While visiting Liberty Island with the iconic monument is possible only in the daytime, there are several other ways to see the Statue of Liberty at night. Depending on your budget, you can choose one of several evening cruises in New York to see the iconic monument at night while enjoying your favorite drink and dinner, or choose a less expensive and even free option to enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty from a distance.
Best Night Cruises & Tours to See The Statue Of Liberty
Tour operators offer numerous cruises that depart at dawn, sailing the harbor at the perfect time for you to enjoy night views of the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty.
I would say that the number of New York cruises at night is impressive! I selected a variety of tours with different pricing, duration, entertainment options, and departure points so that you can adjust it to your schedule or budget, or both. I also included information about where to purchase tickets and how you can save some money – let’s say, keep it to try New York’s best street food.
Almost any cruise can be purchased separately or as a part of one of the New York City travel passes that allow you to see city sights for far less money than purchased independently, saving you time in lines. Let me show you both options so you can choose the best one depending on your time and budget.
The Longest DurationNight Tour: Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise
This 2 hours long narrated Circle Line Harbor Lights cruise is one of the best and first tours to consider when planning to see the Statue Liberty at night. The daily tour starts at 7 pm and departs from Pier 83, West 42nd Street 12th Avenue.
Unlike other cruises from Lower Manhattan, this tour lets you enjoy the New York skyline from Midtown to Downtown, close to the Statue of Liberty. Sailing down the Hudson, you will see the magnificent skyscrapers of the Hudson Yards, including the Edge, the triangle-shaped observation deck with a glass floor, followed by Chelsea Piers, an artificial island-park Little Island, beautiful buildings of Tribeca, piers with modern cultivated parks, and of course, Lower Manhattan with magnificent One World Trade Center and several other iconic building of the Financial District. This night cruise will let you enjoy the view of the fabulous Statue of Liberty just a few feet away!
This tour is free with one of city travel passes – New York All-Inclusive Pass and New York Explorer Pass. Your savings will depend on a pass and the number of days/sight you select.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Price: $41.
- Online discounts/sales: Yes.
- Free with: New York Explorer Pass and All-Inclusive New York Pass.
Speedy Option: The Liberty Super Express Tour
The Liberty Super Express Tour is a shorter cruise (50 minutes), yet it doesn’t mean it is a less exciting way to enjoy the view of the Statue of Liberty at night. Several time options are available; select the one closer to the sunset. Depending on the day, you might choose between 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, or 6:00 pm departures. If you want to see the famous landmark and enjoy the New York skyline of Lower Manhattan, this cruise is the fastest way to do so.
There are two departure points with different departure times; make sure you are at the right location when you choose this option. Slip #6 in Battery Park is the first departure point, a great place to come after visiting the neighboring One World Observatory. The second departure point is South Street Seaport, where you can eat at one of the restaurants while enjoying a spectacular view of the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Liberty Super Express Tour is free with one of the following tourist passes – New York Explorer Pass, New York All-Inclusive passes, and New York C-All CityPASS.
During the 50-minute cruise, the boat will come up close to the Statue of Liberty while a knowledgeable guide will entertain you and provide some historical facts about New York City landmarks. This cruise becomes more crowded closer to the end of the day, so be considerate of this fact. However, the boat provides plenty of space for everyone, whether you choose to stay on the open upper deck or the indoor lower deck.
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Price: $19-24.
- Online discounts/sales: Yes.
- Free with: New York Explorer Pass, All-Inclusive Pass, and New York C-All CityPASS.
Seasonal Option: Freedom Liberty Boat Tour
The Freedom Liberty Boat Tour offered by the Big City Tourism company is an excellent seasonal option to see the Statue of Liberty at night, with several departure times during the day. Select the one at 5:00 pm to enjoy the night views of New York City. Please check seasonal availability and dates here for this cruise.
This 90-minute cruise departs from Pier 78 (West 38 & Hudson River), which is just a short walking distance away from Hudson Yards and the elevated urban High Line park. The cruise will give you great opportunities to enjoy the skyline of Midtown, of course, Hudson Yards, the magnificent Empire State Building, Chelsea Piers, Lower Manhattan, and the Statue of Liberty. It’s a double-deck boat with an open-air deck on the top; you can choose any place that works best for you.
- Duration: 90 minutes.
- Price: $39.99.
- Online discounts/sales: Yes.
- Included with: Not included with any city passes.
