Is the Statue of Liberty Worth Visiting with Kids?

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world, and for many families visiting New York, it feels like something you should do at least once. The question most parents ask, though, is whether it’s actually worth the time and effort when travelling with children.

After visiting as a family, I would say yes — it is worth doing, but with the right expectations. This guide shares what we learned while planning our trip, with links to the exact places, tours, and tools we used or considered to make planning easier. Some links are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only ever share experiences we’ve personally used and genuinely enjoyed, and hope these links help you plan a trip that feels exciting and manageable rather than overwhelming.

Why the Statue of Liberty Works Well for Kids

What makes the Statue of Liberty work for children isn’t just the statue itself — it’s the whole experience around it. To get there, you take a boat from Lower Manhattan, and for our child this was a big part of the excitement. Seeing the New York skyline from the water, standing on the deck of the boat and arriving at the island made it feel like an adventure rather than just visiting a monument.

Once on the island, there’s space to walk around, views back towards Manhattan, and a more relaxed atmosphere than the city itself. Our son Joshua loved the boat ride and, very importantly, the novelty lemonade we bought while on the island — sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest impression on kids.

Should You Go Up the Crown?

One thing many families don’t realise is that if you want to go up inside the Statue of Liberty crown, you need to book tickets a long time in advance. These sell out quickly, often months ahead, so it’s not something you can usually decide to do last minute. We didn’t go up to the crown, and honestly, we didn’t feel like we missed out. Just visiting the island, seeing the statue up close and enjoying the boat ride was enough for us.

Most families visit:

• Liberty Island

• Ellis Island (often included in the same ticket)

and that already makes for a fairly full half-day trip.

Logistics, Planning, Costs and Opening Times

Visiting the Statue of Liberty takes a bit more planning than many other New York attractions, so it’s worth understanding how it works before you go.The ferry to the Statue of Liberty departs from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan (or Liberty State Park in New Jersey), and all visitors must go through airport-style security before boarding. This means you should allow extra time before your scheduled ferry departure.

In terms of cost, standard ferry tickets are approximately:

• Adults: around £20

• Children (4–12): around £16

• Under 2s: free

These tickets usually include:

• Return ferry

• Access to Liberty Island

• Access to Ellis Island

• Entry to the museums on both islands

If you want to go inside the pedestal or up to the crown, this costs extra, and crown tickets in particular must be booked well in advance, often several months ahead.

This part of visiting the Statue of Liberty can be confusing because the official ferries usually start from around 8:30am, but many tickets sold through tour operator tickets don’t start until around 9:30–10:00am, which makes it look like that’s the first boat. There isn’t really a “best” option — it depends what suits your timings. Tour websites are often easier to use, you can pay in GBP and many offer free cancellation, whereas booking directly with the official ferry operator can sometimes be slightly cheaper and gives access to earlier ferry times. For families, the main thing is simply to book a morning ferry if possible, as it’s quieter, cooler in summer and leaves more time for other sightseeing later in the day.

How Long Does It Take?

In total, most families should expect the visit to take around 3–5 hours, depending on whether you visit both Liberty Island and Ellis Island.

Is It Worth It Compared to Other Attractions?

This probably depends on your child.

If your child enjoys:

• boats

• famous landmarks

• open spaces where they can walk around

• learning a bit of history

then it’s worth including.

If your trip is very short and you’re trying to decide between this and something like an observation deck or the Intrepid Museum, then it becomes more of a judgement call. But for a first trip to New York, it’s one of those experiences that feels very “New York”, and that alone makes it worthwhile.

A More Expensive Option: Helicopter Tour

If you are feeling a bit more flush and want a completely different view of the Statue of Liberty, another option is to see it from the air on a New York helicopter tour. Helicopter tours fly over Manhattan, the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty, and give you a view you simply can’t get any other way. This is obviously a much more expensive option than the ferry, but it’s also a very memorable experience and something older children often find very exciting.

Most helicopter flights last around 12–20 minutes, and prices are typically in the region of $200–$300 per person depending on the route and operator.

It’s definitely a treat rather than a standard sightseeing activity, but if you’re trying to make a New York trip extra special, it’s a pretty incredible way to see the city and the Statue of Liberty from above.

Final Planning Insight for Parents

The Statue of Liberty isn’t the fastest or easiest attraction to visit with kids, but it is one of the most iconic. For us, the combination of the boat ride, seeing the skyline from the water and walking around the island made it feel like a proper New York experience. Just make sure you plan for it to take a good part of the day, and if you want to go up into the crown, book well in advance.

Planning a Family Trip to the USA

If you’re planning a family trip to the United States, we’ve created a collection of practical guides based on our own experiences travelling there with a child. In our USA Travel Hub, you’ll find advice on everything from ESTA requirements and travel insurance to driving, healthcare and managing jet lag with kids, alongside destination guides for places we’ve explored including New York, Colorado, South Dakota and Florida. It’s a useful starting point for parents researching how to plan a smooth and enjoyable family trip to the USA.