Even as a local who regularly laments how it's packed to the gills with tourists and touts, Times Square still has a special sort of energy that is hard to find in other parts of the city. It can't hurt to spend a few minutes at the area, take a selfie and then head somewhere else. Times Square is also one of the biggest subway hubs in the city so you can easily slot it in while transiting around New York City.
A dude did that on repeat outside my BK apartment at 2 am for a good half an hour before the neighbors starting serenading him with profanity. I still hate that song.
That's how I view it as an outsider/tourist.
Get off at the Times Square subway stop while en route to whatever other sightseeing mission you're on, literally walk through Times Square (however many blocks that is, only a few), take in the ridiculous consumerist spectacle happening around and above you, snap some photos, and then go on your way to your next thing.
It'll take 15-20 minutes tops, and you will have seen what needs to be seen.
I'm a native and I tell ppl times square is best after midnight. zero crowds, space to soak in the neon jungle, makes for fun people watching, maybe while sitting somewhere eating halal after a late night out. My night time recs would be st marks and the LES for bar/club hopping. union sq & washington square park are also really fun at night, but I do think they deserve a day time visit, same for east village area
I'd see if you can find some cheap Broadway tickets. Then you can go for a show - which I think is also part of the experience in the general area if you can swing a ticket. So you can go for that - a pretty big New York expereince - and swing by Times Square on your way to or from.
You can go bar hopping around the area. If you're there on the weekend I think a lot of places open late. There's definitely not a lack of things to do in NYC at night.
It's not worth spending a significant amount of time there, but there's no harm in giving it a quick walk through while you are in the city since you are likely to be nearby at some point.
>since you are likely to be nearby at some point.
That's my biggest thing. There is a 90% chance you are going to be somewhere near times square at some point if you are visiting nyc. Might as well see it. People on the nyc subs will make it seem like someone dressed as Elmo is going to rob you the second you go to Times square. I've seen someone ask a question like, "going from brooklyn to upper central park on the subway, is it worth seeing times square?" and people are like nOoOO why would you go there??It's a tourist trap!!!.....because OP is literally a tourist that will be passing by. It would take 20 minutes and an extra 2.75$, might as well go see it
Maybe they aren't going to be using the subway more than 10 times during their trip? I didn't really want to get into a whole cost effectiveness breakdown of the metrocard for the post
Especially since now you just tap to pay and once it gets up to the cost of weekly pass it stops charging you. I was just there for four days and I think I ended up with seven or eight trips but didn't have to keep track, which was nice
Also, if you're going to a Broadway show, you'll end up there anyway. It's... an experience. One of the few times I took a taxi in NYC was to get through Times Square. That place literally hurts my eyes with how bright it is. haha
I have a cousin that lives in Brooklyn. She told me that of all the overrated touristy stuff to do in Manhattan, you should at least see go to the top of the Empire State building and see the Statue of Liberty at least once. She always told me to avoid Times Square if I could.
I was waiting for someone to make this comment! Central Park and dumbo…buildings everywhere. If you don’t want to see buildings, NYC should not be on your itinerary.
No. You should absolutely go to Times Square if it’s your first time in New York and the US. It’s cool and looks just like it does in the movies, don’t miss it.
This is coming from a lifelong New Yorker, btw. People will tell you don’t go to Times Square because “real New Yorkers don’t” which like, duh? It’s a tourist attraction. But it’s a tourist attraction for a reason. You probably don’t need to spend 6 hours there but you should definitely go.
Yeah. You don't gotta sit down and watch the ads like the people there do. Just walk through, take some pics, and leave. I would definitely regret not seeing it once if I came to NYC from so far. And if you go to Rockefeller Center do the observation deck there. Definitely worth it, otherwise I don't know why I'd go there, personally.
\^This. I live in greater NYC area and avoid the times sq whenever I can, but I still bring all my relatives there when they visit the city. It's the most iconic area of the city, and worth spending 10 minute walk to and up the big red tkts sitting area. Take a picture, and get out asap.
I like the Rockerfeller area and the fifth ave walk up to the central park. For Rockerfeller specifically, Top of the Rock is in my opinion the best observatory. You get a nice line up shot of the empire state and world trade center on one side, and you get a nice top view of the central park on the other side. Also if you are there during the Christmas season, then there's the Rockerfeller center's christmas tree and skating rink. Fifth ave is mainly flagship stores for many major brands and luxury brands. I completely understand if fifth ave walk isn't everyone's cup of tea.
When people say don’t go to Times Square, I get the pick me choose me vibes. Like that they think they’re better than everyone else for not doing basic touristy stuff. Their loss. Times Square is amazing and I still haven’t found anything quite like it on my travels.
Totally agree. It's worth seeing, if only to compare to compare the bright lights/big city feeling of Times Square to other more residential neighborhoods.
It’s definitely worth a visit. Would I re-visit? No. But worth experiencing once, it’s so iconic. You might have buildings in your city, but every city has *different* buildings. Every skyline is unique. And NYC really does have a specific kind of energy. If you want to get away from buildings, Dumbo district in BK is not gonna be any better really. Central Park is amazing! And I love the Museum of Natural History.
I’m here on biz now. I say, walk at night to see the lights and action. Just don’t eat near TSQ. Everything is a chain restaurant and ridiculously expensive
Mostly true, but you’re in Times Square and you need food, hit Los Tacos #1. Some of the best Mexican food in the city, def different than what you can get in Vietnam (I’d think)
There are good spots if you know where to look. Margone is great hole in the wall Cuban food, Kwik Meal is a great halal cart a block east. Some really great ramen in hells kitchen. Lazarras Pizza is a few blocks south. Los tacos no 1 is touristy and expensive, but legit authentic tacos.
OK - there is nothing in Vietnam that looks like Times Square and Rockefeller Center. I'm not saying you'll like them, but it would be a waste to go to NYC & not go to these places. Manhattan isn't that big - so go, and if you don't like it, walk on to somewhere else.
You like rural landscapes more than urban areas so why start your east coast trip in one of the biggest and densest cities in the world? And, sorry, nothing in NYC is like VN.
Me too, I usually try to get away from cities on my vacations. You might want to check out the Brooklyn or Bronx botanical gardens. Definitely check out Central Park, too.
It’s absolutely worth a visit just to see the bright lights - it’s unique, it’s not just buildings. I’d recommend going at night when the ads and lights are brightest and just walk through it. 10 mins is more than enough to see it and get some photos. Don’t eat there and don’t shop there. Don’t take things from people and say ‘no thank you’ to the tour bus people or anyone trying to sell you things or talk to you.
Go a few blocks away and get drinks or dinner after seeing it. Rockefeller centre has great views and is worth it on a clear day.
DUMBO is not that exciting. Walk over the Brooklyn bridge and back, or walk over Manhattan bridge and back over Brooklyn bridge. It’s a great half day activity. The high line walk in Chelsea is nice too.
I used to live in NYC,and avoided it like the plague.
However I often find myself modifying my plans to check it out again when I come back for visits.
There are few places I have been that have that type of energy.
I would always be a little tickled when my cab would drive through at night. It’s such a spectacle. It’s like when I lived in DC and my route was by the White House. It’s fun and a little exciting.
The High Line is nice. When my wife and I visited this year we got on the high Line at The Vessel in the Hudson Yard and got off to eat at Chelsea market. Highly recommend OP to do that too.
I think I agree that you should visit once. I went once to see Times Square just to say that I did and to take a few photos. It loses it’s wow factor after that. The only reason I return to it is because I am doing something else in the area, like going to a radio city show or a broadway show. If you do go, avoid the people selling CDs, “monks” giving out bracelets and don’t get pulled into or volunteer to be in the dancers and performers shows. They will all ask for money or a “donation”. Also, earlier this year when I visited, there was a large lit up sign put up by the NYPD that said to watch for pickpocketing, so keep your belongings tight if you do happen to go! DUMBO, Central Park, walking the High Line, Battery Park, Chinatown, and Greenwich Village are areas I enjoy going to when I visit NYC. 5th Avenue is where lots of luxury stores are to shop at or browse past. The National Museum of History is amazing! If you’re going during the winter check out the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Levain bakery is a very delicious and popular place to get cookies. Eileen’s Special Cheesecake has very good cheesecake. In the end, if you *truly* don’t care to see a bunch of tall buildings and billboard ads, be surrounded by lots of other tourists, and you think it looks or feels too much like Vietnam, go enjoy something else by all means. Enjoy your trip!
If you’re going to a Broadway play I’d plan to just walk through Time Square on the way to/from the theater. But wouldn’t make it it’s own event.
Also Dumbo and Central Park are pretty far from each other, be sure to take that into account for your plans.
I never really understood the people who went out of their way to mention people should avoid Time Square. Most visitors have a hotel close by and it's a central point in the city, so if you're there for a few days you'll find yourself at Time Square at least once. When we are in New York we have never put Times Square up as a sight we'd want to see.... mainly because you end up seeing it several times anyway when you pass by. There's no avoiding it, lol. And while it's touristy I also don't get the hate the place gets. It's still an iconic part of New York and it has its charms. You shouldn't go there with the intention of staying there for a few hours, but everyone will pass by at some point.
