A free experience
Battery Park and harbor views aboard the free Staten Island Ferry. No island landing.
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
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NEW YORK · THE HARBOR GUIDE
Discover the Statue of Liberty
Your complete guide to Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, Battery Park and the free Staten Island Ferry.
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
The water’s edge beside Castle Clinton · Benoît Prieur · CC0 1.0
01
The Statue of Liberty Explorer
Explore the islands
The official ferry to Liberty and Ellis Islands. An island ticket is required.
TicketsThe complete experience
Both islands, their museums, and a walk through The Battery. Take an early ferry.
TicketsLast checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
02
Plan your Liberty day
Ticket availability isn't checked here — confirm on the booking page.
Best fit for your selections
Completely free
Estimated group cost
$0.00
No subway or island ferry ticket cost is included in the completely free option.
Start · Times Square
From Times Square, walk using maps directions; Broadway is roughly 7.5 km / 4.7 mi, approx. 1.5–2 hours each way. This is additional to the harbor experience.
Stops in order
- Castle Clinton
- The water’s edge beside Castle Clinton
- East Coast Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- SeaGlass Carousel
- Castle Clinton
- Whitehall Terminal → St. George Terminal → Whitehall Terminal
Free Staten Island Ferry round trip: about 25 minutes each way. Everyone must disembark and re-board through the terminal. This ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Approx. walking: 13 min / 969 m, straight-line coordinates at 80 m/min; not a navigable path.
Recorded audio: 5 min in your selected language.
Return journey
Free Staten Island Ferry round trip: about 25 minutes each way. Everyone must disembark and re-board through the terminal. This ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Follow maps walking directions back to your starting point. Broadway is roughly 7.5 km / 4.7 mi, approximately 1.5–2 hours each way from Times Square.
Maps directionsBudget: free sights + subway
Estimated group cost
$6.00
Subway: two rides per traveler: $6.00
Start · Times Square
Enter Times Sq–42 St and follow signs for the downtown 1. South Ferry is the last stop, after 13 stops. The full-length platform is in use; the old front-five-cars rule no longer applies.
The main South Ferry/Whitehall St entrance faces the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The Battery is right outside. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Stops in order
- Castle Clinton
- The water’s edge beside Castle Clinton
- East Coast Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- SeaGlass Carousel
- Castle Clinton
- Whitehall Terminal → St. George Terminal → Whitehall Terminal
Free Staten Island Ferry round trip: about 25 minutes each way. Everyone must disembark and re-board through the terminal. This ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Approx. walking: 13 min / 969 m, straight-line coordinates at 80 m/min; not a navigable path.
Recorded audio: 5 min in your selected language.
Return journey
Free Staten Island Ferry round trip: about 25 minutes each way. Everyone must disembark and re-board through the terminal. This ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Return to Times Square on the uptown 1. Check live directions and elevator status with MTA.
Maps directionsStatue of Liberty & Ellis Island
Estimated group cost
$32.00
Subway: two rides per traveler: $6.00
Island tickets: $26.00
Start · Times Square
Enter Times Sq–42 St and follow signs for the downtown 1. South Ferry is the last stop, after 13 stops. The full-length platform is in use; the old front-five-cars rule no longer applies.
The main South Ferry/Whitehall St entrance faces the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The Battery is right outside. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
This is a longer option than your selected time. Island waiting and visit times aren't verified here; confirm on the official booking page.
Stops in order
- Castle Clinton · Statue City Cruises
- Meet Lady Liberty · Liberty Island is 14.7 acres. An official ferry ticket is required to reach the island; museum entry is included.
- Walk in the footsteps of an immigrant · About 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Museum entry is included with the official ferry ticket.
Take an early official ferry to see both islands in one day, as recommended by NPS. Your ticket time is when to join the security line, not the ferry departure; peak waits may be an hour or more.
Recorded audio: 5 min in your selected language.
