Can you see the Statue of Liberty from the road?

NEW YORK — If you’re looking for a photo op with the Statue of Liberty, there are many vantage points, from Red Hook in Brooklyn, to Governors Island, to a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The Staten Island Ferry takes you right past the statue for free, while those on bigger budgets can reserve a room with a view at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.

Here are nine ways to get a great look at the Statue of Liberty.

1. STATUE CRUISES TO LIBERTY ISLAND: Statue Cruises — statuecruises.com — is the sole operator for boats that take visitors to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located. Boats depart from the Battery in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

You can buy Statue Cruises tickets in person at the Battery, but the cruises do sell out, so advance online purchase is strongly recommended. Types of tickets: include access to the statue’s crown, $20 ($17 for seniors, $12 for ages 4-12), or access to the pedestal of the monument or the grounds of Liberty Island, $17 ($14 for seniors, $9 ages 4-12).

2. STATEN ISLAND FERRY: Take the subway to Bowling Green or South Ferry and hop on a ferry for a free ride across New York Harbor. The boats run 24 hours a day. There's always a crowd of tourists on deck taking photos as the boat passes the Statue of Liberty.

3. OTHER CRUISES: Many vessels offer sightseeing cruises of New York Harbor and Manhattan and sail right past the Statue of Liberty. They include the Circle Line, Manhattan by Sail's schooners, Hornblower Cruises, Spirit Cruises, New York Water Taxi and Bateaux New York. Some offer live music or lunch or dinner cruises that can top $100.

4. BATTERY AND LOWER MANHATTAN: To see the Statue of Liberty without getting on a boat, head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, an area known as the Battery (subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).

While you're there, consider exploring other parts of Lower Manhattan, including the financial district and the 9/11 Memorial. NYC & Company, the city's official tourism agency, offers a guide at nycgo.com/lower-manhattan.

5. BROOKLYN BRIDGE: A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the classic New York experiences. In addition to giving you a close look at the bridge's Gothic arches and delicate filigree of cables, it offers a magical view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. To get the full impact of the skyscraper canyon coming into view, take the subway to the Brooklyn side (A or C to High Street) and walk back across the bridge.

6. RED HOOK, BROOKLYN: One of the best views of the Statue of Liberty is from Red Hook, an up-and-coming waterfront neighborhood in Brooklyn. A cruise terminal where the Queen Mary 2 homeports is located in one corner of the neighborhood, and lots of popular eateries like the Fort Defiance Bar and Red Hook Lobster Pound line the main street, Van Brunt.

Oddly enough, one of the best spots for viewing the Statue of Liberty is from the parking lot of the local Fairway supermarket, 480-500 Van Brunt, as well as from Fairway’s rear patio, where ready-to-eat fare is sold. Another great vantage point is Red Hook’s Louis Valentino Jr. Pier and Park, on Ferris Street between Coffey and Van Dyke, one of the few places where you can get a rare head-on view of the statue, instead of from the side.

Red Hook is also fun to explore by bike, and it’s one of those rare neighborhoods where you can often find street parking.

7. MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE — A LIVING MEMORIAL TO THE HOLOCAUST: The museum at 36 Battery Place has tall picture windows that look directly out onto the Statue of Liberty. While you look, you can listen to the museum's "Voices of Liberty" sound installation, in which Holocaust survivors, refugees and others discuss why they chose to make the U.S. their home. mjhnyc.org.

8. RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, BATTERY PARK: The majority of guest rooms at the Ritz-Carlton's Battery Park hotel offer views of the Statue of Liberty, and they even come equipped with telescopes for a closer look. For Christmas, prices for a room with a king or two double beds start at $370, going up to $7,500 for a 2,100-square-foot suite; ritzcarlton.com.

9. LIBERTY STATE PARK, NEW JERSEY: This waterfront park on the New Jersey side of the harbor offers the closest view you can get of the statue without sailing past on a boat or stepping onto Liberty Island. There are three ways to get there: drive; take the PATH train from Manhattan, followed by a light-rail ride and a half-mile walk into the park; or take a ferry from the World Financial Center in Lower Manhattan, libertylandingferry.com. While you're there, check out the Liberty Science Center, a great museum for kids, lsc.org.

