Things to Do in Midtown and Times Square
Bright lights, skyscraper views and some of the city's most famous buildings.
See top-rated activities »About Midtown
Midtown is the New York of postcards: the neon of Times Square, the Art Deco spires of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center and the crowds on Fifth Avenue. Times Square itself is a set of pedestrian plazas where Broadway meets Seventh Avenue, surrounded by giant digital billboards and the theaters of the Broadway district. It is busiest and most impressive after dark, and the red steps over the TKTS booth make a good place to sit and look.
Two observation decks compete for the best view of the city. The Empire State Building, finished in 1931, has an open-air deck on the 86th floor and a smaller one on the 102nd, plus a museum on its construction. Top of the Rock, at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, looks straight at the Empire State Building and down the length of Central Park. Farther west, Edge at Hudson Yards has a glass-floored outdoor terrace that juts out from the 100th floor, and SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, next to Grand Central, fills its upper floors with mirrored rooms.
Grand Central Terminal, opened in 1913, is worth a stop even if you are not catching a train, for the main concourse with its constellation ceiling and the whispering gallery outside the Oyster Bar. A few blocks away, the New York Public Library's main building on Fifth Avenue, guarded by the stone lions Patience and Fortitude, overlooks Bryant Park, which has a winter ice rink and a summer lawn. The Museum of Modern Art, on West 53rd Street, holds Van Gogh's The Starry Night and one of the world's great collections of modern art.
On the West Side, the High Line is a park built on an elevated freight railway, running about a mile and a half from the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards, with gardens, art and views down the cross streets. The Whitney Museum of American Art sits at its southern end. At Pier 86 on the Hudson, the Intrepid Museum is a World War II aircraft carrier with aircraft on deck and the space shuttle Enterprise in a pavilion.
Don’t Miss
Pedestrian plazas under giant billboards at the heart of the theater district, best seen at night.
The 1931 Art Deco tower, with an open-air 86th-floor deck and a 102nd-floor observatory.
Three levels of decks atop 30 Rockefeller Plaza, facing the Empire State Building and Central Park.
A 1913 Beaux-Arts station with a vast main concourse and a painted constellation ceiling.
Modern and contemporary art, from Van Gogh and Picasso to film and design.
A planted walkway on an old freight rail line, with art installations and city views.
An outdoor sky deck with a glass floor, projecting from the 100th floor of a Hudson Yards tower.
An aircraft carrier museum with historic aircraft, a submarine and the space shuttle Enterprise.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Midtown
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TiqetsTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 28, 2026. See & Do NY may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Midtown — FAQ
Which observation deck is best?
Each has a different view. Top of the Rock shows the Empire State Building and Central Park together, the Empire State Building is the classic, and Edge and SUMMIT add glass floors and outdoor terraces. Sunset slots sell out first.
How can I see a Broadway show?
Buy from the theater's official box office or its official ticketing site, or try the TKTS booth in Times Square for same-day seats. Our theater trip planner, Tour the Shows, covers packages and planning.
Is Times Square safe at night?
It is one of the busiest, most heavily policed places in the city. As in any crowd, watch for pickpockets, and know that costumed characters and street performers expect a tip if you take a photo.
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