911 ground zero tours

5 of the Best Ground Zero & 9/11 Memorial Tours

A solemn tour of the harrowing Ground Zero site is an essential way to pay your respects to those who tragically lost their lives on 9/11.

(Photo: Viator.com)

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a deeply moving and fitting tribute to the pain and suffering caused by the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. The site is located exactly where the Twin Towers once stood, the foundations now replaced with square reflecting pools amid clusters of swamp white oak trees and one Callery pear tree, known as the Survivor Tree; the only one to emerge from the rubble alive. Tours of the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero are often led by survivors, whose stories offer unparalleled insight and perspective.

NYC 9/11 Memorial & Museum Timed-Entry Ticket

The best low-cost way to explore Ground Zero is via this self-guided option, which includes a timed entry ticket to the 9/11 Museum. Here you can learn the story of that fateful day in depth alongside thousands of 9/11 artifacts ranged over three exhibitions, which include a timeline of events not just in New York, but at the Pentagon and on Flight 93, also. The Memorial Exhibition is a testament to the lives lost on that day, as well as those killed on February 26th, 1993 in that separate attack on the World Trade Center. From $18 per person.

Book at Getyourguide.com

(Photo: Getyourguide.com)

World Trade Center 911 and Ground Zero Walking Tour

If you’d prefer to explore Ground Zero with a local guide instead, there are a number of options available. There’s something far more profound and poignant about seeing this space through the eyes of those who lived through the events of 9/11. During this two-hour walk, you’ll discover the main sights, including the Reflecting Pools, One World Trade Center, and the Oculus, while hearing the stories of bravery and endurance. This tour runs Weds to Mon throughout the year. From $35 per person.

Book at Viator.com

Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour

This walking tour is all about seeking the small landmarks around Ground Zero that tell the biggest stories. You’ll learn about the heroics of the emergency services at the Firefighter’s 9/11 Memorial and stop by St Paul’s Chapel, which was repurposed as a rescue center at the time. New Yorkers lead the tours and bring a passion and base of personal knowledge that would be missed by anybody who were to visit this site on their own. Tours run twice daily, usually at 10:30am and 1pm. From $39 per person.

Lower Manhattan Tour Wall Street & 9/11 Memorial

It’s possible to incorporate a visit to the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero into a broader walking tour of Lower Manhattan. This popular two-hour walking tour visits the 9/11 sites and Wall Street, exposing how this little region of the city played (and still plays) a significant role in world history. Other landmarks visited on this tour include the New York Stock Exchange, the Charging Bull and the final resting place of Alexander Hamilton at Trinity Church. This is a daily excursion and for $250, a private tour option is also available. From $39 per person.

9/11 Ground Zero Tour & Museum Preferred Access

If you are keen to experience Ground Zero as thoroughly as possible, then why not combine a guided walking tour of the 9/11 Memorial site with a timed entry ticket to the 9/11 Memorial Museum? Learn about lesser known facets of the rescue operation, for example Operation Aegis, in which 500,000 people were evacuated from Lower Manhattan by boat. Then skip the museum’s queues to explore the three exhibitions and the Foundation Hall, where the remaining column of the Twin Towers remains. From $79 per person.

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How To Visit Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Museum in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More

Carissa Chesanek Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Ground Zero and The National September 11 Memorial Museum are significant sites in New York City’s history. The historic landmarks honor those who died in the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. But there’s a lot to see and it can be confusing to decide how to plan your trip to these must-see memorials. Here’s how to visit Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Museum, with information on tickets, hours, tours, and more

Pro Tip:  Bookmark this article as a helpful guide for your visit to Ground Zero, the 9/11 Memorial Museum. You can also use our helpful guide for planning your trip to New York City to see the best sites and eat tasty food.

Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorials: What We’ll Cover

Ground Zero is a large area that’s known as the area where the World Trade Center towers collapsed and many months of cleanup occurred. Here you’ll find the National September 11 Memorial Museum, the 9/11 Memorial Pools, the FDNY Memorial Wall, and the One World Trade Center where you can explore their observation deck at the top of the building. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

• One World Trade Center hours and tickets
• 9/11 Memorial hours and tickets
• 9/11 Memorial Museum hours and tickets
• What to see and do
• Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial tours
• Important facts and history

One World Trade Center: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

One World Trade Center remembers those who lost their lives in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It is not only the tallest building in the World Trade Center Complex but also in the nation. It’s an impressive sight to view from the outside at 1,776 feet high. However, the inside is also something to see. Here, you’ll find the Oculus subway, Westfield Shops, and restaurants.

