AreaStays
Times Square lit up at night with giant billboards and Broadway show marquees above the storefronts

Giorgio Galeotti / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0

New York City

Where to Stay in Times Square & Theater District, New York City

This is the Midtown Manhattan strip running roughly from 40th to 54th Street between Sixth and Ninth Avenues — Times Square's flashing billboards at its center, with most of Broadway's theaters packed into the blocks just north and west of it. It's the most convenient home base for a first trip: ten subway lines meet at Times Square–42nd Street, so almost anywhere else on this list is a short ride away.

What it's actually like to stay here

Nonstop and bright, day or night — huge digital billboards, costumed characters working the crowds, and sidewalks that rarely thin out. It trades charm for convenience and energy.

Stay here if

Best for first-time visitors who want to be steps from Broadway and within easy reach of the whole city, and for anyone building a trip around seeing shows.

Stay elsewhere if

Consider another neighborhood if you want quiet nights, a residential feel, or lower hotel rates — Times Square itself is loud well past midnight and prices reflect the location.

Walkability
Flat and easy to walk, though sidewalks get genuinely packed around Times Square itself. Walk a couple of avenues west toward Ninth Avenue for a calmer, more local pace.
Noise at night
Loud around Times Square at almost any hour, with traffic, crowds, and street performers. Rooms on higher floors or a block or two off the square are noticeably quieter.

Best Hotels in Times Square & Theater District, New York City

citizenM New York Times Square

★★★★
  • 🏆 Our overall pick

Our take Our overall pick for New York City — a smartly designed, well-run hotel a short walk from Times Square that gets the basics right at a fair price, which makes it a strong first choice for almost any visitor.

Good for

  • First-time visitors

Travelers who want a smart, efficiently designed base right in the middle of Midtown without paying for a traditional luxury hotel.

Why we like it

  • One minute's walk from Times Square, with Central Park and Columbus Circle both within about five minutes on foot
  • Compact, well-designed rooms with a large bed, mood lighting, and a rain shower — more efficient than fussy
  • 24-hour lobby lounge for working or relaxing, plus a rooftop bar with skyline views
  • Consistent, modern feel across the whole hotel rather than dated rooms behind a nice lobby

What to know

  • Rooms are compact by design — there's no separate seating area, so it suits travelers who don't need extra space
  • Street noise from the Midtown crowds is audible on lower floors with windows facing the avenue
  • Check-in and lobby areas use self-service kiosks alongside staff, which some travelers prefer and others don't
Check availability on Booking.com

The Knickerbocker Hotel

★★★★★
  • 📍 Best location
  • 🧭 Best for first-time visitors

Our take The most central address on this list — a restored 1906 landmark right on Times Square, for travelers who want to be in the middle of the action and are willing to pay for it.

Good for

  • Luxury travelers
  • First-time visitors

Travelers who want to be inside Times Square itself, in a historic building with a full-service luxury hotel behind it.

Why we like it

  • Sits directly on Times Square and 42nd Street, steps from Broadway theaters and the subway's biggest hub
  • Restored 1906 landmark building with high ceilings and period details alongside modern rooms
  • Rooftop bar with open-air views over Times Square

What to know

  • Rooms facing Times Square let in constant light and sound from the billboards below; an interior-facing room sleeps quieter
  • The immediate area stays crowded and noisy well into the night, even a block or two out
  • Rates run at the high end of this guide, in line with the location
Check availability on Booking.com

Sanctuary Hotel New York

★★★★

Our take A boutique option a short walk off Times Square itself, for travelers who want the convenience of the location on a slightly calmer block.

Good for

  • First-time visitors

Travelers who want to be a couple of minutes from Times Square without booking a room directly on it.

Why we like it

  • A two-minute walk from Times Square and the heart of the Theater District
  • Rooftop lounge and restaurant with city views, on top of the ground-floor restaurant and bar
  • Boutique-scale property with a more personal feel than the area's larger hotels

What to know

  • Rooms are on the smaller side, in keeping with the boutique format
  • Some rooms get limited natural light given the building's Midtown footprint
  • Street noise from the surrounding Theater District blocks can reach lower-floor, street-facing rooms
Check availability on Booking.com

Transportation & practical information

Excellent — the Times Square–42nd Street station connects the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, S, A, C, and E lines, reaching nearly the entire subway system with at most one transfer.

Don't rent a car for a Manhattan-based trip. Traffic is slow, parking garages are expensive, and the subway or a short taxi/rideshare gets you everywhere in this guide faster and cheaper.

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