Destinations / New York City / Top Things to Do in New York City for Art Lovers near Times Square
Top Things to Do in New York City for Art Lovers near Times Square
1. Museum of Broadway
A vibrant, story-rich museum dedicated to the visual craft of Broadway—costumes, set models, original artwork, and immersive rooms that chart the evolution of the Great White Way just steps from Times Square.
✓ Why Go:
It’s the rare place where theater design takes center stage, letting art lovers study the creativity behind costumes, posters, and stagecraft in detail.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekday mornings or late afternoons to avoid pre-show crowds from nearby theaters.
✓ Insider Tip:
Book timed-entry and work backward from the finale rooms; lighting is ideal for photos in the costume galleries earlier in the day.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Guests call it imaginative and nostalgic, praising the balance of eye-popping design with deep Broadway history.
2. Museum of Modern Art
The world’s flagship for modern and contemporary art, housing icons of painting, sculpture, and design in sleek galleries a short walk north of Times Square.
✓ Why Go:
From masterworks to boundary-pushing installations, MoMA is a must for anyone serious about 20th- and 21st-century art.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Arrive at opening on weekdays; evenings can be calmer outside of special events.
✓ Insider Tip:
Head straight to the collection floors with your priority works, then decompress in the sculpture garden before tackling temporary exhibitions.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Widely regarded as unmissable—many note the curation is superb but recommend strategic timing to dodge crowds.
3. Paley Center for Media
A haven for media arts with galleries and viewing rooms where you can access a vast archive of television, radio, and advertising history.
✓ Why Go:
Perfect for design and media lovers who want to explore broadcast art, title design, and the evolution of visual storytelling.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Midweek afternoons for quieter screening rooms.
✓ Insider Tip:
Ask staff about searching the archive for specific programs or vintage commercials—researchers and casual fans both find surprises.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Described as a hidden gem—intimate, informative, and delightfully niche.
4. Radio City Music Hall
An Art Deco masterpiece where gilded murals, sweeping staircases, and dramatic lighting create a total work of art around every performance.
✓ Why Go:
Even beyond the shows, the building is an essential study in 1930s design and theatrical architecture.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Evenings on performance days; arrive early to explore the interiors without a rush.
✓ Insider Tip:
Enter as doors open to linger in the Grand Foyer and capture the soaring murals and chandeliers before crowds swell.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors rave about the wow-factor entrance and elegant detailing—classic New York glamour.
5. Rockefeller Center
A landmark campus where public art, sculpture, mosaics, and Art Deco ornamentation turn everyday spaces into an outdoor museum.
✓ Why Go:
It’s a free, self-guided art walk—ideal for art lovers who want masterpieces woven into the city’s fabric just minutes from Times Square.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Early mornings for unobstructed photos; evenings add atmospheric lighting and energy.
✓ Insider Tip:
Pop into building lobbies for murals and reliefs and don’t miss the iconic plaza sculptures for classic angles.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Praised as photogenic and lively—many love discovering serious art in the middle of Midtown buzz.
6. New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
A Beaux-Arts icon where marble halls, detailed ceilings, and the vast Rose Main Reading Room showcase architectural artistry as compelling as any gallery.
✓ Why Go:
Architecture and decorative arts enthusiasts can study craftsmanship up close—carvings, murals, and grand proportions abound.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekday mornings; late afternoons are also calmer outside of peak visitor hours.
✓ Insider Tip:
Step into the exhibition spaces before heading upstairs; then settle beneath the reading room’s painted ceiling for a serene pause.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it breathtaking and peaceful—a cultural sanctuary beside bustling Bryant Park.
7. Carnegie Hall
A legendary concert hall where the architectural harmonies—arched proscenium, warm wood, and rich plasterwork—elevate every performance.
✓ Why Go:
It’s as much an art object as a venue, beloved for acoustics and period detailing that thrill design-minded visitors.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Evening performances; arrive early to admire interiors without the rush.
✓ Insider Tip:
Check programs in Zankel Hall or Weill Recital Hall for affordable tickets and intimate spaces with beautiful finishes.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Frequently described as a bucket-list experience—elegant, intimate, and acoustically sublime.
8. Museum of Arts and Design
A focused museum celebrating contemporary craft, jewelry, and design, with exhibitions that spotlight process, materials, and making.
✓ Why Go:
Art lovers who enjoy applied arts will find thoughtful shows that bridge studio craft and cutting-edge design.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekday afternoons; weekends are livelier around Columbus Circle.
✓ Insider Tip:
Start on the top gallery level and work down—quieter rooms often sit higher and reward slow looking.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Praised for fresh, tactile exhibitions and approachable scale—easy to digest yet inspiring.
9. Al Hirschfeld Theatre
A historic Broadway house named for the famed caricaturist, where period details and marquee productions converge in true theater-art fashion.
✓ Why Go:
For art lovers, it’s a chance to savor architecture and graphic arts traditions woven into the Broadway experience.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Pre-show, 30–45 minutes before curtain, to enjoy the lobby and settle into the space.
✓ Insider Tip:
Look for Hirschfeld-style caricature art in the lobby and playbill—spotting the artist’s stylistic flourishes is half the fun.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Fans love its intimate feel and vintage charm—classic Broadway ambiance near Times Square.
10. Christie's New York
A premier auction house where free pre-sale exhibitions put museum-caliber works—painting, sculpture, design—on view to the public.
✓ Why Go:
See blue-chip art up close without a ticketed museum visit; rotations mean there’s often something new within walking distance of Times Square.
✓ Best Time to Visit:
Weekdays before major auctions, when galleries are open and less crowded.
✓ Insider Tip:
Check the calendar and pre-register when required; ask for catalog notes to deepen your viewing.
✓ What Visitors Say:
Visitors call it thrilling and unexpectedly accessible—a peek into the art market with gallery-level presentation.