Return journey
Follow signs for the official ferry returning to The Battery; confirm the schedule on the official site.
Return to Times Square on the uptown 1. Check live directions and elevator status with MTA.
Maps directions03
From Times Square to the harbor
The simplest route is the downtown 1 train to South Ferry. Check the live time in your maps app.
Subway fare
$3.00
Per ride with a contactless card or phone through OMNY. The 7-day fare cap is $35.00.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
1 · The simplest route
Enter Times Sq–42 St and follow signs for the downtown 1. South Ferry is the last stop, after 13 stops. The full-length platform is in use; the old front-five-cars rule no longer applies.
The main South Ferry/Whitehall St entrance faces the Staten Island Ferry terminal. The Battery is right outside. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
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34 St–Penn Station · 28 St · 23 St · 18 St · 14 St · Christopher St–Stonewall · Houston St · Canal St · Franklin St · Chambers St · WTC Cortlandt · Rector St · South Ferry
R / W · Whitehall Street
Take the downtown R or W to Whitehall St–South Ferry. W operates weekdays only. Late nights the R does not run in Manhattan: use the N, which serves Whitehall St late nights, or the 1.
From South Ferry/Whitehall St, The Battery is right outside. Walk toward Castle Clinton for the official island ferry.
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34 St–Herald Sq · 28 St · 23 St · 14 St–Union Sq · 8 St–NYU · Prince St · Canal St · City Hall · Cortlandt St · Rector St · Whitehall St
4 / 5 · Alternative with a transfer
The 4 and 5 do not stop at Times Square. Take the 42 St Shuttle S or the 7 to Grand Central, then transfer to a downtown 4 or 5 for Bowling Green. The 5 does not run late nights.
Bowling Green’s southern entrance opens onto The Battery. Walk toward Castle Clinton.
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Check the live time in your maps app.
Walk via Broadway
Approx. 7.5 km / 4.7 mi via Broadway, about 1.5–2 hours. Straight-line distance is approx. 6.6 km. Follow current walking directions in your maps app.
Destination: Castle Clinton, The Battery.
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Approximate distance and time; not a live route.
Taxi or rideshare
Check the upfront price in your rideshare app or the meter; traffic in Midtown and Lower Manhattan can be heavy.
Drop-off: State St & Battery Pl, or Battery Pl near Castle Clinton.
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No fare estimate.
Times Square accessibility
Times Sq–42 St is accessible. Elevators: southeast corner of 7th Ave & 42nd St, inside Times Square Tower; northwest corner of Broadway & 42nd St. Station services: 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W (weekdays), S — not 4 or 5. Check the official site for current elevator service.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
04
See the Statue of Liberty for free
The Staten Island Ferry is fare-free. It runs every day, 24/7, with a crossing of about 25 minutes each way over 5.2 miles.
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
Whitehall Terminal: 4 South Street, Manhattan, NY 10004. Next to South Ferry station; open 24 hours. St. George Terminal: 1 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301.
Your ten boarding steps
- 01Reach Whitehall Terminal next to South Ferry station.
- 02There is no ticket to buy: the ferry is free.
- 03Enter the terminal waiting room.
- 04Be prepared for random NYPD/K9 screening.
- 05Wheelchair users board on the lower level; no documentation is needed.
- 06Wait for the boarding doors to open.
- 07Heading to Staten Island, choose the right-hand (west) side for Statue views.
- 08Take care on outdoor decks: they can be slippery and get spray.
- 09At St. George, everyone must get off the boat.
- 10For the return, pass through the terminal and re-board from the waiting room.
Lower Manhattan skyline · Statue of Liberty · Ellis Island · Governors Island · New York Harbor · Brooklyn waterfront · Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, visibility permitting.
Both terminals have elevators and escalators. Pets must be in carriers, except service animals. Electric mopeds are not allowed. Everyone must disembark at each terminal and re-board through the terminal building.
