15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

To crib from Walt Whitman, that famous Brooklynite, New York contains multitudes — and there’s a kid-friendly city hiding right here in the concrete jungle.

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

Just walking the streets, whether it's Broadway or Bleecker, East 9th or West 79th, invokes a sense of discovery that makes it an exciting place for everyone, at every age.

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

A family trip can include famous landmarks and museums, but also range across the city to new playgrounds and public parks along the waterfront and surprising green spaces that will delight visitors.

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

Car-free areas in some of the city's busiest parts mean more street life and more child-friendly walking, and of course, New York has some of the country’s best pizza, burgers, bagels, and ice cream — a substantial part of most kids’ dream diet. Here, the best things to do in New York with kids.

Luna Park

A bit of a trek for those staying in midtown Manhattan, New York City's very own amusement park is a 45 minute train ride to the end of the line. But a day trip to Coney Island is a blast, especially in summer; grab a Nathan’s hot dog on Surf Avenue or fried clams on the boardwalk before getting your thrills on the rides.

Luna Park

Older kids will make a beeline for the Cyclone, the historic wooden roller coaster that has been scaring the bejeezus out of children for more than 90 years. Smaller kids will love the carousel, the swings on Lynn's Trapeze, and the Wild River log flume.

Eloise in The Palm Court

Afternoon tea under the greenery and domed glass ceiling of The Plaza's elegant Palm Court will likely impress your mini Eloise (12 and under only) into better behavior. Everything here is about the precocious children's book character; even the pink-rimmed teacups and teapot are decorated with her image.

Eloise in The Palm Court

The tea tower is the highlight, with classic finger sandwiches like English cucumber, with PB&J to please smaller palates. Sweets include caramel cupcakes, passionfruit s'mores, and a puff of pink cotton candy.

Ellis Island

Crowds board the ferries that sail from Castle Clinton in Manhattan’s Battery Park to Liberty and Ellis Islands, which together make up the Statue of Liberty National Monument in Upper New York Bay.

Ellis Island

The iconic lady, lifting her lamp beside the golden door, is the best introduction one could have to the island where many Americans’ immigrant ancestors arrived.

Ellis Island

The massive red-brick building opened in 1900 and 12 million immigrants passed through its halls before the island closed in 1954. Today, there are nearly 100 million people descended from those immigrants, and a visit really brings their story to life.

New York Transit Museum

The New York Transit Museum, a small museum near Brooklyn's Borough Hall, is in a former subway station; to enter you have to descend from the sidewalk, just as you would if you were on your daily commute.

New York Transit Museum

It's the perfect spot to spend an hour with kids, who will love running in and out of the cars of a vintage subway train, clambering up into the driver’s seat of a city bus, or pushing their way through a turnstile.

New York Transit Museum

The place covers more than a century of New York mass transit history, which will even bring native New Yorkers back to a time when the subway was a more beloved part of life in the city than it is today. Stock up on souvenirs for the NYC-obsessed.

New York Transit Museum

From vintage transit token necklaces to Metrocard mugs and baseball caps with your favorite train line embroidered on them, there's something for everyone. If you want a souvenir but can't make it out to Brooklyn, they also have a shop location in Grand Central Terminal.

Gulliver's Gate

Children love miniatures, from dollhouse furniture to train sets to Legoland. And that's what Gulliver’s Gate in Times Square in each of its 50,000 square feet.

Gulliver's Gate

It will capture younger visitors imaginations—and yours—from the start with its Lilliputian cityscapes in marvelous, painstaking detail, from the intricately painted ceiling of Grand Central Station to the 0.8-inch high models of real visitors.

Gulliver's Gate

The streets are filled with tiny figures mid-action and cars that move, but it’s the surprises that are super-fun to spot, including Spiderman about to leap from the Brooklyn Bridge. Down at the gift shop you can even get miniatures of you and your family.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a familiar figure to kids from an early age, so getting to see the real thing up close will thrill even the tweens and teens in your life.

Statue of Liberty

Climbing up to the crown of Lady Liberty is an adventure for the whole family, but you do have to be at least 48 inches tall (and the park rangers check) to ascend the 146 steps of the narrow spiral staircase from the pedestal.

Statue of Liberty

Be sure to book tickets at least three or four months in advance though, because they do sell out. If that climb isn't in your future, the 16-foot high original torch with its amber glass panes is now on display in the new Statue of Liberty Museum that opened in 2019.

Statue of Liberty

Besides the torch, the museum has floor to ceiling views of the Stature herself and the rest of Liberty Island and the accessible roof deck has panoramic views across the harbor and of the city skyline.

FAO Schwarz

After nearly 80 years on Fifth Avenue, the famous toy store closed in 2015, but was brought back to life just a few years later in Rockefeller Center.

