Best Things to Do in NYC: Times Square Photo Scavenger Hunt (Free Activity!)

If you’re looking for a fun, interactive way to explore New York City, a Times Square photo scavenger hunt is one of the best things you can do! This free activity is perfect whether you’re with friends, on a date, hosting out-of-town guests, or creating content.

Packed with bright lights, street performers, and iconic landmarks, Times Square offers endless opportunities for creative photos. This guide gives you a ready-to-use scavenger hunt checklist, plus a points system and prize ideas to turn it into a full-on experience.

What Makes Times Square Perfect for a Photo Scavenger Hunt?

Located in the heart of New York City, Times Square is one of the most energetic places in the world. It’s known for:

• Massive LED billboards and neon lights
• Street performers and costumed characters
• Famous Broadway theaters
• Iconic NYC street scenes

All of this makes it the perfect backdrop for a photo-based scavenger hunt that’s equal parts chaotic, creative, and unforgettable.

Times Square Photo Scavenger Hunt List

Use this checklist as your guide. The goal? Capture each item with your own creative twist.

Iconic NYC Moments

1. The giant NASDAQ screen
2. The TKTS Red Steps (bonus: pose sitting on them)
3. A Statue of Liberty street performer
4. Someone dressed as Elmo, Spider-Man, or another character
5. A classic yellow NYC taxi in motion
6. An NYPD officer or police car (respectfully)

Lights, Billboards & Energy

7. A photo surrounded by LED billboards on all sides
8. A giant Broadway show billboard
9. Times Square in daylight vs nighttime
10. A reflection shot using lights in glass or your phone

Interactive Stops

11. Inside M&M’s World Times Square (rainbow wall shot!)
12. Inside Hershey’s Chocolate World Times Square
13. A selfie outside Disney Store Times Square (or signage area)
14. A street performer mid-performance

People & Personality

15. A candid shot of crowds crossing the street
16. A selfie with a tourist (ask first!)
17. Someone celebrating something (birthday, proposal, etc.)

Signature NYC Shots

18. The “Times Square” street or billboard sign
19. The “I [HEART] NY” Souvenir Store Sign (or selfie with one of the souvenir’s inside)
20. Your own main character moment in the middle of it all

Turn It Into a Game: Points System

Want to make it competitive? Here’s a simple scoring system:

Base Points

• Easy shots (taxi, street sign, crowd): 5 points
• Medium shots (billboards, stores, performers): 10 points
• Hard/creative shots (reflection, day vs night, interactions): 15 points

Bonus Points

• +5 points: Creative pose or concept
• +10 points: Video instead of photo
• +10 points: Matching aesthetic/theme across photos
• +15 points: Fun interaction (with permission)

Prize Ideas (Make It Worth Winning!)

Whether you’re doing this with friends, coworkers, or for content, add a prize to raise the stakes:

Budget-Friendly

• Coffee or matcha from a local café
• Dessert stop (think cookies, cupcakes, or gelato)
• Winner gets their meal paid for

NYC-Themed

• Souvenir from Times Square
• Broadway lottery ticket entry
• NYC tote bag or merch

Just-for-Fun

• Loser posts the winner on Instagram
• Winner picks the next activity
• “Most chaotic photo” gets a bonus prize

Tips for the Best Scavenger Hunt Photos

• Go at sunset/night for the best lighting transition
• Wear something that pops against the neon lights
• Don’t be afraid to be a little bold – Times Square is the place for it
• Use burst mode or video for capturing movement
• Stay aware of your surroundings (it gets crowded!)

Download Your FREE Printable Scavenger Hunt

A Times Square photo scavenger hunt is more than just a checklist: it’s an experience. It pushes you to explore, interact, and capture the energy of NYC in a way that feels personal, creative, and unforgettable.

Whether you’re planning a date night, hosting friends from out of town, or just looking for a fun content day in New York City, this is one of those simple ideas that turns into a core memory.

And if you want to make it even easier, I’ve created a FREE printable PDF version of this scavenger hunt that you can take with you on your phone or print out before you go.

Just grab it here: https://whatisheybailsdoing.myflodesk.com/free-times-square-scavenger-hunt

It includes:

• 20 iconic photo challenges
• Checkboxes to mark your progress
• Point values for each challenge
• A final scorecard to crown the winner

Trust me, having it on hand makes the whole experience even more fun!

We Put It to the Test (And It Was a Blast!)

Of course, before sharing this scavenger hunt with all of you, I had to test it myself!

My husband, Monish, and I invited another couple, our friends Zach & Nina, to join us for a friendly competition in Times Square. We each printed a copy of the scavenger hunt, met at the Starbucks in Times Square, and split into two teams: Team Bailey & Monish versus Team Nina & Zach.

Before heading out, we agreed on the rules:

• We had one hour to complete as many challenges as possible.
• We all started at the same time.
• When the timer went off, everyone had to meet back at Starbucks.
• The losing team had to buy the winning team… ice cream!

The prize wasn’t anything extravagant, but that’s what made it so fun. Suddenly we found ourselves running through Times Square, strategizing which locations to visit first, laughing every time one team spotted something before the other, and trying to squeeze in “just one more photo” before time ran out.

Monish and I ended up completing all 20 challenges within the hour, which earned us the victory (and some well-deserved ice cream!). But what impressed us even more was how creative Nina and Zach were with their photos. Instead of simply snapping quick pictures to check off the list, they turned several of the challenges into fun, memorable photo opportunities that we never would have thought of ourselves. It made us realize there isn’t just one “right” way to complete the scavenger hunt: everyone brings their own personality and creativity to it.

By the end of the hour, we all agreed the scavenger hunt itself was the real prize. Instead of simply walking through Times Square like we’ve done countless times before, we found ourselves noticing details we’d usually overlook, interacting with the city in a new way, laughing together, and creating memories we’ll remember long after the competition was over.

It ended up being one of the most fun (and surprisingly competitive) evenings we’ve had in NYC.

If you’re visiting New York with friends, your partner, or even family, I genuinely recommend giving this scavenger hunt a try. Whether you’re in it to win or just to have fun, you’re guaranteed to walk away with some incredible photos and even better memories.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes the best memories come from the simplest ideas.

Whether you’re visiting New York City for the first time or you’ve walked through Times Square dozens of times already, turning it into a game encourages you to slow down, look around, and experience one of the world’s busiest places in a completely different way.

I hope this scavenger hunt helps you create as many laughs and memories as it did for us. And if you do give it a try, I’d love to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @whatisheybailsdoing so I can cheer you on and share your adventures.

Have fun exploring, and may the best team win!