Times Square

Things to Do in Times Square

Bright lights, big city: gaze up at the ever-changing neon billboards and soak up that iconic New York energy.
By Kirsten McCroskrie

From technicolor adverts to enigmatic street performers, Times Square is a great place to get acquainted with the razzle-dazzle of New York City.

With its larger-than-life billboards, scrolling ads, flashing lights, and bustling crowds, it's no wonder Times Square is one the top attractions in NYC.

Times Square is a great place to start your trip to New York City. There’s a ton of fun things to do in Times Square, so right off the bat, if you're wondering what to do you’ll get to see some of the city’s most popular attractions right here in the Square.

Be sure to take a souvenir photo right in the heart of Times Square with the flashing billboards and advertisements in the background – you might just have to wait for a crowd to pass to get a good shot. As such a busy hive of city action, Times Square a popular spot for street performers to set up shop as well, so you’ll get to see some of the most talented performers while you’re there, too.

There’s no shortage of things to do in Times Square, and these top attractions on your New York Pass should be top of your bucket list!

Big Bus Tours

 

A hop-on hop-off bus tour is one of the best things to do when you arrive in New York City. Start your city tour in Times Square and get a professionally-narrated overview of all of Manhattan.

Stay on for the whole tour and hop back off in Times Square to explore the area more or hop off at another location you want to explore more.

Your onboard tour guide will direct your attention to lots of top landmarks you’ll see along the way, including the Empire State Building, Chinatown, the Broadway Theatre District, and more, depending on which route you take from Times Square.

Madame Tussauds

The world-famous wax museum chain is one of the most popular things to do in Times Square - it’s a must-see and the only way to guarantee a “celebrity sighting” in the city!

Pose with all your favorite TV and movie characters, sports heroes, superheroes, musicians, and more – all under one roof. Walk through themed rooms and check out some of their featured exhibits, too, including King Kong, Ghostbusters, MARVEL Super Heroes 4D, and more.

In addition to seeing some of your favorite celebrities, you’ll gain a new appreciation for the labor-intense artistry and skill that it takes to create these lifelike wax figures.

The Ride

See the streets of New York City transform into multiple stages on this entertaining and interactive moving theater experience.

Sit back as your two comedian hosts narrate your bus ride and take you to see several street performances around the city. You’ll have unobstructed views from the custom bus design’s stadium-style, sideways-facing seats that offer panoramic views of the streets below through the bus’ large windows so there are plenty of things to see.

Tip: be sure to arrive early as tickets are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis and often sell out.

Why limit yourself to seeing only a few of New York attractions? With New York Pass you get the above and much more, so the more you see, the more you save!

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Oktoberfest NYC: Your Guide To The Night

Oktoberfest started back in 1810, when Bavarian Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Her name was so long that people despaired, drinking hideous amounts of beer. Not really. They were simply celebrating the wedding. Alongside the beer consumption, they also danced, ate traditional Bavarian cuisine, donned their best lederhosen, and danced around for 3 days. In the US, we celebrate from September through to October because October can be quite cold. And if your precious constitution can't take a bit of October chill, you can still get involved. And where better to spend Oktoberfest than NYC, the (at times) coldest city on Earth (at least it feels like it)? So now that you're caught up, you'll be wanting to know when and where you can party. Never fear, our guide to Oktoberfest NYC is just a scroll away. Eyes down, bottoms up, and make this Oktoberfest the best Oktoberfest you could possibly imagine. OktoberFest New York South Street And we start with, well, an entire, month-long festival dedicated to Oktoberfest. If you want an authentic Oktoberfest, definitely check out OktoberFest. Expect all of the traditional German beer your stomach can hold, authentic food (lots of sausage and pretzels, you know the drill), and masskrugstemmen: stein-holding contests, to the uninitiated. Alongside these, expect some very American games with a Bavarian twist. Volley pong, corn-in-the-hole, and ping pong are all there to be played. There's also music if the beer inclines you to strut your stuff. Best of all, entry is free. Not the beer, sadly. Standard steins should set you back about ten bucks. Not too bad for New York. Don't know what that says about our fair city, but you roll with the punches kiddo. Munich on the East River Zum Schneider New York's first original Bavarian Bierhaus welcomes you to a week of de-beer-auchery in the East Village. For the last few years they've been celebrating Oktoberfest in style. They erect a huge tent with original Bavarian furniture, an Oompah band stage, and even VIP seating if you want to feel extra special on the big day. There will be beer. Lots of beer. HB Traunstein Festbier and Andechs Festbier, both exclusive to Zum Schneider in New York, will of course be overflowing in Masskrugen (1 litre steins). But if for some reason you want to celebrate sans beer (Prince Ludwig will be spinning in his grave), they also have wines, ciders, and bottled water. Gross. Who celebrates such a beery time with water? Don't even think about it. Staten Island Oktoberfest Richmond Wanna drink copious amounts of beer while helping a good cause? Of course you do, sinner. Get some soulful brownie points at the Staten Island Oktoberfest, which supports the country's heroes. It's only ten bucks to get in, which also gets you a free drink. And feel free to buy as much food and drink while you're there, as all proceeds go to Veterans In Need. Staten Island Oktoberfest also styles itself as a family-friendly affair, so those of you with little munchkins will find lots to do. There's a bouncy house, rides, and other entertainment to keep them busy while you celebrate the day in a more over-21 way. Bohemian Beer Hall Oktoberfest Party and Scavenger Hunt Astoria If you want to add a little spice to your beer-drinking, head over to the legendary Bohemian Beer Hall for a different kind of Oktoberfest in NYC. With a good old fashioned scavenger hunt! Everyone's split into team of 3-5 people, and then you're off, solving clues and all the rest. After 45 minutes, you can get your precious beer, a bite to eat, and wait to see who won what. After the winners are announced, and you inevitably claim first prize, you can continue the merriment with live music and other assorted entertainment for the rest of the afternoon. Plus beer. Obviously, there will be more beer. Calm down, fiend. You'll get your beer. Bangtoberfest Williamsburg If you want to celebrate Oktoberfest in NYC a little less authentically, why not go to a dance party of the more modern variety? It starts at 9am, and the bar is free til 11am. So, get there early and get ready for a heavy one. Costumes are recommended. Take that how you will. And the even ends at a reasonable 4pm, so if you have work the next day you've got plenty of time to sleep it off. Or do a duvet day and stay in bed all day, feeling sorry for yourself. Flashbacks of your terrible dancing and wardrobe malfunctions might be more than enough to call in sick. And why not play some video games set in the Big Apple while you're recovering? Them's our picks for the best things to do for Oktoberfest in NYC. Any other events tickling your fancy, or did these pique your interest? Let us know below, and have a good one.
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NYC Labor Day 2019: Everything You Need To Know

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Dom Bewley

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