Is One World Observatory Worth Visiting? Review & Guide

Last Updated on 4th December 2024

This guide about is One World Observatory worth visiting contains affiliate links and mentions of gifted and collaborative work; please see my disclaimer for more.

I first visited One World Observatory in 2016 (just one year after it opened) on my third visit to New York City and my first trip with Matt, and while I absolutely loved it at the time, in the years that followed, whenever I visited New York, I would opt for other observation decks as I thought that I much preferred the views from the Midtown observatories.

However, on my most recent visit to New York in October 2024, I thoroughly rekindled my love for this mightily impressive observation deck in downtown Manhattan, and I remembered just how much I adore the expansive views from the 102-floor observation deck of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere!

While it might not offer the same views as the four observation decks in Midtown Manhattan, the views from One World Observatory are incredible in their own right as they offer remarkable vistas of Downtown Manhattan and beyond. In my extensive review and guide below, I’m going to be sharing everything you need to know about visiting the One World New York Observatory!

Need help planning your trip to NYC? Check out my 230+ page Ultimate New York City Travel Guide ebook which is full of information to help you plan your perfect trip to New York! You can also join my FREE NYC Facebook Group for more tips and advice!

NEW YORK TRAVEL ESSENTIALS
Flights: Skyscanner / Kiwi.com / Expedia / Trip.com
Accommodation: Booking.com / Hostelworld / Agoda
Transport: Flixbus / Rentalcars.com / Big Bus Tours
Activities/tours: Get Your Guide / Viator / Klook / Go City
Travel insurance: SafetyWing
Hotel reviews: TripAdvisor
My packing essentials: Amazon
Luggage storage: Radical Storage
New York Passes: Go City Pass / New York CityPASS
USA eSIM: Airalo

Want to visit more than one observation deck in NYC? Check out my other guides!

Is One World Observatory worth visiting?

If you’ve found this guide purely because you want to know whether One World Observatory is worth visiting, then I would say that it is 100% worth it!

From the three observation deck levels (100th, 101st and 102nd floors), you’ll enjoy expansive 360° vistas for up to 45 miles in every direction! While you might not see the likes of Central Park and Midtown Manhattan up close and personal, the views you enjoy of Downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, and beyond are absolutely unparalleled, and I would 100% vouch for visiting One World Observatory on your next trip to NYC!

Book tickets for One World Observatory here!

What to expect when visiting the One World Trade Center Observation Deck

The observation deck is located at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere; One World Trade Center. The observatory spans across three levels; the 100th, 101st and 102nd floors and covers an impressive 125,000 square feet.

Upon arriving at the One World Trade Center, you’ll enter the observatory via the main entrance at West Plaza on West Street; look for the giant globe sculpture and the entrance is just behind it!

We had pre-booked tickets for One World Observatory, so we simply showed our tickets to the security guard on the door and headed straight inside. Our ticketed entry time was 11 AM on a Thursday morning in October 2024 and I couldn’t get over just how quiet it was!

When it comes to observation decks in New York City, I’m so used to crazy long queues (usually because I visit at the height of the Christmas season or in the middle of summer!), so it was so refreshing to not have to queue for ages!

Once we’d scanned our tickets and gone through security (you will have to go through metal detectors and place small bags on a tray for security clearance), we headed through the immersive exhibition that lines the walls on the way to the elevators (I won’t share too many details about this as it’s cool to see/experience for yourself).

The SkyPod Elevators are an entire experience themselves, and while I don’t want to give too much away to spoil the experience for you, I will say that it’s such a fascinating elevator ride and probably my favourite out of all five NYC observation decks!

In just 47 seconds, we arrived at the 102nd floor of the building where we proceeded to collect our interactive tablet/iPad that you can use for the duration of your visit to highlight iconic landmarks around the city.

From there, we headed down the escalators to the 101st floor where the observatory viewing level officially begins (there are obviously huge windows on the 102nd floor, but you’re encouraged to head straight down to the next level).

As you can see from the pictures above, there are obviously a fair few people at the observation deck, but it was nowhere near as busy as I thought it would be (remember, our visit was in the morning in early October; if you’re visiting in December or during summer, it will be much busier!).

Unfortunately, the weather conditions weren’t the best as it was pretty dark and cloudy, but that didn’t affect visibility at all; we could still see for miles in every direction!

It’s hard to tell from pictures alone, but the views of the intricate streets of Downtown Manhattan from One World Observatory are absolutely fascinating! You can see so many buildings and streets so clearly, and it really is one of my favourite viewing points in New York City.

As well as the remarkable views that you get to enjoy from the observation deck, One World is also home to several dining facilities, including the ONE Dine restaurant which offers an excellent à la carte menu (tickets to the observatory are required to dine at the restaurant) and the Illy Caffè where you can enjoy an assortment of hot and cold drinks and snacks.

There is also the ONE Mix bar where you can enjoy refreshing cocktails, beer and spirits 101 stories in the air!