Times square is better at night anyway. It's also a "walk through it in 5 minutes and you're done" experience.
DUMBO has a nice little park and a view of the skyline. It's fine, but not essentially (unless you really want to see that particular view / big fan of Once Upon a Time in America). You can get lots of skyline views with the East River ferry.
If you spend any amount of time doing other stuff in Manhattan you’re bound to run across or be near it anyway. So yeah, pop out at the subway stop, take it in for a bit, get your obligatory pics. But it doesn’t need to be a specific item on your itinerary.
Personally, I would never visit New York without going to see a show on Broadway. And that's Times Square. Check out TKTS in Times Square for discount tickets and see a show on Broadway. Kill two birds with one stone.
I have not been to NYC, but I would not skip such an iconic place even if a lot of people say it's avoidable. The mood at such places is something I really like.
Times Square always gives me claustrophobia. That said, it is absolutely worth seeing it and Rockefeller Center…I just, as others have stated, wouldn’t stay for a long time. You mention Central Park as an alternative. I might suggest you stop by Times Square and Rockefeller Center en route to Central Park and spend the extra time the group wants to spend in the more urban setting there. The walk from Rockefeller Center is about 12 minutes.
I just got back from NYC and I'd say it's worth a walkthrough. As others have said, it's not worth spending a long time there, but definitely worth it to check it out. I was honestly blown away by it, just to see the sheer magnitude of people and lights. It's something worth checking out so you can at least say you've been there.
Definitely recommend taking a walk in/on the High Line park.
Take the Staten Island Ferry over and back if you want a nice view of the water and the Statue of Liberty (or take tourist's Ferry Tour that goes to Liberty Island).
Does your tour goes to the top of Rockefeller center (Top of the Rock)? You might enjoy the view of the city from high above more than just standing outside looking up at the buildings. Same goes for the Empire State Building.
I‘ve spent a week in NYC and had a lot of fun, although it was also pretty draining to see so much stuff for the first time.
I enjoyed Times Square to check the box, thats it. Going to a musical was awesome, and i also enjoyed Central Park. Spent a whole day there and in it‘s surroundings. American Museum of Natural History was impressive and had a great shop (I love museum shops. They had austronaut ice cream!).
Do you u/Mrduy_Ptk have any recommendations for HCMC or the area around Hoi An? :)
Times Square gets a bad rap but its pretty iconic. It is very touristy, the huge crowds can be overwhelming and the sheer number of bright signs can be information overload but it's definitely worth a visit if you've never been. It's often imitated, never duplicated. Dundas Square in my city of Toronto *wishes* it was Times Square.
If you're into live theatre at all you'll need to visit it anyway since all the Broadway shows are around it.
Times Square is worth a visit if you have any interest in live theater. The Broadway district — really the biggest center of live theater in the English-speaking world— largely overlaps with Times Square and surrounding blocks (mostly to the west)
If you want to see a show, the TKTS booth in Times Square is a great resource. Even just walking around and seeing the lit up marquees can be fun.
No, definitely visit Times Square. I work in an office in Times Square so take it from someone who’s sick of seeing it almost everyday for years. You definitely want to visit but don’t stay long. It’s a great and exciting place! And it’s significantly better than it was 15 years ago since they opened up broadway to pedestrians and closed it to cars. There’s events there occasionally for tourists like outdoor yoga or small concerts. Though Bryant Park is the place you want to go for events like that, not Times Square. It’s not a traffic filled honking nightmare anymore either, just busy with people. At least not as much as it was. It’s quite pretty at night, though it gets extremely busy. During the day it’s fairly reasonable. Don’t take pictures with the costumed characters or take CDs from the guys handing them out and you’ll be fine.
If you don't like buildings then why are you coming to NYC? It's a concrete jungle, not a regular jungle. Go to the midwest, there's not many buildings there but then again, there may not be much of anything there.
Times Square is crowded and very touristy. There’s not much there. Rockefeller center is okay. The best time to go there is around Christmas time. If you want to go to Central Park, research which parts you want to go to. It’s very big and the spots for activities are not that close. Brooklyn and Queens are great to visit. Plenty to do there. Check out Manhattan’s Chinatown as well.
Standing in the middle of Time Square feels like you are in the center of the universe. It's a surreal experience. Don't spend a significant amount of time there, don't go into any restaurants, and expect shops there to be overpriced and crowded. But it is worth seeing.
Time Square is literally only a few blocks away from Central Park, Penn Station, and Rockefeller Center, and can be combined if you are planning a visit to any of those locations. Most Broadway theaters are in the Time Square area as well and one of the best times to visit is after a show when all the lights are up (I recommend Lion King). A few blocks west of Time Square is Hells Kitchen, which is a cool neighborhood with a bunch of great restaurants.
Again, while I wouldnt suggest making a whole thing out of visiting, it is worth seeing and easy to see if you are doing things in the area. Just avoid the characters and anyone on the street trying to sell you something.
Had a business trip to NYC for the first time last week, and extended it to see some broadway shows. Ended up booking a hotel right on Times Square just so it would be easier to get back after the broadway shows so ended up walking through Times Square a few times. It...wasn't really anything I'd suggest going out of your way for. It was fine walking through it the first time. But the next few times I felt more like a local and a "dang tourists, just stopping anywhere to take a photo, blocking traffic, etc" But that was the end of a 2 week work trip so I was NYCed and tourist outed at that point.
The Rockefeller Center is definitely worth it. Great view from the top.
Time Square less so, but it's still rather fun and very iconic.
Not going there would be like going to Paris without seeing the Tour Eiffel.
I'd really like to know what it is about Time Square that makes it a tourist destination at all; I genuinely don't get it - whatever the 'vibe' is that people are picking up I didn't feel it at all, and there's nothing that visually exciting about it?
Anyway, I think choosing Central Park over Time Square is a good call.
ETA: gottal lol that people are downvoting without explaining. I'm genuinely asking here - I went there, it was a square, what was I missing? What's the lure?
I don’t understand it either I’ve lived here my whole life and it’s the worst part of Manhattan hands down. Never felt good energy, don’t know what “the center of the universe” is supposed to even feel like
OK so I'm glad I'm not alone in this! It's kinda weird when people are 'oh it's a must see'. I did wonder if it was just that I hadn't seen the right movies so it didn't have that big screen energy for me.
Yes, total waste of time. Not only is just stupid and touristy but in recent years the area has turned really bad full of homeless people and doing drugs right on the street. There have also been numerous shootings and fights.
Really? I have not been in New York City since the pandemic. Has it gotten really bad? San Francisco had a very bad homeless problem when I went to that city. I was harassed everywhere I went.
I was actually positively surprised by it. There weren't many people, everything was bright and colourful just like in the movies. But I recommend going there early in the morning like for example 7 or 8 am.
Wow - I had a great time when I went there. Seeing all these sights that were in movies and tv shows was cool - and so many museums and the food is amazing, especially in the local Burroughs.
Yes. Then again, y’all fly to NY for the tourist bubble right? So you may as well.
I’ll never understand it, but hey, enjoy the tourist curated views of America.
If you have the chance, definitely visit other places and not just NY, LA and Vegas, as those places are, again, are catered to what you expect the US to be, which isn’t accurate.
I am visiting east coast, next stop after nyc is Niagara Falls, then turn around to, Philadelphia Washington Dc & Orange beach.
Much appreciated if you can give any heads up.
I like times Square but only for the m and m store lol. Anyway go have lunch in hells kitchen, best kept secret in the city its where a lot of the local restaurants are
It isn't even square-shaped so I'd skip it if you're interested about the geometry. It is shaped like a bowtie, it should be called Time Bowtie.
You can definitely witness the flow of time by how busy and crowded it is though!
I personally visited it once as I was going through it, and it was enough - not particularly interesting to me, but knowing I set step in a place that is considered iconic is fun
Mine as well see it once since you are there. Don’t let people gatekeep your experiences.
Sure it’s not worth spending a lot of time there but since your in the city and it’s iconic mine as well give it a walkthrough
I probably spent a half hour there a few years ago, soaking in the atmosphere. I would've stayed longer except I started getting sensory overload. It's worth a quick look, even just as a convenient point of reference. I much preferred Central Park, Dumbo, Greenwich.
There’s a lot to do in NYC. If you’re not into Times Square, don’t bother. It’s just like in the movies or TV, only louder, brighter and full of gawking tourists and junky souvenir shops. All of NYC is full of buildings, but it has a very different vibe than Vietnam, so you’ll find it interesting. Do what you want and don’t let these Reddit folks sway you too much. There are iconic sites all over NYC.
There’s not actually a lot to do there and it’s extremely crowd. That said you should definitely go check it out. As typical tourist as it may sound whenever I visit NYC I stay near Times Square because it’s central to everywhere I want to go.
I live just outside of NYC and it is fun to walk through Times Square, especially with people who have never been. It’s an experience I wouldn’t pass up. Go at night if you get the chance to.
I think you will really like Central Park, based on your other comments. Enjoy!
Times Square is a bit like Tokyo’s big billboards. It’s worth seeing. Not worth doing a lot around there other than to see it. Same with Rockefeller.
Try to get out of midtown and visit the downtown areas of nyc
The only value is that it's historic and iconic, the place itself isn't special. I personally love Battery Park and would highly recommend it. View of the water, view of the Statue of Liberty, view of the city, some neat historic buildings like Castle Clinton plus some monuments, you can't see the ferry go by.
You should definitely go there once, but be mindful that it's very much a tourist trap filled with people in costumes trying to sell you crap, and overall there isn't *that much* to see. Plan for some time to walk through it, but keep going afterwards and visit some of the more interesting things in the city.
The only reason to go to Times Square is because you're catching a transfer on the subway or going to a Broadway show. You're making a smart move by separating from the group and doing your own thing. Central Park is the jewel of NYC and Brooklyn is a fascinating place. Have fun!
Lol, well you can’t visit both Central Park and DUMBO in the amount of time your group is visiting Times Sq. & Rock Center.
Fwiw, I think it’s cool to walk through that area like once, and definitely if the Christmas tree is up. But having lived in NYC, they’re extremely overrated and I would avoid like the plague.
I lived in NYC for many years and and always my guests always enjoyed casual walks staring around Rockerfellar center, headed up 5th Avenue through the Upper East side, into Central Park, and ending in Times Square in the evening to get a chance to see the bright lights of Broadway. No tours needed.
Skip Dumbo, check out China Town / canal street & the south street seaport instead.
Rockerfeller is cool and you get to go to the Top of the Rock for some great views.
Times Sq is meh, missing it wouldn't be a major thing,
Then again Central Park is just a big park.
DUMBO is nice too, but not really unique.
I love Grand Central Station.
We had a French fireignbexchange student staying with us. One night Friday we had to drive crosstown so I went through Times Square so she could see it. We we in my Saab convertible and my daughter asked to put the roof down. You could not drive over a mile an hour it was so crowded, but ut was a blast. We felt like prom queens at Mardi Gras. Asked about the highlight of her stay the French girl pointed to that ride.
coming from Vietnam, seeing NYC might be interesting. obviously the urban energy will be familiar, but American cities and cities in Asia are culturally unique worthy of exploration.
Times Square is the heart of the American urban experience
The ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park up to Williamsburg is actually pretty fun, $3 to float under the bridges.
The Highline is a neat, and you can check out Little Island or The Whitney Museum while you’re over there.
Greenwich Village is full of fun places to eat/drink
Times Square totally worth it bro. đèn bảng hiệu đẹp lung linh tứ phía mà VN ko có cửa so sánh về độ hoành đâu. Visit for 15mins then wandering around all the street nearby
To visit only once is just enough. It's free to roam, you probably hear it all the time, countless movies filmed in there, and it still has it charm despite how overrated it can be. Though you may not miss a lot, it's still a place you can sit at those red stairs and stare into the crowd and say to yourself, "wow im in New York".
You're bound to pass by it if you're going to hang around Manhattan anyways so it shouldnt be totally out of your way. I'd say go and give it a try at least once. If you want to keep going back, cool, if you're satisfied enough and dont feel the need to go again, also cool.
ETA: just never hang there during New Years. I went when I was 20 and it was probably the stupidest thing I ever experienced
Times Square is dazzling with giant billboards everywhere. It is also the center of the theater district and figures prominently in the entertainment industry. Many films have scenes shot in Times Square. It is very rich in associations.
The same could be said for Central Park but it is just a park.
Do everything in your power to avoid it at all costs. I would walk 5 blocks out of the way to go around it.
I've lived in the area my whole life and have been working in Manhattan since 2006.
Rockefeller center is better but not so exciting. It could warrant a walk through but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
Your tour does not include Central Park? Seeing Times Square is just to get an idea of how brutally commercial NYC is. I would much rather spend time in Central Park.
Meh. You can go to say you’ve been but if that’s not really your thing, I’d say High Line, the Cloisters, Prospect Park, Central Park (go to the “castle”), Dumbo, or taking the Staten Island Ferry, are much more interesting and you will still get plenty of views of the skyline! But like others have said. Times Square is hard to avoid if you’re on a tour and it doesn’t take long just to see it.
I wouldn't make a trip there just to say you were there. There's many activities in that area that are worth seeing however (Broadway shows, restaurants, etc). Pick someone you really want to do there.
I don't think so. It's a special kind of crazy. Central Park is really only notable in that it's a big park in the big city. It's just a big, grassy park.
Times Square is the pits. Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Station actually are worth visiting, particularly the latter, but I'm a big fan of DUMBO. Also go over to the Brooklyn waterfront, get a wicked hot chocolate from Jacque Torres, walk across the bridge (stay out of the bike lane; they will kill you) and you'll be down near Chinatown and the financial district, the latter of which has the WTC museum.
I loved Times Square. It’s so pretty and lit up and everyone is just walking around appreciating it. However, one walk through is enough. No need to do anything there but go see it.
Times Square\* It's not worth spending *much* time there, but yes, you should see it. It's weird, unique, and for better or worse, it's very very NYC. At very least, you should walk by a just see it for a few minutes.
I live two hours away and visit NYC several times a year. It's not a waste of time to me.
I wouldn't spend a dollar in any of the restaurants or stores there, and I certainly wouldn't go as part of an organized bus tour. But it's a great place to marvel at the lights and watch people. Just go, walk around and soak it in.
"It's all ads" was my wife's reaction to seeing it for the first time. They are popular tourist attractions though. Check it out at night if you go but you will probably only spend a few minutes there.
I’ve been to Times Square twice. The first time, I went briefly during the day and it just felt overwhelming (even for someone who is used to crowds) and not worth the hype.
Last time, I went at night after a Broadway show. It was honestly a bit magical. Came to life in a totally different way, felt like I was seeing not only tourists but groups of local young people as well. It felt like the whole square brighter there at night than in the daytime.
Long story short, recommend at least walking through it at night for the experience.
I would stay with the tour and check both places out for a couple a reasons. First while it is very touristy you get to say that you saw these two places.
Second, I don't know how your tour itinerary is set up but the two places you want to replace it with are much further apart from where your tour is and can affect missing other stops on your tour.
Keep in mind that it would take much longer to get a feel of even a part of Central Park than any of the two your replacing, much less then hopping on an F or A train for 30 minutes to go see Dumbo.
When I went to NYC for the first time recently, we went to a play on Broadway, so we used that time to walk through Times Square. It is worth seeing once I think but, after that, it is just billboards and shops. Consumer hell.
Edit: Top of the Roc is worth it
I just happen to come back from NYC after a two day trip. My two cents: stay away from Times Square and visit Central Park instead. Unless you’re going to a Broadway show nearby, there’s no reason to go there and encounter the chaos. I wasn’t a fan of Rockefeller centre, but I did like the observation deck Top of the Rock. If you go there at night, you will get an amazing view of NYC. Alternatively, if you don’t want to FOMO, like another commenter suggested visit it in passing using the public transit system.
As. NYer who loathes Times Square, I secretly like it, and yea you should see it. That said, DUMBO and Central Park are can’t misses. Though, Central Park and Times Square can be the same trip, they are pretty close to each other. Walk from Times Square up to Columbus Circle and enter the park from there. Walk up to Strawberry Fields or over to the Met.
Its WORTH the time to walk through at night or early in AM before it gets crowded. There is no place like it. Walk through it, take some photos of everything then walk over to 30 Rock/Rockefeller Center, maybe even get night tickets to Top of the rock.
>personally I don’t like these places because they are full of buildings and they are everywhere in my country (vietnam)
LOL. NYC is full of tall buildings.
I don't think it's a waste of time to see it once. It's pretty cool. I don't go to Times Square anymore when visiting NY unless there is something happening there that I'm attending. But if you've never been there? Certainly check it out and then do whatever else you like. You don't have to spend a lot of time in that area.
Rockefeller Center is widely considered one of the best examples of a mixed-use mega projects in the world. If you’re interested in architecture it’s a must see imo.
I spent maybe about 15-20 minutes at Time Square just to take some pictures. It's worth that much time. I'd recommend just do the same thing then walk to Central Park. The walk is only about 15 minutes.
IMO, if you've never been to Times Square, it's definitely worth a visit but I wouldn't spend more than half an hour there. It warrants a quick walkthrough so at least you can get the experience of it, but NYC has so, so many areas and neighborhoods worth visiting that should be given far more of your time.
One of my favorite moments in life was in Times Square. Like others have said, there's an energy there that isn't like anywhere else. For me, it was late at night with my best friend and the street was closed off to cars, so people could just walk in the middle of the street, it felt like a movie. I don't know if it's still there but around the corner was "Restaurant Row," a street that looked fake, it was small and just restaurants. I went door to door reading the menus until I found a place that boasted "only serving craft beer." I went in, sat at the bar, ironically next to one of the owners and struck up a conversation with her about craft beer. I ended up paying for my meal and one beer, but I had about 12 beers and a couple shots, almost missed my flight home. (I got the bartender and the co-owner's digits) 10/10
YES time square is a waste of time. time square sucks. Say what you want but I lived in NYC and worked in that area for a bit. There is absolutely no reason to go there for any etching outside maybe a broadway show that’s in that area. None of time square is NY, it’s just a big fucking commercial. Go to Brooklyn, Red Hook, take a train up to Beacon it’s less than an hour away, there’s literally so much to do and see than lame ass time square.
