Would you like to know the best way to walk the Highline park NYC? This post will provide all the information you need to walk the Highline park NYC from Chelsea to Hudson Yards, including a map and food recommendations too. I have also included information on things to do in Chelsea and Hudson Yards too.
New York City is my favourite city outside of London, and I last visited in summer 2022.
I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through my affiliate links.
In a hurry? Here are some quick Highline links:
- Download the free High Line app here.
- Try this guided tour of Chelsea and the High Line.
- Grab a NYC Go City Pass if you are in town for a few days.
- Need a hotel? This is the best mid-range hotel in Manhattan.
- Looking for Edge NYC? Read my Edge NYC post, or get Edge tickets here.
What is the Highline Park NYC?
The Highline park NYC is a beautiful and peaceful strip of public park in Manhattan. It is situated along an old elevated railway line in Manhattan, and has wonderful views of the streets below. I last visited the Highline in summer 2022.
- Note: I will use the terms ‘Highline Park’, ‘Highline Park NYC’ and ‘the High Line’ interchangeably in this article. They are all correct!
The Highline park stretches for 1.45 miles (2.33 km) and includes many trails to stroll on, artistic displays, venues for performances, food vendors and more.
You can complete the walk in either direction, but I recommend starting off in Chelsea Market for an excellent lunch, then walk it off along the High Line afterwards. You also have an option to visit The Edge Observation Deck when you get to Hudson Yards.
How to get to Chelsea Market & the High Line
Firstly you’ll need to head to Chelsea and the Meatpacking district. This area is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, bars and shops, and is a great place to explore and eat your way through Manhattan.
How to get to Chelsea Market:
- By Subway – A, C, E, or L train to the 14th Street (8th Avenue) station. Walk West to 9th Avenue and 15th Street.
- By Bus – Take the M11 bus down Ninth Avenue and alight between 15th and 16th Streets.
- Driving – There are 2 parking lots adjacent to the market, both with entrances on West 15th Street.
- Walking – Most places in Manhattan are relatively walkable – within about an hour or so. I recommend following Google Maps as you walk (but pay attention to the roads!)
Want to skip Chelsea?
If you want to skip Chelsea and start at the very beginning of the Highline park, head to Gansevoort Street. You can take the subway from any point in Manhattan and get off at 14th Street Station (A/C/E or L trains). From there it’s just a short walk north along Gansevoort Street until you reach the entrance to the park.
If you don’t want to walk, there are plenty of cabs available near 14th Street Station as well as bus routes that go directly up Gansevoort Street towards the Standard Hotel which marks the beginning of your journey along the High Line.
What is Chelsea Market?
Chelsea Market is a huge covered food market, with over 35 vendors offering everything from fresh produce to gourmet cheeses to delicious baked goods. There’s also a wide variety of restaurants, ranging from casual cafes to upscale dining. And if you’re looking for a unique souvenir or gift, you’ll find plenty of options at the market’s many shops.
Chelsea Market resides within an old factory and warehouse (the old Nabisco cookie factory) with exposed brickwork, high ceilings and a distinctly industrial feel. This also happens to be the place where the Oreo cookie was invented!
What time does Chelsea Market open?
Chelsea Market is open from 08:00 to 21:00 daily, and you can check out its website here.
What is there to eat in Chelsea Market?
Chelsea Market occupies an entire city block, and the ground floor contains food outlets serving every type of cuisine imaginable. There are food trucks, larger outlets with some seating and full sit-down restaurants. There is good signage too.
The atmosphere is lively and exciting, with everyone inside bearing the smug knowledge they are about to eat excellent food. The smells are wonderful and the only difficulty you will have is deciding what to eat.
Local favourites include Los Tacos No 1, the Doughnuttery, Amy’s bread, Filaga Pizzeria, Lobster Place and L’Arte del Gelato.
What else is there to do in Chelsea Market?
Chelsea Market is also home to countless book stores, souvenir shops, home interiors, art and even a small flea market. Don’t forget to take a reusable shopping bag.
There is also the Artechouse NYC in the basement underneath the market. This is an immersive art and technology space which has some cool and interactive exhibits. It’s great for adults and kids alike and is a fun way to spend an afternoon.
Stroll through the renowned institutions of Chelsea, such as The Whitney Museum of Art and MoMA PS1, for an immersive cultural experience. If you’re looking to take part in something more interactive, you could attend one of their lectures or workshops hosted by local artists.
Chelsea is also known for its bars and restaurants – local favourites include The Standard Grill, Pastis and The Spotted Pig.
