Times Square Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Times Square. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour

• NYC in a Day Tour: Lady Liberty, Times Square, Freedom Tower

• New York City Holiday Lights Tour

• Broadway and Times Square Insider Tour With Theater Professional

• NY Helicopter Tour: New York City Skyline (Heliport Fees Incl)

While it’s free to visit Times Square on your own, many travelers join guided tours to learn more about the iconic New York City attraction. Tour options include hop-on hop-off bus rides from US$30, walking tours starting around US$40, and nightlife experiences from US$36.

Yes, Times Square is worth visiting. One of the most iconic attractions in Midtown Manhattan—and New York City more generally—the public square is known for its enormous, neon-lit billboards, street performers, and carnivalesque atmosphere. It's also situated within the Theater District, with many of Broadway's top venues within walking distance. On a guided tour, you can learn more about its history and get an insider perspective on Broadway.

Per one customer who booked the Broadway and Times Square Insider Tour With Theater Professional, "Fantastic few hours spent with Claire, our tour guide, around Times Square and Broadway. Claire was an excellent guide who brought interest and humour into all aspects of the area, and I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone."

That depends on your interests. For a quick visit to experience Times Square's energy, an hour is plenty of time to walk through the area. However, if you want to explore popular shopping stops like M&M's New York—or see a Broadway show—you could spend hours wandering the area.

It depends on your tour itinerary, but you can generally look forward to seeing highlights such as the Red Stairs, Broadway theaters, neon lights and blinking advertisements, Naked Cowboy, and nearby attractions such as Bryant Park, Madame Tussauds, and Rockefeller Center.

Yes, you can see Times Square on many helicopter tours of Manhattan. The New York icon (which is shaped more like a bowtie than a square) is generally unmissable, thanks to the ever-present glow of its larger-than-life billboards. See if you can spot the yellow cabs from the air, too.

Yes, you can walk around Times Square—and for many, that's the best way to soak up its ineffable energy, as well as its over-the-top lights, sounds, and street energy. Many segments of the Manhattan neighborhood have been pedestrianized, making it even more walker-friendly—just prepare for some serious crowds.

That depends on what you want to see and do. If you want to visit without big crowds, come early in the morning. However, Times Square comes alive after dark, when its enormous billboards light up the night. Stop by before or after a Broadway show for maximum effect.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Times Square. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in New York City:

• Statue of Liberty

• Empire State Building

• Ellis Island

• Central Park

• National September 11 Memorial & Museum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in New York City.