Times Square
A Midtown junction where zoning does not restrict signage but requires it, which is why the light is what it is.
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The square took its name in 1904 when The New York Times moved to the building at its southern end, and the paper started the New Year's Eve ball drop the same year to mark the opening. The signage is not accidental or merely tolerated: zoning rules for the district set minimum requirements for illuminated signage, measured in surface area and brightness, so a building here is legally obliged to be lit - the opposite of most planning regimes. The area declined badly through the 1970s and 80s and was redeveloped from the 1990s, which residents' opinions on remain mixed. Pedestrian plazas replaced traffic lanes from 2009. Broadway theatres are on the surrounding side streets, not the square itself.
What you actually see
- Signage required by zoning - minimum lit surface, not merely permitted.
- The New Year's Eve ball - dropped here since 1904.
- Pedestrian plazas - traffic lanes removed from 2009.
- Broadway theatres nearby - on the side streets rather than the square.
When to go
Year round; after dark for the effect. An hour.
Honest expectations
It is extremely crowded and aggressive costumed performers solicit tips - not optional-feeling. Prices in the immediate area are high. New Year's Eve means many hours penned in without facilities. Most New Yorkers avoid it.
Nearby
Bryant Park is east; Hell's Kitchen is west.
What to pack for Times Square
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.