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Times Square
If you’ve never been to Times Square, here’s your heads-up: it’s not a place you just walk through. It’s something you experience. Day or night, it hits you like a wave, flashing lights, moving billboards, crowds from every corner of the world, music playing somewhere in the background. It’s bold. It’s loud. And somehow, it’s still kind of wonderful.
For guests staying at one of the many hotels near Times Square, that energy is right at your doorstep. Step outside, and you’re instantly part of the action.
Where to Explore Near Times Square
One Times Square
The One Times Square building is the building, the one you’ve seen on TV every New Year’s Eve, where the glittering ball drops at midnight. You can’t go inside, but you’ll know it when you see it. The digital displays wrapped around the building are constantly changing, part art installation, part billboard. Even when it’s not December 31st, it still feels like a countdown to something big.
Duffy Square & The Red Steps
Head to the north end of Times Square and you’ll find a surprisingly great perch to take it all in: the red steps in Duffy Square. It’s a go-to spot for photos, people-watching, or just catching your breath. Pro tip: the view’s even better just after sundown when the screens kick into overdrive.
Beneath the steps is the TKTS booth, a local favorite for same-day Broadway tickets at a discount. If you didn’t book a show in advance, this is your best bet for snagging great seats on a whim. Just bring some patience, especially on weekends.Broadway, Center Stage
This is Broadway’s front porch. You’re surrounded by legendary theaters hosting the biggest names in musical history, classics like The Lion King at the Minskoff Theatre and Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre, alongside buzzy new arrivals. If you’re all-in on musical numbers or just curious about what all the fuss is about, catching a Broadway show is pretty much a rite of passage here.
Things To Do in Times Square
Let’s be honest: Times Square isn’t about checking off a list. It’s about the feeling, the total overload of sights, sounds, and unexpected moments. Still, a few ideas:
Soak Up the Lights
Catch a Street Show
Dine in the Middle of It All
Visit at an Odd Hour
Visiting Times Square in December
If you’re visiting in December, Times Square becomes a whole different beast. The New Year’s Eve Ball Drop is one of the most famous countdowns on the planet, and yes, people really do line up early in the day (even earlier, if you want a front-row view). But even if you skip the official event, the atmosphere leading up to it is electric.
Planning to catch the ball drop in person? Staying at The Carnegie Hotel near Times Square gives you a huge advantage, being able to walk over and back without dealing with packed subways or barricades. Just be prepared: it’s cold, crowded, and kind of amazing.Insider Tips When Visiting Times Square
Why Stay Near Times Square?
If your trip is packed and you want to be central to everything, staying at The Carnegie Hotel near Times Square is a smart move. You’re within walking distance of dozens of major attractions, close to subway lines that go everywhere, and never more than a few steps from something exciting happening.
Some guests stay near Times Square and use it as their home base, walking to Bryant Park in the morning, catching a Broadway show in the evening, and grabbing a drink at Backstage Tavern at night. Others just love being in the middle of it all. If that sounds like your kind of New York, this is the place to be.
Times Square isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you lean into it with the right mindset, it can be a surprisingly fun, oddly thrilling, and totally memorable part of your New York trip. Just don’t forget to look up.
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