As a local walking tour guide living on a budget in NYC, I keep track of all the amazing things to see in NYC for free and for very little money.
On my tours, guests often ask me about the best ways to see the Statue of Liberty for free or without paying too much.
In this post, I'll tell you what I tell them, as I go over four free ways and locations to get a view of Lady Liberty.
Other paid options, from as little as $4.50, are included as well.
I'll provide details on ferries, most notably the free Staten Island Ferry, and places to go for excellent views of the Statue of Liberty.
To be clear, only one ferry, run by Statue Cruises, allows you to disembark on Liberty Island to visit the Statue of Liberty.
However, Statue Cruises are not free. To find out about Statue Cruises, read our post on how to reach Liberty and Ellis Islands.
For a quick summary of this post, jump to the section Best Spots for Statue of Liberty Photos without going there.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
When friends visit me for the first time, I take them on the Staten Island Ferry.
It's a free commuter ferry that passes very close to the Statue of Liberty.
They cannot believe they paid nothing for such a good view.
I love hearing my friends go "oooh" and "aaah" when they see the Statue of Liberty from the ferry.
In this video, tour guide Canden explains how to plan your ride on this ferry, including where to stand to capture your photos.
When you board, head to the right side of the boat to see the statue on the trip out to Staten Island from Manhattan.
Since the ferry passes Lady Liberty somewhat quickly, you should have your camera out and ready to go.
From the ferry, you'll also get an incredible view of the Lower Manhattan skyline as well as the Brooklyn Bridge, Governors Island, Brooklyn Heights and New York Harbor.
To learn more, check out our post on taking the free Staten Island Ferry.
If you want commentary from one of our guides during your ride, you can use our free Staten Island Ferry audio tour!
THE NYC FERRY
The NYC Ferry (formerly known as the East River Ferry) is a commuter ferry service with several routes that connect neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
The St. George route travels from the west side of Manhattan to Staten Island Terminal and passes the Statue of Liberty, slightly closer than the Staten Island Ferry does.
It costs $4.50 one way which I think is a pretty good price for an up-close view of the Statue of Liberty.
You can take the free Staten Island Ferry back to Manhattan.
For information on how to ride the NYC Ferry, read here.
This ferry is a good option if you are staying at a hotel in the Times Square area since it departs from West 39th Street.
You can also catch this ferry at Battery Park City in Lower Manhattan, though if you are in this area, I suggest you take the free Staten Island Ferry instead.
There's a lot to see in Lower Manhattan, so why not combine a trip on this ferry with some time exploring the area?
As a history buff, I love this part of the city since it is jam-packed with historic buildings and tales from colonial times.
BATTERY PARK
This park is at the tip of Lower Manhattan and has expansive vistas of the beautiful New York Harbor including a view of the Statue of Liberty.
While you may have to zoom in on your camera, it's a free view. The park is lovely as well.
You can walk along the waterfront or sit on one of the benches that look out on the water.
Our guide to Battery Park lists other things you can see and do in the park. There's a lot!
Seeing the statue is inspiring, but I think it is even more so when you know the story behind the statue and how and why it traveled from France to New York City.
Our Lower Manhattan tour visits Battery Park where your guide will point out the Statue of Liberty and tell you about the statue’s history.
If you can’t make our live tour, consider our Lower Manhattan audio tour which can be used at any time of day or night.
Here is a sample.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island is a small, non-vehicular recreational island in the East River less than one mile from Lower Manhattan.
It's one of my favorite places to go, especially in the summer, to get away from the crowds and the cars of the city.
Outlook Hill, which rises 70 feet, offers a pretty good view of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan.
This is one of the top spots for a Statue of Liberty viewpoint from land with plenty of other things to do there, I recommend taking the short $4 ferry ride over.
Our post on Governors Island explains how to get there, when to visit, and what activities and events there are are happening.
LIBERTY STATE PARK
This waterfront park in New Jersey offers the closest free view of the Statue of Liberty from land.
The park is just across the river from Lower Manhattan.
Although the park doesn't provide a full view of the Statue of Liberty's face, its aesthetic attractions and landscapes make your visit worthwhile.
It's easy to get to by public transportation.
You can take the PATH train (New Jersey’s version of the subway) from Manhattan, followed by a light-rail ride and a short walk to the park.
If you have a pay-as-you-go MetroCard, you can use your card on the PATH system.
There is a ferry that departs from Lower Manhattan. Our post on riding the NYC ferries includes information on this ferry.
TIP: If you are here on the Fourth of July, this park is one of the top places to see the Macy's Fireworks display.
I went in 2024 since the barges have now moved to Hudson River from the East River which is closer to where I live. The view of the fireworks was awesome!
OTHER OPTIONS
Here are other ways to get terrific views of Lady Liberty that are not free, but I think are worth the money.
You may be planning on going to these places anyway so the view is included!
Take a Sightseeing Cruise
There are numerous sightseeing cruises you can take in NYC, including those that offer excellent views of the Statue of Liberty.
