The Famous One Times Square:
Remember those billboards and digital signboards at Times Squarefrom the New-Years dropping the ball ceremony? This 363 ft 25-floor skyscraper was home to The New York Times between 1903-13 and was designed by CLW Eidlitz. It remains the focus of attention as the most unique, historic and expensive piece of real estate, though mostly unoccupied.
Check Out A Comedy Club
Its no secret that some of the best comedians in the world hail from New York. Or at least cut their chops at the comedy clubs in New York. You dont have to venture far from your hotel to find a comedy club near times Square. Theres Carolines Comedy Club, Broadway Comedy Club and LoL Times Square Comedy Club right in the heart of all the action.
Attend A Live Taping Of A Late Night Show
Most of the major late-night hosts tape their shows in the area right around Times Square and you can attend a live show with your favorite host. The biggest ones in the area are the Late Show With Stephen Colbert at the Ed Sullivan Theater, the Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in the Rockefeller Building, or the Daily Show With Trevor Noah at the CBS Building. The best part of seeing a taping is that they are free to attend, assuming you can get a ticket. Reservations generally open a couple of months in advance, so be sure to plan ahead if you have an upcoming trip.
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Omescape At Times Square
325 W 38th St. bet 8th and 9th Aves.
Escape rooms feature hi-tech machines including laser security systems to recreate the environment of the theme you choose.
OMEscape is great for groups of friends, families, and some themes that are appropriate for kids as well. According to YELP and TripAdvisor, its a 5-star activity.
You can book a slot during their open hours which are 11 am-11 pm every day. It is a bit pricey, at about $31 per person. For more information visit their website.
See The Odd At Ripleys Believe It Or Not Odditorium
Those into oddities, horror movies and the strange will probably think this museum is the best thing to do in Times Square. Even if you arent interested in the macabre or scary, Ripleys Believe it or Not Odditorium should be an interesting way to spend an hour or two.
Apart from scary exhibits like shrunken, human heads in jars and Medieval Era torture instruments, there are also numerous displays featuring interesting and educational facts that the inquisitive visitor will enjoy adding to her mental list of conversation starters. Look out for facts on interesting people in history like the replica of the fattest man who ever lived , a good baseball trivia section for the sport fanatic and an educational section on cockroaches.
Kids will love the room dedicated to Cheetos and comprised entirely of figures made from Cheetos and the dark tunnel game where laser beams are scattered through a scary dark tunnel which the player must finish without tripping on a beam! Plan your visit online.
A Typical day at Duffy’s Square in the Middle of Times Square where hundreds of thousands of people of all colors and shapes pass by daily.
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Ripleys Believe It Or Not Times Square
Explore the wild and weird world of Robert Ripley at this singular attraction. Stroll through dozens of exhibits with hundreds of artifacts and objects. See everything from authentic shrunken heads to albino animals to miniature replicas of NYC landmarks. A particular favorite with kids is Ripley’s Relic exhibit, which asks visitors to solve a series of riddles and puzzles to uncover the mystery of the elusive Relic.
Getting In: Ripleys Believe it or Not! NYC tickets are available on the Go New York Explorer pass.
See Celebrity Replicas At Madame Tussauds
With more than 500 exhibits and interactive experiences, Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a can’t-miss times Square attraction. It’s the largest Ripley’s attraction in the U.S.complete with torture chamber and black hole exhibits. While inside, you can also engage in New York City-specific activities, solve puzzles, and travel the world. Perusing makes a perfect group activity, one you can get lost in for hours.
The area’s two most famous buildingsOne Times Square and the former New York Times Building dazzle tourists each year. One Times Square is actually a vacant building designed specifically to display digital advertisements on its exterior. The New York Times buildingthe fifth highest building in New Yorknow hosts the offices of several different companies. And don’t miss the statue of George M. Cohan which honors this early 20th-century New York theater mogul. You can witness this bronze marvel in Duffy Square.
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Feel The Magic Of Midnight Moment
Every single night from 11:57 p.m. to midnight, the electronic billboards around Times Square turn into the world’s largest and longest-running digital art exhibition. The billboards are all synchronized during the nightly event, known as Midnight Moment, which has been a fixture of Times Square since 2012. If you’ve seen it once you can always go back since the digital show changes every single month, featuring a new artist each time.
Times Square is home base for many of New York City’s Broadway theaters, with theaters residing both on the square and within a few blocks. You can buy show tickets in advance, at showtime at the individual box offices, or, for budget-minded folks, in the heart of Times Square at the original TKTS booth. The TKTS booth offers same-day tickets to musicals and plays, dance performances, and off-Broadway shows at a substantial discount. You can even score certain performances for half-off their original ticketed price.
