Visiting the Statue of Liberty: Tips for the Best Experience with Kids (or without)

So often in our house we talk about immigration and US history, and in particular how it all connects to today. Visiting the Statue of Liberty, along with Ellis Island, is a great way to put into perspective with kids just what it meant for millions of people moving to the USA and the hope that came with it. A lot of the conversations in our house recently have been about how the government is using immigration as a way to hurt people and break down communities, so when we are in NYC and see the Statue of Liberty and start chatting, it always end up coming back to these topics. Kids are smart and planning an activity like this is such a good way to give them some perspective of both history and today.

Have you been to the Statue of Liberty with kids before? I know that not everyone travels the way we do and tries to integrate learning into as many activities as possible, but when you do the ferry out to the Statue of Liberty and then you continue onto Ellis Island and learn about the many people and what they went through to be able to live here, you can’t help but feel the gravity of each of these spots and how meaningful it is to experience them with kids. We’ve got lots of information and tips for visiting the Statue of Liberty, so if you have any questions please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and love helping others find ways to learn as they travel.

Highlights of Visiting the Empire State Building

First off, the Statue of Liberty is an international icon. It’s one of the most well known sights in the world and is one most people’s bucket list. I think it’s pretty cool to visit, but when you have other icons like the Empire State Building that you can visit, doing the Statue of Liberty isn’t astounding, but it is pretty neat. I think what makes visiting the Statue of Liberty fascinating is each of the museum areas paired with the experience of climbing up to the Crown of Lady Liberty. Seeing the memorabilia and engineering behind the construction and then getting to go up through the center of the statue is very memorable (and educational).

If you are visiting the Statue of Liberty and thinking about your experience as one for learning and being appreciative of what America used to mean for people all around the world, then you may very well be moved and inspired by the different exhibits in the museums, both in the visitor center and the pedestal. The symbolism of the Statue of Liberty is very well laid out and you’d have to be trying to not be affected by it as you take your time and read everything. As a lifelong US citizen and somebody who’s daily shocked by what’s been happening in the USA since January 2025, going through the displays and learning about the promise of America really feels heartbreaking. Hopefully the next visit it will feel like an inspiration and promise kept.

Cool Things to See at the Statue of Liberty

There are lots of different exhibits in the main visitor center that are geared for any age and there are multilingual guides available as well. The Statue of Liberty has done a great job of making the exbibits very accessible to everyone. I think that collections of Lady Liberty models are really interesting, including all the posters and promotional materials to get New York excited about its construction.

The coolest thing to see in the visitor center though is the original glass torch. It’s beautiful and gives you goosebumps if you’re into history. Another cool thing to see (and it’s by the torch) is the FACE of the Statue of Liberty. I think it’s incredible to see up close. Also, don’t miss the film all about the idea, execution and construction of the Statue of Liberty.

Tips for Visiting the Statue of Liberty

I think the best part of visiting the Statue of Liberty is getting to do the extra special trip up into the Crown of Lady Liberty. Any visit to Liberty Island and the statue must be reserved and ticketed in advance, but the Pedestal and Crown are separate reservations. If you book entry to climb up to the Crown, that includes admission to the Pedestal, both outside and the museum within. If you book Pedestal tickets, that only gets you into the museum and upper surrounding area outside. It’s cool, but it isn’t as neat as doing the spiral stairs to the top.

The best time of day for visiting the Statue of Liberty is either first thing in the morning (summer) or one of the last timeslots in the winter. Anytime really is fine, but when it comes to the sun shining hard and either being freezing cold or crazy hot, you have to think about your timing. We’ve frozen our eyelashes off doing a freezing January visit first thing in the morning. No matter what time of day you’re visiting, just make sure that you’ve properly reserved your time slot for what you want to do.

Crown of the Statue of Liberty Info

As I said, you need a special ticket to be able to do either the Pedestal or Crown of the Statue of Liberty. Spots are limited so book it as soon as you know you’ll be there and want to do it. From the ground floor to the top of the pedestal is 215 steps, and then another 162 up to the Crown. That’s 377 steps. After you’ve climbed the Pedestal the staircases change to being tight, steep spiral stairs the rest of the way up. There are landings to take breaks, but if you are claustrophobic, the landings don’t provide much open space to recover.

Also, once you start going up through the center of the Statue of Liberty on the spiral staircase YOU MUST CONTINUE UP. There is not enough space on the stairs to pass somebody to be able to turn around. Once up in the Crown, you’re allowed ten minutes to enjoy the view, the experience and to ask the National Park Rangers all of your questions. There is staff up in the crown and they know everything there is to know about the Statue of Liberty, so enjoy them!

Being Prepared for Liberty Island

There isn’t much that you’ll need when you visit the Statue of Liberty as it’s basically a museum complex. You can definitely bring your camera to get some unique pictures of Lady Liberty, but if you’re climbing to the Crown, you’ll only be allowed to bring your camera phone or a small camera. Bring water too! When it comes to dressing appropriately for visiting Liberty Island, it’s pretty basic if you’re visiting in spring, summer or fall, but if you’re heading out to the Statue of Liberty in the winter, you need to dress for freezing temperatures in layers.

The boat ride from Castle Clinton in Battery Park (Lower Manhattan) is windy and so, so, so cold, and then once you’re on Liberty Island there’s usually a lot of wind as well. Very chilly. Arguably the most important thing to bring any time of year is your National Park Passport. Be sure to get your Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island cancellations during your visit.

