September 11, 2001 was undoubtedly one of the worst tragedies to take place in New York City, and its effects were felt all over the world.
Because of this, many visitors coming to NYC want to include a stop at the World Trade Center.
But I have had many tour guests over the years tell me that they didn’t really know what to expect, or how long to plan, or even what to do when they were there.
I completely get that. If you haven’t been to the WTC, it can be hard to know how to plan for it.
In this post, I, Katherine, a tour guide with Tours by Foot NYC, will cover the National September 11th Memorial, also known as the 9/11 Memorial.
And in this video below, you can join me for a video tour of the memorial.
I will provide a map of the memorial and the related sights in the World Trade Center as a whole.
You can absolutely just make it a short trip to check out the pools.
However, I think you will have a better experience if you allow time for some of the other sites in the immediate area, and have a little bit more information on what it is you are seeing.
We also cover hours, security, and other planning tips, including tours you can take, and nearby attractions you may want to see.
SELF-GUIDED TOUR OF THE 9/11 MEMORIAL AND WORLD TRADE CENTER
The 9/11 Memorial is inside a large public plaza and can be easily accessed from the surrounding streets.
It is open to the public daily from 8am - 8pm. There is no cost to visit this area.
The plaza is sparse and serene. It is something I always find striking.
I have walked through the plaza so many times, and I am always taken aback at how calm and quiet it feels - especially compared to the bustle of the rest of Lower Manhattan.
The openness of the space helps emphasize the focal point of the Memorial which is the Reflecting Pools.
You could also download a more extensive version of this tour as a GPS-enabled audio tour, that was researched, written and recorded by me.
Click on the map for a larger interactive version
Zuccotti Park
Prior to September 11th, 2001, this park was named Liberty Plaza Park (not to be confused with the new Liberty Park in the memorial).
Our self-guided tour begins at Zuccotti Park.
This was a popular area for workers from the World Trade Center to sit and have lunch or just relax.
If you visit on a weekday during lunch hours, you will find that it is once again.
(My favorite Lower Manhattan falafel cart is in this park).
The park was damaged by debris from the fallen office towers and was subsequently used as a staging area for the recovery efforts.
Later, it became a place for ceremonies commemorating the events of 9/11 as well as dedications of statues and sculptures.
In the northwest corner (closest to WTC) there used to sit a very famous sculpture.
“Double Check” depicted a typical 80’s businessman who would have worked in this area, checking the contents of the briefcase.
I have always loved this guy- he seems so incredibly lifelike.
It’s a nice contrast to the otherwise mostly abstract sculpture art in this area.
I have actually seen people do a double-take when they realize he isn’t real. Don’t worry- he isn’t gone for good.
In 2018, he was moved just a bit- to the northwest corner of Broadway and Liberty Streets.
Double Check also became a powerful symbol after 9/11.
Despite the destruction around him, he would survive, a seeming metaphor for the people of NYC and the country.
On a side note, Zuccotti Park would later serve as the center of the Occupy Wall Street protests in 2011.
If you are standing on the west side of Zuccotti Park, you will see a Burger King across the street.
Cross over that direction to begin walking to the WTC down Liberty Street.
That Burger King actually served as a temporary headquarters for the NYPD during 9/11 rescue efforts!
If you stay on the same side of Liberty Street as the BK while you walk, take a left when you reach the next corner (Greenwich Street.)
The FDNY Memorial Wall
Located on Greenwich Street at the corner of Liberty Street, just southeast of the 9/11 Memorial hangs the FDNY Memorial Wall by artist Joe Petrovics.
This 7000-pound (3200 kg) bronze wall is attached to the wall of Engine and Ladder Company 10, the local fire station.
It is a memorial to the 343 active NYC firefighters who lost their lives on September 11th, 2001 + 1 local attorney who was a volunteer firefighter outside of the city.
The 56-foot (17 m) long bas-relief sculpture depicts the World Trade Center towers in flames and scenes of firefighters executing their duties.
For more information on the memorial, please visit http://www.fdnytenhouse.com/.
Listen to firefighter Lt. Mickey Kross tell his story of surviving the tower collapse (audio).
From where you are at Greenwick Street, you will see St. Nicholas Church across the street, as well at the steps to enter LIberty Park.
Inside Liberty Park, you will find the next couple of sites, as well as one of the best vantage points to take a photo of the World Trade Center.
The Sphere
Standing 25’ (8m) tall and comprised of 52 pieces of bronze, weighing 45k lbs (21k kgs), set on a base originally designed to rotate once every 24 hours, the Sphere is certainly an eye-catching sculpture.
