The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is a tribute to the lives lost on 11 September 2001 and 26 February 1993 (World Trade Center bombing).
Tourists visit this New York attraction to pay their respects and learn more about the event.
The memorial is situated on the former site of the Twin Towers. It features two reflecting pools, each nearly an acre in size, with waterfalls cascading down the sides into reflecting basins.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum serves as an important reminder of the tragedy that occurred on 11 September 2001 and honors the lives of those who lost their lives in the attacks.
This article explains everything you must know before buying your 9/11 Memorial and Museum tickets.
Top 9/11 Memorial and Museum Tickets
# 9/11 Memorial and Museum tickets
# Guided tour of 9/11 Museum & Memorial
# Guided tour of Memorial + One World Observatory
Table of contents
What to expect at the attraction
Also known as the National September Memorial and Museum, this tourist attraction has two parts: the 9/11 Memorial and the 9/11 Museum.
9/11 Memorial
The 9/11 Memorial comprises two massive waterfalls and reflecting pools.
These Memorial Pools are massive, measuring 4040 square meters (43500 square feet) each.
Visitors can look for the names of around 3,000 victims of the 11 September and 26 February terrorist attacks inscribed on bronze panels lining the two Memorial pools.
The Memorial is located at the site of the former Twin Towers and is free to visit (there is no entry fee).
9/11 Museum
The 9/11 Museum is an attempt to keep the memory of 11 September alive.
It documents the terrorist attack with 23,000 images, 10,300 artifacts, 500 hours of video, and 2,000 oral histories of the dead provided by family and friends.
This Museum is next to the Memorial Pools, and you must buy tickets to enter.
Since there are long lines at the ticketing counter, buying 9/11 Museum tickets in advance is better.
Tip: One World Observatory, the World’s tallest observation deck, which offers fascinating views of New York, is also in the same complex. Some visitors combine a guided tour of ground zero with a visit to One World or opt for the Museum + Guided Tour Ground Zero + One World Observatory combo.
9/11 Museum tickets
There are three advantages to booking your 9/11 Museum tickets online –
Immediate delivery: The tickets get emailed to your inbox once you purchase. No waiting time, so no anxiety.
Convenient: On the day of your visit, you can show your 9/11 Museum tickets on your smartphone and walk in. You don’t have to take any printouts.
Saves time: Since you already have the tickets when you reach the 9/11 Museum, you can avoid waiting in the ticketing counter lines.
9/11 Museum’s tickets come in many combinations, and we explain four of our favorites below.
If you want to know all the different 9/11 Museum & Memorial ticket options available, click here.
9/11 Museum & Memorial tickets
This is the cheapest and the most popular 9/11 Museum ticket.
You get to see everything in the 9/11 Museum and explore the Memorial.
While booking the ticket, you must opt for a time slot.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (18 to 64 years): $33
Youth ticket (13 to 17 years): $27
Kids ticket (7 to 12 years): $21
Senior ticket (65+ years): $27
Infant ticket (6 years & below): Free entry
Guided tour of 9/11 Museum & Memorial
The guided tour of the 9/11 Museum & Memorial offers a comprehensive experience, and if you can afford it, we highly recommend it.
Considering the nature of this tourist attraction, a local New York guide can provide a personal feel to your tour.
The experience starts with a 90-minute guided walking tour of Ground Zero, including the 9/11 Memorial.
Later, you use the exclusive skip-the-line entry to get to the 9/11 Museum and explore it on your own.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (13+ years): $79
Kids ticket (6 to 12 years): $75
Infant ticket (up to 5 years): Free entry
Guided tour of Memorial + One World Observatory
Some parents may not want to take their kids younger than ten years to the 9/11 Museum because a certain maturity and understanding are needed to comprehend the events of 11 September.
If you are in New York with young kids, this tour is suitable because you only explore Ground Zero, the Memorial, and the One World Observatory.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (13+ years): $79
Youth ticket (6 to 12 years): $75
Infant ticket (up to 5 years): Free entry
9/11 Memorial + 9/11 Museum + Observatory
If you are a bunch of adults or your kids are old enough to manage around five hours of exploration, we highly recommend this combo.
During the guided tour, you pay your respects to the fallen heroes of the terrorist attack at the 9/11 Memorial.
Then you skip the lines to enter the 11 September Museum and explore yourself.
During the last leg, you visit One World Observatory, the highest observation deck in the world, in Freedom Tower.
Ticket price
Adult ticket (13+ years): $109
Kids ticket (6 to 12 years): $104
Infant ticket (up to 5 years): Free entry
Tip: If you are on a budget holiday but want to see all three attractions in the complex, we suggest you purchase the standard Memorial and Museum ticket and get the One World Observatory ticket separately. You will save approximately $40 for every adult.
Visual Story: 14 must-know tips before visiting 9/11 Memorial and Museum
How to reach 9/11 Memorial and Museum
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is at the One World Trade Centre site in Lower Manhattan at 180 Greenwich Street, New York. Get Directions
To enter the 9/11 Memorial, you can choose from entrances at one of these intersections –
1. Liberty Street and Greenwich Street
2. Liberty Street and West Street
3. West Street and Fulton Street
4. Fulton Street and Greenwich Street
It is best if visitors use public transport to get to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum.
