Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with Kids

Which ticket to get

Every ticket comes from Statue City Cruises, the only authorized seller, and includes the round-trip ferry, both islands, both museums and an audio tour. The difference is how far up the statue you go. Under-4s ride free; child tickets cover ages 4 to 12. Tickets

• General Admission: the ferry, the grounds of Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty Museum and Ellis Island. For families with small children this is plenty: the view of the statue is from outside anyway.
• Pedestal Reserve: adds the inside of the pedestal and its observation balcony, at the statue's feet. A good middle step for school-age kids who want to go "in". Limited, so book ahead.
• Crown Reserve: adds the climb to the crown, 162 steps up a narrow spiral staircase with no elevator. Children must be at least 42 inches (1.1 m) tall, climb by themselves (they can't be carried) and stay with an adult. Crown tickets are few and sell out far ahead.
• Hard Hat Tour: a 90-minute guided tour of Ellis Island's abandoned hospital complex, for ages 13 and up only. Great for curious teens.
• Don't buy from street sellers. People around Battery Park sell other harbour cruises that don't land on the islands.

Is the crown worth it with kids?

For a confident 8- to 12-year-old who loves a challenge, it can be the highlight of the trip. For anyone nervous of tight spaces or heights, it's a hard climb for a short reward: the National Park Service limits crown visits to about 10 minutes, and asks visitors with claustrophobia, fear of heights or vertigo to skip it.

Only water in a plastic bottle, a phone, a camera, medicine and small items can go up; bags, food and umbrellas go in the coin lockers near security (they take quarters, and strollers don't fit). If you're unsure, the pedestal is the safer bet.

How long it takes

• Both islands: four hours or more. The ferry operator says to be on a ferry before 1 p.m. to see both properly; with a later slot you'll likely only have time for one island.
• Security adds the most uncertainty: up to an hour at busy times.
• With toddlers, Liberty Island alone and a short look at Ellis Island's Great Hall is a full morning.
• From New Jersey: ferries also leave from Liberty State Park in Jersey City, often a calmer start if you're staying on that side or driving.

What kids enjoy most

• The ferry ride itself, especially the moment the statue appears.
• The original torch in the Statue of Liberty Museum, and the short film.
• The Junior Ranger badge: a booklet of activities from the rangers in the museum, an oath, and a badge to take home.
• Finding a name: if your family came through Ellis Island, search the free passenger database on the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation's website before you go, and you'll look at the Registry Room differently.
• Spotting details on the statue: the broken chain at her feet, the tablet in her hand, the seven points of her crown.

Practical tips

• Strollers are fine on the ferry and both islands, but not inside the pedestal or crown. There's stroller parking near the lockers.
• Family restrooms are on both islands, and there's a nursing station inside the Crown Café.
• Food: cafés on both islands, snack stands on the ferry, and you can bring a picnic (no coolers).
• Make a day of it: our Lower Manhattan guide pairs the ferry with the Charging Bull, the 9/11 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge.