If you’ve ever wanted to be on top of the world and you just happen to be in Manhattan, visit the One World Trade Centre Observatory,  in the new World Trade Center complex, Lower Manhattan is what you must do.

One World Trade Centre Tower viewed from the Hudson 

‘Here’s lookin’ at you kid’ – The symbolic Empire States Building gazes over Lower Manhattan to the One World Trade Centre  (“Freedom Tower”).

View from The Empire States Building down town showing the new Tower in the distance

From the moment you enter this 104-story building expect to be ‘wowed’.

The tower’s design tapers octagonally as it rises. Photographed from street level entrance

The elevator ride is truly an exhilarating experience. A 3D screen simulates a virtual reality journey chronologically recording New York’s construction history from the 1500s.   There are no bumps, no vibrations; no ears popping in the less than 60 second ride to Level 102 – but it is breathtaking.

Image Source: Reuben Hernandez/The New York Times

Visitors arrive in the ‘See Forever Theatre’ for a brief video presentation on New York City before a dramatic and spectacular revealing of the skyline.  Stunning is the word that springs to mind.

View Up Town NYC, showing 5th Avenue cutting through

360 degree views in all directions.  New Jersey stretches out

Ellis Island and The Statue of Liberty

And it’s a long way down to the mighty Hudson River.

Looking upper West Side

 The iconic Empire States Building remains undiminished – elegant and timeless.

Looking towards Mid Town,

Taking in the east side – The East River, Brooklyn and beyond.

Brooklyn and the Brooklyn Bridge

And a bird’s eye view – The 9/11 Memorial Museum Entrance in the bottom foreground together with the south Memorial Pool and garden.

Looking down on to the North Memorial Pool

The Observatory area in the Tower includes 3 distinct restaurants, a Sky Portal which uses real-time, HD footage of the streets below. (Be careful here if you are afraid of height – it’s a tad scary) and a souvenir gallery offering a wide range of exclusive merchandise.

Ticket Prices start at   Adult US$32, Senior US$30 and Child US$26.

For a once in a lifetime experience, this is money well spent.  Make time for this.