Looking for one of the best walks in Manhattan? The Highline Park NYC is a leafy trail built on a disused elevated railway line, stretching 1.45 miles across Manhattan’s West Side. Expect gardens, sculptures, art murals, and amazing views of the city skyline.

The best way to do it? Start with lunch at Chelsea Market, then walk it off along the High Line and finish at Hudson Yards, home to the futuristic Edge NYC and the Vessel.

A walkway on the High Line NYC is lined with blooming pink trees and lush greenery under a sunny sky, with buildings standing tall in the background.
Spring at the High Line in New York City
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👋 I’m Hazel, a British travel blogger based just outside London, and New York is my favourite city outside of the UK.

This guide is based on my own experience walking the Highline Park NYC from Chelsea Market to Hudson Yards (and eating far too many tacos along the way).

I’ve included all the practical tips, food stops, and hidden gems I’ve discovered – so you can plan your own perfect walk.

What is Highline Park NYC? 🌸

The Highline Park NYC is an urban oasis that winds above Manhattan’s streets along an old freight railway. Opened in 2009 after a huge community effort, it’s now one of the city’s coolest free attractions.

At 1.45 miles (2.33 km), the High Line features landscaped gardens, art installations, food vendors, and plenty of benches for lounging. It’s part park, part art gallery, and part city viewpoint.

Note: I will use the terms ‘Highline Park’, ‘Highline Park NYC’ and ‘the High Line’ interchangeably in this article. They are all correct!

How to Get to Chelsea Market & the High Line 🚇

Chelsea Market is the perfect starting point for your walk.

City street with red brick buildings and a metal pedestrian bridge in Chelsea near the Highline Park NYC. Bicycles are parked along one side, and cars line either side of the road as a person crosses the street.
People outside Chelsea Market, a red car parked nearby, and construction cones on the sidewalk hint at the bustling energy of the area near Highline Park NYC.

Here’s how to get there:

🚇 Subway: Take the A, C, E or L train to 14th Street (8th Avenue) Station. From there, walk west to 9th Ave and 15th Street.

🚌 Bus: Take the M11 bus down Ninth Avenue. Hop off between 15th & 16th Streets.

🚶 Walking: Manhattan is walkable! Follow Google Maps, but keep an eye on the streets as well.

🚗 Driving: Two parking lots on West 15th Street serve the market.

💡 Want to skip Chelsea? Start the High Line directly at Gansevoort Street – that’s the southernmost entrance.

What is Chelsea Market? 🛒

Set inside the old Nabisco cookie factory (where Oreos were invented!), Chelsea Market is now one of NYC’s most popular indoor food and shopping halls.

The hallway at Chelsea Market boasts high ceilings adorned with large red and orange lanterns. Stores line both sides, while natural light streams in through the upper windows, creating a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.

With over 35 vendors, it’s the kind of place where you could eat your way around the world without leaving one building.

The vibe is very “industrial chic” – exposed brick, high ceilings, and a mix of food stalls, shops, and cafés. Open daily from 8am to 9pm, it’s always buzzing.

Where (and What) to Eat at Chelsea Market 🍴

This is foodie heaven – tacos, lobster rolls, burgers, gelato, pastries, and more. The air is filled with delicious smells, and choosing what to eat is the hardest part.

A signpost on a brick wall with arrows directs you to various NYC gems, including the bustling Chelsea Market, "Artists & Fleas," "Fat Witch Bakery," and "Chelsea Creamline.
Close-up of a hand holding a fried chicken sandwich with melted cheese, pickles, and a sesame seed bun.

Don’t miss:

💡 Top Tip: Grab food to go and eat it on the High Line – instant picnic with a view.

And if you’re not in the mood for food (rare, but it happens), there are also indie shops, book stalls, art pop-ups, and even Artechouse NYC (an immersive digital art space) inside the market. It’s easy to spend an hour or two wandering before hitting the High Line.

How to Get onto the Highline Park NYC 🌿

Once you’ve eaten your fill at Chelsea Market, it’s super easy to hop on the High Line.

  • The Chelsea Market Passage (between 15th & 16th Streets) has both stairs and an elevator.
  • The southernmost entrance is at Gansevoort Street if you want to start from the very beginning.
  • For accessibility, elevators are also available at 23rd Street, 30th Street, and 34th Street.

From there, just head north and let the walk do the rest.

Walking the Highline Park NYC: Chelsea to Hudson Yards (and Beyond) 🚶‍♀️

The Highline Park NYC is about 1.45 miles long and takes 30-40 minutes to walk, though you’ll want to allow longer for photo stops, art installations, and snack breaks.

