My friend Jessica has lived in New York for 28 years. So when I finally scored tickets to a show at MSG, she was the first person I texted. Her response was immediate: “Book a hotel within walking distance. Tonight. Before the price goes up.” I laughed. Then I checked Booking.com and watched a room at the hotel across the street jump $80 in the time it took me to make a cup of coffee. She was right, as always.
This list is what Jessica and I put together for anyone flying into New York specifically for a concert at the Garden. Nine places to stay, all close to the arena, across three price ranges. No fluff.
About Madison Square Garden
Capacity and What Happens Here
MSG holds around 20,000 people, which puts it among the largest indoor arenas on the planet. It has been the highest-grossing music venue in the world multiple times. The list of artists who have played here reads like a history of modern music — Billy Joel has performed there dozens of times, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Adele, The Rolling Stones, and Led Zeppelin have all sold it out.
Beyond concerts, MSG is home to the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers, and it hosts boxing, college basketball tournaments, and the NBA Draft.
The building sits directly on top of Penn Station, one of the busiest train hubs in the country. There is genuinely no venue in the United States that is easier to reach by public transit.
How to Buy Tickets
All official tickets are sold through the MSG website at msg.com. For individual artists, tickets typically go on sale through Ticketmaster or AXS as well. Jessica’s rule, which she’s held for 30 years: only buy from official sources. Resale prices around big MSG shows reach levels that should be illegal.
Getting to Madison Square Garden
By Subway
This is the easiest part. Penn Station sits directly below MSG, and it’s served by the A, C, E, 1, 2, and 3 subway lines. One block east at 34th Street Herald Square, you have the B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W lines as well.
From virtually anywhere in Manhattan, you are within one or two stops of the arena. From Times Square it’s about 5 minutes and from the West Village about 10. From the Upper West Side maybe 15.
By Commuter Rail and Amtrak
If you’re coming from New Jersey or Long Island, Penn Station is your direct destination. NJ Transit, Long Island Rail Road, and Amtrak all terminate there, which means you can step off your train and walk straight into the venue. This is one of MSG’s most underrated features for out-of-towners.
From the Airports
From JFK, take the AirTrain to Jamaica station and switch to the E subway line heading to 34th Street Penn Station. Total travel time is around 45 to 55 minutes. Cost is about $12 including the AirTrain fare.
From LaGuardia, take the free Q70-SBS bus to Jackson Heights Roosevelt Avenue, then transfer to the E train to 34th Street. The whole trip takes around 45 to 60 minutes and costs $3. A taxi from LaGuardia runs about $40 to $50 depending on traffic.
From Newark, take the AirTrain Newark to the NJ Transit station and board a direct train to New York Penn Station, which drops you right below MSG. That trip runs about 30 to 40 minutes and costs around $14 total including the AirTrain connection.
Driving and Parking
Jessica’s one non-negotiable rule: do not drive to MSG on a concert night. Parking garages near Penn Station charge $40 to $70 for event parking, and spots sell out.
If you must drive, book in advance through SpotHero or ParkWhiz. Rates booked in advance run 10 to 30% lower than what you’ll pay if you show up without a reservation. But the honest answer is just take the train.
Hotels Near Madison Square Garden: Quick Overview
| Hotel | Category | Walk Time | Price From | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renaissance New York Midtown | Luxury | 2 min | from $243/night | Design lovers, concert-goers |
| The New Yorker Hotel | Luxury | 3 min | from $129/night | History buffs, classic NYC feel |
| Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown | Luxury | 5 min | from $200/night | Comfort seekers, great amenities |
| Henn na Hotel New York | Mid-range | 2 min | from $183/night | Couples, tech-forward travelers |
| Even Hotel Times Square South | Mid-range | 5 min | from $189/night | Wellness-focused, gym lovers |
| Staypineapple Midtown | Mid-range | 5 min | from $122/night | Boutique feel, free bikes |
| Holiday Inn Express Chelsea | Budget | 8 min | from $124/night | Families, reliable and central |
| MOXY NYC Times Square | Budget | 7 min | from $100/night | Young travelers, great vibe |
| Hampton Inn MSG | Budget | 3 min | from $100/night | No-frills, closest budget option |
Prices are starting rates on regular dates. On major concert nights, expect them to climb significantly. Book the same day you buy your tickets.
1) Luxury Hotels Near Madison Square Garden
a) Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel
Two blocks north of MSG on 35th Street, the Renaissance is the most design-forward hotel in this area and the one Jessica recommends first. The lobby feels nothing like a chain hotel — gold accents, dark wood, exposed concrete, and fashion photography that nods to the building’s location in the old Garment District.
The rooms continue that energy, with rain showers in every bathroom and some terraces with open city views.
