Ideally, one can spend 2-3 days discovering Times Square New York or make a quickie day-tour to acquaint yourself with the destination and just have some fun when on a business trip.

For most visitors to New York City, 30 to 60 minutes is the ideal amount of time to spend in Times Square itself. This is usually enough time to stand in the "Red Steps," take in the overwhelming glow of the massive LED billboards, snap a few photos of the street performers, and soak in the famous "center of the universe" energy. Unless you are attending a Broadway show (which typically adds 3 hours to your stay) or visiting a specific attraction like Madame Tussauds, you will likely find that the noise and crowds become exhausting relatively quickly. Many seasoned travelers recommend visiting at night to see the lights in their full glory, doing a quick "walk-through" from 42nd to 47th Street, and then heading to nearby Bryant Park or Hell’s Kitchen for a more relaxed dining experience. If you are there for the New Year’s Eve ball drop, you would need to arrive 12+ hours in advance, but for a standard sightseeing visit, an hour is plenty to "see it all" before moving on to more culturally substantial parts of Manhattan like Central Park or the High Line.