Hi everyone, I have read a few posts with opinions on the above but still so confused what to do! I will be staying atLong Island City, NY for 4 days and wanted to have your opinion on the best tour/way to see the Statue of Liberty, taking into consideration that I will be cramming a lot of other sights in the 4 days, thanks :)

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springerandy

USA

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1. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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Very simple, there is one authorized way to get there, StatueCruises, go here:

http://www.statuecruises.com

Here is the official site from the National Park Service:

http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm

I would get pedestal access and try for the first ferry of the day. Visit the Statue of Liberty, then head to Ellis Island.

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MTI-n-NYC

New York, New York

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2. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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If you don't mind a boat ride past with a view, thenStaten Island Ferry is free-

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d143363-Reviews-Staten_Island_Ferry-New_York_City_New_York.html

I would leave two hours if you do it this way -as you have to go to Staten Island (get off the boat-they make everyone get off) and then get back on the same Ferry.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/ferrybus/siferryschedule.shtml

If you chose springerandy's option (statue cruises) to go to liberty Island & Ellis Island - then leave 4 to 5 hours (and get reserved crown tickets if you can)-that is better if you have the extra time.

Have fun!

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molletts

Brisbane, Australia

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3. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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If you just want to see the Statue and save time a trip on the freeStaten Island Ferry takes you right past. You also get a great perspective of lower Manhatten from the ferry. They leave about every 30 minutes, take about 25 minutes for the crossing and you disembark the other end and get back on the next return ferry.

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molletts

Brisbane, Australia

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4. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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Sorry MTI, our posts crossed in cyber space. We have done this trip twice and it is always my recommendation for people visitingNYC. On our first trip we spoke to someone who had stood in line all day waiting for the Liberty ferry. (This was in 2006, maybe things have improved now). Anyway, good to see someone else thinks this is a good way to see the Statue.

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DISNEYGUYS

Dallas, Texas

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5. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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YesStaten Island Ferry.

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springerandy

USA

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6. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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Nothing beats being on Liberty Island. While theStaten Island Ferry is free, the time spent there can be put towards going to one of the top attractions in NYC.

If someone was standing in line all day, then they did not have reservations.

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BigKidEL

Michigan

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7. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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Where is theStatue of Liberty on your wish list? If it's in the top 3, then I would do Statue Cruises & book in advance, and go. Get the crown tickets, and if not available, get the pedestal tickets. It took me 2.5 minutes to climb the stairs to the pedestal. It wasn't that many stairs like I had heard. Being up close was much more magical. The museum was worth the admission into the statue.

I used to live in Manhattan & a short time in Brooklyn. In Brooklyn I could see the Statue from the rooftop of my building when I climbed the fire escape. From the Staten Island Ferry, she's really pretty far away. It was awesome to see her up close finally. Last month was my first visit as a tourist visiting the statue per my son's request! We were only able to get pedestal access tickets pre-booked since last minute trip. But the crown access really is only a "novelty" I-did-it type thing from what I've read since can't see much from crown window up there. I would have loved to have done it though but need to plan sufficiently in advance.

Visiting her was worth the sardine can boat ride to the island, as well as sardine can subway ride down to Battery Park. The price was cheap.

Don't take any bag with 2 straps. That's their rule. 2 straps - have to check it in the fingerprint lockers.

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NorthWestMike

Warrington, United...

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8. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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We "saw" SOL via theStaten Island Ferry option. Wasnt disappointed and you also get to tick off another "thing to do in NY". The view of Manhattan as you leave, looking bad, is also a bonus.

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MTI-n-NYC

New York, New York

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9. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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To Sum this up, you options are:

1) Reserved Crown (Best, but 4-5 hours) withEllis Island (on Statue cruise site above in post 1)

2) Reserved Pedestal (Next best, also 4-5 hours) with Ellis Island ( " " )

3) Staten Island Ferry (Free, no ticket needed-goes past liberty island, 2 hours)

4) Going, with out ticket, to get pedestal and Ellis Island access (worst idea, expect an all day line)

Hope this helps

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george00

new york

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10. Re: Best way to see Statue of Liberty

7 years ago

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Between #2 and 3 above, I would add acruise that goes by the SOL, such as the nywatertaxi.com or circle line cruise. You have to pay, but you get a closer look at the SOL with better photo ops than the Staten Island Ferry.

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