Guests staying at Arlo SoHo are only a short trip from one of the most recognizable additions to Lower Manhattan in recent years. The Oculus opened in 2016 as part of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex and quickly became one of those places people stop to photograph, even if they originally came downtown for something completely different.
It’s so eye-catching, there’s no doubt, it’ll stop you in your tracks. The building looks completely different from the office towers surrounding it.
Inside, the central hall is enormous, bright, and surprisingly calm for a transportation hub that has thousands of commuters every day. At street level, the Oculus connects shopping, subway lines, PATH trains, restaurants, and major downtown NYC landmarks all within the same complex.
For anyone searching for hotels near Oculus NYC, Arlo SoHo is just a short subway ride or rideshare away from the World Trade Center area, Lower Manhattan shopping, and several major transit connections right in downtown.
Why the Oculus Stands Out in Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan has plenty of historic buildings, older office towers, and Financial District streets. Then, suddenly, the Oculus just appears in the middle of it all, looking almost futuristic compared to everything nearby. We promise, you can’t miss it.
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the structure as part of the World Trade Center redevelopment project following September 11th. The white steel exterior and massive interior hall immediately catch people off guard the first time they walk inside. Many visitors expect a standard train station and end up standing there for several minutes, just looking around and taking it all in instead.
The architecture gets quite a bit of attention online, but the scale is what really surprises people in person. This is both inside and out.
The central hall is several stories high with long white structural ribs that cross overhead from one side of the building to the other. There are shops, staircases, subway entrances, and lower concourse levels that branch outward beneath the main hall. It gives the entire space a layered layout that feels very different from most transit stations around Manhattan.
There are also smaller details people miss at first. The skylight at the top of the structure opens annually on September 11th, which allows light into the central hall as part of the memorial design connected to the rebuilt World Trade Center site. Underground corridors connect the Oculus directly to nearby office buildings, subway lines, Brookfield Place, and surrounding sections of Lower Manhattan.
The Oculus as a Transportation Hub
This is probably the part of the Oculus people end up appreciating most during a trip to New York.
We understand that getting around Manhattan can feel intimidating at first. This is especially true for downtown where subway lines, street layouts, and different neighborhoods start overlapping quickly. The Oculus helps simplify a lot of that.
The transportation hub connects PATH trains to New Jersey along with several major subway lines serving Lower Manhattan and the rest of the city. Fulton Street transit connections, nearby subway stations, underground passageways, and World Trade Center access points all branch outward from the same general area.
Once you’ve passed through the Oculus once or twice, navigating downtown becomes much easier. Instead of constantly resurfacing above ground to figure out directions, people can go between train lines, shopping areas, office buildings, and nearby attractions through connected corridors below street level.
That convenience matters more than visitors usually expect before arriving to the city. Plus, everything is well-marked to navigate you where you want to go.
The Oculus also helps connect several different sections of Lower Manhattan together. From there, it’s easy to continue toward Tribeca, the Financial District, Battery Park, the Hudson River waterfront, or Brooklyn-bound subway lines nearby.
For a lot of visitors, the building is both a sightseeing stop and a useful place to get around the city.
Shopping Inside Westfield World Trade Center
Underneath the transportation hub, the Oculus connects directly to Westfield World Trade Center, one of the largest shopping centers in Lower Manhattan.
The retail portion includes national brands, fashion retailers, beauty stores, and technology shops. And you’ll find cafés, quick lunch spots, and restaurants spread throughout multiple underground concourses surrounding the main hall. Some people come specifically for shopping, while others end up there while transferring trains or exploring the World Trade Center area.
You can spend part of the afternoon around the 9/11 Memorial, head underground for lunch or shopping, then head toward Brookfield Place, Battery Park, or the Financial District all in one convenient area.
Exploring More of Lower Manhattan Nearby
The Oculus is connected to a number of the most visited areas in Lower Manhattan, which makes it easy to explore the area.
The 9/11 Memorial and Museum is only steps away at the World Trade Center site. One World Trade Center and the observatory entrance are close as well. A short walk west leads toward Brookfield Place and the Hudson River waterfront. And the Financial District and Wall Street area extend farther south and east. Battery Park, the Staten Island Ferry, and waterfront walking paths are all near the World Trade Center area, too.
Arlo SoHo guests can spend time around the Oculus, continue through Lower Manhattan attractions nearby, then head back toward SoHo, Hudson Square, or Tribeca later in the evening. There is so much to see and do in this area.
Staying at Arlo SoHo Near the Oculus NYC
The Oculus combines architecture, shopping, transportation, and public space in a way that feels uniquely tied to modern Lower Manhattan. A lot of people pass through while transferring trains and end up staying longer once they realize how much more there is to do.
Either way, it quickly becomes one of those places people remember after visiting New York.
Book your stay at Arlo SoHo to explore the Oculus, Westfield World Trade Center, and more of Lower Manhattan during your visit to the city.