Times Square - 42nd St

Times Square - 42nd Street is the busiest subway station in New York City and, by most counts, one of the most heavily trafficked transit hubs in the entire world. Nine subway lines converge here beneath the corner of Broadway, 7th Avenue and 42nd Street - a spot so central to city life that locals simply call it "the crossroads of the world." Whether you are heading to a Broadway show, catching a bus from Port Authority, or just absorbing the spectacle of the neon-lit square above, this station puts you at the beating centre of Midtown Manhattan.

The station complex is enormous - a labyrinth of passageways, stairwells and mezzanines that connects the 1/2/3 platforms on 7th Avenue with the N/Q/R/W platforms on Broadway and the 7 train on 42nd Street. An underground passage also leads directly to the 42nd Street shuttle (the S train), which runs back and forth to Grand Central every few minutes. If you are new to New York, give yourself extra time the first time you navigate it.

Station Overview

Times Square - 42nd Street sits in Zone 1 and has served New Yorkers since 1904, when the original IRT line opened as the city's first subway. Nine lines currently stop here: the 1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, and the 42nd Street Shuttle (S). The station is fully accessible with lifts to street level and between platforms. Facilities include toilets, ATMs, Wi-Fi, staffed information booths and a range of retail concessions throughout the passageways.

Lines and Connectivity

The 1, 2 and 3 trains run north-south along the West Side, connecting Times Square to the Upper West Side, Columbia University and the Bronx in one direction, and to the Financial District and South Ferry in the other. The N, Q, R and W trains serve Midtown's eastern corridor, crossing into Brooklyn via the Manhattan Bridge and reaching Bay Ridge, Astoria, Flushing and beyond. The 7 train heads east across Midtown to Grand Central, then continues under the East River into Queens, passing through Jackson Heights and on to Flushing. The S shuttle gives a fast two-minute link to Grand Central - useful when you need the 4, 5 or 6 trains quickly.

Station Layout and Facilities

The station is entirely underground. The 1/2/3 platforms and the N/Q/R/W platforms occupy different levels and sections of the complex, so read the overhead signs carefully and follow the line colour markers on the walls. Port Authority Bus Terminal - the world's busiest bus station - is accessible via an underground concourse on the north side of 42nd Street, so you can transfer to interstate buses without going above ground. Throughout the station you will find ATMs, convenience shops, staffed help booths and toilets. Free Wi-Fi is available on all platforms.

Travel Tips

• Use the MTA Subway app or Google Maps to identify your exact exit - the station has more than a dozen street exits across several blocks.
• The TKTS discount booth in the red bleachers on 47th Street sells same-day Broadway tickets at up to 50% off face value. The queue is longest in the morning; try after 3pm for shorter waits.
• Rush hours (8–9:30am and 5–7pm) are exceptionally crowded. Keep bags in front of you and be alert for pickpockets.
• For the 7 train to Queens, the platforms are separate from the main complex - follow signs carefully from the 42nd Street mezzanine.

Nearby Attractions

Times Square - at street level. The neon billboard canyon on Broadway between 42nd and 47th Streets is best experienced at dusk when the screens illuminate. Free to walk through any time.

Broadway Theatre District - within 5 minutes on foot. More than 40 theatres are clustered along Broadway and the side streets of the mid-40s. The TKTS booth nearby is your best starting point for affordable tickets.

Madame Tussauds New York - 2 minutes on foot. The West 42nd Street location has wax figures of film stars, musicians and world leaders - popular with younger visitors.

Port Authority Bus Terminal - connected underground. The largest bus terminal in the world runs coaches to New Jersey, the Hamptons, upstate New York and long-distance destinations across the east coast.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

All nine lines serving Times Square run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - one of the advantages of the New York subway over most other world metro systems. That said, late-night service (midnight to 5am) runs less frequently on most lines. The station is at its most crowded on weekday rush hours and on weekend evenings before and after Broadway shows. If you have a choice, midmorning on weekdays (10am–noon) is the calmest time to pass through.