9/11 Ground Zero Insider Tour

<p>Hear firsthand accounts of the tragedy and New York’s resilience from a local with a personal connection to 9/11. Upgrade to visit the 9/11 Museum and the One World Observatory.</p>
Duration
1.5 hours
Meeting Point
<p>L'Arte del Gelato, 185 Greenwich Street, New York, NY, USA</p>
HighlightsGalleryItineraryReviewsMeeting PointFAQs
9/11 Ground Zero Insider Tour
HighlightsGalleryItineraryReviewsMeeting PointFAQs

Highlights

  • Hear firsthand accounts from your guide, a New Yorker with a personal connection to 9/11..
  • Feel the hope of Ground Zero as your guide inspires you with signs of its rebirth..
  • Stand in awe of the country’s largest man-made waterfalls in the footprints of the fallen Twin Towers..
  • Explore the interactive 9/11 Museum with our skip-the-line ticket upgrade..
  • Be dazzled by panoramic views of NYC with our Freedom Tower upgrade..

What you'll do

On the morning of September 11, 2001, a clear blue sky gave way to smoke, chaos, and unimaginable loss. Sirens echoed through Lower Manhattan. First responders rushed in. Thousands never came out. In the days and weeks that followed, New Yorkers turned to each other, offering support, searching for loved ones, and...

On the morning of September 11, 2001, a clear blue sky gave way to smoke, chaos, and unimaginable loss. Sirens echoed through Lower Manhattan. First responders rushed in. Thousands never came out. In the days and weeks that followed, New Yorkers turned to each other, offering support, searching for loved ones, and beginning the long road to healing.

Today, you’ll walk through the same streets with a local New Yorker who lived through that day. Our 90-minute Ground Zero tour offers a personal perspective on both the tragedy and the resilience born from it.

We’ll begin at the Oculus, a transit hub and shopping center that serves as a symbol of New York City’s strength and resilience in the aftermath of 9/11. From there, your guide will lead you to the 9/11 Memorial, where two reflecting pools now rest in the Twin Towers’ footprints. You’ll uncover the stories behind places like the Survivor Tree, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and more, each stop shaped by your guide’s lived experience.

You can also upgrade to see the 9/11 Museum, which we highly recommend pairing with your Ground Zero tour. This option lets you skip the line to save time. You can also add on a visit to the stunning One World Observatory atop Freedom Tower, the tallest skyscraper in America and a testament to the hope and resilience of New York after 9/11.

Itinerary

  • Oculus

    <p>The wing-shaped transit hub and shopping center that symbolizes renewal at Ground Zero</p>

  • FDNY Memorial Wall

    <p>Dedicated to the New York firefighters who gave their lives on September 11, 2001</p>

  • 9/11 Memorial

    <p>Featuring large pools built in the footprints of the original Twin Towers</p>

  • More Ground Zero sights

  • Optional upgrade: 9/11 Museum

    <p>A skip-the-line ticket to visit the collections of media, memorabilia, and more</p>

  • Optional upgrade: One World Observatory

    <p>The stunning 360-degree observation deck at Freedom Tower</p>

Testimonials

World Trade Center Tour

Megan was such a wonderful guide. An encyclopedia of knowledge and history of the site past and present. Very clear in all aspect of the tour and helpful at pointing out things to take note of. It was a very nice experience ahead of the museum tour.

Interesting Tour

The walking tour of the ground of the World Trade Center was incredible! Our guide, Paul, was so knowledgeable about the WTC building. His story about the Burger King being the center for communications was one I had never heard before. Later my sister and I went to the 9/11 Museum. It was so solemn. The photos of all of those who died that day was heartbreaking.

Tim Dowd was our guide

Our 9/11 tour was an unforgettable experience! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and respectful as he shared the history and personal stories surrounding that tragic day. The tour was both emotional and educational, giving us a deeper appreciation for the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of so many. It was a moving experience that we will never forget. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting New York City. A truly meaningful and memorable experience!

— Connie

Creative, Respectful, Informative

Meghan went above an beyond to make this tour interesting & informative while also respecting the different levels of emotions that this tour could bring. She would also be an excellent guide for children as well. She uses creative ways of holding attention

Respectful tour of 9/11 Memorial

Steve was an exceptional guide who shared personal stories from the heart. He was the perfect guide for this tour even though the topic is hard on him. The exhibits brought back many painful memories though good to never forget and to keep sharing the events with future generations. Views from the One World were amazing.

