The best ways to visit and see the Statue of Liberty

The best ways to visit and see the Statue of Liberty

One of the most visited and photographed places in NYC, Lady Liberty is one of the iconic spots that I don’t recommend leaving it out of your itinerary. I know it is “not as big as you expected”, I know lines can be long and in the summer you feel like the entire world is there but if I can give you one advice is: go and get there early! So here are my favorite ways to see the Statue of Liberty from a distance or really close!

 

How to get there?

To get to the ticket office you need to take the subway train number 4 or 5 and get off at the Bowling Green stop. Or train 1 and get off at South Ferry. Or the R or W to Whitehall Street/South ferry

 

 

How much does it cost?

There are many ways to see Lady Liberty, so here are my favorites:

 

Regular ticket:

You can get tickets to Liberty Island for U$18-25, it depends on where you are purchasing from. Avoid buying it from sellers on the streets near the entrance or subway station, they are usually not authorized.

To get your ticket in advance online, you can click HERE or HERE to skip the line and access the pedestal. They also include a visit to Ellis Island, a must if you’re visiting the city for the first time and are a  history lover.

  • If you get your ticket at the box office – which there is usually a long line for, get there early to beat the crowds not not waste too much time to board the boat, the price is U$18.50 (in 2018)
  • You can also get your tickets throught  New York Pass, Sightseeing Flex PASS or CityPASS, which include other attractions in NYC for a great discount. 

 

Dinner or brunch cruise with a gorgeous view to the Statue:

  • If you wanna make it extra especial, there are several cruise lines that offer gorgeous views of the statue of Liberty. Some of them are Spirit Cruises and the beautiful Bateaux New York. If you are celebrating a especial occasion, this is my favorite way to see the statue and with some luck snap a great selfie!

One of my favorite things about them is that they offer either live music or DJ so it~s a to of fun! There is usually a buffet  or a nice a la carte menu to choose from, included in the reservation. Alcohol is paid separately.

 

Staten Island Ferry

  • This is one of my favorites cuz it will cost you zero dollars to see the Statue of Liberty. OK, it’s not super close, but you can see it, zoom in to take a closeup shot and enjoy the beautiful views of downtown Manhattan. The trip is about 25 minute long and once you get to Staten Island you need to wait a little bit to board the ferry going back to Manhattan or take advantage to explore the island a bit more. If you feel like shopping, Primark is there and there will be a new outlet mall coming soon!

Foto: Wikimedia Common

 

Boat tours

Some companies offer guided tours through the East and Hudson Rivers and some stop by the Statue son Liberty so you can snap a photo with Lady Liberty  right behind you. I recommend Circle Line Liberty Cruise  or NYC Watertaxi.

 

From above!

If you’re not afraid of flying you can also take a Helicopter tour, not the cheapest way to see lady Liberty, but a lot of fun!

 

Know before you go:

  • Get there early. I know I said it before but I really mean it, especially in the summer when lines are soooo long and during the holidays.
  • I recommend dedicating 2-3 hours of your itinerary to visit the Statue, it might be less or longer depending on the line, but that’s a good average.
  • Just like at the airport, there is a security checkpoint (again, get there early!) so make sure you prepare for it to go smoothly.

Free admission to attractions

One of the best ways to visit all the paid attractions in NYC is buying a discount pass such as CityPass, Sightseeing Pass and New York Pass. They offer a lot of attractions with a great discount so after using the pass a few times it’s basically free.

For more tips on what to do and see in NYC make sure to follow me on instagram  @marthasachser or @blognyandabout!