A must-see attraction when you are in NYC. I would...

A must-see attraction when you are in NYC. I would say, give this place (entire trip including Ellis Island) at least 4-5 hours from your travel day. In peak tourist season, you'll have long lines to hop onto the ferry. Once on the Liberty Island, you can walk on a circular path around the statue and enjoy beautiful views of the statue and of lower Manhattan. You can go up the statue as well or up to its base, but I find this unnecessary, and you probably won't be able to see anything else during the day. There is a restaurant on the island where you get off the ferry, so you can have a quick snack / meal and relax. I would spend around 1.5-2 hours on this island and around 30-60 minutes on Ellis Island. Give the ferry ride around 20 minutes each way, so a total of 40-45 minutes, and give the ferry lines another 45-120 minutes (total wait time) depending upon the season. So, in peak season, be prepared to allocate to this at least 5 hours from your travel day, and in off season, at least 4 hours. Just so you know, you need to go to Battery Park in Lower Manhattan to take the ferry. And beware of fraudulent people at Battery Park trying to sell you VIP passes that would help you cut through the lines to the ferry. :) Go to an authorized booth or buy your tickets online (that's what I did) and just go straight to the ferry line. And start early! The trip is totally worth it!