FAO Schwarz

Kids flocked to the flagship to gaze up at the 28-foot tall clock tower and marvel at the toy soldiers in their bright uniforms; in the '80s and '90s, little ones came in droves to dance on the giant piano, just as Tom Hanks did in that famous scene in "Big." Well the piano is back, as is all the rest

Domino Park

Domino Park is a five-acre oasis on the edge of the always-hip neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hipsters flock to it on weekends for fish tacos and great views; local families head straight to the playground.

Domino Park

Those who love the feel of Williamsburg will love this as a vibrant addition to the scene. The park is only a quarter-mile long, making it easy to navigate—all the major features are easy to spot from the entrance.

American Museum of Natural History

The museum has 150 years of history and scientific discovery to draw upon and wows kids every day with its terrific 3D experiences, tech-driven exhibits, and of course, its towering T-Rex skeleton and massive blue whale model (longer than a school bus!) hanging in the Hall of Ocean Life.

American Museum of Natural History

For a hands-on experience, visit The Discovery Room (for ages 5-12) to put a dinosaur skeleton together, pull out drawers of specimens, and use a digital seismograph to track earthquakes. Of course, the most memorable experience of all for the entire family is spending the night here.

American Museum of Natural History

Book “A Night at the Museum” sleepover (check the museum website for dates from May to October) and you can explore the exhibits and halls after hours before bedding down on a cot under the blue whale. Remember to bring a sleeping bag and a flashlight!

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building may be the most recognizable building in the United States. The 102-story skyscraper was the tallest building in the world for 40 years and even though it's been surpassed by dozens of projects on three continents, it remains a New York icon.

Empire State Building

With more than 4 million visitors a year, there are always long lines to buy tickets, so it’s best to purchase in advance online or go for a VIP Express pass. Even though it's double the price, you'll get to skip all the lines.

Jane's Carousel

There can’t be many other carousels with better views than Jane's, which sits between the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge in Empire-Fulton Ferry Park. Every revolution gives you thrilling snapshots of lower Manhattan, the bridges spanning the river, and the old brick DUMBO warehouses.

Jane's Carousel

Built in 1922, the 48-horse wooden carousel is an example of a successful private-public partnership; collectors Jane and David Walentas bought and restored the carousel, donated it to Brooklyn Bridge Park, and commissioned architect Jean Nouvel to build a square plexiglass box to house it.

Bronx Zoo

The little animals in your family will love spending the day at the largest urban zoo in the country. At 265 acres, it’s best to choose the attractions the family will want to see and plan accordingly — you can even rent single or double strollers for when short legs tire out.

Bronx Zoo

Plan on getting there when it opens or check the zoo website for special pre-opening programs such as breakfast with penguins or big cats. Speaking of food, everyone can feed the mini Nubian goats, donkeys, and sheep at the Children’s Zoo farmyard.

Bronx Zoo

Note that the only way to see some of the most popular animals—the Asian elephants, rhinos, and red pandas—is on the Wild Asia Monorail, a 20-minute ride (open seasonally). And for something to tire out older kids, there's an aerial ropes course and a 400-foot zip line over the Bronx River.

Serendipity 3

Serendipity 3, an Upper East Side restaurant-cum-soda fountain with marble-topped tables and Tiffany-style lamps, hasn’t changed all that much since it opened in 1954. You'll find everything from meatloaf to hamburgers, but it's the desserts that made the place famous.

Serendipity 3

Share an elaborate, oversized sundae, a banana split, or the famed frozen hot chocolate or mochaccino. It's the perfect way to give the kiddos a Willy Wonka–style treat in summer after a few hours of sightseeing.

Governors Island

Head for The Hills! That's actually the name of the new 30-acre park on this public island in New York Bay. With scrambles up to 70 feet high—built to protect the island from rising sea levels and climate change—there’s plenty to occupy little adventurers.

Governors Island

They won’t be able to resist Slide Hill’s four chutes, including the longest slide in the city at 57 feet. But the island is a playground for the whole family.

Governors Island

After hopping off the ferry, rent bikes to see the island on two wheels, tour the 200-year-old Castle Williams or give them the freedom to follow their imagination at The Yard, a 50,000 sq.-foot adventure playground stocked with bits of lumber, old wheels, and random parts.

Governors Island

There's also an outpost of Manhattan’s Children Museum of the Arts that lets kids make art in a hands-on, outdoor workshop and new family-friendly cultural events going on every week.

Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum

The Intrepid is a floating museum: a WWII aircraft carrier with a storied naval career home to some of the most famous air and spacecraft in the world, plus exciting experiences and exhibits that will thrill your young history and aviation buffs.

Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum

The Intrepid served in WWII, Vietnam and throughout the Cold War era; after it was decommissioned, it was installed at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. For four months after 9/11, the vessel served as the FBI’s field office. Today it's a National Historic Landmark.

View more

01.

02.

03.

10 Ways to Have a Fabulous Family Vacation

10 Sure Signs Your Child Is Being Bullied

9 Tricks to Keep Your Toddler Busy

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

Read more

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

To crib from Walt Whitman, that famous Brooklynite, New York contains multitudes — and there’s a kid-friendly city hiding right here in the concrete jungle.

