Vessel at Hudson Yards Admission Ticket: Climb 2,500 Steps

Climb a monument and see the city from 80 different heights

Vessel at Hudson Yards is an admission ticket to Thomas Heatherwick's interactive spiral staircase sculpture in New York City, where you climb 154 intricately connected flights of stairs across almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings. Elevators are available for those who need them. The visit takes 30 minutes to an hour. Children age 5 and under enter free.

Step-by-step itinerary

Climb and explore the Vessel

• Arrive at Hudson Yards
• Climb the 154 flights of stairs
• Enjoy views from 80 landings
• Use elevators if needed

The experience

The Vessel is a monument built to be climbed. Its 154 flights of stairs spiral upward in a pattern Heatherwick Studio designed so that every landing offers a different angle on the city and the people around you. You choose your own route through the structure: some visitors race to the top, others pause at each level to look out toward the river or back into the building's geometric core. There's no single "correct" way to move through it. The point is the climb itself and what you see as you rise.

Almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings mean the ascent is real work, but elevators are available if you need them. The experience typically takes between 30 minutes and an hour, depending on how long you linger at each vantage point. Public transportation stops nearby, and the structure sits within Hudson Yards, so you can combine it with other attractions in the neighborhood if your schedule allows.

What’s included

• Entrance to the Vessel.
• access to all 154 flights of stairs and 80 landings.
• elevator access for those who need it.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day16 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 18:30Last departure this season: 7 Jan 2027

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 14

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortWheelchair accessiblePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by The Vessel at Hudson Yards

Is this one for you?The Vessel suits anyone who can manage a moderate physical climb and wants to move through a sculpture rather than observe it from the ground. If stairs are difficult for you, the available elevators make the visit accessible without requiring you to skip it entirely.

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Top questions

How many steps and landings does the Vessel actually have?

The Vessel comprises 154 intricately interconnected flights of stairs with almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings total. You can climb as many or as few as you want during your visit.

Can I take an elevator if I don't want to climb all the stairs?

Yes. Elevators are available for visitors who need them, and the structure is wheelchair accessible. Priority Access is available for visitors with disabilities through Vessel's official website.

How long does a typical visit take?

Most visitors spend between 30 minutes and an hour at the Vessel, though you can move through it at your own pace. The time depends on how many levels you climb and how long you pause at each landing.

Are there views of the city from inside the Vessel?

Yes. The Vessel was designed as a focal point where you can enjoy new perspectives of New York City, the Hudson River and beyond from different heights and angles. Each of the 80 landings offers a different vantage point.

Do children need a ticket?

Children age 5 and under enter free. Older children require a paid ticket.