Are you a first time visitor to New York City? Well then there is one spot you must visit while you’re here and it is Times Square and Midtown. I’m Sarah, a licensed New York City Tour Guide and a local New Yorker here to give you all the tips that you need to know when visiting here, what to do, what not to do, and the scams to watch out for. Let’s get to it.
The Newest Attractions You Can’t Miss
There are so many different attractions in this part of the city and one of my favorites is called RiseNY. This is part Museum, part ride—that’s right, there’s a ride in the Times Square area. Rise shows you through the history of New York but also talks a little bit about the culture and the music and the entertainment industry.
Then at the end, you get to ride in this Soarin’ style ride where you fly above the city. If you’ve ever been to Disney World, it’s like that; you go into all of the different boroughs, it has great music, and there are immersive elements where you feel wind. It is so, so cool. At certain parts in the ride, it actually has smells; Central Park smells like grass, and another part smells like cotton candy. I’m obsessed, and it never gets old because this is just a great overview of New York very quickly.
Midtown has some of the most iconic sites in the city, but Times Square is one of the most photographed places on the planet. Here is where all the action is and you got to check it out, though I will tell you it’s very chaotic and very crazy all the time. I don’t recommend spending a ton of time here; however, when you’re here just take in the lights, take your picture, and see a Broadway show.
Times Square: Chaotic, bright, and undeniable energy.Most importantly, look out for scams because there are a ton of them. The worst ones in my opinion are the fake monks. You also have these Elmos that try to jump in your pictures and charge you $20, and there are some guys that try to sell you fake CDs. Literally, please watch out for your own benefit because no one wants to be scammed in New York.
Historic Landmarks and Hidden Gems
Grand Central Terminal, an architectural Marvel since its 1913 debut, stands as one of New York’s most stunning landmarks. This bustling Hub sees roughly 750,000 daily visitors, ranking it among the world’s largest and most active stations. The main Concourse features a stunning ceiling mural of constellations that’s 120 ft high and an opal clock said to be worth 10 to 20 million. For the best experience, plan your visit around midday; this timing helps you avoid the morning and evening rush hours when commuters flood the station.
The Main Concourse of Grand Central, featuring the famous opal clock.Just a short walk away, Bryant Park is a great place to go because it is known for its policy of everything being free. That’s right, here you can take all types of free classes, and they also offer free shows in the summer. There’s free yoga classes, free fencing, and I even learned how to juggle here for free. There are also all different types of games you can play like pingpong and games that I’ve never even heard of.
In the summer you can have a picnic out on the lawn, and in the winter we are here at the Bryant Park Winter Village, which is also where you can ice skate. There are tons of vendors where you can get local art and local crafts, so there is just a ton to do here year round. A fun fact about Bryant Park is that they have the cleanest, best bathrooms in the city that are public. You can see the line, but it’s worth every minute because any other public bathroom in the city is disgusting.
Bryant Park offers a free oasis right in the middle of Midtown.The New York Public Library is another spot you have to see while you’re here in Midtown. It’s absolutely stunning with this beautiful Beaux-Arts style architecture; this building was completed in 1911. You can come here and you can take out a book, but this is just so beautiful inside. Even if you’re not a reader, stop in and see the interior of this building. There’s beautiful artwork on the walls, and you can go up to the reading room to see the clouds on the ceiling. It’s so Grand and so beautiful.
Shopping and Central Park
Next up, check out Fifth Avenue. Fifth Avenue is right next to the New York Public Library and it also runs all the way up to Central Park, which is another place you should check out. Fifth Avenue is definitely the spot you want to come if you’re interested in luxury shopping because all the top stores want to have their name on Fifth Avenue, like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel. However, you’re also going to find more moderately priced places like Zara.
If you’re interested in going on Fifth Avenue, I recommend walking up from the New York Public Library to Central Park. It’s going to be around 20-ish blocks more or less, but definitely have your wallet ready because it is pricey. One thing I want to just point out on Fifth Avenue is that the stores close early for New York, normally around 7, which I realize is normal for the rest of the country. If you want to keep shopping until even 2 a.m., you can actually go right into Times Square because all the shops stay open practically all night.
