The Oculus is a beautiful representation of the New York spirit. It is a shopping center, an architectural landmark, a transport hub, and a historic piece honoring NYC. It's a part of New York as much as Grand Terminal or Penn Station is. Oculus gets busy on a daily basis because of all the things I mentioned above. The shops in the Oculus are nice and tend to be on the higher end of a price range. You have a variety of selections from Apple Store to luxury brands. The service at any store is pretty representative of what the Oculus aspires to be; excellence. It's beautiful and bright and at its core, a beacon of hope. read more

I go through the Oculus almost every day and it has really become part of my routine. It is great for catching so many different trains and it makes getting around the city feel easy. I usually pass through when I am heading to Eataly or taking the Path, and I always end up stopping for something. I love the yogurt place there and the Häagen Dazs is another favorite. Yesterday I went with my niece and we had such a nice time. We walked around, got ice cream, and did a little window shopping. It was simple and fun, the kind of visit that feels relaxed and unplanned. The whole space is bright, open, and clean, and there are so many stores that you can always find something to look at. It is one of those places where you can grab a treat, pick up something you need, or just stroll for a bit. I never get tired of going through here. read more

We visited Oculus World Trade Center and were impressed by both the architecture and the atmosphere. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus is the centerpiece of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and is famous for its striking white ribs that resemble a bird taking flight. The interior is bright, spacious, and filled with natural light, making it feel more like a modern art gallery than a transit station. What we liked most was simply walking through the space and taking in the design. Beyond being a transportation hub, it connects shopping, dining, and several transit lines, making it one of the most recognizable landmarks in Lower Manhattan. read more

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

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A striking architectural marvel right at the WTC. To me, it's symbolic of hope, strength, growth and healing post 9-11. The last time I visited, this was not here so it was amazing to see this structure up close. Instead of another typical mall, this is a beautiful addition to this area. I recommend checking it out inside and outside. Love that there is a subway stop directly to this mall. read more

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

I love the architecture of the Oculus. It is rather spellbinding when you first walk into the structure. The site serve as a transportation area as well as shopping and eating to one's content. read more

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This 800,000 sq. ft. structure is a transportation hub for PATH trains and houses the Westfield mall. At a cost of over $4 billion to construct, this building is visually appealing on the outside, but jaw droppingly impressive on the inside. You don't really get an appreciation for the sheer size and scope of this place until you first walk through the door and then gape in awe at how large, open, and beautifully designed the Oculus truly is. The main floor houses a variety of high-end retailers and dining options. While the platforms connect various subways and PATH stations. Additionally, various events are held within the Oculus including art exhibits, musical performances, retail events as well as a farmer's market. Fun fact about the Oculus: the structure's exterior steel ribs reaching up and out is symbolic of a hand releasing a dove. While the interior has a huge skylight, allowing light to fill the massive space as a memorial to the attacks on the twin towers. This light symbolizing a brightness that continues to shine through after the darkness of the tragedy. read more

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We visited here on our way to the 9/11 Memorial and what struck me was the enormous size of this structure. The stark white simplicity of the silhouette felt like a skeleton and then waves of commuters would wash through as trains arrived and then disappear. Definitely unique and nothing in comparison in my experience to the size and feel of this space. read more

Oculus - Sidewalk views of the Oculus as we approached from several blocks away - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

