The Tallest Building in New York

Standing at 1,776 feet, One World Trade Center is the tallest building in New York—and the western hemisphere.
Written by Kaitlin May
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Updated on Sep 27, 2022
The Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty—
New York
has no shortage of iconic structures, but which is the tallest? Standing at 1,776 feet is One World Trade Center, the triumphant building reigning as the tallest in the state.
As The City That Never Sleeps, New York is no stranger to holding titles both nationally and around the world. To top any New York list is a feat in itself, and One World Trade Center upstages the other 6,400 high-rise buildings in the city with ease. While its height is impressive, it doesn’t begin to overshadow the rich symbolism within it.
Here to unveil all there is to know when it comes to New York’s tallest building is
Jerry
: the first car
super app
with expert travel knowledge. We’ll break down the building’s monumental height and how to make the most of your visit to the Big Apple.
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What is the tallest building in New York?

Punctuating New York City’s impressive skyline is the tallest building in the US, the western hemisphere, and seventh-tallest in the world: One World Trade Center. The awe-inspiring structure stands at 1,776 feet, aptly measured to represent the year the country gained its independence in 1776.
Opened in 2014, One World Trade Center, or The Freedom Tower, has become an integral part of New Yorkers’ lives and a bucket list item for visitors on a global scale. One World Trade Center symbolizes the resilience, community, and humanity of New Yorkers. As an ode to the original Twin Towers with an identical footprint, the mighty building honors their presence while rising above their statures with its 104 stories.
David Childs, the consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill/New York, designed One World Trade Center with intricate details in mind. Each floor’s octagon shape creates a refraction effect that shines through the city during the day, and the building illuminates the city with its iconic beacon at night.

Can I visit One World Trade Center?

Yes—One World Trade Center was designed with visitors in mind. Located in the financial district of Downtown Manhattan, New York’s Tallest Building is easily accessible. 
From somber sights in the
9/11 Memorial and Museum
to world-class cuisine at
ONE Dine
, the building is a must-visit. Once there, you can’t miss the attraction 102 stories up—
One World Observatory
. The One World Observatory made its debut in 2015, offering a breathtaking view from an observation deck towering 1,250 feet above the city streets.

What to do at One World Trade Center

To fully immerse yourself in the attractions at the Freedom Tower, here’s the inside information:
  • The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is open daily between 9:00 am and 8:00 pm. With testimonies, over 10,000 artifacts, and 2,000 firsthand accounts of that devastating day, you can pay homage to the heroes and victims of September 11, 2001.
  • One World Observatory is open seven days a week from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Bring your best-quality camera or get your photo professionally snapped for a souvenir of the city’s most spectacular views.
  • ONE Dine serves up New York’s finest meals from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm daily with the last reservation at 6:45 pm. You’ll need an Observatory ticket to get in, but once you do, you can sink your teeth into high-quality cuisine, snacks, and cocktails.
If heights don’t make you queasy, you can experience the Sky Portal—a glass floor offering a 100-story view of the New York streets below!

How to get there

With 12 subways and PATH trains routed to One World Trade Center, it’s almost hard not to get there. While you may be tempted to hail a good ‘ole yellow taxi, there’s an abundance of ways to arrive at the iconic site. Here are some of the easiest options:
  • By taxi or
    rideshare service
    : Use either 7WTC - Corner of Barclay St. and Greenwich St. or 4WTC - Corner of Liberty and Church St. as your destination
  • By subway: Stop at Fulton Street/Park Place using the following trains: 1 to Cortlandt Street, 2/3/4/5/A/C/J/Z to Fulton Street, 2/3/E to Park Place, or R/W to Rector Street or Cortlandt Street
  • By bus: Take bus routes 22, 5, 20, 9, or 103, or get the full schedule
    here
    . You can also get onboard a
    Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour
    and get off at stops 11, 12, or 13 on the Downtown route
  • By ferry: You can take a ferry from either Midtown Manhattan, New Jersey, Queens, or Staten Island
  • By PATH: Take the Trans-Hudson PATH rail to New Jersey and hop off at the WTC Stop
If you dare to drive through the NYC streets, you can land in a parking garage at ​​75 West St., 90 West St., and 73 Church St. BY PATH.

What are other notable buildings in New York?

Although your travel day could easily be booked by One World Trade Center alone, there’s still more to see in the
Big Apple
. Two towering buildings worth an honorable mention, Central Park Tower and 111 West 57th Street, might just make your itinerary, too.
A behemoth at 1,550 feet, Central Park Tower is the tallest residential building in the western hemisphere. If you’ve got a healthy bank account, you could spring for a 569-square-foot studio for $1.5 million. 
It’s one thing to be the tallest building, but what about the skinniest? Standing at 1,420 feet, 111 West 57th Street holds the distinct honor of being the skinniest building in the world. It also holds a spot on “Billionaires’ Row,” which is home to Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman among others.

Where to find affordable car insurance

Whether you’re
a prospective resident of New York
or an architectural enthusiast renting a car for a visit, you’ll be looking at the third most expensive car insurance rates in the country. That’s right, New York has plenty of the “most” and “best,” and this is one list that’s not exactly ideal to be on.
If you’re a New Yorker hurting for a cheaper premium, look no further than the phone in your hand. With the broker app
Jerry
, you can nail down the lowest rate for the highest-quality coverage in a New York minute. It’s as simple as a download, a brief survey of your information, and a click of a button to select your new-and-improved policy.
Start spreading the news, because Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance!
Jerry
was absolutely worth it. I saved $150, which might not sound like a lot, but really helps me as a New York City resident.” —Jameson T.
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