At first glance, New York with kids might sound like a recipe for chaos — a loud concrete jungle reserved for grown-ups. But beneath the surface, the city hides an enormous playground. Instead of endless shopping and parties, your very first day might begin with a 25-metre Barosaurus skeleton towering in a museum lobby, a model blue whale floating beneath a ceiling, and cheeky penguins being fed just a stone’s throw from the skyscrapers. The city adapts to a child’s imagination far better than the photos full of yellow taxis would suggest.
The city of skyscrapers works surprisingly well for families, once you know exactly where to head. Green Central Park serves as endless space for burning off energy, world-class local museums design their exhibits to be as interactive as possible, and the ancient wooden roller coasters on Coney Island reliably entertain even bored teenagers. You’ll find that the fear of the big city melts away the moment you stumble upon a clean playground with water features, or when the whole family sits down on a bench with a fresh bagel in hand.
In the paragraphs below, you’ll discover where to find the best museums, how to outsmart the unpredictable subway with a pushchair, and where to eat when it’s half past five and the kids are teetering on the edge of a meltdown. Every neighbourhood offers specific anchor points that help you survive a family holiday without unnecessary stress and last-minute toilet hunts.
TL;DR
- The best museum for dinosaur and space lovers is the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) on the Upper West Side.
- The biggest space for running around and water play is Heckscher Playground, right in Central Park.
- For the ocean, the beach and historic fairground rides, hop on the subway to Coney Island.
- You can photograph the Statue of Liberty for free from the deck of the Staten Island Ferry.
- Interactive fun for older kids is guaranteed at the Spyscape spy museum in Midtown.
- Grab a proper New York slice for $4 at Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village.
- For a viewpoint with an adrenaline kick on a glass floor, head to The Edge in Hudson Yards.
The Best Museums for Kids in New York
Local exhibits differ from traditional European collections in their absolute focus on experience and touch. Here, young visitors can touch, press or try out almost everything for themselves.
American Museum of Natural History (AMNH)
The Natural History Museum occupies a huge complex of buildings on the Upper West Side at 79th Street. Kids usually fall silent right at the entrance, where a 25-metre Barosaurus skeleton rears up over the ticket desks, defending its young from an Allosaurus. On the fourth floor, dozens more dinosaur models await, arranged into dynamic scenes.
The Ocean Life hall offers a magical experience thanks to a giant model blue whale, 28 metres long, suspended straight from the ceiling. You can lie down on the carpet here and watch the underwater world from below. The Hayden Planetarium is also worth a visit, where spherical projections of the cosmos reliably amaze the whole family.
Basic admission for an adult is $37, while a child aged 2 to 12 pays $27. Booking timed tickets online is a must these days — they often sell out on site. 💡 Tip: arrive at 10 a.m. to avoid the queue and have the dinosaurs almost to yourselves. Bear in mind the visit takes at least half a day, but you could easily spend a whole day here. Find more information at amnh.org.
Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)
A few streets further north on 83rd Street, you’ll find a paradise for the smallest travellers up to age ten. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan specialises in very hands-on exhibits where kids can safely get dirty, wet and let off steam. Each floor has its own theme, focusing on water, art or media literacy.
Temporary exhibitions change every 6 months, so the space always offers fresh stimulation. It works brilliantly as a back-up plan for a rainy day, or as a calmer counterpoint after an exhausting visit to the enormous AMNH. Kids get a break from walking and put their hands to work.
Admission is $17 for all visitors, with only children under one year getting in free. Pushchairs must be left in the cloakroom on the ground floor — you explore the museum on foot or in arms. Check exhibition details at cmom.org.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
On the western edge of Manhattan in the Hell’s Kitchen neighbourhood, an enormous decommissioned aircraft carrier is moored at Pier 86. The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum fascinates fans of engineering at first sight. On the flight deck stand 30 historic and modern aircraft, including fast fighter jets and helicopters.
A separate air-conditioned pavilion at the end of the deck houses the real Space Shuttle Enterprise. You can also explore the cramped interior of the submarine Growler, moored right beside the main ship. 💡 Tip: head to the Enterprise pavilion first, then walk the deck with the aircraft. If you do it the other way round, the kids often run out of steam before reaching the spacecraft at the end.
An adult ticket costs $36, a child aged 5 to 12 pays $26. The deck gets very hot in summer, so pack plenty of water and sunscreen. Buy tickets through intrepidmuseum.org.
Spyscape — the Spy Museum
A modern building in Midtown West on 55th Street hides a technology museum aimed at older kids from age eight. Younger siblings usually get bored here, as the exhibits require reading and solving logic puzzles. Spyscape works more like an interactive game than a classic behind-glass exhibition.
