruises ferry from Battery Park (Manhattan) or Liberty State Park (NJ); it's the only authorized boat that docks at the islands.