Pier 57

Pier 57 is a part of a slew of new attractions bringing foot traffic to the Hudson Yards neighborhood. Neighbors with Little Island, it’s home to a multi-use building that includes a food-hall, green spaces and a stunning viewpoint of New York City.

Access is free and it doesn’t close until 1AM, which means you’ll be able to get the best views of NYC at night for free. From Pier 57’s viewpoint you can see the Edge, Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center in the Financial District.

Located right beside Little Island in Chelsea, Pier 57 is a free rooftop park that offers amazing views of Manhattan. To discover a park that generates relatively little traffic and spend some time enjoying the benefits is one of the best non-touristy things to do in NYC.

You’ll have views of the Empire State Building, The Edge in Hudson Yards and the lower Manhattan skyline. Pack a meal (or shop the newly opened food hall attached below the park), grab a friend and enjoy one of the most unique things to do in NYC.

The New York City skyline is world-famous, but let’s be honest – tickets to the city’s five observation decks aren’t for the faint of heart. If you’re visiting NYC on a budget you can instead visit free viewpoints, where you can take in the glory of the monolithic skyscrapers without breaking the bank.

Pier 57 is my local favorite, it’s a new, welcomed addition to Chelsea. It’s a small food-hall on the ground level, and you can climb to a free, open-air viewpoint for striking views of the New York City skyline.