Spanning just more than 5 miles, 7th Avenue cuts through the heart of Manhattan. This historic avenue runs between Central Park and the Greenwich Village neighborhood. Broadway Theaters, Times Square, and Madison Square Garden are some top attractions are situated along this important thoroughfare. A walking tour on this pedestrian-friendly avenue leads to some of the Big Apple’s best entertainment, culture, dining, and shopping.
Attractions and Sightseeing
Madison Square Garden is located on 7th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. Known as the World’s Most Famous Arena, this indoor venue can accommodate more than 20,000 spectators. The New York Knicks of the NBA and Rangers of the NHL play their home games in this spectacular arena. Music concerts and other premium shows are also held routinely at MSG.
Dubbed the Crossroads of the World, Times Square is a district that’s formed by the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue. Some popular attractions in this vibrant area include Ripley’s Believe or Not!, Discovery Times Square, and Madame Tussauds, New York.
This historic avenue also cuts through the heart of the Theatre District which includes dozens of performance venues. Some of the tallest hotels in The Big Apple stand above the iconic Broadway Theaters. At 59th Street, 7th Avenue is abruptly ended by Central Park, which is without a doubt the most visited green space in NYC. The avenue points directly towards the Hecksher Playground, Wollman Rink, and Central Park Carousel.
The stretch of 7th Avenue between Midtown Manhattan and Greenwich Village also leads to some great attractions. Standing just a few blocks south of MSG, the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology has exhibits on textile design and fashion. The permanent collection of this FIT institution includes more than 50,000 items by some of the world’s leading designers. For example, you might see original garments that were used in the studios of Italian, French, and British fashion houses.
Situated at the corner of 17th Street, the Rubin Museum of Art has multiple levels of galleries that showcase artifacts from the Himalayas. This museum has one of the largest collections of artwork from Tibet in North America. Located on Christopher Street, the Stonewall Inn is a historic property that initiated various LGBT movements in the 1960s and 1970s. This former hotel is the namesake of the Stonewall Riots of 1969.
Transportation
Pennsylvania Station New York is located at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 31st Street. Several New York City Subway lines serve this massive underground rail hub that occupies multiple levels directly below Madison Square Garden. NJ Transit trains connect Manhattan with dozens of communities in New Jersey via commuter trains. The Long Island Railroad links Penn Station with suburbs in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Additionally, Amtrak has its own concourse in this busy transit complex.
The 42nd Street-Times Square station is another major rail stop that’s conveniently located just off 7th Avenue. More than 10 subway lines serve this station which extends underneath Times Square for several blocks.
Dozens of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus stops are located on 7th Avenue. The southern end of the avenue is roughly marked by the Christopher Street station, which is served by the 1 Line. Consisting of multiple lanes, 7th Avenue only accommodates vehicle traffic heading southbound. Some parts of the avenue have bicycle lanes that are clearly marked with green paint and other distinctive signs. There are also multiple Citi Bike stations on or just off the avenue.