The Oculus is hands down one of my favorite buildings in NYC. Since this month marks the 10 year anniversary since opening - it was about time I wrote a review. As a longtime Lower Manhattan resident, I've admired it since day one of its opening -- and it never stops impressing me. Officially the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, this massive transit station and shopping destination stands as a powerful symbol of New York City's resilience after 9/11. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the structure was envisioned to resemble a bird being released from a child's hand -- a beautiful representation of hope and rebirth. When you step inside, you truly feel that symbolism. The scale alone is breathtaking. Built with approximately 11,500 tons of structural steel and rising 160 feet tall, the soaring white ribs create one of the most stunning interior spaces in the city. It feels open, airy, and almost cathedral-like. One of the most meaningful features is the preserved slurry wall -- a remnant of the original World Trade Center built in the 1960s to hold back the Hudson River. Seeing it integrated into the space is a powerful reminder of history and endurance. Yes, it cost around $4 billion and took 12 years to complete (opening in March 2016 after significant delays), but in my opinion, it was absolutely worth it. The result is extraordinary. Functionally, it's a major transit hub -- the third-largest in NYC -- serving over 250,000 commuters daily. It seamlessly connects the PATH trains to New Jersey with 12 NYC subway lines, making it incredibly convenient. Beyond transportation, it houses the Westfield World Trade Center mall, with over 350,000 square feet of retail and dining. Whether you're grabbing something quick at the food court (which has tons of variety) or browsing shops like Apple, Eataly, Hugo Boss, Moleskine, Longines, Charles Tyrwhitt, Kiehl's, Swatch, Goldenbar, Pure Liquid, and more -- something for everyone. Best of all, it's free to visit and open 24 hours a day (store hours vary). Even if you're not commuting or shopping, it's worth stopping by just to take in the architecture. The Oculus isn't just a station -- it's an experience. A true NYC landmark. read more

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Shopping Center and an architectually stunning space in the World Trade Center. I don't know how many stores encompass this space but there are many. There's lots going on here: *PAC, Performance Arts Center where A Christmas Carol is currently playing *Walkway to Brookfield Center--high end shops *Easy access to several MTA train lines and the Path In the summer, they'll run movie nights as well as other events. Sam Edelman and Sephora are two of my go to shops here. Love shopping at Oculus especially on a rainy day. read more

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Oculus is a very clean space. It's actually a mall the pays tribute to the twin towers. Absolutely amazing to see in person from the inside to the outside. Very well engineered and thoughtful building. I was surprised to see stores inside, I thought it was just a structure to get you from the subway to the WTC. read more

Oculus - Outside of Oculus, made to look like wings - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

Such an unexpected find after our visit to the 9/11 Memorial. This underground mall is gorgeous and filled with amazing (mostly luxury) shops--fun to browse even if you're just window shopping. There's also a food hall Gansevoort Liberty Market with several delicious food options. We decided on Peruvian food from Cebichelsea and it was so good. It's super convenient too since it connects directly to the train station. Definitely a must-stop if you live in NYC or are visiting--don't skip it! read more

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PROS: This is a wonderful mall with luxury stores and basic stores located inside. Staff is friendly, place is clean, atmosphere is magnificent! CONS: Bathroom is tough to find and you must find a parking lot and pay in order to come by here OVERALL: Not a bad mall at all! If I was in walking distance of this mall id be here all the time read more

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always thought this building was cool from afar and up close. it's a mall inside but i mainly like the architecture from outside lol read more

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The Oculus. Sounds ominous. Like a thriller movie title...thinking dim light scattered from above, alternating with shadows set in a cavernous open space. Or maybe it evokes your high school SAT verbal nemesis: oculus--what is the definition of this word? a) a supernatural, mysterious or mystical belief, practice or phenomena b) something that is neither harmful or offensive c) a round or eye-like opening or design, such as a circular window or an opening at the apex of a dome d) an optical instrument with a lens for each eye, used for viewing distant objects If the first paragraph didn't give it away then the answer is C.* I jest. It's intriguing to think about how names for standout architectural landmarks are conceived. This thought-provoking structure was built between 2004 and 2016, as part of the World Trade Center reconstruction project. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, it's intended to resemble a child's hands releasing a dove into flight. The position of the building's skylights is so that each year on September 11, the sun shines directly through to illuminate the main interior atrium. Truly poetic. On a functional level, it's a transportation hub linking 12 subway lines and the PATH to NJ, and thousands of commuters walk thru it daily. It's also a retail mall with a couple stories of stores and restaurants managed by Westfield. Interestingly, one of the highlights when you search "Oculus NYC" on Google are its clean public bathrooms. I have not personally experienced these so can't comment here, though glad the $4 billion price tag has benefited the general public (insert wink here) lol. Overall will say the portion of the transportation areas directly under the Oculus building itself are much more modern, newer and cleaner--in line with other major international cities. The shops that are part of the Westfield Mall are open Mon- Fri 9:00am-7:00 pm, Sat 10:00am-8:00pm, Sun 11:00am-7:00 pm. Hafta agree with some other reviews in that aside from the small retail stands on the ground floor, the shops here are mostly very high end and prices are on the high side for almost everything, concertedly geared towards tourists, luxury shoppers and providing more name brand recognition for brands we're familiar with due to their aspirational price tags. *if you're curious what the other words are they are a) occult, b) innocuous, d) binoculars. read more

