Fun Things To Do in Times Square With Kids (Top 10 Best Things To Do In Times Square)
Headed to NYC? Looking for fun things to do in Times Square? Want to know the best places to go in Times Square and must-do attractions in Times Square you can’t miss?
Awesome, you are in the right place! Times Square is awesome!
We have been several times and love exploring the area. There are lots of Times Square shopping options, food, and Times Square attractions!
In this post, we are going to include the best things to do in Times Square, the best places to eat at Times Square, and some amazing activities in Times Square you won’t want to miss!
With this guide, you can easily plan all the places to visit in Times Square with ease! This post will only include my top 10 NYC Times Square favorites.
Let’s get the planning started with all the fun things to do at Times Square!
If you want to save this information for later be sure to pin this to Pinterest.
This post may contain affiliate links that will give me a commission at no additional charge to you.
Visiting Times Square
If this is your fist time visiting Times Square or it has been a while you might have a few questions. I will do my best to answer some of them.
How Much Time Should I Spend at Times Square?
You will want a few hours to walk around, eat, and explore Times Square. Because of its central location, you will proably get the chance to enjoy Times Square on multiple days of New York City itinerary.
What is the Best Time to Visit Times Square?
Times Square is busy at all times of the day. However, the most crowded times are right before the Broadway shows start and when they end.
It is crazy! I like to avoid crowds so visiting Time Square in the day is my favorite option.
Is Times Square Safe at Night?
Time Square never sleeps! There are lots of lights and people around even at midnight. As long as you are smart and keep your eyes open you will be okay.
Fun Things to Do at Times Square
Visiting Times Square is one of the top things to do in New York City.
Now, I know there are lots of fun things to do in Times Square New York. Today, I am only going to list the top 10 best things to do in Times Square.
We did all of these on our last trip and highly recommend them! Let’s get started.
1. Visit M&M Store
Address: 1600 Broadway New York, NY 10019
One of the best things to do at Times Square is visit the M&M Store. The M&M store is full of bright colors and lots of chocolate.
There are 3 floors to explore! One thing we loved is all of the great New York souvenir options. You can make custom M&M’s or get the I “heart” New York M&M’s. We actually got those on our last trip!
You can also grab M&M merchandise. No matter if you decide to buy anything or not, it is a fun place to visit in Times Square.
It is also a free thing to do at Times Square. (Unless you buy something!)
2. Juniors Cheesecake
Address: 1515 Broadway @, W 45th St, New York, NY 10036
Want to try the best New York cheesecake in the city? Head over to Juniors.
Honestly, this was my favorite treat we got on our last trip to New York. I ordered a brownie cheesecake. It was out of this world good!
Must Do in Times Square
We did not eat at the restaurant so I can’t tell you if it is worth it. But I can tell you that the cheesecake is worth it! I would not visit Times Square in New York without getting a slice of cheesecake at Juniors.
3. Visit Hershey Store
Address: 20 Times Square, 701 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
If you are looking for fun Times Square attractions the Hershey Store is a must!
Shopping at Times Square wouldn’t be complete without stopping in at the Hershey Store. You can get specialty candy bars that are only sold in NYC.
Fun Things to Do in Times Square New York
We got cotton candy, mint, and strawberries n creme Hershey bar. We also got extra-long Twizzlers which were awesome!
The merchandise is pretty fun as well! It is a great place for an NYC souvenir! It is one the most popular Times Square activities!
4. Joe's Pizza
Address: 1435 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
Joe’s Pizza is a classic and one of the best places to eat in Times Square! We got so many recommendations to go try it out!
Best Places to Eat in Times Square
We went to NYC with kids and this was one of their favorite Times Square things to do. We ordered a large pizza! It was delicious! It was affordable as well!
There are lots of pizza shops in Times Square. Joe’s is pretty popular but Vinnies or 99 Cent Pizza are also similar choices.
