Hotels Near Times Square: Best Times Square Hotels for Broadway, Families & NYC Trips
Compare Times Square hotels by exact location, trip type, room priorities, Broadway access, noise, transit, and value. Direct Times Square, the Theater District, Bryant Park, Hell’s Kitchen, and the Penn Station edge each suit a different kind of stay.
Search “hotels near Times Square” and you will get thousands of results — everything from budget pods on 42nd Street to full-service towers directly facing the Bowtie. None of that tells you which hotel area is actually right for your trip. Being directly on Times Square and being near Times Square are meaningfully different experiences, and neither is automatically better than the other. It depends entirely on what you are doing at night.
This guide is about hotel zones, not hotel lists. It explains the five or six distinct areas that show up in a Times Square hotel search, what each one is good at and what it costs you, and which one matches the trip you are actually planning — whether that is a Broadway-heavy weekend, a family sightseeing trip, a couple’s night out, or a quick transit-in-transit-out visit to the city.
The New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square — useful context for choosing hotels near Broadway, the Theater District, subway access, restaurants, and the full Midtown night-out plan. Photo by ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons.
The Quick Answer: Should You Stay Right on Times Square?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no — and the answer depends almost entirely on what your evenings look like. Here is the decision in plain terms.
- This is your first NYC trip and you want the full central experience
- You want to walk out the door and be in Broadway’s orbit immediately
- You want access to the connected Times Sq–42 St / Port Authority complex and its many subway services
- You do not mind noise, bright signage, and tourist foot traffic
- The hotel is mostly a base — you will be out from morning to late at night
- You are doing a short one-to-two night trip where convenience beats comfort
- You want a calm lobby and a quiet street outside the door
- You are traveling with children who need restful evenings
- You are planning a polished couple’s trip with dinner, shows, and post-show drinks
- You care about sleeping with the window open
- You want better restaurant access without fighting tourist traffic
- You are staying four or more nights and neighborhood comfort compounds
- You want proximity without maximum chaos
Search “hotels near Times Square” — but choose by zone, not by the closest pin on the map. A hotel two blocks west in the Theater District or four blocks south near Bryant Park can put you in a significantly better position for Broadway, restaurants, and sleep quality, while keeping Times Square ten minutes away on foot.
The Best Hotel Zones Near Times Square
Five distinct areas appear in Times Square hotel searches. Each has a different character, a different tradeoff, and a different best-fit trip type. Here is what each zone actually delivers.
- First-time NYC visitors wanting the full central experience
- Broadway-heavy trips where walking to the theater matters
- Short one-or-two night stays where convenience beats everything
- Visitors who want a dozen subway services within blocks
- Travelers using the hotel purely as a base
- Crowded sidewalks day and night
- Bright LED signage visible from many rooms
- Tourist-trap restaurants on the immediate block
- Street noise that compounds at lower floors
- Less neighborhood feel for longer stays
- Broadway visitors who want the theater close
- Couples and adults who want Times Square without the full crush
- Pre-theater dinner plans — Restaurant Row is right here
- Matinee-plus-evening show days where hotel proximity matters
- Anyone who wants to walk to a show and walk back
- Still busy — especially show nights
- Hotel quality varies significantly block to block
- Side-street choice matters more here than zone alone
- Not as dramatically different from Times Square as Bryant Park
- Couples and adults who want a more polished Midtown stay
- Visitors who want Times Square accessible but not immediately outside
- Longer stays where neighborhood feel matters
- Strong subway access from multiple lines
- Better restaurant and bar access than the Bowtie
- Slightly longer walk to west-side theaters (10–15 min)
- May cost more depending on property and season
- Less immediately “NYC vacation” feeling for first-timers
- Couples and date-night trips where dinner is part of the plan
- Visitors who want a real neighborhood feel near Times Square
- LGBTQ+ travelers and nightlife
- Anyone prioritizing independent restaurants over convenience
- Broadway visits where pre-show dining matters
- Subway access less direct depending on exact block
- Longer walk east to Times Square in bad weather
- Hotel selection thinner than direct Times Square zone
- Visitors arriving by Amtrak, NJ Transit, or LIRR
- MSG event nights combined with Times Square sightseeing
- Practical travelers who want transit logistics simplified
- Budget-conscious visitors where Times Square frontage is not the point
- Combined sports-and-Broadway weekend trips
- Less romantic or “NYC vacation” feeling
- Heavier commuter and commercial street energy
- 10–15 minute walk or quick subway to Times Square
- Not the right choice if Broadway ambiance matters
Best Hotels in Times Square and Near Times Square to Compare
For high-intent hotel booking searches, the useful question is not simply which property is closest to the Bowtie. It is which hotel fits the trip you are actually booking. These current Times Square and Theater District properties cover the strongest use cases — direct Times Square energy, Broadway proximity, families, views, full-service stays, and compact value-oriented rooms.
