Statue of Liberty Pedestal Visit

It is one of the most popular attractions in the city, but there are few tickets available and they sell out very quickly. Here is everything you need to know to organise your visit.

Firstly, you should know that to visit the Statue of Liberty Pedestal, you can go on a guided tour or on your own, booking the tour or tickets to the Statue of Liberty, as long as access to the pedestal is specified, or buying tickets on site at the ticket offices (located at Castle Clinton in Battery Park, at the New Jersey train station).

A guided tour of the Statue of Liberty is the option I recommend most for getting to know this icon of the United States, as it will allow you to enjoy a complete experience with the convenience of not having to spend your time organising the trip.

The advantages? It's obvious: getting there with a guided tour makes things much easier, and everything is planned in advance so you don't have to worry about transport or queuing at the ticket office. All you have to do is enjoy!

You'll board the ferry at Battery Park and the boat will drop you off at Liberty Island, at the foot of the majestic Statue. An expert guide will accompany you throughout the tour, explaining in detail the history of the monument, its construction and all the anecdotes that will complete the visit.

However, if you are interested in going up to the pedestal or the crown , make sure that this is included. Currently, Hellotickets tours do not include this part of the Statue of Liberty, but they do include other areas, such as the Immigration Museum and Ellis Island.

If you prefer to visit the Statue of Liberty Pedestal on your own, you will need to purchase tickets for the ferry to Liberty Island well in advance, as admission to the statue is limited to a few visitors per day. You can do this either at the ticket offices in Battery Park or Liberty Park or on the Statue Cruises website. You can also get there by taking a cruise on the Hudson River.

Ticket prices do not vary depending on where you decide to buy them, but it is much more convenient to do so online, as there are usually long queues at the ticket offices and tickets to access the pedestal (not to mention the crown) sell out quickly. If you try to get tickets for the same day, it is more than likely that your efforts will be in vain unless you go there first thing in the morning.

You can find tickets starting at around £20, depending on whether you visit with a guided tour or on your own. Let's take a closer look.

Starting at £50 on Hellotickets, you can find guided tours of the Statue of Liberty that include access to the Statue Pedestal, the ferry to Liberty Island, and tickets to Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum.

During the tour, you will be accompanied by a local guide who will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about the Statue of Liberty, which is always a plus for giving context to the activity and learning about the history of the attractions you see.

In my opinion, taking a guided tour of the Statue of Liberty is the best way to see the pedestal and the site where it stands, as you will achieve your goal without spending a lot of money and with the convenience of having transport, tickets and the services of a guide included in the price.

Breakdown of prices by ticket type

That would be fantastic, but unfortunately it's not possible. Most New York tourist passes include basic admission, which only gives you access to the ferry, the islands and the museums located there, but not to the Pedestal or the Crown of the Statue of Liberty.

Which tourist cards include the Statue of Liberty?

If you would like to use one of these tourist passes during your stay in New York but are not sure which one to choose, I recommend you take a look at the post The best tourist card in New York, as it will surely help you decide and fulfil your dream of seeing the Statue of Liberty.

How to use the tourist card?

To visit the Statue of Liberty with one of the New York tourist passes, you don't need to book in advance, but you will have to go to the Castle Clinton ticket office in Battery Park to exchange your pass for a ticket to board the ferry. It is important to do this (there is a special queue for this, which moves quickly), otherwise you will not be allowed to enter.

The entrance to the Statue of Liberty Pedestal gives access to the interior and the outdoor balcony of the stone structure that stands at the foot of the statue and supports it, giving it height. The statue itself is located on an old star-shaped open-air fort from where you can also enjoy the view.

Be patient at the security checkpoint

You will find the entrance to the Statue of Liberty Pedestal behind the monument. The last admission is at 3:30 PM, and to enter, you will have to pass a second security check in addition to the first one before boarding the ferry.

Security is quite strict and you are not allowed to take backpacks or bags onto the Pedestal or the Crown, so you will have to leave your belongings in lockers at the base of the monument, which cost 25¢. Only coins are accepted, but don't worry, there are machines that accept $1 and $5 bills.

What you will see during your visit to the Pedestal

Upon entering the pedestal, you can decide whether to visit the museum about the monument or go directly to the viewpoint to admire the views from an outdoor terrace located at the base.

The lift is only available for disabled visitors, so be prepared for a lot of steps (almost 200!). But to be honest, it's not too tiring because the stairs aren't narrow, and if you need to catch your breath, you can always step aside to rest for a moment.

The views of Liberty Island, Manhattan and Staten Island are great from the balcony-viewpoint of the Statue of Liberty, but it's a surprisingly narrow place, so when there are a lot of visitors it can be a bit difficult to move around. The experience is still fantastic, but you have to be prepared for the crowds.

After visiting the pedestal, you can continue your tour of the island and then take the ferry to Ellis Island. You can get off there and visit the Immigration Museum or stay on board and return to Battery Park.

If you like to admire city skylines from above, you'll definitely enjoy a visit to the Statue of Liberty Pedestal. Although it's only 27 metres high, which is small compared to other viewpoints in New York, it offers excellent 360º views of the following sites:

Contemplating the views of New York from the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty will offer you another interesting perspective of the city and unique photographs of your trip with the Hudson River as the star of the show. This visit is the perfect complement to the observatories of Manhattan's skyscrapers.

The views are very different from both platforms

Compared to climbing the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, visiting the Crown is one of the most exclusive and difficult experiences to book in New York, given the limited number of tickets available each day. However, if you have the opportunity, don't hesitate to do so.

The views may not be as impressive as you expected because they are not 360º like on the Pedestal, but this does not mean that it is not worth it because the really important thing about getting here is to step inside the head of the Statue of Liberty and see the landscape through her eyes.

Due to the eastward orientation of the Statue, it is a little difficult to get a good view of Manhattan from the small windows of the Crown when compared to the view from the Pedestal, but as I said, when you are here, the views are almost irrelevant.

However, from the Crown, you'll get an unusual perspective of the Statue of Liberty. For once, you'll see it from top to bottom and not the other way around as you would from the Pedestal. It's something unique!

The climb up, one easier than the other

The climb to the Pedestal and the Crown of the Statue of Liberty is a totally different experience. While the first can be accessed without too much effort by stairs or lift (for disabled people), the second can only be reached by climbing a very narrow spiral staircase of more than 300 steps that connects the legs of the Statue to the torso and head, so you need to be in good physical condition. Children, for example, must be at least 1.21 metres tall and able to climb on their own to enter the Crown.

If you have a fear of enclosed spaces or heights, you may feel a little uncomfortable on the stairs, but don't worry, as there are spaces every few steps where you can stop for a moment to rest.

In addition, the ascent and descent of the Crown are via different staircases, so there will be no problem of bumping into other visitors who are making the ascent while you are descending.

Compare ticket prices for the Pedestal and Crown of the Statue of Liberty

How far in advance should I buy tickets?

At least 5 months in advance, as the Statue of Liberty Pedestal and Crown are very popular with visitors and very few tickets are available.

How long does a visit to the Statue of Liberty take?

At least 4 to 5 hours to visit the entire Statue of Liberty, including the Pedestal and Crown, the museums on the islands, and the ferry ride. You should also add security checks and queues for access.

When is the Statue of Liberty less crowded?

You will find fewer tourists visiting the Statue of Liberty on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as Mondays, Fridays and weekends are the busiest days for this tour.

How early should I arrive to board the ferry?

At least half an hour. The time shown on your tickets to visit the Statue of Liberty is when you have to queue for the ferry at Battery Park to go through security, which can take some time as the checks are thorough, just like at airports.