Things to know when visiting the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Battery Park

About the Statue of Liberty

In the heart of New York stands the most popular and best-known statue in the world. The Statue of Liberty, which stands for hope and freedom , gives a face to America, the land of unlimited opportunities. The 86 m high staue was a gift from France in 1886. It was shipped in many pieces across the Atlantic Ocean. However, the pedestal on which Lady Liberty still stands today was not included in the gift and had to be financed by the Americans themselves. You can find more interesting facts about the Statue of Liberty by CLICKING HERE.

How to get to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island?

There is only one way to get to the Statue of Liberty and the adjacent island “ Ellis Island ”, where the well-known “Ellis Island Immigrations” Museum is located. You have to take a “Statue Cruises” ferry . There are two launch sites, with the one in Battery Park being the most frequently used. This is because you can reach this place very easily by subway. Take subway numbers 4 and 5 towards downtown and get off at the “Bowling Green” station. Other options are subway number 1 towards downtown and the station “South Ferry Station”, subway number 2 or 3, downtown, station “Wall Street” or subways J or Z, downtown, station “Broad Street”. . So there are many ways you can easily get to Battery Park. You can see an overview of the subway stations on the map below.

Entrance and tickets

If you want to visit the Statue of Liberty , we recommend that you buy your tickets in advance. This saves you queuing for tickets. The visit to Ellis Island is always included in the tickets. The visit is already included with the various passes, for example the City PASS . The CityPASS is available HERE

You can also use the following link to reserve direct tickets for a visit to the Statue of Liberty CLICK HERE .

So that you don't have to wait long at the security check and when boarding the ferry, we recommend that you visit before 11 a.m. Maybe it's a good idea at the start of your vacation, when you'll probably wake up early anyway due to jet lag. :) Ferries operate from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and depart every 30-45 minutes from Battery Park .

Statue of Liberty Crown Tickets

Those who want to go to the Crown must reserve these tickets for a specific date and time and pick up the tickets at the counter in Battery Park on the same day one hour before departure. Tickets are only available to a very limited extent and are usually fully booked months in advance. There is no elevator in the statue. You have to climb the 354 steps, which corresponds to about 20 floors, on foot, it is a narrow spiral staircase.

Special features when visiting the Statue of Liberty

The base on which the Statue of Liberty stands was made specifically for her and accounts for about half of the statue's total size. If you go inside, the architecture of the base itself is worth seeing and you also have a unique view of Ellis Island, Manhattan, New Jersey and New York Harbor.

Please note that there are a few rules to follow when entering the statue. It is not permitted to enter with a backpack, food, drinks, a large umbrella or a stroller. However, there are lockers at the entrance where you can leave these items for the duration of your visit for $2 per locker.

How much time do I have to plan for this excursion?

Depending on the time of year and also the time of day, you should plan different amounts of time if you want to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island . In summer, during the peak season, you should plan on waiting for up to 1.5 hours . However, if you are there early, the waiting time will be shortened . It depends entirely on how intensively you want to look at the Statue of Liberty and the museum, but you should plan on five to six hours.

The Battery Park

As already described, the ferries leave from Battery Park towards Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The park itself is also ideal for a leisurely walk with an exclusive view of the Statue of Liberty. It is the oldest park in New York City and runs through the entire southern tip of Manhattan. The park is home to many monuments such as the “Castle Clinton”, the “Netherland Memorial”, the “East Coast War Memorial” and the 9/11 memorial “The Sphere” by Fritz König.