Ferry To Statue of Liberty

Arriving by ferry to the Statue of Liberty is quite a spectacle. I tell you details of schedules, prices and ferry stops.

Isabel Catalán

Isabel Catalán

7 min read

Ferry To Statue of Liberty

On the way to the Statue by ferry | ©Jenny Marvin

The Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island, a small island south of Manhattan that can only be reached by ferry.

To ride one of the ferries that take you there, if you have not booked a guided tour, but you already have your tickets to the Statue of Liberty, I tell you what are the schedules, frequency and where are the ferry piers.

The most comfortable option

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour with Ferry

Discover all the magic that surrounds the Statue of Liberty.

Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island and learn all about their history with a visit to the Liberty Island Museum and the Immigration Museum. With tour guide or audio guide, which option do you prefer?

With this ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, you have the option to make a complete visit to Liberty Island, where the iconic monument is located, and Ellis Island. It also includes admission to both the Liberty Island Museum and the Immigration Museum.

In addition, you can choose to experience the full 4-hour tour with an experienced tour guide who will accompany you throughout the tour. Or you can choose a simpler and more economical option, a guided tour of approximately 30 minutes through Battery Park and, once you get on the ferry, you will continue with an audio guide.

Recommended if... you don't want to miss any detail of New York's most iconic landmark.

Where does the ferry from Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty depart from?

Sunset on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.| ©Hellotickets
Sunset on the ferry to the Statue of Liberty.| ©Hellotickets

The pier where you take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty from Manhattan is located in Battery Park, in Lower Manhattan.

If you choose to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty in Battery Park, I advise you to go there first thing in the morning because to get through the first security check there are very long lines and it can take you a while to get on the boat.

Book a ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty

How to get to Battery Park?

NYC subway station|©taigatrommelchen
NYC subway station|©taigatrommelchen

To get to Battery Park, the fastest way is to take the subway, the closest stations are South Ferry (line 1), Bowling Green (lines 4 and 5) and Whitehall St (R and W).

Sometimes the New York subway can seem like one city under another so to help you get there without any problems, I leave here a subway map and my New York Subway Guide to learn how to use it and get the most out of it.

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Is there a place other than Battery Park to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?

Manhattan from the ferry| ©Hellotickets
Manhattan from the ferry| ©Hellotickets

Yes, another place to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty other than Battery Park is Liberty State Park, outside of Manhattan in neighboring New Jersey City.

Most tourists usually choose to board in Manhattan, but if you are visiting New Jersey or staying there it is also a good option to go to the Statue of Liberty, as its pier is less crowded and the queue to go through the security checkpoint will be faster.

How to get to Liberty State Park?

To get to Liberty State Park by public transportation, take the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) to the Liberty State Park stop. Then walk to the ticket booth area by the CRRNJ terminal and continue a little further to the pier area.

Book an Express Cruise to the Statue of Liberty

How long does it take to get to the Statue of Liberty by ferry?

The Statue from the ferry| ©Hellotickets
The Statue from the ferry| ©Hellotickets

From Battery Park the direct ferry to Liberty Island takes about 15 minutes, while from Liberty State Park it takes about 30 minutes because the ferry goes first to Ellis Island and then to Liberty Island.

We compare in the table the different cruises

  • Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour with Ferry
  • From $55
  • Up to 4 hours
  • Roundtrip cruise
  • Entrance to the Liberty Island Museum and the Immigration Museum at Ellis Island
  • Choice of audio guide or tour guide
  • Book now
  • NYC Statue of Liberty Express Cruise
  • From $29
  • 45-50 minutes
  • Round trip cruise with a guide
  • Without tickets
  • With guide
  • Book now
  • NYC Manhattan Circle Line Cruise around Statue of Liberty by day
  • From $37
  • 1 hour
  • Roundtrip Manhattan Cruise
  • Without tickets
  • With guide
  • Book now

Ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty Ferry Cruise| ©Hellotickets
The Statue of Liberty Ferry Cruise| ©Hellotickets

The price of a ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty starts at 55, and includes round-trip tickets to Liberty Island and Ellis Island and admission to the Liberty Island and Immigration Museums. In addition, there is the possibility of doing a free tour with audio guide or if you are looking for a more complete experience you can be accompanied by a tour guide.