We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
A large full-service Midtown property at Seventh Avenue and 53rd Street, useful for travelers who want Times Square, Broadway, Radio City, and Central Park in the same general walking zone.
New York Marriott Marquis
One of the signature large hotels directly on Times Square, with the location itself as the main selling point. A natural comparison property for first-time visitors who want the Bowtie immediately outside.
InterContinental New York Times Square
At 300 West 44th Street, this is one of the strongest Broadway-oriented full-service locations in the area. Current room categories run from classic rooms into significantly larger premium rooms and suites.
Hyatt Centric Times Square New York
At 135 West 45th Street, this property puts several Broadway theaters close by and adds Bar 54, its high-floor rooftop bar, for travelers who want the hotel itself to contribute to the night out.
Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
At 1568 Broadway, Tempo is directly in the Times Square core and close to Broadway theaters, restaurants, and major Midtown attractions. Its outdoor terrace gives the property a stronger view-and-location angle than a basic transit-first hotel.
M Social Hotel New York Times Square
At 226 West 52nd Street, on the Broadway corner, M Social combines a north Times Square location with contemporary design, Broadway access, and a rooftop terrace overlooking the Midtown skyline. Booking lists dedicated Times Square and ball-drop view room categories alongside city and Hudson River views.
The Westin New York at Times Square
A large full-service option on the west side of Times Square that works particularly well for trips combining Broadway, Port Authority access, and a Madison Square Garden event.
LUMA Hotel Times Square
At 120 West 41st Street, LUMA sits on the Bryant Park / Times Square edge — close enough for Broadway and Times Square while giving couples and longer-stay travelers a calmer Midtown South base.
Pod Times Square
At 400 West 42nd Street, Pod Times Square is built around compact, efficient rooms and a west-of-Times-Square location near Port Authority, Broadway, Hell’s Kitchen, and the Hudson River side of Midtown.
The Gallivant Times Square
At 234 West 48th Street, The Gallivant stands out for flexible room configurations: the hotel currently advertises family rooms with bunk beds and a limited number of rooms with private outdoor balconies.
Compare Every Hotel Near Times Square
See live prices across Times Square, the Theater District, Bryant Park and Hell’s Kitchen. Add your dates to check availability.
Prices and availability come from booking partners and change by date. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Cheap Hotels Near Times Square vs. Affordable Hotels Near Times Square
“Cheap” is date-dependent in Midtown. A hotel that looks inexpensive on a January weekday can be expensive on a holiday weekend, major-event night, or peak theater date. For value searches, compare compact-room concepts such as Pod Times Square with properties on the Garment District, Penn Station edge, and farther-west Midtown blocks — then compare the total after mandatory fees, taxes, room size, and cancellation rules.
For higher-end and luxury hotels near Times Square, compare the InterContinental, Marriott Marquis, Westin, M Social, Hyatt Centric, and similar full-service properties by room category and exact location rather than relying on star rating alone.
