On this route we will be walking through the Meatpacking district, located in the western part of Manhattan. In other times, this was a fairly degraded area of New York, but thanks to initiatives such as Chelsea Market or the High Line has become trendy and is now living a new youth. To get to this area it is best to walk from Union Square or take the blue subway line and get off at the 8th Ave. – 14th St. stop
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We start with Chelsea Market
Chelsea Market, located at 9th Avenue and 15th street, is situated in a former factory of Nabisco, in this factory was where they invented their famous Oreos. In an incredible rehabilitation exercise, the old factory has been converted into a beautiful office building, and on the lower floors is the market where you can buy all sorts of things and stop for lunch or dinner. It is highly recommended to take a walk around the complex admiring certain details that have left the old factory and take the opportunity to buy something to eat later in the High Line, or return to eat at the end of this walk.
If we exit Chelsea Market at the other extreme from which we entered, we leave at 10th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets. If you go to the right, just at the corner of 16th Street there are stairs and an elevator that give you direct access to the High Line.
Historia de la High Line
High Line is one of New York City’s latest acquisitions. This park, located on the old railroad tracks, has been gradually opened:
- In June 2009, the first section was opened, from Gansevoort Street, right next to the new headquarters of the Whitney Museum of American Art, to 20th Street in Manhattan.
- In June 2011 the second stretch was opened, from 20th Street to approximately 30th Street.
- In October 2014 the final stretch was opened, the Rail Yard which runs in a U shape from 30th Street to 34th Street above the Penn Station track pad, with spectacular views, especially of the Hudson.
- In early 2019 all the skyscrapers that are being built at the end of the High Line begin to open in an area called Hudson Yards.
Walking the High Line
High Line is a 3 kilometer walk in total and allows you to have another view of Manhattan, as it gets between the buildings, it’ s somewhat elevated on the street and allows you to see beautiful views of New York and its skyscrapers. The High Line passes right next to the Chelsea Piers, the old port of Chelsea, where the famous Titanic should have arrived, and which has been reconverted into a set of sports clubs and gymnasium and is located on 11th Avenue, and right next to it, on 18th street we can see the IAC building, designed by Frank Gehry.
The route ends right near Penn Station, on 10th Avenue, next to the new metro station, Hudson Yards, which is reached by metro line 7, and which allows us to be on one stop in Times Square or two metro stops in Bryant Park.
Hudson Yards
Just off the High Line are the Hudson Yards, Manhattan’s most exclusive new neighborhood, where you’ll find The Vessel, its famous golden staircase, the Shed, an auditorium, and a shopping center with shops or restaurants. If you want to go up to The Vessel, you must book your free tickets on its official website at least two weeks in advance, leave every day at 8 am, New York time, tickets for two weeks, or go and see if you are lucky and there are tickets available to go up on the same day.
Duration of the tour
The walk through Chelsea Market and the High Line takes approximately 2-3 hours, depending on the time you spend visiting the various stands in Chelsea Market and the breaks you take during the tour.
How to get to Chelsea Market and the High Line?
To get to the start of the tour, in Chelsea Market, I recommend you to go by subway on the A, C, E and L lines up to 14 Street / 8 Ave, if you finish the whole walk the High Line ends next to the 34th Street – Hudson Yards subway station on the 7 line, and the next stop on this line is Times Square.
Map of the route
More information
For more information, visit the official website of Chelsea Market and The High Line, where you can find news and information on activities that take place throughout the year.