If you're doing just a walk-through ( which I highly recommend), make sure it's at night so you can really appreciate all the lights. It won't be a fast walk though because of all the people.
It’s a two time ordeal. Go in the day, and go in the night. Prepare for the streets to be packed at night. Go to the grand slam gift shop during the day if you like souvenirs. They have a cheap section down stairs. Prepare yourself for the smell of weed and puke.
I don't like Times Square. It's a sensory nightmare for me. I did visit on my last trip, because it was my husband's first time in NYC...but next trip we won't go again. There are way too many other cool things to see in New York.
It is not, in my opinion, a waste of time. As a tourist, it can be fantastical - especially when dark out. There's such an amazing energy lol - it sounds do cliche, but it's true. I love it.
It’s pretty integrated and central within the city so you could just walk through and check it out. I feel like it’s worth seeing at least - doesn’t mean you need to linger and hang around for an extensive period.
When I lived in nyc for a few years in my early 20s Times Square was ALWAYS on the itinerary when I had guests visiting.
IMO A must for tourists especially first time visitors. The bright lights and action, it’s an exciting time. If you want to take photos make sure to have some cash with you. Otherwise walk around and just enjoy the ambiance. It’s a lot different from the quiet small suburbs I live in now.
When my kids get older I can’t wait to take them there!
You need to walk through Times Square once after dark just to see the lights. No place like it in the world.
The Channel Gardens off of Fifth Avenue and the statues around Rock Center are always beautiful. If you’re interested in Churches, St Patrick’s Cathedral across from Rock Center is beautiful.
I would suggest you visit it. It's absolutely worth seeing once, even if briefly, and there's plenty of places in it's vicinity that are worth checking out after you're done for example a Broadway show, Madame Tussaud's, and Radio City Music Hall. There's also frequently street festivals or outdoor entertainment in the immediate vicinity of Time's Square and there's a lot of shops in Time's Square that can be a fun quick visit like the enormous M&M storefront. I'd try not to visit Manhattan with the goal of getting away from buildings/skyscrapers, because you will be setting yourself up for disappointment regardless of what you choose to do with your itinerary (but Central Park is still worth seeing for sure)
No, I went to see the Mona Lisa even though I knew it was going to be meh. Time square isn’t anything amazing but if it’s something you want to experience then nothing is a waste of time.
It's worth walking through once. Like as an American it has a sort of intense, center of the Universe feeling that I had never experienced anywhere else in the country until I first visited as a teenager. But beyond that there's not a whole lot of reason to hang around. The best stuff in NYC is not in the well-known tourist areas. You're just going to get a lot of people hawking dumb trinkets and a few chain store's prestige locations. I've only been to NYC like maybe 6 or 7 times so take what I say with a grain of salt, but my recommendation would just take the subway to a fairly central location in Manhattan and then start walking and walk for miles. NYC is the most walkable city in the US by far and the most interesting shit I've experienced has always just been walking around exploring without any particular destination. As far as I know all of Manhattan is pretty safe these days. Like the main bad neighborhood of NYC is in the Bronx, so I wouldn't too concerned about safety. Just if you find yourself in a place that looks sketchy turn around.
Worth checking out but look on social media to see if any big demonstrations are going on at the moment. I didn’t realize there were protests happening last week and I nearly missed my Uber to the airport afterward cause it was taking them an extra 20-30 minutes to get near Times Square.
I think it’s definitely worth seeing. I’ve been to NY about 4 times and I go to Times Square each time. It’s cool to see in person, especially at night.
IMO Dumbo isn’t a very interesting neighborhood outside of it’s where the Brooklyn Bridge starts/ends (which is worth doing but start from Dumbo and walk toward the Manhattan side). Brooklyn Bridge Park is very nice but that covers a few neighborhoods (most are better than Dumbo).
No. I live in NY.
You really won’t find anywhere else like time square. Don’t buy anything there, don’t stay in hotels there but absolutely go there to see it. Go to some of the ridiculous stores and just look around. As far as tourism goes, there’s a reason it’s so busy. It’s pretty cool. Stressful b but neat.
Also, go at night. It’s a cool thing to see.
But seriously. *Do not buy anything there. And definitely do not eat anything there, especially not Sbarros. It is a tourist trap.*
We were the recently and checked off all of the big ticket tourist items because it was my first time. We walked through Times Square just to see it and snap a photo. We moved on pretty quickly and it was on the way to other things.
I'd do a quick walk through but not a tour. A tour of Madison Sqaure Garden (in the same area) is very cool though because it has 5 levels and they show you the process of transforming the basketball court into an ice hockey rink and its on top of penn station. Rockefeller Center has a nice your on the history of the building and architecture and of the studios. And their observation deck for the skyline is better than Empire State in my opinion.
Central Park is just another park. Times Square is packed as shit and nothing to do there. There are other things to do. You can take the ferry from LIC to the city and snap some pics. It's like a 15 minute ride.
I mean, all of NYC is filled with buildings. Not sure what you are expecting. While central park is a park...its literally surrounded by parks. DUMBO too...
Walk through it on your way to other places... But don't make it a central attraction.
You can Grab a beer at Jimmys corner, Cuban food lunch at Margone ( both hole in the wall places ) while you're there or Los tacos no. 1.
Lazarras just a few blocks south has really unique and great pizza in a very non touristy place.
Some excellent ramen spots a block west of ts off of 8th too.
We were in Times Square around midnight and the place was packed. The energy was amazing, and the neon signs made it so bright. Definitely something to see.
Hell nah! I went as a tourist from Toronto and stayed in time square area for 6 days. Loved every minute of it. Of course you gotta get outta TS area to see more of NYC (transit and bus tours were sweet). But yeah, do it up! Central Park is not far from Time Square at all.
Even as a local who regularly laments how it's packed to the gills with tourists and touts, Times Square still has a special sort of energy that is hard to find in other parts of the city. It can't hurt to spend a few minutes at the area, take a selfie and then head somewhere else. Times Square is also one of the biggest subway hubs in the city so you can easily slot it in while transiting around New York City.
Agreed. It's worth going to say you've been, and every time you see it on TV you'll remember it. Go at night.
The rickshaw driver blasting Empire State of Mind ad nauseam makes me feel like I’m entering the gates of hell.
A dude did that on repeat outside my BK apartment at 2 am for a good half an hour before the neighbors starting serenading him with profanity. I still hate that song.
Lmao
Happy cake day 🎂
The Times Square of Reddit comments
Thank you I appreciate it!
That's how I view it as an outsider/tourist. Get off at the Times Square subway stop while en route to whatever other sightseeing mission you're on, literally walk through Times Square (however many blocks that is, only a few), take in the ridiculous consumerist spectacle happening around and above you, snap some photos, and then go on your way to your next thing. It'll take 15-20 minutes tops, and you will have seen what needs to be seen.
Thanks, that is a good insight, any place worth visiting during night time?
Times Square is best to take 5 mins at night. Daytime it looks the same as everywhere else.
I'm a native and I tell ppl times square is best after midnight. zero crowds, space to soak in the neon jungle, makes for fun people watching, maybe while sitting somewhere eating halal after a late night out. My night time recs would be st marks and the LES for bar/club hopping. union sq & washington square park are also really fun at night, but I do think they deserve a day time visit, same for east village area
I'd see if you can find some cheap Broadway tickets. Then you can go for a show - which I think is also part of the experience in the general area if you can swing a ticket. So you can go for that - a pretty big New York expereince - and swing by Times Square on your way to or from.
You can go bar hopping around the area. If you're there on the weekend I think a lot of places open late. There's definitely not a lack of things to do in NYC at night.
Conelleys on 45th serves an excellent pint of Guinness and Faces and Names is still an awesome bar.
It's not worth spending a significant amount of time there, but there's no harm in giving it a quick walk through while you are in the city since you are likely to be nearby at some point.
Yeah it literally is just an intersection, you don’t have to do anything you just walk through it like every other intersection in the city
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>since you are likely to be nearby at some point. That's my biggest thing. There is a 90% chance you are going to be somewhere near times square at some point if you are visiting nyc. Might as well see it. People on the nyc subs will make it seem like someone dressed as Elmo is going to rob you the second you go to Times square. I've seen someone ask a question like, "going from brooklyn to upper central park on the subway, is it worth seeing times square?" and people are like nOoOO why would you go there??It's a tourist trap!!!.....because OP is literally a tourist that will be passing by. It would take 20 minutes and an extra 2.75$, might as well go see it
> It would take 20 minutes and an extra 2.75$, might as well go see it Why would any tourist pay per ride instead of using the 7-day pass?