Best Times Square Hotels and Hotel Zones by Trip Type
The zone that makes sense depends almost entirely on what the evenings look like. Here is the practical breakdown by trip type.
The central location pays off when everything is new. The Bowtie or Theater District side streets give you walking access to Broadway, the subway hub, and the city’s most recognizable block. You will use the location more than you might think.
The show is the point, not the Times Square lights. Theater District side streets let you walk to the theater, return between matinee and evening, and exit without fighting peak tourist foot traffic. Smarter than direct Times Square for a show-focused visit.
Kids may love the lights but parents need the rest. Avoid the loudest Bowtie-fronting blocks when possible. Look for easy subway access, simple walking routes to attractions, and a block where returning after a show does not mean navigating peak tourist crowds at 11pm.
The hotel-to-dinner-to-show-to-drinks sequence should feel considered, not chaotic. Bryant Park is the polished pick. Hell’s Kitchen is the right choice when restaurants are the priority. Theater District works when the show is the anchor and you want the shortest possible walk back.
Direct Times Square is not automatically the best value. The Penn Station corridor and Garment District often have competitive rates with quick access to the subway and a short walk or ride to everything that matters.
The premium hotel experience is often better two to four blocks from the Bowtie than on it. Quieter streets, better restaurants, and a calmer lobby experience without sacrificing Times Square access when the shows start.
If MSG is the primary venue, a hotel near Penn Station simplifies train logistics and cuts the post-show walk. Times Square hotels work too but add an extra 10 minutes to the MSG walk and create more complex routing if you are arriving or departing by train.
Staying four or more nights changes the calculation. Neighborhood quality compounds over a longer trip. A calmer block, better restaurants within walking distance, and reliable quiet sleep matter more on night five than night one.
Times Square vs Theater District: What Is the Actual Difference?
Many hotel searches conflate Times Square and the Theater District as if they are the same thing. They overlap, but they are not identical — and the distinction matters for choosing where to stay.
Times Square is the commercial Bowtie where Broadway and Seventh Avenue cross, running roughly from 42nd to 47th Street. It is the bright lights, the pedestrian plazas, the TKTS booth, the peak tourist density. The Theater District is the broader area that holds nearly all 41 Broadway houses — roughly 41st to 54th Street, from Sixth Avenue to just west of Eighth (the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center is the one notable exception). The Theater District is larger, quieter on its side streets, and contains the actual theaters rather than just the spectacle zone.
A hotel “near Times Square” on a Theater District side street — say, West 44th or 46th between 8th and 9th — can be a significantly better Broadway hotel than one directly on Times Square, because it puts you closer to the theaters themselves with less tourist-corridor walking. The direct Times Square hotels have the lights outside the window; the Theater District side-street hotels have the theaters around the corner. For a Broadway trip, that distinction is worth understanding before booking.
Hotels Near Times Square for Broadway Nights
If Broadway is the reason you are in New York, hotel location should be chosen around the theater and the post-show walk — not the Times Square Bowtie itself. The specific theater matters more than the general zone.
For full Broadway planning — show selection, seating, tickets, and show-night logistics — see the Broadway in NYC hub, the Broadway theaters guide, and restaurants near Broadway. For the pre-show dinner structure, the pre-show dining guide covers timing strategy for different curtain times and restaurant zones.
Hotels Near Times Square for Families
Families generally do better with a hotel that is close to Times Square rather than directly on it. The distinction seems minor on a map and significant in practice — especially after a long day of sightseeing with tired kids.
Hotels Near Times Square for Couples and Date Nights
For couples building a Broadway-and-dinner-and-drinks night, hotel location should connect to the full sequence — not just the map distance to the Bowtie. The hotel that is technically closest to Times Square is rarely the one that makes the evening feel most intentional.
For the couple’s dining and neighborhood layer, see the Theater District neighborhood guide, Times Square neighborhood overview, and restaurants near Times Square for the full dining picture around your hotel zone.
