How to get to One World Observatory NYC

Located in the World Trade Center area (Downtown Manhattan), the One World Observatory rises near where the Twin Towers once stood, specifically at number 1 of the WTC.

When planning your visit, after buying your tickets to the One World Observatory, you will need to know how to get to this fantastic viewpoint in southern Manhattan. So that you can get there quickly and easily wherever you are, I've put together this guide to help you.

Walking around New York is a wonder. There is always a monument, a skyscraper, a store or a square that catches your eye. Plus, it's the cheapest way to get to and enjoy your One World ticket reservation!

Although it may seem that the distances in this city are too great and walking to the observation deck may cause you fatigue, in reality it won't be a chore as downtown is full of tourist attractions that will entertain you and make the walk fly by.

Walking distances from the key points of the city

Here's how far it is to One World Observatory from some of the most popular places in the Big Apple so you can decide whether you want to walk or find an alternative. It's worth it!

• Tribeca: it will take you only 8 minutes from this trendy downtown neighborhood.
• Battery Park will take you only 13 minutes to walk from this quiet park on the south side of Manhattan with great views of the Statue of Liberty.
• Wall Street: It will take you approximately 13 minutes to get there from New York's financial district. Ideal if you want to book the Wall Street tour afterwards.
• Chinatown: it will take you 22 minutes and on the way you can see Columbus Park, Thomas Paine Park, New York City Hall or City Hall Park. You will also get the urge to book the Chinatown tour.

If time is precious to you and you value speed, the New York subway is always a good choice for getting around the city.

The main lines that reach One World Observatory are:

How much does a subway ticket cost?

If you want to get to One World Observatory by subway you should know that the single ticket costs just over 2 €.

In case you are going to use public transport regularly to move around the Big Apple, my recommendation is to buy the MetroCard. It is a rechargeable card that you can use both on the bus and on the subway. To get it, you just have to go to any subway station where there are ticket vending machines.

And finally, I also advise you to read my guide about the New York subway where you will find useful tips to get the most out of this means of transport.

Traveling by bus to enjoy the entrance to One World is also a good idea if you prefer to save your energy for later to make other plans around the city. It is also practical and economical, perfect for travelers on a tight budget, as you can reserve the budget for tickets to One World Observatory and, at the same time, not give up comfort.

If you finally decide to go to One World Observatory by bus, my advice is to be patient because traffic in New York can sometimes be chaotic. That is why I recommend that you leave with enough time to get to the observatory in case there is a traffic jam that keeps the bus stopped for a few minutes during the trip.

Recommended lines

The lines that have stops near the Empire State Building are:

You can check schedules and fares on the official New York public transportation website.

Although most tourists usually opt for the subway and bus network to move around New York, we should not completely rule out the possibility of taking a cab or an Uber to make certain routes on some occasions, as is the case of moving to enjoy the reservation of your ticket to One World.

By cab

Cabs are a common sight in New York and are easily identified by their unmistakable yellow color.

Contrary to what it may seem, cab fares are not usually expensive for a city like this and the cost of a standard Manhattan taxi ride is around $ 10 (9.50 €), to which must be added a tip of between 10% and 15% (not mandatory but recommended).

Estimated cab cost from key points in the city

By Uber or Lyft

If you are thinking about a door-to-door service to go and enjoy your ticket to One World that is also comfortable, it is best to use Uber or Lyft.

Just download the app on your mobile, enter the address of origin and destination and it will automatically calculate the price, the route, the time it will take to pick you up. The application will indicate the license plate number of the car so you can recognize the vehicle without any problems.

As for the price, it is usually cheaper than cabs in New York but depending on demand the cost can skyrocket. If you see that it is too high, wait a little and check the rates again on the APP. In this type of services it is not mandatory to leave a tip but if you wish you can do it through the application.

Isabel's Traveler Tip

If you are traveling to New York as a couple or alone, you may be interested in using Lyft Share or UberPOOL, modalities that allow you to share the trip with other passengers.

Another option you can consider, once you have booked your ticket to One World, is the tourist bus if you have a ticket. You can hop on and off as many times as you like during the tour, making it a convenient way to get around the city while comfortably seated and seeing many of New York's sights.

So don't hesitate to use it as a means of transportation as well! The Big Bus Red Route covers downtown New York and tourist attractions such as Battery Park or Wall Street Bull. Walking to the WTC observation deck from these places will only take you a few minutes and in no time you will be contemplating the Big Apple skyline.

You can learn more about this option in the post The best tourist buses in New York.

New York is a city in constant innovation. Also when it comes to transportation methods. For some years now, the Big Apple has been welcoming new ways of getting around, such as public bikes.

One of the companies that provides this service in New York is Citi Bike, so if you do not want to suffer the New York traffic and you like to pedal to get from one place to another, my advice is that when you book your ticket to One World, take a look at the app. Both tourists and residents can use them!

When you download Citi Bike on your cell phone you will see that its operation is very simple. The app will geolocate you on the city map and suggest the nearest bike station to your location so you can rent one. It's that easy!

How much does it cost to rent a public bike?

The price is about $3.50/trip (about €3.30), but if you plan to rent the bike for use as transportation throughout the day, then the trip costs about $15 (about €14.20).

Note that children under the age of 16 are not allowed to use the service and that the loss of one of these bikes could cost you $1,200.

Is it safe to ride a bike in New York City?

Yes, in Manhattan and the rest of the city there are plenty of bike lanes so as long as you respect the rules of the road and pay attention to what is going on around you, you shouldn't have any problems.