Designed by German artist Fritz Koenig to represent world peace through world trade, the Sphere was originally installed in a plaza between the two World Trade Center towers.
Considering its location at Ground Zero during the time of the terrorist attacks of 2001, it survived the devastation battered and bruised but standing.
It was moved several times as the Trade Center was rebuilt, but eventually found its way back home.
Today, with its eternal flame, it stands as a memorial to the lives lost on that fateful day.
Koenig at first resisted the idea of turning the sculpture into a memorial but later had a change of heart, stating “It was a sculpture, now it’s a monument... it now has a different beauty, one I could never imagine.
It has its own life - different from the one I gave to it.”
I am personally so glad that he had this change of heart.
I remember the undamaged sculpture from when I was a kid, and then seeing the damaged sphere in its various locations after 9/11.
One of the things I love the most about my city is its resilience.
Every time I walk through here now and get to see this sculpture, I am reminded of that.
If you look off to the north, you can see the new buildings of the WTC and the Memorial Pools.
In Liberty Park, you will also find a large sculpture of a man on a horse.
America's Response Monument
Popularly known as the Horse Soldier Statue, this monument stands on the west end of Liberty Park.
Officially titled America's Response Monument, and subtitled "De Oppresso Libor" (liberate from oppressor), this 18-foot (5.5 m) tall commemorates Task Force Dagger of the Green Berets, U.S. Army Special Forces.
They were the vanguard of the American military forces to enter Afghanistan to target Taliban forces just weeks following the 911 attacks.
Due to the difficult terrain where they started, U.S. soldiers were required to operate on horseback.
The statue commemorates all of those beyond first responders who answered the call of duty.
When you are finished seeing Liberty Park, you can go back down the stairs and across to the plaza with the Memorial Pools.
The Waterfalls and Reflecting Pools
These 2 enormous pools with cascading waterfalls, were designed by architect Michael Arad, and titled "Reflecting Absence".
They are set at Ground Zero in the exact footprints of the original North and South World Trade Center Towers, which were destroyed on September 11, 2001.
At 1 acre (4000 m2) in surface area and 32 feet (10 m) deep, these are the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.
The pools are one of the most moving memorials in the world.
These pools represent the void left in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks, both with the loss of life as well as in the soul of the city and the country.
The pools have a pretty simple design, but one that I find myself moved by every time I see them.
I recommend visiting at twilight or night to see the pools illuminated - it is a very different experience.
The 911 Memorial honors those who died on 9/11, including those who perished at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon in Washington D.C., and the victims of hijacked Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania.
Also included are the oft-forgotten six victims of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The victims' names are inscribed around the bronze edges of the pools.
Instead of being arranged alphabetically, the names are organized by “meaningful adjacencies."
Names are grouped together based on their relationships with other victims, such as co-workers, family members, friends, and even those who commuted together.
I actually find this detail to be one of the most moving things about the memorial design.
As with the voids represented by the pools and waterfalls, the names are carved out rather than raised to represent loss.
To find specific names, you can access kiosks in the plaza or download an official 911 Memorial app.
When you are at the pools, you may notice small white roses.
These roses are placed by 911 Memorial staff members at the names of victims who would have celebrated their birthdays today.
One particularly sad statistic is that 13 victims died on their birthday, September 11th.
I think it is one of the things that reminds me of the sheer number of people lost that day.
I have never once been to the memorial without seeing any white roses.
Swamp White Oaks and The Survivor Tree
Throughout the memorial are several hundred swamp white oak trees.
These trees according to the 911 Memorial website, were chosen for their durability as well as their variety of heights and leaf colors.
However, there is one particular tree that stands out.
Among the rubble of the fallen towers, an 8-foot (2.5 m) Callery pear tree was found alive, but just barely.
Removed from the rubble, the tree was nursed back to health and replanted in the plaza.
It has since flourished and has grown to 30 feet in height.
The tree embodies the story of survival and resilience important to the history of the World Trade Center and 9/11.
It has also inspired a program called the 9/11 Memorial Seedling Program.
Communities affected by tragedies around the world are sent Callery Pear Tree seedlings as a symbol of strength and resilience.
Download a free Survivor Tree e-book on iTunes.
From the Survivor Tree, walk towards the glass atrium of the museum where you can view the Tridents.
The National September 11th Museum
Read more about the museum here.
Placed inside the Museum, but visible from the Memorial Plaza, are two 70-foot (21 m) high, 50-ton (45 mt) steel beams that were part of the base of the North Tower.
These beams, salvaged from the wreckage of the fallen towers, are known as “tridents” because of their three-pronged tops (from the God Neptune).
