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Hudson Yards is a 28-acre neighborhood on Manhattan's West Side, built on a platform over the West Side Yard, an active Long Island Rail Road storage yard. The largest private real estate development in United States history, Hudson Yards opened its first phase in March 2019 and transformed a stretch of former industrial land into a district of skyscrapers, public plazas, retail, and cultural space.
The centerpiece of Hudson Yards is the Vessel, a 150-foot-tall structure designed by Thomas Heatherwick, made up of 154 interconnecting flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings arranged in a honeycomb pattern. The hudson yards vessel was conceived as a piece of interactive public art that visitors could climb and explore, offering changing views of the city and the Hudson River from every landing.
Towering above the neighborhood is the Edge, the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere, suspended 1,131 feet in the air on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. The edge observation deck features a glass floor, angled glass walls, and an open-air platform that juts out from the building, giving visitors the sensation of floating above the city.
Hudson Yards opened to the public in 2019 and quickly became one of the most visited new destinations in New York City. Here are the key facts every visitor should know:
Hudson Yards is a modern, largely indoor-outdoor destination, and the best time to visit depends on what you want to see.
For the Edge observation deck, sunset is the standout time — booking a timed ticket for 30 to 45 minutes before sunset lets you see the city in daylight, at golden hour, and lit up after dark, all on one visit. Sunset slots sell out first, so book ahead.
For photographing the Vessel and exploring the plaza, weekday mornings are quietest. The structure and surrounding public spaces are far less crowded before noon, and the light is good for photos of the honeycomb structure.
For shopping and dining, weekday afternoons are calmer than weekends. The Shops at Hudson Yards stay open into the evening, and the district's restaurants make it a natural dinner stop before or after visiting the Edge.
The High Line and Little Island, both a short walk south, are best in late afternoon and are free to visit.
Hudson Yards has its own dedicated subway station, making it one of the easiest new destinations to reach. Take the 7 train to its final stop, 34th Street–Hudson Yards, which lets you out directly at the base of the Vessel and the Shops.
You can also reach Hudson Yards by walking the High Line, the elevated park that runs from the Meatpacking District up to 34th Street and ends at Hudson Yards. The A, C, and E trains stop at 34th Street–Penn Station, about a 10-minute walk east.
Use our interactive NYC subway guide to plan your exact route from any hotel or neighborhood before you arrive.
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