Times Square in New York is known all over the world, even by those who have never been to New York. It is at the same time a symbol of the city, an attraction, a living stage, and a chaos of colorful advertising banners. Everyone who comes to New York goes here first to take photos… and then leaves with the thought, “Is that all?” Moreover, locals generally avoid Times Square because of the huge number of tourists.
With the help of this article, we will break your perception of Times Square as a “one-time” place. In fact, Times Square is filled with venues, events, historical and cultural landmarks, objects of contemporary art, and even famous personalities who can be found here.
Interesting facts about Times Square
- Times Square can be seen even from space, thanks to 50 thousand square meters of advertising.
- About 50 million people visit the square every year — more than the entire population of Canada.
- For just $40, anyone can place their advertisement here, правда only for 15 seconds.
- However, renting a billboard on Times Square for a day will cost more than $50,000.
- Until 2009, cars could drive through Times Square.
- Times Square has appeared in hundreds of films: from The Godfather to Spider-Man.
- During World War II, the lights of Times Square were turned off for camouflage.
- There is an underground TKTS kiosk at Times Square where Broadway show tickets are sold with discounts of up to 50%.
What to see at Times Square
After sunset, hundreds of advertising screens and neon signs light up at Times Square. The square literally glows — so brightly that it can be seen from space. Therefore, the best time for visiting and taking photos is from 20:00 to 23:00.
By the way, to get to Times Square on New Year’s Eve, you need to come several hours in advance. Right before the holiday, the square is closed, and only those who managed to take a spot remain.
But besides photos, there is also plenty to do and see here. Here are the most interesting options.
TKTS kiosk and the red steps
The first thing you should do is go up the famous red steps above the TKTS kiosk. This is a free observation point right in the center of the square. From here, a view opens up of the screens, taxis, streams of people, and the lights of Broadway.
The TKTS kiosk itself is known for its discounts on Broadway theater tickets. If you did not book tickets in advance but visiting Broadway is in your plans, we highly recommend stopping by.
📍TKTS Times Square / Broadway at, W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
Observation deck One Times Square
Visit the observation deck at One Times Square to see Times Square from above — not from a distance like from skyscrapers, but directly above the epicenter of events.
Flagship stores
Times Square is a great place to buy gifts from New York for your loved ones. A huge number of flagship stores for every taste are concentrated here. Even if you are not planning to buy anything, some stores are worth visiting for the atmosphere. For example:
- Hershey’s Chocolate World — the smell of chocolate can be felt already on the street.
- M&M’s World — here you can even make custom candies.
- Disney Store — if you are traveling with children (or simply love Disney).
Street performers
Spider-Man, Elmo, Mickey Mouse, Captain America — all in one place. These are street actors who take photos with tourists for tips. It is better to agree on the amount in advance, otherwise after the photo they may demand much more than you expected. The standard rate is $5–10 per photo.
A separate legend of Times Square is the Naked Cowboy. A man in a hat, underwear, and boots has been playing the guitar and singing in the square since 1998. His name is Robert Burck, and he is one of the most recognizable characters in New York.
The “Hum” installation
At Times Square there is an art object that cannot be seen, but can be heard. This is the “Hum” installation by Max Neuhaus — a musician and artist who was one of the first to make sound part of contemporary art.
The installation is located right in the center of Times Square. It looks like ordinary subway grates, with no signs or markers. But if you hear it, it means you have found one of the quietest works of art in the noisiest place in New York.
Food at Times Square
Honestly, Times Square is not the best place for gastronomic discoveries. Restaurants here are oriented toward tourists: prices are higher, and quality is average. But several authentic places are worth your attention:
📍Junior’s Cheesecake / 1626 Broadway at, W 49th St, New York, NY 10019 and 1515 Broadway, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 — a legendary cheesecake that has been made in New York since 1950.
📍Ellen’s Stardust Diner / 1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019 — a restaurant with singing waiters. Every few minutes, someone from the staff starts performing a Broadway hit.
Street food at Times Square: hot pretzels, roasted nuts, halal carts with chicken and rice. Cheap and tasty.
If you want to eat properly — walk one or two blocks away from the square. There, the price-to-quality ratio is much better.
New Year’s Eve Ball Drop
On New Year’s Eve, the main epicenter of the celebration unfolds here. All thanks to the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop. One minute before midnight, a huge glowing ball begins to slowly descend down the flagpole. Exactly at midnight, it reaches the base, and the New Year officially begins in New York.
The tradition has existed since 1907 and every year gathers more than one million people on the square offline and hundreds of millions of viewers around the world.
However, this is not a romantic walk with champagne in hand. People begin to take their places in the morning — sometimes from 8–9 AM. The territory is divided into sectors, which are gradually closed as they fill up, and after that you cannot leave and return. Alcohol is prohibited, and there are almost no restrooms.
But there is a feeling of a historical moment. You are inside a television picture that the whole world watches every December 31.
Where Times Square is located
Times Square is located in the very heart of Manhattan — one of the five boroughs of New York. This is the area at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue in the range from 42nd to 47th Street. Formally, this is not a “square” in the classical sense, but rather an elongated urban node — several blocks densely built up with skyscrapers covered in advertising.
How to get to Times Square
The subway is the most convenient way. Stations directly under the square: Times Sq–42 St (lines N, Q, R, W, S, 1, 2, 3, 7). You exit the subway — and find yourself right in the center. If you are already in Manhattan, it is a 10–15 minute walk from most points in Midtown.
Attractions near Times Square
Times Square is a convenient starting point for exploring New York. Within walking distance:
Broadway: musicals, dramas, shows — for every taste. It is better to buy tickets in advance on official websites, and discounted ones at the TKTS kiosk.
Rockefeller Center: just a 5-minute walk north. There is the “Top of the Rock” observation deck — one of the best views of New York and Central Park.
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): a 10-minute walk west along 53rd Street. Van Gogh, Picasso, Warhol — one of the best collections of modern art in the world.
Central Park: a 15-minute walk north. 341 hectares of greenery in the center of the most urbanized city on the planet.
History of Times Square
Until the end of the 19th century, Times Square was called Longacre Square and was the center of the carriage industry. There were stables, carriage repair workshops, harness traders — nothing in common with today’s lights.
In 1904, The New York Times moved its headquarters to a new building on 42nd Street. In honor of the newspaper, the square got its name. New York Mayor George McClellan attended the official renaming. The newspaper’s editorial office organized fireworks for the New Year — this is how the tradition of New Year celebrations was born.
In 1907, a glowing ball was lowered from the tower of One Times Square for the first time. Since then, the tradition known as the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop has existed. The event gathers more than one million people on the square every year.
In the 1920s–30s, Times Square turned into the center of theatrical life thanks to Broadway. In the 1940s–70s, the square began to decline: theaters closed, crime increased, sex shops and drug trade appeared. In the 1990s, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani carried out a large-scale cleanup of the area.
Times Square in cinema
Times Square has been shown in films more often than any street in the world. Films shot here include Ghostbusters with Bill Murray, Spider-Man, I Am Legend (iconic shots of an empty Times Square), Midnight Cowboy, and Taxi Driver by Scorsese.
In Taxi Driver, the square is shown during the darkest period of its history — the 1970s, when it was a dangerous and neglected place. Today, Times Square is the complete opposite.
Practical information
📍Times Square / Manhattan, New York, NY 10036 (intersection of Broadway and 7th Ave, from 42nd to 47th Street)
Subway: Times Sq–42 St (lines N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7, S)
Entrance: free, the square is open 24 hours
Best time to visit: late evening (20:00–23:00) — for the maximum impression of the lights