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
Times Square is the site of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. About one million revelers crowd Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, more than twice the usual number of visitors the area usually receives daily. However, for the millennium celebration on December 31, 1999, published reports stated approximately two million people overflowed Times Square, flowing from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue and back on Broadway and Seventh Avenue to 59th Street, making it the largest gathering in Times Square since August 1945 during celebrations marking the end of World War II.
The New Year’s Eve celebrations are usually overseen by thousands of police officers. Aluminum barriers are erected to accommodate spectators for the 2020 celebration, attended by a million people, barriers were erected from 38th to 59th Street and from Sixth to Eighth Avenue. Typically, the celebrations create large amounts of waste. The New York City Department of Sanitation estimated that by 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day 2014, it had cleared over 50 short tons of trash from the New Year’s celebration, using 190 workers from their crews and the Times Square Alliance.
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See The Latest Movie In Two Of Nycs Biggest Movie Theaters
Many movie lovers stop to see a new movie when they visit the U.S.A. Seeing the latest blockbuster movie is the perfect thing to do in Times Square Times because of its two mega movie theaters, the AMC and the Regal.
Between them, the AMC and Regal theaters show hundreds of movies weekly. Even more convenient is their location across from each other at the corners of 42nd Street and 8th Avenue. Cant find the movie you want at one theater? Just head across the street, for even more options. The theaters are in the busiest section of Times Square so give yourself enough time to get there for your movie.
Watch The Midnight Moment
New York truly is the city that never sleeps. Dave and I never turn in before midnight. If you are staying near Times Square, its easy to catch a showing of the worlds largest digital arts exhibition. The Billboards are amazing enough on their own, but starting at 11:57 each night, the billboards synchronize to showcase digital art.
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Where Is Times Square
Times Square is not really a square. What is technically Times Square is the four quarters created where 7th Ave. and Broadway intersects in Midtown Manhattan.
However, most New Yorkers refer to the larger neighborhood as Times Square, which stretches north and south from 40th St. to roughly 52nd St. and east and west from 8th Ave to 6th Ave.
Times Square is easily accessible by multiple subways and buses. Use this to get exact directions from your starting point to Times Square.
If you are new to NYC public transportation, then read our guides to navigating the subway and to choosing the right MetroCard.
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TIP: If you are considering a hop-on-hop-off bus to transport you around or to get an overview of NYC, then keep in mind that just about every company and tour stops in Times Square.
Go To The Tkts Discount Booths
Going to the TKTS Discount Booths is advisable before buying tickets to watch theatre performances. Watching theatre can be pretty expensive, especially if youre a tourist with other itineraries.
The TKTS Discount Booth aims to make theatre accessible by offering 20-50% discounts on regular ticket prices. In fact, its flagship location is in Times Square.
Checking the TKTS website is advisable before going to the discount booth to ensure that there are still available discounts on your preferred shows.
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Top Of The Rock Observatory
Get a unique perspective on New York City with a visit to the iconic Top of the Rock. With nearly uninterrupted panoramic views of one of the most fascinating cities in the world, this special attraction is a must-do for all visitors to NYC. This gorgeous art deco skyscraper is worth visiting for its own merits, too, with a beautifully appointed lobby. This is my favorite thing to do near Times Square.
Getting In: Top of the Rock tickets are available on the Go New York Explorer pass.
Where New York City Magic Comes Alive
If you dropped someone from the 1970s into Times Square today, theyd tell you it was unrecognizable. Its wild to imagine that the most vibrant neighborhood in the most vibrant city in the world used to be a dilapidated hub for shady activity. These days kids scamper on the sidewalks, and candy stores invite you in with open doors. Families smile for pictures on the streets, laughing and making memories everywhere you look.
After seven years of visiting practically every day, Ive become a Times Square pro. A lot of locals avoid Times Square, and they like to throw around terms like tourist trap. Well, Id be happy to stay trapped here. The lights and marquees of Broadway will never cease to inspire me, and every time I walk past the TKTS steps and look south towards the New Years Eve ball, it reminds me why I moved here. Sometimes Ill even pass one of our Times Square tours on my way to see a show, and I love seeing all of the awe-struck faces of people taking it all in for the first time.
For me, Times Square is a place to reconnect with the people and the things that are most important to me. Whether its a Broadway show or a family photo on 42nd Street, hopefully it will become that place for you, too.
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Can I Show Proof Of A Negative Covid
No. You must be fully vaccinated. The event does provide an exception for those who can prove they are medically unable to get vaccinated due to a disability.