How to get onto the Highline Park NYC
When you have finished eating and shopping in Chelsea, you can get onto the High Line by exiting Chelsea Market and taking the stairs across the road at the back of the building. There is also the Chelsea Market passage (with stairs and an elevator) between 15th and 16th Streets.
For those looking for alternative access points onto the High Line, elevators can be found at both 23rd Street and 30th Street, while ramps offer wheelchair access at 34th Street and 15th Street respectively.
Where is the start of the Highline park?
If you wanted to start at the very beginning of the Highline park, head to Gansevoort Street. You can take the subway from any point in Manhattan and get off at 14th Street Station (A/C/E or L trains). From there it’s just a short walk north along Gansevoort Street until you reach the entrance to the park.
If you don’t want to walk, there are plenty of cabs available near 14th Street Station as well as bus routes that go directly up Gansevoort Street towards the Standard Hotel which marks the beginning of your journey along the High Line.
Walking the High Line
Once on the High Line, you will find yourself surrounded by wild landscapes and lush grasslands – all with stunning views over West Manhattan to Hudson Yards and beyond.
The Highline park NYC is composed of three sections, ranging from Gansevoort Street to 34th Streets/Hudson Yards area. Each section offers its own distinct attractions – I will describe these below.
The High Line has been carefully planted out with hundreds of different species of plants, and provides a real oasis of calm above the city.
It will take 30 – 40 minutes to walk the High Line and reach Hudson Yards, depending on how many stops you make.
The High Line is about 1.45 miles long from its southernmost entrance (14th street) to its finish point (33rd Street) but we are starting a little way down at Chelsea Market.
What is there to see on the High Line?
The Highline park NYC is a breath of fresh air amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City.
There are sculptures and art installations throughout the park, including large-scale pieces by renowned artists such as Jeff Koons or Urs Fischer. There are also smaller works by local creatives, displayed alongside permanent exhibitions curated by the Friends Of The High Line organisation.
If you’re looking for a place to relax, there are plenty of benches and lawns to lounge on. And of course, the views from the high line are magnificent – you can see all of Manhattan stretched out before you.
How to walk the High Line: Chelsea to Hudson Yards
And now we get onto the actual walk. Before I start, firstly let me recommend you view the official updated list of all of the features of the High Line. There is also a High Line app you can download too.
Once you have joined the High Line at Chelsea Market (15th Street) you will need to head towards your right, which will take you in the direction of Hudson Yards.
At Chelsea Grasslands (between 18th and 19th street) you can see a variety of different grasses and wildflowers. This section of the High Line is also home to several beehives, so keep an eye out for bees!
Continue walking along the High Line, and you’ll reach the Gansevoort Woodland where you can see trees, shrubs and vines that provide shade and shelter for birds. This section of the High Line walk also has a playground and water feature, making it a great place to take a break.
As you walk the High Line in the direction of Hudson Yards you will see many places to stop and relax, with bench seating, wooden stairs and decking. You will go past Chelsea Thicket (between 21st and 22nd Streets) where the steel train lines are visible in between the trees and shrubs. Here you will also see an ‘annual mural’ on a building to the right. There is a wooden stair installation for viewers to sit and admire the art.
Approaching Hudson Yards
On your way to Hudson Yards you will pass by various viewing spurs, flyovers and a crossroads junction. All are worthy of a stop. You can see an updated list of all of the features of the High Line here, and don’t forget the High Line app too.
As you get closer to Hudson Yards, the buildings will get taller and you will walk past super-expensive apartments and real estate. This part of the High Line walk is more upscale, and you can get a feel for the size of the buildings in Hudson Yards.
As you walk on the High Line, you can see the Edge NYC, with its suspended viewing platform towering over the other skyscrapers directly in front of you. If you want to visit this observation deck, you may like to read my post Guide to Visiting Edge NYC.
Finally you’ll reach Hudson Yards. Here you’ll find yourself standing at the beginning of what was once known as ‘Death Avenue’. Back in the 1800s there was a freight train running through West Manhattan (you are standing on the original tracks after they were elevated) and it was extremely dangerous to the citizens of NYC hence the name Death Avenue.
Check out this cool YouTube video to learn more about the history of the High Line and Death Avenue.
When you reach Hudson Yards, you can choose to descend the stairs into the main complex where there are bars, restaurants and shops. Alternatively you can continue walking the High Line where you can see all of the trains in the storage depot.
