One World Observatory - ticket prices, my review and video

Our series of articles on the USA continues.

Next in line is the highest observation deck in New York, which I reached only on the fifth trip. I will tell you where and what to look there, what additional services are offered (and whether to agree), and most importantly, is it worth going up? I will share my impressions and compare with other observation platforms - Empire and Rockefeller.

A brief history and description of the observation deck at the World Trade Center

What do you need to know about the building itself?
World Trade Center 1 (World Trade Center) - the first tallest skyscraper in New York and the United States and the seventh in the world. The distance from the ground to the spire of the WTC is 541 meters, inside 104 floors. Just think, the building is half a kilometer high! Yes, yes, if you've seen Burj Khalifa in Dubai with its 300 additional meters, you won't be surprised, but still :)

Another New York giant is called Freedom Tower or Freedom Tower. It was built in 2014 next to the site where the destroyed twin towers once stood. By the way, they also bore the name of the WTC, so the number 1 is added to the current skyscraper.

An interesting fact that I did not know before writing this text: the spire does not just end exactly at 541 meters. Translated into the American system of measurements, this is 1776 feet, and this number, in turn, is the year of the adoption in the United States of the declaration of independence. Like this.

The observation deck of the World Trade Center is called the One World Observatory - it is completely closed and with a 360 ° view. It is located on two floors with a height of 415 and 417 meters, I will show it in detail in the photo and video below.

• The entrance ticket costs from $ 42, I bought online. It turned out to be cheaper than at the box office, and without queues.

Where is One World Observatory located? Working hours

The WTC or Freedom Tower is located in Lower Manhattan. And since it is very large, or rather, the largest in America, it is unlikely that you will be able to miss it - the spire can be seen from everywhere. A handy reference point, in fact.

Send letters to the address 285 Fulton St or get off at the metro station Fulton St / Cortland St / World Trade Center / Chamber St... Several lines intersect at one station, but each has its own stop name.

The opening hours of the World Trade Center Observation Deck are from 13:00 to 21:00. You can go inside until 20:10. In terms of time, the ascent and inspection takes about an hour and a half. You can faster, you can stay a little longer - no one drives you.

Now, in May, due to pandemic restrictions, the observation deck is open ONLY on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In June, Thursday will be added, and from July - Monday. In general, while the opening hours are a complete mess, so buy tickets online - the calendar is exactly synchronized with the available dates.

How to buy tickets to the WTC observation deck?

I booked tickets several days in advance as there were no vacant seats.

• I bought on GetYourGuide - this is the official ticket seller on a par with the observatory website (but it's more expensive there).

For adults, a ticket to the World Trade Center viewing ticket costs $ 42, for children from 6 to 12 years old - $ 35. Choose a convenient time for yourself and pay. The ticket arrives at the post office, you take a screenshot of the barcode on your phone and show it at the entrance. There is no need to print.

The questions that were spinning in my head, and for sure in yours.

• Well, I’m probably better off the old fashioned way, I’ll go to the box office for tickets ...

Note: if you take it on the spot at the box office, the price for the rise here and now WILL be $ 62! Either $ 43, but with a date for tomorrow / the day after tomorrow / or in general in a few days.

• We know this New York, he is like Peter in the weather! What happens if visibility is zero?

The lookout policy is this: be sure to arrive at the appointed time, even if it rains. The money will not be returned to you on the spot, but you will be given another ticket, valid for 14 days.

• Is there any entertainment?

From the additional entertainment upstairs, I saw a bar, photos processed through Photoshop, and special tablets for rent for $ 15, which, when hovering over the building, show its history and name. I didn't take any of this.

• Where else can I buy a ticket? What's next?

From the iconic places nearby - literally a hundred steps away - there is a shopping center and the Oculus metro station of unusual architecture. A lot of interesting things can be said about this structure, for example, that the construction was spent twice as much money than planned, and there were many scandals. But the text is not about that.
The 9/11 memorial is also located near the World Trade Center - a square with two pools on the site of the twin towers and a museum. We went to the museum, it is difficult emotionally, but very informative, I would recommend. Tickets start at $ 28.

My photos from the One World Observatory - what can you see from above?

This is how the WTC shopping center looks from the outside from The Oculus (I got off the subway). It's not easy to look up, the building is too tall. Although the Burj Khalifa is even more difficult, it is 828 meters high.

At the bottom there is a ticket office - as I said above, a ticket is much more expensive on the spot, it is easier to take at least a few days in advance.

Next, we pass the guards, bag scanners and take the elevator, inside which a cool visual representation awaits - how New York was built! Look at the video below, what is its ultimate feature, very cool :)

The observation deck occupies two floors - we take the elevator to the top one, from which, frankly, it's hard to see. Therefore, I advise you not to wait for anyone and immediately go downstairs, there will be photos and the views will be better.

We went down to the floor below - from here you can view the city at full 360 degrees! Here you can see the Statue of Liberty and the museum nearby - we swam there the day before the observation deck.

In fact, very high, try to see the cars and especially the people in the park (yes, they are almost invisible).

An excellent view of upper Manhattan and both sides of this island, you can see Empire, Rockefeller and The Edge - three other viewpoints in New York (I will mark you in the photo for convenience and tell you about them just below in the table).

On the other side you can see the Wall Street buildings, the 9/11 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge.

The inside of the World Trade Center looks like this.

Other lookouts in New York - which one is better?

You can always argue that the best lookout in New York is the Empire / Rockefeller / WTC, because "they show it in the movies", "the park is visible", "the highest." Or you can study the features - and decide for yourself which is better. Well, or give up on the observation points and see the city ... from a helicopter!