As a New York City tour guide, I'm always being asked about the best ways to see this historic monument without paying too much money.
I get the question so often that I figured it would probably make sense to create this helpful guide to the best free viewing spots for Lady Liberty.
This post lists the 4 best places or ways to get a view of the Statue of Liberty for free, most notably the Staten Island Ferry.
To be clear, there is only one ferry, run by Statue Cruises, that lets you disembark on Liberty Island to actually visit the Statue of Liberty.
However, this one option is not free, and we have a post explaining how to reach Liberty and Ellis Islands.
For this post, I have focused on the options from ferries or land that allow you to get very close to Lady Liberty, if not up close and personal.
I've also included a section detailing what I believe to be the absolute best ways to see this stunning landmark.
And, in the video below, Canden, a tour guide with us, Free Tours by Foot NYC, summarizes these options.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
This free commuter ferry travels very close to the Statue of Liberty.
You will want to have your camera out and ready to go, as the ferry passes Lady Liberty at a fairly fast speed.
Still, without a doubt, this is the best view of the Statue of Liberty you can get for free.
In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry is one of the very best things you can do for free in NYC.
And, in this video, Canden explains how to plan your ride on this ferry, including where to sit to get that great photo.
In addition to views of Lady Liberty, you can also expect to see excellent views of the Manhattan skyline, Governors Island, Brooklyn Heights, and more.
Make sure to head for the right side of the boat if you want to see the statue while traveling from Manhattan.
To learn more, check out our post on the Staten Island Ferry.
Also, be sure to download our free Staten Island Ferry audio tour to accompany you on the cruise.
Take The NYC Ferry
This commuter ferry connects the five boroughs and has a route from Midtown West to Staten Island.
The ferry passes the Statue of Liberty, slightly closer than the Staten Island Ferry does.
Tickets are $4 one way (so it's not exactly free - but come on!). See the schedule here.
If you are on the west side of Manhattan (near West 39th Street) or Battery Park City, this ferry is a great option to see Lady Liberty.
Like the Staten Island Ferry, it also ends at St. George Terminal on Staten Island.
If you want to do more sightseeing in Lower Manhattan, just take the free Statue of Liberty ferry back to Battery Park City!
For information on how to ride this ferry throughout NYC, read here.
BATTERY PARK
This park is at the tip of Lower Manhattan and has expansive vistas of the New York harbor including a view of the Statue of Liberty.
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.
For those wanting a closer look, Battery Park serves as the starting point for the Staten Island Ferry. While the ferry brings you closer to the statue, the vistas from Battery Park capture it in a larger setting that includes the harbor.
Apart from these factors, Battery Park has more to offer. There are guided tours that share the story of not just the Statue of Liberty but also other important landmarks you can see from the park.
While the view might require you to zoom in on your camera for the best Statue of Liberty photos, it won't cost a thing!
TIP: Our pay-what-you-wish Lower Manhattan Tour visits Battery Park where your guide will point out the Statue of Liberty in the distance and tell you about the statue’s history.
If you can’t make our live tour, you can try our Lower Manhattan Audio Tour which can be taken at any time of the day or night.
Here is a sample.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island is a small island in the East River less than one mile from Lower Manhattan.
Its location affords visitors spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty.
For unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty, New York harbor, and the city skyline, head to Outlook Hill, which is 70 feet tall and accessible via a winding path.
This is one of the best spots for a Statue of Liberty view point from land, so if you're not interested in a cruise or other options, we recommend taking the short ferry ride over!
Our post on Governors Island details how to get there, when to visit, and what activities exist.
LIBERTY STATE PARK
This waterfront park in New Jersey is just across the river from Lower Manhattan.
This park offers the closest free view of the Statue of Liberty from the land.
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.
You can get there easily by public transportation. There is a ferry that departs from Lower Manhattan.
Our post on how to ride NYC ferries includes information on this ferry.
You can also 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.
OTHER OPTIONS
This section lists ways to get great views of Lady Liberty that are not free, but that we believe are worth the money.
Some of these options may already be on your list of things you want to do in NYC.
Most of these options are included for free when you purchase certain NYC tourist concession passes.
Take a Sightseeing Cruise
There are numerous sightseeing cruises you can take in NYC, including those that offer very good, if not 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, and the World Trade Center.
These services do not stop at the island, but they get as close as possible without actually arriving at the docks. This means you'll get a close view without having to crane your neck upward!
In addition to the up-close views, the cruise features entertaining commentary about these sights.
If you're looking for the closest unobstructed view to get excellent Statue of Liberty photos, this is one of the best options available in NYC.
This Cruise is included for free with several tourist passes and the Big Bus Tours Adventure Pass.
Learn about other cruises that feature the Statue of Liberty on their route by reading our post on NYC boat tours.
Go to the One World Observatory Observation Deck
The observation deck at One World Observatory (the ‘Freedom Tower’) offers breathtaking views of New York Harbor, including the Statue of Liberty.
Though you do have to buy tickets (and they aren’t cheap), a visit to One World Observatory is an unforgettable experience.
It might seem far from here, but this view is actually closer than what you'll find at other observation decks in New York City.
That said, if you'd rather have a closer look, you might want to consider another viewpoint such as Battery Park or the Staten Island Ferry.
Read our post on One World Observatory to find out about getting tickets, the best times to visit, and other helpful tips.
Purchase a Tourist Attraction Concession 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.
While the basic ferry ticket will allow you to see the monument up close from the outside, pedestal and crown tickets will give you the opportunity to experience the view from the Statue of Liberty.
All ticket options provide free audio tours of both the Liberty and Ellis Islands. The view from Liberty Island is exceptional, and you'll have to look up to take in the full grandeur of the statue, but you can also enjoy a stunning view of the New York City skyline.
This vantage point will ensure you get an excellent picture of the Statue of Liberty, but it's worth noting that you'll have to point your camera upward.
For more details, read our post on New York tourist attraction concession passes.
Take a Helicopter Tour
Given the steep price of these tours, we don’t recommend you take one just to get a view of the Statue of Liberty!
But if you are already considering a helicopter tour of NYC, the Statue of Liberty is one of the highlights of the awesome aerial views you will get from the sky.
Taking a helicopter ride offers an excellent Statue of Liberty view point, but if you're looking for a closer view from in front of the monument, a cruise is still the 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 over the water, you can 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.
See our guide to walking 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”, look south out onto the Hudson River.
This vantage point is easily overlooked, but for those looking to save money, it's a cost-free way to see the iconic statue. We wouldn't recommend this location for first timers, but rather as a test to see if you can spot the monument.
Though Lady Liberty will look very small, the view makes for a nice and easily instagramable photo.
See our self-guided tour of the High Line for a map of 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.
Not only will you see the Statue of Liberty, but you will also see the Brooklyn Bridge nearby and the skyline of Lower Manhattan.
Once referred to as the East River Ferry, this system covers multiple paths and some get closer to the monument than others, so your experience may vary depending on your destination.
To find out more about the Ikea ferry, read our guide to NYC ferries.
Best Spots for Statue of Liberty Photos
Okay, so you know all the free ways to see Lady Liberty now, but which one of these options is the best? Well, the best I can do is to give you my opinion based on which photo op offers the best shots.
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
Personally, I think the best bang for your buck is going to be a sightseeing cruise, as they can usually get very close to the Statue of Liberty without actually landing there.
What that means is that you'll enjoy very nice shots from the front of the statue which don't require you to angle your camera upward, downward, or zoom in too far.
That said, both Governor's Island and Battery Park are really good alternatives that won't cost more than $5!
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