“Do I have to visit Ellis Island too?”

That’s a great questions. When you book your tickets for visiting the Statue of Liberty, that also includes admission and transportation for Ellis Island, which was the primary entry point for immigrants into the USA for many years. If you’re not into history or don’t have a ton of time, you don’t have to visit Ellis Island as part of your day doing the Statue of Liberty, but it is a really fascinating, emotional place to visit. There are many floors and rooms of exhibits all about the process of going through Ellis Island for immigration, and countless stories about the people who came through. It’s not a “fun” place to visit, but it’s a very important part of American history and I think an invaluable place to discover with older kids.

Getting to the Statue of Liberty

The boat to the Statue of Liberty goes out from Castle Clinton just off Batter Park in Lower Manhattan. You can get out at South Ferry or Bowling Green if you’re riding the NYC subway, and then it’s just a few minutes walk. To Bowling Green you can catch the numbers 4 of 5 trains. To South Ferry you can get the 1, R or W trains.

Before you can board the boat out to Liberty Island, you do have to get paper tickets and wristbands from the office inside of Castle Clinton. After that you’ll go through security (just like airport security) and then board your boat. It’s a bit of a process, but it’s one of the best organized security experiences I’ve ever had. Statue City Cruises is the ONLY authorized seller of Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tickets. They are the only National Park Service concessioner.

Operating Info for Statue City Cruises

Just in case you need to contact Statue City Cruises (the only boat company that can take you to Liberty Island) to get some more detailed information or you just want to browse a bit and see what you can glean from them before you plan your visit, here’s all the info you need to add this to your travel plans.

• Hours / Season of Operations: 8:30 am to 3:00 pm year round
• Website: Statue City Cruises
• Phone number: 877-523-9849
• Physical address for Check-in: Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, New York, NY 10004

Other Ways to See the Statue of Liberty

Remember, the only way to VISIT the Statue of Liberty is through Statue City Cruises, but there are other boat tours that either go around Lady Liberty and Ellis Island or that give you a great view. My favorite way to see the Statue of Liberty when we’re not actually going to Liberty Island is from the Staten Island Ferry. You catch it right by where you boar the actual boat for visiting Statue of Liberty National Monument, but this is just a free walk-on experience that gets you out on the water and gives you a great view, then you get off and back on at Staten Island for another beautiful ride back.

If you want a narrated tour that also shows off more of New York City, the BEST option is the Circle Line Landmarks Cruise. It’s one of the oldest tour companies and delivers a consistent, nice experience. Another pick is the Big City Tourism boat, called the New York City Freedom Liberty Tour. It’s just over and hour and covers the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Hudson River sights.

More Great New York City Activities to Plan For

Visiting New York City with kids is fun, especially if you don’t live in or near a big city. It can be overwhelming or awesome. Our kids love it, but then they have since they were tiny. Between visiting the Empire State Building, doing the Statue of Liberty and seeing Broadway shows, there are plenty of iconic things to do when you’re in NYC. We’ve picked some of our favorite, tried and true activities that you can easily add to your time in New York.

Here are our top ten things to do with kids in New York City (and they’re great for adults too):

• Visit Times Square at least once (it’s iconic and fun to people watch)
• Enjoy a Broadway show or two (our reviews are linked below)
• Check out MOMA – the Museum of Modern Art
• Ride the Subway – check this off with a ride to the Museum of Natural History or Lower Manhattan
• Do the Historic Sites of Lower Manhattan (Federal Hall, Trinity Church, Wall Street…)
• Visit the Museum of Natural History
• Walk the Highline – really cool repurposed elevated trail tracks
• Visit the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock (ESB is better)
• Climb the crown of the Statue of Liberty and visit Ellis Island
• Check out a few movie filming locations: Central Park, Katz Delicatessen, Ghostbusters Fire Station, FRIENDS apartment…

There are lots more things to do, but these are things that are easy to add to any itinerary, are good year round, and they’re fun/interesting for any age, including adults.

Adding a Broadway Show to your NYC Trip

Just like how the Empire State Building is a New York City icon, so is the experience of going to a Broadway show. This is one of the more costly activities when you’re in NYC, but it’s also, I think, the most worthwhile. I love when we get to support the arts and I love it even more when it makes an impression on our kids. We’ve gotten to enjoy many Broadway shows with them over the years, so write about them often, including what to expect and what may or may not be appropriate with kids.

Here are our reviews of some of the shows we’ve seen as a family. Check ’em out!:

• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway – the continuation of the Harry Potter story
• SIX on Broadway – the story of Henry VIII’s six wives
• Wicked – an absolute classic and always awesome
• The Lion King on Broadway – such a good show for every age
• Little Shop of Horrors – an unusual pick in a small theater, really fun
• The Great Gatsby on Broadway – new and really beautifully done
• Chicago – good for older kids or if they’ve already seen the movie

Of course there are lots more options for shows. If you want to play it by ear and not get tickets in advance, that’s your call. You can sometimes get great same day deals, but usually the seats aren’t great and you may not be able to get your whole party sitting together. We always get our tickets in advance through Broadway Direct (consistent, easy, mobile app…).

I hope you’re excited for your visit to the Statue of Liberty and exploring more of New York City. I can tell you from experience that it’s much more fun when you have family or friends with you, but NYC by yourself is also awesome. If you have any questions about visiting the Statue of Liberty or things to do in Manhattan, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan something amazing!