9/11 Memorial and Ground Zero Tour

Visiting Ground Zero is emotional but also inspiring as you hear about the stories of heroism on the ground and the spirit of rebirth in the aftermath of 9/11.

This walking tour, led by a New Yorker with a personal connection to the events of September 11th, takes you through the history and landmarks of Ground Zero. We begin at St. Paul’s Chapel, a beautiful church that’s one of the oldest churches in NYC, built in 1766. You’ll learn how the church served the community in the wake of 9/11 and how it miraculously survived the debris from the crashes a mere block away.

From there, you’ll walk with your guide to the 9/11 Memorial, where you’ll learn about the symbolic places in the memorial plaza, including the Survivor Tree and Reflecting Absence, the largest man-made waterfalls on the continent.

You can enhance your visit with our optional upgrades. Visiting the 9/11 Museum is a great follow-up to touring the memorial. Your guide will prepare you for your self-guided tour and provide a skip-the-line ticket. The museum includes artifacts and first-person stories relating to September 11th. We recommend spending a couple hours in the museum, though you’re welcome to stay for as long as it’s open.

Our second optional upgrade is for the observatory at the One World Trade Center. The new World Trade Center is a tribute that honors the lives lost in the attacks and celebrates New York City’s resilience. Your self-guided visit begins in the lobby with “Voices,” a film dedicated to the men and women of the World Trade Towers and new One World Trade Center. Afterward, take the SkyPod elevator to the top of Freedom Tower. There, you can experience both the See Forever Theater and the 360-degree, 1,250-foot observation deck of the One World Observatory, which showcases breathtaking views of Manhattan.