Times Square is the bowtie-shaped junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue between roughly 42nd and 47th Streets, defined by its wraparound digital billboards, huge pedestrian plazas, and dense retail. The TKTS booth on the red glass steps at Duffy Square (47th St. and Broadway) sells same-day Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets at up to 50% off face value plus a service fee. Times Square itself sits at the edge of — not inside — the actual Broadway Theater District, which fans out along the side streets in the 40s between roughly 6th and 9th Avenues; the marquees visible directly on Times Square are mostly billboards, not theater entrances.
Crowds are heaviest around New Year's Eve and generally worst on weekend evenings and midday on weekdays. Early morning, before 9am, is the best window for photos with comparatively thin crowds. Costumed characters and ticket scammers who approach pedestrians are a known nuisance — not dangerous, but decline firmly and move on, and keep bags zipped given the density of crowds.