I love the concept of the oculus. I love the shopping and the food options. The design for me is questionable, trying to get from the Path Train to the subway whether it be the 4 or 5 or sometime the A can be a nightmare in the morning, the direction that people take because of the way the space was designed. It is just crazy with as many people that flow through that space. Not sure who designed the space but the road and parking lots at Westfield mall in Brandon Florida were equally crazy and created a nightmare during the holidays. read more

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This is a great place to get some shopping done! But be sure to bring your wallet. The stores are super expensive. However if you need something out of convenience they do have Walgreens or even Starbucks. The place was super clean and safe! read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Easily the coolest and most futuristic-looking train station in New York! I have been here both as a tourist, and as a commuter when I was visiting my company's HQ in New York. Even if you're not here to shop, getting photos here at the Oculus are a good reason to visit, especially if you're planning to visit the 9/11 Memorial while you're here. The architecture, designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, is absolutely mesmerizing. I really came to appreciate the station more when I learned that it was designed with the concept of hope, and that the structure itself is the portrayal of a bird about to take a flight from the hands of a child. It took 14 years to build and opened in February of 2016. I can definitely see the intention of this structure, and it is beautiful. My boyfriend took his sweet time taking multiple photos on our first visit here. Visit here if you can! read more

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Passing by the other day! Cool structure but the doors are sooo heavy! You can walk on the inside if it's too cold outside to get to Brookfield place. read more

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This was a very clean looking building both inside and outside. Besides it being a transportation hub where I was able to catch several different subway lines (e.g. 1, 4, and the PATH) during my most recent visit to NYC, there was also quite a few number of shops and restaurants inside. It was pretty much a more modern version of the famous Grand Central Station. Each time that I've been through here, I would see a lot of people in here just taking photos. They currently had the Wildlife Wonders sculptures outside in the plaza. read more

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Arrived on the train from midtown to visit 9/11 memorial. Visually stunning but a little confusing to follow signs. read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

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Absolutely stunning. The Oculus is a major transportation hub, as well as a shopping center. Lots of really nice places to shop and spend a number of hours. Oculus is a Latin word for "eye" and when standing at the bottom can understand why it's called Oculus. It's so clean, peaceful and felt safe with all the amount of people walking thru. We walked through this, as it exited from the One World Trade Center. read more

Oculus - First floor of Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

4++ an absolute architectural marvel located in the financial district (right next to the 9/11 memorial) in south Manhattan. As a tourist, I think it is a must visit, especially if you are already visiting the memorial. As a local, it houses lots of high-end shopping and acts as a transport hub. The design was from architect Santiago Calatrava and was inspired by a child's hand letting go of a dove. It truly is beautiful to look at inside and out. Also, I think it was used in a scene from either John Wick two or three where there was a chase between Keanu and Common, lol. It's close to Eataly and a lot of other cool restaurants and eateries because technically it's a mall. And the only downside is that there are (or at least were when I was there) heavily armed guards walking through with assault rifles. But that's just the world we live in at the moment, unfortunately. If you're visiting or live in New York, I definitely think it's worth a trip. read more

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This is the place I usually visit because I've got a transfer here, or because it's the closest subway stop to the 9/11 memorial. While it's great for pictures, the Oculus is mainly like any other Westfield mall - clean, spacious, and filled with consumer boutique shops. It's easily accessible through countless trains and pedestrians entrances, which is nice. There's also a cute animal cycling sculpture that you can take a picture on (might have a waiting line though). read more

Oculus - Animal statue - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

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TRANSPORTATION HUB. Besides being one of the World's most expensive Train Stations the OCULUS is also a major Shopping & Dining destination. Designed by the SPANISH Architect SANTIAGO CALATRAVA whose design represents a Winged Bird. The OCULUS opened in 2016. WORTH VISITING. read more

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I understand that Oculus was conceived to pay tribute to the idea of renewal and rebirth. This idea was important to Santiago Calatrava (the architect); that's why it was situated near the Trade Center's Ground Zero. Tip: Oculus is worth a visit so that it can put you in awe of what humanity is capable of building. It's truly amazing to look upon :-) This location is not only awe inspiring; it's also a subway terminal. That makes it very easy to get to. It also has a number of fun things to do close by as well. Let's consider the building; the structure is nothing short of amazing, and it's beautiful both outside and in. It's a must-visit site for visitors to New York City, especially those interested in the World Trade Center and/or the Financial District. It provides access to both the NY subway and the Westfield WTC mall; regardless though, it's a completely awesome place to visit! Situated very close to the 9/11 Memorial, Oculus opened in 2016 after twelve years of work. The building was a component of NYC's plan to rebuild the Wolrd Trade Center after the 9/11 attack. read more