New York’s Fancy Summer Cruise: Alive After Five Cruise
This is only a seasonal option, and the tour operates from July 1st to December 1st. Please, keep it in mind when booking.
Alive After Five Cruise is a fancy way to relax and enjoy drinks, music, and night views of New York City and its landmarks. Whether you are a visitor or a New Yorker, this city tour is a great way to unwind and appreciate the magnificence of this city and the Statue of Liberty at night.
This tour is a significant saving option for holders of one of the passes – New York CityPASS, New York C3 CityPASS, New York C-All CityPASS, The New York Sightseeing Day Pass, or The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Price: $45+.
- Online discounts/sales: Yes.
- Included with: New York CityPASS, New York C3 CityPASS, New York C-All CityPASS, The New York Sightseeing Day Pass, or The New York Sightseeing FLEX Pass.
Free & Low-Cost Ways to See the Statue of Liberty at Nights
NYC Ferry Ride From The Battery Park To Staten Island
A ride on NYC Ferry is quite an enjoyable way to see the Statue of Liberty at night, and it will cost you at the time of the writing only $4 one way. Yes, you will need to pay another $4 to come back to Manhattan or take a 10-15 minute walk to the free Staten Island Ferry that gets you back to the city. I am not a tourist but like to take different routes on the NYC Ferry for fun. The views on some of the routes are just fantastic, and it costs as little as a cup of coffee in the city.
NYC Ferries have an open upper deck and an indoor lower deck so that you can take a ride in any season or weather conditions. Winter can be more complicated with the schedule. However, you can download the NYC Ferry app and create an account, and you will be able to check schedules, routes, and stops and even purchase tickets through the app. Don’t want to download the app? No problem. You can buy a ticket at the place.
A ferry boat passes by the Statue of Liberty very close, closer than a free Staten Island Ferry (next option). I was pretty amazed at how close the boat approached the monument. The view of Manhattan is also stunning from a ferry. The only thing is that I found the ride quite lengthy, maybe because it was about to rain when I was doing it. Anyways, you take your turn and let me know how it was for you.
- Duration: ~30 minutes. You need to disembark the ferry boat on arrival and have another ticket to re-enter it to get back to Manhattan.
- Price: $4.
Free Staten Island Ferry Ride
I understand. There is such a thing as a tight budget. In this case, hop on board one of the bright orange huge ferries to Staten Island – you will have an excellent opportunity to see the Statue of Liberty a bit closer. Yes, it might get crowded, and you might not get as close to the Statue of Liberty as with other paid tours. Hey, you are still in one of the best cities in the world, enjoying the view of the iconic Statue of Liberty at night. Not every person gets a chance to visit New York City. Appreciate it, and enjoy your free night ferry ride!
- Duration: ~30 minutes. You need to disembark the ferry boat on arrival and re-enter it to get back to Manhattan.
- Price: Free.
See The Statue of Liberty At Night From Battery Park
It is a free option that allows you to see the Statue of Liberty from afar, yet it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t enjoy it. Come to the place from where tour boats depart. Come before the sunset. I must tell you sunsets during winter are stunning from this point. You won’t regret it. Watch how the sun sets, the beautiful sky colors, and how the monument’s pedestal and the torch light up. If you decide to take the ferry to Staten Island, it is only five minutes away.
I am a New Yorker, but I often come to this place. Yes, the Statue of Liberty is very symbolic, and I always reflect on how much I sacrificed and have overcome to be here to enjoy this view…
Fact & Questions About the Statue of Liberty
Some of you might be curious to know some interesting facts about the Statue of Liberty, and let me share some of them with you.
Does the Statue of Liberty Light Up at Night?
No. Neither the Statue of Liberty nor the torch light up at night. However, several floodlights are installed around the island and the torch’s balcony. The torch is made of copper and covered with 24K gold, reflecting sunlight during the day and illuminated by 16 floodlights at night. Do you want a real-time view of the torch with live cameras? Check it out here.
The Original Torch of the Statue of Liberty
The torch that we see nowadays was installed in 1986. You can still see the original torch at the Statue of Liberty Museum. I have to say, it is impressive. Why was it replaced? To better represent the wishes of Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the statue’s designer, and make it more efficient.
Is the Statue of Liberty on Staten Island?
No, the Statue of Liberty is not on Staten Island or Governors Island, and the Statue Of Liberty is on Liberty Island in New York Harbor in New York City.
If you are curious about where the Statue of Liberty is on the map, please look below.
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