💡 Top Tip: Download the free High Line app or check the official High Line website before you go – it has an up-to-date map of entrances, features, and art installations.

Here’s how the walk unfolds if you start at Chelsea Market and continue all the way to Hudson Yards (plus a little further for river views).

Chelsea Market to Chelsea Grasslands 🌾

Join the High Line at 15th Street and head north. Almost immediately, you’ll find yourself surrounded by wildflowers, grasses, and city views.

At Chelsea Grasslands (18th–19th Streets), look out for buzzing beehives hidden among the planting. Keep glancing east, the Empire State Building pops up beautifully between the rooftops here, and it makes a great photo stop.

An urban park scene from the Highline Park NYC, with a path lined by green plants and vibrant flowers against the backdrop of modern buildings and a pristine blue sky.
Railway tracks on the High Line NYC with a billboard advertising Edge and the Empire State building in the background

Chelsea Thicket & Annual Murals 🎨

A little further along, the Chelsea Thicket (21st-22nd Streets) feels like a secret garden, with shrubs and trees growing between the old steel train tracks.

Don’t miss the annual mural on the building to your right – a rotating canvas for bold and colourful street art.

A colorful mural graces a brick wall on 22nd Street along the High Line in NYC, depicting two people in vibrant clothing, one proudly holding a flag. The mural's inspiring text reads, "I am not interested in competing with anyone. I hope we all make it.
Overgrown railway tracks reminiscent of the High Line NYC are surrounded by lush greenery, with trees and plants flourishing along the path. A metal fence runs parallel to these vibrant tracks.
The annual mural and Chelsea thicket

Viewing Spurs, Crossroads & Art Installations 👀

The middle stretch of the High Line is dotted with viewing spurs (raised platforms that jut out over the streets below), perfect for people-watching and skyline photos.

A bustling city street intersection with tall brick buildings on both sides, as seen from the Highline Park NYC, showcases pedestrians crossing and cars moving below under a clear blue sky.
Colorful mural on a building showing two people with hands in prayer, separated by a fire escape. The background is a geometric pattern.

Sculptures and temporary art pieces also appear here, so every walk feels different.

From 10th Avenue Square, pause to look south – you can spot the Statue of Liberty in the distance on a clear day.

From the vantage point of the High Line, the view features the Statue of Liberty in the distance, partially obscured by trees and a brick building in the foreground.
Statue of Liberty view from High Line

Approaching Hudson Yards 🏙️

As you near Hudson Yards, the vibe shifts – glass skyscrapers loom above, and you’ll pass luxury apartments and modern design features.

Keep an eye out for the Edge’s triangular viewing platform pointing into the sky.

A modern multi-story building with large, rounded windows stands majestically against the clear blue sky near Hudson Yards, while a tree in the foreground adds a touch of nature reminiscent of walking along the Highline in NYC.
The angular design of the tall glass skyscraper stands prominently above the shorter buildings and greenery, reminiscent of iconic structures like Edge NYC. In the foreground, people stroll leisurely along a pathway, adding life to the urban landscape.

Beyond Hudson Yards: River Views 🌊

Instead of heading straight down into Hudson Yards, continue north on the High Line for the Interim Walk (30th-34th Streets).

This section is more exposed, with wide-open views of the Hudson River, train yards, and towering skyscrapers. On clear days, it’s breathtaking.

Tall skyscrapers rise majestically in the background with train tracks leading towards them, framed by lush greenery and a wire fence. The scene is taken from the The High Line NYC, with Hudson Yards standing pridefully beyond.
A woman in a floral dress strolls along the paved path of High Line Park NYC, framed by old railroad tracks and lush greenery, with the city skyline stretching majestically in the distance.

You can also see the aircraft carrier of the Intrepid Museum of Air, Space and Sea from here, as well as helicopters buzzing in and out along the waterfront.

A helicopter hovers above the Hudson River at the High Line, with NYC's skyline in the background, partially obscured by trees and a lamp post in the foreground.
A helicopter flies over the Hudson River at Highline Park, NYC, with the cityscape in the background and lush green trees in the foreground.

After soaking it all in, turn back on yourself and descend into Hudson Yards.

Exploring Hudson Yards ✨

Hudson Yards is sleek, modern, and full of things to do.

Highlights include:

💦 The Plaza – fountains, seating, and outdoor bars like Jibs make it a great spot to rest.

🐝 The Vessel – sadly closed for climbing, but still an architectural icon for photos.

🏙️The Edge NYC – the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere (glass floor, optional squeals). 👉 Read my Guide to visiting the Edge.

