Bucket list experience:
Credit Shutterstock.com/Kamil G. Polak
Not necessarily everyone’s cup of tea, but those who wish to visit the World Trade Centre memorial at Ground Zero will find an elegant tribute to the thousands who died in the September 11 terrorist attacks of 2001 and those who died in the WTC bombing in 1993. Victims’ names are carved onto ledges around the infinity pools that mark the places where the ‘Twin Towers’ stood. It’s poignant and incredibly moving.
There’s also an on-site museum that tells the story of the tragic events of that day through exhibits, media, artefacts and the harrowing personal narratives of victims and their families.
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Destination Guide >Take the R subway to Cortland Street. You don’t need tickets to wander around the memorial – it’s free and open to the public. You can download an audio guide app from the website with a 40-minute commentary about the events of 9/11, the victims of the attacks, and the design of the Memorial.
To tour the Memorial you must pre-book a pass in advance. Apply online for the free pass, which specifies the date and time of visit. A limited number of same-day passes are issued first-come-first-served at certain outlets but advance booking is best. Passes may be booked in one-hour time slots during opening hours, or you can wander around the edges at leisure.
You must however book tickets in advance on the website to visit the museum. You can also pay extra for a 60-minute, expert-led guided tour that explores the history, rebuilding, and behind-the-scenes design of the site; and recount the stories of those affected by the attacks.
The City Pass
The mobile-delivered City Pass gives you entry to 6 top New York attractions at a 40% discount: the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observatory, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, Ferry Access to Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or the Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
The memorial is open all year round, seven days a week. The museum is only open Thursday to Monday. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
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Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
New York City, New York, United States of America (USA)[1 miles]
Robert DeNiro’s eclectic sanctuary of individual character with old-school traditional luxury, in trendy Tribeca. Exquisite interiors and intimate atmosphere make it feel like a private club.
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New York City, New York, United States of America (USA)[1.8 miles]
Art-inspired, funky boutique hotel nicely tucked away but close to the best downtown suburbs – a proverbial ‘hidden gem’.
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New York City, New York, United States of America (USA)[1.9 miles]
The original loft hotel with searing-hot A-list credentials and superb luxury in fashionable, central SoHo. Perfect for shoppers, foodies and partiers who love being in the heart of the buzz.
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New York City, New York, United States of America (USA)[2.4 miles]
A stylish, distinctive and happening luxury boutique hotel in a pivotal location between downtown’s best neighbourhoods.
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Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
New York, United States of America (USA)
The ‘city that never sleeps’ is a 24/7 thrill of soaring skyscrapers, jaw-dropping architecture, dynamic culture and world-class art, dining and performing arts scenes.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
New York, United States of America (USA)[1.5 miles]
A superb, 30-minute (each way) scenic walk across a historic bridge to trendy Brooklyn, offering up killer views of the Manhattan skyline the whole way. Grab top-notch pizza and/or ice-cream halfway.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 90 minutes
New York, United States of America (USA)[1.6 miles]
Great value 1-3 hour sightseeing cruises around Manhattan, offering the chance to appreciate the city skyline and its key landmarks – including the Statue of Liberty – from the relative tranquillity of the Hudson River.
Best for ages: 4+ | £25 | 1-3 hours
New York, United States of America (USA)[3.7 miles]
The 151ft high, iconic statue that symbolises New York City and embodies American values of freedom and opportunity, and an evocative museum explaining the extraordinary 19th-century mass immigrations.
Best for ages: 4+ | £22
New York, United States of America (USA)[4.1 miles]
Uber-cool park built on an elevated, disused railway track that manages to combine terrific design, gritty urban architecture and river views.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free | 30 minutes
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
New York, United States of America (USA)[2.1 miles]
History buffs should stop by this fascinating museum, a small row of old immigrant tenement houses preserved intact from the late 19th/early 20th century that showcases what life was like for the immigrants who first arrived in the city. http://tenement.org.
Best for ages: 13+ | £25
New York, United States of America (USA)[2.4 miles]
“I’ll have what she’s having,” is the famous line from the When Harry Met Salley movie scene set in this ancient palace of pastrami that’s been slicing and serving top-notch cured meat since 1888.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
New York, United States of America (USA)[3.1 miles]
A specialist in 20th- and 21st-century American art, from Jackson Pollock to Keith Haring to Cindy Sherman. Every two years holds the Whitney Biennial which showcases a huge range of new contemporary art, often from little-known artists.
Best for ages: 18+ | £22
New York, United States of America (USA)[3.5 miles]
Located where the High Line meets Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, this erstwhile warehouse is one of New York’s great foodie destinations. The rambling hall is crammed by casual restaurants, food kiosks, and speciality food shops.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
