Does One World Observatory have the best views in New York? Quite possibly. If it’s pure altitude you covet, this platform – the highest in town – is likely the one for you.
The tower’s position right at the southern tip of Lower Manhattan also makes it a winner for views of landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and, well, pretty much everything else you’d care to spot in the Manhattan cityscape.
We’ve got the lowdown on what to expect from your visit with the New York Pass, including getting there, where to nab the best sky-high selfies, and how not to accidentally ride the elevator to the top twice. Like we did 🫠
Here's what we'll cover in this guide
- A bit about One World and why it's worth your time
- How to get there and how to get in
- What the experience includes
- Details on the facilities available
- Where to take the best pics
- Where to go next
Sounds right up my street, hit me with the deets…
One World Trade Center – also known to locals as the Freedom Tower – proudly and defiantly punctuates the swathe of Manhattan skyline once occupied by the O.G. Twin Towers.
At a total height of 1,776 feet (a neat reference to the signing of the Declaration of Independence), it’s the tallest building in New York and, indeed, the entire Western Hemisphere. Its observatory sits at 1,268 feet, way up on the 100th floor, promising nerve-jangling 360-degree bird’s-eye views of the iconic NYC cityscape, and beyond.
Ok, give me three good reasons why I should visit…
Ok, give me three good reasons why I should visit…
- It’s just about as high as you can get in NYC. One World Observatory tops out The Empire State Building’s platform by a few feet – in fact, the only way to get higher in NYC is by climbing to the top of 30 Hudson Yards (an extra three feet, fact fans) or boarding an aircraft.
- The views might just be the best in town. Tick off the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges, Empire State Building, the Chrysler, Central Park and New Jersey skyline in one fell swoop.
- It’s a New York icon. Built on the site of the original Twin Towers, its Lower Manhattan location also puts you right by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Chinatown eats, Ghostbusters HQ, Fraunces Tavern Museum, Wall Street and Battery Park ferries to Ellis Island and Lady Liberty.
How do I find it?
Being the tallest building in NYC makes the One World Trade Center pretty hard to miss. It’s right there on the corner of West and Vesey streets on Manhattan Island’s southwest tip. You’ll want the entrance on the West Street side.
Subway: ride the E line to World Trade Center station, line 1 WTC Cortlandt, lines 2 or 3 to Park Place, or lines N, R or W to Cortlandt Street. All are within a 5-minute stroll of the One World Observatory’s West Street entrance.
How do I get in with my New York Pass?
There’s no need to book your visit in advance. Just breeze straight on in and mosey over to the nearest ticket kiosk. You can scan your pass here and select a time slot to get your entry ticket. At busier times you might find you need to come back later, but it’s always worth checking directly with staff. Mid-morning and evening slots are often quietest, which usually mean you can get straight to the action without the wait. You’re welcome.
Once in, take the escalators to go downstairs and head through security and the first exhibits. Plan 45–60 minutes as a bare minimum, and longer if you’re stopping for food, drinks or photos.
Your New York Pass gets you access to the 100th-floor observatory and all those widescreen Big Apple views. It also bags you a discount on the Sightseer cocktail (or non-alcoholic equivalent) at One Dine, the observatory’s bar and restaurant. But that’s not all. Your New York Pass comes loaded with savings on access to more than 100 of the city’s premier tours, activities and attractions. Hello, Statue of Liberty, 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Madame Tussauds, Carnegie Hall and MoMA to name just a few.
What exactly will I see and do there?
What exactly will I see and do there?
It’s not just about the views at One World Observatory. Well ok, it is mostly about the views. But there’s also plenty more cool stuff to check out while you’re here. Your visit kicks off with a chance to ogle interactive exhibits and a digital rogues’ gallery of international visitors in the Global Welcome Center. There’s an exhibition covering off the building’s fairly epic construction story on the way to the SkyPod Elevator. Then there’s the elevator itself, which zips you from ground floor to 100th in 47 seconds flat – possibly the fastest you’ve traveled vertically in your life – yet still just about enough time for a swift in-flight movie about New York’s literal rise from bustling seaport to skyscraping space-age metropolis.
Before you reach the main event, step into the See Forever Theater, where music, motion and time-lapse photography combine to show you the city in a whole new light. And now, with anticipation at fever pitch, it’s time to step out into the New York cloudscape. You might really feel you can see forever from way up here, 1,268 feet over Manhattan, where the chance to take in 360-degree views from such a frankly dizzying height means it’s easy to pick out famous Big Apple landmarks. T
here’s Lady Liberty down there – look out for toy-sized ferries painting white lines across the water as they chug to and from the islands. And isn’t that the Empire State Building yonder? And the unmistakable stone arches of the Brooklyn Bridge? Heck, on a clear day, you can see nearly 45 miles. Ok, it’s not quite forever, but you should be able to pick out the hills in upstate New York on a crisp morning, plus parts of Connecticut and New Jersey. Helpful signs around the observatory will also help newbies get a handle on exactly what it is they’re looking at.
What other facilities are there?
- There’s a café up top serving coffee, gelato and light bites.
- ONE Dine is the One World Trade Center’s signature restaurant-with-a-view. Expect dishes as elevated as the vistas – burrata, tempura cauliflower and smoked pork belly linguine for the win.
- Pick up a One World Observatory souvenir in the gift shop, where branded goods run the gamut from mugs and sweatshirts to One World Trade Center snow globes and Swarovski crystal-studded See Forever bracelets.
Where can I get the best snaps?
It’s not always easy to get knockout snaps through glass walls from this height, so start by filling your Insta reels with simple posed selfies against the various backdrops available to you (i.e. the whole of New York City and beyond). One World is the only observation platform at the southern end of Manhattan Island, so be sure to capture some of those best-in-show shots of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, as well as the Staten Island ferry carving a wake through the bay. Visit in the morning for the best chance of crystal clear shots.
Later in the day, golden hour lends a romantic shimmer to the broad sweep of the Hudson, while darkening, purple-tinged skies show off the twinkling Manhattan skyline in all its classic ‘80s Athena-poster glory.
I’m done here, where should I go next?
I’m done here, where should I go next?
Once you’ve negotiated your way out – try not to accidentally ride the SkyPod Elevator back to the top like we did! – you’ll find yourself right in the heart of the Lower Manhattan action, within strolling distance of an embarrassment of attractions, several of which are included with your New York Pass. Here are just a few of the highlights…
- 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Chinatown walking tours
- The Brooklyn Bridge
- Wall Street
- Rockefeller Park and The Battery
Enjoyed this little slice of New York?
Continue to put your tolerance of heights to the test with our complete guides to Edge and the Empire State Building, packed with plenty of visitor tips and money-saving hacks.
With The New York Pass®, you can skip the stress and save big on One World Observatory tickets plus dozens of other must-see attractions, all with one easy-to-use pass.
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