Best Places in the Financial District (DOWNTOWN NYC)

I’ve been to New York 15 times and still long to return – there is always something new to discover in the city! Check out my NYC series to read more tourist tips and advice (where to eat, stay and what to do in Uptown, Midtown, and Downtown New York). Because Downtown has so many areas, I split its post in two. Many first-time tourists to NYC will likely spend most of their time in Midtown – only venturing Downtown to visit the Financial District.

This post is specifically on the Financial District (FiDi) of Downtown (located at the bottom tip of Manhattan). However, there is a LOT more to explore Downtown! Therefore, check out my prior Downtown post that covers eight other areas Downtown to visit (as listed on the below map). One thing to note when travelling Downtown, it is not as easy to navigate as Uptown and Midtown. The streets of Downtown are not in a gridline/ordered by number (like Midtown). Thus, I heavily rely on Google maps Downtown.

Fortunately, Subway stations offer free wifi. Therefore you can pop into one of them to do a google search if you get lost! Also, frequent subway trains travel directly from Times Square to the Financial District. For example, the E train will take you from the heart of Times Square (42nd Street) direct to the World Trade Center station.

1. Financial District (FiDi)
2. Tribeca
3. Chinatown
4. Little Italy & Nolita
5. East VillageSA3
6. Lower East Side
7. SoHo (including Hudson Square) & NoHo
8. West Village (Greenwich Village)
9. Meatpacking District

The following Financial District sections are included in this post (click to navigate directly to the section):

ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY

I’ve visited One World Observatory on two occasions. While its views are impressive and cover a significant distance, I don’t think it’s quite as impressive as the observation decks in the heart of Midtown. Notably, in Midtown you are close to the Empire State Building, Central Park, etc. Thus, gaining a fantastic view of them. However, in FiDi, you are quite a distance from these landmarks.

From the top of One World, the views are so vast that buildings look like specks in the distance. Also, it has no outdoor area. Therefore the glass makes it difficult to achieve good photographs (unlike Rockefeller and The Empire State). However, there are excellent views over the Hudson River from One World. Thus you can see fantastic views of the bridges and the Statue of Liberty (see above gallery).

Tickets are currently $38 to buy directly from its website (we used our Sightseeing Pass). I suggest going just before sunset to make the most of both daylight and the pretty night lights. Also, make sure to take a walk through the impressive Westfield Shopping Center inside the World Trade Center!

Other Observation Decks

Indeed, One World is the main observation deck in the Downtown area of NYC. The Top of the Rock (Midtown) is still my favourite observation deck! However, The Edge Observation and Summit One have recently opened in Midtown – both look fantastic! I can’t wait to visit one of these in June – I will keep you posted!

9/11 MEMORIAL

The 9/11 Memorial is on eight acres of the World Trade Centers grounds. It offers a place of remembrance, reflection, and somewhere to pay your respect. Even with the busy streets located nearby, there is a feeling of silence and solitude here.

The beautiful site honours the almost three thousand who died in the attacks. Each of their names is inscribed on the bronze surrounding the reflecting pools. Indeed, the reflection pools look beautiful when lit up at night – I found this a touching time to reflect. Notably, the memorial features the largest human-made waterfalls in North America.

9/11 Museum

We spent so long in the 9/11 Museum that we missed our ferry afterwards! It is much larger than I expected and loops around in a format that you are unsure of how much space is left to cover. There are 110,000 square feet to cover!

I found the Museum unsettling at times due to such a tragedy becoming a tourist attraction. Thus, this is why I didn’t take many photos inside. However, the families of those affected have permitted these items to be displayed. Therefore, I reminded myself that the museum is to pay respect and ensure their lives are not forgotten. Indeed, it is a place of remembrance and honouring those lives lost.

There are some very emotional phone calls and items that people may find hard to listen to/view. Additionally, clothing, videos, photos, drawings, and even the remains of firetrucks and sections of the buildings are on exhibition. You can see these items disintegrated from fire and broken by the atrocities of that day. It is quite a sombre visit to the museum. Thus, perhaps not a day to plan for cocktails after visiting! We were able to use our Sightseeing Pass pass for entry here.