You’ve seen it in the movies, and Central Park is actually one of the most featured places in any movie. Central Park is absolutely stunning, and all 843 acres were completely man-made and designed to look like a picturesque painting from Europe. You have Rolling Hills, waterfalls, lakes, bridges, ice skating rinks, zoos, and playgrounds. The architecture is from all over the world and was meant to be an exploration through the world for those that couldn’t travel back in the day.
I encourage you to just take a stroll through it, bring some picnic food, and just enjoy it. The best time of year to see Central Park in my opinion is spring or fall. Spring has beautiful cherry blossoms, and in fall you get the Autumn Leaves. I recommend going for a picnic during lunch; start right on the corner of 59th Street and Fifth Avenue and walk your way up the paths to Belvedere Castle.
Taking a break from the concrete jungle with a picnic in Central Park.The Broadway Guide: How to Save Money
Do you know what the number one thing people do when they visit New York is? It’s go see a Broadway show. There are so many amazing Broadway shows here and they’re all in Midtown Manhattan. That’s actually the only way you can be considered a Broadway Theater; you have to be in Midtown Manhattan.
I used to work on Broadway so I have a lot of tips for you on how you can get discounted tickets. First, I just want to go over a few of the shows that I think you must see when you’re in town. The Lion King is fantastic, I love Book of Mormon, Wicked is amazing, and Moulin Rouge is fantastic. I also loved The Great Gatsby.
One of the best hacks to getting discounted Broadway tickets is coming here to the TKTS booth. This is kind of more of a well-known hack as you can see from the line of people. It is important to mention that if you want to see a hit show like Hamilton or The Lion King, you’re probably not going to get those tickets here because this is for same-day show tickets when the show is trying to fill seats.
The TKTS booth under the red steps is the go-to spot for same-day discounts.There are other ways to get discounts too that may give you more of a discount than you’ll get here at the TKTS. One is through BroadwayBox.com, or you might find something nice through Groupon. You can also use the Theater Development Fund which gives you about 70% off Broadway tickets.
But there’s more ways than that; one way is doing a lottery. This is definitely more like gambling because you may not actually get those tickets. Essentially a lottery means you show up to the theater the day of, and they’ll be giving away like 10 seats, maybe in the front row because those aren’t the best seats, for $25 or something insanely cheap. Another way is through standing room only seats; if you’re cool standing for 2 and a half hours, you can ask at the box office for that.
Observation Decks: Which One is Worth It?
We are here at Summit and I dressed totally inappropriately for this because everything is mirrors on the floor and I’m wearing a skirt. We’re going to figure out if this is actually worth all the money you have to pay. This spot is $42 for the adult ticket, which is the starting price, and anything else you have to add on gets more expensive.
I’ve been here a few different times and my conclusion is: is it worth it? I feel like it is worth it. In the past when it was overly crowded and all the balls were popped, it was not worth it, but I think that they have made changes at Summit and now it’s a better experience for everyone. It’s cool because you get a little bit of every observation deck in one. Don’t miss the ballroom; the ballroom alone is worth the ticket price because that is just the most fun part.
The mirrored balloon room at Summit One Vanderbilt.Next, I am here at the number one attraction in the US: the Empire State Building. This is the most expensive observation deck ticket for the record; it cost me $99 for two people to go to the 86th floor. When I was buying my tickets, the security guard asked if I wanted to go to the 102nd floor or just the 86th. It’s more expensive to go to the 102nd floor and honestly, I don’t think it’s worth it.
Fun fact: the reason it was built so quickly is because they were in a race with the Chrysler Building to see which building would be the world’s tallest building. At the end, they actually rose this spire out of the center of the building and beat the Chrysler Building at the last moment.
We’re here at the 86th floor and this is the outdoor park. One difference with the Empire State Building versus the other ones is normally the newer ones have glass so it’s easier to see the view. Here you can’t really; you have to kind of lean over, which is a little freaky. No other observation deck has a cage at the top like this. But it is iconic; the Empire State Building is truly a symbol of New York.
Every time I visit Rockefeller Center, I’m struck by how it captures the essence of New York City all in one magical place. I can glide across the iconic ice rink beneath the Towering Christmas tree in Winter or sip cocktails at a Charming Outdoor Cafe in summer. If I’m clever, I’ll use 1iota to score free tickets to see my favorite NBC shows being filmed right next door. I never miss a chance to head up to Top of the Rock observation decks, especially now with the thrilling new beam experience where I can recreate the famous lunch atop a skyscraper photo.
