Times Square is Manhattan's most iconic commercial plaza, drawing millions to its towering billboards, Broadway theaters, and nonstop street energy in the center of New York City.
Times Square sits at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, roughly between 42nd and 47th Streets, and has served as a commercial and cultural crossroads since the early twentieth century. The area took its current name in 1904 when the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly constructed Times Tower and celebrated the occasion with a fireworks display that eventually evolved into the famous New Year's Eve ball drop, a tradition that continues to draw hundreds of thousands of people each December 31. Through the mid-twentieth century the district was home to theaters, hotels, and jazz clubs, and although it fell into a period of decline in the 1970s, a sustained revitalization effort through the 1990s transformed it into the densely commercial, heavily visited destination it is today.
Visitors come to take in the sheer visual scale of the advertising displays, which now include some of the largest digital screens in the world, and to access the Theater District, which lines the surrounding blocks with Broadway houses presenting everything from long-running musicals to limited-run dramatic productions. The pedestrian plazas that replaced vehicle lanes along Broadway give visitors room to pause, sit, and take in the spectacle at a human pace. Street performers, pop-up installations, and seasonal events add an unpredictable layer of entertainment throughout the year.
Times Square functions as both a destination in itself and a gateway to the broader Midtown neighborhood, placing visitors within walking distance of Bryant Park, the Theater District, and major transit hubs. For anyone seeking to understand the particular energy that defines New York City, Times Square remains an essential and irreplaceable starting point.
Visit during the early morning hours, around 6 to 7 a.m., to experience the illuminated signs and architecture without the densest crowds.
Try a pre-theater dinner in the surrounding blocks before an evening Broadway show, as many restaurants offer prix-fixe menus tailored to showgoers.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, as the pedestrian plazas along Broadway invite extended wandering and the nearest subway connections can require a short walk.
Look for the TKTS booth on the red steps at the south end of Duffy Square, where same-day discounted Broadway and off-Broadway tickets are regularly available.
Walk one block east or west of the main plaza to find quieter side streets with a more local mix of delis, coffee shops, and smaller performance venues.
Circle Manhattan by yacht and learn how NYC is adapting to climate change
See Central Park highlights by pedicab with 4 photo stops
See iconic Midtown landmarks, from Times Square to Grand Central, on a small-group walk
Sail past North and South Brother Islands with an urban naturalist at sunset
Walk Madison Square’s Gilded Age streets with historic images
Walk Midtown from Times Square to Rockefeller Center for art and architecture insights
Walk Midtown South with a licensed architect on a private tour
Walk Midtown’s skyline story with a licensed architect guide
Walk Midtown South with a licensed architect, from the New York Public Library to Times Square
Ride by horse carriage from Central Park to Rockefeller Center and Times Square
Bike 9 miles through Manhattan with a licensed guide
See NYC from above on a 25–30 minute helicopter flight to Coney Island
See NYC icons from above on an 18–20 minute helicopter flight
See NYC landmarks from the air on a 12–15 minute helicopter flight
Taste Times Square through standout sandwiches and neighborhood stories
Walk Midtown Manhattan with a licensed architect and decode NYC’s skyline
Private Midtown West architecture walk with Times Square and Broadway stops
Ride a private pedicab through Central Park plus Midtown landmarks
Private pedicab ride through Central Park and Manhattan highlights
See NYC’s night landmarks by luxury bus with a local guide
See Midtown Manhattan highlights in 2.5 hours, with an optional Top of the Rock add-on
See the Statue of Liberty and Central Park from the air in 12–15 minutes
18–20 minute helicopter flight from Liberty Harbor to Central Park and Upper Manhattan
See NYC by helicopter, with a longer route to Coney Island and the Palisades
See the Manhattan skyline by helicopter from NJ in 20–25 minutes
See the Manhattan skyline at night on a 20–25 minute helicopter flight from New Jersey
Customize a private Dutch bike tour through NYC highlights
See New York City in 6 hours on a private, customizable bike tour
See NYC from the air on a private helicopter flight to Coney Island
See Manhattan’s skyline and Central Park on a 12–15 minute private helicopter flight
See Manhattan landmarks by helicopter in 12–15 minutes
Private 12–15 min helicopter flight over NYC, from the Statue of Liberty to Central Park
Private 12–15 min helicopter flight over the Statue of Liberty and Central Park
Private 25–30 min Manhattan helicopter tour with Coney Island and Palisades views
Ride a pedicab from Central Park to Rockefeller Center and Times Square with photo stops
Visit three historic NYC bars and speakeasies with a licensed guide
Ride Manhattan’s top sights with a licensed guide—tour available in German
Ride 9 miles through Manhattan with a licensed guide
Cycle 9 miles through Manhattan highlights with a Dutch-speaking guide
See NYC highlights by glass-top bus with guided stops and a Staten Island Ferry ride
Walk Times Square and eat your way through Hell’s Kitchen with five food stops
Walk Times Square, eat through Hell’s Kitchen, then explore Central Park
Ride a pedicab through Midtown landmarks in 1 hour
See NYC by private SUV with a driver and local guide, day or night
Private 4–6 hour glass-top bus tour of NYC, day or night
See top NYC sights by closed-top bus, plus a Staten Island Ferry ride
See NYC after dark on a private guided bus tour with stops and short walks
Private NYC van tour with a local guide, with day or night options
Ride a private pedicab through Central Park and Midtown NYC in 90 minutes
Walk 42nd Street on a private 2-hour tour for up to 8
Walk Broadway’s 44th–46th Street theaters with a theater pro guide
Walk through Midtown Manhattan highlights with a private group tour
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