Any trip to New York should include a trip to see ...

Any trip to New York should include a trip to see the Statue of Liberty. For those on a budget, the Staten Island ferry is free, although it doesn't stop at the statue so you will only be able to see it in passing. Otherwise those wishing to have the chance to visit Liberty Island and learn more about the statue can go to Battery Park and follow the signs along the path which will take you to the ticket stall inside of the historic Castle Clinton courtyard. One of the cheapest ways to reach Battery Park is by the subway, which the green line #4 or #5 will take you directly to it. Note that there is a security checkpoint and all visitors planning to go to the statue will be screened so be sure to check online and leave behind any prohibited items. Alternatively visitors can take the same ferry tour from New Jersey. There are various tickets with different prices and which will allow visitors different levels of access to the statue itself. Note: Some tickets such as those with crown access need to be ordered online, months in advance.

The ferry from Manhattan makes its first stop at Liberty Island where you can stay for however long you choose. Ferries arrive at the island every 20 minutes. On Liberty Island there is a gift shop and a small cafe where you can get a bite to eat, although it's cheaper to simply eat beforehand and just pack a few bottles of water in a backpack, otherwise food and drinks (with the exception of water) is not permitted on the island. For the best photos on the ferry ride, be sure to sit on the side nearest the dock when leaving Manhattan (the right side) and the side furthest from the dock (the left side) when leaving the statue, if you want to be able to see the statue from the water. Most people make the mistake of boarding and immediately rushing to the side nearest the statue while still at the dock in Manhattan, however this will only allow you to view it clearly while at the dock, after which there will be several people in the the way as the ferry approaches the statue.

After boarding a ferry to leave Liberty Island you will then be taken to Ellis Island where you can walk around and tour a museum. Visitors can stay for as long as they like, with ferries scheduled to arrive every 20 minutes, although some will arrive sooner. In total, plan to spend a minimum of 2 hours with a basic ground level statue ticket if you plan to disembark and walk around both Liberty and Ellis Island for a quick visit and brief glance at the museum. Both stops are included in the same ticket and both sites have park service guides who can provide visitors with additional historical information.