There are several ways you can see New York’s iconic Statue of Liberty for free. In this post I will guide you through 7 different ways to see the Lady Liberty without paying for admission, including the pros and cons of each one.
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Hello 👋 I’m Hazel, a British travel blogger living near London, in England. Whilst the UK is my home, New York City is my favourite city outside London! You can view my other NYC posts here.
Please note: there is no way to get onto Liberty Island or Ellis Island without paying a charge. All of the free ways to see the statue involve travelling to various different Statue of Liberty viewpoints.
How to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
Here is a list of 7 of the best places to see the iconic Statue of Liberty for free:
- Staten Island Ferry
- Governors Island
- Liberty State Park
- Battery Park
- IKEA ferry
- Brooklyn Bridge
- The High Line
Read on to get more details about these locations, along with the pros and cons of each option and a photo of each viewpoint.
1. Staten Island Ferry.
The Staten Island ferry is the best way to see the Statue of Liberty for free. The ferry operates every half hour during the day (and every hour at night) and it is completely free of charge. Onboard you’ll get a great view of Lady Liberty standing tall with her crown and torch.
Not only does this ferry provide some of the closest views of the statue you can get without paying, it also provides plenty of opportunity for photos of the Manhattan skyline too. Here is a photo I took from the ferry in summer 2022.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry
Pros: Free ferry ride. This is the best option with the best view of the Statue of Liberty. It also has great views of Manhattan too.
Cons: If you just miss the ferry, you will have to wait half an hour for the next one. You may also have to spend half an hour on Staten Island before you can board the next ferry back to Manhattan.
2. Battery Park.
Located on the southern tip of Manhattan, ‘The Battery’ (formerly known as Battery Park) is a 25 acre public park with views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island.
The park also contains other monuments such as Castle Clinton and the Seaglass Carousel.
This is also the place where you can get the Staten Island ferry and the Governors Island ferry from. Getting there is easy using public transportation; simply hop on the subway or take a free ferry service from nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park. The ferry terminals are well signposted.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park
Pros: You can go when you want, there is no need to follow a ferry schedule. There are no boats involved (this is a pro if you don’t like boats!) and there are other things to see at the Battery too.
Cons: The statue faces Brooklyn and so does the park, so you won’t get a front-view. It’s also not very close.
Further reading: The 10 Most Famous Bridges in New York City.
3. Governors Island.
Governors Island is located in Upper New York Bay, just 800 yards from Lower Manhattan. It’s completely free to visit Governors Island if you can take the ferry on a Saturday or Sunday before midday. At other times, the ferry trip costs $4.
Governors Island is popular with the locals, and it gets very busy at peak times. There are various attractions to see, including Castle Williams, and other activities such as bike rentals, art installations and birdwatching.
There are also free tours offered by National Parks Service Rangers who share stories about Governors Island’s past and present, highlighting its role in America’s immigration story as well as its role during both World Wars I & II.
Governors Island offers a great vantage point for the Statue of Liberty and is a wonderful place to spend a day away from the city.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from Governors Island
Pros: Quite close to the statue. Front-view of the Statue. Great views of Lower Manhattan. The island is a lovely place to spend a day
Cons: It gets very busy in summer. You have to travel in the morning if you want it to be free.
4. Liberty State Park.
Liberty State Park in Jersey City is another destination offering views of the Statue of Liberty for free. The south-eastern corner of the park contains a waterfront promenade which has views of the statue along its whole length, and also a designated Statue of Liberty observation point too. There is also a science museum in the park.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from Liberty State Park
Pros: Dramatic views of Manhattan. Closest view of the statue from land. The park also contains other things to do.
Cons: The statue faces Brooklyn, and so does the park. New Jersey is quite a journey if you’re staying in NYC.
5. The IKEA ferry.
Many people don’t even realise there is a free IKEA ferry service on weekends!
The free IKEA ferry is a public ferry service that runs between Manhattan and the IKEA store in Red Hook, Brooklyn. While it’s primarily designed to transport shoppers to and from the IKEA store, the ferry is also popular among tourists who want to see the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks from the water.
The ferry runs on a limited schedule, with departures from Manhattan’s Pier 11/Wall Street and the IKEA store in Red Hook. There is also a free shuttle bus to take passengers to the pier. Make sure to check the schedules before planning your trip, or download the app. The trip takes about 10 minutes each way.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from the IKEA ferry
Pros: Free of charge. Free app. Shuttle bus service. Ferry sails right past the Statue so you get a great view.
Cons: Only free on weekends. Limited ferry times.
6. Brooklyn Bridge.
These next two entries are pretty far away from the Statue of Liberty, but you can still see it. The Brooklyn Bridge takes about an hour to take a leisurely walk across, and is free. You can see the Statue of Liberty from the bridge by looking south across the water.
The Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic vista in NYC, definitely one for your list if it is your first time visiting New York City. You can walk over the bridge, or hire bikes and cycle across.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from Brooklyn Bridge
Pros: Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic place to visit in NYC. It is free to walk on. Read more about the Brooklyn Bridge in my NYC bridges post.
Cons: Not a very close view of the statue. There is a lot of loud traffic below you!
7. The High Line.
The High Line is an elevated park that runs along Manhattan’s West Side from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, offering visitors free access to unique art installations and lush greenery.
If you look south at the 10th Avenue Square, just North of The Overlook, you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance.
Pros & Cons of the view of the Statue of Liberty from the High Line
Pros: The High Line is a beautiful place to visit in NYC. Lots of other attractions in the park, and leads to the skyscraper district.
Cons: Not a very close view of the statue. Gets busy in peak season.
- Related Reading:
- How to walk the Highline Park NYC: from Chelsea to Hudson Yards
FAQs for how to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
Below are some frequently asked questions about how to see the statue of liberty for free.
Q: How can I see the Statue of Liberty for free?
A: There are several ways to view the Statue of Liberty for free. The Staten Island ferry offers a free round trip service from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan with views of the Statue on its way across New York Harbor. Another choice is to go to any of the numerous open parks that give clear perspectives, like Liberty State Park in New Jersey.
Q: How do you get a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty?
A: The best way is to take a paid cruise with Statue Cruises. This is the only way to get to Ellis Island and see the statue up close. Statue Cruises is the only ferry line authorised to take visitors to the Statue of Liberty. If you are in NYC for a few days, I recommend purchasing a Go City Pass – which includes entry into a number of NYC attractions in one price.
Q: Are there any free tours of the Statue of Liberty?
A: There are no free tours of the Statue of Liberty. The only way to get to the Statue is by booking one of the paid Statue of Liberty tours with Statue Cruises. This boat tour will also give you access to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty Museum and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum too.
You could also see the Statue if you paid for entry into the One World Observatory, or if you purchased a New York pass. There is an extra cost to visit the top of the pedestal or do the crown tour.
Map showing the Statue of Liberty free options.
The below map shows the Statue of Liberty, along with the other locations mentioned in this post. You can click the blue icons to see more information about each place. Click the star to add to your own Google Maps.
Where to stay in Manhattan.
If it’s your first visit to New York City, you’ll probably want to stay quite central. Here are my top picks for Manhattan hotels on Booking.com:
- Best luxury hotel: 33 Seaport Hotel is a 5 star hotel right next to Wall Street and the Financial district. 10 minute walk from Brooklyn Bridge subway station.
- Best mid-range hotel: Hilton Garden Inn New York/Midtown Park Avenue is a 3 star hotel with on-site restaurant, just minutes from the Empire State Building.
- Best budget hotel: Hotel St. James is a 2 star hotel in the theatre district with a guest library, business centre and free Wi-Fi.
- Best Sustainable hotel: Intercontinental New York Barclay Hotel is an exceptional 5 star hotel which meets the Travel Sustainable Level 2 criteria from Booking.com, read more here.
You can see the current hotel deals in Manhattan here.
I recommend reserving your room immediately to get the best price. It’s usually free to reserve on Booking.com. You can always cancel later on.
Conclusion for how to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
The Statue of Liberty is a most iconic symbol of freedom that has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States over the years. While there are some paid options, you can also see the statue for free by taking advantage of these six spots listed above.
From the Staten Island Ferry and Battery Park to Governors Island, Liberty State Park and Brooklyn Bridge or High Line – each offers its own unique perspective on this iconic monument.
Thank you for reading my post on how to visit the Statue of Liberty for free. I hope it has helped you to plan your New York City trip.
Pin for Later – how to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
Related reading for New York City.
Below are some further posts relating to the Statue of Libery and New York City:
- Summit One Vanderbilt: The Ultimate Guide
- The Highline Park NYC: Walking from Chelsea Market to Hudson Yards
- The 10 Most Famous Bridges of NYC
- 12 Excellent Things to do in Hudson Yards.
- Gude to Visiting the Edge Observation Deck in Hudson Yards NYC
General Travel booking links:
- Booking.com is the best site for booking hotels with free reservation and cancellations.
- Viator and Get Your Guide are the best sites for original tours and activities.
- Discover Cars is the best comparison site for car rentals.
- Trip.com is good for booking flights and packages.
- Check my list of 20 excellent travel books to read on your holidays.
Popular Destinations: London | Edinburgh | Malta | Scotland | Madeira | Cyprus | NYC | Italy | Canary Islands
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