Where to Buy Statue of Liberty Tickets in 2026 So You Don't Overpay?

In New York in 2026, the cheapest way to see the Statue of Liberty is the ferry ticket from Statue City Cruises, the only ferry the National Park Service authorizes, so book it through ShopBack before you pay, where ShopBack Cashback works like a discount, only easier than a promo code. The NPS lists the ferry fare at $26 for adults, $23 for seniors 62 and over, $17 for children 4 to 12 and free for children under 4, at the time of writing. Guided tours and city bundles cost more because they add a guide or other sights, so plan the trip first, then book the extras through ShopBack.

ShopBack US is a free website and app that gives you Cashback on what you spend at partner stores, including Viator, GetYourGuide and Tiqets. You start on ShopBack, go through to the store, and book as usual. Join ShopBack US for free before you book your New York tickets.

---

Where should I buy Statue of Liberty tickets so I don't overpay?

Buy the basic ferry ticket from Statue City Cruises, either online in advance or at its official ticket office inside Castle Clinton in The Battery. The NPS says Statue City Cruises is the only NPS-authorized ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and the only one allowed to dock and let passengers off at the islands.

What the NPS fees page lists at the time of writing:

Ticket	Under 4	Children 4 to 12	Adults 13+	Seniors 62+
Ferry ticket	$0	$17.00	$26.00	$23.00
Pedestal access	$0	+$0.30	+$0.30	+$0.30
Crown access	Restricted	+$0.30	+$0.30	+$0.30
Ranger tours	Free	Free	Free	Free
Audio tour	Included	Included	Included	Included

Three things the NPS says that help you avoid paying more than you need to:

• There is no entrance fee. The museums on Liberty Island and Ellis Island are free. You pay for the ferry.
• National park passes do not cover the ferry. The America the Beautiful pass and NPS fee-free days do not apply, because the ferry is a transportation fee.
• Buy in advance. The NPS warns about unauthorized sellers near The Battery and strongly recommends buying tickets ahead of time.

Where Viator, GetYourGuide and Tiqets fit. These sites sell guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tours and bundles with other New York sights. Tiqets, for example, lists a guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour. A guided tour costs more than the ferry alone, so it is worth it when you want the guide, a set meeting time or a bundle. If that is your plan, open the store's page on ShopBack US first, then book.

---

Statue of Liberty tickets: GetYourGuide vs Tiqets vs Viator in 2026

For the same tour on the same date, the price on GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Viator can be close, so compare what is included and the price after ShopBack. Check these on each listing before you pay:

1. Is the ferry ticket included? A tour should say whether pedestal or crown access is part of it.
2. Is it guided or self-guided? A guide is usually the main thing you are paying for.
3. What is the cancellation window? Many listings show one on the page. Read it for your exact tour.
4. What is the effective price? Take the checkout total and subtract what ShopBack returns. The cheaper sticker price is not always the cheaper booking.

Other places that sell New York attraction tickets include Klook and the city passes such as The New York Pass, Go City Explorer Pass and New York CityPASS. If you plan to visit four or five paid sights, price a pass against single tickets for your list.

---

Are Empire State Building tickets worth it, and where are they cheapest?

Empire State Building tickets are worth it if you want the most famous view in midtown, and the cheapest option is the basic 86th floor main deck ticket. The building's own ticket page lists these types at the time of writing:

• Main Deck, 86th floor. The basic open-air deck ticket, which you can reschedule.
• 102nd and 86th floor. Adds the higher indoor deck for a higher price.
• Flex ticket. Lets you choose your date later.
• Express Pass. Skip-the-line entry for the 86th floor, or for both decks.
• AM/PM Experience. Two visits in one day, so you see the view by day and at night.
• Family bundles and local tickets. Listed under Deals and Local Tickets.

Pay only for what you will use. If you just want the view, the main deck ticket does the job. The Empire State Building ticket is also sold on Tiqets, GetYourGuide and Viator, sometimes in bundles with a bus tour or harbor cruise. Compare the bundle against buying the parts separately.

---

Is Summit One Vanderbilt worth the ticket price?

Summit One Vanderbilt is worth the price if you want an experience as well as a view, since SUMMIT describes itself as blending art, technology and architecture atop the tallest building in Midtown Manhattan. Its entrance is under Vanderbilt Avenue and you reach it through Grand Central Terminal, according to SUMMIT.