Roughly every 15–20 minutes at weekday rush hours, about every 30 minutes at other times and weekends. Schedules change; check the official schedule.
Want to step onto Liberty Island?
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
05
The Battery, one stop at a time
A 25-acre park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Explore the waterfront, Castle Clinton and the memorials.
- 1 · Free
Castle Clinton
Built 1808–1811 for the War of 1812; later Castle Garden, an immigrant landing depot from 1855 to 1890, and the New York City Aquarium. More than eight million immigrants entered here. NPS since 1950.
Approx. 0 m straight-line to the next stop
- 2 · Free
Statue viewpoint on the waterfront
Look across the harbor toward Liberty Island. Exact viewpoint coordinates are not verified; follow the waterfront rather than an invented pin.
Approx. 192 m straight-line to the next stop
- 3 · Free
East Coast Memorial
Eight granite pylons honor 4,609 servicemen lost in the western Atlantic in WWII. Dedicated by President John F. Kennedy in May 1963; Albino Manca’s bronze eagle faces the Statue.
Approx. 226 m straight-line to the next stop
- 4 · Free
Korean War Veterans Memorial
This black granite obelisk is the Korean War Veterans Memorial, dedicated in 1991. It is about fifteen feet tall, by the artist Mac Adams, with a soldier-shaped cut-out called The Universal Soldier, through which you can see the Statue of Liberty. Take a quiet moment here before continuing. Note: the memorial area may be closed for construction.
Approx. 286 m straight-line to the next stop
- 5 · Paid
SeaGlass Carousel
Opened August 2015, with an under-the-sea design and fish-shaped seats. A ride lasts about 3.5 minutes. Pay at the carousel; the price is not verified.
Approx. 265 m straight-line to the next stop · Castle Clinton
- 6 · Paid
Statue City Cruises screening
Since 6 March 2026, the temporary waterfront screening/departure point is adjacent to Castle Clinton, about 300 yards north of the old spot, while the promenade is rebuilt. Check the official site for current arrangements.
Coordinates not verified · no GPS pin
Battery Oval: a 90,000 sq ft lawn opened in 2016. Battery Bosque: a 4-acre garden by Piet Oudolf opened in 2005.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
06
Meet Lady Liberty
Liberty Island is 14.7 acres. An official ferry ticket is required to reach the island; museum entry is included.
- 01
Designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with an iron framework engineered by Gustave Eiffel and a copper skin about 2.4 mm thick. Arrived aboard Isère on 17 June 1885; dedicated 28 October 1886 with President Grover Cleveland.
- 02
The tablet reads JULY IV MDCCLXXVI: 4 July 1776. A broken chain and shackle at her feet commemorate the abolition of slavery. By 1906, green patina covered the statue.
- 03
Ground to torch: 305 ft 1 in (93 m); statue itself: 151 ft 1 in. Richard Morris Hunt designed the pedestal, funded through Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. Fort Wood is an 11-point star-shaped fort built 1806–1811.
- 04
The torch has been closed since 1916. The original was replaced in 1986; the current flame is covered in 24-karat gold. The museum opened 16 May 2019 and holds the original torch.
- 05
Museum access: ramps on both sides, galleries on one level, observation deck by stairs or elevator. Emma Lazarus’s The New Colossus appears on a plaque engraved in 1903. Bedloe’s Island became Liberty Island in 1956.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
07
Walk in the footsteps of an immigrant
About 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Museum entry is included with the official ferry ticket.
- 01
1 January 1892: the first federal immigration station opened. Annie Moore, 17, from Cork, Ireland, was the first immigrant. Fire destroyed the first station on 15 June 1897; the new station opened 17 December 1900.
- 02
Baggage Room: first floor. Registry Room: second floor, 200 × 100 ft, with a 56 ft ceiling. The Guastavino tile vault was installed by 1918 after the 1916 Black Tom explosion damaged the roof.