Immersive Games and History
One of the newest and most fun attractions, if you’re into spies and James Bond, is Spy Games. It’s an immersive experience where you get to try out different games that were designed by the CIA and special ops. You’ll start creating your spy profile and then it is off to the games. Each room is completely different and that’s what makes this so exciting; you’re dodging lasers, solving puzzles, and racing against the clock. My husband and I tried it out and even though I was pregnant, I could still participate in almost everything.
Dodging lasers at Spy Games, a new immersive experience.Of course, we are here at Shot of Art and we’re going to be doing some art today. They have all different types of art rooms and a super vibrant atmosphere. We are popping paint water balloons hanging up right over here. I got my loaded BB gun and this looks like a real gun, so I’m a little freaked out. After we shot the balloons they spun it and our artwork looks so gorgeous. This is so great for families, friends, or team bonding events at work.
We are also here at the Intrepid; this is a museum and an aircraft carrier from 1943. This was used in World War II, the Cold War, and the Vietnam War. There’s also a submarine element right over here, so with your ticket, you get access to all of those things. Now this is where you really feel like you’re in the movie Top Gun. The reason why the Enterprise here was so special is because it was the first space shuttle Orbiter that could go back and forth between space and Earth.
Where to Stay in Midtown
Where to stay can really impact your trip. If you want to stay in Midtown Manhattan, there are a few places that I recommend. This is probably the most popular area that most visitors stay in and it makes sense because all of the major attractions are here. It is ideal for first-time visitors; however, there are some negatives. The prices are going to be the most expensive in the entire city by far, and it is quite loud.
Welcome to Refinery Hotel. This is a four-star boutique hotel in Midtown that is very conveniently located. The cool thing about this hotel is its history; it actually used to be a hat factory back in 1912. The standard deluxe room starts at around $300 at the cheapest. You get so much space for your money here, and I love how they Incorporated subtle touches of how it used to be a hat factory into the decor.
From the moment I first arrived at the Peninsula New York, I knew I’d found my perfect Midtown Haven. Situated right on Fifth Avenue, you’re just steps away from everything from Central Park’s winding paths to Rockefeller Center. I’ve spent countless evenings unwinding in their glass-enclosed rooftop pool floating peacefully above the city lights.
The Best Food in Midtown
Times Square and Midtown are not necessarily known for their food scene; however, there are some good spots around here. I recommend Hold Fast; this is a locally owned restaurant with a Broadway veteran on its team. We got the fried burrata and it smells incredible. It’s kind of like a mozzarella stick but more high-end. Make sure you get their chicken sandwich, which is a chicken thigh that is grilled with arugula, tomato, and basil mayonnaise on a brioche bun.
This next restaurant has made my best restaurants guide for 3 years in a row with good reason: Le Bernardin. It has three Michelin stars and their seafood menu is one of the best in New York City. They’re known for their four-course meal that is the perfect culinary experience. Everything from oysters to scallops to lobsters to halibut, this is an Under the Sea experience that will leave your taste buds wanting more.
For a fine dining pre-theater menu, check out the Lambs Club. This was the center of the American theatrical industry in the 20th century. We are doing their pre-theater prix fixe menu which they do every day from 5:00 to 6:30. I’m very excited to try their fluke crudo; the olive on top adds a really nice smoothness to it. The main course is a chicken dish with chanterelles and baby turnips that feels almost like Thanksgiving dinner.
You have to eat a real slice of pizza while you are here. Today we’re going to check out John’s Pizzeria. This spot is the go-to place in Midtown so if you’re seeing a Broadway show this is where you got to go. The interior is actually an old church so it has a beautiful stained glass cathedral ceiling. They’re known for their thin-sliced pizza here where you order a whole pie.
We’re also here at my go-to spot to eat really all across the city, Los Tacos No. 1. They are authentic Mexican street tacos absolutely phenomenal and under $5. When you get to the counter you say “Con Todo,” which means that they put the guacamole, the cilantro, and the salsa everything right on there.