For example, Circle Line’s Liberty Cruise takes you past the Statue of Liberty, as well as Ellis Island. The views of Manhattan's west side are superb.
Sightseeing cruises do not stop at Liberty Island, but they are the next best thing for getting up-close views of the Statue of Liberty.
They include entertaining commentary about these sights and the others you'll see from the boat.
If you're looking for the closest unobstructed views of the Statue of Liberty photos, a cruise is for you!
The cruise I took with an overseas friend was a lot of fun and we saw so much of the city. Our pictures of the Statue of Liberty came out great.
TIP: These cruises are included for free with several tourist passes and the Big Bus Essential Ticket.
Click here or on the image below to find out more information about every sightseeing cruise that will take you close to the Statue of Liberty.
Go to the One World Observatory Observation Deck
The observation deck at One World Observatory (aka the ‘Freedom Tower’) offers jaw-dropping 360-degree views of New York City, including the harbor.
You'll be able to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island -- as well as so much more.
Though tickets aren’t cheap, I think they are worth it. The views are unbelievable!
This is the only one of the four other observation decks in New York City with a relatively good view.
Read our post on One World Observatory to learn about getting tickets, the best times to visit and other helpful tips.
Purchase a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
If any of the above activities are of interest to you, consider getting an NYC tourist concession pass to save money.
In addition to covering the price of a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty, tourist passes also often include the following activities and attractions at no extra cost:
- Statue of Liberty Tall Ship Cruise
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
- Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Rockefeller Center Tour
- One World Observatory
- Empire State Building
- Circle Line Cruises
- Top of the Rock
- And more!
Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% off ticket prices for some of the most popular NYC attractions, including the activities listed above.
Almost all passes include a basic ferry ticket and audio tour of both the Liberty and Ellis Island.
While the basic ferry ticket allows you to see the monument up close from the outside, only pedestal and crown tickets give you the opportunity to see the inside of the statue.
From inside, you'll witness its impressive neoclassical architecture and see exhibits. You'll also get expansive views of the New York City skyline.
For more details, read our post on New York tourist attraction discount passes.
TIP: From the outside of the statue, you'll have to look up to capture the grandeur of the statue. But I think the upward views of her head and crown look kind of dramatic!
Look into a Helicopter Tour
Of course, I am not suggesting that you should take a fairly expensive helicopter ride to get close to the Statue of Liberty, but if you are considering taking one you will get an outstanding view from above.
Helicopter rides are costly, so if you want a closer view from the front of the monument, a sightseeing cruise is a better option.
For more information, see our post on helicopter tours of New York City.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Brooklyn Bridge
From the Brooklyn Bridge, one gets an incredible 360-degree view of New York City.
Looking south from the bridge, you'll see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance.
This is another free way to enjoy the Statue of Liberty, but the visibility might not always be ideal.
The Brooklyn Bridge will be closer than the One World Observatory, but not as close as Battery Park.
I highly recommend you walk over the bridge for so many reasons.
It's one of my favorite places in the city. It's beautiful and historic and gives me a feeling of freedom that nowhere else in NYC can for free.
To have a perfect journey, see our guide to walking over the Brooklyn Bridge or download our GPS-enabled audio tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.
High Line
Just north of the Overlook, at the 10th Avenue Square outlook, you can see Lady Liberty far off to the south.
I wouldn't go here just to see the Statue of Liberty since the statue looks very small from here.
But it's one of the notable things you can see from the High Line.
The High Line is one place I take all my guests as it is one of the coolest urban parks to walk through.
I think you might enjoy a visit.
You can use our self-guided tour of the High Line where I tell you about the history of the park and what you will see from the park.
Ikea Ferry
On the weekends you can ride this ferry for free from Wall Street to the Ikea store in Brooklyn and back again.
The ride is relatively short, but the views are outstanding.
You may even see old-fashioned sailboats pass by, like those in the picture below, reminiscent of ships that sailed the harbor during colonial times!
From the ferry, you can see the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and the skyline of Lower Manhattan.
Best Spots for Statue of Liberty Photos
Here is a summary of the locations above.
Best Free Photo Spots
- Battery Park
- Staten Island Ferry
- Brooklyn Bridge
- High Line
Best Cheap Photo Spots
- Governor's Island
- Liberty State Park
- NYC Ferry/IKEA Ferry
Best Paid Photo Spots
- Sightseeing Cruise
- Statue of Liberty Ferry
- Helicopter Tour
- One World Observatory
I think the best bang for your buck is taking a sightseeing cruise, as they pass very close to the Statue of Liberty.
You'll be able to take fantastic pictures of the front of the statue without having to zoom in too much or angle your camera upward or downward.
The second best is the free Staten Island Ferry, followed by the NYC Ferry ($4.50 one way).
Next up is Governor's Island -- you'll pay $4 each way and have fun on the island itself.
Finally, the best freebie is the view from Battery Park, which is a pleasant place to spend time anyway.
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