- 03
Public Health Service doctors performed medical inspections; immigration officials performed legal inspections. Roughly 1% were deported.
- 04
The 1917 law introduced literacy tests. After the 1924 Quota Act, the station shifted toward detention and deportation. Closed 12 November 1954; last detainee Arne Pettersen.
- 05
The museum opened 10 September 1990; the Wall of Honor was completed in 1990. Most of the island is in New Jersey, with its original portion in New York, following the 1998 Supreme Court ruling.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
08
Free views or an island visit?
| Experience | Free harbor ferry | Official island ferry |
|---|---|---|
| Fare | Free | Ticket required |
| Harbor and Statue views | Yes, from the water | Yes |
| Liberty / Ellis Island landing | No — neither island | Both islands included |
| Museums | Not included | Both museums included |
| Pedestal / crown | No access | Specific ticket required |
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
09
Official tickets, clearly explained
Only Statue City Cruises sells official ferry tickets. Some partners resell official tickets bundled with guided tours — check that the product includes the Statue City Cruises ferry.
Departures: The Battery, Manhattan, and Liberty State Park, New Jersey.
- Adults 13+
- $26.00
- Seniors 62+
- $23.00
- Children 4–12
- $17.00
- Under 4
- $0.00
- Pedestal add-on
- $0.30
- Crown add-on
- $0.30
- Ellis Hard Hat Tour add-on
- $55.00
Last checked: 2026-11-08 · Source
General Admission includes round-trip ferry, both islands, both museums and self-guided audio tours in 12 languages. It does not include entry inside the monument. Pedestal and crown tickets sell out: book early.
Your ticket time is when to join the security line, not the ferry time. Peak waits can be an hour or more. Airport-style security: no suitcases or large bags, and no lockers at the screening facilities.
Pedestal: no backpack-style bags, strollers, tripods, or glass/metal bottles.
Crown: not for children under 4; minimum height 42 inches. There are 162 steps from the statue’s feet to the crown, with no elevator. Only a camera, phone, water in a clear plastic bottle and medication; quarter-operated lockers are at the monument entrance.
Ellis Hard Hat Tour: ages 13+, 90 minutes, run by Save Ellis Island. Check the official site.
Statue City Cruises refunds cancellations made at least 24 hours before departure. Check the official seller’s current terms.
Since 6 March 2026, the temporary waterfront screening/departure point is adjacent to Castle Clinton, about 300 yards north of the old spot, while the promenade is rebuilt. Check the official site for current arrangements.
Last checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
10
Five stories. Yours to explore.
Free tours. Read every transcript; listen where recordings are available.
Times Square to Battery Park (subway)
Free tours. Read every transcript; listen where recordings are available.
Audio4 stopsFree
ListenBattery Park walking tour
Free tours. Read every transcript; listen where recordings are available.
Audio6 stopsFree
ListenFree Staten Island Ferry harbor tour
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
Audio5 stopsFree
ListenLiberty Island walking tour
Liberty Island is 14.7 acres. An official ferry ticket is required to reach the island; museum entry is included.
Audio7 stopsFree
ListenEllis Island immigration tour
About 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. Museum entry is included with the official ferry ticket.
Audio8 stopsFree
ListenNew York Harbor landmarks
The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
Audio3 stopsFree
ListenFamily & kids: Meet Lady Liberty
Meet Lady Liberty from The Battery or the ferry. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Audio4 stopsFree
ListenQuick Battery Park tour
Free tours. Read every transcript; listen where recordings are available.
Audio4 stopsFreeApprox. recorded audio + walking: 7 min (excludes boarding, waiting and visits).
ListenSunset harbor experience
An evening Staten Island Ferry crossing. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Audio3 stopsFree
ListenFull-day Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island adventure
Free tours. Read every transcript; listen where recordings are available.
Audio22 stopsFree
Listen11
Your harbor map
Verified points only. Connecting lines are approximate straight-line guides, not walking or sailing directions. Missing locations are listed without pins.