The Oculus
The Oculus, designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava, is a transportation hub that connects the New Jersey PATH Trains to the NYC Subway.
At 800,000 sq. ft (75,000 sq. m), it is the 3rd largest hub in the city and a rival of both Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station.
And, like those two stations, this structure also houses numerous retail shopping stores.
Originally envisioned as a smaller station, changes to the original plan brought into existence the structure that you see today, which according to Calatrava, was inspired by an image of a girl releasing a bird.
I will admit, I thought this thing was bizarre-looking at points during construction (I don’t think I was alone there).
But ever since its completion, I have found it to be one of the most stunning of the new WTC buildings.
The original plan for this location was to be an area that allowed the morning light of an early rising sun to shine down directly into the memorial pools at approximately the time the planes crashed into the old towers.
Read more about The Oculus here.
A couple of blocks north of The Oculus you will find St. Peter’s Church and the World Trade Center Cross.
The World Trade Center Cross
Just days after the towers' collapse, recovery workers discovered a 17 ft (5 m) tall intersecting beam among the wreckage of Ground Zero that unmistakably resembled a Christian cross.
This cross was installed here on the side of St. Peter's Church as a temporary holding spot before being transferred to the National September 11th Museum.
This transfer was not without controversy, as a national Atheists Association opposed the use of government funds to accommodate the transfer, but they lost.
The court ruled that the cross did not violate constitutional restrictions on church and state.
The current cross was installed in 2011 and was designed by Jon Krawczyk.
Its shine is intended to reflect the sky, crowds, and the emerging World Trade Center.
The new cross is filled with notes, letters, and other symbols of loss.
If you walk over to Broadway, you will find St. Paul’s Chapel.
St. Paul's Chapel
This is the only colonial-era house of worship still standing in New York City and it is also the oldest public building that has been in continuous use since it was built.
It served as an extension of Trinity Church located a few blocks south and included in this tour.
St. Paul's has a sacred and inspirational place in history.
George Washington prayed here after his presidential inauguration at the nearby Federal Hall in 1789.
St. Paul's also served as a place of comfort and solace for the rescue workers at the World Trade Center in the days following 9/11.
Cots were moved inside the church as rescue workers worked round the clock across the street.
Despite being located directly across the street from the Twin Towers, St. Paul's survived the tragic events of 9/11 without even a broken window.
The back of the chapel that faced the Towers was shielded by a huge sycamore tree that stood between the chapel and the collapsing buildings.
The tree caught large amounts of falling debris and was uprooted.
The tree's heroic roots have been memorialized by a two-ton bronze sculpture that stands in the courtyard of Trinity Church.
Spend some time inside, as they have small displays commemorating the heroes of September 11th.
Guided Walking Tours
JOIN OUR LOWER MANHATTAN + 9/11 MEMORIAL WALKING TOUR
Tours By Foot NYC leads daily walking tours, taking visitors to NYC through Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial.
In my decade-plus as a tour guide, I have taken many visitors to this area for the first time.
You can join our Lower Manhattan Walking Tour and add tickets for the 9/11 Museum and/or the Freedom Tower Observation Deck.
The tour visits the 9/11 Memorial as part of the 2 hour walking tour.
Entrance tickets to the 9/11 Museum and One World Observatory are an optional add on for immediately after our tour.
We also offer a self-guided audio tour of the memorial.
THE NATIONAL SEPTEMBER 11th MEMORIAL MUSEUM
Unlike the 911 Memorial, you must purchase tickets to enter the Museum.
Through interactive technology, archives, narratives, and a collection of artifacts, the Museum recounts the events of 9/11.
To see a preview of what your visit will be like, here is a virtual tour of the museum.
I think this museum is an activity where I find that people genuinely do not know what to expect. I didn’t either, the first time I visited.
I will say that I have never come across anyone who was not moved by their visit.
Hours: Daily from 9 am to 8 pm. The last entry time is at 7 pm.
Tickets: Tickets are "timed-entry" meaning you must select a specific date and time when you make your purchase. Tickets can be purchased up to three months in advance.
You can purchase tickets by clicking here.
Several tour companies combine a walking tour of the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero with tickets to the 9/11 Museum. Learn more.
TIP: Admission to the museum is included for free with the purchase of either the New York Pass, the Explorer Pass, or the CityPass booklet. Read our post comparing the different tourist attractions passes in NYC.