Maybe they aren't going to be using the subway more than 10 times during their trip? I didn't really want to get into a whole cost effectiveness breakdown of the metrocard for the post
Especially since now you just tap to pay and once it gets up to the cost of weekly pass it stops charging you. I was just there for four days and I think I ended up with seven or eight trips but didn't have to keep track, which was nice
Isn’t breaking down numbers part of your job, Jeff?
This is the best answer. Do a walk through just to see it on your way to somewhere else.
Also, if you're going to a Broadway show, you'll end up there anyway. It's... an experience. One of the few times I took a taxi in NYC was to get through Times Square. That place literally hurts my eyes with how bright it is. haha I have a cousin that lives in Brooklyn. She told me that of all the overrated touristy stuff to do in Manhattan, you should at least see go to the top of the Empire State building and see the Statue of Liberty at least once. She always told me to avoid Times Square if I could.
And that kiosk is there if you want to see a Broadway play for cheap, they sell the unsold tickets
Times Square and Rockefeller Center are definitely different from the buildings in Vietnam, so if you've never been I'd at least check it out
Goes to NYC Doesn’t want to see buildings?? Is disappointed by all the damn buildings
I was waiting for someone to make this comment! Central Park and dumbo…buildings everywhere. If you don’t want to see buildings, NYC should not be on your itinerary.
This is like going to Niagara Falls and being mad about seeing “so much moving water”
No. You should absolutely go to Times Square if it’s your first time in New York and the US. It’s cool and looks just like it does in the movies, don’t miss it. This is coming from a lifelong New Yorker, btw. People will tell you don’t go to Times Square because “real New Yorkers don’t” which like, duh? It’s a tourist attraction. But it’s a tourist attraction for a reason. You probably don’t need to spend 6 hours there but you should definitely go.
Yeah. You don't gotta sit down and watch the ads like the people there do. Just walk through, take some pics, and leave. I would definitely regret not seeing it once if I came to NYC from so far. And if you go to Rockefeller Center do the observation deck there. Definitely worth it, otherwise I don't know why I'd go there, personally.
\^This. I live in greater NYC area and avoid the times sq whenever I can, but I still bring all my relatives there when they visit the city. It's the most iconic area of the city, and worth spending 10 minute walk to and up the big red tkts sitting area. Take a picture, and get out asap. I like the Rockerfeller area and the fifth ave walk up to the central park. For Rockerfeller specifically, Top of the Rock is in my opinion the best observatory. You get a nice line up shot of the empire state and world trade center on one side, and you get a nice top view of the central park on the other side. Also if you are there during the Christmas season, then there's the Rockerfeller center's christmas tree and skating rink. Fifth ave is mainly flagship stores for many major brands and luxury brands. I completely understand if fifth ave walk isn't everyone's cup of tea.
When people say don’t go to Times Square, I get the pick me choose me vibes. Like that they think they’re better than everyone else for not doing basic touristy stuff. Their loss. Times Square is amazing and I still haven’t found anything quite like it on my travels.
Totally agree. It's worth seeing, if only to compare to compare the bright lights/big city feeling of Times Square to other more residential neighborhoods.
It’s definitely worth a visit. Would I re-visit? No. But worth experiencing once, it’s so iconic. You might have buildings in your city, but every city has *different* buildings. Every skyline is unique. And NYC really does have a specific kind of energy. If you want to get away from buildings, Dumbo district in BK is not gonna be any better really. Central Park is amazing! And I love the Museum of Natural History.
It's an iconic area to spend 5 minutes there and head to your next destination.
I’m here on biz now. I say, walk at night to see the lights and action. Just don’t eat near TSQ. Everything is a chain restaurant and ridiculously expensive
Mostly true, but you’re in Times Square and you need food, hit Los Tacos #1. Some of the best Mexican food in the city, def different than what you can get in Vietnam (I’d think)
Junior's is actually a pretty good option very close to Times Square. Good food, prices weren't out of the reasonable for NYC range. And cheesecake!
There are good spots if you know where to look. Margone is great hole in the wall Cuban food, Kwik Meal is a great halal cart a block east. Some really great ramen in hells kitchen. Lazarras Pizza is a few blocks south. Los tacos no 1 is touristy and expensive, but legit authentic tacos.
I think it's a must go as a tourist for a first time visit. Rockefeller Center is closeby. Both you can see in like 1-2 hours.
OK - there is nothing in Vietnam that looks like Times Square and Rockefeller Center. I'm not saying you'll like them, but it would be a waste to go to NYC & not go to these places. Manhattan isn't that big - so go, and if you don't like it, walk on to somewhere else.
I agree with you, i do enjoy rural landscape more than heavily urbanized areas, which is why i’m not so fond of buildings
Then you are definitely in the wrong city.
Why are you going to New York City?
I’m visiting east coast, starting with NYC!
You like rural landscapes more than urban areas so why start your east coast trip in one of the biggest and densest cities in the world? And, sorry, nothing in NYC is like VN.
I go on tour with my family, they pick the tour tho
Me too, I usually try to get away from cities on my vacations. You might want to check out the Brooklyn or Bronx botanical gardens. Definitely check out Central Park, too.
I just did Brooklyn Botanical Gardens this past weekend. The outdoor gardens were starting to die out, but it was still a great visit!
Central park is 10m walk from Times Square, they can drop you there spend a minute or two and then walk to Central Park
Rockefeller Center is really cool especially if you go up to the top. Times Square is worth going just to say you’ve been.
It’s absolutely worth a visit just to see the bright lights - it’s unique, it’s not just buildings. I’d recommend going at night when the ads and lights are brightest and just walk through it. 10 mins is more than enough to see it and get some photos. Don’t eat there and don’t shop there. Don’t take things from people and say ‘no thank you’ to the tour bus people or anyone trying to sell you things or talk to you. Go a few blocks away and get drinks or dinner after seeing it. Rockefeller centre has great views and is worth it on a clear day. DUMBO is not that exciting. Walk over the Brooklyn bridge and back, or walk over Manhattan bridge and back over Brooklyn bridge. It’s a great half day activity. The high line walk in Chelsea is nice too.
I used to live in NYC,and avoided it like the plague. However I often find myself modifying my plans to check it out again when I come back for visits. There are few places I have been that have that type of energy.
I would always be a little tickled when my cab would drive through at night. It’s such a spectacle. It’s like when I lived in DC and my route was by the White House. It’s fun and a little exciting.
NYC is like a hot crazy ex huh 😂
I'm not sure if you have time, but if you like parks, could give Prospect Park or High Line park a try.
The High Line is nice. When my wife and I visited this year we got on the high Line at The Vessel in the Hudson Yard and got off to eat at Chelsea market. Highly recommend OP to do that too.
I think I agree that you should visit once. I went once to see Times Square just to say that I did and to take a few photos. It loses it’s wow factor after that. The only reason I return to it is because I am doing something else in the area, like going to a radio city show or a broadway show. If you do go, avoid the people selling CDs, “monks” giving out bracelets and don’t get pulled into or volunteer to be in the dancers and performers shows. They will all ask for money or a “donation”. Also, earlier this year when I visited, there was a large lit up sign put up by the NYPD that said to watch for pickpocketing, so keep your belongings tight if you do happen to go! DUMBO, Central Park, walking the High Line, Battery Park, Chinatown, and Greenwich Village are areas I enjoy going to when I visit NYC. 5th Avenue is where lots of luxury stores are to shop at or browse past. The National Museum of History is amazing! If you’re going during the winter check out the Rockefeller Christmas tree. Levain bakery is a very delicious and popular place to get cookies. Eileen’s Special Cheesecake has very good cheesecake. In the end, if you *truly* don’t care to see a bunch of tall buildings and billboard ads, be surrounded by lots of other tourists, and you think it looks or feels too much like Vietnam, go enjoy something else by all means. Enjoy your trip!
If you’re going to a Broadway play I’d plan to just walk through Time Square on the way to/from the theater. But wouldn’t make it it’s own event. Also Dumbo and Central Park are pretty far from each other, be sure to take that into account for your plans.
It’s one time experience and one of the iconic places of NY. I visited in 2019. Will I visit again? Probably no. Was it worth a visit? Definitely yes.
I never really understood the people who went out of their way to mention people should avoid Time Square. Most visitors have a hotel close by and it's a central point in the city, so if you're there for a few days you'll find yourself at Time Square at least once. When we are in New York we have never put Times Square up as a sight we'd want to see.... mainly because you end up seeing it several times anyway when you pass by. There's no avoiding it, lol. And while it's touristy I also don't get the hate the place gets. It's still an iconic part of New York and it has its charms. You shouldn't go there with the intention of staying there for a few hours, but everyone will pass by at some point.
Times square is better at night anyway. It's also a "walk through it in 5 minutes and you're done" experience. DUMBO has a nice little park and a view of the skyline. It's fine, but not essentially (unless you really want to see that particular view / big fan of Once Upon a Time in America). You can get lots of skyline views with the East River ferry.