I recommend that you purchase it in advance so you don't miss out on your experience and you can choose the time that suits you best for planning your trip. The cruise departs at 8:45 am, 11 am, 11:30 am and 1 pm.

Book a ferry cruise to the Statue of Liberty

Express cruise to the Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty:|©apardavila
Statue of Liberty:|©apardavila

The express cruise to the Stat ue of Liberty is a more economical experience that can be purchased for 29 Highly recommended if you have limited time, as it lasts approximately 50 minutes, but it will allow you to get close to Liberty Island to take the best snapshots of the iconic monument.

In addition, along the way you will be accompanied by a tour guide who will update you on the history of the Statue of Liberty.

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Circle Line Day Cruise through Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty

Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises & Manhattan Skyline|©Mario Sánchez
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises & Manhattan Skyline|©Mario Sánchez

Another plan is the Circle Line daytime cruise through Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty for 37 A ride of about 1 hour that makes a strategic tour of the waters of the Hudson, so that you will see up close some of the most interesting points of the city as Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx; plus of course the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island included.

The cruise starts at Pier 83, located in Midtown, next to Times Square. And an expert guide will explain everything you see along the way, giving you a different perspective of the city and the New York skyline!

Book a Manhattan cruise to the Statue of Liberty

What are the Statue of Liberty ferry schedules and frequency? Organize your visit!

Views of the Statue of Liberty from the water| ©Hellotickets
Views of the Statue of Liberty from the water| ©Hellotickets

From 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ferries depart daily from the piers of Battery Park in Manhattan and Liberty State Park in New Jersey with a frequency ranging from 25 minutes (weekends) to 30 minutes (weekdays).

Since schedules change seasonally and their frequency may be altered during high tourist season, in order to better organize your visit to the Statue of Liberty, I recommend you first take a look at the ferry schedules where they are constantly updated.

Book an express cruise to the Statue of Liberty

Tips and frequently asked questions to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty

The Statue with Manhattan in the background| ©Hellotickets
The Statue with Manhattan in the background| ©Hellotickets

What does the time indicated on your ticket mean?

This is the time to get in line at the first security checkpoint before boarding the ferry, not the time the boat leaves the pier. Once through security you will be able to board the next available ferry at Battery Park or Liberty Park State which depart every 30 minutes for the Statue of Liberty.

How far in advance should I arrive at the pier to board?

It is best to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance and even 1 hour earlier in high season to pass the security checkpoint.

Do tickets to the Statue of Liberty include round-trip ferry transportation?

Yes, with your tickets you can go by ferry to Liberty Island and Ellis Island and at the end of the visit return to the pier from which you departed.

Are the ferries handicapped accessible?

Yes, the ferries to the Statue of Liberty are handicapped accessible, but there are no wheelchairs available for passengers. If you wish to use a wheelchair during your visit to the Statue of Liberty, you can rent one free of charge from the National Park Service by showing a photo ID. Available chairs will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

If I board at a pier at the beginning of the tour, do I have to return to the same place?

Not necessarily. For example, you can board in New Jersey and disembark in Manhattan, but make sure you know which way you want to go before boarding the ferry because if you make a wrong destination you will not be able to use your ticket to board the ferry again and will have to find an alternative means of transportation.

Is it possible to take pictures from the ferry?

Yes, the ferry has a covered and an uncovered part so that you can take photos or videos during the trip of the sites you are seeing.

Can I use the MetroCard to take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty?

No, it is not possible. The MetroCard can only be used to ride the New York subway and bus, as well as the Roosevelt Cable Car.

Do children and seniors have to pay for a ferry ticket to go to the Statue of Liberty?

No. Like other visitors, these groups must have their own ticket for the cruise, but the price is lower.

Do I have to buy a separate ferry ticket if I also want to visit Ellis Island?

No, you do not. The ferry route includes both Liberty Island and Ellis Island so there is no need to purchase a separate ticket.

Book a ferry cruise to Statue of Liberty Island