Quiet Hotels Near Times Square — How to Book for Better Sleep
Times Square does not fully sleep. The lights stay on, the buses run, and the street energy persists late into the night. This is not a reason to stay somewhere else — it is a reason to choose your specific block and room carefully.
Times Square Hotel Names Worth Knowing Before You Book
For anyone searching InterContinental Times Square or InterContinental New York Times Square, the current property is at 300 West 44th Street, immediately useful for Broadway and Hell’s Kitchen. IHG currently lists Classic Rooms at roughly 280–405 square feet and Premium Rooms at roughly 340–480 square feet, with larger suites above those categories. That room-size range is one reason the property deserves comparison when space matters more than direct Bowtie frontage.
Before booking, compare the exact room category rather than only the hotel name. View, floor, room size, cancellation terms, parking, breakfast, and mandatory charges can change the real value of the stay. For a Broadway-first trip, the West 44th Street location is the core advantage.
Two other names come up often enough in this search cluster to be worth recognizing. Night Hotel by SB at Times Square continues to appear on major booking platforms at 132 West 45th Street. 45 Times Square Hotel at 125 West 45th Street is the current name commonly shown for the former Room Mate Grace property. If an older article or search result uses the Room Mate Grace name, verify the current listing before booking rather than assuming the old branding or amenity set still applies.
The Gallivant Times Square, at 234 West 48th Street, is worth knowing for two specific current room features: the hotel advertises a limited number of rooms with private outdoor balconies and a larger set of family-friendly rooms with bunk beds. Those are room-category features, not guarantees across the whole property, so confirm the exact configuration before booking — and weigh them against its recent guest reviews, which trail most hotels nearby.
For anyone comparing luxury hotels near Times Square against the many mid-range choices nearby, focus on the room category, exact block, full nightly total, and what the property adds beyond location. For cheap hotels near Times Square and affordable hotels near Times Square, widen the map slightly toward the Garment District, Penn Station edge, and western Midtown blocks. Rates move heavily by date, so compare the same stay dates across several zones rather than relying on a generic “cheap hotel” label.
Transit: Why Times Square Works as a Base
Whatever its other qualities, Times Square is one of New York City’s most transit-connected areas. The connected Times Sq–42 St / 42 St–Port Authority complex serves the N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, and S services. From a Times Square hotel, any part of Manhattan and most of the outer boroughs are reachable with one train or no transfer at all.
For full subway and transit details around Times Square, see How to Get to Times Square and How to Get to a Broadway Show.
Parking Near Times Square Hotels
Driving to Times Square and parking there is not the simplest plan, but it is manageable when handled in advance. The honest advice: if you can avoid driving to Times Square, the subway or Amtrak is almost always faster and less stressful. If driving is genuinely necessary, Midtown has more garages per block than almost anywhere else in America.
For the full parking picture, see parking near Times Square and parking near Broadway.
Hotels Near Times Square vs Hotels Near Madison Square Garden
Times Square and Madison Square Garden are about a 15-minute walk apart — close enough that hotel choice affects both, but different enough that the right answer depends on which venue dominates your trip.
Hotel Booking Mistakes Near Times Square
Recommended Hotel Strategy — Quick Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — for the right trip. Direct Times Square gives you central subway access, walking distance to Broadway, and the full NYC spectacle outside the door. It is best for first-timers, short stays, and visitors who plan to be out from morning to midnight. For longer stays, couples, or visitors who want a calmer sleep environment, nearby zones can deliver a better experience while keeping Times Square accessible.
The distinction matters more than most hotel search results make clear. Direct Times Square frontage gives you maximum energy and maximum noise. A Theater District side street or Bryant Park property can give you nearly identical Broadway and subway access with meaningfully less street-level chaos. If quiet sleep or neighborhood quality matters, “near Times Square” often beats “on Times Square.”
