One World Trade Center New York Observation Deck Guide

Visiting the One World Observatory, you'll see firsthand that New York doesn't give up. It's the observation deck of One World Trade Center, the tallest skyscraper in New York, built where the Twin Towers once stood.

One World Trade Center is part of the WTC complex, a long and symbolic project to rebuild ground zero after the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001.

Since it opened in 2014, it has become the new icon of the New York skyline. It's a massive skyscraper standing 1,776 feet tall across 102 floors, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the fourth tallest in the world.

It's remarkable how, two decades on, the WTC has healed its wounds and stands proud again.

How to get up to the One World Observatory

The One World Observatory «experience» –See Forever– promises to be more than just a viewing platform. The trip up to the 102nd floor is an immersion in the building's history and construction, starting at the Global Welcome Center once you've cleared security.

To get through security screening quickly, I'd recommend not bringing food or liquids. If you've been shopping, they'll let you through with small bags, though it's best to leave them behind to make your visit more comfortable.

Stories from the builders

After the welcome center, you'll head straight into a corridor lined with ultra high definition screens where the people who worked on the building's construction tell their stories.

The foundations of One World Trade Center

Next you'll get a close look at the building's foundations, set into Manhattan's granite bedrock, a way of showing just how solid the construction is.

Some might find it a bit Disneyland-ish, but it's a very American and very effective way of making it crystal clear, written in stone quite literally, how New York endures and reinvents itself. They can brag all they want here, because they've earned it.

The One World Observatory elevators

After the walk through the foundations, get ready to be wowed by the Sky Pod elevators: in under a minute you'll be on the 102nd floor.

It's not just the speed that impresses, it's the projection across all four elevator walls showing the evolution of Lower Manhattan from the 16th century to today. In 47 seconds a small village transforms into the city of skyscrapers right before your eyes.

Watch this video as a taste of the high definition immersive experience (if you get dizzy easily, close your eyes on the way up)

See Forever Theater

When you step out of the elevator, be patient, there's still one more stop: the See Forever Theater.

Thanks to cutting-edge technology, a hallway becomes the screening room for a short video about the city.

I don't want to spoil what happens next… Just get ready to be surprised, again.

Floor 101 of the One World Observatory

You're almost at the observation deck. First they'll offer to rent you a tablet with an app that helps you identify buildings and landmarks as you look out, and a little further on they'll try to take photos you can buy on the way out, just like at a theme park.

Now that you've been warned, be smart and move ahead to take the stairs down and claim your spot at one of the windows on the 100th floor, where the main observation deck is.

As you pass through the 102nd floor, if you're quick, you can get some good shots of the Brooklyn Bridge (they'll hurry you along, and we don't understand why they didn't use this floor as a viewing area too).

If you want a coffee or a light bite, you can grab one at the café on floor 101 (One Cafe). There's also a restaurant, but it's a lot pricier.

Main observatory: floor 100

Finally you'll reach the observatory on the 100th floor. If you come on a busy day, you'll have to fight for a spot at the narrow windows.

My advice is to go up with plenty of time and wait for people to start heading down. Nobody will rush you out, so wander over to the City Pulse and the Sky Portal until the crowd thins a little, right before the next group arrives (people come up every 15 minutes).

The deck has 360º views of Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. Far off in the distance you'll spot the Empire State. Remember you're at the southern tip of the island, so you won't see much of Midtown and even less of Uptown. That's why the other observation decks in New York are worth visiting too, since each one gives you a different perspective on the city.

Another downside of the One World Trade Center observation deck is that it's completely enclosed. The thick windows make it very hard to get good photos, and they also keep you from hearing the city or feeling the sea breeze.

Top of the Rock and the newer Edge deck at Hudson Yards are open-air. If you ask me, visit those too, they're different experiences.

Views of the 9/11 Memorial

Don't leave without looking for the pools of the 9/11 Memorial, built exactly where the Twin Towers stood. From up here you get a much better sense of the scale of the tragedy.

Right next to them you'll see the 9/11 Museum and Calatrava's Oculus, the new World Trade Center Hub, another piece of the WTC rebuilding project.

Leaving the observatory

There's no time limit on your visit, you can stay until closing if you like. When you decide to head down, you'll take the Sky Pod elevators again, with another farewell video on their LED screens.

By then it doesn't impress quite as much. The reality of New York seen from the sky has no virtual equivalent.

But that's not the end of it. As you exit the building you'll come out into one of the underground corridors connecting the whole World Trade Center (designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava). Take the chance to visit the Oculus, the heart of this structure.

The fade to white will calm you down after climbing to the top of New York, and find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap.

How to buy tickets

In high season the ticket lines get enormous, so it's well worth buying your tickets online. You'll save time because you'll skip the box office line.

That said, if you're really tight on time or you'd rather not wait in any line at all, there's the option of buying express tickets. With those you skip every line: box office, security screening, elevator access and the exit. They cost more, but they genuinely help when time is short.

Note that tickets are sold for a specific date and time. You should be there fifteen minutes early in the line for people with tickets in hand, or on your phone if you bought e-tickets.

Another way to save on the ticket price is to buy a tourist discount pass that includes the observatory (Sightseeing Pass, New York Pass or Go New York)

What if the weather means poor visibility?

If you bought your ticket in advance and your visit falls on a rainy day or one with poor visibility, you can head to the visitor services desk (guest services) and ask to change the date and time of your visit. There's no extra charge.

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Prices

Adults $45
Seniors 65+ $43.5
Ages 6 to 12 $39.2

Kids under 5 get in free

Hours

9:00am to 8:00pm
(last ticket sold at 7:15pm)

Open every day of the week

Address

One World Trade Center
285 Fulton Street

Getting there

The entrance to One World Observatory is on the northwest corner of the WTC site, between West Street and Vesey Street.

Subway

Lines A – C – J – Z – 2 – 3 – 4  – 5
Fulton Street/Broadway-Nassau station

Lines 2 – 3
Park Place station

Line E
World Trade Center station

Line R
Rector or Cortland Street station

Line 1
Rector Street station