Statue of Liberty Crown Visit
Entering the Crown of the Statue of Liberty is a must-see experience in New York, but it's not easy to do - here's how you can do it!
The Crown of the Statue | ©Unsplash
Climbing the Crown of the Statue of Liberty is the dream of many travellers, but to achieve it you need to get one of the few tickets that are on sale on the Statue Cruises website well in advance.
If you are one of them, in addition to learning how to visit the Statue of Liberty, I recommend that you take note of the following post where I tell you in detail how to visit the Crown, how to buy tickets, how much they cost and what you'll see there, among other things. Don't miss it!
How to visit the Statue of Liberty Crown?
The only way to go up to the Crown of the Statue of Liberty is to get tickets online at the Statue Cruises website and to do so several months in advance of your visit because very few tickets go on sale and demand is very high.
To visit this part of the attraction, tickets cannot be bought on the spot so if you don't want to miss out on this special experience, my advice is that when you are planning your trip you should keep a constant eye on this website in case there are any updates and some tickets are released to go up to the Crown. Keeping an eye out is very important!
How does it work to buy tickets for the Crown?
As I said, you have to buy them on the Statue Cruises website and select the "Crown Reserve" option.
When you make your reservation you will receive an e-mail with a confirmation number that you will have to show at the Clinton Castle ticket office in Battery Park on the day of your visit, together with a valid ID document and the card with which you made the purchase, in order to exchange your tickets and get the wristband with which you can enter the Crown of the Statue of Liberty.
How much do tickets to the Statue of Liberty Crown cost?
From around 24 Euros you can get an adult ticket on the Statue Cruises website. You will need to select the Crown Reserve option, which includes access to the Crown and Pedestal, the Statue of Liberty Museum and Enclosure, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and the ferry to Liberty Island.
If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to try to get the "Crown Reserve" option, as paying just a little more than the "Pedestal Reserve" or "General Admission" options will give you the chance to see the iconic Statue of Liberty from her base to her crown.
An experience that very few get the chance to experience in New York and that is well worth it!
Prices by type of ticket
- Adult: from $24
- Seniors (62+): from $19
- Children (4 -12 years old): from $13
- Children under 4: Not for sale.
Can I enter the Statue of Liberty Crown with a New York City Tourist Card?
That would be great but unfortunately it' s not possible. For now, the only way to get tickets to the Statue of Liberty Crown is to buy them online at the Statue Cruises website.
Most New York tourist cards only include basic Statue of Liberty admission, which means that the tourist pass only gives you access to the Statue of Liberty ferry, the islands and the museums there, but not to the Statue of Liberty Pedestal or the Statue of Liberty Crown.
If you are interested in getting a tourist card to enjoy the benefits, you have these options:
- Go City: New York City Explorer Pass-from RM365
- New York CityPASS®-from RM663
- New York City Pass-from RM681
- New York City Sightseeing Flex Pass-from RM386
In case you want to explore the inside of this iconic landmark you will have to book the full Statue Cruises ticket separately, as it is not possible to use the Statue of Liberty Tourist Card to visit the Statue of Liberty and pay extra at the ticket booths to enter the Crown or the Pedestal.
What it's like to enter the Crown: the security checkpoint
The entrance to the Crown gives access to a small observation deck at the head of the statue from which there are unusual views of New York and the monument itself at 93 metres above the ground.
Once you get the ferry to Liberty Island you can explore the grounds at your leisure but if you have tickets to visit the Crown and the Statue of Liberty Pedestal, my recommendation is to go there directly as the last entrance is at 3:30 PM and to get inside the monument you have to queue for a second security check (in addition to the first check at Battery Park to get on the ferry) which will allow you access inside the statue and this can take quite a while.
The security check is very thorough and you are not allowed to visit the Crown or the Pedestal with bags, backpacks or food. Only with your camera, your phone, a bottle of water or some medicine, so before you go up you will have to get rid of your stuff at the lockers at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
They cost 25 cents to use and only accept coins but there are some change machines nearby for $5 and $1 notes. So remember to carry some cash in your wallet!
