Opened in 2015, on the top of the Freedom Tower, this observatory has a lot of meanings – given the 9/11 attacks – and symbolizes, in a way, the city’s resilience and its power to rebuild. It is the tallest skyscraper in the western hemisphere. One World Observatory, in a way, started a trend in tourist attractions that has grown more and more: an era where places not only offer what they propose but also a complete experience – a lot of them tailored for Instagram.

The observatory – the building is about 1,776′ tall and the observatory is located on the 102nd floor, providing a 360-degree view of the city. On a clear day, you can see more than 30 miles away. From up there, you can see the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge, Empire State Building, New Jersey, Hudson River, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and more.

The experience – Before reaching the elevator, you pass through corridors with several screens that display images of testimonies from people who worked on the building. As you go up, the elevator walls show the development of the city, from the year 1500 to the present day. It is so real that the impression you get is that there is nothing separating you from the outside world. Before reaching the observatory itself, you will come across a huge wall, like a movie screen, which will show an inspiring video of the city – it’s exciting. The video lasts a few minutes and, in the end, the screens go up and show the real views.