Can you see the Statue of Liberty from the highway

No trip to New York City is complete without getting a great view of the Statue of Liberty. Whether you want a quick view or a full tour, here’s our recommendations for how, where and when to get the best view for you – whether by land, by sea or by air!

By Land

For the best land views of Lady Liberty, head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan, to an area known as the Battery. (Downtown Tour Loop: Hop off at: Battery Park/Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty Ferry or Subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).

BEST VIEW: Hands down, the best view on land is from atop One World Observatory. Located in the southern most part of Manhattan, it’s the closest observation deck to the Statue of Liberty, giving you the most intimate view possible from land.

BUDGET FRIENDLY in Brooklyn: Oddly enough, one of the best spots for viewing the Statue of Liberty is from the parking lot or back patio of the Fairway Red Hook supermarket, (480-500 Van Brunt, Brooklyn, NY 11231). They have great ready-to-eat food as well so have yourself a picnic! Another great vantage point in the same neighborhood can be found at Louis Valentino Jr. Pier and Park, (Ferris Street between Coffey and Van Dyke), one of the few places on land you can get a rare head-on view of the statue.

EXTRA SPECIAL: If just one view of the Statue of Liberty won’t be enough, consider staying at the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park Hotel, where most guest rooms offer views of the Statue of Liberty, and even come equipped with telescopes for an up-close look.

By Sea

QUICKEST: If you’re pressed for time, the fastest and best way to see the Statue of Liberty on the water is the Circle Line Liberty 1-Hour Cruise. Sail down the Hudson River to the Statue of Liberty and back, viewing such sights as Ellis Island, the historic immigration center, the rising Freedom Tower, and the World Financial Center, along the way. Tour is translated into seven languages.

If you’d prefer instead to see Lady Liberty lit up against the night sky, the Circle Line Statue by Night Tour is a great alternative.

MULTI TASKING: The CitySightseeing Ferry is more than just a way to get around the city, it’s a fully-narrated harbor cruise and sightseeing tour of NYC and its famous waterways. Take in 90 minutes of impressive New York City skyline and famous landmarks including the iconic Statue of Liberty, as our professional guides share their knowledge and stories of the Big Apple. Hop off at either stops along the way and explore at your leisure for a full day of sightseeing.

BUDGET FRIENDLY: For an ease on the wallet water view of the Statue of Liberty, hop on the Staten Island Ferry. You won’t get as close as you would with a paid cruise, but this FREE ride across New York Harbor runs 24 hours a day.

(Tip – If you’re interested in seeing the Statue of Liberty by both land and by sea, you can save 25% when you buy this combo ticket)

By Air

Sorry, no budget friendly option here – but if you can afford the cost, looking Lady Liberty right in the eye is a a life experience not many people get, and one you won’t soon forget!

Our favorite? Liberty Helicopter’s Big Apple Tour

Touring the Statue of Liberty

While there are many ways to view the statue of liberty, there is only one way to visit. To learn about visiting this national treasure, please visit the National Park Service where you will find resources for ferry service, tours as well as how to obtain tickets to the crown and pedestal (advanced reservations required).

This post lists the best places to get a view of the Statue of Liberty.

We start off with 4 free options, including the Staten Island Ferry and many more. Additionally, we also discuss ways to get even closer than the free options allow.

Let's get started!

STATEN ISLAND FERRY

This free commuter ferry travels very close to the Statue of Liberty.

You will want to have your camera out and ready to go, as the ferry passes Lady Liberty at a fairly fast speed.

Still, without a doubt, this is the best view of the Statue of Liberty you can get for free.

In fact, riding the Staten Island Ferry is one of the very bestthings you can do for free in NYC.

You will also get stunning views of Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights, and a distant view of the Brooklyn Bridge.

To learn more, check out our post on the Staten Island Ferry, and be sure to download our free Staten Island audio tour to accompany you on the cruise.

BATTERY PARK

This park is at the tip of Lower Manhattan and has expansive vistas of the New York harbor including a view of the Statue of Liberty.

You can walk along the waterfront or sit on one of the benches that look out on the water.

Our guide to Battery Park lists other things you can see and do in the park.

TIP: Our pay-what-you-wish Lower Manhattan Tour visits Battery Park where your guide will point out the Statue of Liberty in the distance and tell you about the statue’s history.

https://freetoursbyfoot.com/new-york-tours/

If you can’t make our live tour, you can try our Lower Manhattan Audio Tour that can be taken at any time of the day or night.

Here is a sample.

GOVERNORS ISLAND

Governors Island is a small island in the East River less than one mile from Lower Manhattan.

Its location affords visitors spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty.

For unparalleled views of the Statue of Liberty, New York harbor, and the city skyline, head to Outlook Hill, which is 70 feet tall and accessible via a winding path.

Our post on Governors Island details how to get there, when to visit, and what activities exist.

LIBERTY STATE PARK

This waterfront park in New Jersey is just across the river from Lower Manhattan.