Beyond Hudson Yards
Further along, the High Line snakes around towards the waterfront. This part of the High Line walk is called the Interim Walk (between 30th and 34th streets) and the gardeners have mostly left the plants to seed naturally, in honour of the landscape here when the trains officially stopped running.
There are 360 degree views of the Hudson River, train tracks and skyscrapers here.
There is a stunning view of the buildings towering over the train tracks, and you can also see the Vessel here too. This part is quite exposed with no shelter. You may like to take a compact travel umbrella in your bag, in case of unpredictable weather.
You can also see the aircraft carrier of the Intrepid Museum of Air, Space and Sea (which, as a side note, is quite possibly the best museum I have ever been to).
Down on the waterfront (seen from the High Line), there often seem to be helicopters taking off and landing, which is fun to watch.
You may like to end your High Line walk now, by turning back and entering Hudson Yards (down the stairs) for some refreshment. You may like to take a tour in Hudson Yards, or just stroll around and soak up the atmosphere.
What is there to do in Hudson Yards?
Hudson Yards is an exclusive area in New York City that has been rapidly developed over the past few years. Hudson Yards boasts a variety of thrilling experiences, such as The Edge and The Vessel.
In the main plaza of Hudson Yards is a nautical-themed bar called Jibs, and a lot of outdoor seating. It’s a nice place to sit and watch the world go by. There’s also a playground and a water fountain. The area around Hudson Yards is very safe, and there are plenty of things to do nearby.
You are right next to The Vessel here, which sadly is now closed. You can still go inside and photograph it, but you cannot climb the stairs any longer.
You can enter the high-end Hudson Yards shopping centre and marvel at all the designer shops, or take the lift to the 4th floor to visit the observation deck Edge NYC with its suspended viewing platform and glass floor.
For food options, there are lots of top class restaurants, mostly upscale fine-dining establishments so be prepared to splash the cash if you want to eat here. Peak restaurant, at the top of Edge NYC, takes the prize for stunning floor-to-ceiling views of the City and the Hudson River.
Your High Line walk ends here – you can either get the subway or Uber/Taxi/Lyft to your next stop. Alternatively you could walk back along the High Line towards Chelsea. The scenery will look different if the sun is beginning to set, and you may see things you might have missed before.
Is walking the High Line worth it?
In my opinion the High Line walk is a beautiful walk, and Chelsea Market has endless food options, so this walk will never lose its appeal. Hudson Yards is a really interesting place and there are lots of lovely sights to see on the way.
The Highline Park NYC is one of the most unique public spaces in New York City. This incredible space was created after a successful community effort to transform abandoned freight trains into an urban oasis with lush greenery and wild landscapes.
Plus, there are plenty of activities available here like yoga classes held outdoors during summer months as well as live music performances which make it perfect for both solo travellers looking for some alone time or groups who want to explore together.
Map showing the Highline park NYC
Below is a Google map showing the Highline park NYC. To use the map, click the blue icons to see more information about each place. Click the star to add to your own Google Maps
Organised tours of the Highline park
It’s a good idea to take an organised tour of the Highline park, to avoid missing anything. Here are my curated picks:
- Semi Private tour of Chelsea and the High Line: this tour sells out, so you’ll need to book early. The tour covers Chelsea and the Meatpacking district, plus also gives you the chance to try local cuisine if you want to.
- Hudson yards and Highline tour with optional Edge entry: this tour focuses more on the Hudson Yards end rather than the Chelsea end. Includes the Vessel.
- Food tour of Chelsea and the Highline park: who doesn’t love a food tour? I haven’t done this tour but I actually wish I had. It has excellent reviews.
- Private tour of Chelsea Market and the Highline: the ultimate option with a totally private tour guide just for your group. Brilliant introduction to the Meatpacking district.
FAQs about the Highline Park NYC
What is unique about the Highline park in New York City?
Highline park in New York City is a unique experience that combines nature, art and history. Once an abandoned rail line, the Highline park in NYC has been turned into a 1.45-mile long park with blooming gardens, colourful art and breathtaking views of the cityscape. The Highline also features many interactive activities such as guided tours, educational programs and special events throughout the year.
Why is Highline park so popular?
High Line park is a popular destination for travellers due to its unique combination of urban park and public art space. The High Line provides elevated pathways that twist through lush gardens with breathtaking views of the cityscape. The park regularly presents a range of occasions, including music performances, movie showings, educational activities and more.
Is the Highline park worth seeing?
The High Line is definitely worth seeing. This elevated park in New York City offers spectacular views of the city, as well as a unique experience for travellers. The walkway also provides access to shops, restaurants, galleries and other attractions that make it a great place to spend time during your visit.