The standout feature is Versa, the fifth-floor restaurant with a rooftop deck and retractable roof. It’s a great option for a pre-show dinner or a post-concert drink without going far. There is also a Planet Fitness in the building that guests can use free of charge.
Distance: About 2 minutes on foot to the MSG entrance. The hotel is on 35th Street between 7th and 8th Avenue. Price: From around $243 per night. Best for: Anyone who wants a stylish, well-located stay and doesn’t mind paying for it. Note that some guests find the rooms small by non-NYC standards, but the design and location more than compensate.
b) The New Yorker Hotel
If the Renaissance is the modern option, the New Yorker is the classic one. This Art Deco tower has been on 34th Street since 1930, and it’s become one of the most recognizable buildings in Midtown.
The exterior is a postcard. The rooms have been updated but still carry that old-school New York atmosphere that newer hotels simply cannot manufacture.
It sits 0.13 miles from MSG, which is literally across the street and a short walk. The building has a restaurant and fitness center, and the front desk gets consistently strong reviews for being genuinely helpful, which in midtown Manhattan is worth something.
Distance: About 3 minutes on foot. Price: From around $129 per night, making it the best value in the luxury category. Best for: Anyone who wants classic New York atmosphere and a location that doesn’t get more central than this.
c) Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan
A modern four-star about five minutes from MSG on 36th Street. It earns some of the strongest guest ratings in the area, with reviewers consistently flagging the fitness center, the comfortable beds, and the staff.
The name refers to the hotel’s location at Hudson Yards and 36th Street, and the building is well-maintained and genuinely pleasant to stay in.
Distance: About 5 minutes on foot. Price: From around $200 per night. Best for: Anyone who wants a reliable, comfortable stay at a well-run hotel without the boutique price tag of the Renaissance.
2) Mid-Range Hotels Near Madison Square Garden
a) Henn na Hotel New York
One of the more unusual options on this list. The Henn na is a Japanese-concept hotel where rooms come with LG Styler closets that steam, freshen, and dry-clean your clothes overnight.
If you are traveling with clothes you actually care about, that feature alone is worth it. The rooms are small but smartly designed, and the location right next to MSG is hard to beat.
Distance: About 2 minutes on foot. Price: From around $183 per night. Best for: Couples and solo travelers who appreciate good design and want something different from a standard hotel chain.
b) Even Hotel Times Square South
This hotel is built around wellness in a way that most hotels only pretend to be. Every room has a fitness area built in, including a pull-up bar, resistance bands, and a workout mat.
The in-room menus focus on clean eating options. The gym is properly equipped and actually open. For anyone who has ever paid $400 for a hotel room and woken up unable to find a treadmill, this is the answer.
Distance: About 5 minutes on foot. Price: From around $189 per night. Best for: Anyone who works out regularly and doesn’t want that to stop just because they’re at a concert.
c) Staypineapple Midtown New York
A 89-room boutique hotel three blocks from MSG with a personality you can feel the moment you walk in. The lobby has a disco ball-style front desk, a giant decorative fireplace, and a floral floor mosaic.
The standard rooms are typical New York size, but there are connecting options for families and a private terrace suite for anyone who wants to splurge. The hotel lends out bikes for free, which in Midtown Manhattan is a genuinely useful perk.
Distance: About 5 minutes on foot. Price: From around $122 per night, making it the best value in the mid-range category. Best for: Travelers who like a bit of character in their hotel and don’t want to pay luxury prices to get it.
3) Budget Hotels Near Madison Square Garden
a) Holiday Inn Express New York City Chelsea
One of the most reliable options in this category. Located about 8 minutes on foot from MSG with a Penn Station connection right nearby.
Guests consistently rate the cleanliness, the breakfast, and the staff. It does not have anything flashy going on, but it works exactly as advertised, which at this price in Manhattan is genuinely respectable.
Distance: About 8 minutes on foot, or one short subway stop from Penn Station. Price: From around $124 per night. Best for: Families and travelers who want a solid, predictable stay with breakfast included and no unpleasant surprises.
b) MOXY NYC Times Square
The MOXY is designed for younger travelers and group trips. The rooms are compact but cleverly laid out, the communal spaces are lively, and the bar stays open late.
It is not the place to go if you want a quiet morning with room service, but if you want somewhere that matches the energy of a post-concert night in Manhattan, this is it.
Distance: About 7 minutes on foot. Price: From around $100 per night. Best for: Group trips, solo travelers in their 20s and 30s, and anyone who wants a social atmosphere after the show.
c) Hampton Inn by Hilton MSG
The closest true budget hotel to the Garden. The Hampton Inn sits essentially across the street, and it delivers the reliable Hampton experience clean rooms, good beds, free hot breakfast, and staff who know what they are doing.