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The Oculus houses a transit station that has 12 subway lines passing through and has various stores/boutiques/retailors. They even have farmers' markets, musical performances, and art exhibits that occur on a weekly basis. I really liked the architecture, which was designed by Santiago Calatrava - the white metal-clad steel 'ribs' that create a dome-like structure is supposed to symbolize a hand releasing a dove - how cool is that? If you stand on top of the stairs on one side, you can get a nice picture of the top - the lights also change to different colors. We stopped by often to shop around as well as to dine while we were in the area - it was super convenient as it was walking distance from where we were staying at. +transit center +Westfield WTC read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

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My first time at The Oculus! What a stunning structure; I read that architect Santiago Calatrava intended it to be a dove leaving a child's hands. And it does! Walking up to The Oculus on the outside, you see the spread of the wings. Once inside, it's even more impressive. I stood at the very top at one end and took a video. I'll post the video below. Just to think, it's a shopping, dining, and transportation hub. You can shop in this beautiful building, meet friends for dinner, and it's so convenient you can hop on the train home! Also, there are weekly events, like entertainment, artist displaying their work, and special projects. The Stranger Project caught my attention; It was a project where anonymous people wrote secrets about their life, or some wrote about bullying or how they felt about themselves. I'll post some of the writings below. I was here for about five hours, not shopping, to be honest. It's the look and feel of this beautiful place that kept me here. I met people and sat down at the unique places to eat and people-watch. Tip, because I had a guy stop me and ask me this question. So, If you come inside the Brookfield end, which is beautiful! Go to the second floor, take the escalator down, and the doors will open to The Oculus. It's the most beautiful thing! And I'll post pictures of how to get to the other side. I hope this helps, and please visit. read more

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A pretty big building with "wings" on both sides. It was Memorial Day weekend when we were there so the American flag was hung at both ends inside the building. It is quite cavernous inside with high ceiling. There are many shops and some eateries here too. Restroom can be quite busy at times. On Friday there is a smorgasbord at the WTC plaza next to it where you can try international and ethnic cuisines from the various vendors. There are also elephant sculptures around the building installed in 2023. The one I saw was by Gillie and Marc and it was of the Rabbitwoman and elephant. The subway is linked to it too. read more

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Such a great experience! I love NYC and this is a must see~ lots of history at ground zero! read more

Oculus - Taking it all in! 204 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

This shopping center has a very unique architecture. I was very impressed with it. Everything is white to give a clean feel. Very convenient to get here by subway. I definitely recommend this while visiting Ground Zero area read more

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Transportation hub, shopping center & architectural masterpiece representing Nyc's resilience & strenght to rise again after 9/11~ makes the Oculus worth a visit. Rain or shine there's something to do around this area. There are artwork/ wall art just outside making it a good backdrop to take pictures especially on a sunny day. There are also lots of shopping to do inside. Its not that crowded everytime i visit. Bathrooms are clean & you can easily catch a lot of trains from here which makes it very accessible. Tourist or native New yorkers this place is a must see! read more

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I thought it was just a sculpture from the outside but the fact that it's a shopping mall makes this the coolest mall I've even been in. I absolutely love the all white esthetic and that the subway train 1 is literally right there underneath the street entrance - that makes it so convenient with quick easy access for an easy commute to Penn Station, Times Square, etc. Unfortunately I didn't have time to explore all of the shops but was impressed with what I did see. The Apple Store was convenient for charging up my phone that had nearly died. Can't wait to go back to really explore & shop here. read more

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This man-made beauty opens your eyes and you won't want to blink. Constructed so elegantly this can be admired from all angles, inside and out. Just come and take a look. It's a wonder why this type of architecture isn't all over NYC... just throwing that out there. read more

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The Oculus is probably one of the more impressive architectural designs within the city. Located right next to World Trade Center, Ground Zero, and the 9/11 museum. The Oculus is super clean and there are helpful people at the information desk if you have any questions about the shops or area. I'm typically down here to catch the PATH train or use the restrooms when I'm downtown. Pro tip: The apple store is a great place to recharge if your phone is dying. read more

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We first stumbled into this eye-catching architecture when we visited the 9/11 Memorial. It's a wonderful sight. An absolute photo op not only for the structure itself, but also the animal sculptures and murals around it. Inside is a shopping mall with a huge expanse of space in the middle. We stopped by the Apple Store and the restrooms every time we visit. But this past weekend we were here for the Genshin Impact Summer Festival. Despite the 4 hour wait due to over 1000 attendees, we had a fun and unique experience on this visit. A must stop if you visit downtown Manhattan. read more