While here, check out One World Observatory. It sits at the top of One World Trade Center boasting city views at 102 stories high. And you can try an interactive tour and food from the restaurant and bar.

Admission fee to One World Trade Center: There is no fee to enter the World Trade Center Westfield Shops or Oculus.

Hours: Westfield Shops at the Oculus are open daily, Monday-Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm. Sunday hours are from 11 am to 6 pm.

Admission fee to the One World Observatory: General admission starts at $44 per person.

Hours: The Observatory is currently open Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 9 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt, the E to World Trade Center, or the R W to Cortlandt. One World Trade Center will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Address: 50 Church Street, New York

9/11 Memorial: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

The 9/11 Memorial opened ten years after the September 11th terror attacks as a place for healing. You’ll find the Memorial Pools, Memorial Glade, and Survivor Tree here to visit quietly and reflect on their meaning for this special area.

Admission fee: There is no fee to visit the 9/11 Memorial.

Hours: The 9/11 Memorial is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt or the E to World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Address: 180 Greenwich Street, New York

Pro tip: If you are visiting on September 11th, you may be able to see the Tribute in Light ceremony. This art installation projects two beams of light high in the sky resembling the Twin Towers. And you don’t necessarily have to be at the memorial to see it. The installation can be viewed within a 60-mile radius in the Lower Manhattan area.

National September 11 Memorial Museum: Hours, Tickets, and Directions

The 9/11 Memorial Museum reflects on the terror attacks on September 11th and the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. The 110,000 square feet space hosts artifacts and images that tell personal stories of victims, rescue workers, and others impacted.

Admission Fee for the 9/11 Memorial Museum:

• Adults: $29 (A museum tour with admission is $49 per adult)
• Young adults (13-17): $23
• Youths (7-12 years old): $17
• Child (6 and Under): Free
• Seniors 65 and older and college students: $23
• Veterans: $18

Hours: The 9/11 Memorial Museum is open Thursday-Monday from 10 am – 5 pm.

Directions: Get here by subway taking the 1 to WTC Cortlandt or the E to World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial Museum will be less than a 5-minute walk from the subway station.

Pro Tip: The 9/11 Memorial Museum offers free admission on Mondays from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. If you’re looking to get free tickets you’ll need to plan ahead and register online here .

Not ready to book a tour? Check out how to spend 3 days in New York .

What To See and Do

There’s a lot to explore and visit around the 9/11 Memorials, and you don’t want to miss anything. Here are the important things to see at each location.

One World Trade Center

• Take a ride on the SkyPod elevator where you’ll experience the New York City skyline through video and illusion.
• One World Explorer interactive iPad guide that lets you learn the history of New York City’s most iconic buildings with a tap of a finger.

9/11 Memorial

• The two Memorial Pools are at the site of the former North and South Towers. Both have two of the largest man-made waterfalls that descend 50 feet. The name of the victims from both 1993 and 2001 (including Flight 93 and the Pentagon) are etched in the bronze wall found alongside the pools.
• The Memorial Glade represents rescue workers and others who were exposed to toxins after the attack and during the long months of cleanup.
• There is also the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks. It was later replanted at the Memorial and named the Survivor Tree.
• The bronze FDNY Memorial Wall, which honors the firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11. It is not in the Memorial but just a short two-minute walk away.

9/11 Memorial Museum

• The FDNY Ladder 3 firetruck   that was recovered from the World Trade Center site.
• The memorial exhibition featuring a floor-to-ceiling photo showcase of the victims.
• Artifacts from victims that help shed light on their lives before the bombings.

Ground Zero and 9/11 Memorial Tours

All the guided in-person tours are led by New Yorkers with a connection to 9/11. There are several tours to choose from , including the 90-minute All Access Ground Zero Tour with museum and One World Observatory entry for $109 per adult. Other options include only a guided tour of Ground Zero ($39 per adult), or a tour and entrance to either the museum or One World Observatory ($79 per adult).