— Edwin

Great tour & experience

Alice was a great guide. She was careful to take the group through the events of 9/11 without being too graphic. The pace of the tour was nice with breaks to take pictures and ask questions. Lots of good stories as well.

Must include on New York itinerary

Very memorable experience and would highly recommend to anyone visiting New York. Meeting point instructions were clear and tour was interesting. Allow more than the suggested 45 minutes if you are also visiting the museum.

— Alison

Absolutely amazing tour with Jimmy!

Jimmy was our your guide. He was absolutely amazing! Would recommend his your to anyone. I'd definitely go on another of his tours!

— Elizabeth

You must go on this tour. Totally worth it!

We absolutely loved Jimmy. He was inquisitive funny at times interesting and very thorough. The stories he chose to share or meaningful and purposeful

This tour was awesome. I...

This tour was awesome. I learned so much. This tour gave some history of NYC as well as the building of the World Trade Center area. Kevin was a wonderful guide!

— Salllye

Awesome tour highly recommend

Excellent tour with really great info. Our tour guide Jorge had good stories and had a personal experience that he also shared. This is a walking 90 minute tour so be prepared with comfy shoes

Great tour experience

Our Ground Zero tour was very meaningful. Our guide Jimmy was informative, engaging and knowledgeable. I would recommend the tour, Jimmy and the 911 Museum to anyone who has not yet visited.

— Jane

More than a tour

Amazing tour! It made it so much more meaningful to hear about the personal experiences along the way. Completely exceeded my expectations.

— Laura

Highly recommended

Excellent tour, our tour guide Tim was exceptional. He even recommended a great pub that tied in to 9/11, something we would not have found on our own. Highly recommend!

— Marcia

Educational and entertaining!

The guide was fantastic-entertaining and knowledgeable- plus adding her own personal stories as well as bringing other’s stories into the mix made it that much more enjoyable. Great value

What's included

  • NYC guide with a personal connection to 9/11
  • Guided tour of Ground Zero sites
  • 9/11 Memorial guided visit
  • 9/11 Museum skip-the-line ticket (if you upgrade)
  • Views from the One World Observatory (if you upgrade)

Not included

  • Tips are not expected, but always appreciated.

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Hassle-free cancellation

<p>We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours before your tour start time. Cancellations within 24 hours aren’t eligible for refunds or rescheduling.</p>

Hassle-free cancellation

<p>We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours before your tour start time.</p>

  • Local experts

    Personal stories and insider travel tips

  • Top-rated

    Thousands of reviews averaging 4.9 stars

  • Worry-free booking

    Flexible scheduling and refunds

Meeting Point

<p>L'Arte del Gelato, 185 Greenwich Street, New York, NY, USA</p>

<p>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.</p>

Get directions

Your questions, answered

We cover less than a mile at a leisurely pace, and the walking route is fairly level.
Yes, our Ground Zero tour is appropriate for all ages. The subject matter is covered sensitively, and we’ve had many families enjoy our tours over the years.
This upgrade includes a skip-the-line ticket for a self-guided visit to the 9/11 Museum. Be sure to arrive during your timed entry window as the museum reserves the right to deny admission if you miss this. There’s a security checkpoint, and all large bags must be checked. You can stay as long as you like after entering.
This upgrade is self-guided and includes a ticket for access to the observatory at One World Trade Center (aka Freedom Tower), built after 9/11. OWO has amazing views by day and night as well as interesting exhibits.
Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.
Our tours run rain or shine, so please check the local forecast to plan. In rare cases when we have to cancel for extreme weather, we’ll offer you the chance to reschedule or give a full refund.
Yes, this tour, including the museum and observatory, is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.
Yes! This tour is available in Spanish, French, Italian, Mandarin, and Korean. If you’re interested in taking this tour in another language, please email us at info@exp1.com.
Tips are always appreciated but never expected. They’re a great way to tell your guide they did an awesome job and show your appreciation.
Yes! If you want to give the gift of New York (or any of our destinations) to someone else, you can purchase a tour gift card. Our gift cards are good for any of our tours, and they never expire.