Times Square: Is It Worth It, Where to Stay and What to Do at Night

You already know you’ll pass through Times Square in New York, but you want to know if it’s worth your time, where to stay nearby and what to do there when the signs light up at night — without falling for the street vendors’ tricks.

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Times Square is worth visiting as a passing stop — not as a full-day destination: set aside 1-2 hours during the day and come back at night, when the LED screens are at their peak, to make it a 30-45 minute stop without seeing the same scene twice.

Price	Free to visit — you only pay for nearby attractions (shows, museums, TKTS)
Hours	Open 24 hours, every day — the signs never go dark
Visit duration	30-45 min as a passing stop; 1-2h including Broadway/TKTS
How to get there	Subway lines N/Q/R/W, 1/2/3 or 7 — Times Sq-42 St station
Address	Broadway and 7th Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, Manhattan
TKTS (Broadway tickets)	20-50% off, same-day only (Aug/2026) — Times Square Alliance

Is Times Square worth visiting?

Yes, Times Square is worth it as a quick stop, not as the highlight of your itinerary: it’s New York’s most photographed intersection, with the LED screens that define the city’s image on screen, and it’s on the way for anyone already moving between Midtown, Broadway and Rockefeller Center.

The common mistake is setting aside a whole afternoon there. Times Square delivers more in two short visits — one during the day, for crowd-free photos, and another at night, when the signs are at their peak — than in a single, drawn-out visit. If you’ve already seen photos of the place, you won’t find much new by standing in the middle of the square for hours.

If you’re putting together the full city itinerary, Times Square shows up as a first-day stop in the 7-day New York itinerary for first-timers — it makes sense to combine the square with 5th Avenue and Rockefeller Center on the same outing, since they’re just a few blocks apart.

Where is Times Square and how to get there?

Times Square sits at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, in the heart of Midtown Manhattan — the Times Sq-42 St subway station serves the N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3 and 7 lines, making it easy to reach from anywhere in the city.

Option	Price	Time	Best for
Subway	US$ 3/ride (Aug/2026)	varies	anyone already in Manhattan
Walking from Midtown	free	10-20 min	those staying nearby
Uber/taxi	US$ 15-30 (Aug/2026)	varies, slow traffic	luggage, rain, late night

Avoid taking an Uber or taxi to Times Square in the late afternoon: it’s one of the slowest stretches of Manhattan at rush hour, and the subway is usually faster even from distant boroughs like Brooklyn.

Where to stay near Times Square?

Staying a few blocks from Times Square puts you close to the subway, Broadway theaters and 24-hour restaurants, but it costs more and is noisier at night than neighboring areas like Chelsea or Hell’s Kitchen, which are a 10-15 minute walk from the square with generally lower nightly rates.

If you’ve never been to New York and want to avoid wasting time commuting, you can stay right in the Theater District (around Times Square itself) or in Hell’s Kitchen — both within walking distance of the square and even the Highline. For the rest of your city itinerary, the 7-day New York guide explains why Midtown is usually the most practical area for a first trip.

Before booking your accommodation, it’s worth reserving the free walking tour of New York, which passes through Midtown and helps you get your bearings between the hotel and Times Square on your very first day.

Where to stay in New York

What to do in Times Square at night?

At night, Times Square delivers most through photos with the signs lit up, a Broadway show bought at TKTS and a stroll through nearby food halls — the square itself has no paid attraction beyond the themed museums around it, like Madame Tussauds and Ripley’s Believe It or Not.

• Catch a Broadway show: dozens of theaters are less than a 5-minute walk from the square — buying at TKTS (see the section below) significantly lowers the ticket price compared to buying online in advance.
• Photograph the LED screens: between 7pm and 10pm is when the square is most packed with people and light at the same time — after that, the crowds thin out, but the signs stay on all night.
• Have dinner at a food hall: options like Gotham West Market, a few blocks away, cost less than restaurants overlooking the square and save you the line if you just want to eat quickly.
• Head up to a nighttime observation deck: Top of the Rock and the Edge, both a short distance away, stay open late and show Times Square lit up from above — a different view from seeing the square from within.

If your trip falls at the end of December, know that watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve in Times Square requires arriving at the police barricades many hours in advance (the area closes to pedestrians in the afternoon of the 31st) and going without bathroom access or an exit until the event ends — if you’d rather watch from afar, you can follow it on big screens in Midtown bars and restaurants.

How does TKTS work and is it worth buying Broadway tickets there?

TKTS is worth it for anyone flexible about which show to see: the booth offers 20% to 50% off same-day Broadway tickets, sold at the Red Steps at the corner of Broadway and 7th Avenue, near 47th Street.

Mon, Tue and Fri	3pm to 8pm (Aug/2026)
Wed, Thu and Sat	11am to 8pm, with matinee sales 11am-2pm (Aug/2026)
Sunday	11am to 7pm (Aug/2026)
Source	Times Square Alliance

Arrive at opening time if you’re after a specific show — your chances of finding it available are higher. If you’re open to any performance, go after 5:30pm: the line drops considerably and the discount still applies. TKTS only sells tickets for same-day performances, so you can’t book in advance.

If you’d rather book in advance without depending on the TKTS line, you can find Broadway ticket options at a fixed price before you even leave home — it’s worth comparing both routes and deciding based on flexibility or certainty.

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Is Times Square safe at night?

Times Square is considered one of the safest areas in New York at night, precisely because it’s one of the most heavily policed and well-lit spots in the city — the bigger risk isn’t violence, but street scams involving unofficial ticket sellers and costumed characters charging for photos.

Avoid buying tickets to any tourist attraction directly on the street, even if the person is dressed as a well-known character — they’re resellers with no official affiliation, with inflated prices and no guarantee of a refund. Always buy through the attraction’s official website or reputable operators. Also keep an eye on your belongings: it’s one of the busiest areas in the city, and open pockets are an easy target in the crowd.

For the rest of your trip, it’s worth reviewing the common scams first-time visitors to New York fall for, which include the same street tricks reapplied at other tourist spots around the city.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Times Square open 24 hours?

Yes, Times Square is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year — it’s a public street intersection, not an attraction with opening hours. The LED screens also stay on all night, though foot traffic decreases after midnight.

How long does it take to visit Times Square?

Between 30 and 45 minutes is enough for a quick pass with photos; set aside 1-2 hours if you plan to buy tickets at TKTS, pop into a themed store (M&M’s World, Hershey’s) or head up to one of the area’s observation decks.

Is Times Square free?

Yes, visiting and photographing Times Square is completely free — you only pay if you buy tickets to nearby attractions, such as Broadway shows, themed museums or observation decks like Top of the Rock.

What’s the best time to see the signs lit up?

The best time to see Times Square’s signs at their peak is between 7pm and 10pm, when it’s already dark but the square is still buzzing; after midnight the screens stay on, just with fewer people around to share the frame.

Conclusion

Times Square is worth visiting as a 30-minute to 2-hour stop within a larger New York itinerary — not as a full-day plan. Pair it with a show bought at TKTS or a nighttime return to see the signs at their peak, stay in Midtown or Hell’s Kitchen to avoid wasting time commuting, and avoid buying any tickets on the street. To fit the square into the rest of your trip, Voyage Voyage has the complete 7-day New York itinerary with all the other spots around the city.