Read more

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

Just walking the streets, whether it's Broadway or Bleecker, East 9th or West 79th, invokes a sense of discovery that makes it an exciting place for everyone, at every age.

Read more

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

A family trip can include famous landmarks and museums, but also range across the city to new playgrounds and public parks along the waterfront and surprising green spaces that will delight visitors.

Read more

15 Best Things to Do With Kids in New York City

Read more

Luna Park

Read more

Luna Park

Older kids will make a beeline for the Cyclone, the historic wooden roller coaster that has been scaring the bejeezus out of children for more than 90 years. Smaller kids will love the carousel, the swings on Lynn's Trapeze, and the Wild River log flume.

Read more

Eloise in The Palm Court

Read more

Eloise in The Palm Court

The tea tower is the highlight, with classic finger sandwiches like English cucumber, with PB&J to please smaller palates. Sweets include caramel cupcakes, passionfruit s'mores, and a puff of pink cotton candy.

Read more

Ellis Island

Crowds board the ferries that sail from Castle Clinton in Manhattan’s Battery Park to Liberty and Ellis Islands, which together make up the Statue of Liberty National Monument in Upper New York Bay.

Read more

Ellis Island

The iconic lady, lifting her lamp beside the golden door, is the best introduction one could have to the island where many Americans’ immigrant ancestors arrived.

Read more

Ellis Island

The massive red-brick building opened in 1900 and 12 million immigrants passed through its halls before the island closed in 1954. Today, there are nearly 100 million people descended from those immigrants, and a visit really brings their story to life.

Read more

New York Transit Museum

The New York Transit Museum, a small museum near Brooklyn's Borough Hall, is in a former subway station; to enter you have to descend from the sidewalk, just as you would if you were on your daily commute.

Read more

New York Transit Museum

It's the perfect spot to spend an hour with kids, who will love running in and out of the cars of a vintage subway train, clambering up into the driver’s seat of a city bus, or pushing their way through a turnstile.

Read more

New York Transit Museum

The place covers more than a century of New York mass transit history, which will even bring native New Yorkers back to a time when the subway was a more beloved part of life in the city than it is today. Stock up on souvenirs for the NYC-obsessed.

Read more

New York Transit Museum

From vintage transit token necklaces to Metrocard mugs and baseball caps with your favorite train line embroidered on them, there's something for everyone. If you want a souvenir but can't make it out to Brooklyn, they also have a shop location in Grand Central Terminal.

Read more

Gulliver's Gate

Children love miniatures, from dollhouse furniture to train sets to Legoland. And that's what Gulliver’s Gate in Times Square in each of its 50,000 square feet.

Read more

Gulliver's Gate

It will capture younger visitors imaginations—and yours—from the start with its Lilliputian cityscapes in marvelous, painstaking detail, from the intricately painted ceiling of Grand Central Station to the 0.8-inch high models of real visitors.

Read more

Gulliver's Gate

The streets are filled with tiny figures mid-action and cars that move, but it’s the surprises that are super-fun to spot, including Spiderman about to leap from the Brooklyn Bridge. Down at the gift shop you can even get miniatures of you and your family.

Read more

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is a familiar figure to kids from an early age, so getting to see the real thing up close will thrill even the tweens and teens in your life.

Read more

Statue of Liberty

Climbing up to the crown of Lady Liberty is an adventure for the whole family, but you do have to be at least 48 inches tall (and the park rangers check) to ascend the 146 steps of the narrow spiral staircase from the pedestal.

Read more

Statue of Liberty

Be sure to book tickets at least three or four months in advance though, because they do sell out. If that climb isn't in your future, the 16-foot high original torch with its amber glass panes is now on display in the new Statue of Liberty Museum that opened in 2019.

Read more

Statue of Liberty

Besides the torch, the museum has floor to ceiling views of the Stature herself and the rest of Liberty Island and the accessible roof deck has panoramic views across the harbor and of the city skyline.

Read more

FAO Schwarz

After nearly 80 years on Fifth Avenue, the famous toy store closed in 2015, but was brought back to life just a few years later in Rockefeller Center.

Read more

FAO Schwarz

Read more

Domino Park

Domino Park is a five-acre oasis on the edge of the always-hip neighborhood of Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Hipsters flock to it on weekends for fish tacos and great views; local families head straight to the playground.

Read more

Domino Park

Those who love the feel of Williamsburg will love this as a vibrant addition to the scene. The park is only a quarter-mile long, making it easy to navigate—all the major features are easy to spot from the entrance.

Read more

American Museum of Natural History

The museum has 150 years of history and scientific discovery to draw upon and wows kids every day with its terrific 3D experiences, tech-driven exhibits, and of course, its towering T-Rex skeleton and massive blue whale model (longer than a school bus!) hanging in the Hall of Ocean Life.

Read more

American Museum of Natural History