Things to do near Times Square NYC go well beyond the billboards and crowds most people picture — this is also the heart of Broadway, one of the city’s best parks, and some genuinely excellent food within a few blocks. Here’s what’s actually worth your time.
Getting Here
If you’re driving, pre-book parking near Times Square through SpotHero before you go. Full breakdown of garages and rates: Parking Near Times Square
See a Broadway Show
This is the single best reason to spend an evening in this part of the city. There are 41 official Broadway theaters, mostly concentrated around Times Square and the Theater District, with more than half operating at any given time.
Tickets can be expensive, but most shows offer ticket lotteries — a chance to win heavily discounted seats through a random drawing, usually entered the day of the show. If you’re flexible on which show you see, lotteries are the best way to see Broadway affordably.
If you or someone you’re traveling with needs accommodations, see our full guide: Accessible Broadway and Times Square
Walk Through Times Square at Night
The lights and screens are genuinely more impressive after dark. Most locals avoid Times Square during the day because of the crowds, but an evening walk-through — before or after a show, or just to take photos — is worth doing once. Go in, take it in, and use the surrounding Theater District as your base for dinner.
Bryant Park
A few blocks from Times Square, Bryant Park is one of the most pleasant green spaces in Midtown. It has a French-style carousel open year-round, a well-kept lawn with movable chairs and tables, and an outdoor reading room. In winter, it transforms into a popular holiday market and ice skating rink. A genuinely peaceful break from the Times Square intensity just a short walk away.
Madame Tussauds New York
Located right in Times Square, this wax museum lets you get close to figures of celebrities and historical icons without ropes or barriers. A reliably popular stop, especially with families.
Rockefeller Center
A short walk from Times Square, Rockefeller Center feels like the city’s living room — busy with visitors year-round, especially around the holidays when the famous Christmas tree goes up. Top of the Rock observation deck offers some of the best skyline views in Manhattan, including a clear view of the Empire State Building and Central Park.
Empire State Building
About a 15-minute walk from Times Square. One of the most recognizable buildings in the world and still one of the best places in the city to get a panoramic view from an observation deck.
Eat Near Times Square
The area has improved significantly beyond the tourist-trap reputation:
Los Tacos No. 1 — consistently ranked among the best tacos in Manhattan, multiple locations near Times Square.
Bibble & Sip (253 W 51st St) — a French-Asian fusion bakery known for pastries that are as photogenic as they are good.
The Theater District also has dozens of pre-theater dinner spots designed around show timing — ask your hotel concierge or check OpenTable filtered by “pre-theater” for reservations that get you out in time for an 8pm curtain.
Stay the Night
If you’re making an evening of Broadway, staying nearby means you’re not rushing transit after a late show. Browse hotels near Times Square for options across every budget.
Practical Tips
- Best time to visit Times Square itself: after dark for the full lights experience
- Avoid: trying to drive directly through Times Square — Broadway between 42nd–47th St. is pedestrian-only
- Comfortable shoes matter — this is a walking neighborhood, and distances between attractions add up
- Subway is generally faster than rideshare for short Midtown distances given traffic
Related: Parking Near Times Square | Hotels Near Times Square | Accessible Broadway and Times Square | Things to Do Near Central Park