Every visitor gets an electronic wristband and works through a series of spy-skill tests. Kids love crawling through rooms full of green laser beams against the clock, cracking encrypted codes and testing their nerve during a simulated interrogation. At the end of the tour, the system evaluates your personal spy profile and reveals which role in the secret service would suit you best.
This experience is one of the pricier ones, with an adult ticket at $47 and a child’s at $37. Room capacity is strictly limited, so book your slot online well in advance at spyscape.com.
Central Park and Trips into Nature
The city’s green lungs aren’t just for quiet strolls. Central Park behaves like the world’s biggest playground, safely tucked away amid a wall of towering skyscrapers.
Central Park: Zoo, Carousel, Boats and Skating
The largest and best-equipped playground in the park is called Heckscher Playground. You’ll find a separate corner for toddlers, tall climbing frames for older children, and in summer the staff switch on the popular water features. Central Park Zoo lies right next door and offers a very compact area you can walk through in two hours. You’ll see penguins, polar bears and playful sea lions. Adults pay $14, a child’s ticket costs $9.
A short walk from the zoo near 65th Street, the historic Victorian Carousel spins. Wooden horses have carried children to traditional melodies for decades, and one ride costs $3. If you want a break from walking, head to the Loeb Boathouse. Renting a rowing boat on The Lake costs $20 an hour and gives you a lovely view of the skyscrapers reflected on the water. Children from age 4 manage the ride without any trouble.
In the winter months, the park comes alive at the Wollman Rink. Skating with a view of the illuminated city skyline has a magical atmosphere. Entry ranges from $12 to $20 depending on the day of the week, so set aside extra money for skate hire too.
Coney Island — Beach, Luna Park and Aquarium
The subway ride from Manhattan takes about 50 minutes on the D or Q line, but it delivers you into a completely different world. Coney Island combines a wide sandy beach, a wooden boardwalk and loud entertainment all in one package. Entry to the Luna Park area is free — you only pay for individual rides by topping up a credit card at a local machine.
Older, braver kids from age 7 usually head straight for the legendary wooden roller coaster Cyclone from 1927. The whole family will then enjoy a ride on the giant Wonder Wheel ferris wheel with ocean views. Right beside the boardwalk sits the New York Aquarium, where sharks, walruses and dolphins swim in enormous tanks. An adult ticket costs $24, while for a child aged 3 to 12 set aside $20.
Brighton Beach and Coney Island Beach itself are free to access. In the summer months they fill up with locals and offer a more authentic experience than the strictly touristy parts of the city. 💡 Tip: try coming on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Weekends tend to be packed to bursting on the boardwalk.
Bronx Zoo
The largest urban zoo in the United States spreads across 107 hectares in the northern part of the city. The sprawling enclosures simulate the animals’ natural habitat far better than the concrete pens you’ll find in other zoos. The Bengal Express monorail is an excellent way to get around the huge grounds, slowly passing right by the elephants and tigers. The ride costs an extra $7.
In summer, the popular butterfly garden opens, where colourful butterflies land right on children’s shoulders. Standard admission is $41 for an adult and $31 for a child. On Wednesday afternoons there’s a pay-what-you-wish donation system, but be prepared for enormous crowds.
Set off first thing in the morning. The animals are most active in the morning hours and usually sleep, hidden in the shade, in the afternoon. Find a map of the grounds and current feeding times at bronxzoo.com.
Experiences the Whole Family Will Love
The Edge observation deck in the modern Hudson Yards neighbourhood takes the view of the city to a whole new level. It offers a triangular terrace with a glass floor, beneath which yawns a 36-storey drop. For brave kids from age 5, looking down at the miniature yellow cars below is a fantastic experience. Entry costs $38 for an adult. If you’re after a calmer alternative without glass drop-aways, choose Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, which gives you the best view straight over Central Park.
A ride on the orange Staten Island Ferry is one of the city’s most popular free attractions. The ferry departs every 30 minutes from Whitehall Terminal, sails across the bay and passes the Statue of Liberty at the perfect distance for photos from the deck. The crossing takes about half an hour each way. If you long to see the statue up close and step onto its base, or even into the crown, you’ll need to buy a paid reservation well in advance through the official website ferry.nps.gov.
The walk across Brooklyn Bridge measures 1.1 kilometres and runs along an elevated pedestrian walkway, safely separated from the cars. The Gothic stone arches and interwoven steel cables create the perfect backdrop. Set off around eight in the morning from Brooklyn towards Manhattan. Most tourists choose the opposite direction and get up later, so you’ll have the wide promenade almost to yourselves. After an early-morning walk, treat yourself to a well-deserved breakfast in the Dumbo neighbourhood, right beneath the bridge.