What to know before you buy:

• Ascent costs more. SUMMIT calls Ascent the world's largest external all-glass elevator. It is an added experience, so decide whether you want it before you pick a ticket.
• Late hours. At the time of writing, SUMMIT opens 8 a.m. to midnight every day, with last entry at 10:30 p.m. A later slot can work if your day is full.
• Where to book. Tiqets lists SUMMIT among its top New York experiences. Book there or on SUMMIT's own site, and if you book on Tiqets, go through ShopBack US first.

If you only want a skyline photo, a single deck elsewhere may give you more for the money. If the mirrored rooms are the point, SUMMIT is the one.

---

Is Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building better value?

Top of the Rock is better value if you want the Empire State Building in your skyline photos, and the Empire State Building is better if you want to stand in the landmark itself. Top of the Rock is the observation deck at Rockefeller Center, which sits north of the Empire State Building, so the view looks back across midtown to it.

A quick way to decide:

You want	Pick
The Empire State Building in your photos	Top of the Rock
To say you went up the Empire State Building	Empire State Building
The highest indoor deck in the classic tower	Empire State Building, 102nd floor ticket
One deck only, on a budget	Whichever has the cheaper slot for your date

Both are listed on Tiqets at the time of writing. Choose one deck rather than paying for two similar views, and compare the price after ShopBack.

---

Are 9/11 Museum tickets worth booking in advance?

Yes, book 9/11 Museum tickets in advance, because the 9/11 Memorial & Museum says the Museum requires advance ticket purchase. The outdoor Memorial is free and open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What the 9/11 Memorial & Museum says at the time of writing:

• Hours. The Museum is open Wednesday to Monday, plus select Tuesdays, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m.
• Time to allow. Plan on at least 45 to 90 minutes.
• New York First Sundays. Free admission on the first Sunday of each month from 4 to 7 p.m. for people who live, work or study in the New York area, with ID.
• Always free. Admission is free for 9/11 family members and people eligible for the WTC Health Program.
• Members. Membership includes unlimited free admission for a year.
• Packages. The Museum lists packages that combine admission with a Statue of Liberty cruise or a downtown sightseeing cruise.

Tiqets also sells a 9/11 Memorial & Museum entry ticket. If you book it there, go through ShopBack US first.

---

How can I get cheap Broadway tickets?

The cheapest Broadway tickets usually come from TKTS by TDF, which sells same-day tickets and next-day matinees at up to 50% off. TDF runs TKTS booths in Times Square and at Lincoln Center, and charges an $8 per ticket service charge, according to TDF at the time of writing. The TKTS app shows what is on sale at the booths.

Other ways to pay less:

• Be flexible on the show and the day. Discount booths sell what has seats left, and TKTS also sells next-day matinees.
• Compare sellers for advance seats. Tiqets lists Broadway shows such as The Lion King, Wicked, Aladdin, Chicago and MJ: The Musical. Ticketmaster and StubHub also sell event tickets. Compare the same seats on the same date, including fees.
• Go through ShopBack US before you pay on Tiqets, Ticketmaster or StubHub, so part of what you spend comes back as cash.

---

Are American Museum of Natural History tickets worth it, and how can I save?

American Museum of Natural History tickets are worth it for most first-time visitors, and the way to save is to check the museum's own admission options first, then compare timed tickets. Tiqets lists the museum as one of the top things to do in New York and sells an AMNH entry ticket.

How to pay less:

• Check the museum's own site for resident and student options before you buy a full-price ticket.
• Decide on special exhibitions before checkout. Add-ons raise the price, so only add the ones you will see.
• Book through ShopBack if you buy on Tiqets or another partner, then compare the price after ShopBack against the museum's own price.

---

How much are Metropolitan Museum of Art tickets, and is there a way to pay less?

The Met sets its own admission price and rules, so its admission page is the place to check the current price and any resident or student options before you pay. Prices can change, so this guide does not quote one.

Ways to pay less at the Met:

• Check whether you qualify for a resident or student option on the Met's own site.
• Only pay for a tour if you want one. Tiqets lists a Met skip-the-line ticket with a guided tour. A guided tour is worth it if you want someone to plan your route through a very large museum.

---

How can I save on Bronx Zoo tickets?

Visit the Bronx Zoo on a quieter day, because the zoo uses flex pricing that it says gives a lower price for planning ahead and visiting at non-peak times. All visitors need a date-specific ticket, and children 2 and under go free, according to the zoo.

