Visiting the Statue of Liberty: What you need to know

Here's some good news if you're planning a trip to one of the best attractions in New York City: the Statue of Liberty is once again open!

Lady Liberty suffered severe damage from Hurricane Sandy last October and was forced to close, along with Ellis Island and the Immigration Museum, only one day after re-opening from a year long renovation project, so it's been a long wait.

Both Liberty and Ellis Islands and the Statue herself are maintained and run by the National Park Service. However, the official concessionaire is Statue Cruises – they're the only folks who can get you to the islands for an up close and personal visit with Lady Liberty. We're proud that New York CityPASS includes a visit to Liberty and Ellis Islands with Statue Cruises, as well as admission to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, one of the top museums in New York .

Statue Grounds – Included with CityPASS Admission

(Also included with Crown Tickets and Monument Access)
Access to the Statue grounds includes your ferry trip to and from the islands, as well as admission to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Once you arrive, take your time exploring your surroundings with the included audio tour. Both islands offer free Ranger tours as well, and of course, plan to take advantage of the many scenic photo opportunities you'll have. Both tours are a great activity to do with kids.

Statue Cruises has two departure locations you can choose from: Battery Park in Manhattan or Liberty State Park in New Jersey. You may depart from and return to different locations. However, keep in mind that once you return to either Battery Park or Liberty State Park, you may not re-board the ferry.

It's important to note that New York CityPASS does not include access to the monument or to the crown. The only way to gain access to these areas is directly through Statue Cruises. We get a lot of questions about this, so we'll take this opportunity to explain just what you need to do to if you want to visit the interior of the Statue of Liberty, including the crown and/or monument.

Crown Tickets

Statue of Liberty crown tickets are available only through Statue Cruises; they must be purchased in advance either by telephone or online. If you arrive at a departure location and want to purchase a crown ticket, you'll be out of luck.

To gain crown access, you must purchase a Statue Cruises Reserve Ticket with Crown Access. Visit statuecruises.com or call 201-604-2800 to purchase and reserve a departure time.

There are only 365 crown tickets available each day, and they sell out far in advance, so we recommend calling as early as possible to get your crown ticket. There is a maximum of four crown reservations allowed per order. Also, keep in mind that children need to be at least 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall to visit the crown.

Your crown ticket includes your ferry trip to and from the Islands, as well as admission to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, so you don't need to purchase those separately. You also get an Audio Tour with your crown ticket, available in several different languages.

Once you've purchased your crown ticket from Statue Cruises, here are some things that might be helpful as you plan your visit:

• Pick up your tickets at the Will Call window; you must show your photo ID and credit card used to purchase the tickets.
• All crown ticket holders must show photo ID and ticket prior to entering the Statue, and the name on the ID must match the name on the ticket.
• Only the following items are allowed inside the Statue of Liberty: one camera per person (no camera bags); your ticket; and any necessary medication. All other items must be secured in a locker. Lockers are available for $2/hour, cash only.
• The climb to the crown is strenuous; there are 393 steps from the main lobby to the crown and there is no air conditioning. Elevator access goes only as high as the Pedestal. The National Park Service recommends that crown visitors have no significant physical or medical conditions that would impair their ability to complete the climb.
• The only restrooms are in the lobby, 393 steps from the crown.

Monument Access

Monument Access includes admission to the Fort Wood section of the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, as well as your ferry trip to and from the Islands and admission to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. There are 3180 Monument Access tickets available each day, and there a few ways you can get one.

• You can purchase New York CityPASS with Monument Access directly from Statue Cruises by calling 201-604-2800. Please note this can only be purchased directly from Statue Cruises . Please note that Statue Cruises adds a $3 surcharge to the cost of the CityPASS.
• A limited number of Monument Access passes will be available each day at no additional charge on a first-come, first-served basis from the Statue Cruises ticket office. CityPASS holders are eligible to receive these monument passes, based on availability.
• You can purchase a Reserve Ticket with Monument Access from the Statue Cruises website or from their call center at 201-604-2800.

CityPASS Option Ticket

Keep in mind that the Statue Cruises ticket in the New York CityPASS booklet is a shared option ticket with Circle Line Cruises. If you have a CityPASS but you wish to purchase either a crown or monument ticket directly from Statue Cruises, you can still use the option ticket for a cruise with Circle Line Cruises, so you'll get the full value from your CityPASS. Don't forget to explore the other NYC attractions included within the New York CityPASS booklets!