It depends on your trip. For Broadway: Theater District side streets. For quiet and polished: Bryant Park or Midtown West side streets. For restaurants and neighborhood feel: Hell’s Kitchen. For train logistics: Penn Station/Garment District. For the full Times Square experience: directly on the Bowtie. None of these is universally “best” — the right zone is the one that matches what your evenings actually look like.
Yes — particularly Theater District side-street hotels, which can put you within walking distance of most Broadway houses. Direct Times Square hotels also work well for Broadway trips. The specific theater matters: verify the address of the shows you are seeing and choose a hotel within comfortable walking distance of that building specifically.
It can be, depending on the room. Street-level and low-floor rooms facing major avenues can be significantly loud. Higher floors, interior-facing rooms, and side-street hotels are meaningfully quieter. Check recent reviews specifically for noise mentions — star rating does not reliably predict room quietness in this area.
Yes, with some planning. Families do best slightly off the peak Bowtie blocks — look for side streets, easy elevator access, larger rooms or suite configurations, and proximity to the subway. The Times Square lights are exciting for kids; plan a deliberate visit rather than having to navigate the Bowtie every time you leave the hotel.
Direct Times Square can work but Bryant Park, Theater District side streets, and Hell’s Kitchen often deliver a more considered couple’s experience. The hotel-to-dinner-to-show-to-drinks sequence flows better when the hotel is not surrounded by peak tourist traffic every time you step outside.
Bryant Park if you want a calmer, more polished Midtown base with better restaurant access and quieter streets — while keeping Times Square walkable. Times Square if you want maximum central energy and the Bowtie feeling immediately outside. Bryant Park is a better long-stay choice; Times Square is a better short-stay choice for first-timers.
If your trip is primarily Broadway-focused, Times Square or Theater District is the right anchor. If your trip is primarily MSG events, Penn Station or Garment District makes more sense for transit logistics. For combined trips, Midtown West between the two venues often works well.
Very — most Broadway houses are within a 5-to-15-minute walk of Times Square hotels, depending on the specific theater and hotel block. The Marquis, Minskoff, and Palace theaters sit essentially on Times Square; others like the Walter Kerr and Richard Rodgers are a 5–10-minute walk. Check your specific show’s theater address and map it from your hotel before booking.
Yes — Penn Station at 34th Street and 7th Avenue is roughly a 15-minute walk south of central Times Square, depending on your hotel and station entrance. Manageable with light luggage; a quick taxi or Uber for heavier bags or bad weather. For visitors arriving from Penn Station by train, Times Square hotels are accessible without a subway ride.
Some do, most do not include it in the room rate. Valet parking where available tends to be expensive. The practical approach: check your specific hotel’s parking policy before booking, and pre-book a nearby garage through SpotHero or ParkWhiz if driving is part of the plan. See the parking near Times Square guide for the full breakdown.
Booking by map-pin proximity without checking the block, ignoring noise reviews, forgetting to factor in resort fees, and assuming the hotel’s star rating predicts the room experience. The specific floor, room direction, and street position matter more than the brand flag in the Times Square zone. See the full mistakes section above.
Up to about a 15-minute walk — which covers Bryant Park to the south, Hell’s Kitchen to the west, and the upper Theater District to the north. Beyond that, the subway becomes the practical connection. Hotels near 49th/50th Street stations (N/Q/R/W), 47th–50th Rockefeller Center (B/D/F/M), or Columbus Circle (A/B/C/D/1) are all “near Times Square” in practical terms even if the walk is 15–20 minutes.
There is no single best property for every trip. For direct Times Square, compare large Bowtie properties such as the New York Marriott Marquis and Tempo by Hilton. For Broadway-first stays, compare the InterContinental New York Times Square, Hyatt Centric Times Square, and West 40s side-street options. For compact value-oriented rooms, compare Pod Times Square. Families looking for specific room configurations should also check The Gallivant’s current family and bunk-bed categories.