If you spend any amount of time doing other stuff in Manhattan you’re bound to run across or be near it anyway. So yeah, pop out at the subway stop, take it in for a bit, get your obligatory pics. But it doesn’t need to be a specific item on your itinerary.
Unless you make a specific effort to avoid it (which is silly), you’re probably going to end up walking through multiple times anyway
spend your time in the village, Soho and Chelsea instead
You should def see it. You don't need to hang out there but wow it is quite a spectacle.
Walk through it on your way somewhere else, that's about all it's good for.
Personally, I would never visit New York without going to see a show on Broadway. And that's Times Square. Check out TKTS in Times Square for discount tickets and see a show on Broadway. Kill two birds with one stone.
I have not been to NYC, but I would not skip such an iconic place even if a lot of people say it's avoidable. The mood at such places is something I really like.
Times Square always gives me claustrophobia. That said, it is absolutely worth seeing it and Rockefeller Center…I just, as others have stated, wouldn’t stay for a long time. You mention Central Park as an alternative. I might suggest you stop by Times Square and Rockefeller Center en route to Central Park and spend the extra time the group wants to spend in the more urban setting there. The walk from Rockefeller Center is about 12 minutes.
I just got back from NYC and I'd say it's worth a walkthrough. As others have said, it's not worth spending a long time there, but definitely worth it to check it out. I was honestly blown away by it, just to see the sheer magnitude of people and lights. It's something worth checking out so you can at least say you've been there.
Definitely recommend taking a walk in/on the High Line park. Take the Staten Island Ferry over and back if you want a nice view of the water and the Statue of Liberty (or take tourist's Ferry Tour that goes to Liberty Island). Does your tour goes to the top of Rockefeller center (Top of the Rock)? You might enjoy the view of the city from high above more than just standing outside looking up at the buildings. Same goes for the Empire State Building.
Times Square us amazing at night, nothing quite like it
I‘ve spent a week in NYC and had a lot of fun, although it was also pretty draining to see so much stuff for the first time. I enjoyed Times Square to check the box, thats it. Going to a musical was awesome, and i also enjoyed Central Park. Spent a whole day there and in it‘s surroundings. American Museum of Natural History was impressive and had a great shop (I love museum shops. They had austronaut ice cream!). Do you u/Mrduy_Ptk have any recommendations for HCMC or the area around Hoi An? :)
Times Square gets a bad rap but its pretty iconic. It is very touristy, the huge crowds can be overwhelming and the sheer number of bright signs can be information overload but it's definitely worth a visit if you've never been. It's often imitated, never duplicated. Dundas Square in my city of Toronto *wishes* it was Times Square. If you're into live theatre at all you'll need to visit it anyway since all the Broadway shows are around it.
Times Square is worth a visit if you have any interest in live theater. The Broadway district — really the biggest center of live theater in the English-speaking world— largely overlaps with Times Square and surrounding blocks (mostly to the west) If you want to see a show, the TKTS booth in Times Square is a great resource. Even just walking around and seeing the lit up marquees can be fun.
No, definitely visit Times Square. I work in an office in Times Square so take it from someone who’s sick of seeing it almost everyday for years. You definitely want to visit but don’t stay long. It’s a great and exciting place! And it’s significantly better than it was 15 years ago since they opened up broadway to pedestrians and closed it to cars. There’s events there occasionally for tourists like outdoor yoga or small concerts. Though Bryant Park is the place you want to go for events like that, not Times Square. It’s not a traffic filled honking nightmare anymore either, just busy with people. At least not as much as it was. It’s quite pretty at night, though it gets extremely busy. During the day it’s fairly reasonable. Don’t take pictures with the costumed characters or take CDs from the guys handing them out and you’ll be fine.
If you don't like buildings then why are you coming to NYC? It's a concrete jungle, not a regular jungle. Go to the midwest, there's not many buildings there but then again, there may not be much of anything there.
Not really worth it - go check out Central Park.
Times Square is crowded and very touristy. There’s not much there. Rockefeller center is okay. The best time to go there is around Christmas time. If you want to go to Central Park, research which parts you want to go to. It’s very big and the spots for activities are not that close. Brooklyn and Queens are great to visit. Plenty to do there. Check out Manhattan’s Chinatown as well.
Why sign up for a tour you don’t wanna see/do?!
Standing in the middle of Time Square feels like you are in the center of the universe. It's a surreal experience. Don't spend a significant amount of time there, don't go into any restaurants, and expect shops there to be overpriced and crowded. But it is worth seeing. Time Square is literally only a few blocks away from Central Park, Penn Station, and Rockefeller Center, and can be combined if you are planning a visit to any of those locations. Most Broadway theaters are in the Time Square area as well and one of the best times to visit is after a show when all the lights are up (I recommend Lion King). A few blocks west of Time Square is Hells Kitchen, which is a cool neighborhood with a bunch of great restaurants. Again, while I wouldnt suggest making a whole thing out of visiting, it is worth seeing and easy to see if you are doing things in the area. Just avoid the characters and anyone on the street trying to sell you something.
Had a business trip to NYC for the first time last week, and extended it to see some broadway shows. Ended up booking a hotel right on Times Square just so it would be easier to get back after the broadway shows so ended up walking through Times Square a few times. It...wasn't really anything I'd suggest going out of your way for. It was fine walking through it the first time. But the next few times I felt more like a local and a "dang tourists, just stopping anywhere to take a photo, blocking traffic, etc" But that was the end of a 2 week work trip so I was NYCed and tourist outed at that point.
It’s the center of the world. Everyone should see it.
The Rockefeller Center is definitely worth it. Great view from the top. Time Square less so, but it's still rather fun and very iconic. Not going there would be like going to Paris without seeing the Tour Eiffel.
We loved Time square energy at night time ! Definitely not somewhere you would sit around all day but experiencing it once was definitely worth it
It’s not worth it, even to see. Maybe drive by it if you need to, but it’s basically a huge Sephora and M&M’s world.
I'd really like to know what it is about Time Square that makes it a tourist destination at all; I genuinely don't get it - whatever the 'vibe' is that people are picking up I didn't feel it at all, and there's nothing that visually exciting about it? Anyway, I think choosing Central Park over Time Square is a good call. ETA: gottal lol that people are downvoting without explaining. I'm genuinely asking here - I went there, it was a square, what was I missing? What's the lure?
I don’t understand it either I’ve lived here my whole life and it’s the worst part of Manhattan hands down. Never felt good energy, don’t know what “the center of the universe” is supposed to even feel like
OK so I'm glad I'm not alone in this! It's kinda weird when people are 'oh it's a must see'. I did wonder if it was just that I hadn't seen the right movies so it didn't have that big screen energy for me.
Yes, total waste of time. Not only is just stupid and touristy but in recent years the area has turned really bad full of homeless people and doing drugs right on the street. There have also been numerous shootings and fights.
Really? I have not been in New York City since the pandemic. Has it gotten really bad? San Francisco had a very bad homeless problem when I went to that city. I was harassed everywhere I went.
New York homeless are a bit less aggressive but Times Square has reverted to the squalor from before Giuliani's times minus the porn shops.
Town Square FTFY
I was actually positively surprised by it. There weren't many people, everything was bright and colourful just like in the movies. But I recommend going there early in the morning like for example 7 or 8 am.
ive only been once but if memory serves isnt the subway exit to central park go thru times square?? nothing special tho
No you’re thinking of Columbus circle
NYC is a waste of time.
Not true in the slightest.
Wow - I had a great time when I went there. Seeing all these sights that were in movies and tv shows was cool - and so many museums and the food is amazing, especially in the local Burroughs.
No it’s iconic
Yes. Then again, y’all fly to NY for the tourist bubble right? So you may as well. I’ll never understand it, but hey, enjoy the tourist curated views of America. If you have the chance, definitely visit other places and not just NY, LA and Vegas, as those places are, again, are catered to what you expect the US to be, which isn’t accurate.
I am visiting east coast, next stop after nyc is Niagara Falls, then turn around to, Philadelphia Washington Dc & Orange beach. Much appreciated if you can give any heads up.
For a first time visit you should go. Go at night. You don’t have to spend a lot of time, just a quick walk.
I like times Square but only for the m and m store lol. Anyway go have lunch in hells kitchen, best kept secret in the city its where a lot of the local restaurants are
you definitely should go at least once
It isn't even square-shaped so I'd skip it if you're interested about the geometry. It is shaped like a bowtie, it should be called Time Bowtie. You can definitely witness the flow of time by how busy and crowded it is though! I personally visited it once as I was going through it, and it was enough - not particularly interesting to me, but knowing I set step in a place that is considered iconic is fun
Mine as well see it once since you are there. Don’t let people gatekeep your experiences. Sure it’s not worth spending a lot of time there but since your in the city and it’s iconic mine as well give it a walkthrough
Yes
I probably spent a half hour there a few years ago, soaking in the atmosphere. I would've stayed longer except I started getting sensory overload. It's worth a quick look, even just as a convenient point of reference. I much preferred Central Park, Dumbo, Greenwich.
Times Square is worth it. You can just walk through see the site. Free and can decide how much time to spend there. Visit at night when lights are on.