This park offers the closest free view of the Statue of Liberty from the land.

You can get there easily by public transportation. There is a ferry that departs from Lower Manhattan.

Our post on how to ride NYC ferries includes information on this ferry.

You can also take the PATH train (New Jersey’s version of the subway) from Manhattan, followed by a light-rail ride and a short walk to the park.

If you have a pay-as-you-go MetroCard, you can use your card on the PATH system.

OTHER OPTIONS

This section lists ways to get great views of Lady Liberty that are not free, but we believe are worth the money.

Some of these options may already be on your list of things you want to do in NYC.

Most of these options are included in for free when you purchase certain NYC tourist discount passes.

Below we briefly explain these money-saving passes. For in-depth information, read our post on New York tourist attraction discount passes.

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Of course, going to Liberty Island offers you the closest view possible, but you must purchase a ferry ticket to get there.

The ferry ride also includes a trip to Ellis Island.

Fortunately, ferry tickets are affordable and there are ways you can save money on the already reasonable price.

For example, the Statue of Liberty ferry tickets are included for free with the purchase of most tourist discount passes.

For more information about ticket prices, discounts, ferry schedules, and more, read our in-depth post on how to visit the Statue of Liberty.

TIP: The Statue of Liberty ferry departs from Lower Manhattan. If you visit the statue in the morning, you can join us for our 2 pm pay-what-you-wish Lower Manhattan Tour.

Take a Sightseeing Cruise

There are numerous sightseeing cruises you can take in NYC, including those that offer very good, if not excellent, views of the Statue of Liberty.

For example, Circle Line’s Liberty Cruise takes you past the Statue of Liberty, as well as Ellis Island, and the World Trade Center.

In addition to the up-close views, the cruise features entertaining commentary about these sights.

This Cruise is included for free with several tourist passes and the Big Bus Tours Adventure Pass.

Learn about other cruises that feature the Statue of Liberty on their route by reading our post on NYC boat tours.

Go to the One World Observatory Observation Deck

The observation deck at One World Observatory (the ‘Freedom Tower’) offers breathtaking views of New York Harbor, including the Statue of Liberty.

Though you do have to buy tickets (and they aren’t cheap), a visit to One World Observatory is an unforgettable experience.

Read our post on One World Observatory to find out about getting tickets, the best times to visit and other helpful tips.

Purchase a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass

If any of the above activities are of interest to you, consider getting an NYC tourist discount pass to save money.

In addition to covering the price of a ferry ride to the Statue of Liberty, tourist passes also often include the following activities and attractions at no extra cost:

Statue of Liberty Tall Ship Cruise
Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
Brooklyn Bridge Bike Tour
9/11 Memorial & Museum
Rockefeller Center Tour
One World Observatory
Empire State Building
Circle Line Cruises
Top of the Rock
And more!

Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you could save anywhere from 20% - 50% off ticket prices for some of the most popular NYC attractions, including the activities listed above.

For more details, read our post on New York tourist attraction discount passes.

Take a Helicopter Tour

Given the steep price of these tours, we don’t recommend you take one just to get a view of the Statue of Liberty!

But if you are already considering a helicopter tour of NYC, the Statue of Liberty is one of the highlights of the awesome aerial views you will get from the sky.

For more information, see our post on helicopter tours of New York City.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Brooklyn Bridge

From the Brooklyn Bridge, one gets an incredible 360-degree view of New York City.

Looking south over the water, you can see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance.

See our guide to walking the Brooklyn Bridge or download our GPS-enabled Audio Tour of the Brooklyn Bridge.

High Line

Just north of the Overlook, at the “10th Avenue Square”, look south out onto the Hudson River.

Though Lady Liberty will look very small, the view makes for a nice photo.

See our self-guided tour of the High Line for a map of the park.

Ikea Ferry

On the weekends you can ride this ferry for free from Wall Street to the Ikea store in Brooklyn and back again.

The ride is relatively short, but the views are outstanding.

Not only will you see the Statue of Liberty, but you will also see the Brooklyn Bridge nearby and the skyline of Lower Manhattan.

To find out more about the Ikea ferry, read our guide to NYC ferries.

How to Visit the Statue of Liberty
Lower Manhattan Tours
NYC Tourist Discount Passes

Where can you see Statue of Liberty from car?

Can you see the Statue of Liberty from High Line?

Views: Walking along the High Line you can see the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. You might even see a high flyer through the windows of the Trapeze School New York at 30th Street.

What bridge can you see the Statue of Liberty from?

From the Brooklyn Bridge, one gets an incredible 360-degree view of New York City. Looking south over the water, you can see the Statue of Liberty off in the distance. Click here for a 360-degree view from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Can you see Statue of Liberty without getting ferry?

Getting to the Islands Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are only accessible by ferry. The vessels depart at set times from locations in lower Manhattan and New Jersey and are easily accessible through a variety of travel options. Identify which ferry you'll take and plan how best to get there.