5. Go to a Broadway Play
Address: Broadway
Of all the Times Square activities seeing a Broadway play is a must. There are so many quality shows in New York. You won’t find talent like this anywhere else in the World.
You can check on Ticket Liquidator, Tick Pick or Viator.
Top Shows to See in New York
I have seen both Wicked and Hamilton on Broadway and they were amazing. My husband just saw Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and thought it was amazing!
Broadway is one of my favorite things to do in Times Square and really in all of New York!
Fun Things To Do in NYC Times Square
If seeing a Broadway show is at the top of your list you will want to book your tickets ahead of time for the most populare shows. If you are unsure, an want to wait until the last minute you can!!
Times Square Ticket Booth
In Times Square there is a ticket booth that sells day of Broadway tickets. I wouldn’t count on getting tickets to Hamilton because it is so popular, but you will probably be able to find some of the productions that have been around for a while.
My husband was able to get Harry Potter tickets 1 hour before the show started. He paid around $100 for orchestra seats.
You can also check the official Broadway website the night before for lottery tickets. If chosen you might get some really good tickets for really cheap.
I think seeing a play is one of the best things to do in Times Square New York.
6. Eat At Star Dust Diner
Address: 1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
Looking for fun things to do in Times Square? Ellens Stardust Diner is a fun Times Square stop!
I am going to tell you right now the food is just okay, you don’t go here for the food!
Attractions in Times Square
The entertainment is out of this world! Aspiring Broadway stars work here. They serve as waiters or waitresses and take turns singing. They climb up on top of tables and belt it out!
This is one of the best activities in Times Square. I highly recommend going. There is always a line to get in, don’t let this scare you, it moves really fast!
This was how we started out our family vacation to NYC and it was a hit! It was one of the most fun things to in Times Square New York!
7. Times Square Walking Tour
One of the best things to do at Times Square is walk! Going on a Times Square walking tour is an excellent way to see the area.
Best Times Square Walking Tours
- Broadway and Times Square with an Actor
- Broadway Behind the Scenes
- SuperHero Marvel and DC Tour
- Donut Tour in Times Square
Even If you decide to do a self-guided walking tour you will be in for a treat! Times Square is crazy, busy, and fun! It is the perfect place to people-watch.
What Will you See When you Walk Around Times Square New York?
Here is the deal, you might see some crazy things. There are homeless people but they seemed harmless enough. There are people dressed up like characters such as Elmo, Cookie, and Super Heros. (Just FYI, if you take a picture with them they demand money.)
There are also some nasty naked cowboys!
You will see lots of flashing lights and billboards which are even cooler at night. There are lots of stores and lots of people. If you can find a spot and just people watch I think you will see a lot.
8. Go Shopping in Times Square
Times Square has some awesome stores. Some are so great they are worth mentioning individually others are major companies you can visit throughout the US.
Best Shopping at Times Square
- Disney Store
- Gap
- Old Navy
- H&M
- American Eagle
- Forever 21
- Express
- Five Below
- CVS
- Foot Locker
- Grand Slam
- Happy Socks
- Hamilton Store
- Its Sugar
- Lids
- Mens Warehouse
- Pele Soccer
- Sephora
- Sketchers
- Steve Madden
- Target
- Yankee Clubhouse Shop
- Tons of Gift Shops
Best Places in Times Square
As you can see there are so many shops in Times Square you could spend all day shopping in Times Square. It is a fantastic place to buy New York Souvenirs! There are tons of options!
Part of going on vacation is doing things you love. If you love to shop, hit the stores! This is one of the best things to do in Times Square!
These shops might sound like normal stores you can hit in any mall, but in Times Square they are bigger and better!
One of the best things to do in Times Square is take a Hop on Hop off Bus Tour. This allows you to enjoy a lot of the sites in New York without getting lost!
The Hop on Hop Off Bus stops are near Times Square!
Bus Tours in New York City
Bus tours are really great to pair with a city pass. The bus will drop you off close to most of the attractions on the pass.