What it's like to climb the Crown and its spiral staircase
After visiting the Pedestal and the Statue of Liberty Museum, the climb to the Crown is up a narrow spiral staircase of over 300 steps (the equivalent of 27 floors) that runs the length of the Statue of Liberty.
It is not possible to take a lift to the top so you must be in good physical condition to do this tour and children must be at least 1'21 metres tall or they will not be able to climb the Crown. If you have asthma or heart problems or are afraid of heights or enclosed spaces, please consider whether it is suitable for you. However, everything is designed to make the visit as comfortable as possible for visitors.
There are a lot of steps along the way, but the ascent is not tedious but exciting as you will have the chance to see inside the structure designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (author of the Eiffel Tower) and in just 15 minutes, without even realising it, you will be inside the Crown, fulfilling the dream of many visitors who come to New York.
What you can take with you on the climb
For example, you are allowed to bring your camera, your phone, a bottle of water and your medicine in case you need to take it. Also, the ascent and descent of the Crown is done via separate staircases so that visitors entering and exiting don't bump into each other, and every few steps there are places to stop for a moment to rest.
What you'll find when you arrive at the Crown
When you arrive at the top you are likely to be in for a surprise as we tend to imagine the viewing platform of the Crown as a much larger and more spacious room when, in reality, it is so small that only a few people can fit in at a time.
Make the most of your time in the Crown, as you will only have a few minutes to look out of the windows and take a few photos and selfies before you have to go back downstairs.
Is it worth climbing up to the Statue of Liberty's Crown? What can you see on the tour?
Absolutely! This is one of the most exclusive and unique experiences you can have in New York if you manage to get a ticket, which is quite difficult because there are very few tickets for sale, so I highly recommend you try!
What will you see on a visit to the Crown?
1. The inside structure of the statue
On one side you will see the interior structure of the Statue of Liberty created by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (the engineer who also created the Eiffel Tower) which normally goes unnoticed especially when compared to the famous façade of the monument which was the work of the sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
On the other side, you will see the interior of the Statue of Liberty's crown and the surrounding landscape through its large windows. It is one of the parts to which very few people have access and just to be one of those lucky ones is worth the visit.
2. The views from Liberty Island
As for the views, due to the Statue's location to the east, it's a bit difficult to get a good view of the landscape from the Crown compared to the amazing 360º views from the Pedestal observation deck. If you pay attention you can see a bit of Manhattan, the Hudson River, Liberty Island or details of the Statue itself.
However, don't let this small inconvenience put you off climbing the Crown because when you're up there, I'd almost say the views are almost the least of it. In my opinion the most important thing is to have the opportunity to experience the inside of the Statue of Liberty and get inside the head of "Lady Liberty" to see New York City through her eyes.
3. A unique perspective of the Statue
Also, from the Crown of the Statue of Liberty you will have an unusual perspective of the monument (for once you will see it from top to bottom and not the other way around) so I advise you to take advantage of the time you have there to take some pictures of the landscape and the statue and to take several selfies inside the observation deck. I assure you that it is a once in a lifetime experience that you will not forget!
Tips for visiting the Crown of the Statue of Liberty
- Try to book your tickets to the Corona well in advance as supply is scarce and demand is very high.
- Get up early to visit the Crown. You'll have more time to explore Liberty Island and nearby islands, and the shorter crowds will reduce queue times at all of the lines.
- Wear comfortable shoes for the tour. You'll spend a lot of time on your feet queuing at security checkpoints, taking long walks and climbing many stairs to the Crown.
- Go early in the morning if you visit the Crown in summer. Be aware that the temperature inside the Statue is warmer than outside. Stay well hydrated.
- Go to the toilet after passing through the monument's security checkpoint. These are the only toilets inside the Statue, so I advise you to go before your visit so that you don't have to leave the Crown early because of an unwelcome call of nature.
- On the day of your visit, remember to check the National Park Service website (which manages the US national monuments) for any last-minute alerts about the park.