6 Things to do at Hudson Yards in NYC

In New York there are always a thousand new things to see and do: it is a living, changing place. It's hard to imagine that on an island as congested as Manhattan there was still room to build, but then the miracle of Hudson Yards happened.

Whether you're visiting New York for the first time or you're a regular visitor to the Big Apple, you'll want to take one of the tours to Hudson Yards, the trendy new neighbourhood in Midtown, built on what was once a dreary train depot along the Hudson River.

This area, accessible on foot from Times Square, combines skyscrapers of super innovative design, the city's tallest observatory, luxury shopping malls and, of course, The Vessel, Manhattan's newest tourist attraction. The High Line, the elevated park built on an old railway line, ends here. In short, it is one of the best parks in New York- a must!

Hudson Yards is considered the largest private real estate project in the history of the United States. This new neighbourhood, built on top of an industrial area, was too centrally located to be so underutilised. In a city like New York, where the square metre is highly valued, many set their sights on this area to revitalise it.

What to see in Hudson Yards?

You can expect to spend about half a day in this area (depending on how much free time you want to spend shopping or dining in the restaurants). To make the most of your time, here's my suggested itinerary:

Hudson Yards is where one of Manhattan's greenest promenades, the High Line, begins (or ends). The High Line is basically a linear park of about a mile and a half, built on an old railroad track that runs along the Manhattan side of the Hudson. My advice is to join the High Line from Chelsea Market (Gansevoort St. underground: 14th St - 8th Ave) to gradually approach Hudson Yards and immerse yourself in its skyscrapers.

Start walking after lunch: it will take you about an hour to complete the High Line route, although it will take you a little longer if you stop to enjoy the views, take photos or rest on one of the benches or deckchairs. The High Line also hosts free astronomy events, pilates and guided tours (check the calendar on the official website).

Don't let the cold get the better of you if you go in winter - the High Line is worth a stroll at any time of year (although spring and summer are when it's at its lushest).

Useful info

• Start: Gansevoort St (underground: 14th St - 8th Ave)
• End: 34th St (underground: 34th St - Hudson Yards)
• Where to take the stairs: Gansevoort St, 14th St, 16th St, 18th St, 20th St, 23rd St, 26th St, 28th St, 30th St and 34th St.
• Where to take the lift: Gansevoort St, 14th St, 16th St, 23rd St and 30th St.
• Price: Free of charge
• More info: Guide to the High Line in New York City

Surrounded by skyscrapers and luxury flats, you'll see that the setting is completely different: welcome to the future! The end of the High Line will lead you to The Vessel, a sort of giant beehive that has become the symbol of the Hudson Yards neighbourhood.

The Vessel is a futuristic 45-metre structure that will give you great views of the city from different heights, approaches and angles (don't forget to bring your phone or camera with plenty of battery life). You can climb this labyrinth from four different staircases that will take you to the top: my advice is to spend some time there enjoying the views of the city and the structure itself and playing with your camera.

Buy your tickets for The Vessel well in advance and look out over the Hudson River, The Shed cultural centre, the High Line park and the surrounding skyscrapers from the top. Even if you look closely you'll see One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building on the skyline.

Useful information

• Address: 20 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001
• How to get there: 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station underground station (line 7)
• Hours: daily, 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
• To know more: How to get on and how much it costs to enter The Vessel

Now the sun is starting to set and it's time to test your vertigo. The Edge is one of the most spectacular viewpoints in New York, especially with its impressive glass floor. The skyscraper from which it hangs is called 30 Hudson Yards and its silhouette has changed the Manhattan skyline.

This futuristic, arrow-shaped open-air observatory on the 100th floor is 345 metres high, making it the highest open-air observatory in the Western Hemisphere. Climbing The Edge is an exhilarating experience. From its 700-square-metre glass terrace, you'll feel the impact of the wind and get unparalleled 360-degree panoramic views of New York.

As with The Vessel, I recommend you buy your tickets for The Edge in advance to make sure you can get in at the time you want, on the day you plan to go.

