How to Visit the High Line in New York
Our guide accompanied with beautiful photos will entice you to explore one of the most attractive outdoor spaces in New York, the High Line, a former elevated railway which has been turned into a walkway offering great views of New York City skyline.
After eleven months of traveling in South and Central America, we landed in a completely different world, in one of the world's most bustling metropolis, New York City.
We would have probably felt the difference even when arriving from Europe, but coming from the less developed part of the world, the omnipresent buzz of New York and its atmosphere was especially intensive.
Right after we checked in, we were looking for the best first activity in New York which is doable in a relatively short time as it was already late afternoon, and our eyes were caught by High Line, one of the New York's top attractions which is also a great introduction to the city.
The walk on the High Line was interesting enough as we walked on an abandoned elevated railway revamped to a public park, we could admire the old brick houses with fire escapes (we don't have it back in Europe), new modern buildings, art, and the greenery.
We felt like we are not in New York at all, although we were only a couple of streets from Midtown Manhattan.
If you are looking for an activity in New York which will take about an hour or an hour and a half (without transport to the site), we recommend you to include the High Line to your New York City itinerary.
It is for sure not unknown, many people, both locals, and foreigners walk the High Line every day, but the walkway did not feel uncomfortably crowded at all, even though without knowing it, we were in New York during May's long weekend.
WHAT IS THE HIGH LINE
When walking the High Line, you can actually see the remnants of the old tracks, although overgrown by flowers and grass - that gives an answer on what was the High Line before it was turned into present High Line.
It was a railway which was lifted above the ground, and its purpose was to prevent numerous collisions between trains and street traffic on the ground level.
When the railway was not needed anymore, there was a period when the place was not in use it was a bit shabby, but nowadays it is again the pride of New York.
It was turned into a walkway for public use, it provides amazing views and another way how to see the city for those visiting the Big Apple (and for those living there as well) while for the locals High Line represents a place where they can enjoy being in nature and connect with friends while they don't need to leave the center.
When we walked the High Line, we could not stop admiring not only the area but especially the idea.
We believe that everyone knows about an industrial place in your home town which was once an important part of the city, but as time went it lost its original function and turned into a seedy area people avoid when they can.
The High Line in New York is a great example of how cities can transform old industrial infrastructure or old industrial buildings into something worth visiting, into a place which will once be a reason why people travel to a destination, into a place full of life.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HIGH LINE
Although the first train on the High Line ran in 1933, its history goes much further as there must have been a reason to create the freight train tracks above street level.
Before the High Line was opened, trains were running on the street-level tracks, but once the traffic (carts, pedestrian, and later cars) became heavier, there were many accidents, especially on the 10th Avenue which soon got its nickname, the Death Avenue.
That's why the High Line was built to link warehouses and factories within the city and was used for transportation for almost 50 years, until the 1980s when the traffic on the tracks ceased because of new ways of transport and newly built bypasses.
That was the time when the structure started to be abandoned, unkempt and voices to demolish the structure were louder and louder.
Fortunately, residents of the area stood up for the High Line and came with an idea to use it for other purposes.
The journey from the idea to realization wasn't either easy, cheap or short, but finally, in 2009, the High Line was opened to the public, and since then visitors can enjoy more than two kilometers long greenway through the city.
WHERE TO ACCESS THE HIGH LINE
You can access the High Line in many places along the walkway, but we think it makes sense to get to the High Line, in case you want to explore it all, either at the crossroad of Gansevoort and Washington Street or on the corner of 34th Street and 12th Avenue (the Vessel is nearby), which is either beginning or the end of the High Line.
Other access points are on the on 14th, 16th,17th, 20th, 23rd, 26th, 28th, and 30th Street.
Not all, but some of the access points are wheelchair accessible.
HOW TO GET TO THE HIGH LINE
When traveling by public transport, it is quite easy to get to the High Line as it is in the center of the city and many bus or metro lines run nearby.
Because we stayed in Queens on metro line E, we decided to get off on 34 Street Penn Station and walked to the High Line from there (and saw Medison Square Garden along the way).
We found Penn Station a great point because there stop other metro lines as well, A, C, and 1,2,3.
WHAT TO SEE ON THE HIGH LINE
Are you still wondering why to walk New York's High Line, why this short stretch within Manhattan's West Side is worth the effort?
One of the reasons might be The Vessel which is not exactly a part of the High Line but lies close to it, and we recommend you to stop by as you can easily start walking the High Line from here.
The Vessel is a completely new structure overlooking the bay opened in 2019, and apart from its cool appearance, you can climb or take an elevator to the top and watch astonishing sunset from there.
Tickets are for free, but you must pick them up in a booth opposite the structure because a limited number of people is allowed to the top every hour.
When exploring the High Line, we believe you will discover your favorite place probably by accident, but here's what you can experience.
You will walk through gardens, seating spots overlooking skyscrapers and traffic below, a wooden stretch of pavement with running water where you can dip your toes and refresh when it is too hot in the summer, places with various art installations such as paintings, graffiti or statues, walk along the tracks while enjoying good food and video or audio performances at times and you can envy those living in the modern, chic and terribly expensive buildings around.
You can also visit the nearby famous Chelsea Market.
If you are looking for even more intense experience, you can stay in the stylish Standard Hotel located right on the High Line featuring floor-to-ceiling windows.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING HIGH LINE
Although the High Line is a public space, it has opening hours, so make sure you don't visit too early or too late. It opens at 7 AM and closes anytime between 7 PM to 11 PM, depending on season - earlier in the winter and later in the summer.
You can find restrooms and wheelchair accessible points along the way.
When visiting New York with your four leg friend, note that it is not allowed walk the High Line with pets, so you need to leave them behind this time.
The High Line is a place where people come to socialize, so you can find here food and drink stalls at either the end or the beginning of the walkway, as well as concerts take place here from time to time, so if you intend to enjoy culture in New York, check out the program online.
If you would like to learn more about Highline and Chelsea District from a local, take a guided tour.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK
New York is a city with no shortage of accommodation, but it is not always easy to find a reasonably priced hotel in a good location. Be prepared to pay a bit more than usual as this is one of the top world's destinations, and we recommend you to book your room as soon as you know your travel dates.
Budget | Pod 51 - We won't lie to you - it is almost impossible to find a budget-friendly accommodation which is not a hole with terrible reviews. This hostel is well-located and well-rated, features modern and clean facilities and excellent rooftop.
Mid-range | RIU Plaza New York Times Square - The extraordinary location only a few meters away from Times Square, great breakfast, helpful staff, and comfortable rooms makes from this hotel one of the best accommodation options when in the city.
Luxury | The Plaza - The most iconic hotel in New York City lies close to Central Park and 5th Avenue and if you are looking for a splendid place to stay with a touch of luxury, look no further.
Alternatively, search for your accommodation via Hostelworld.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
