5 Tips and Tricks for Visiting the Hudson Yards and the Vessel

On Friday, March 15, 2019, a huge centerpiece installation, the Vessel, was opened in the Hudson Yards, the hottest new neighborhood in town. Hudson Yards, located on the west side of Manhattan (34th and 11th Street), is estimated at $25 billion. And it's one of the world's most expensive projects. The heart of Hudson Yards is the $150 million Vessel. The Vessel, which is now looking for a new name,  is a public structure covered with copper and designed by a British designer Thomas Heaterwick. The structure is similar to a beehive, surrounded by gardens and rises to a height of 150 feet. It consists of 16 floors, 154 staircases, 80 terraces, and 2,500 steps. A visit to the building feels like stepping into an Escher painting, which depicts fantastic structures of staircases that seem to rise and fall at the same time. The Vessel is also accessible to people with disabilities; inside the Vessel, there is an elevator that will take you all the way to the top.

1. Online Tickets

Although it is a public sculpture, tickets are required to climb the Vessel. The tickets are free and can be obtained in one of two ways. The first, which is also the most effective, is to reserve tickets in advance. Every day at 8:00 a.m. tickets are being released on the website for that day and two weeks later. You can reserve your place on this site, which is also the official site of the Hudson Yards: www.hudsonyardsnewyork.com/discover/vessel

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2. Walk-in Tickets

Your second option is to get to the Vessel and stand in line for the walk-in tickets. Every day, they distribute 5,000 tickets on a first-come, first served basis. The three times I visited the place during the opening week (during the middle of the week) the waiting time for the walk-in tickets did not exceed 10 minutes. By the end of the week, on Saturday around 3:00 p.m. there were no tickets left.

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3. Best Time to Visit 

Try to avoid visiting during the weekends, especially now when it's the newest and hottest attraction in town. If you do end up visiting the place during the weekend, try to arrive as early as possible to avoid the crowd. As for the weather, try to avoid windy days. The wind around the Vessel, which is located next to the river, is significantly stronger than the wind you encounter within the city. Also, try to aim your tickets for sunset as it will give you the perfect view.   

4. The Edge, Hudson Yards Observation Deck

The Edge is a 65 feet viewing platform on the edge of one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city. This attraction, soon to be New York highest public balcony, is still under construction and will be officially open only in 2020. Group bookings for events can be arranged by contacting groups@hudsonyardsnewyork.com or sales@edgeny.com. All other interested in visiting the Edge can get on the list here.

5. 3den Lounge

Across from the Vessel is the Hudson Yards Mall, where you can find a variety of activities, luxury brands, restaurants, galleries, and observation decks. One of the mall's most refreshing attractions is the Eden Lounge, located on the fourth floor. The lounge has a large observation window overlooking the Vessel, armchairs and sitting areas, swings, yoga room, free Wi-Fi, loading stands, mini conference rooms, showers, pampering soaps and drinks. It's a place where people mostly stop for refreshments and work meetings. Payment is made based on the amount of time you spend there. To access the lounge, download their app. The app reads 3DEN and you will get 30 free minutes in the lounge if you add my special 3DENMICK coupon code.

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