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Oculus, New York, NY

Photo: Anthony Quintano, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicRainy-Day PickFree

Oculus

185 Greenwich St · New York, NY

Why you should go…

The Oculus is the main hall of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2016. White ribs interlock high above the floor and sweep outward like wings, a form Calatrava described as a bird being released from a child's hand. You can walk in from Church or Greenwich Street, browse the Westfield World Trade Center shops, and connect to PATH trains and subway lines. Each September 11 the skylight opens for 102 minutes.

  • #architecture
  • #world trade center
  • #shopping
  • #transit hub
  • #lower manhattan

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Oculus, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    9/11 Memorial & Museum

    $25–$50

    Twin reflecting pools and a profoundly moving museum honor the lives lost at the World Trade Center.

    Steps awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    One World Observatory

    $25–$50

    Ride to the top of the Western Hemisphere's tallest tower for 360-degree views from floors 100–102 of One World Trade Center.

    Steps awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Trinity Church

    Free

    Step inside an 1846 Gothic Revival church on Broadway and find Alexander Hamilton's grave in the churchyard outside.

    0.2 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Wall Street

    Free

    Walk the narrow street from Trinity Church past the New York Stock Exchange and Federal Hall to the East River.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

    $25–$50

    Military and space history museum aboard the retired aircraft carrier USS Intrepid on the Hudson River.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Historic

    Fraunces Tavern Museum

    Under $25

    Revolutionary War museum in Manhattan's oldest surviving building, where George Washington bid farewell to his officers in the Long Room in 1783.

    0.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums