Staying in Midtown Manhattan
Times Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center and the city's biggest transit hubs. Checked November 11, 2026.
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NYC Tourism describes Midtown as "an eruption of noise, flash and color." It holds Times Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick's Cathedral, plus the shops of Fifth and Madison Avenues. If this is your first trip and you plan to see many of those places, a hotel here puts them within walking distance or one subway ride.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Best for | First-time visitors, Broadway, short stays, people who want many sights close together |
| Trade-off | The busiest and loudest part of the city. NYC Tourism's own words are noise, flash and color. |
| Subway hubs | Times Sq-42 St (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, S). Grand Central-42 St (4, 5, 6, 7, S). 42 St-Port Authority (A, C, E). 34 St-Penn Station (1, 2, 3 and A, C, E). 42 St-Bryant Park (B, D, F, M). 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Center (B, D, F, M). |
| Trains | Penn Station (LIRR, Amtrak, NJ Transit) and Grand Central Terminal (Metro-North, and the LIRR at Grand Central Madison) |
| Airports | See airports to your hotel. JFK via AirTrain and the LIRR, LaGuardia via the free Q70 bus and the subway. |
Four neighborhoods in one
NYC Tourism says several neighborhoods make up Midtown, and they feel different:
- Theatre District: dominated by Broadway, around Times Square.
- Hell's Kitchen: described as buzzy, on the west side.
- Murray Hill: described as more sedate.
- Midtown East: business-oriented, near Grand Central.
Koreatown, on West 32nd Street near Herald Square, is also part of Midtown and is a short walk from Penn Station. A hotel near Herald Square or Penn Station keeps Korean restaurants and the 34th Street transit hub close.
What to expect
- Attractions are close: Times Square, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Bryant Park, the Empire State Building and the Museum of Modern Art are all listed by NYC Tourism as Midtown essentials.
- Almost every subway line reaches a Midtown station, so day trips to Brooklyn, Queens or Lower Manhattan are one or two rides.
- In the holiday season the district is at its most crowded and most lit. See the guides to tree lighting and holiday markets.
Who may want to look elsewhere
If you prefer quiet streets in the evening, look at a calmer pocket such as Murray Hill, or at Brooklyn or Long Island City, where the transit connection is still short.
Hotels NYC Tourism lists here
A few of the hotels NYC Tourism lists in Midtown. This is the city's official tourism listing, not a ranking. The Expedia buttons mark a few examples, not the best of the list, and they are affiliate links. We show no prices because they change daily, so compare the final price with taxes and fees. See the full list on NYC Tourism.
- New York Hilton Midtown: a 1,931-room hotel in the Times Square and Theatre District Check on Expedia
- Luma Hotel Times Square: next to Bryant Park, with free Wi-Fi listed by NYC Tourism Check on Expedia
- Hampton Inn Manhattan Times Square Central: a 31-story, 300-room select-service hotel Check on Expedia
- Residence Inn Times Square: in the Garment District, described as suited to a few nights or several weeks
- AKA Central Park: one block from Central Park and steps from Fifth Avenue, with condo-style rooms
- Aman New York: in the historic Crown Building, opened in August 2022
Visiting on specific dates? NYC Events lists what is on, with official dates and free options.
Sources: nyctourism.com (Midtown page), mta.info subway map, jfkairport.com, laguardiaairport.com. Subway lines are checked against the MTA map; weekend and overnight changes are common, so confirm on mta.info before you go. Last checked November 11, 2026.