Those individuals will need to:
- Provide proof of a negative COVID PCR test taken within 72 hours before the event and
- Wear a mask for the entire duration of the event.
Best Things To Do In Times Square Ny Top Activities & Places To Go
- Tanner Wilkes
If you want to be in the center of everything, better spend some time in Times Square.
Encompassing the general area of midtown Manhattan, from 40th to 53rd Streets, finding stuff to do wont be hard for you.
And as youre in the City that Never Sleeps, boredom will be the last thing on your mind. So enjoy the thriving things you can do during the day and go wild at night.
Cant wait for your dream vacation here in Manhattan?
Heres a list of the best things to do in Times Square, NY, to get you started on your planning.
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Walk The Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge can be walked over 24 hours a day, and until around 9 or 10 pm you will likely find many other people here.
Sunsets are especially spectacular.
From the bridge, youll get incredible 360- degree skyline views of the New York Harbor, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and you can see the Statue of Liberty way off in the distance.
You can use our detailed post on walking the Brooklyn Bridge to make the most of this unforgettable experience.
For those who want some personal guidance while walking the Bridge at night, join us for our combined 911 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Night Tour.
It runs Tuesday, Fridays, and Sundays at 7:30 pm from March through October.
We also have a GPS-enabled audio tour of the Brooklyn Bridge that can be used at any time of the day or night.
Visit the 9/11 Memorial
This memorial to the lost lives of 9/11 is located in a simple, spacious wide-open plaza in Lower Manhattan.
Its massive twin fountains are an architectural wonder. Click here to find out about how to visit the Memorial.
We have a combined night tour of 911 Memorial and Brooklyn Bridge Tour. For a guided visit at any time, try our GPS-enabled audio tour of the Memorial.
Note: If you are considering visiting the 9/11 Museum, they have free hours on Tuesday evenings. To find out more, click here.
Walk the High Line
The High Line is one of the most unusual city parks, built on an abandoned elevated railroad.
A stroll during the day is lovely but it also attracts crowds.
The Church At Times Square:
The non-denominational church, bought in 1991 at Times Squareis popular and located at what was the Mark Hellinger Theatre at 237 W 51st St. Every Friday has a service for the young between 12 and 29 led by pastors and elders. Every week they have daily services and Sundays has four at 10 am, 1 pm for the new in the faith and 3 pm teaching worship.
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Best Restaurants In Time Square
Cheap eats in Times Square
Cheap options
- Shakeshake Counter service for burgers
- Chipotle Fast-food Meican chain restaurant with some space to sit
- Maoz Falafel & Grill Middle Easter vegetarian restaraunt with salads and sandwiches
- Patzeria Pizza NYC Pizza to go pay by the slice
- Xian Famous Foods Fresh handmade noodles and stewed pork burgers
Affordable restaurants in Times Square
- Piccolo Cafe Counter service for breakfast items as well as salads and paninis
- Times Square Diner Endless food options, open 24 hours a day
- Pongsri Thai Authentic Thai food at affordable prices
Moderate restaurants in Times Square
- Johns Pizzeria Coal-oven pizza pies known as the best in NYC
- Carmines Italian-American styled family portioned meals
- Virgils Best barbeque meals in the neighbourhood
- Sake Bar Hagi A Japanese eatery for the young and cool
Pre-theatre Prix-Fixe menus On West 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenure, is restaurant row. This is a block of around 20 restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisines. They also offer pre-theatre set menus at decent prices and are timed so that you dont miss your performance. Make sure you book ahead and check out some of the best restaurants such as Hourglass Tavern and Becco.
Chill At Duffy Square
Since Times Square is a busy place, it can be exhausting trying to keep up by constantly traveling in the area.
Duffy Square is a casual place where people rest and witness the atmosphere of Times Square. It actually has a monument dedicated to Father Francis Duffy, surrounded by chairs, tables, and even stadium seating.
Also, there are nearby food stands, so there is no need to worry about going hungry.
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Eat At Dave And Busters
Dave and Busters is a family-friendly restaurant that combines two vital parts of American culture: food and sports. This sports bar has an HDTV where guests can watch multiple sports events with stadium-quality surround sound.
There are also traditional arcade games and other traditional indoor sports activities such as billiards and bowling. And of course, this restaurant offers traditional American food such as chicken and waffle sliders.
National Geographic Ocean Odyssey
226 West 44th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
Using photo-real animation with giant projection screens and immersive sound, your simulated ocean voyage will feel real.
This is a great activity for families with children as there is a great deal of interactive technology including touch screens, holograms, and games involving ocean conservation/research.
This is also a good activity for night owls since it is open late .
Find out about prices, hours, and more at their website.
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