Your location stays on this device and is not stored or sent to analytics.
Load Mapbox content — this may set cookies.
- Official ferry screening adjacent to Castle Clinton
Coordinates not verified · no GPS pin
Source - Times Sq–42 St
40.756, -73.987
Source - South Ferry / Whitehall St
40.7025, -74.0128
Source - Bowling Green
40.7041, -74.0145
Source - Castle Clinton
40.703636, -74.017288
Source - St. George Terminal
40.6433, -74.0742
Source - Whitehall Terminal
40.7009643, -74.0130554
Source - Liberty Island
40.6892, -74.0445
Source - Ellis Island
40.6994, -74.0397
Source - Governors Island
40.6914, -74.0161
Source - SeaGlass Carousel
40.702, -74.015
Source - East Coast Memorial
40.702153, -74.016126
Source - Korean War Veterans Memorial
40.70406, -74.01704
Source - Battery Oval
Coordinates not verified · no GPS pin
Source - Liberty Island arrival (island reference)
40.6892, -74.0445
Source - Ellis Island arrival (island reference)
40.6994, -74.0397
Source - The water’s edge beside Castle Clinton
40.703636, -74.017288
Source
12
Before you go
Can I see the Statue of Liberty for free?
Yes, from The Battery waterfront or the free Staten Island Ferry. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island.
Check the official siteDoes the Staten Island Ferry stop at the islands?
No. The Staten Island Ferry does not stop at Liberty Island or Ellis Island. Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ferry to both islands.
Check the official siteWhich subway is simplest from Times Square?
The downtown 1 to South Ferry, its last stop. Check the live time in your maps app.
Check the official siteCan I take the 4 or 5 directly from Times Square?
No. They do not stop at Times Square. Transfer via the S or 7 to Grand Central, then take a downtown 4 or 5 to Bowling Green. The 5 does not run late nights.
Check the official siteHow do I pay the subway fare?
Tap a contactless card or phone through OMNY. See the current fare and cap in the transport section; check MTA for updates.
Check the official siteHow long is the free ferry crossing?
The Staten Island Ferry crossing is about 25 minutes each way, plus waiting and re-boarding for a return trip. It does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Check the official siteMust I get off at St. George?
Yes. Everyone must disembark at each terminal and re-board through the terminal building.
Check the official siteWhich side of the ferry has Statue views?
On the Staten Island Ferry heading to Staten Island, choose the right-hand (west) side. Take care on slippery outdoor decks. It does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Check the official siteWhat does General Admission include?
Round-trip official ferry, Liberty and Ellis Islands, both museums and self-guided audio tours in 12 languages. Entry inside the monument is not included.
Check the official siteCan I visit the crown or torch?
The crown requires a crown ticket, has a 42-inch minimum height and 162 steps from the statue’s feet, with no elevator. The torch has been closed since 1916.
Check the official siteWhat does the time on my ticket mean?
It is the time to join the security line, not the ferry departure time. Peak waits may be an hour or more.
Check the official siteCan I bring luggage or leave it in a locker?
No suitcases or large bags at screening, and no lockers there. Quarter-operated lockers are at the monument entrance, with separate pedestal and crown restrictions.
Check the official siteIs the free ferry accessible?
Both Staten Island Ferry terminals have elevators and escalators. Wheelchair users board on the lower level without documentation. This ferry does not stop at Liberty or Ellis Island.
Check the official siteWhere are the restrooms?
Restroom locations are not included in this verified guide. Check the official NPS visitor information.
Check the official siteWhat about weather or cancellations?
Outdoor decks can be slippery and get spray. Statue City Cruises lists refunds for cancellations at least 24 hours before departure. For weather policies and current operations, check the official seller.
Check the official siteLast checked: 8 Nov 2026 · Source
Static guide information. Check official sources before traveling; schedules, prices and screening arrangements can change.
Audio