There is nothing exciting about it, and that is entirely the point.
Distance: About 3 minutes on foot. Price: From around $100 per night, though concert nights push prices up fast. Best for: Anyone who wants the shortest possible walk back to their room and no surprises.
Best Hotels Near MSG for Families
Family-Friendly Picks
MSG is a fine venue for families with older kids and teenagers, and the Midtown area around it is very manageable with children. Here is the honest breakdown.
The Holiday Inn Express Chelsea is the best all-around family pick. The breakfasts are solid, the rooms are clean and consistent, the staff are reliable, and the location is close to Penn Station for easy subway access all over the city. Kids eat free at breakfast at many IHG properties, so check the details when you book.
The New Yorker Hotel is worth considering for families who want more space and a memorable experience. The building itself is interesting enough that kids pay attention to it, and the location is as central as you get. Ask about connecting rooms when you book.
Staypineapple has connecting room options and free bikes, which older kids love. It is a more interesting base for a family that plans to explore the city beyond just the concert.
Tips for Families Coming to MSG
The arena itself is well-suited for older children and teenagers. For younger kids, check the event recommendations before you book. MSG has good food inside and the concession lines move reasonably well, though prices are as New York as everything else.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before doors open to avoid the worst of the entry lines. And if you are flying in, arriving the day before makes everything less rushed and more enjoyable.
Where to Eat After a Concert at MSG
Food Inside and Around the Arena
Inside MSG itself, concessions include Fuku fried chicken, TopDog hot dogs, and a range of standard arena food.
The quality is better than you might expect. If you want to eat after the show without going anywhere, the Tick Tock Diner at 481 8th Avenue, right across from Penn Station, is open around the clock and serves a menu the size of a small novel. Classic American diner food, big portions, very reasonable prices for the location.
Restaurants and Bars Nearby
Koreatown on 32nd Street, one block south of MSG, is the best late-night eating option in the area by some distance.
Several restaurants stay open until 2 or 3am. BCD Tofu House is open 24 hours and serves a spicy soft tofu stew that is exactly what you want at midnight after a show. All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ spots on the same block are perfect for groups.
Nick and Stef’s Steakhouse is right next to MSG and known as one of the better steakhouses in Midtown if you want a proper sit-down dinner before or after.
Tara Mor, an Irish bar steps from the Garden, keeps the kitchen open late every night of the week. Jessica swears by their Guinness.
The RagTrader in the Garment District is a solid cocktail bar in a former garment factory for anyone who wants a bit of atmosphere with their post-concert drink.
For late-night pizza, there are several spots within a few blocks. Koreatown’s 32nd Street area also has a well-regarded slice spot open until midnight.
What You Should Know Before You Book
Concert Night Prices
Hotel prices near MSG move fast when a big name announces a date. For Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, or Harry Styles, rooms within walking distance can double in price within hours of the announcement.
The only reliable way around this is to book the same day you buy your ticket. Even paying a higher rate early will cost less than the same room booked a week later.
Subway and Transport After the Show
Penn Station is right below MSG, which means the subway is genuinely convenient after a show. The 1, 2, 3, A, C, and E lines are all there. Unlike some arenas where you have to hike to a transit connection, here you walk down the stairs and you are at the platform.
That said, the subway still gets crowded after sold-out shows. If your hotel is within 10 minutes on foot, walking is often faster than waiting on the platform.
Parking
If you drove in, SpotHero and ParkWhiz let you book garages in advance. That is the only sensible way to park near MSG. Without a reservation on a concert night, you will spend 20 minutes looking and pay more than you would have online.
A Word on Room Size
This is a general New York reality rather than a MSG-specific one, but rooms in Midtown are small.
Even at the luxury end, some guests mention this. If space matters to you, specifically ask about room size or suite options when booking. The Renaissance and the New Yorker both have larger room options worth asking about.
My Honest Hotel Picks
If I am flying to New York specifically for a concert and want the whole trip to be easy from arrival to checkout, I am staying at the Renaissance New York Midtown.
Two minutes from the Garden, a rooftop bar for after the show, and enough character in the design to actually enjoy being there.
If I am traveling with my husband and we want something with more history and a better price, The New Yorker is the one. That building at night, lit up on 34th Street, is the kind of thing you take a photo of and realize you are actually in New York.
And if I am going with a group of friends and the budget matters more than the room, Staypineapple gives you a boutique experience, free bikes, and a price that leaves money for the night out.
MSG is the most famous arena in the world for a reason. Stay close, skip the chaos, and make it a proper trip.
All information in this article has been verified and is current. Prices listed are starting rates and will increase significantly around major events. Always check current availability and pricing on Booking.com or directly with the hotel before you book.
