Times Square

Some say that Times Square is like a five-block metaphor for New York City itself -- it's exciting, colorful and always jumping. Others describe this area of Midtown Manhattan as artless, overpriced and congested. Perhaps this commercial stretch from W. 42nd to W. 47th Street is a little of both, and though locals would advise you to avoid it, a Frommer's writer notes, "you've come all this way; you've got to at least take a peek, if only for the amazing neon spectacle of it."

But planning an itinerary here gets tricky if you intend to stay longer. After all, this district is clogged with restaurants, stores, office buildings, theaters and more. It is very accessible on foot however, as segments around Broadway and beyond are now cordoned off as car-free areas. Most travelers suggest you skip the food and the shopping and opt for some people-watching followed by a Broadway show. Before you leave the area, IgoUgo.com users recommend you also visit Robert John Burck. Better known as the Naked Cowboy, this busker has become a legendary fixture on the corner of 45th and Seventh Avenue. Dressed in cowboy boots, boxer briefs and a hat, "he's the only walking, talking, and singing tourist attraction of New York."

Times Square's biggest tourist draw is the annual New Year's Eve ball drop. Revelers jam-pack the area to see New York's famous Waterford Crystal ball descend 77 feet from a pole on the One Times Square building. If you're feeling adventurous, take a trip to New York and Times Square at this time of year (and enjoy the fact that viewing the ball drop is free!). Just plan on coming in the early morning and staying all day, and note that the area is super crowded -- even by New York standards. Come with lots of patience and wearing lots of layers.

Times Square's constant activity makes it easy to find (take any train that stops at 42nd Street and Time Square or Port Authority). Visit the official website for more information on what you can see and do in the area, and keep in mind the area's restaurants and stores have closing hours, but the billboards of Time Square bedazzle 24/7.