One World Observatory Tickets

The view from the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere

Duration: 1 hour
Group size: 1- guests
Meeting Point: We meet inside the Oculus, a mall and transportation hub at Ground Zero. Your guide will be wearing an orange hat and standing by the L'Arte del Gelato stand on the main level.

Highlights Gallery Itinerary Plan Meeting Point FAQs

Highlights Gallery Itinerary Plan Meeting Point FAQs

Highlights

See New York from floors 100 to 102 of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere
Ride elevators that climb over 100 floors in under a minute, with a time-lapse of the city's history on the walls
Spot the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island across New York Harbor
Follow the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn and look west over the Hudson River to New Jersey
Look north up Manhattan to the Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline
Pair your visit with the 9/11 Memorial pools, right next door

New York from the top of One World Trade Center

One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, rising to a symbolic 1,776 feet, a nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. Its observatory occupies floors 100 to 102, and from up here the whole of New York Harbor opens out below you.

The visit starts before you reach the top. The elevators climb more than 100 floors in under a minute, and as they rise, their walls come alive with a time-lapse of Manhattan's growth, from open wooded shoreline to the dense skyline of today. It is a clever, and surprisingly moving, way to understand how the city you are about to see was built.

At the top, floor-to-ceiling windows wrap around the building. Look south to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Governors Island in the harbor; east across the Brooklyn Bridge to Brooklyn; west over the Hudson River to Jersey City and New Jersey; and north up the length of Manhattan to the Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline.

The observatory sits right beside the 9/11 Memorial, which makes it easy to pair your visit with time at the memorial pools and the surrounding World Trade Center site.

Plan your trip

Best time to go

Clear mornings are usually the quietest and offer crisp views of the harbor. Late afternoon and sunset are the most popular times, as the light turns gold over the Hudson and the city starts to glow. Weekday visits tend to be calmer than weekends.

How long to allow

Allow about an hour to 90 minutes for security, the elevator ride and time at the top. Add extra time if you plan to visit the 9/11 Memorial pools next door.

Arriving and security

Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your entry time. All visitors pass through airport-style security screening before the elevators, so keep your bag small and your ticket ready on your phone.

What to bring

A phone or camera with a charged battery, and sunglasses on bright days. The observatory is fully indoors, so you won't need an extra layer for the view, but leave large bags and luggage behind.

Opening hours

The observatory is typically open daily, with hours that change by season and for special events. Check current hours before you book your time slot.

Getting there

One World Trade Center is in Lower Manhattan. The World Trade Center transit hub, including the Oculus, connects to many subway lines and PATH trains from New Jersey, and the Chambers St and Fulton St stations are a short walk away.

What sets One World Observatory apart

The highest observation deck in New York, at the top of the Western Hemisphere's tallest building
Sweeping views over New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty, much closer to the water than any Midtown deck
An elevator ride that tells the story of the city as you climb
Floor-to-ceiling windows and a fully indoor, all-weather viewing experience
Right next to the 9/11 Memorial, the Oculus and the Hudson River waterfront

One World Trade Center rises over the 9/11 Memorial plaza

Pair your visit with the 9/11 Memorial

One World Trade Center stands on the same site as the 9/11 Memorial, so seeing both in one outing is easy. Many visitors walk the memorial plaza first, pausing at the two reflecting pools set in the footprints of the original Twin Towers, then head up to the observatory to see the rebuilt neighborhood from above.

From the top, the scale of the rebuilding becomes clear: the memorial pools, the white wings of the Oculus, and the new towers that now surround them. If you would like context for what you are seeing, a guided walk of the site beforehand adds real depth to the view.

Group of visitors posing near the waterfront with the Lower Manhattan skyline and One World Trade Center behind them.

Where to enter

The observatory entrance is at One World Trade Center on the West Street side of the building, near the corner of Vesey Street. Follow the One World Observatory signs to the ticketing and security area, and have your ticket ready on your phone. Please arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your entry time.

One World Observatory FAQs

The observatory occupies floors 100 to 102 of One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at 1,776 feet.

Yes. On a clear day the Statue of Liberty is easy to spot to the south in New York Harbor, along with Ellis Island and Governors Island.

The elevators climb more than 100 floors in under a minute, showing a time-lapse of New York's development on their walls as you rise.

Most visitors spend about an hour to 90 minutes including security, the elevator ride and time at the top. You can stay as long as you like once you are up.

Yes. The viewing areas are fully enclosed with floor-to-ceiling windows, so the visit works year-round. Low cloud or fog can limit the view, though, so check the forecast before you go.

Sunset is the most popular time, and the light over the Hudson River is spectacular. For a quieter visit and crisp harbor views, try a clear weekday morning.

Yes, and it works well. The 9/11 Memorial is right next door, so you can walk the memorial plaza before or after your visit, or join a guided tour of the site first.

The observatory is reached by elevator and is designed to be accessible for visitors with limited mobility. If you need assistance, speak to a member of staff when you arrive.