Second 9/11 Tribute Museum

Additionally, there is another 9/11 museum – the 9/11 Tribute Museum. Here, it is not only artefacts on display. Personal stories are told by people directly affected too. I have not yet visited. I can imagine it is very emotional due to the personal accounts. [Update 2023, this Museum is not currently open]

SHOPPING

Westfield Shopping Center (World Trade Center) quickly became a must-see for tourists after opening a few years ago! If you visit the Trade Center/Financial District, you must go into the centre for a quick look! Its architectural design is beautiful! Photos don’t even do it justice – the scope and size are more impressive in reality. I prefer it in the evening when its colourful lights come on.

Brookfield Place Shopping Center is located across the road from Westfield and is another impressive architectural centre. I haven’t yet visited. However, its Winter Garden looks beautiful! It’s on my list for my June trip. Both Westfield and Brookfield have many designer shops. Therefore, they are not very budget-friendly!

IRISH HUNGER MEMORIAL

The Irish Hunger Memorial is only a 10-minute walk from One World Trade. The memorial is close to the Hudson River. There’s not much else to do in this area. However, as an Irish person, it was worth a visit! It was nice to reflect on the many Irish who travelled to NYC during the famine and remember the strong links between Ireland and NYC.

The memorial represents a rural Irish landscape. It has the stone ruins of an authentic Irish cottage, vegetation, and stones from every county of Ireland. The abandoned cottage was from the 19th century – donated by the Slack family and transported from the west of Ireland! The memorial was refurbished at c. $5million and reopened in 2017. Unfortunately, due to the refurbishments at that time, I could not walk the path to the cottage and viewing point.

On a sunny day, it is nice to grab a coffee and walk back up to Midtown from here (along the Hudson River).

STONE STREET/BARS

If you are heading towards Wall Street, a pretty street to visit (only a 5-minute walk from Wall Street) is Stone Street. It is one of New York’s oldest streets. It looks especially nice during summer evenings when you can sit outdoors on the cobbled stone street, with pretty lights hanging across the street, and enjoy food/drinks. (N.B. I found it difficult to find this street as it’s split into two).

Also, a mere 2-minute walk from here is the famous The Dead Rabbit bar. Founded by two Irish men, it’s been named Best Bar in the World and still features in the top 25.

WALL STREET

New York Stock Exchange

Less than a 15-minute walk from One World Trade is where you will find New York Stock Exchange. Due to tightened security measures, access is prohibited to visit inside of NYSE. However, it’s still a popular spot to visit. It is especially nice when the Christmas tree is outside of it over the festive season! Trinity Church beautifully frames the end of Wall Street. Federal Hall is along here too.

Charging Bull & Fearless Girl

The iconic bronze statue, Charging Bull, is only a 5-minute walk from NYSE. The Bull was created in the wake of the 1987 Black Monday market crash. It acts as a symbol of aggressive and optimistic rising financial prosperity. The statue is very popular with tourists and in popular culture. Another bronze statue, Fearless Girl, was installed in the Financial District in 2017 by State Street Global Advisors. I worked for them at the time. Therefore, I got to see the statue in our Dublin office (as well as in NYC)! Fearless Girl promotes female empowerment – especially in the finance world. It was to be a brief installment. However, it proved so popular that she returned to the Financial District and now stands facing off the NYSE.

Federal Hall National Memorial

This beautiful building is located on Wall Street and is composed of several different architectural styles. A statue of George Washington stands at the front of the building and is a popular spot for photos. I haven’t yet visited the inside of Federal Hall. However, if you like politics and history, you will likely enjoy a tour of it. The Bill of Rights passed here. The current museum houses artefacts from the inauguration of George Washington.

Federal Reserve Tour

I was super excited to learn that you can do a tour of the Federal Reserve. Here, you can go 80 feet below street level to see its gold vault (actual bars of gold!)! Less than a 5-minute walk from Federal Hall/NYSE is where you will find the Federal Reserve. The tour is free though you will need to book it online. Tickets book up quickly! Therefore, book this activity once it is available! The tour groups are small and provide a lot of history on the Federal Reserve. For example, roles and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve, viewing of artefacts, etc.

