Located in Midtown Manhattan, the Theater District is home to Broadway shows, movie theaters, restaurants, hotels, and other entertainment venues. Situated between West 40th and West 54th streets and Sixth and Eighth avenues, this busy area also includes Times Square, where costumed characters and buskers perform under massive illuminated billboards. While most locals avoid this hectic area of NYC, visitors will find plenty of things to do, including seeing a play or musical, visiting Madame Tussauds, or browsing the many stores lining Times Square.
Evening Broadway shows typically start at 7 or 8pm, with matinee performances in the early afternoon. Many theatergoers grab dinner before a performance. If you want to see Times Square relatively empty, visit in the early morning, but most travelers like to come after dark to see the brilliant marquee displays. New Year’s Eve draws crowds (more than a million) hoping to see the ball drop in Times Square.
Because the Theater District is centrally located, it’s easily accessible via most NYC subway lines and bus routes. The 42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal is here, too. The 42 Street Shuttle runs between Grand Central and Times Square. Taxi and rideshare services are widely available. Once you're in the neighborhood, walking is the best way to get around.
At the TKTS booth, located under the giant red staircase in Times Square, you can score discounted tickets to a wide array of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, plays, and dance productions every day. Tickets are for same-day matinee and evening performances and next-day matinee performances. As for the costumed characters hanging around pedestrian plazas, a tip is expected if you take a photo with one of them.
