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Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District

Lower Manhattan and the Financial District in New York are the heart of the city when it comes to finance and law. The World Trade Center’s iconic Twin Towers used to be the focal point of Manhattan’s skyline. After the terrorist attacks on September 11th 2001, the One World Trade Centre, 9/11 Memorial and 9/11 Museum are the biggest draws to Downtown Manhattan (if not the whole city) Lower Manhattan is, as the name suggests, located at the most Southern part of the island. You’ll find it in between Chamber Street, the Hudson River the East River and Battery Park/New York Harbour.

Things to see in the Financial District

The Financial District consists of many offices and the headquarters of New York’s most important financial companies. Is this corporate environment any interesting for you as a tourist? Well, I would not recommend spending the night here, as a business district like this clears out after office hours. But for only a day? Definitely! There is a lot to see. The 9/11 Museum and Memorial of course, and how about the iconic Wall Street?

Financial District tour

Instead of taking on this urban jungle adventure all by yourself, you can opt for a guided tour. The guide will tell you all about Wall Street, both from a factual and a personal perspective.

Book the Financial District tour here

Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - Aerial View

Wall Street

Wall Street symbolises the American financial world and even has its own movie. I can’t guarantee you any Leonardo DiCaprio encounters, but Wall Street is definitely worth a visit in any case. Amongst the many skyscrapers, you’ll find the world-famous stock exchange, the Trinity Church that, back in the 20th century, dominated the skyline with her massive height of 282 feet, and the Federal Hall, where back in 1789 George Washington was inaugurated as the United States’ first-ever president.

The Charging Bull statue

Also not to be missed near Wall Street is the famous Wall Street Bull. This bronze bull statue, officially called the Charging Bull, attracts long lines of tourists. They all want to snap a picture with it, and probably also rub the bull’s nose, horns and ‘private parts’, as this is supposed to give luck.

The Fearless Girl statue

In 2017 another statue was added to the Financial District, named Fearless Girl. This statue of a fierce little girl was first placed across the bull, but after a year she was moved to a different location. This statue, that was created to honour International Women’s Day, can now be seen in front of the New York Stock Exchange.

Eric’s Tip: “On my Eric’s New York App, you can find the ‘Downtown Manhattan’ walking route. During this walk through the area, you’ll walk by some of the famous landmarks, but also spots that are less known. Open the app and select ‘walking routes’ to see an overview of the different routes.”

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have any questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.com.au. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - Bull Lower Manhattan and the Financial District in New York - Trinity Church

One World Observatory and The Oculus

The 9/11 Memorial and Museum are two places in Lower Manhattan that commemorate the 9/11 attacks. On the same site, there are a few more buildings that were built in the years after the attacks. One of those is One World Trade Center, where you can visit One World Observatory to have an impressive view over de surrounding area’s. A building that definitely attracts the attention is the Oculus, a white skeleton-like structure designed by world famous architect Calatrava. The Oculus is home to many shops and the World Trade Center subway station.

Stone Street

Once you’ve had enough of all things ‘business’, the solution is close-by. Right behind Wall Street, you’ll find Stone Street; an authentic little street that succeeded to escape from the rigorous renewals that hit this area during the end of the previous century. In the summer you can relax on one of the terraces that fill the street, enjoy a gourmet pizza at Adrienne’s Pizza Bar or an all-you-can-eat buffet at Ulysses.

Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - Stone Street Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - Statue Cruises

The Other side of Lower Manhattan

But Lower Manhattan has much more to offer, like the waterfront Battery Park, for example. Or the much smaller, historical Bowling Green. It isn’t much more than a big fountain with a couple of benches, but it is New York’s oldest park. Next to this park, you’ll find the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, which is also worth a visit. The New York Department of the National Museum of the American Indian is located inside this building

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Lower Manhattan is the entrance to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. If you are in this part of town, you can seize the opportunity of catching a boat for a beautiful tour to these world-famous hotspots.

For a variety of boat tours click here

Eric’s Tip: “Will you be visiting the Financial District in the warmer days? Bring a sweater or a coat! The massive buildings will have you walking in the shade most of the day. Even in winter, expect a windchill compared to elsewhere in town. The wind will ruthlessly blow through the so-called ‘canyons’, which can result in a windchill.”

Hey there, I'm Eric!

I'm a true New York fan with over 20 years of experience visiting and living in NYC. Here on my website, I share all my tips and valuable information to help you make the most of your trip. I personally test and regularly re-test everything on my site to ensure that what I write is useful, honest, and always up-to-date.

If you have any questions, are unsure about something, or want me to check your itinerary, please email me at eric@newyork.com.au. You can also follow me on Facebook or Instagram to get daily updates from New York.

Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - Museum of the American Indian Things to see in Lower Manhattan and the Financial District - 1WTC

Hotels in Lower Manhattan

You can find several good hotels and apartments in Lower Manhattan. A nice hotel close to the 9/11 Museum is Club Quarters World Trade Center. Here you can even book a room with a view of the square Memorial Pools. More centrally located in Lower Manhattan is the Artezen Hotel. If you want to stay close to Stone Street, the Wall Street Inn is a good, classic hotel. And for those who prefer to book an apartment in New York, there are very good options in this area as well, like WeLive Wall Street and several Sonder Apartments.

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