Though parts of this tour were interesting, I think most people were longing to get down to see the gold! Unfortunately, during my visit, we were unable to view the gold due to activity happening in the vaults at the time! The Federal Reserve website provides some great information about the gold vault. NB, be aware if you suffer with claustrophobia as it is a bit tight in the lift (and you go very far underground in it)!

Other Financial Tours

Some other tours in FiDi that may be of interest to finance and history lovers include The Museum of American Finance. It receives fantastic reviews. However, be aware that it is currently looking for a new home! Keep an eye on its website. Hopefully, it will reopen in time for your visit. The Wall Street Experience offers tours such as the Financial Crisis tour and Wall Street Insider Tour. They also receive good reviews. Uncle Sams New York is yet another tour that receives good reviews. See its Alexander Hamilton Financial District Tour for a walking tour around the Wall Street area. On the border of Financial District vs. Tribeca is City Hall. Here, you can take an Archive tour (for those interested in politics and history). It is one of the oldest City Halls in the States that are still in use and houses its original governmental functions.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

I am embarrassed to say that even though I have seen the Brooklyn Bridge many times, I have not yet walked it!!! I have travelled to Brooklyn to see it too. There are great views of the bridge from there! I’m usually in NYC over Christmas (when the weather is freezing). Thus, I plan to walk it during my next summer trip!

The Manhattan entrance to the bridge is only a few minutes’ walk from Federal Hall/Wall Street. South Seaport provides some beautiful views of the bridge from Pier 17. If you intend to walk the bridge, a popular choice is to get a subway to Brooklyn and walk it back to Manhattan. Therefore, you will be facing the NYC skyline during your walk and gain the best views of the city!

SEAPORT DISTRICT / PIER 17

Seaport District is less than a 15-minute walk from NYSE/Federal Hall. It has undergone significant redevelopment and rebranding over the last few years. During the summer months, it has outdoor concerts, pop-up theatre, bands, and cinema, to name a few. There are some nice places to eat here – I ate in Malibu Farm (Pier 17) overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge.

Pier 17 is popular for its ice skating rink over the winter period. It has an incredible backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge while you skate! Especially magical in the evening when the lights are on! Seaport boasts one of the most popular smaller Christmas trees in NYC – found on one of its pretty cobbled streets!

Read the Seaport District website for more information on the area. There’s also a South Seaport Museum if you wish to learn more about the history of Seaport area (I have not yet visited the museum).

STATUE OF LIBERTY

For a free boat ride by The Statue of Liberty catch the free Staten Island ferry. The ferry is just a 10-15 minute walk from Wall Street/South Seaport. It is down at the tip of Manhattan (by Battery Park) and leaves from Whitehall Terminal. Indeed, you will likely see crowds gathering for this free ferry – it’s hard to miss once you find your way down! It will take you for a short boat ride to Staten Island. Also, you can hop right back on a boat to return once you reach Staten Island.

Would you believe that in the fifteen times I’ve been to NYC, Ellis Island is another location that I have not yet visited! The shame!! However, I have taken the Staten Island ferry by the statue several times. Again, this is somewhere that I would prefer to visit during the summer months. During the Summer, I can enjoy the boat tour in the sun and likely have better views over Manhattan. Also, while in New Jersey, I took a bike ride along the Hudson. This bike ride provides fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty!!

When visiting the Statue of Liberty, you can do a museum tour and go up to the crown and pedestal of Lady Liberty. However, you will likely need to book this in advance. My mother visited the museum on one of our trips and still speaks of how emotional it was. Moreover, it is personal to us Irish as so many Irish passed through here when immigrating during the famine. Click here for details on planning your trip (for example, booking tickets to the pedestal, crown, Statue of Liberty Museum, and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration).

SKYSCRAPER MUSEUM

I visited the Skyscraper Museum on one of my first trips to NYC. It’s a small museum mainly composed of exhibitions involving reading and photos. Unless you are an architect or history lover, you may not be interested in this museum. There are some models of the city in the museum too. It is a museum for those interested in history, reading, and looking at a lot of information on the construction, development, and density growth of the NYC skyline (through its buildings).

WATCH MY YOUTUBE

Have you been to the Financial District in NYC? If so, have you any other suggestions of places to visit here? Please leave comments below – I’d love some recommendations for my next trip!

Thanks for reading,

Anita

xx