NYC - Best times to visit these two places - Empire State Bldg & Statue of Liberty?

When is the best time to visit the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty during the day/night? I will be in NYC during the week. Is there a better day to visit or does it really matter? Please only answer if you have visited either of these. And how long does it take to get to the Statue of Liberty from Midtown Manhattan? And where is the best place to go to get there? I would appreciate directions with and w/o subways involved. Thanks.

The Empire State Building (ESB) hours are 8:00am to 2:00am 7 days per week and the last elevators go up at 1:15am so early in the morning (before 10:30am) would do the trick for you as most visitors to New York City have flights leaving very early in the morning and would be heading to the airport during that time. Crowds tend to gather at the ESB after 11:00am so it is best to try and reach there earlier.
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The Statue closes at 5:00pm so you have time to get there.

Have fun

In my experience; I think the best time to visit Statue of Liberty & Empire State Bldg...is during lunchtime. Say around noon-2:00pm. This way you'll avoid the crowd. side note: at times there are tour groups, field trips, tourist etc., that can throw a monkey wrench in your plan.
I think the best way to get around NYC is by subway. It's inexpensive & fast. You can get an all day pass for $7 or $8 bucks. If you're driving you'd have to worry about parking - which can be really costly...and confusion with NY's traffic. Have fun. NY is one of my favorite cities.

Is there a good time? Just kidding... mid-week, VERY early, or VERY late.... the Empire state building is great, but if the line is just too much for you, go to Rockefeller Plazza and do the "Top of the Rock" it's only a few stories shorter and there is never a line, plus it gives you a look at the Empire State building on the same level, and a GREAT view of central park.

Statue of Liberty, just get there early. In the winter, it's not that busy, because the wait and the ferry are all outside, as well as Liberty Island- not a lot of people actually get off onto the Island, they travel by on the Ferry and get off on Elis Island, which has nice grounds and it's all in doors. From Mid Town, it's maybe a 15 min taxi ride, probably about the same from the time square subway, but you do have to walk a few blocks.

Have fun- Dress warm, it's been chilly here lately

The last few posts already told you the hours the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are openend, so I'm just going to tell you how to get both of them.

From Empire State Building to the Statue of Liberty, you can take the downtown (southbound) "R" or "W" train from 34th Street-Hearld Square to Whitehall Street-South Ferry.

Once in South Ferry, walk through Battery Park and follow the directional signs to Castle Clinton. Buy you ticket at the ticket office at Castle Clinton and get on the next boat to the Statue of Liberty. You may have to go security screening first before boarding the boat, so try not to carry too many items with you.

The same trip can be done in reverse, just follow the direction in reverse.

I hope this information is very helpful. Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Native New Yorker

NYC is Great! I suggest you to go to the Rockefeller Center. It is really cool and fun to be in there, you would enjoy the shops, ice skating rink, museums, and the city itself. I also would suggest you to visit Time Square, and Broadway Theater. There are awesome areas and places in New York City. You will love it! Enjoy!