"The center of the universe" is one of the many sobriquets New York applies to Times Square. In terms of the area as a transportation hub, it certainly is apt. Not only are two of the busiest train stations in the United States within walking distance, but you also are standing atop train stations for subways and commuter trains reaching virtually anywhere in the metropolitan area.
Penn Station lies a short walk south of Times Square, between Seventh and Eighth avenues and 31st and 33rd streets. Still somewhat reviled by New Yorkers nostalgic for the more aesthetically pleasing version that was demolished in the 1960s, Penn Station today is more a functional transit center than a tourist draw. From there, you can catch New Jersey Transit trains to cities throughout north and central New Jersey as well as Newark International Airport; Long Island Rail Road trains to John F. Kennedy International Airport and beach towns in Long Island; and Amtrak trains to New England, Upstate New York and Mid-Atlantic major cities. Dining options in Penn Station largely are limited to fast food and casual dining spots.
You can reach Grand Central Terminal, the busiest railroad hub in the nation, by a short walk to the east from Times Square or via the S subway shuttle that connects the two landmarks. Located in the area of East 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue, Grand Central serves as a terminal for Metro North, a service largely for commuters in outlying areas in New York and Connecticut. Unlike the workmanlike Penn Station, Grand Central is a destination in and of itself, with its grand concourses, ceiling mural, arches, columns and other architectural wonders. It also houses food and drink hot spots, including its famous Oyster Bar, burger joint Shake Shack, cocktail lounge Campbell Apartment and gourmet food in its shops. If you want a guided tour of the station, the Municipal Art Society offers a daily walking tour.
You can reach almost every subway line in New York at or near Times Square, giving you access to anywhere in Manhattan as well as locations in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx. The labyrinthine Times Square subway station stretches from Seventh Avenue to the Port Authority Bus Terminal on Eighth Avenue. Among the major subway trains you can catch there are the A train, which runs from Inwood in northern Manhattan beyond JFK airport to the Far Rockaways in Queens; the N, Q and R lines, which run along Broadway in Manhattan and into Brooklyn and Queens; and the 1, 2 and 3 lines, which run north and south in Manhattan and in the Bronx and Brooklyn as well. Just to the east of Times Square, you'll find the Bryant Park station at Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street, where you can access the B, D, F and M lines. Further east, at Grand Central's subway station, you can access the 4, 5 and 6 lines, which access Manhattan's East Side and points beyond.
A short walk to the southeast of Times Square, at 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue, lies the northernmost station for the PATH Train -- shorthand for Port Authority Trans-Hudson. These trains provide a quick trip to the New Jersey side of the New York metropolitan area, including Jersey City, Hoboken and Newark. The PATH trains also make several stops in Manhattan, including near One World Trade Center, though subways provide much more frequent and direct access there. The PATH train also requires a separate fare from New York's subways.
