South gateway· Start here
Most first-time visitors arriving from Times Sq–42 St
Broadway and West 42nd Street, beside One Times Square, Manhattan, NY · Classic upward view toward the signs and One Times Square.
Central Broadway plaza
Visitors seeking the broadest pedestrian-plaza area
Broadway between West 46th and West 47th Streets, Manhattan, NY · Largest official pedestrian-plaza segment; good view south.
Father Duffy Square / red steps
Visitors wanting seating and a classic photo viewpoint
Broadway and Seventh Avenue around West 46th–47th Streets, Manhattan, NY · Sit briefly on the red steps and look south through the billboard canyon.
North approach
Visitors arriving from 49 St station or Rockefeller Center
West 49th Street and Seventh Avenue, Manhattan, NY · Avoids starting in the denser West 42nd Street pedestrian flow.
Metro
1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, 42nd Street Shuttle · Times Sq–42 St
0 min walk
Best stop for most visitors; emerge at West 42nd Street and Broadway/Seventh Avenue.
Metro
N, Q, R, W · 49 St
0 min walk
Best for starting at the northern end near Father Duffy Square and walking south.
Metro
A, C, E · 42 St–Port Authority Bus Terminal
5 min walk
Walk east along West 42nd Street to Broadway.
Train
Penn Station / Moynihan Train Hall
20 min walk
Walk northeast via Seventh or Eighth Avenue; use the subway instead if carrying luggage.
Step 1
Normal visit: enter from any open sidewalk or subway exit
There is no gate, ticket check, ID check, security screening, bag search, cloakroom, or arrival buffer on a normal day.
Step 2
New Year’s Eve: enter a police-controlled viewing pen
Viewing is free and first-come, first-served, but bags are searched. Use the official entry points published for that specific December 31; access is generally from Sixth or Eighth Avenue cross streets rather than across Broadway or Seventh Avenue.
Fine
Not allowed
No official luggage check or cloakroom is available in the public plazas.
Source: timessquarenyc.org
Street-level public plazas have curb cuts, broad wheelchair-friendly pedestrian surfaces, accessible seating, and public seating along Broadway from West 42nd through 48th Streets. The accessible Times Sq–42 St subway elevator is at the southeast corner of Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street. Crowds, wet or slushy paving, and construction barriers can make movement harder.
Source: timessquarenyc.org