9/11 Memorial & Museum FAQs: Tickets, Hours & Access
The outdoor 9/11 Memorial plaza is free and open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM; the underground Museum is ticketed, open Wednesday through Monday from 9 AM to 7 PM, and closed Tuesdays. Adult Museum admission is $36, with a limited number of free tickets released for Mondays. Most visitors spend one to two and a half hours on site, and both the plaza and Museum are wheelchair accessible.
This page brings together the questions visitors ask most often before planning a visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. It covers cost, hours, what to expect from security screening, and practical guidance for visiting with children or accessibility needs.
For deeper detail on any single topic, the linked guides below go further than the short answers here.
The Memorial and the Museum Are Two Different Things
Many of the questions below come down to a single distinction: the outdoor Memorial plaza and the underground Museum are separate parts of the same site, with different hours, different costs, and a different purpose. The plaza is a place of mourning, open to anyone at any time within its hours; the Museum documents the events of September 11, 2001, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing through exhibits and artifacts, and requires a ticket. Our guide to the Memorial versus the Museum sets out what each one includes.
Tickets and Practical Basics
The outdoor Memorial, including the twin reflecting pools and the inscribed names, is free and does not require a ticket. Museum admission is priced by age, starting at $36 for adults, with free entry for U.S. veterans, 9/11 family members, and active-duty first responders. Full current pricing and how to buy is covered in our guide to 9/11 Memorial & Museum tickets, and a timed entry ticket can be booked ahead of your visit.
Is the outdoor 9/11 Memorial free to visit?
Yes. The outdoor Memorial plaza, including the reflecting pools, the inscribed names, the Survivor Tree, and the Memorial Glade, is free to enter and open daily from 8 AM to 8 PM. No ticket or reservation is needed. Only the underground Museum requires paid, timed admission. See our guide to free versus paid access for full detail.
Is the 9/11 Museum ticketed, and how much does it cost?
Yes, the Museum requires a timed-entry ticket. Adult admission (ages 18–64) is $36, seniors (65+) and college students are $30, ages 13–17 are $30, and ages 7–12 are $24; children 6 and under need a free ticket. U.S. veterans, 9/11 family members, and active FDNY, NYPD, and PAPD members are admitted free with identification. Our tickets and prices guide has the full breakdown.
What are the Museum’s hours, and is it really closed on Tuesdays?
The Museum is open Wednesday through Monday, 9 AM to 7 PM, with last admission at 6 PM, and it is closed every Tuesday. The outdoor Memorial plaza keeps longer hours and stays open daily, including Tuesdays. Our opening hours guide covers holiday and anniversary schedule changes as well.
Are there free tickets to the Museum on Mondays?
Yes. A limited number of free, timed Museum tickets are released online each Monday morning on a first-come, first-served basis, and they tend to go quickly. Last entry on these days is earlier than usual, in the late afternoon. Our guide to free versus paid access explains how to plan around this.
How long should I plan to spend at the Memorial & Museum?
Most visitors spend roughly one to two and a half hours on site in total, with the Museum itself typically taking about two hours given the amount of material on display. Visitors who want to read names, sit at the Survivor Tree, or take the exhibits slowly should allow more time. Our guide on how long to spend at the site breaks this down further.
Is the 9/11 Memorial & Museum suitable for children?
The outdoor Memorial is appropriate for visitors of most ages, as it is an open, contemplative plaza rather than a graphic exhibit. The Museum contains historical footage, personal artifacts, and accounts of the attacks that can be distressing, and is generally considered more suitable for older children and teenagers who can process that material. Our guide on visiting with children offers age guidance and ways to prepare them beforehand.
Can I take photographs at the Memorial and in the Museum?
Photography is permitted on the outdoor Memorial plaza. Inside the Museum, photography rules vary by gallery, and some areas restrict photography out of respect for those killed and for other visitors. Our photography guide sets out where cameras are welcome and where restraint is expected.
Is the site accessible for visitors with disabilities?
Yes. Both the outdoor Memorial plaza and the Museum are wheelchair accessible, with accessible entrances, elevators, and restrooms. Visitors with mobility, hearing, or vision needs can find specific accommodations, including assistive listening devices and tactile elements, described in our accessibility guide.
How do I get to the 9/11 Memorial?
The site is at 180 Greenwich Street in Lower Manhattan and is reachable by several subway lines serving the World Trade Center and Fulton Street stations, as well as by PATH train and ferry. Our guide on how to get to the 9/11 Memorial covers routes and nearby stops in detail.
What does security screening involve, and what can’t I bring in?
Visitors pass through airport-style security screening, including bag checks, before entering the Memorial plaza and again before entering the Museum. Large bags, sharp objects, and certain other items are not permitted, and storage options are limited, so it is best to travel light. Our guide on what to bring lists what to leave at home.
What’s the difference between the Memorial and the Museum?
The Memorial is the free outdoor plaza with the two reflecting pools, the names of those killed, and the Survivor Tree; it is a site of mourning open to all. The Museum is the ticketed, underground exhibition space that documents the events of September 11, 2001, and the 1993 bombing through artifacts, recorded testimony, and historical exhibits. Our guide to the Memorial versus the Museum explains what to expect from each.
Is the 9/11 Memorial worth visiting?
Most visitors describe it as a meaningful, if somber, experience, whether they come to the outdoor plaza alone or add the Museum. It is not a typical sightseeing stop, and visitors should expect a reflective rather than entertaining experience. Our guide on whether the 9/11 Memorial is worth visiting discusses what shapes that answer for different visitors.
