Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island

The Statue of Liberty (Liberty Enlightening the World, 1886) is not only New York's landmark — it is the symbol of the American idea itself. A gift from France to the United States, designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with an iron skeleton by Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel). 93 meters high, 204 tons, copper-clad and long oxidized to its characteristic green. The torch in her right hand and the tablet with the date of the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) in her left — symbols that millions of immigrants saw first when entering New York Harbor.

The visit is divided into three levels: The Pedestal Ticket (included in the ferry price) gets you onto the island and into the museum in the pedestal. The Pedestal Ticket ($24, book weeks in advance!) allows you to climb the pedestal with a panoramic view of the harbor. The Crown Ticket ($24, book months in advance!) allows you to climb 162 steps into the crown — a narrow, hot, unforgettable experience with a view through the small windows of the crown.

Ellis Island is on the way back and is included in the ferry ticket. Between 1892 and 1954, over 12 million immigrants passed through the immigration office here — about 40% of today's US Americans can trace their ancestry to someone who walked through these halls. The museum is moving: original luggage, photos, audio recordings, and the huge registration hall where the fate of entire families was decided in minutes.