The former elevated railway line, the High Line, has been transformed into a 2.3-kilometre aerial park full of greenery, floating above the streets of Chelsea. The route ends near the Hudson River, where Little Island lies. This artificial island, built on giant concrete piles shaped like tulips, hides undulating playgrounds for kids, grassy hills and beautiful water views. Visiting both parks won’t cost you a dollar.
Broadway musicals like The Lion King or Aladdin can hold children’s attention even without perfect English. The stunning animal costumes, catchy music and lighting effects speak a universal language. The shows suit children from age 5 — toddlers don’t belong in the theatre. Buy tickets at least 2 months ahead through portals like broadwaybox.com. A cheaper option is the red TKTS booth on Times Square, where you can pick up tickets at 50% off on the day of the show, but you’ll have to queue for a while.
Two modern interactive museums aim primarily at the visual experience and family photos. The Color Factory in Soho offers rooms full of vibrant colours and installations you can catch, squeeze, climb on or crawl through. The Sloomoo Institute in Midtown works as the largest slime centre in the world. Kids wade through slime here and make their own stretchy goo exactly to their liking. Entry to both costs around $45 and requires a timed online booking.
Times Square for Kids
The glowing crossroads of the world acts as a giant magnet for kids’ attention. The M&M’s World store at 1600 Broadway takes up three whole floors and smells of chocolate from the moment you step in. Inside you’ll find a gigantic wall of colourful sweets in tubes, where kids eagerly dispense their own mix into bags and pose with giant sweet mascots. Right opposite shines Hershey’s Chocolate World, packed with American treats. Be warned: a twenty-dollar note won’t last long in your pocket here.
A few blocks away, a large Disney Store awaits with interactive screens and a fairy-tale tower in the middle of the shop. The rival LEGO Store draws crowds with detailed models of New York buildings, built from thousands of bricks right in the window. Inside, the popular pick-a-brick wall and building stations let kids try assembling their own creations.
The legendary FAO Schwarz toy shop isn’t actually on Times Square, but in nearby Rockefeller Center — yet this detour is well worth it. At the entrance you’re greeted by living guards in toy-soldier uniforms, and inside awaits a giant piano drawn on the floor. Kids and adults alike jump across the keys, playing melodies with their feet just like Tom Hanks in the famous film Big.
One honest warning. Times Square is an extreme sensory overload, full of flashing neon, loud music, street performers and enormous crowds. With small children, head here early in the morning, when the crossroads is surprisingly empty, or alternatively in the evening around nine o’clock, when you’ll enjoy the neon show without the worst of the afternoon crowds.
Where to Eat with Kids
A classic New York slice solves most family hunger crises. Joe’s Pizza on W 4th Street in Greenwich Village has been baking thin cheese slices since 1975. Two huge pieces with crispy crusts reliably fill up any diner. The queue outside the little shop often snakes around the corner, but it moves very quickly. One hot slice costs roughly $4 and you eat it standing up or on a bench outside.
For morning energy, nothing beats a proper, hearty New York bagel with a thick layer of cream cheese. I love a fresh veggie bagel at spots like Ess-a-Bagel or Russ & Daughters Cafe. It’s an ideal fresh, vegetarian choice for a quick breakfast. For fish lovers, these shops also offer traditional versions with smoked salmon and capers, which are part of the local cultural heritage.
You’ll find the fast-food chain Shake Shack in many spots across New York. Local burger joints are legendary here and make great beef patties, but I personally always go for their excellent vegetarian ShackBurger. Crinkle-cut cheese fries and a thick vanilla milkshake are an absolute must for the kids. Be prepared to queue for around 20 minutes at the popular locations.
When the family can’t agree on a single meal, Eataly in the Flatiron neighbourhood at 200 5th Avenue comes to the rescue. This enormous Italian market and food court offers specialist counters scattered throughout the hall. You’ll find a standalone pizzeria, a pasta bar and a counter with fresh mozzarella. For vegetarians it’s an absolute paradise full of fragrant tomatoes and basil — and for fussy kids who eat only plain pasta or margherita pizza, too. Prices match a classic restaurant, with mains running $18 to $28.
Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District sits in the former Nabisco biscuit factory. The long industrial hall now hides dozens of small food stalls. Personally, I head for Los Tacos No. 1 for outstanding tacos with guacamole or grilled corn elotes. Meat lovers, on the other hand, stop at the Dickson’s Farmstand Meats counters for fresh sandwiches. To finish, don’t miss the creamy ice cream at The Creamline.
💡 Tip: If you’re after a quick breakfast, a light snack or a cheaper dinner, the Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s supermarkets work brilliantly. They have huge counters of ready meals, fresh fruit and salads. The food comes out far cheaper than a restaurant, you can easily buy healthy items, and the vegetarian selection is always well stocked.
