Statue of Liberty

New York’s most famous symbol, the Statue of Liberty, also known as Liberty Enlightening the World, is found on Liberty Island.

This colossal monument of 151 feet 1 inch from base to torch, located on an island in Upper New York Bay, can only be visited by ferry. To get to the boat visitors have to head to the dock in Battery Park in Downtown Manhattan.

History

The Statue of Liberty was inaugurated in October 1886 and was given to the Americans by the French to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1984 it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The statue was designed by Gustave Eiffel, the same architect responsible for the Eiffel Tower.

Visiting its Observation Deck 

On the 4 of July 2009, coinciding with Independence Day of the United States (a very important date for the Statue), the access to the pedestal was reopened. It had previously been closed since the 9/11 attacks.

To go up to the pedestal you'll have to buy the tickets on the Internet weeks in advance, otherwise, it’s impossible to visit the statue's observation deck since only 30 people can enjoy the views per hour.

• Statue Cruises

Another option is to reserve a guided tour of the statue and Ellis Island, ideal for those who want a deep dive into the history and significance of New York's most famous lady.

• Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour

Useful Tips

If you want to avoid queuing, we suggest arriving at Battery Park as soon as they open the dock and start selling the boat tickets. This way, you'll be able to skip the lines and you might be lucky enough to access the inside of the Statue since there are very few places available. 

If you arrive after 10 am, the line usually takes about an hour until you can take the ferry to Liberty Island. What's more, make sure you have enough time to visit Ellis Island, which is the next stop after Liberty Island. You should take a ferry before  2 pm to give yourself enough time to visit both islands.