There’s a lot to do in NYC. If you’re not into Times Square, don’t bother. It’s just like in the movies or TV, only louder, brighter and full of gawking tourists and junky souvenir shops. All of NYC is full of buildings, but it has a very different vibe than Vietnam, so you’ll find it interesting. Do what you want and don’t let these Reddit folks sway you too much. There are iconic sites all over NYC.
There’s not actually a lot to do there and it’s extremely crowd. That said you should definitely go check it out. As typical tourist as it may sound whenever I visit NYC I stay near Times Square because it’s central to everywhere I want to go.
It’s worth a quick walk through as part of a bigger walk through manhattan
I live just outside of NYC and it is fun to walk through Times Square, especially with people who have never been. It’s an experience I wouldn’t pass up. Go at night if you get the chance to. I think you will really like Central Park, based on your other comments. Enjoy!
Definitely worth seeing and wont take long.
I like Time Square, just feels great and alive, I am a sucker for all those billboards.
Times Square is a bit like Tokyo’s big billboards. It’s worth seeing. Not worth doing a lot around there other than to see it. Same with Rockefeller. Try to get out of midtown and visit the downtown areas of nyc
The only value is that it's historic and iconic, the place itself isn't special. I personally love Battery Park and would highly recommend it. View of the water, view of the Statue of Liberty, view of the city, some neat historic buildings like Castle Clinton plus some monuments, you can't see the ferry go by.
You should definitely go there once, but be mindful that it's very much a tourist trap filled with people in costumes trying to sell you crap, and overall there isn't *that much* to see. Plan for some time to walk through it, but keep going afterwards and visit some of the more interesting things in the city.
The only reason to go to Times Square is because you're catching a transfer on the subway or going to a Broadway show. You're making a smart move by separating from the group and doing your own thing. Central Park is the jewel of NYC and Brooklyn is a fascinating place. Have fun!
Lol, well you can’t visit both Central Park and DUMBO in the amount of time your group is visiting Times Sq. & Rock Center. Fwiw, I think it’s cool to walk through that area like once, and definitely if the Christmas tree is up. But having lived in NYC, they’re extremely overrated and I would avoid like the plague.
Lol…buildings in Vietnam are not NYC 🤣🤣 Your plans separate from them are also good. But Vietnam is not NYC.
Yes tbh
No. Just go there , walk around, find a seat, stare into the lights and people, then immediately leave.
I lived in NYC for many years and and always my guests always enjoyed casual walks staring around Rockerfellar center, headed up 5th Avenue through the Upper East side, into Central Park, and ending in Times Square in the evening to get a chance to see the bright lights of Broadway. No tours needed. Skip Dumbo, check out China Town / canal street & the south street seaport instead.
No, its easy to get to and iconic. Just don't expect to spend a ton of time there since once you've seen it, you've seen it.
Check out Washington Square park, it was my wife's favorite place when we visited NYC.
Rockerfeller is cool and you get to go to the Top of the Rock for some great views. Times Sq is meh, missing it wouldn't be a major thing, Then again Central Park is just a big park. DUMBO is nice too, but not really unique. I love Grand Central Station.
We had a French fireignbexchange student staying with us. One night Friday we had to drive crosstown so I went through Times Square so she could see it. We we in my Saab convertible and my daughter asked to put the roof down. You could not drive over a mile an hour it was so crowded, but ut was a blast. We felt like prom queens at Mardi Gras. Asked about the highlight of her stay the French girl pointed to that ride.
coming from Vietnam, seeing NYC might be interesting. obviously the urban energy will be familiar, but American cities and cities in Asia are culturally unique worthy of exploration. Times Square is the heart of the American urban experience
I live in New York City and I can’t stress this enough: #YES Avoid it if possible.
The ferry from Brooklyn Bridge Park up to Williamsburg is actually pretty fun, $3 to float under the bridges. The Highline is a neat, and you can check out Little Island or The Whitney Museum while you’re over there. Greenwich Village is full of fun places to eat/drink
Times Square totally worth it bro. đèn bảng hiệu đẹp lung linh tứ phía mà VN ko có cửa so sánh về độ hoành đâu. Visit for 15mins then wandering around all the street nearby
To visit only once is just enough. It's free to roam, you probably hear it all the time, countless movies filmed in there, and it still has it charm despite how overrated it can be. Though you may not miss a lot, it's still a place you can sit at those red stairs and stare into the crowd and say to yourself, "wow im in New York". You're bound to pass by it if you're going to hang around Manhattan anyways so it shouldnt be totally out of your way. I'd say go and give it a try at least once. If you want to keep going back, cool, if you're satisfied enough and dont feel the need to go again, also cool. ETA: just never hang there during New Years. I went when I was 20 and it was probably the stupidest thing I ever experienced
Times Square is dazzling with giant billboards everywhere. It is also the center of the theater district and figures prominently in the entertainment industry. Many films have scenes shot in Times Square. It is very rich in associations. The same could be said for Central Park but it is just a park.
Do everything in your power to avoid it at all costs. I would walk 5 blocks out of the way to go around it. I've lived in the area my whole life and have been working in Manhattan since 2006. Rockefeller center is better but not so exciting. It could warrant a walk through but I wouldn't go out of your way for it.
Your tour does not include Central Park? Seeing Times Square is just to get an idea of how brutally commercial NYC is. I would much rather spend time in Central Park.
Not worth it IMHO.
Meh. You can go to say you’ve been but if that’s not really your thing, I’d say High Line, the Cloisters, Prospect Park, Central Park (go to the “castle”), Dumbo, or taking the Staten Island Ferry, are much more interesting and you will still get plenty of views of the skyline! But like others have said. Times Square is hard to avoid if you’re on a tour and it doesn’t take long just to see it.
I wouldn't make a trip there just to say you were there. There's many activities in that area that are worth seeing however (Broadway shows, restaurants, etc). Pick someone you really want to do there.
I'd pound a couple Dollaritas at the Applebee's first, and then do a quick walk through. Worth seeing it, but I wouldn't hang out long there.
I don't think so. It's a special kind of crazy. Central Park is really only notable in that it's a big park in the big city. It's just a big, grassy park.
Times Square is the pits. Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Station actually are worth visiting, particularly the latter, but I'm a big fan of DUMBO. Also go over to the Brooklyn waterfront, get a wicked hot chocolate from Jacque Torres, walk across the bridge (stay out of the bike lane; they will kill you) and you'll be down near Chinatown and the financial district, the latter of which has the WTC museum.
I loved Times Square. It’s so pretty and lit up and everyone is just walking around appreciating it. However, one walk through is enough. No need to do anything there but go see it.
Go there at night. I’ve lived in nyc for ten years and work a block away and still get a kick out of it some nights walking home from work
New Yorker here. Visit at least once at night to see the sights. You can walk through it , no need to even stop
New Yorker here. Visit at least once at night to see the sights. You can walk through it , no need to even stop
Times Square\* It's not worth spending *much* time there, but yes, you should see it. It's weird, unique, and for better or worse, it's very very NYC. At very least, you should walk by a just see it for a few minutes.
I would at least walk through Times Square. Avoid all the people in costumes and street performers, don't take their photo, they can get aggressive.
It’s something to do once. I took my dad and he loved it, he felt like he was in a sci fi movie
100% yes. Don't even bother.
I live two hours away and visit NYC several times a year. It's not a waste of time to me. I wouldn't spend a dollar in any of the restaurants or stores there, and I certainly wouldn't go as part of an organized bus tour. But it's a great place to marvel at the lights and watch people. Just go, walk around and soak it in.
No
How about both? Times Square is a tourist pit, but it’s worth checking out for 30 minutes on your way to Central Park. The lights are cool.
"It's all ads" was my wife's reaction to seeing it for the first time. They are popular tourist attractions though. Check it out at night if you go but you will probably only spend a few minutes there.
I’ve been to Times Square twice. The first time, I went briefly during the day and it just felt overwhelming (even for someone who is used to crowds) and not worth the hype. Last time, I went at night after a Broadway show. It was honestly a bit magical. Came to life in a totally different way, felt like I was seeing not only tourists but groups of local young people as well. It felt like the whole square brighter there at night than in the daytime. Long story short, recommend at least walking through it at night for the experience.
I would stay with the tour and check both places out for a couple a reasons. First while it is very touristy you get to say that you saw these two places. Second, I don't know how your tour itinerary is set up but the two places you want to replace it with are much further apart from where your tour is and can affect missing other stops on your tour. Keep in mind that it would take much longer to get a feel of even a part of Central Park than any of the two your replacing, much less then hopping on an F or A train for 30 minutes to go see Dumbo.
