9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Walking Tour with Optional 9/11 Museum
New York City
$15 | Rating 4.74 / 5 [274 ratings]
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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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