It’s a universally acknowledged truth that there’s no better time to visit New York City than autumn. The leaves in Central Park are changing. It’s not so intensely hot you have that unescapable garbage smell everywhere, but still warm enough that you can wear a fashionable leather jacket instead of A Christmas Story-style full-body snow suit. But this year, fall in New York City is bringing something truly special: Broadway is finally reopening.
It seems we’re not the only ones eager to hear the beat of dancing feet once again. Searches to NYC for travel between 9/1 – 12/31 were up on the day of and the 5 days following the May 5th announcement of Broadway reopening, with a 34% increase in searches from the week prior and a 134% increase month over month. As our favorite trio of sisters would say, “Work!”
If the music of the night is beckoning you, the average cost of a round-trip flight to NYC is $247 and the average cost of a stay is $238 per night (just don’t follow any strange men through double sided mirrors to their lakeside lair, no matter how angelic their voice). Everyone deserves the chance to fly, so try using our flexible dates search option to find a flight that fits your personal schedule and needs. And be sure to check our No change Fees and Free Cancellation filters as well as review best travel insurance practices, so you can rest easy knowing that your trip is protected should plans change. Hakuna matata.
Where to Stay
The theater district is clustered around Times Square, spanning West 40th Street to West 54th Street between 6th and 8th avenues. If just getting into the city was enough of an adventure, searching for a hotel in Times Square or Midtown will get you within walking distance of most theaters. Head over to 9th avenue for dinner before your show or make a reservation in Hell’s Kitchen on OpenTable. Let the restaurant know you have tickets to a show when you book! They’re pros on getting people out the door with enough time to walk to their theater before curtain.
If you’ve got worries about all the noise and the hurry, you can always go downtown. Look for a hotel in Chelsea, Tribeca, Soho or Greenwich Village. You’ll be away from the bright lights of the Great White Way, but still have easy access to the subway lines that will drop you right in Times Square. 24 hour subway service will resume on May 17th. Be sure to bring a mask for the ride.
Where to Get Tickets
Tickets are already on sale to “Hamilton”, “Wicked” and “The Lion King” which will be the first shows to open on September 14th. “Aladdin”, “Six”, “Come from Away”, and “Chicago” are expected to join them later in September, with “Phantom of the Opera”, “Jagged Little Pill” and “Ain’t Too Proud” following in October. Search for tickets on this popular Broadway ticketing site, or directly on a show’s website. For a deal, set an alert to see when shows are back on or keep an eye on the ticketing booth’s reopening schedules for same-day steals.
What Else to Do
Show the Big Apple some love and help it get back on its feet by taking time to explore the city before your show starts. Reserve timed tickets to MoMA, the Met or the Guggenheim, browse the shops in SoHo or check out our list of things to do to find unique New York experiences across all five boroughs. Central Park is beautiful this time of year, so head out for a walk or grab a book (our favorite bookstore is Shakespeare & Co) and lay out on the grand lawn. And if you haven’t gotten enough of Broadway, check out Feinstein’s/54 Below cabaret where stars will sometimes go to perform late night sets (just get your tickets in advance).
So curtain up! Light the lights! Play it boys! Here’s Broadway.
Methodology: Searches on the KAYAK US site were considered for round-trip economy flights for search dates 5/5/21 – 5/10/21 for travel between 9/1/21 and 12/31/21.