Yes, but “cheap” changes by date. Compare compact-room hotels such as Pod Times Square with properties on the Garment District, Penn Station edge, and western Midtown blocks. Always compare the total nightly cost after mandatory fees and taxes, not just the first advertised room rate.
Families should compare room size, bed configuration, elevator access, noise, and the walk back after a show. The Gallivant currently advertises family-friendly bunk-bed rooms, while larger full-service properties such as the Sheraton, Marriott Marquis, Westin, and InterContinental may offer more room-category choices. Verify the exact room configuration before booking.
For Broadway-heavy trips, West 44th–50th Street side-street hotels are especially useful because many Broadway theaters are walkable without putting you directly in the Bowtie. InterContinental New York Times Square and Hyatt Centric Times Square are two central examples; the best choice still depends on your specific theater.
Several Times Square properties sell specific city- or Times Square-view room categories, including Hyatt Centric, Tempo by Hilton, M Social, and other major hotels around the Bowtie. A Times Square address does not guarantee a Times Square-facing room, so book the exact view category rather than relying on the hotel name alone.
Hotels Near Times Square — The Short Version
The best hotel near Times Square is the one that fits the specific shape of your trip — not the one closest to the center of the Bowtie. For first-timers and short stays, being directly on Times Square delivers the full NYC experience efficiently. For Broadway-focused trips, Theater District side streets get you closer to the shows with less tourist-corridor walking. For couples and longer stays, Bryant Park or Hell’s Kitchen typically outperform direct Times Square on sleep, restaurants, and overall experience quality.
Search “hotels near Times Square,” then compare the same dates across several properties and zones. Check the room category, total nightly cost, mandatory fees, cancellation terms, noise reviews, and the walk to your main event before you book. That sequence is more useful than choosing the closest map pin or the lowest first-screen rate.
For everything around the hotel — shows to see, restaurants to book, how to get there, and how to build the full night — the Night Out hub, Broadway guide, and restaurants near Broadway are the right starting points.
Pick the block, not the pin.
Compare live rates across Times Square, the Theater District, Bryant Park and Hell’s Kitchen on one map.
See Live Hotel RatesOn This Page
Best Base by Priority
Choose by zone. Want Broadway nearby without sleeping in Times Square? Compare hotels near Bryant Park, four blocks south and noticeably calmer.
Compare Nearby Areas
Plan the Full Night
Other Ways to Stay
Star rating does not predict quiet. Check noise reviews specifically and request a high floor with an interior-facing room, especially at avenue-front hotels.
Save & Share
Follow us @stageandstreetnyc
Build the Rest of Your Times Square Night
Zone picked? Compare the calmer areas a few blocks away, then line up dinner, the trip in and the walk back after the show.
Compare Nearby Hotel Areas
Midtown StaysHotels Near Rockefeller Center
Fifth Avenue, Top of the Rock and the holiday tree on your doorstep.
Explore → Train ArrivalsHotels Near Penn Station
Amtrak, LIRR and NJ Transit arrivals, with Moynihan Train Hall covered.
Explore → East SideHotels Near Grand Central
Metro-North arrivals and an east-side base one shuttle stop from Times Square.
Explore →Eat Before & After the Show
DiningRestaurants Near Times Square
Where to eat once you step two blocks off the Bowtie.
Read → TimingPre-Show Dining Guide
How early to book and eat so you make curtain without rushing.
Read → 9th AvenueBest Restaurants in Hell’s Kitchen
The independent dining strip just west of the theaters.
Read →Getting There & Back
Transit · ParkingKnow the Neighborhood
Area GuidesTimes Square Neighborhood Guide
What is worth doing here, what to skip, and the two-block rule.
Read → BroadwayTheater District Guide
Show-night logistics and how the theaters sit around your hotel.
Read → Calmer MidtownBryant Park & Midtown South
The park, the library and the quieter blocks below 42nd Street.
Read →