One World Observatory.

One World Observatory is on top of One World Trade Center and the view is technically impressive. You’re at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. But everything about the experience feels corporate and manufactured. There’s a long buildup with multimedia presentations before you even get to the view. The observation area is all behind glass. And you’re so far downtown that the skyline view is mostly New Jersey and the harbor, which isn’t what most people picture when they think “NYC skyline.”

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are meaningful, powerful experiences that I think everyone should visit. But the observation deck on top? Save the $40. Take the Staten Island Ferry instead and use the change for a dollar slice.

The One World Observatory sits high atop the 102nd floor of the One World Trade Center, making it the highest indoor observation deck in New York City (1,268 feet above street level). The panoramic views of NYC from this vantage have a tendency to shrink the city’s monolithic skyscrapers in a unique way.

The elevator ride to the observation deck is an experience in itself. You’ll get to see a time-lapse of the development of lower Manhattan from pre-Colonial times to present day. Brace yourself from the views from the top, this observation deck has the best New York City views.

You’ll see Rockefeller Plaza Center, the glorious Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Hudson River and all 5 boroughs from this epic viewpoint. If you’re not terrified of heights, I suggest checking out the Sky Portal (glass floor overlooking the city streets 100 floors below).

Reaching an impressive height of 1,776 feet (this is not a coincidence, America declared independence in 1776), the One World Trade Center (sometimes called the Freedom Tower), is the tallest building in America and the sixth tallest building in the world.

Taking in the panoramic views from the One World Trade Center observation deck is one of the most popular things to do in the Financial District. If you’re in a celebratory mood you should visit One Dine, the 101st floor restaurant for a drinks.

Even if you don’t make it to the observatory, just marveling at this building from below is a great Financial District activity that should be on any first-timers list.

The monolithic One World Trade Center — also known as the Freedom Tower or One WTC — is the tallest building in the United States, the tallest in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh-tallest in the world. It rises to a symbolic 1,776 feet, a nod to the year the Declaration of Independence was signed.

Heading up to its 100th-floor viewpoint is an exhilarating experience; it’s one of the best observation decks in NYC. Their signature skypod elevator is enveloped in screens that play a time-lapse of the construction of New York City during your quick 47-second ascent.

Fun Facts About the One World Observatory

• More than 2 million people visit the One World Observatory every year.
  
• On the 100th floor, visitors can experience the Sky Portal, a 14-foot-wide circular disc embedded in the floor with a high-definition video feed showing real-time views of the streets below. It provides a unique perspective, giving the sensation of standing directly above the city.
  
• The elevators travel at 23 miles per hour (37 km/h), making them some of the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere.

What’s Visible from the One World Observatory?

Since the One World Observatory stands on the southern tip of Manhattan, the views of New York Harbor and Lower Manhattan are second to none. You’ll get clear views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, DUMBO, and New Jersey.

One World Observation Deck Prices

Tickets range from $40 to $75. Standard entry grants access to the observatory, but on the high end, you can get a guided tour, priority entry, and a discount at One Dine (the onsite restaurant).

Pros & Cons of the One World Trade Center Observation Deck

Pros.

• It’s the tallest indoor observation deck in NYC
• One Dine culinary experience (restaurant at the top)

Cons.

• Far away from the iconic buildings in Midtown
• No rooftop terrace