If you’ve been to New York City, there’s a very good chance you visited the Statue of Liberty. It frequently makes the lists for anyone visiting New York. Even if you didn’t go to Liberty Island, chances are high that you catch a view of Lady Liberty from a cruise, atop one of the highest buildings, or just wandering around the Battery Park area.

Did you know that you can experience the Statue of Liberty in its exact form (but a different size) across the Atlantic Ocean? If you’re visiting Paris, it may surprise you to find a smaller version with a fraction of the crowd.

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Visiting the Statue of Liberty in Paris

This smaller model of the Statue of Liberty was given to the country in 1889 by the citizens of the United States, commemorating the French Revolution. It faces back toward New York City and the original (which is four times its size).

This replica is on an island of its own on the Île aux Cygnes. You can walk to it, but it may take a little while longer. However, because of its location, it’s in the opposite direction of the Eiffel Tower. That means it’s a bit of a hike from what most tourists are going to see. If you need a break from the crowds, this might be a nice alternative. Head in the opposite direction and cross the bridge to get down to the small platform area. At only a quarter of the size, it’s probably not as impressive. However, it’s the fact that you can see an exact replica in Paris that makes it so unique.

Alternatively, you can get a good view of it on one of the Seine river cruises. As you wind around to the very end (usually one of the points where the boat turns around), you’ll get a glimpse of Lady Liberty standing on her Parisian island. At night, this is truly a stunning view. She’s lit up by the park’s lights and also illuminated by the Eiffel Tower behind it.

Now that you’ve seen the smaller version, it’s time to see the main event. However, to do that, you need to head halfway around the world to see the other one (if you haven’t already!)

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Visiting the Statue of Liberty in New York City

This is the more iconic of the Statue of Liberties that you can visit. While the smaller version was a gift to the French, this large lady in New York City was gifted to the American people by France only a few years earlier. The Statue of Liberty has become a truly American symbol over the years. She’s also on many of the “must do” lists for visiting New York City.

As a result, it’s more popular and far more crowded. Want some tips on visiting? Check out my post on how to get tickets so you don’t get caught unprepared. Visiting Liberty Island requires a boat, with a fixed schedule. That translates to the need to plan for a visit the Statue of Liberty in New York City. That said, when you get there, there’s more to do. You can ascend the base or be one of the lucky few who gets to go up to the crown. Plus, there’s museum exhibits upon arrival and lots of ground to walk on.

Typically, if you visit the Statue of Liberty in New York, the chances are the next stop is Ellis Island. Together, they represent the influx of immigration into the United States. Even if you mainly go for Liberty Island, you also get fantastic views. There might not be an Eiffel Tower looming, but you get the New York City skyline, which is no slouch.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty in New York City is the more popular of the two visits, but it’s absolutely something unique and interesting to be able that you’ve visited two of the same statue, split a world apart.

If I had to pick which one is better, that’s a pretty easy choice. For me, that’s New York City. The sheer scale of it and what it represents makes it a much more engaging visit, but the one in Paris is still a novel sight with its own unique history. If you’re planning to be in Paris or New York, make the Statue of Liberty one of your stops so that you can decide for yourself!

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