Prices: (Prices below do not reflect the $2 service fee per ticket)
- $28 | Adults
- $22 | Seniors (65 and over)
- $22 | Students (with valid ID)
- $20 | Young Adult (ages 13-17)
- $17 | Youth (Ages 7-12)
- Free Children (Under 6)
- $18 | U.S. Veterans
- Family members of 9/11 victims, 9/11 Rescue and Recovery Workers, and Museum Members receive free entry.
- More info and to book.
Free Mondays
Free admission will be available for all visitors every Monday, from 3:30 pm to 5 pm.
A limited number of advance tickets for these free Mondays will be available online, starting two weeks in advance of each Monday.
A limited number of tickets are available every Monday on a first-come, first-served basis.
Get more details on this cost-saving opportunity at our post, Free Admission 911 Museum.
Join us for our Monday World Trade Center and 911 Memorial Tour from 1 pm to 3 pm, after which you can pick up tickets for free entry.
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER AND OTHER WTC BUILDINGS
One World Trade Center, nicknamed the “Freedom Tower” is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere and, as of 2016, is the 6th tallest in the world.
It’s no coincidence that its height is 1,776 feet.
That number has great significance in American history as it was the year America declared its independence from Great Britain.
The Observatory on the 100th and 101st floors is open and is quite an amazing experience. For information on visiting click on this link: One World Observatory ("Freedom Tower").
Floors 1-19 are the base of the building with a 65-foot-high (20 meters) public lobby.
Rented office space begins on the 20th Floor and continues to the 64th Floor.
On Floor 65 is a sky lobby and then office floors resume on Floor 65 to Floor 90. Floors 91–99 and 103–104 are mechanical floors.
TIP: There is a restaurant on top of One WTC. You have to have a ticket to the observation deck in order to eat there, but it is pretty delicious. If you are looking for a nice occasion-type dinner, it is a great thing to consider. The views are amazing.
2 World Trade Center is - after 15 years - still not complete due to many delays in design. The currently agreed-upon design is a 90-story tower standing 1,270 feet tall encompassing 2.8 million square feet.
3 World Trade Center is 80 stories tall rising to 1,079 feet. It officially opened in 2018.
4 World Trade Center faces directly onto the World Trade Center Memorial Plaza.
Rising 977 feet, by Maki and Associates, the 72-story tower is intended to assume a quiet but dignified presence at the site.
7 World Trade Center was completed in 2006 and was the first tower rebuilt after the attacks.
Standing 741 feet and 52 stories tall it sits on the same site as the original 7 World Trade Center.
Whether to pay their respects or learn more about the event that changed this country, millions of people visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum each year.
Together they are the country's principal institution of remembrance honoring the victims and memorializing the tragedy of 9/11.
In addition to the memorial itself, there are several monuments and other notable locations nearby that make this one of the most popular sites in NYC.
This section will provide all the details you need to know what to expect, find the memorial, and choose the best time to visit.
Is it Free to Visit the 9/11 Memorial?
The 9/11 Memorial is free to enter. There are no tickets and you do not need to make a reservation.
The only entry cost is for the National September 11th Museum, located on the memorial grounds.
Visiting the 9/11 Memorial is one of the best free things to do in NYC.
How to Get Here
Use this map for specific directions to the 9/11 Memorial.
The easiest way to get here is via the subway. The following lines will get you within walking distance of the memorial:
By Subway:
• A, C, 1, 2, 3 to Chambers Street
• A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Fulton Street
• 2 or 3 trains to Park Place
• E train to World Trade Center
• R or 1 train to Rector Street
• R train to Cortlandt Street
Be sure to read our guides on navigating the subway and how to purchase a subway MetroCard.
Visitors who plan on using a hop-on-hop-off bus will be happy to know that most services offer stops very close to the 9/11 Memorial.
Alternatively, you can also take a public bus (lines M5, M20 & M22) to get here.
Best Times to Visit
The 9/11 Memorial is free to visit, so you won’t require timed tickets or wait in any lines.
One thing to keep in mind: the WTC is a large office complex. During the time just before or just after working hours, there will be more people rushing through.
You can come anytime during operational hours, with the exception of rare public events.
9/11 Memorial Plaza Hours
- 8 am - 8 pm
- 7 days a week
The 9/11 Memorial can get pretty crowded no matter when you come to see it, but there are times when it is easier to get a good look at the site.
If you’re trying to avoid the crowds, you may want to consider coming either as early or late as possible.
Many visitors recommend coming early in the morning, but honestly, crowds never really lessen the experience of a visit.
Alternatively, you may also want to consider coming at night in order to see the memorial light up after dark.
In fact, the memorial is one of our top things to do at night in NYC.
Some visitors indicate that seeing the memorial from 7 pm - 8 pm can be a completely different experience.