🛍️ Shopping & Dining – designer shops galore, plus restaurants like Peak for dinner with skyline views. 👉 Read my Guide to Hudson Yards.

A multi-tiered, honeycomb-like structure with staircases, the Vessel at Hudson Yards rises grandly, surrounded by trees and set against a clear sky.
A hand holding a plastic cup of beer with "JIBs" printed on it, outdoors with buildings and trees in the background in Hudson Yards NYC.
The vessel and Jibs bar

You may like to take a tour in Hudson Yards, or just stroll around and soak up the atmosphere.

💡 Top Tip: The scenery looks totally different on the walk back south – if you’ve got time, retrace your steps along the High Line at sunset for a golden-hour glow on the city.

Is Walking the Highline Park NYC Worth It? 🌟

100% yes. The Highline Park NYC is one of those rare attractions that’s both free and genuinely unforgettable. Where else can you stroll through wild gardens, past art installations, and above bustling Manhattan streets – with views of the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and Hudson River all in one walk?

Starting at Chelsea Market makes it a foodie adventure, and ending at Hudson Yards adds the wow-factor of futuristic skyscrapers. Whether you’ve got half an hour or a whole afternoon, the High Line is always worth it.

💡 Final Tip: If you can – walk it twice! Once in the day, once at sunset. The atmosphere changes completely as the light shifts over the city.

view from the High Line Park NYC, an overgrown garden with trees and lush plants surrounds rusted metal rail tracks on a gravel ground.

Map of the Highline Park NYC 🗺️

Here’s a handy Google Map of the Highline Park NYC to help plan your walk. Click on the blue icons to see details about each spot, or tap the ⭐ to save the map to your own Google account for easy access on the go.

Tours of the Highline Park NYC 🚶‍♀️

Want to dive deeper into the history, art, and food around the High Line? A guided tour is a brilliant way to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Some popular options:

👥 Semi-private tour of Chelsea & the High Line – small group, includes Chelsea’s foodie spots.

🏙️ Hudson Yards & High Line tour (with Edge entry) – ends with that jaw-dropping view.

🍴 Food tour of Chelsea and the Highline – ideal if you’re here to eat as much as walk.

🔑 Private tour – a guide just for your group. Great if you want flexibility.

FAQs About the Highline Park NYC 💡

Below are some frequently asked questions about the Highline Park NYC.

What is the Highline Park NYC?

The Highline Park NYC is an elevated public park built on a historic freight railway. Stretching 1.45 miles between the Meatpacking District and Hudson Yards, it’s filled with gardens, art installations, and stunning city views.

Is the Highline Park NYC free to visit?

Yes, the Highline Park NYC is completely free. Donations are welcome to help maintain the gardens, art, and events.

What are the Highline Park NYC opening hours?

The park is open daily, generally from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Hours vary seasonally, so check the official High Line website before you go.

Where does the Highline Park NYC start and end?

The southern entrance is at Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District. The northern end is at 34th Street near Hudson Yards. Popular entrances include 14th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th Streets, with several elevators for accessibility.

How long does it take to walk the Highline Park NYC?

If you walk straight through, it takes about 30-40 minutes. But with photo stops, art installations, and food breaks, allow at least 1-2 hours.

What can you see from the Highline Park NYC?

Highlights include skyline views of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty (from 10th Avenue Square), and the Hudson River. You’ll also spot street art murals, sculptures, and seasonal gardens along the way.

Are there restrooms on the Highline Park NYC?

Yes, restrooms are available at the 16th Street entrance, alongside elevators and water fountains.

Is the Highline Park NYC accessible?

Yes, the park is wheelchair-friendly. Entrances at Gansevoort, 14th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, and 34th Streets include elevators or ramps.

Can you bring dogs on the Highline Park NYC?

No, pets are not allowed on the High Line. The only exception is service animals.

Can you see the Statue of Liberty from the High Line?

Yes, if you look south at the 10th Avenue Square, just North of The Overlook, you can see the Statue of Liberty in the distance (it’s tiny!). See my post on free Statue of Liberty viewpoints to see more.

Here are some quick Highline links:

Keep exploring New York with these guides:

🏙️ Skyscraper Guide: How to Visit Summit One Vanderbilt.
🌆 Skyscraper Guide: How to Visit the Edge NYC.
🗽 How to see the Statue of Liberty for free.
🌉 Guide to the bridges of NYC.
🛍️ 12 Excellent Things to do in Hudson Yards.

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    Sign with text "Walking the High Line NYC" overlaid on an image of railway tracks surrounded by green plants. Website link at the bottom: www.hazelstravels.co.uk.
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