The Memorial Walk Without the Museum
The 9/11 Memorial Tour and Optional Observatory Ticket is a guided walk of 1.5 to 2.5 hours from L’Arte del Gelato that never includes the museum: the listing states that 9/11 Museum tickets are not part of any option. It adds One World Observatory as an option, and it is the only one of the six with a private version. It is wheelchair accessible.
What happens, stop by stop
The route is shorter at the pools than on the other walks from the same meeting point, and it begins at a church rather than at the Oculus. The outdoor portion is large.
- Meet at L’Arte del Gelato.
- St. Paul’s Chapel, about 15 minutes: completed in 1766, the oldest surviving church building in Manhattan, unscathed on 11 September 2001 and a relief centre for recovery workers for about nine months afterwards.
- The Oculus, about 15 minutes.
- The memorial pools, about 30 minutes: the two pools in the tower footprints and the 2,983 names.
- One World Observatory, about 1 hour, on the observatory options: separate security, then the elevators to floors 100 to 102.
The pools page explains the design the guide will point out, “Reflecting Absence” by Michael Arad: water falls 30 feet into each pool, then 20 feet more into a void that cannot be seen into.
Where it starts
L’Arte del Gelato, a short walk from the memorial. St. Paul’s Chapel is on Broadway between Fulton and Vesey Streets, so the first stop is close to the Fulton Street subway station on the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4 and 5. The getting there page covers PATH and the ferries too.
The options
Four options. Memorial Tour Only is the walk in a group. Memorial Tour with One World Observatory adds the observatory ticket. Private Memorial Tour is the same route for a party of its own, and Private Memorial Tour with Observatory adds the ticket to that. The tour part can be rescheduled; the date-specific observatory tickets cannot, and they are non-transferable.
Included
- A guide for the walk: St. Paul’s Chapel, the Oculus, the pools
- One World Observatory entry on the two observatory options
- A private group on the two private options
Not included
- 9/11 Museum tickets, on every option
- Food and drink
- A rescheduled observatory ticket once issued
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits a visitor who has already booked the museum ticket for a different slot or day and wants a guide for the plaza plus the view, and it suits anyone who prefers to skip the underground museum altogether. The private options suit a family or a small party that wants the guide to itself; which tour lists it under that need. It is wheelchair accessible.
It does not suit a visitor who expects the museum inside the booking. The walk with museum and observatory from the same meeting point adds it. The small-group walk adds the museum too but is not wheelchair accessible.
What reviewers mention
Gabriele from Germany describes a professional guide. Joseph from France found the guide clear and passionate. Susan from the US says sensitive details were handled with expertise. Janet from the UK uses the words knowledgeable and passionate.
James from the US says the group learned the historical details. Michelle, also from the US, writes that personal stories brought it to life.
In its favour
- The only product with a private option
- Starts at St. Paul’s Chapel, which the other gelato-shop walks skip
- Wheelchair accessible
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- The museum is not on any option
- Observatory tickets are date- and time-specific and non-transferable
- Security at the observatory can reach 20 minutes in high season
- Only about 30 minutes at the pools
The security wait at the observatory is at its longest in high season, so the walk sits better in the morning with the observatory before midday. The best time to visit page covers the seasons.
Two alternatives
Walk, museum, views9/11 Memorial Tour with Museum and One World Entry Options
Guided walkNYC: Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour w/ Museum Option
Frequently asked questions
Is the museum included on any option?
No. The listing states that 9/11 Museum tickets are not included on any of the four options. The museum ticket is booked separately, or the Ground Zero walk offers it as an option.
What does the private option change?
The route and the guide are the same; the group is the booking party alone. Two private options exist, with and without the observatory ticket.
Can the observatory ticket be moved?
No. Observatory tickets are date- and time-specific and non-transferable. The tour part can be rescheduled. Cancellation of the whole booking is free up to 24 hours before.
How long is the wait at the observatory?
The listing says the security wait can reach 20 minutes in high season. The observatory has its own security, separate from the museum’s. The observatory page covers the three walks that offer it.