If you’re sitting in Times Square celebrating New Year’s Eve with lots of other people, you might find yourself in a tricky situation: Where do you use the restroom?

There are famously no port-a-potties in Times Square, and with an estimated one million people expected to watch the ball drop on December 31, hotels and restaurants are likely to turn away revelers.

Why it matters

With no access to public restrooms for hours, some visitors are forced to wear diapers and other portable toilets while celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square.

Most hotels and restaurants in the area do not allow public access to restrooms. Another – albeit potentially dangerous – approach taken by some participants is to avoid drinking liquids throughout the event to avoid having to use the toilet.

But no matter which choice you make, if a person leaves the viewing area, they do not get their seat back.

It’s best to go to the bathroom before you head out for the festivities.

Are there public restrooms in Times Square?

There are no public toilets in Times Square. There are also no portable toilets.

Where are the restrooms near Times Square?

There are restaurants and hotels in and near Times Square that have bathrooms. However, there is no guarantee that the establishments will allow the public to use them without first being a guest or purchasing something.

When should I show up for the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square?

To see the ball drop in person, get there early. From midday onwards, people gather and the streets fill up quickly. However, once you’re inside, you can’t leave.

Popular NYC Bathroom Finder Apps

The NYC Bathroom app helps users find public restrooms in Manhattan, as does GOT2GONYC. There is also an official guide to public restrooms in the city on the Parks Department website.

What you should know

The ball will drop from Times Square for the 115th time at midnight on December 31st. The televised festivities officially begin at 6:00 p.m., with the ball drop beginning at 11:59 p.m. EST.

Over 1 million people from around the world are expected to attend the annual ball drop celebration in New York’s Times Square. The tradition has been held annually since December 31, 1907, with the exception of 1942 and 1943 due to World War II.

The event was initially organized by the owner from The New York TimesAdolph Ochs. Before the first ball was dropped, Ochs organized a fireworks display on New Year’s Eve.

In addition to the lack of portable toilets, people can’t bring umbrellas to Times Square even though rain is in the forecast. Visitors are also prohibited from bringing alcohol with them.

If being in a crowd and not having a bathroom doesn’t sound pleasant, you can watch it on the NBC New York app and the ABC app. It is also viewable on Roku, Peacock, Xumo Play, Samsung TV Plus, Amazon Fire Live TV, Google TV, CNN Max and Local Now.

What people say

@BobCarriesOn on X: “Traveling today. “December 31, 1907. The ball is held for the first time on New Year’s Eve in Times Square and becomes an international symbol of the need for large public gatherings to provide public toilets.”

The Times Square Alliance on their website: “As the famous New Year’s Eve Ball takes place at One Times Square, countless people across the country and around the world observe New Year’s Eve at Times Square, united in saying goodbye to the past year and expressing joy and hope for the year to come. We can’t wait to see you at Times Square New Year’s Eve 2025 this December!”

What happens next

The ball will be dropped at midnight, marking the New Year as people in Times Square and around the world celebrate the start of 2025.