There is also the official 9/11 Memorial Audio Guide app ($1.99) with a 40-minute tour discussing the attacks and Memorial design. The audio guide is narrated by a New Yorker who lost a family member on 9/11.

Facts About Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorials

Though many tourists might be familiar with the events of September 11th, some may not know these important facts about Ground Zero and the 9/11 museum, thanks to the official 9/11 Memorial website and History.com.

• Before the Twin Towers fell they were both over 1,300 feet in height. The North Tower was 1,368 feet high while the South Tower reached 1,362 feet.
• The first plane hit the first tower at 8:45 am at approximately the 80th floor, and the second plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 am at approximately the 60th floor.
• The buildings took roughly ten seconds to collapse to the ground bringing with them about 300,000 tons of steel.
• Almost 3,000 people died in the 9/11 attacks (2,983 total), and 343 of those were firefighters who are also honored at the FDNY Memorial Wall.
• To create the 9/11 Memorial there was an international competition that took place In 2003. The following year, architect Michael Arad and landscape architect Peter Walker were announced the winners with their design titled Reflecting Absence which featured the two pools and white oak trees we see today.
• The Memorial Pools are about the size of one acre each and took ten years to build. The National September 11 Museum opened its doors three years later and continues to be one of the most popular museums to visit in NYC.

Where to Stay in NYC

New York City is the center of the universe to those who adore this iconic city. Choose the best neighborhood to stay in as you plan your upcoming trip to the Big Apple.

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All-Access 9/11: Ground Zero Tour, Memorial and Museum, One World Observatory

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9/11 Memorial, Ground Zero Tour with Optional One World Observatory Ticket

9/11 Memorial & Ground Zero Private Tour Plus Optional 9/11 Museum Entry

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9/11 Ground Zero Tour - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Private Tour of the 9/11 Memorial

Tour of ground zero: discovery, reflection & inspiration.

The 9/11 Memorial Tour begins with a walking tour of the Financial District. Your guide will lead you along Wall Street and past iconic landmarks such as the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall, Trinity Church and much more. The tour then continues on to 9/11 Memorial honoring those lost at Ground Zero. This tour is specifically designed to highlight the most important and interesting aspects of Ground Zero and the history-rich area that immediately surrounds it. This tour will allow you to see first-hand the growth of this exciting part of lower Manhattan and feel the pulse of the activity in this area.

Please call (877)568-6877 should you have any questions..

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The Museum is currently open six days a week ( plus select Tuesdays ) with  health and safety measures in place  and ongoing operational changes to ensure a safe Museum experience. 

About the Museum

The 9/11 Memorial Museum invites visitors to learn about the history of the 9/11 attacks and 1993 World Trade Center bombing at the site where the Twin Towers once stood. The Museum’s dynamic blend of architecture, archaeology, and history creates an unforgettable encounter with the story of the attacks, their aftermath, and the people who experienced these events.

• Exhibitions

The Museum tells the story of 9/11 through artifacts, imagery, personal stories, and interactive technology. Learn about the core exhibitions, special exhibitions, and rotating displays in the Museum’s 110,000 square feet of space.

• The Collection

FDNY Ladder 3 firetruck recovered from the World Trade Center site after September 11, 2001. Collection 9/11 Memorial Museum, Courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The 9/11 Memorial Museum’s permanent collection is an unparalleled repository consisting of material evidence, primary testimony, and historical records of response to February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001, and the ongoing repercussions of these terrorist events.

• Programs and Events

The 9/11 Memorial Museum hosts a variety of programs and events that explore the attacks and their continuing impacts. Programs are tailored to different audiences and are offered onsite and online.

Museum Store

Keepsakes, books, and apparel purchased through our store help fund our mission.

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Private and Group Tours

Private tours.

Make your tour private. Your group. Your time. For next-day tours, contact us directly at 646-801-8692.

Large Group Tours

Perfect for schools, company team building, and more, we can host large groups with multiple guides, keeping the tour an intimate experience.

Tour Operators

Contact us for net rates:

“Michael Cohen was our private tour guide for the 9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero walking tour. Mike was an impressive guide, very well informed and so in tune with the respect and emotion this area deserves.” – Barbara

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