TLDR: Times Square is a 15-minute experience, not a destination. Walk through for the lights at night, buy discounted Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth, then leave. Skip the chain restaurants, costumed characters, and souvenir shops. The real food is on 9th Avenue. From the Wales Hotel, take the 4/5/6 to Grand Central, then the S shuttle to Times Square. About 25 minutes.
Let’s Be Honest About Times Square
Every first-time visitor to New York wants to see Times Square. And you should see it. Once. For about 15 minutes.
The lights are genuinely impressive, especially after dark. Massive digital billboards stacked on top of each other, stretching from 42nd to 47th Street. It’s unlike anything else in the world, and it’s worth experiencing in person.
But Times Square is also designed to separate tourists from their money. Every restaurant is overpriced. Every souvenir shop sells the same items at triple the going rate. And the costumed characters on the street aren’t there for fun. They want tips, and some get aggressive about it.
This guide tells you what’s actually worth doing and what you should skip entirely.
Getting to Times Square from the Wales Hotel
Take the 4, 5, or 6 from 86th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street. Transfer to the S shuttle (one stop) to Times Square-42nd Street. The whole trip takes about 25 minutes.
Times Square is free to walk through and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The lights are on all night, but they’re most dramatic between 7pm and midnight.
What to Skip in Times Square
Costumed characters. The people dressed as superheroes, cartoon characters, and the Statue of Liberty are not street performers. They pose for photos and then demand tips, sometimes aggressively. If you make eye contact or stop, they’ll approach you. Keep walking.
Chain restaurants. Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Red Lobster, and every other chain in Times Square charges significantly more than their locations elsewhere. You’re paying a premium for the address, not the food. A pasta dish that costs $14 in the suburbs runs $25 here.
Souvenir shops. The “I Love NY” t-shirts and Statue of Liberty figurines in Times Square cost $15 to $20. The same items go for $3 to $5 in Chinatown. Don’t buy souvenirs here.
Wax museums and “experience” attractions. Madame Tussauds and similar attractions charge $30 to $40 per person for what amounts to standing next to wax figures. Your money is better spent on a Broadway show or an actual museum like the Met.
What’s Actually Worth Doing
Walk through at night. The lights are the whole point of Times Square. Go after dark, spend 15 minutes looking up and around, take a few photos, and soak it in. It really is something to see. Just don’t linger for hours.
The TKTS booth. This is the single best reason to go to Times Square. The TKTS booth sells same-day Broadway tickets at 20% to 50% off face value. It opens at 3pm for evening shows and 10am for matinees. There’s a line, but it moves steadily.
Check the TKTS app before you go. It shows which shows are available before you commit to waiting in line. Not every show is listed every day, and the most popular ones sell out quickly.
Eat on 9th Avenue instead. Restaurant Row and the surrounding blocks on 9th Avenue (between 42nd and 56th Streets) have dozens of independent restaurants at normal New York prices. Thai, Mexican, Italian, Ethiopian, Greek. The food is better, the prices are lower, and you’re only a 5-minute walk from the square.
Insider Tip
Times Square is a 15-minute experience, not a destination. Walk through for the lights at night, buy your Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth, then leave. The good restaurants are on 9th Avenue, not in the square. Locals almost never go to Times Square unless they’re seeing a show.
Safety and Practical Tips
Times Square is heavily policed and generally safe at all hours. That said, it’s one of the most crowded pedestrian areas on Earth. Watch your belongings. Keep your phone secure. Don’t stop in the middle of the sidewalk.
If someone hands you something (a CD, a bracelet, a flyer), don’t take it. They’ll demand payment afterward. If someone tells you they need money for a specific, heartbreaking reason, keep walking. These are well-practiced routines.
The pedestrian plazas in the center of Broadway have seating, but the red steps at the TKTS booth offer the best vantage point for taking in the full scope of the lights.
Combining Times Square with Other Plans
Times Square works best as a quick stop on the way to something else. See a Broadway show (check our Brooklyn Bridge walking guide for another great evening activity). Pop in after dinner on 9th Avenue. Swing by on your way back from the High Line.
Don’t build your entire evening around Times Square itself. It’s a waypoint, not a destination. Fifteen minutes in the lights, pick up your Broadway tickets, and move on to the real New York.
Skip the Times Square Hotels
Hotels in Times Square are overpriced and noisy. The Upper East Side offers better value, quieter streets, and you’re still just 25 minutes from the Theater District by subway.
Check Available HotelsWe may earn a small commission if you book through this link. It doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Times Square safe at night?
Yes. It’s one of the most heavily policed areas in Manhattan and is safe to visit at all hours. Use normal city awareness: watch your belongings and avoid engaging with aggressive street performers or scammers.
How much time should I spend in Times Square?
About 15 to 20 minutes is enough to see the lights and take photos. If you’re also buying Broadway tickets at the TKTS booth, add another 20 to 40 minutes for the line.
What time should I visit Times Square?
After dark. The lights are the main attraction and they’re most impressive at night. Between 7pm and 10pm is ideal. Avoid the 5pm to 6pm rush when commuters are flooding through.
Where should I eat near Times Square?
Walk to 9th Avenue. Restaurant Row (46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues) and the blocks around it have dozens of independent restaurants at reasonable prices. Avoid the chain restaurants inside Times Square itself.
Should I tip the costumed characters?
If you choose to take a photo with them, a $1 to $2 tip is expected. The best approach is to avoid engaging entirely. Don’t make eye contact, don’t stop, and don’t accept anything they hand you.
What is the TKTS booth?
TKTS is a discount ticket booth that sells same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets at 20% to 50% off. The main booth is on the red steps at 47th Street and Broadway. It opens at 3pm for evening shows. Download the TKTS app to see available shows before getting in line.
How do I get to Times Square from the Wales Hotel?
Take the 4, 5, or 6 train from 86th Street to Grand Central-42nd Street, then transfer to the S shuttle one stop to Times Square. Total travel time is about 25 minutes.
Is it worth going to Times Square if I’ve been to New York before?
Probably not, unless you’re buying TKTS tickets for a Broadway show. Returning visitors generally have no reason to go back to Times Square. The Theater District is worth returning to. Times Square itself is not.