One World Trade Center (abbreviated as One WTC, 1 WTC or 1 World Trade Center) is the tallest building in New York City and was built just a few meters from the former Twin Towers destroyed by the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Like the Twin Towers, the height of One WTC has completely dominated the Manhattan skyline and has become a new symbol of New York City.

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The tower is built with security requirements in mind and to greatly facilitate the response of security forces in the event of an emergency. It stands on the edge of the Ground Zero area, the site of the original World Trade Center.

Height and points of interest

One World Trade Center measures exactly 1,776 feet, a figure that refers to the year the United States declared independence. Translated into the metric system, 1 WTC is 541.3 metres high. This makes the skyscraper the tallest building not only in the USA, but in the entire Western Hemisphere, and the 7th tallest building in the world.

The skyscraper has a total of 104 floors, 94 of which are above ground and 5 underground.

The mast is included in the total height as it is a fixed part of the building's structure. The highest floor in use is at 387 metres, which is comparable to the former Twin Towers.

The total weight of the tower is estimated at 310,000 tonnes and with a cost of over 4.2 billion it has become the most expensive skyscraper in the world.

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View and entrance fee

Lovers of the view will want to head to floors 100 to 102, where, 382 metres above the ground, is the One World Observatory, an enclosed observation deck around the entire perimeter of the building that provides 360-degree views of New York City and the surrounding area.

Prices are approximate and may be up to 4 usd higher at busy times.

If you book tickets online, you will pay an additional fee 3,81 usd.

	Weekdays	Weekends
Standard (sightseeing only)	42,46 usd	47,91 usd
Combination (extra fast-track + audio guide)	53,35 usd	64,24 usd
All-inclusive (extra voucher 15 usd to spend at the restaurant) (flexible arrival time)	64,24 usd	69,68 usd

Children and seniors tickets are approximately $2 to $4 cheaper.

• The lookout is only open daily from 10:00-20:00.
• Official website: oneworldobservatory.com

In addition to the views, you can also enjoy various interactive attractions on the OW Observatory floors or watch live coverage of the action on the street far below on 14 screens at the Sky Portal location.

You can also take advantage of the café, bar and upscale restaurant with one of the best views in the world. If you are considering visiting this restaurant, online table reservations are absolutely essential.

The SkyPod Elevator will take you to the view in 47 seconds.

Do I need to book tickets online?

No. Unlike other vantage points such as The Edge or Rockefeller Center, seating here is not limited even during sunset hours.

On-site prices are roughly 3 usd higher than if you book online more than 3 days in advance, but on the other hand you avoid the 3,81 usd online booking fee.

Is the view of 1WTC worth it?

If you're looking for the tallest buildings ever with a view as far away as possible, then a visit to 1WTC is not to be missed.

It offers the best views, especially of the harbor area with the Statue of Liberty, the confluence of the Hudson and East Rivers, and the southern tip of Manhattan. The logical downside is that you won't be able to see the full Manhattan skyline from the OWTC, since you're standing at its highest point.

If you're looking for a vantage point that won't let you miss the most beautiful skyscrapers in Manhattan, we'd definitely recommend Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center.

Architecture and history of the tower

After much controversy over the final design of the tower and funding issues, construction of One World Trade Center began in 2006 and was inaugurated on November 3, 2014.

David Childs became the chief architect, with Daniel Libeskind contributing to the character of the building in the early years, but was eventually removed due to unrealistic ideas.

In order for the tower to have a uniform all-glass shell throughout its height, it was necessary to address wind gusts, which would have required the windows to be considerably smaller. The building has a square plan, but it is rotated 45° upwards, roughly one third of the way up, which was a very elegant way of dealing with air circulation and therefore wind gusts.

This rotation of the building may also be a reference to the form of the two former square towers that were merged into one.

How to get to 1 WTC?

One WTC is located in Lower Manhattan and is easily accessible by subway, but you can also get around the attractions in this part of the city on foot.

One of these attractions is the nearest subway station connected to the Westfield Shopping Center with a very interesting architectural entrance. This entrance is combined into one giant WTC Transportation Hub, which connects these subway stations:

• WTC Cortlandt: red line 1
• Cortlandt St: yellow lines R, W
• Fulton St: red lines 2, 3, green lines 4, 5, blue lines A, C, brown lines J, Z
• World Trade Center: blue line E
• Chambers St: blue lines A, C
• Park Place: red lines 2, 3

In addition, the PATH train line from New Jersey has a terminus here.

Read our experience of travelling by subway in New York.

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