Union Square, NY

New York

Union Square
Union Square featuring a square or plaza and a city
Union Square Park which includes a city and a high rise building
Union Square showing a statue or sculpture and outdoor art
Union Square showing a monument, a square or plaza and a city

Relax under shady trees near important statues and reflect on the early days of this national historic landmark, now nearly 180 years old.

While northern Manhattan has Central Park, travel south for Union Square. Enjoy this pleasant park as you see the sights between Lower Manhattan and Midtown.

The space was once a potter’s field near the southern end of Broadway, until it became an oval park surrounded by fences and hedges in 1839. Today’s Union Square was inspired by an 1872 redesign by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who created Central Park. Renovations over the years have made the park more accessible for residents and visitors. Appreciate the open spaces, wide paths, dog run, playgrounds and shady trees that make the area a welcoming place that can comfortably accommodate tens of thousands of visitors daily.

Since 1976, Union Square has hosted a farmers market with seasonal produce. Visit the Union Square Greenmarket on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays or Saturdays year-round to browse through the stalls on the outer edges of the park. Nearly 140 local producers display and sell fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood and other items, from orchids to ostrich meat.

See the impressive statues throughout the park. At the southern end is one of the city’s oldest statues, an equestrian George Washington. Nearby is a modern statue of Mohandas Gandhi. Head north to the James Fountain and statues of Abraham Lincoln and the Marquis de Lafayette, who joined Colonial forces fighting the Revolutionary War.

Participate in the park’s Summer in the Square events, from morning fitness to lunchtime jazz to evening dance, with kids’ movies and arts and crafts. Sample culinary specialties created by local chefs at September’s annual Harvest in the Square festival. The Greenmarket sources produce for the event.

Surrounding Union Square are coffee shops, cafés, restaurants, bars and shops frequented by local office workers and students from New York University who live in nearby residential halls. See excellent off-Broadway productions at the Daryl Roth Theatre,DR2 Theatreand Union Square Theater just east of the park. Several subway lines stop below the park’s southern end.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Union Square Hotel Deals

Chelsea Inn
Chelsea Inn
3 out of 5
46 W 17th St, New York, NY
$139 nightly
The price is $163 total per night from Jul 28 to Jul 29
$163 total
Jul 28 - Jul 29
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 3-star hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, premium TV channels, and housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (1,622 reviews)
"Excellent hotel"

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Chelsea Inn
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Hyatt Grand Central New York
4 out of 5
109 East 42nd Street, at Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
$249 nightly
The price is $289 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$289 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8/10 Very Good! (5,539 reviews)
"Very nice hotel and great location. Staff was professional but not Friendly."

Reviewed on Jul 7, 2025

Hyatt Grand Central New York
Hotel St. James
Hotel St. James
2.5 out of 5
109 W. 45TH ST., New York, NY
$158 nightly
The price is $185 total per night from Jul 21 to Jul 22
$185 total
Jul 21 - Jul 22
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (6,090 reviews)
"If you are looking for an authenticly New York City experience then this is the place to stay! I don't usually write reviews, but the staff at the Hotel St. James clearly take pride in what they do and deserve to be recognized for it! From the maintenance and up keep of this historical building to ..."

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Hotel St. James
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
4 out of 5
811 7th Ave, New York, NY
$218 nightly
The price is $254 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$254 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a 24-hour fitness center, and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the ...
7.4/10 Good! (3,789 reviews)
"good location"

Reviewed on Jul 7, 2025

Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
Lotte New York Palace
Lotte New York Palace
4.5 out of 5
455 Madison Ave, New York, NY
$525 nightly
The price is $606 total per night from Aug 3 to Aug 4
$606 total
Aug 3 - Aug 4
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in New York. Enjoy a full-service spa, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,519 reviews)
"Nice experience. Only thing was the beds are actually full and not queen. Coming from Texas it was an adjustment"

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2025

Lotte New York Palace
Hotel Edison Times Square
Hotel Edison Times Square
4 out of 5
228 W 47th St, New York, NY
$189 nightly
The price is $220 total per night from Jul 27 to Jul 28
$220 total
Jul 27 - Jul 28
Total includes taxes and fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy 2 restaurants, room service, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (4,608 reviews)
"Last minutes trip was good clean and good services."

Reviewed on Jul 6, 2025

Hotel Edison Times Square
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighborhoods around Union Square

Greenwich Village showing a fountain

Greenwich Village

4.5/5(466 area reviews)

Travelers choose Greenwich Village for its abundant dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Christopher St. - Sheridan Sq. Station or W 4 St. Station and check out top sights like 5th Avenue.

Greenwich Village
West Village showing a city, signage and cbd

West Village

Consider a visit to Bleecker Street and take some time to enjoy the abundant dining options during your time in West Village. If you want to see more of the city, jump on the metro at Christopher St. - Sheridan Sq. Station or 14 St. Station (7th Ave.).

West Village
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Chelsea

4/5(1,578 area reviews)

Primarily residential with a thriving art scene, this area boasts over 200 galleries, the High Line park, and Chelsea Market for food lovers. Easily accessible via multiple subway lines and bus routes.

Chelsea
SoHo - Tribeca which includes a city

SoHo

4.5/5(165 area reviews)

Discover cast-iron architecture in the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District, and shop at trendy boutiques and chain outlets along Broadway, Prince, and Spring Streets. Easily accessible via multiple subway lines and bus routes.

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Macy\'s featuring signage, street scenes and a city

Garment District

4.5/5(38 area reviews)

Garment District is known for its popular shops, and you can see some sights in the area like Macy's and Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre.

Garment District
Midtown featuring a bay or harbor, a sunset and a city

Midtown

4.5/5(3,368 area reviews)

Central portion of NYC, Midtown Manhattan boasts iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building and Times Square. Explore Broadway, Koreatown, and enjoy easy access to major transportation hubs like Grand Central Terminal.

Midtown


Union Square, NY

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