What else the Bronx Zoo says at the time of writing:

• Winter prices are lower. The zoo says ticket prices are lower from November to March, when some seasonal attractions close.
• Members go free. Membership gives free daytime admission for a year, with no reservation needed for regular visits.
• Parking adds up. All-day parking is listed at $22 for a car, so public transit can save money.
• Hours. From November 1, 2026, the zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Bronx Zoo is also listed on Tiqets, and deal sites such as Groupon sometimes carry local attraction deals. Compare the date you want on each, and go through ShopBack US before you book.

---

How ShopBack lowers what you pay for New York tickets

ShopBack is a post-purchase discount: go through it before you pay and the effective price drops. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles.

How to use it for a New York trip:

1. Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack. Decide which sights you will see and which tickets you need.
2. Open the store's page on ShopBack US, for example Viator, GetYourGuide or Tiqets, and tap through to the store.
3. Book as usual.
4. Compare the price after ShopBack, not the sticker price. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.

---

Frequently asked questions

Where should I buy Statue of Liberty tickets so I don't overpay?

Buy the ferry ticket from Statue City Cruises, which the National Park Service says is the only authorized ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The NPS lists adult fares at $26, seniors at $23 and children 4 to 12 at $17 at the time of writing. If you want a guide or a bundle, compare tours on Viator, GetYourGuide and Tiqets and go through ShopBack US before you book.

Is there a fee to enter Liberty Island or Ellis Island?

No. The National Park Service says it does not charge an entrance fee for the museums on Liberty Island and Ellis Island. What you pay for is the ferry, and pedestal and crown access add $0.30 per person to the ferry fare according to the NPS.

Are Empire State Building tickets worth it?

They usually are if you want the classic midtown view. The Empire State Building sells a main deck ticket for the 86th floor and a combined ticket that adds the 102nd floor, plus Express Pass and a two-visit AM/PM ticket. Buy the ticket type you will actually use, then compare the price after ShopBack, not the sticker price.

Is Summit One Vanderbilt worth the ticket price?

It is worth it if you want an art and mirror installation as well as a view. SUMMIT says it sits atop the tallest building in Midtown Manhattan and offers Ascent, which it calls the world's largest external all-glass elevator, at an added cost. If you only want the skyline, a single-deck ticket elsewhere may suit you better.

Is Top of the Rock or the Empire State Building better value?

It depends on the view you want. Top of the Rock is the observation deck at Rockefeller Center, north of the Empire State Building, so its skyline photos include the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building gives you the landmark itself and a 102nd floor option. Pick one deck, then book it through ShopBack US.

Are 9/11 Museum tickets worth booking in advance?

Yes. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum says the Museum requires advance ticket purchase, while the outdoor Memorial is free and open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It also offers free admission on the first Sunday of each month from 4 to 7 p.m. to people who live, work or study in the New York area, with ID.

How can I get cheap Broadway tickets?

Try TKTS by TDF, which sells same-day tickets and next-day matinees at up to 50% off from its Times Square and Lincoln Center booths, with an $8 per ticket service charge. If you need seats in advance, compare Tiqets, Ticketmaster and StubHub for the same date and seats, and go through ShopBack US before you pay.

How can I save on American Museum of Natural History and Met tickets?

Start on each museum's own admission page, because residents and students may see different options there. If you want a timed ticket or a guided tour, Tiqets lists an American Museum of Natural History entry ticket and a Met ticket with a guided tour; go through ShopBack US before you book.

How can I save on Bronx Zoo tickets?

Visit on a quieter day. The Bronx Zoo uses flex pricing, which it says lets you plan ahead and visit at a lower price at non-peak times, and children 2 and under go free. If you visit more than once a year, a membership gives free daytime admission for a year, according to the zoo.

What is the effective price of NYC attraction tickets after ShopBack?

The effective price is what you pay minus the cash ShopBack returns. The live rate is on each store's ShopBack page.

---

Related reads

Go through ShopBack before you book at: Viator · GetYourGuide · Tiqets

---

About this guide

Ferry fares and island rules come from the National Park Service's Statue of Liberty fees page. Observation deck ticket types come from the Empire State Building and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt websites. Museum hours and free admission programs come from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Broadway discount details come from TDF. Bronx Zoo details come from the zoo's tickets and visit pages. Prices, hours and programs change, so check each official page before you buy, and see the live rate on each store's ShopBack page.

Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Ticket prices, hours, free admission programs, cancellation terms and Cashback eligibility vary by attraction, seller and date and are subject to change. Check the official attraction website before you book. This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.