MapVivid
Times Square and around
A day in New York · 9:30–17:30 · 6 stops
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mapvivid.com/new-york/itineraries/times-square-and-aroundA walking day around Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal, with a lunch break nearby and The High Line to end the day.
Every stop on Google Maps: open the list
Morning
9:301Times Square ↗1 hWatch your bag
Dazzling neon crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
- Visit after dark for full effect
- Use the TKTS booth for discounted shows
↓ 10 min walk
10:452Rockefeller Center ↗1 hSunset
Art Deco complex with Top of the Rock observation deck.
- Top of the Rock has a clear view of the Empire State
- Book sunset slot
↓ 12 min walk
11:453Beaux-Arts train station with a celestial ceiling.
- Look up at the main concourse ceiling
- Try the Whispering Gallery
↓ 7 min walk
13:004New York Public Library Main Branch ↗30 min
Beaux-Arts library guarded by the lion statues Patience and Fortitude.
- Visit the Rose Main Reading Room
- Free to enter
Lunch
13:30Lunch break nearby · Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps ↗
↓ 11 min walk
Afternoon
15:005Empire State Building ↗1 hGo early · Sunset · Weekdays · Book ahead
Art Deco skyscraper with 86th and 102nd floor observatories.
- Go at sunset for day and night views
↓ 28 min walk
16:306The High Line ↗1 hSunset
Elevated park on a former freight rail line.
- Enter at Gansevoort and walk north
- Visit at sunset
Good to know. Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
New York tips
Transportation
- Tap with OMNY: Pay subway and bus fares by tapping a contactless card or phone at the OMNY reader; fares cap after enough rides in seven days.
- Know local vs express: Express subway trains skip many stops, so check the line map and station signs before boarding to avoid overshooting.
- Ride the NYC Ferry: Routes link Wall Street, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx along the water and are a scenic, cheap alternative to the subway.
Local Hacks
- Walk the High Line early: The elevated park on the West Side is calm in the morning before crowds; continue to Hudson Yards or the Chelsea Market.
- Cross the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn: Take the subway to DUMBO and walk toward Manhattan for skyline views ahead of you all the way.
- Use the bathrooms smartly: Public restrooms are scarce; libraries, Bryant Park, department stores and hotel lobbies are reliable options.
Saving
- Take the Staten Island Ferry: The free ferry from Whitehall Terminal passes the Statue of Liberty and gives superb Lower Manhattan skyline views.
- Catch free museum hours: Several museums offer pay-what-you-wish or free evenings, and The Met is pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents.
- Use the TKTS booth: The Times Square TKTS booth sells same-day discounted Broadway and off-Broadway tickets; lines move faster for plays.
Security
- Ignore the CD hustlers: In Times Square, people pressing free CDs or posing costumed for photos will then demand money; politely keep walking.
- Watch bags on the subway: Keep phones and wallets secure on crowded trains and platforms, and choose busy cars near the conductor late at night.
- Use official taxis only: Hail yellow cabs or use apps; skip drivers who approach you inside JFK or LaGuardia terminals offering rides.
Cultural
- Tip properly: Tipping around 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants and bars is expected, as servers rely on tips for most of their income.
- Keep sidewalk etiquette: Walk briskly, keep right and step aside to check your phone or map; stopping mid-sidewalk annoys locals fast.
- Eat the classics: Try a folded slice of New York pizza, a bagel with schmear, and pastrami on rye at a Lower East Side deli.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack for humid summers: July and August are hot and sticky; wear breathable fabrics and carry water, as subway platforms feel even hotter.
- Layer up in winter: Winters are cold with wind tunnels between skyscrapers and occasional snow; bring a warm coat, hat, gloves and waterproof boots.
- Wear comfortable shoes: You will walk miles and climb many subway stairs, so broken-in sneakers matter more than style; spring and fall need a light jacket.
Planned with MapVivid. Opening hours change, so check each place before you go. This day, with the map: mapvivid.com/new-york/itineraries/times-square-and-around
Day 1 of 39:30–17:306 stops
Times Square and around
A walking day around Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Grand Central Terminal, with a lunch break nearby and The High Line to end the day.
Opens Google Maps with every stop of the day, ready to save to your own list.
Morning
109:30 · 1 hDazzling neon crossroads of Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
- Tip: Watch your bag
2 tips
- Visit after dark for full effect
- Use the TKTS booth for discounted shows
📷 Photos
10 min walk
210:45 · 1 hArt Deco complex with Top of the Rock observation deck.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Top of the Rock has a clear view of the Empire State
- Book sunset slot
- Skate in winter, see the tree in December
📷 Photos
12 min walk
311:45 · 1 hBeaux-Arts train station with a celestial ceiling.
3 tips
- Look up at the main concourse ceiling
- Try the Whispering Gallery
- Eat at the Oyster Bar
📷 Photos
7 min walk
413:00 · 30 minBeaux-Arts library guarded by the lion statues Patience and Fortitude.
3 tips
- Visit the Rose Main Reading Room
- Free to enter
- Look for the free guided tours
📷 Photos
Lunch
Lunch break nearby · 13:30
Find restaurants nearby on Google Maps11 min walk
Afternoon
515:00 · 1 hArt Deco skyscraper with 86th and 102nd floor observatories.
- Tip: Go early
- Tip: Sunset
- Tip: Weekdays
- Tip: Book ahead
1 tip
- Go at sunset for day and night views
📷 Photos
28 min walk
616:30 · 1 hElevated park on a former freight rail line.
- Tip: Sunset
3 tips
- Enter at Gansevoort and walk north
- Visit at sunset
- Combine with Chelsea Market
📷 Photos
Take this day with you
Add the stops to your calendar
Times are local time in New York. Apple Calendar adds every stop at once (Outlook too). Google Calendar adds one event per link.
Times are a guide for an unhurried pace. Check opening days before you go.
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- 2Central Park
- 3The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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