Oculus - Straight down the center looking east - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - New York, New York

While exploring Lower Manhattan, I finally had a chance to see the Oculus on a Thursday evening. This is such a architecture masterpiece. The Oculus is 160 feet tall, and the wings extend overhead from the center of the architecture. The Oculus opened in 2016 with the Westfield mall launching shortly afterwards in August. The cost to build the Oculus was approximately $4.00 billion dollars and it took an additional 10 years to build it! Inside the Oculus, there is transportation paths to New Jersey and twelve different NYC subway lines! The interior is stunning! The floors are white marble, with two levels of shops and dining locations! There are events that are hosted here as well like art exhibits and seasonal events! The Oculus connects near the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and One World Trade Center. This is a must visit if you're visiting New York City for the first time. It's so beautiful! read more

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My 1st job out of college (1986), was working at Merrill Lynch at 1LP (Liberty Plz); two blocks from The Works Trade Center. Truly enjoying World Trade 2, observation deck where Native NYers would go and get our broadway theatre tickets at 1/2 price, mainly orchestra seating. I did this for ; over 15 yrs. Life does come full circle, in that, out of my current office window on the 50th, 1 LP faces my building. The Oculus fixture does remind me of a woman's girlie part; with a beautiful meaning behind it (see the pic). The Oculus Beer & Garden is reminder, to please come and enjoy simple great food; that we all delight in. It's a great place to convene family, friends, coworkers or biz acquaintances who are looking for a great vibe, beer & the remembrance of The Towers. ALL the murals are breathtaking that surrounds you. You feel it in everything, and it's a sober, yet an appreciative experience that we're here celebrating life, FiDi, a plethora of iconic stores; pubs, and great food. Now the fun...there is a Cocktail Menu, Beer Menu & a Food Men. WOWDelicioso & all with personality. Like the loaded Beef Hot Dog, a loaded Bratwurst, the Oculus BLT, Loaded Nacho & Chicken Tenders. Simply heavenly made. read more

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Such a beautiful and symbolic piece of architecture. Lovely to take some time to walk around and really look at the structure, and of course stroll around inside the huge shopping complex to get warm in the colder months. If you're into anime: this was a must-see monument (iykyk ) and be sure to glance across the road at Mercer Labs for a neat little Easter egg of sorts (coincidence, I think not!) read more

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

Very cool architecture! It's fascinating to see that it's an indoor mall with transportation all around it. This makes it a truly unique place to visit. There are so many stores! We walked around and were very impressed. It's definitely a spot you shouldn't miss while in the World Trade Center area. read more

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

Beautiful architecture. While enjoying that, you can shop a little, eat a little and sit and relax inside if in need of a warm space to sit in. The subways stop here, which makes it very convenient. It is also where you would walk to get to the skyline view of the now called Freedom Towers. Offices are located in this building right next to the ticketing center, so do not be confused and keep walking to the end or else security will stop you outside. The signage is not very clear and it seems like that is all security is doing, directing all the tourists to the end of the walkway. read more

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A great place to hang out as this is a hub for PATH and MTA trains. Lots of upper brand stores. This is by the 911 memorial. Lots of traffic. Some places to eat here as well. Finally got to see the final Oculus completed as we came here when it was still partially in construction. It's a big open beautiful concept but too much open space, I feel. Still beautiful architectural construction and design to visit and see while in NYC. ;) [104R,2025] read more

