Elevated walk
Above the streets.
Jakub Hałun — CC BY 4.0 · Jakub Hałun — CC BY 4.0 · Crocodiletiger~commonswiki — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crocodiletiger~commonswiki — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tdorante10 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crocodiletiger~commonswiki — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crocodiletiger~commonswiki — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Crocodiletiger~commonswiki — CC BY-SA 4.0
A 2.33-kilometre elevated park built on an old raised railway spur that once served Manhattan's West Side and was later abandoned. It became a green walkway above the streets, running from the Meatpacking District through Chelsea to 34th Street near the Javits Center. The idea was inspired by the Coulée verte, an elevated walkway in Paris, and it was designed by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro with the garden designer Piet Oudolf, who planted wild grasses, perennials and trees along the old tracks. Visitors stroll above the streets among striking modern buildings and views of the Hudson River, past stretched-out wooden benches, platforms looking down on the avenues and contemporary artworks that change along the way. Entry is free and walking the whole route takes about an hour. Start at the southern end and finish at Hudson Yards, home of the Vessel, and go in the morning or just before sunset to avoid the crowds.
Above the streets.
On the old tracks.
At the end.
Gansevoort Street to 34th Street, West Side of Manhattan
Vessel at Hudson YardsA striking structure of interlocking staircases 16 storeys, about 46 metres, tal9 minutes walk4.5
Empire State BuildingA 102-storey Art Deco skyscraper built in 1930–1931 on Fifth Avenue, with a roof20 minutes walk4.8
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space MuseumA military, aviation and space museum at Pier 86 on the Hudson River on Manhatta24 minutes walk4.8
Times SquareOne of the busiest pedestrian intersections in the world, formed where Broadway,25 minutes walk4.6
New York Public LibraryThe main building of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, officially the25 minutes walk4.6About an hour for the whole 2.33-kilometre route, and it is free.