By Subway
– A, C, 1, 2, 3 to Chambers Street Station
– A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4, or 5 trains to Fulton Street Station
– 2 or 3 trains to Park Place Station
– E train to World Trade Center
– R train or 1 train to Rector Street Station
– R train to Cortlandt Street Station
By Bus
– M5 Southbound: get down at Broadway and Thames Street
– M5 Northbound: get down at Trinity Place and Rector Street
– M20 Southbound: get down on South End Avenue between Liberty Street and Albany Street
– M22 Southbound: get down on Vesey Street between North End Avenue and West Street
Car Parking
Since this tourist attraction doesn’t have parking facilities and on-street parking is limited in lower Manhattan, we don’t recommend driving.
The nearest parking spots are available at Battery Parking Garage, on 70 Greenwich Street.
Click here to know more about the nearby parking lots.
Important: The cheapest and most popular entry ticket at this attraction is the standard 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets. To know about the different types of 9/11 Museum and Memorial tickets available, Click Here.
Opening hours
The 9/11 Memorial and the Museum have different timings.
9/11 Memorial’s hours
The 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero opens daily at 8 am and closes at 8 pm.
9/11 Museum’s timings
9/11 Museum opens at 9 am, Wednesday to Monday, and closes at 7 pm.
The last entry into the 9/11 Museum is two hours before closing.
Museum’s holiday hours
On 26, 27, and 30 December, the 9/11 Museum opens at 9 am as usual but extends its closing time to accommodate the extra crowd and remains open till 9 pm.
Nowadays, on Tuesdays, the museum remains closed.
Best time to visit 9/11 Museum
The best time to visit the 9/11 Museum is when it opens at 9 am. Till 11 am, the Museum doesn’t get crowded.
Irrespective of the season or day, most tourists line up to enter the Museum between noon and 3 pm.
If you can’t make it in the morning, we recommend a visit anytime after 5 pm.
If you want to avoid the crowd, one of the best ways is to buy 9/11 Museum tickets online.
You can skip the long lines at the ticketing counter and enter the Museum immediately.
Tour duration
Some tourists prefer to skip the Museum because it requires an entry ticket.
However, most tourists end up visiting the 9/11 Memorial.
The time you take to tour the 11 September monument depends on what you decide to explore.
How long does the 9/11 Museum take?
Most visitors spend around two hours in the 9/11 Museum exploring the various artifacts documenting the terrorist attack.
Since it is a self-guided tour, visitors can explore independently.
Tourists in a hurry are known to rush through everything and get over the 9/11 Museum in an hour.
How long does the 9/11 Memorial take?
At the 9/11 Memorial, you can see everything to explore in 30 minutes.
However, some tourists walk around for much longer, contemplating the fateful day’s events.
Waiting times at 9/11 Museum
The 9/11 Museum has timed entry tickets, which means it is never overly crowded inside.
However, you can end up waiting in long lines at the ticket counter.
Your waiting time is shorter if you have already bought your 9/11 Museum tickets online.
Let us explain in detail.
When you have NOT bought tickets in advance
You must line up at the ticket counter if you haven’t purchased 9/11 Museum tickets online.
Depending on the day and day of the week, this waiting time can go up to 45 minutes.
A sign will mention the next time slot for which tickets are available for purchase at the ticket counter.
This information will help you decide if you want to stand in the ticketing line because you may not always get the tickets for the immediate next time slot.
For instance, if you reach the ticketing line at 2 pm and the next available time slot is 4 pm, you will be given a ticket with the 4 pm mentioned.
So even though you may have your tickets by 2.30 pm, you can enter the Museum only at 4 pm.
When you have already bought the tickets
When you buy 9/11 Museum tickets online, you get to pick your time slot.
On the day of your visit, you must reach the Museum 15 minutes before the time mentioned on your tickets.
Since you already have the tickets, you can skip the line at the ticketing counter (and save yourself up to 45 minutes).
Look for time-based entry lines where everyone with tickets gets to stand.
You will be allowed to enter the Museum at the time mentioned on your ticket. Yes, no waiting!
FAQs on Tickets
Tourists planning a visit to the 11 September Memorial and Museum usually have lots of questions before buying the tickets.
We answer them below.
- Are 9/11 museum tickets timed?
Yes, the 9/11 Museum tickets are timed, and visitors must reach the attraction 15 minutes before the time mentioned on their tickets.
Timed tickets help control the number of visitors entering the museum. - Are the 9/11 Memorial and the 9/11 Museum separate? Do we need to buy tickets to both sites?
The Memorial and Museum are next to each other.
You can explore the 9/11 Memorial free of cost, but you must buy a ticket to enter the 9/11 Museum. - Can you purchase tickets at the 9/11 Museum itself?
Visitors can buy 9/11 Museum tickets at the venue, but it is not advisable because there are long lines at the ticket counters.