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Amazing and a must visit. There is a 911 museum store here. Absolutely beautiful architecture and truly a great place to go of visiting New York. read more

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The Oculus is a must visit when in the city. There are many shops and dining options around. During our visit they had a skating rink on the lower level which we thought was pretty cool. We saw plenty of security and police around. We used PATH going to and from Jersey so we made frequent stops here. read more

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Tourist attraction located in downtown NYC. Lots of stores to shop in, restaurants, etc, but also seating for those who just want to hang out. read more

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

Oculus World Trade Center is a transit center, providing a direct connection between the PATH, a metropolitan railway to New Jersey and the New York City Subway. The PATH World Trade Center station and the New York City Subway's Chambers Street-World Trade Center station are located within the transit center. Commonly known as the Oculus, the station was designed by renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and cost $3.85 billion to build. The hollow interior, with its white marble floors, resembles a giant ice rink when viewed from above. The station opened in March 2016, and the Westfield WTC shopping mall opened on August 16, 2016. read more

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

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Loved visiting Oculus during my NY summer trip. There are plenty of transportation options from here, as well as shopping, and food & beverage. There are limited trains on the weekend, but plenty of accessibility m-f. read more

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

The Oculus, located right next to the 9/11 Memorial, is a beautiful shopping center highlighted by large vaulted ceilings with glass ceilings to allow for plenty of natural light to flood the area. It was clearly built with its photogenic nature in mind, but, I'm worried that that might be to its ultimate detriment. When I was there, I barely saw anyone going into any of the actual shops. Instead, most people stop on the stairs, take some sweeping pictures, and then maybe just roam the ground level, looking up at the ceiling. You will see that most reviews here are geared towards the aesthetics. And I think they are all very justified. However, this is ultimately a shopping center and unless people shop here, I'm not sure what is to come of this space. I'm sure it won't be torn down, but it definitely might be moved to something other than light retail. read more

Oh wow, The Oculus just looks even more impressive in person! It's almost hard to justify it in photos, a masterpiece of design, geometry, and elegant organic patterns. This would not feel out of place as a modern art museum, and even though it's in reality a shopping center, the shops do not stick out like sore thumbs. It was smart to have them encased in floor to ceiling glass fronts to complement 6 story glass atrium in the center. It is light, airy, spacious, serene. Despite the Oculus being busy, it never felt overbearing. Art and function, as lovely as it gets. read more

So, we were at the 9/11 Memorial and I had to use the restroom. I searched online and found a public one in the Oculus and it closed in 15 minutes. I headed over because it was so close. I followed the signs and ended up walking for 15 minutes before I found one. I also asked a guy who looked like security. He was not friendly. This is a huge multi-floor mall. I had no idea. It also didn't close until 9 pm, several hours away. I was so lost trying to exit the building. I was in hell. I'll never go back. It's all high-end stores anyway. There's also the entrance to PATH to get to NJ. I asked someone for help too but it was a lot of walking for just a restroom. read more

I have seen photos of a giant US flag at Oculus on 9/11. It is quite an experience to see Oculus in person. Oculus WTC is a working train station and a shopping mall but it is so beautiful like a piece of art. Located adjacent to the 9/11 memorial & museum, many tourists, myself included, considered it a part of the 9/11 experience. The outside of Oculus looks like a dove to me. May it be a dove of peace that brings us hope and peace. read more

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The Oculus is a transportation hub by the World Trade Center. As I walked by I originally thought it was an art display cause of its' architectural beauty. This beauty was quite costly because it originally had a $2 million budget in planning, but when the building was done it was more like $4 billion. From a project management perspective that's really breaking the bank. The moral of the story... when something is pretty... don't look at the price tag. read more