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The Oculus definitely has awesome architectural design and it's both a transit hub and shopping mall. The stores are for the most part, high end. During the holidays, they have it nicely decorated and this year, they had a roller-skating rink. It's very close to the WTC Memorial and if you work in one of the connecting buildings, you wouldn't have to go outside to catch the train or enter the building. read more

Oculus - Roller skating admission prices - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Each dish represents its culture with honesty and skill. The serving made splitting convenient. The establishment uses its modest space well, keeping it clean and nice with city flair. The employees displayed particular friendliness and assistance. This restaurant provides steady quality. read more

Oculus is one of my frequent spots in downtown Manhattan and every time I am here, I discover new interesting stores! The stores are usually open by 9-10am and the main center never closes, because it connects to MTA subways and New Jersey PATH trains. If you're hungry, there is something for everyone's tastebuds. And if the Oculus shopping stores bore you or don't meet your wallet expectations, Brookfield Plaza Mall is walking distance via tunnel. Oculus is definitely a New York landmark. read more

Oculus - Occulus Indoor - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

The Oculus is really beautiful. I love the way the light plays on it. It's a really unusual structure. I love the symbolism of the building- that it is supposed to be the shape of a hand releasing a dove. That's a beautiful thought. You can get lovely pictures here in any weather since the structure is designed to play with light. It is often crowded, so if you hate crowds, I wouldn't go here (or anywhere else in NY) . We were here on a tour a very much appreciated seeing this. read more

Stopped by on a tour with younger sibling to see the beautiful architecture. Located across the street from the 9/11 memorial, it was worth a stop to and check it out. It is a commercial space with lots of retail shops. The subway also runs through this location, so if you're looking to visit the oculus itself or the 9/11 memorial this is the closest stop. This facility also has clean restrooms and a charging space. It's a great pit stop if you're looking for a space to duck in for a few minutes. read more

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The architecture is absolutely beautiful. The mall itself is small when you look at the directory. There aren't a ton of different stores, it seemed. But a lot of it was spaced out. The food court area has a great selection though. There's also multiple exits and entrances, which is nice. A must see? Probably not. But it's a short walk from the 9/11 memorial so I would recommend atleast walking through it if you're in the area. read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

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This is such a cool place to check out in New York. Our hotel was so close to it! We walked through it a few times to get to our trains! I'm glad there are connection to all the different trains in the area. THe shops are cool and lots of good food in the area. Don't forget to check Eataly too! read more

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Reading some of these reviews both made me not want to come here and made me want to come here even more, if that makes any sense. I get being outraged at our culture for taking a site that has immense tragedy and turning it into a mall. I think about how I felt that day and the months following and the fear, sadness and tragedy of it all. However, I can't help but also think about how I was supposed to visit the area on that day, to go to Century 21, and buy some new clothes for my new life in NYC. So when I hear people say that it's more of a revitalization of it's previous life, a way of taking back what was stolen, that does make me feel better about it's mall-ness. And anyway, we were going to take the PATH train from Newark, since we were staying in FiDi, so I'd have to come through here anyway. I also made the mistake of wearing new loafers on this trip, so to the Under Armor store I went to get some walking shoes. I think the architecture is beautiful. Is it practical? Is it the best structure I've ever seen in my life? No and no. But it's fun and I can see why people like to take pictures in and of it. The inside is confusing AF and it took us quite some time to find our way around but I feel like this was done on purpose. Do I think this is a destination that you must see when in NYC? No. Do I think it's a nice place to hang out if you're in the area? Yes. read more

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While the architecture is stunning and spectacular, and worth a visit, the space is primarily a transportation hub and shopping mall. Many of the shops are high priced. We tried the Japanese bakery next to the food court and paid over $21 for three cookies/ pastries that were not worth the price. The food court sold us chicken teriyaki that had poor flavor with too much sugar. I do not recommend it. read more

The futuristic architecture is worth a stop for some pictures. There are also tons of shops inside and attractions nearby.

Every time im downtown I love stopping by this building. The architecture is very impressive, if your visiting NYC add this to your list. Lots of shopping options and some dining too. Its never overly busy or too crowded to get some nice photographs. read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Located next to the Freedom Tower and 9/11 Museum, this shopping mall/subway hub is an Architectural marvel. Once you enter from either end, you can to witness the massive oculus view, spreading across hundreds of feet. The shops are located in 1st and 2nd floors. There are many luxurious brands, including an Apple store. I like to visit this place for it's architectural appeal and shear size of the place. This is also a subway station, connection many of the lines that stop at Fulton St station. read more

Oculus - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York