To save time in the queue, buy 9/11 Museum tickets online. - Are 9/11 Museum and Memorial guided tours worth it?
Your visit to the 9/11 Museum and Memorial will be more memorable with a tour guide.
On a guided tour of the 9/11 memorial, a local guide takes you through the attraction sharing insightful stories, anecdotes, trivia, etc., which you may otherwise miss.
You are also more likely to visit all the must-see exhibits. - We want to visit the 9/11 Memorial and not the 9/11 Museum. Do we need to buy a ticket?
If you only want to visit the 9/11 Memorial, you don't need to buy tickets – it is free for kids and adults.
However, the 9/11 Museum is too spectacular to be missed.
The only time it is advisable to miss the 9/11 Museum is when you are visiting with kids younger than ten years who may need help comprehending the seriousness of the tourist attraction. - How soon do I need to get tickets for the 9/11 Museum? Can I get them on the day I want to go?
It is your choice entirely – you can get your 9/11 Museum tickets a couple of months in advance or on the day of your visit to the venue.
If you plan to purchase your tickets in advance and skip the long lines at the venue, you must do so at least 48 hours before your visit. - Is an audio guide included with the 9/11 Museum entry ticket? Or do we have to pay for it separately?
No, the audio guide is NOT included in your 9/11 Museum ticket.
You can download the 9/11 audio guide app from the Android or iOS stores and use the informative tours. - Ground Zero seems to have many parts – the 9/11 Memorial, 9/11 Museum, Oculus, and One World Observatory. Do I have to buy tickets for all of them separately?
Everything mentioned above is close by and worth visiting.
The 9/11 Memorial is free to enter, but the 9/11 Museum, which is right next to it, requires entry tickets.
Oculus is a shopping center close to the 9/11 Memorial and the Museum.
The One World Observatory is a viewing platform in the nearby building called Freedom Tower, the highest in the USA.
9/11 Museum’s audio guide
These audioguides provide themed tours suitable for all age groups.
The ‘Witnessing History Tour’ narrates an overview of what happened on 11 September and later.
The ‘Discovering History Tour’ is designed for 8 to 11-year-old kids and provides an age-appropriate narration of 9/11.
The ‘Building History Tour’ tells the story of recovery and rebuilding through the voices of architects, recovery workers, etc.
Free admission Mondays
Every Monday from 3.30 pm to 5 pm, visitors can enter the 9/11 Museum for free.
Even though free admission Mondays allow free entry into the 9/11 Museum, you are ‘expected’ to make a small payment of at least $10.
Of course, you can refuse to pay. It is entirely your choice.
A limited number of these free Monday evening tickets are available on the official website starting at 7 am.
You can also get these ‘free tickets’ at the 9/11 Museum’s ticketing office.
However, these free entry tickets are limited and distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
There is a limit of four free tickets per person.
Buy one discount Pass and save up to 40% on ticket costs during your New York holiday. Buy New York Explorer Pass
What to see at 9/11 Museum
There are five exhibitions to see at the 9/11 Museum.
Two of these exhibitions – the Historical Exhibition and Memorial Exhibition – form the core of this Museum.
Historical Exhibition
The historical exhibition narrates 9/11 using various media such as artifacts, images, testimony, and archival audio and video.
The Historical Exhibition has three parts – the Events of the Day, Before 9/11, and After 9/11.
Visitors younger than ten years of age may find the historical exhibition overwhelming.
Adults accompanying younger visitors must exercise discretion during the visit.
Memorial Exhibition
The Memorial Exhibition features photographs of approximately 3000 victims of the 9/11 carnage and the 26 February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.
Using the touch-screen panels, you can look up individual profiles.
Victims’ items that the family members donated are also on display.
Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden
Revealed: The Hunt for Bin Laden takes visitors on a fascinating search for Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist organization Al Qaeda’s leader.
The story begins with efforts to track bin Laden’s whereabouts and ascertain his plans before 2001 and concludes with the U.S. Navy SEAL operation on his hideout in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
The Hunt for Bin Laden is a critical and compelling account of how the U.S. intelligence community, military, and federal law enforcement agencies came together after 9/11 to bring one man to justice.
K-9 Courage
K-9 Courage is a temporary exhibition that honors the hundreds of dogs that responded to the 9/11 attacks.
These four-legged responders made a difference with their handlers during the rescue and recovery efforts.
K-9 teams investigated the rubble of the accident sites for survivors and victims after 11 September 2001, and they consoled first responders and victims’ relatives.
Find out everything about 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero before your visit.
9/11 Tribute Museum tickets
The 9/11 Tribute Museum aims to help visitors understand the events surrounding the USA’s largest emergency response and recovery effort.
Visitors can see the personal stories of the victims displayed at the exhibitions.
The operating hours are from 10 am to 6 pm. The last entry takes place 30 minutes before closing.
You will need around 45 minutes to explore this Museum.
The Tribute Museum is 500 meters (0.3 Miles) from the 9/11 Memorial.
The 9/11 Tribute Museum tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and students with valid IDs, and $5 for children below three years.
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