Information
Landmark: Times SquareCity: Manhattan
Country: USA New York
Continent: North America
Times Square, Manhattan, USA New York, North America
Overview
In the heart of New York City, Times Square bursts with neon glow, Broadway marquees, and a constant hum of motion that’s famous around the world.Right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, Times Square buzzes with neon lights, packed sidewalks, and the constant hum of a major hub for business, entertainment, and tourism.It sits where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue, running from 42nd Street up to 47th, with the hum of traffic and bright storefronts marking its edges.It’s not a square in the usual sense-more like a bowtie-shaped plaza where two busy streets meet, their crosswalks stretching out under the afternoon sun.Longacre Square got its new name-Times Square-in 1904, when The New York Times moved into the gleaming Times Tower, now known as One Times Square.That year, the newspaper kicked off the very first New Year’s Eve Ball Drop-bright lights glinting against the winter sky-a spectacle that’s since grown into a tradition celebrated around the world.Over the 20th century, Times Square shifted from a glittering hub of theater and bright marquees to a rougher scene in the ’70s and ’80s, marked by crime and neon-lit adult venues, before springing back to life in the ’90s and 2000s.Times Square bursts with towering digital billboards and neon lights, casting a nonstop glow you can spot from streets away.Here, ad space ranks among the priciest anywhere, thanks to its nonstop crowds and the bright, unmissable view.Times Square’s Broadway Theater District sits at the center of the action, with dozens of famous stages just steps away, including the Majestic, the Lyceum, and the Shubert.Big-name musicals and plays-from the velvet darkness of *The Phantom of the Opera* to the high-energy beat of *Hamilton* and the vibrant spectacle of *The Lion King*-have all premiered or taken the stage here.One Times Square is the building where the New Year’s Eve ball drops, glitter flashing against the midnight sky.Though it’s nearly vacant inside today, its towering billboards still make it one of the most sought‑after advertising spots on the planet.Since 2009, much of Times Square has been off-limits to cars, transformed into lively pedestrian plazas dotted with bright red chairs where people linger, sip coffee, and soak up the buzz.Costumed characters, street performers, and vendors turn the scene into a lively spectacle, with bright fabrics and music spilling into the crowd.Tucked beneath the bright red steps in Duffy Square, right in the heart of Times Square, the TKTS Booth sells same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets at a discount.Big-name spots line the street-M&M’s World with its rainbow walls of candy, the Disney Store brimming with plush characters, and the Hard Rock Cafe buzzing with music and neon.Major news and entertainment networks, including ABC’s *Good Morning America*, beam their shows from studios perched above the square, with windows framing the bustle below.The New Year’s Eve Celebration draws more than a million people into the streets each year, while millions more watch the glittering countdown on TV across the globe.As the crystal ball glides down One Times Square, it signals the start of the new year.You’ll also find product launches, live shows, and bold public art installations, sometimes unfolding right in the heart of the plaza with music echoing off the stone.They call it “The Crossroads of the World” for a reason-it’s known everywhere, and the streets hum with voices, accents, and faces from every corner of the globe.It captures the rush and noise of today’s cities-the flashing screens, the constant chatter, and the restless, electric pulse of urban life.It shows up often in films, TV dramas, music videos, and books, standing in for New York City-like a skyline lit gold at sunset.Foot traffic here is nonstop-one of the busiest pedestrian zones on the planet, with 300,000 to 400,000 people streaming past each day, the air thick with chatter and footsteps.It’s one of NYC’s must-see spots, packed with endless places to eat, shop, and catch a show-think sizzling street food right next to high-end boutiques.Times Square captures New York’s story-its evolution through the decades and its restless pulse, bright with neon, loud with taxi horns, and brimming with motion.
