Our tour guide Tim was absolutely terrific! He was very knowledgeable, personable, respectful of the site and circumstances, but always engaging and even funny at appropriate moments. I would happily take a tour with him again. The time at the reflecting pools was deeply moving. The Oculus is an architectural marvel.
The 9/11 museum is exquisite in its design and overwhelming in its impact. Very moving. It may actually be too intense for some people.
One World Observatory features a very clever pair of elevator rides, particularly the ascent that shows the skyline grow from the 17th century to the present in less than a minute. The introduction on the 102nd floor is a tremendous reveal. Great showmanship. The observation deck on the 100th floor has spectacular views. There is no shortage of opportunities to make purchases, if that’s your thing.
Allow four hours. Wear good walking shoes.