New York City is known for many things. There’s the Empire State building, Broadway shows, Brooklyn Bridge, and of course the Statue of Liberty. If you are looking to visit New York on a budget, I am happy to let you know that it is definitely possible! There are many ways on how to travel for cheap or free, you just have to learn to be creative, resourceful, and definitely do your research. Let’s start with how to see the Statue of Liberty for free!
The Statue of Liberty has become an icon not only of New York City but of the United States of America. This statue made of copper was actually a gift from the French to the Americans. The cool thing about this was that Gustave Eiffel (yes, the engineer who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris) built this statue designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi.
This famous statue, which can be found standing tall on Ellis Island, can be accessed by boarding a ferry that will take you to the island. Visitors can have different experiences of the Lady Liberty depending on what access point they choose to pay for. The cheapest ticket can only get you ground access and admire Lady Liberty by looking up. For a couple more dollars, the next tier of the experience can give visitors access to the pedestal where Lady Liberty proudly stands. The best access and most expensive ticket will get visitors up to Lady Liberty’s crown.
There are many reasons why you may want to see the Statue of Liberty for free. Maybe you would rather spend your money on other things, you’re on a tight budget, or Lady Liberty is just not on your bucket list but figured “Hey, if I can see it for free, I might as well add to my itinerary.” Whatever your reason is, I got you covered.
If you want to see the Statue of Liberty for free, you have to find your way to the Staten Island Ferry which will take you from Manhattan to Staten Island. The ferry ride is FREE! You can then admire Lady Liberty for free while on board the Staten Island Ferry. This ferry is open 24/7 so you can ride this as many times as you want. During rush hours, the Staten Island Ferry departs every 15 to 20 minutes and every 30 to 60 minutes for off-peak hours. The whole ferry ride is approximately 25 minutes.
Yes, you won’t actually be on Ellis Island to be up close and personal with Lady Liberty and not even get a chance to go up to her crown but hey it doesn’t cost a dime! You get to see her for free and maybe get a selfie or two.
Here’s another tip: since you’re in Staten Island, anyways, do yourself a favour and get yourself a treat at Ralph’s Ice. It’s a local’s favourite and not expensive! You’ll be surprised that there are actually a lot of cheap places to eat in New York City.
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Thanks for the tip! I never would have thought to take the ferry to see her 🙂
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I did this a few years ago! It’s a nice tip. However, in winter it’s not so nice because you can’t make good photos through the dirty windows. I believe summer is better for that.
that’s a great observation and advice! I did go in the summer hehe so that made the difference 🙂
So I’ve yet to ride the Staten Island Ferry and see the Lady Liberty for free yet. Maybe I’ll give it a try this summer. You can also see her from afar on lots of cruises throughout the year!