The Oculus: New York’s futuristic station

What You Need to Know About the Oculus

• Nestled between One World Trade Center and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, the Oculus is impossible to miss. This striking white building resembles a pair of bird wings. It houses the WTC Transportation Hub, the World Trade Center station where PATH trains depart for New Jersey.
• The Oculus replaced the original PATH station, destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks and the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. The project took over 10 years to complete: it launched in 2004 and the new station opened in March 2016. Total construction cost: nearly $4 billion.
• Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the complex. He also designed the Lyon Saint-Exupéry TGV station in France and Liège-Guillemins station in Belgium. You’ll notice striking similarities among all three stations.

What to See at the Oculus

• Enter from Church Street, facing Dey Street, for the best first impression. You’ll step directly into the vast atrium with a striking view of One World Trade Center from this angle.
• Take the escalators or stairs down into the central atrium. This oval space stretches 111 m (364 ft) and is topped by an impressive glass ceiling.
• The complex houses a major shopping center, Westfield World Trade Center, open from 10 am to 7 pm. Stores include Apple, Banana Republic, Bose, Christian Dior, H&M, Samsonite luggage, Hugo Boss, Lacoste, L’Occitane, Sephora, Swatch watches, Pure Liquid wine shop, and Victoria’s Secret.
• For a quick bite, you’ll find Pret A Manger, Starbucks, and Shake Shack.
• Follow the gallery toward the World Trade Center to reach the station entrance and PATH train platforms. Note: the OMNY card and New York transit passes don’t work for PATH trains to New Jersey. To visit New Jersey, including Paulus Hook for views of the New York skyline, buy a ticket at the automated machines. One-way fare in 2026: $3.

How to Get to the Oculus