Even if a crowd does gather to see the landmark at night, chances are it won’t be too difficult to manage.
The plaza is very open and spacious. You should really be fine to visit any time/day that works best for you!
Additionally, visitors who choose to come on September 11th should keep in mind that the plaza will be closed until later in the day.
The morning hours are reserved for private remembrance events.
Once the sun goes down, two spotlights representing the Twin Towers will light up the night sky.
These lights can be seen up to 60 miles away, but it’s an entirely different experience to be there when this event takes place.
Check our guide below for more details about this activity.
What to Expect
No matter when you come to see the 9/11 Memorial, chances are that you’ll run into large crowds.
Thankfully, there is a lot of space in the area, so you shouldn’t have too much trouble seeing the monument.
Pay attention to signs asking you to not lean on certain things, and follow the instructions of the staff there.
If you need help finding anything, the plaza is very well staffed and you should always be able to find someone to help you.
How Much Time Do You Need?
Although a quick trip can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, some guests may want to set aside a little more time to experience the memorial.
There are also several additional monuments nearby that are directly related to the events of 9/11, so you may want to ensure that you have at least 1 hour to see everything.
This is the exact time it will take you to complete our audio walking tour of the memorial and surrounding area.
The 9/11 Museum is located right between the two monuments and you will require tickets for entry.
This location includes several exhibits covering the history before, during, and after the events of September 11th.
For more information, make sure to read our post about visiting the 9/11 Museum.
I was very surprised at the amount of time that was needed to really experience the museum on my first visit.
I had planned for about an hour and a half- I actually had dinner plans afterwards.
I ended up spending more than 3 hours there, and bailed on my dinner.
I would say budget at least 2-3 hours for this, or you may feel like you didn’t get to see all of it.
This probably goes without saying, but the museum visit is a pretty emotional experience.
I think that is important to factor in when you are planning what else you might do that day.
If you want to take things a step further, you should also consider visiting One World Trade Center.
Located right across the street from the 9/11 Memorial, this is one of the tallest buildings in the world and it has observation decks providing some of the best views in New York City.
Read our post about the Freedom Tower for more details.
Anyone who is considering a trip to the memorial, the museum, and the One World Observatory should set aside at least 5-6 hours for the entire trip.
You’ll also want to purchase tickets in advance to make sure that you can get in when you want and avoid having to wait in line.
If you’re planning on spending the day in this area, consider dropping into Brookfield Place to grab a bite to eat.
This shopping center has a huge food court with several different restaurants to choose from. I love Brookfield’s food options.
Just know - it is a massive office complex.
If you go during lunch hours, you will be in very long lines with the thousands of people who work in those buildings.
There are several options for guided tours and some include admission to the National September 11th Museum and/or One World Observatory as well.
Even if you can’t manage to book a trip with us, there are quite a few affordable options out there, including our anytime audio tour.
Every 9/11 Memorial tour on this list is highly rated and well-received by guests. Most tours are offered daily.
Although these excursions typically include some sensitive historical information, some families really enjoy the experience of visiting this important monument of American history.
Below is a handy calendar of tour availability.
Tours by Foot
We offer several tours as well as anytime GPS tours that include the 911 Memorial as part of the main focus of the tour.
We are one of the highest-rated tour companies in New York City. Read our reviews.
We offer an anytime GPS audio tour of the memorial recorded by one of our tour guides. Here is a sample of the tour.
We also offer a World Trade Center Tour, which focuses on the Memorial and runs Mondays at 1 pm.
We have 4 other tours that include the 911 Memorial and the World Trade Center as a stop on the tour. We have listed them, with the daily tours listed first.
- Lower Manhattan, SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown - briefly cover the Memorial. Runs daily at 10 am year-round with occasional afternoon availability.
- Lower Manhattan Tour - this tour briefly covers the Memorial and ends there. It runs Mondays and Fridays at 10 am year-round.
- 911 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Night Tour - see the Memorial lit up for a completely different perspective. Currently runs as a private tour only.
- All-in-One Downtown Manhattan - 6-hour tour that briefly covers the Memorial. Runs on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 am year-round with additional days during the summer months.
NEARBY RELATED SITES
The 9/11 Tribute Museum (permanently closed) at 120 Liberty Street offered visitors a historical timeline and honors the aftermath of rescue and recovery, and shares a personal memorial tribute from 9/11 families.
The Museum was founded by the September 11th Families Association and was not part of the 9/11 Memorial or the National September 11th Museum.
The Museum galleries allowed for an intimate look at the event through films, artifacts, and photos.