If you are looking for fun things to do in Times Square, go on a pedicab ride.
There are traditional horse n carriage rides and a Pedicab rides in New York.
The traditional carriage rides tend to be closer to Central Park. The Pedicab carriage rides are waiting for you as you exit your Broadway play.
After, walking all day a carriage ride isn’t a bad idea, am I right?!
More Fun Things to Do in Times Square
I have given you my top 10 fun things to do in Times Square, but there are lot and lots of more Times Square attractions and even things near Times Square you might enjoy.
I am going to list a few more options that you can check out when visiting Times Square.
More Fun Things to Do in Times Square
- Today Show
- Dallas BBQ
- Hard Rock
- Yankees Clubhouse
- Los Taco’s No 1
- Madam Tussaud
- Eat at Uban Space Times Square
- Bibble and Sip
- Photography Tour
Walk To Rockerfeller Center (a 7-minute walk from Times Square)
- See Late Show
- See the Today Show
- See the Late Late Night Show
- Radio City Music Hall
- Rockerfeller Center (Ice Skating)
- Top of the Rock Observation Tower
- Lego Store
- Nintendo Store
- Schwarz Toy Store
Cool Things About Times Square
I like being in the know when I am traveling. Here are some helpful tips about visiting Times Square New York!
Bleachers
There are bleachers in the middle of Times Square. This is a place for tourists to rest. You can just sit down relax and people watch. They are located near the Broadway ticket booth.
11:58 pm
Every night at 11:58 pm all of the billboards display art. It last 3 minutes, then returns to its normal ads. My husband was at Times Square at night and decided to stay and see what this was all about.
He said it was super lame and would have preferred the M&M ad. So with that said don’t go out of your way to stay at Times Square all day, but if you are around you can see what it is all about.
Get Engaged at Times Square
If you are thinking about getting married, you can propose at Times Square. Pop the question with a flashy billboard.
Best Things to Do in Times Square
Are you ready for some fun things to do at Times Square? It is such a fun area!
We love all of the Times Square attractions and I know you will too!
I hope you enjoy my top 10 best things to do at Times Square!
Facebook Group
If you have any questions be sure to join my Planningaway Travel Community on Facebook. This is a place where I post travel deals, and you can ask any questions about your upcoming trips!
Ah New York. I loved my time spent in New York, although short lived! I loved how busy it was no matter the time of day and how easy it was to get lost!
Yes, it is crazy how lost you can get in such a small area!
Great list of fun things to do in Times Square. My favorite is the M&M Store — so many M&Ms!
Yes! Love that store!
Love the energy of Times Square! This is a fabulous list of the top 10 things to do there!
Thanks! Yes so much energy!
I love Times Square, and I’ve done most of those things, but you gave me some new ideas. I would like to ride a pedicab next time I’m there.
That would be fun!
I hope to take my family to New York City someday. I went at age 16 and then I took students one summer. Times Square is definitely an adventure! We saw four shows when I took students since it was a theatre trip, so we encountered Times Square several times. It was never dull, but the police presence there made me feel better, especially when I was trying to keep track of teens!
That is true, Times Square never sleeps and seems safe as long as people are around!
I love this so much! NYC is high on my travel list and I love to see pictures of the city 🙂
NYC is crazy! I love visiting for a short time!
NYC is a place I’ve never visited before but would like to. I would also make Times Square a must do once I do go. I’ve read countless articles that said Times Square is simply not worth it but that doesn’t seem to be the case to me. I would love to visit the M&M store and enjoy a Broadway show!
I think it is worth it! But I love all the touristy stuff! It is super crowded so as long as I visit a least once on a trip, I am good!
These are amazing things to do in Times Square! I so want to spend some time in NYC.
New York Time Square is so iconic and fun!
New York is excellent, especially Times Square! This is a great list of things to do!! Thank you for sharing.
Times Square is awesome!