View of Statue of Liberty from Battery Park

Admission to the Statue of Liberty National Monument is free. However, all visitors must pay to use the ferries, as private ships and boats are not permitted to dock on the island. Since 2007, State Cruises has held the concession for transportation and ticket sales, replacing Circle Line, which had operated the ferry service since 1953. The ferries, which depart from Liberty State Park in Jersey City and Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, also travel via Ellis Island, making a circular tour possible. Visitors wishing to access the pedestal must have an additional, free admission ticket.

Best view if you do not want to take the ship

Most visitors to New York probably wander through Manhattan and since the Statue of Liberty is simply part of the Big Apple, this is the best place to see it. If that's not enough, you can catch the free Staten Island Ferry, which runs just past the statue, afford a tourist boat ride, or head to Liberty Park on the Jersey side.