The Small-Group Ground Zero Walk
The 9/11 Memorial & Ground Zero Tour with Optional Museum Entry is a 1.5-hour guided walk for a capped group of no more than 20 people, starting at the M Social Hotel New York Downtown across Church Street from the site. It adds Brookfield Place and the Hudson waterfront to the usual stops, and offers the museum as a self-guided option of about an hour. It is the only one of the six that is not wheelchair accessible.
What happens, stop by stop
The listing describes a significant amount of walking and says the tour is not suitable for people with back problems, mobility impairments or wheelchair users. Comfortable shoes and water are asked for.
- Meet at the M Social Hotel New York Downtown, formerly the Millennium Downtown, across Church Street from the site.
- St. Paul’s Chapel, about 15 minutes.
- The Oculus, about 10 minutes.
- Brookfield Place on the Hudson side, about 15 minutes, with the Winter Garden.
- The waterfront park by the Hudson, about 15 minutes.
- The FDNY Ten House on Liberty Street, about 10 minutes, with the FDNY Memorial Wall.
- The 9/11 Memorial pools, about 15 minutes.
- A photo stop at One World Trade Center, about 10 minutes.
- The museum, about 1 hour, self-guided, on the museum option.
The pools get about 15 minutes here, the shortest of the six, because the route spends its time on the streets and the waterfront around them. A visitor who wants longer at the names can return afterwards; the plaza is free until 8 pm as published. The names page explains how the 2,983 are arranged.
Where it starts
The M Social Hotel New York Downtown stands on Church Street directly across from the site, so the meeting point is within sight of the Oculus. The E to World Trade Center and the R to Cortlandt Street are the closest subway stops. The getting there page lists the rest.
The options
Two options: the walk with museum entry, and the walk without it. On the museum option the guide brings the group to the pavilion, and the visit inside is self-guided, about an hour. There is no docent option and no observatory option. The audio guide, sold at the museum, covers the exhibitions for visitors going through on their own.
Included
- An English-speaking guide
- A guided walk of the memorial and Ground Zero in a group of no more than 20
- Museum admission on the museum option, self-guided, about 1 hour
Not included
- One World Observatory
- Baby strollers
- Luggage or large bags
- Tips
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits visitors who want a capped group, a guide who can take questions, and the streets and the waterfront as well as the plaza. Stephen from the UK was in a group of two, and Carsta from Germany ended up on what became a private tour. Which tour lists it under the small-group need.
It does not suit wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments or back problems, or anyone with a stroller, by the listing’s own account. The Ground Zero walk covers the Oculus and the pools with wheelchair access and a docent option, and the City Hall walk shares St. Paul’s and the Ten House with wheelchair access.
What reviewers mention
Stephen from the UK, in a group of two, mentions the attention to detail. Carsta from Germany found it “incredibly emotional, and then so much hope”. Alison from the UK found the guide knowledgeable, and Kelly, also from the UK, says the guide was eager to answer questions.
Floor from the Netherlands writes that the guide knew a lot about the people involved. Angela from the US describes a passionate and knowledgeable guide.
In its favour
- Capped at 20 people
- Brookfield Place and the Hudson waterfront on the route
- The shortest walk of the six at 1.5 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Worth knowing
- Not wheelchair accessible; not suitable for mobility impairments or back problems
- No strollers, luggage or large bags
- About 15 minutes at the pools
- No observatory and no docent option
Strollers are not included on this walk, and standard strollers are allowed inside the museum, so a family with a small child may find the children page steers them towards the museum ticket and its family bundles instead.
Two alternatives
Guided walkNYC: Ground Zero 9/11 Memorial Tour w/ Museum Option
Museum ticketNYC: 9/11 Memorial & Museum Timed Ticket with Tour Options
Frequently asked questions
Is the small-group walk wheelchair accessible?
No. It is the only one of the six products that is not. The listing says it is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments or back problems, and involves a significant amount of walking. The other five walks and the museum ticket are accessible.
How many people are in the group?
No more than 20. Stephen from the UK reports a group of two, and Carsta from Germany found hers had become a private tour.
Is a guide provided inside the museum?
No. The museum option is self-guided, about an hour. Guided or self-guided compares that with the museum’s own 60-minute tours.
Can a stroller come along?
Baby strollers are listed as not included on this walk. Inside the museum, standard strollers are allowed and oversized or jogging strollers are not; visitor rules has the details.