Times Square Square

Address: Times Square (intersection of Broadway & 7th Ave), Manhattan, New York, NY, USA

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: Free to visit

Times Square is a major commercial intersection and entertainment district in Midtown Manhattan at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue. It was named after The New York Times after the newspaper moved its headquarters there in 1904.

The area is known for large LED and digital billboards, clustered flagship retail stores, and dense concentrations of restaurants and theatres. The pedestrianized plazas, bright signage, and street-level activity create a compact sightseeing zone that covers roughly five blocks.

Large-scale events and theatrical culture are central to the square’s identity, including the Broadway theatre district and the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop. Pedestrian plazas and stepped seating areas provide vantage points for the signage and street activity at all hours.

Originally a theater and entertainment district in the early 20th century, the area was renamed Times Square in 1904. It underwent significant redevelopment and a high-profile cleanup and commercial transformation in the 1990s that accelerated tourism and retail growth.

Situated in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, Times Square occupies the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue between West 42nd and West 47th Streets and is within walking distance of major Midtown transit hubs.

• Size and layout: Spans roughly five blocks between West 42nd and West 47th Streets at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, making it compact and walkable.
• New Year’s Eve ball drop: The annual New Year’s Eve ball drop has taken place at the site since 1907 and is one of the square’s most widely recognized events.

What to See#

• Red Steps / TKTS: A pedestrian plaza and observation area with broad red steps and a ticket booth for discounted Broadway show admissions; it is a central gathering point within the intersection.
• One Times Square: A slender high-rise that anchors the intersection and is the site of the annual New Year’s Eve ball drop that dates to 1907. The building remains a visual and historical focal point of the square.
• Broadway theatres: The adjoining Broadway theatre district contains dozens of professional theatres staging musicals and plays concentrated on nearby streets between 41st and 54th Streets. Many shows operate year-round with multiple daily performances on weekends.

Times Square sits at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue at West 42nd Street in Midtown Manhattan. It is served directly by the 42nd Street-Times Square subway complex (1/2/3, N/Q/R/W, 7 and the Shuttle S), and the A/C/E and other lines stop at the nearby 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal (a short walk). Many commuter rail and bus services terminate at nearby Grand Central or Port Authority, from which Times Square is a 5-10 minute walk.

• Visit in the early morning (before 8:00 a.m.) for photos and a much quieter experience-Times Square is at its most crowded after mid-morning and in the evenings.
• Use the Times Square-42 St subway exits so you arrive directly into the pedestrian plaza; once there, stand on the red steps or the smaller pedestrian islands for the classic vista and people-watching.
• Don't skip the pedestrian plazas themselves-many visitors keep moving while the plazas offer a good vantage point for the billboards and are where official street performers concentrate.