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Prior to 911 I used to like to walk the concourse and look at the shops at the World Trade Center. There was something about it that always made me feel like they had created something special. Not because of stores but because of what Manhattan was and how far it had come. The Oculus is nice. However, the long marble like corridor that goes from the atrium to the oculus is a special place. It really is a clean corridor. It is a special place in a city that does not have that kind of peace. The screens, the walls, I hope they always keep it that nice. read more

I cannot stop coming here ever since the Oculus was built. It smells very clean and nice every time I'm here. Nice getaway to be away from the streets. Everything is connected through the oculus, the MTA, path trains, freedom tower, and Brookfield mall so you don't need to wander outside in the cold or hot air outside. Bathrooms are all around you at each end of every level. The bathrooms used to be cleaner but not so much now. Flushing is kind of tough and very short lived. I have to flush it twice to get the toilet to flush the waste down. Also some soap dispensers are missing soap. Sometimes the bathrooms emit some smell that is off putting. Other than that, the Oculus itself is very dinosaur like with its architecture. It's like a dragon's den or an extinct dinosaur where you walk inside the skeleton. I heard that the whole architecture is made out of marble imported from Italy so you know it's expensive and fancy. Sometimes walking this mall can trip you since the floors or super sleek and smooth that can create falls so better watch out. There are elevators and escalators for immobile access. Other than that long walks to get from point A to point B. read more

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This is a really interestingly designed building that is a mall and access to the WTC train station. There are shops and dining within, as well as a large center area. Definitely worth stopping in to view it. read more

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This is an impressive structure to see in person. Even if you don't feel like shopping, go inside and check out its all-white interior with metal ribs. It resembles a dove or the interior of a whale skeleton. World Trade Center Station (nicknamed "Oculus") is one of the most interesting architecture designs of the modern age. It is a space for shopping, eating and catching the subway or train. It is located near the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and the Freedom Tower. Oculus is a transportation hub that took 14 years to complete at a cost of $4 billion. It is the world's most expensive train station. The transportation hub itself lies beneath the Oculus. Oculus (Latin word for "eye") opened in 2016 and replaces the original PATH station that was destroyed during the 9/11 attacks. I remember visiting Manhattan after 9/11 and seeing the temporary station that was put in place for a few years after the attacks. When I saw Oculus in person for the first time, I was pretty amazed by its design and how large it is. I love going inside the Oculus and watching all the people walk around on the lower concourse. It is one of the coolest structures I have ever been in. Oculus has over a 100 retail stores and restaurants if you want to walk around and explore more. read more

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I love a fun mall to shop at and this is a beautiful experience!! So many people and it's so crowded!! I loved my experience read more

The Oculus is a pretty cool structure looking building from the outside. It is home to many different stores/ coffee shops and a big Transit hub. read more

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The Oculus is hands-down one of the coolest buildings I've ever stepped foot into, and is arguably the coolest. From the outside, you're struck by the amazing spiral architecture, and once you're inside, you're amazed by the cleanliness and opulence. I didn't even do much shopping here, but I simply loved walking around the building and taking it all in. It looks so cool at night as well! read more

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The Oculus (est 2016) is a transportation hub and a shopping center as well as one of New York city's tourist landmarks. It has subway lines, the World Trade Center PATH station, and dozens of retailers. The structure's orientation serves as a lasting reminder of the attacks of September 11, 2001. The architectural design is a the brain child of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. If you look carefully from a distance the building resemble a dove leaving a child's hands. Overall, AMAZING architecture. read more

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This was built after I moved from New York City in December 2011, so I did not know it was there. I was in New York City for a few days walking around, ran into an old friend and she mentioned visiting the Oculus. I really like the very modern almost Space Age architecture of this building. The inside is as equally cool as the outside. The only thing I will say is that this architecture doesn't really fit the style of the Wall Street buildings that surround it. read more

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Amazing structure, building and architecture that must be seen. Located adjacent to the 911 Memorial. Although this a a shopping and dining area, the building and architecture has to be seen. Many retail shops, eateries, bars located underground but great ambiance. Check out this building, architecture and lighting- so awesome! read more

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