The Oculus - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
The Oculus
Architectural BuildingsMonuments & Statues
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
This aesthetic transportation hub not only welcomes those visiting the World Trade Center, but serves as a representation of New York City’s strength and resilience after 9/11. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus resembles a dove leaving a child’s hands. Every year, on the anniversary of the attacks, the sun shines directly through the skylight and illuminates the main hall. With plenty of retail and dining options, the Oculus is a great place to stop by before or after your visit to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the Survivor Tree, and the One World Observatory. – Tripadvisor
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Downtown Manhattan (Downtown)
How to get there
  • Cortlandt St • 2 min walk
  • Chambers St • 3 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travelers are saying
  • Rich J
    Naples, Florida366 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Massive transportation hub building in Lower Manhattan
    This is a massive building that is a transportation hub near the former World Trade Center area. We were with a small group of photographers on a photo workshop. We all took a number of shots from the second floor balcony but unfortunately we could not use our tripods during our photo shoot. Striking architecture, at a very hefty price tag to build. We didn't have time to do a through tour of the beautiful building.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written July 13, 2023
  • Thomas V
    Oakland, California16,189 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Transit Transfer Point
    We were here to change subway trains and we walked through part of this complex. It also functions as the link to the PATH trains. It has gradually evolved into a shopping and eating complex, but the main function is for transit. Looks kind of wild outside, dramatic architecture.
    Visited May 2023
    Written July 24, 2023
  • Dimitris L
    Sydney, Australia48,796 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Symbol of peace
    The Oculus is a futuristic building! Amazing architecture and a real wonder. It's a transportation hub and a huge shopping complex. The design shows a dove but it takes a bit of effort to actually see the whole thing. Worth visiting and having a walk through.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 30, 2023
  • Harry A
    Long Island, New York106 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cool building
    It’s a very cool building. It’s a transit hub. It’s a mall. It’s not much else. I stopped by The Oculus while exploring lower Manhattan to check it out. The architecture was cool to look at for a bit, then I went inside to find somewhere to sit after a long day of walking around. No luck. Stores were the same ones you find in just about any other mall. I came, I saw, I said “this place looks pretty cool”, and I left. Not much more to it than that.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 3, 2023
  • 644AndreaC
    211 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Never disappoints me. A very cool building !
    This is my third visit and the Oculus never disappoints me. Amazing design and architecture. What a cool building. Great shops and then outside there were a lot of stalls eateries, great variety of food.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 7, 2023
  • The Trusty Trip Gal!
    England, United Kingdom243 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning Architecture!
    This building is one of the most interesting and unique places I’ve ever seen! I’m not really into modern architecture but this really did catch my eye! It’s great to see and has a good variety of shops! The area is very spacious too! The subway below is also stunning and it is great to come out of the subway to such a spectacular building! Definitely worth a visit!
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 18, 2023
  • therichastill
    Stevenage, United Kingdom2,951 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Temple to Retail
    The Oculus is a magnificent structure. It is quite grand and stands out amongst the surrounding area. I later found out that it was designed by a Spanish architect. It reminds me of some of the buildings close to the waterfront in Valencia. As well as being a shopping center it there is also a PATH station to take you under the Hudson River to destinations in New Jersey. The Oculus has a very peaceful ambience about it and worth checking out for a bit of retail therapy.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 16, 2023
  • stephens473
    Nottingham, United Kingdom387 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great Find
    Incredible piece of architecture situated at World Trade Center. Quite mind blowing and full of symbolism after the terrible events of 9/11. A great place to take photos , shop and eat , also many connecting travel links are all under one roof.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 30, 2023
  • Bea
    957 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mind-blowing Oculus
    Absolutely amazing, located next to the 9/11 Memorial. It was opened in 2016 after 12 years of work. The building was part of the city’s plan to rebuild the World Trade Center after September 11. It is a transportation hub and a shopping mall built alongside the One World Trade Center.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written December 12, 2023
  • craig1086
    Atlanta, Georgia1,754 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Good shopping & Train Hub
    This shopping center is beautifully designed, and brings in a hoard of natural light from outside. It's also a transit connecting station where you can take the PATH over to Jersey. Most people come here after the 9/11 memorial next door. There are lots of shops and cafes in here, as it's multiple levels.only drawback is that they probably need more restrooms. One of the best parts is that you can visit inside for free.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written December 17, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,693 reviews
Excellent
1,653
Very good
819
Average
177
Poor
30
Terrible
15