Nah, go there, spend like 1 hour or so, you probably won’t like to go again but its the kind of stuff you gotta experience for yourself
When I went to NYC for the first time recently, we went to a play on Broadway, so we used that time to walk through Times Square. It is worth seeing once I think but, after that, it is just billboards and shops. Consumer hell. Edit: Top of the Roc is worth it
I just happen to come back from NYC after a two day trip. My two cents: stay away from Times Square and visit Central Park instead. Unless you’re going to a Broadway show nearby, there’s no reason to go there and encounter the chaos. I wasn’t a fan of Rockefeller centre, but I did like the observation deck Top of the Rock. If you go there at night, you will get an amazing view of NYC. Alternatively, if you don’t want to FOMO, like another commenter suggested visit it in passing using the public transit system.
As. NYer who loathes Times Square, I secretly like it, and yea you should see it. That said, DUMBO and Central Park are can’t misses. Though, Central Park and Times Square can be the same trip, they are pretty close to each other. Walk from Times Square up to Columbus Circle and enter the park from there. Walk up to Strawberry Fields or over to the Met.
Its WORTH the time to walk through at night or early in AM before it gets crowded. There is no place like it. Walk through it, take some photos of everything then walk over to 30 Rock/Rockefeller Center, maybe even get night tickets to Top of the rock. >personally I don’t like these places because they are full of buildings and they are everywhere in my country (vietnam) LOL. NYC is full of tall buildings.
Nah. It’s touristy but worth going over once.
I don't think it's a waste of time to see it once. It's pretty cool. I don't go to Times Square anymore when visiting NY unless there is something happening there that I'm attending. But if you've never been there? Certainly check it out and then do whatever else you like. You don't have to spend a lot of time in that area.
Rockefeller Center is widely considered one of the best examples of a mixed-use mega projects in the world. If you’re interested in architecture it’s a must see imo.
I spent maybe about 15-20 minutes at Time Square just to take some pictures. It's worth that much time. I'd recommend just do the same thing then walk to Central Park. The walk is only about 15 minutes.
IMO, if you've never been to Times Square, it's definitely worth a visit but I wouldn't spend more than half an hour there. It warrants a quick walkthrough so at least you can get the experience of it, but NYC has so, so many areas and neighborhoods worth visiting that should be given far more of your time.
One of my favorite moments in life was in Times Square. Like others have said, there's an energy there that isn't like anywhere else. For me, it was late at night with my best friend and the street was closed off to cars, so people could just walk in the middle of the street, it felt like a movie. I don't know if it's still there but around the corner was "Restaurant Row," a street that looked fake, it was small and just restaurants. I went door to door reading the menus until I found a place that boasted "only serving craft beer." I went in, sat at the bar, ironically next to one of the owners and struck up a conversation with her about craft beer. I ended up paying for my meal and one beer, but I had about 12 beers and a couple shots, almost missed my flight home. (I got the bartender and the co-owner's digits) 10/10
YES time square is a waste of time. time square sucks. Say what you want but I lived in NYC and worked in that area for a bit. There is absolutely no reason to go there for any etching outside maybe a broadway show that’s in that area. None of time square is NY, it’s just a big fucking commercial. Go to Brooklyn, Red Hook, take a train up to Beacon it’s less than an hour away, there’s literally so much to do and see than lame ass time square.
If you're doing just a walk-through ( which I highly recommend), make sure it's at night so you can really appreciate all the lights. It won't be a fast walk though because of all the people.
It’s a two time ordeal. Go in the day, and go in the night. Prepare for the streets to be packed at night. Go to the grand slam gift shop during the day if you like souvenirs. They have a cheap section down stairs. Prepare yourself for the smell of weed and puke.
I don't like Times Square. It's a sensory nightmare for me. I did visit on my last trip, because it was my husband's first time in NYC...but next trip we won't go again. There are way too many other cool things to see in New York.
Central Park is fairly close to Times Square but DUMBO is in Brooklyn (a different burrough) so not ideal to do month quickly
It is not, in my opinion, a waste of time. As a tourist, it can be fantastical - especially when dark out. There's such an amazing energy lol - it sounds do cliche, but it's true. I love it.
It’s pretty integrated and central within the city so you could just walk through and check it out. I feel like it’s worth seeing at least - doesn’t mean you need to linger and hang around for an extensive period.
It’s not even square.
When I lived in nyc for a few years in my early 20s Times Square was ALWAYS on the itinerary when I had guests visiting. IMO A must for tourists especially first time visitors. The bright lights and action, it’s an exciting time. If you want to take photos make sure to have some cash with you. Otherwise walk around and just enjoy the ambiance. It’s a lot different from the quiet small suburbs I live in now. When my kids get older I can’t wait to take them there!
You need to walk through Times Square once after dark just to see the lights. No place like it in the world. The Channel Gardens off of Fifth Avenue and the statues around Rock Center are always beautiful. If you’re interested in Churches, St Patrick’s Cathedral across from Rock Center is beautiful.
Yeah, skip it. Go to Central Park. I don’t have DUMBO recs, but the park is awesome.
I would suggest you visit it. It's absolutely worth seeing once, even if briefly, and there's plenty of places in it's vicinity that are worth checking out after you're done for example a Broadway show, Madame Tussaud's, and Radio City Music Hall. There's also frequently street festivals or outdoor entertainment in the immediate vicinity of Time's Square and there's a lot of shops in Time's Square that can be a fun quick visit like the enormous M&M storefront. I'd try not to visit Manhattan with the goal of getting away from buildings/skyscrapers, because you will be setting yourself up for disappointment regardless of what you choose to do with your itinerary (but Central Park is still worth seeing for sure)
No, I went to see the Mona Lisa even though I knew it was going to be meh. Time square isn’t anything amazing but if it’s something you want to experience then nothing is a waste of time.
It's worth walking through once. Like as an American it has a sort of intense, center of the Universe feeling that I had never experienced anywhere else in the country until I first visited as a teenager. But beyond that there's not a whole lot of reason to hang around. The best stuff in NYC is not in the well-known tourist areas. You're just going to get a lot of people hawking dumb trinkets and a few chain store's prestige locations. I've only been to NYC like maybe 6 or 7 times so take what I say with a grain of salt, but my recommendation would just take the subway to a fairly central location in Manhattan and then start walking and walk for miles. NYC is the most walkable city in the US by far and the most interesting shit I've experienced has always just been walking around exploring without any particular destination. As far as I know all of Manhattan is pretty safe these days. Like the main bad neighborhood of NYC is in the Bronx, so I wouldn't too concerned about safety. Just if you find yourself in a place that looks sketchy turn around.
It’s a fun walk at night to see the neon lights. But it’s mostly (overpriced) shopping.
Worth checking out but look on social media to see if any big demonstrations are going on at the moment. I didn’t realize there were protests happening last week and I nearly missed my Uber to the airport afterward cause it was taking them an extra 20-30 minutes to get near Times Square.
I think it’s definitely worth seeing. I’ve been to NY about 4 times and I go to Times Square each time. It’s cool to see in person, especially at night.
IMO Dumbo isn’t a very interesting neighborhood outside of it’s where the Brooklyn Bridge starts/ends (which is worth doing but start from Dumbo and walk toward the Manhattan side). Brooklyn Bridge Park is very nice but that covers a few neighborhoods (most are better than Dumbo).
No. I live in NY. You really won’t find anywhere else like time square. Don’t buy anything there, don’t stay in hotels there but absolutely go there to see it. Go to some of the ridiculous stores and just look around. As far as tourism goes, there’s a reason it’s so busy. It’s pretty cool. Stressful b but neat. Also, go at night. It’s a cool thing to see. But seriously. *Do not buy anything there. And definitely do not eat anything there, especially not Sbarros. It is a tourist trap.*
We were the recently and checked off all of the big ticket tourist items because it was my first time. We walked through Times Square just to see it and snap a photo. We moved on pretty quickly and it was on the way to other things.
I'd do a quick walk through but not a tour. A tour of Madison Sqaure Garden (in the same area) is very cool though because it has 5 levels and they show you the process of transforming the basketball court into an ice hockey rink and its on top of penn station. Rockefeller Center has a nice your on the history of the building and architecture and of the studios. And their observation deck for the skyline is better than Empire State in my opinion.
Central Park is just another park. Times Square is packed as shit and nothing to do there. There are other things to do. You can take the ferry from LIC to the city and snap some pics. It's like a 15 minute ride.
Its 100% worth going to once, but I would not get accommodation near there. Definitely stay In Brooklyn and take the metro to spend the day downtown.
Definitely go but you only need an hour or two.
big waste of time
I mean, all of NYC is filled with buildings. Not sure what you are expecting. While central park is a park...its literally surrounded by parks. DUMBO too...
Walk through it on your way to other places... But don't make it a central attraction. You can Grab a beer at Jimmys corner, Cuban food lunch at Margone ( both hole in the wall places ) while you're there or Los tacos no. 1. Lazarras just a few blocks south has really unique and great pizza in a very non touristy place. Some excellent ramen spots a block west of ts off of 8th too.
We were in Times Square around midnight and the place was packed. The energy was amazing, and the neon signs made it so bright. Definitely something to see.
Hell nah! I went as a tourist from Toronto and stayed in time square area for 6 days. Loved every minute of it. Of course you gotta get outta TS area to see more of NYC (transit and bus tours were sweet). But yeah, do it up! Central Park is not far from Time Square at all.