Useful info

• Address: 30 Hudson Yards (North Tower), New York City, NY
• How to get there: 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station underground station (line 7)
• Hours: Daily, 12:00-8:00 pm
• To know more: How to get in and how much it costs to get into The Edge

To get up to The Edge you'll have had to enter the luxury shopping centre The Shops at Hudson Yards and go to the fourth floor. Shopaholics will go crazy in this seven-storey modern mall in the 20 Hudson Yards building, where the best of the "fashion universe" comes together.

There are more than 100 high-fashion shops and boutiques such as Dior, Fendi and Kenzo, as well as brands such as Zara, H&M and Uniqlo, suitable for all budgets.

Useful information

• Address: 20 Hudson Yards, New York City, NY
• How to get there: 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station underground station (line 7)
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 11:00 to 19:00 and Sunday 11:00 to 19:00

After the shopping and adrenaline rush at The Edge, you'll have worked up an appetite for dinner. Hudson Yards also offers some great dining options in New York.

A bite to eat in Little Spain

The Little Spain Market, a gastronomic space located in the 10 Hudson Yards building, is dedicated to the flavours of traditional Spanish cuisine by renowned chef José Andrés in collaboration with the brothers Ferrán and Albert Adriá.

Bravas, tortilla de patata, pintxos and churros have come to New York to stay and conquer the United States. Little Spain has a dozen stalls where you can savour great classics of Spanish gastronomy such as tapas, sandwiches, cocas, all kinds of fried food and, of course, Spanish cheeses, cured meats and wines.

Shake Shack

Located in The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, Shake Shack began as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park that was a huge success. In 2004 they opened their first location and have been making thousands of people happy with their burgers, hot dogs, shakes and wavy fries ever since.

Kawi

Kawi is a Korean restaurant located on the fifth floor of The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards at 20 Hudson Yards. It's the perfect place to eat if you're looking for a more upscale dining experience. Don't miss their clam dish with spicy sauce and wagyu rice cakes. If you want, you can book a table on their website.

Peach Mart

Japanese in style, this take away stall located on the fifth floor of The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards at 20 Hudson Yards sells delicious spicy chicken kimbap and katsu sandwiches with breaded pork and sauce with a samurai flavour that will transport you to the Far East without leaving Manhattan. You can see their menu here: Peach Mart.

Other restaurants

In addition to these places for snacks, the Mar, Leña and Spanish Diner restaurants complete the offer, with an open-air space and a grocery store where you can buy all kinds of typical Spanish products such as olive oil, preserves and arroz bomba, among many others. Without a doubt, eating at the Little Spain Market is one of the best things to do in Hudson Yards.

The Shed is another ultra-modern building that will catch your eye as soon as you see it. Designed as a cultural centre, it brings together all kinds of artistic experiences (theatre, dance, music, technology...) and brings together the brightest national and international talents of the moment. To do so, they have designed a daring, interesting and original programme. You can check it out on their official website.

As a curiosity, its roof is retractable and can adopt one position or another depending on the needs of the programme at the time, leaving a second building uncovered. I told you that a visit to Hudson Yards would be a trip to the future, didn't I?

Hudson Yards is the area between 10th and 11th Avenues and 30th and 34th Streets along the Hudson River(I can't resist telling you that the development of this entire area has cost a whopping $25 billion dollars!)

To get to the Hudson Yards neighbourhood, I 100% recommend public transport; as always, in New York the fastest way to get around is usually the New York underground. The closest station is: 34th Street - Hudson Yards Station (line 7, the purple one). You can also walk to Hudson Yards if you are in Midtown.

Another option to get to Hudson Yards is to take a taxi or Uber, which is very convenient, but depending on rush hour, perhaps not as fast. If you're walking around Midtown, you can probably walk there.

The answer is yes. Anywhere surrounded by greenery and spectacular buildings will give them time to play but also to be distracted by the shapes of the skyscrapers. In addition, The Vessel, for example, has lifts if you have a pushchair and The High Line also has ramps and lifts.

And it's precisely in the High Line park that you'll see many New York families strolling on weekends. If you've come all the way to New York with your kids, take them to enjoy the modernist Hudson Yards.