Times Square could be described as a simple intersection of Broadway and 7th Street. Avenue with lots of illuminated advertisements and the headquarters of the largest companies in the world.

Today, thanks to its uniqueness and its own circle of life, Times Square is a New York icon and definitely one of the top 10 tourist stops on your New York City tour.

The 10 best hotels in New York City

If you don't have a selfie from Times Square, it's like you're not in New York.

Take a seat on the benches or on the faux elevated staircase and enjoy the atmosphere of the pulsing river and Crossroads of the Worldas Times Square is often called. Part of Times Square functions as a pedestrian zone.

An estimated 330,000 people pass through Times Square on an average day, or over 120 million a year!

Until 1904, the area was called Longarce Square, after which it was renamed Times Square after the Times Building, home to one of the world's most important newspaper publishers , The New York Times.

Busy day in Times Square

Times Square by day

You'll find other iconic intersections around the world in our guides:

In the grip of illuminated advertisements

Although in many places in the world the massive use of advertising billboards is considered a light and visual smog, Times Square is certainly one of the exceptions that proves the rule.

It is the incredible amount of glowing formerly neon, now ice-cold advertisements that creates a special genius loci.

Flag in Times Square

Times Square

Around 50 giant illuminated interactive billboards run day and night advertising logos of the world's biggest companies. All this is complemented by various screens, neon signs and the megalomaniacal atmosphere, where you will feel that you are in the heart of the world, is only enhanced by the constant traffic from thousands of cars and buses.

Thousands of Lights in Times Square

Restaurants, shops and famous theatres

Times Square is one of the main cultural and commercial centres of New York and the whole of the USA. You would be hard pressed to count the restaurants, fast-food joints and upscale and casual shops in its close vicinity.

You could spend half a day at this intersection shopping, watching the hustle and bustle of the big city, and eating.

The most popular shops or restaurants in Times Square include:

Disney Store
Forever 21 - A popular chain of low-priced fashion stores
M&M's World
Hard Rock Café New York

You can also visit many famous theatre, music or musical venues or cinemas in close proximity to Times Square, including:

AMC Empire Theatre - a huge building with 25 theaters
New Amsterdam Theatre - mostly shows, concerts and cultural events
Minskoff Theatre - currently one of the largest musical and ballet theaters in the Times Square area
Hudson Theatre - One of the oldest surviving theatres from the original Broadway production

For a complete list of theaters, cinemas, shops and restaurants in the area, visit timessquarenyc.org.

Times Square Shops

New Year's Eve celebrations

Times Square is one of the world's most famous venues for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day celebrations. And not just those. Times Square is simply the place for spontaneous and planned celebrations for New Yorkers every time there's something to celebrate. Whether it's national holidays, major sporting achievements, or wars won.

Either way, New Year's Eve celebrations are among the most famous and lively.

After all, more than a billion TV viewers watch the New Year celebrations live from Times Square every year!

Hotels in Times Square

If you enjoy a boisterous environment and love living in the heart of it all, then the Times Square area is the best choice for accommodation in New York.

The Times Square area is one of the cheapest areas of Manhattan, partly due to the very high competition for hotels and partly due to the noisy environment that doesn't suit everyone.

Cheap and well-rated hotels

The lowest prices for 1 night in the off-season start from 180 usd, which is very low in New York City.

We would recommend these hotels with the best value for money:

citizenM Times Square **** with its famous rooftop bar
Riu Plaza Times Square ****

Luxury hotels right in Times Square

Want to have a view from your room straight onto the Times Square intersection? Book a night at these hotels.

Times Square

How to get to Times Square?

There's probably no easier place in New York City to get to. Several subway lines intersect in Times Square, and one block west is the Port Authority's main intercity bus station.

Times Sq / 42 St - red lines 1, 2, 3, yellow lines N, Q, R, W, purple line 7 and grey line S.
42 St / Bryant Park - orange lines B, D, F, M
42 St / Port Authority Bus Terminal - blue lines A, C, E.