mikesierra
Bourne, UK1,987 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
A modern shopping mall and transport hub adjacent to the World Trade Center Memorial and museum. The architecture of the building resembles a large modern sculpture; perhaps the skeleton of a large bird. Well worth a visit, which can easily be combined with the World Trade Center Memorial
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marmitelover88
Hirwaun, UK203 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2019 • Couples
Just wow. It really is a sight to behold. I absolutely love the crazy architecture of the oculus! It looks oddly eerie from the inside and the white wings look like some sort of giant ribcage but I think it's absolutely beautiful. The shopping area is clean, sparkling white but doesn't have anything that you couldn't find anywhere else and it really needs some better places to eat but overall, it's 100% worth the visit just to see this grand piece of art!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

natters14
Portsmouth, UK3,314 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Solo
I visited here after visiting the 9/11 Memorial and after my friends, who are locals, mentioned it to me particularly because of the controversial and divisive opinions it creates.

I agree with one of my friends, in that it resembles the inside bones of a whale of elephant. I found it really strange, shocking and quite disturbing that essentially a Westfield mall was built on top of an area that could’ve been rebuilt in a more fitting way to those affected by the events of 9/11.

I took a look inside and found it was basically an overpriced mall (I guess due to its proximity to the financial district) and also houses some subway and train lines. The entrances and exits were confusing to negotiate.
Written April 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eduardo V
San Juan, Puerto Rico8 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
Great arquitecture!! Beautiful building with shops inside of it. I would recommend that if you would like to keep it clean put trash can al over the place. People wouldn’t want to go to the restrooms to dump a simple coffee cup. Take it into cosideration.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sachin0408
Bengaluru, India907 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I was walking aimlessly around the area wen I came across this pristine white structure. Never did I realise that I was at the WTC memorial - Silly me.

The Oculus is not only a magnificient structure from the outside but equally beautiful from the inside. I must have spent close to an our inside admiring the structure and the way it was designed and built. Just one word - Fabulous.

Must visit and see for your own.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Angelina Pateli
Kozani, Greece13 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
Architecturally speaking it is a great sample of modern architecture as all buldings of this creator. Easy access, subway connection, interesting.
It is next to the monument of the fallen which is much more important and should be treated with more respect than just a tourist attraction.
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

monkeylvr
san diego72 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Solo
At first glance from the inside it’s pretty impressive, but then as time went on I found many design flaws, including not enough bathrooms, escalators, staircases, sitting spaces, or dining options. The open, large, minimalist layout and color scheme felt very dystopic and one world order. The outside design is a total eyesore; doesn’t fit in with the surrounding architecture. It also looks like a female v. Attached subway station is amazing; very modern, and clean unlike the rest of NYC subway. If I was a New Yorker I would be more than a little upset that $4 billion in tax payer funds payed for this structure, while the rest of the city is falling apart and barely surviving (except for a the millionaire/billionaires living there; they are doing great).
Written December 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wireless_in_CA
United States7,429 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2022 • Couples
Arriving on the PATH train from Newark we were greeted with this amazing looking building. Soaring white lines gave this hub a unique look and feel. I understood the design was intended to mimic a bird getting ready to fly. To achieve that look involved specialized steel, lots of unique construction equipment and extra time.

Besides being able to connect you to your train or subway, there were multiple stories of shopping and restaurants. The center of the structure was wide open with unique undulating chairs.

It was worth a stop while visiting the 9-11 Museum nearby or while transiting through the WTC.
Written March 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TyronMcDaniel
Houston, TX16 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
On a recent trip to New York I booked a hotel near the 9/11 Memorial and was pleasantly surprised to discover The Oculus on the first day of my stay! I just happened to walk upon it as I walked out of my hotel and was visiting the 9/11 Memorial... I saw this HUGE white seemingly building in all of it's glory. I immediately started taking pictures and ventured closer to find a true marvel of timeless design & architecture! This transportation hub/train station also has some great shops (found some kicks I had to have and some cologne) and is always bustling with tourists and natives moving about the city. Loved the place, my biggest regret is I didn't take more pictures of it!
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rafrew
Townsville, Australia94 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2019
Built above a subway station, this is a tourist attraction in itself. From the design of the architecture to the floor tiles, it a sight to behold. There is an abundance of white which gives The Oculus a very clean feeling. While the exterior of the building is a work of art, the inside is even more so.
Written September 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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The Oculus - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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