One World Observatory tickets

There are several ticket types you can purchase to visit One World Observatory, including:

Standard general admission – from $35
Skip-the-line – from $47
Combination upgraded ticket – from $54
All-Inclusive ticket – from $64
VIP Tour – from $74

Where to buy One World Observatory tickets

Below, you can find all the places where you can find the best and cheapest tickets to One World Observatory!

Prices vary and are subject to change, so I would suggest checking ticket prices across all websites to find the best deal for you!

One World Observatory facts

The One World Trade Center building opened in 2014 and the Observatory opened in 2015.
At 104 stories (1776 feet high), it’s the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
The building is located just next to the 9/11 Memorial Pools, where the Twin Towers once stood.
Aside from the observation deck, One World Trade is primarily a commercial office building.
You can enjoy 360° views for up to 45 miles from the observation deck.
Over 10 million people have visited One World Observatory so far.
The SkyPod Elevators climb 102 stories in just 47 seconds.
It is considered to be the safest office building in the world, built with high-strength concrete and over 40,000 metric tons of structural steel.
There are a total of 73 elevators inside One World Trade, many of which can travel up to 23 miles per hour.

One World Trade Center Observatory FAQs

New York One World Observatory opening times

One World Observatory NYC is open daily from 9 AM to 9 PM (hours may vary seasonally so check the One World website for the most up-to-date opening hours).

The observation deck is also open on all major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. Opening times may vary on holidays, so double-check timings in advance.

Buy tickets for One World Observatory here!

How tall is the One World Trade Center?

The total height of the One World Trade Center tower is 1,776 feet (541 metres); a deliberate height that was intended to signify the year that the Declaration of Independence was approved.

How long should you spend at One World Observatory?

There is no time limit for how long you can spend at One World Observation Deck, so in theory, you can spend as long as you want. I would personally recommend allowing for 60-90 minutes to enjoy the whole experience, including getting to the top of the observatory, admiring the views and taking pictures.

Get skip-the-line tickets on GYG!

Get tickets with the Go City Pass!

What can you see from One World Observatory?

Here are just some of the incredible highlights you can see from One World Observatory:

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge & George Washington Bridge
Governors Island
Downtown Manhattan, including the Financial District
The East River, Hudson River and the New York Harbor
Empire State Building, Edge/Hudson Yards, One Vanderbilt, Chrysler Building, Billionaire’s Row
Plus SO much more!

Are backpacks allowed at One World Trade Observatory?

Large luggage such as suitcases and backpacks are not permitted at One World NYC, but small backpacks, handbags and personal camera bags (not professional equipment) are permitted and subjected to security screening.

Can I bring food and drink to the observation deck?

According to the One World website, no outside food or drink is permitted at the observatory, but we had clear plastic water bottles and we were allowed to bring them up with us. There are also free water filling stations at the observation deck, so you can bring water bottles with you and refill them for free!

One World Observatory vs Empire State Building – which is better?

The Empire State Building is older and more iconic than the One World Trade Center, but OWO is more modern and much taller than the Empire State (almost 100 metres taller!), therefore, it’s difficult to say which is “better” because they’re both awesome in their own way!

If you’d prefer to see the highlights of Midtown Manhattan, I would argue that the Empire State Building is better, but if you want to see Downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn from a towering height, I would suggest visiting One World Observatory.

Better still; why not visit both observation decks and decide for yourself!

What is the best time of day to visit One World Observatory?

Many people argue that sunset is the best time to visit any of New York’s observation decks, and while I do agree that the views of the city at golden hour are pure magic, this is also the busiest and most expensive time to head up to any/all observatories.

My personal favourite time to visit One World Observatory is mid-morning. In October 2024, we visited the observation deck at 11 AM and it was so quiet!

We had tickets reserved in advance and we walked straight through and straight up the elevators where there were only around 30 or so people at the top!

Of course, if you’re visiting New York in the peak tourist seasons such as summer and December, you will likely find the observation deck to be much busier, but I would still suggest visiting around mid-morning to give you the best chance of it being quieter.

How long does the elevator ride take to the top of One World Observatory?

One World’s SkyPod Elevators climb 102 stories in just 47 seconds! You may experience your ears popping as a result of the heights you’ll climb in such a short space of time!

Do you need to buy tickets in advance for One World Observatory?

While it’s not essential to pre-book tickets online in advance for the Freedom Tower observation deck, as it is possible to purchase tickets at the Box Office at One World Trade Center, on the corner of West and Vesey Streets, I would recommend booking tickets in advance so that you can guarantee entry to the observatory at your desired time/day.

Conclusion – is One World Observatory worth visiting?

I’m sure you can tell by now that I think One World Observatory New York is 100% worth visiting. While I do still love to see Midtown Manhattan up close from the likes of the Top of the Rock and Summit One Vanderbilt, I think the views from One World are completely unique and utterly amazing!

Related posts:

Pin for later – Is One World Observatory worth visiting?

Have you visited the One World Trade observation deck? Do you think you might add it to your New York itinerary after reading my One World Observatory review? Let me know in the comments or in my New York Facebook Group!