What is the history of the High Line?
A 1.45-mile stretch of greenway and rail trail, the High Line runs through Manhattan’s Chelsea district, an elevated linear park that was constructed on a defunct freight line from 1934 to 1980. In 2006, Friends of the High Line successfully advocated for the preservation and reuse of an abandoned freight rail line as a public greenway in Manhattan’s Lower West Side district, thus initiating its transformation into one of New York City’s most beloved attractions.
Travel Advice for Your Trip to NYC
Climate in NYC
The rainy season starts in April and goes on till June, with an average temperature of 11C / 51F. It gets warmer from May and the rain starts to ease off. The hottest and driest month is July, with an average high of 28C / 84F. January and February have the highest chance of sow.
Tourist seasons in NYC
The low season is January to March, which is when hotels are the cheapest and the crowds are the lowest. The rest of the year can be considered high season. December is the most expensive month to visit.
Money
The currency is the US dollar ($) and it comes in banknotes up to $100, although I don’t recommend using $100 notes. $50 notes are usually the highest notes used. Be careful because all the notes look similar and it is easy to get them confused.
Credit cards are accepted everywhere (including taxis) and they are generally used more than cash. If you don’t have a credit card (or you want to pay in dollars) you can request a free Revolut Debit Card here. You can use it immediately with Apple or Google Pay.
VISAs for NYC
Non-US citizens need to apply for a VISA, or an ESTA if eligible and staying for less than 90 days. Apply for your ETSA here.
NYC Subway
The New York subway is an efficient way of getting around. Be aware it gets very busy at peak times. One trip costs $2.50 or you can buy a 7 day Metrocard for $29. You can pick one up in any subway station.
Click here to download a PDF of the New York City MTA Subway Map.
Car rentals
I don’t recommend hiring a car if you are staying in Manhattan. The traffic is very congested and the parking is hard to find, and expensive. You can easily hail yellow cabs, or use Uber if you prefer (it’s cheaper).
You might still want to hire a car if you intend to take a trip out of town, for this I recommend the car comparison site Discover Cars. In the USA they drive on the right.
NYC Passes
I recommend the NYC Go City pass if you plan on seeing any tourist attractions. All the big attractions are included, plus lots of small ones too. You can also use it for food options, boat rides, ferry crossings and bicycle hire. Purchase your Go City NYC Pass here.
Where to Stay in Manhattan
If it’s your first visit to New York City, you’ll probably want to to stay quite central, rather than up on the West side near Chelsea.
Here are my top picks for Manhattan hotels on Booking.com:
- Best luxury hotel: 33 Seaport Hotel is a 5 star hotel right next to Wall Street and the Financial district. 10 minute walk from Brooklyn Bridge subway station.
- Best mid-range hotel: Hilton Garden Inn New York/Midtown Park Avenue is a 3 star hotel with on-site restaurant, just minutes from the Empire State Building.
- Best budget hotel: Hotel St. James is a 2 star hotel in the theatre district with a guest library, business centre and free wifi.
- Best Sustainable hotel: Intercontinental New York Barclay Hotel is an exceptional 5 star hotel which meets the Travel Sustainable Level 2 criteria from Booking.com, read more here.
You can see the current hotel deals in Manhattan here.
I recommend reserving your room immediately to get the best price. It’s usually free to reserve on Booking.com, and you can always cancel later on.
Related Reading for NYC
Explore the best of New York City with Hazel’s Travels! My blog aims to provide helpful advice and tips for travelling in Europe, the UK and USA.
- How to visit Edge NYC – the tallest sky deck in the western hemisphere
- Summit One Vanderbilt NYC: The Ultimate Guide
- How to see the Statue of Liberty for Free
Walk the High Line – Pin it for later
Thank you for reading my post on the High Line, Chelsea and Hudson Yards. I hope it has helped you to plan your trip.
Travelling soon? Check my 20 Must-Have Travel Essentials post before you go.
Found this post helpful? Buy Me a Coffee!
You are reading Hazel’s Travels – an online publication and travel blog which aims to provide advice and inspiration for travel in Europe, the UK and USA.
Travelling soon? Check my 20 Must-Have Travel Essentials post before you go.
Found this post helpful? Buy Me a Coffee!
You are reading Hazel’s Travels – an online publication and travel blog which aims to provide advice and inspiration for travel in Europe, the UK and USA.
Tags: Chelsea Market, Food, High Line, Highline Park NYC, New York, New York City, NYC, Viewpoints
Leave a Reply