Practical Tips for Travelling with Kids
Riding the subway with a pushchair takes nerves of steel and good planning. The MTA system has lifts in only about 25 percent of stations, and even those are unfortunately often broken or grubby. With a heavy off-road pram, New York ranks among the harder cities to get around. The best solution is a lightweight folding travel pushchair like the Yoyo or Babyzen, which you can scoop up in one hand along with your child and carry down the stairs if needed. For children up to 15 kilograms, an ergonomic baby carrier proved excellent in the cramped subway spaces.
💡 Tip: The official site accessibility.mta.info shows a live map of working lifts. Always check the status of your destination station in the morning before you set off — the situation changes every day.
Distances on the map are deceiving. Crossing 10 short blocks takes 15 to 20 minutes of brisk walking on foot; with small children, allow half an hour. Plan at most one big activity or museum for the morning. Leave the afternoon free for a park or a rest. For getting around with exhausted children, the Uber and Lyft apps work brilliantly. Choose the UberXL option to stow a pushchair, or order Lyft with Car Seat directly if you need a car seat.
Accessible toilets are probably the biggest problem for families in the city. When you’ve got a hopping three-year-old beside you, you’ll discover that public loos are few and far between. The most reliable spots are museums, Starbucks cafés, McDonald’s branches and large department stores like Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s. One exception is the lovely Bryant Park, which runs clean and safe public toilets right by the lawn.
The ideal conditions for a visit are in spring, between April and June, or in autumn during September and October. The temperatures are perfect for a full day of walking and the parks play with colour. The summer months tend to be hot, humid and crowded with tourists in the concrete streets. Winter and December bring a beautiful atmosphere thanks to the giant Christmas decorations, but the icy wind off the ocean makes moving around with small children a tough discipline.
Healthcare in the United States reaches extreme prices, and a trivial examination can wreck a family budget. A routine emergency treatment for a child in hospital, with a prescription for antibiotics, can easily cost $3,000 to $10,000. Travel insurance with a medical cover limit of at least $100,000 is an absolute necessity, not an optional luxury. We recommend SafetyWing travel insurance, which covers families heading to the USA.
💡 Tip: Quality insurance for a whole family with children for a 10-day stay costs roughly £50 to £120. That’s a negligible fraction of what you’d pay without it for a single trip to a local doctor.
Tips and Experiences from Families
- Don’t over-plan your day. One big museum in the morning and a park visit in the afternoon make for an ideal, sustainable rhythm.
- Central Park works like a magic button for burning off pent-up energy every time emotions start to escalate.
- A lightweight folding pushchair or a baby carrier means a subway ride without needless stress at broken lifts.
- A plain pizza slice or a bagel with cream cheese saves the day and tastes good even to very fussy eaters.
- A Broadway musical entertains kids from roughly age 5. Buy tickets 2 months ahead to secure a seat, or on the day of the show via the TKTS booth for a hefty discount.
For more tried-and-tested advice from families who have repeatedly explored New York’s streets with kids and tested dozens of local playgrounds, head to the community portal Mommy Poppins.
Where to Stay with Kids
The residential Upper West Side neighbourhood offers families the best starting conditions. The streets are lined with mature trees, a calmer atmosphere prevails, and you stay right by the enormous Central Park and the AMNH natural history museum. Local family hotels have more spacious rooms than the cramped accommodation in noisy Midtown, and you’ll find a bakery for a quick breakfast on every corner.
If you’re after a cheaper, more authentic experience, turn your attention to Brooklyn. Neighbourhoods like Park Slope or DUMBO retain a friendly, neighbourly feel full of cafés and children’s playgrounds. The subway reliably gets you to Manhattan in twenty minutes, but in the evening you return to quiet streets without flashing neon and wailing ambulances.
With kids, you’ll stay most comfortably in the quieter Upper West Side, right by Central Park and the natural history museum, or you can compare all accommodation in New York.
Where to Next
Get ready for your trip down to the last detail and explore our other tried-and-tested guides to America’s metropolis.
- 44 Things to See in New York: a complete guide to all the key attractions, from south to north.
- A 3, 5 or 7-Day New York Itinerary: detailed route planning to match the length of your stay.
- New York in 3 Days: what not to miss on a shorter trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to do in New York with kids?
The city offers dozens of great activities. Focus on interactive museums like AMNH, take advantage of the giant Heckscher Playground in Central Park, take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to the Statue of Liberty, and visit the beach with an amusement park at Coney Island.
Which museum is the best for kids in New York?
The greatest success is celebrated by the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) thanks to giant dinosaur skeletons and a blue whale model. For children up to 10 years old, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is excellent, while older children from 8 years old will appreciate the spy missions at the Spyscape museum.
Can you ride the subway in New York with a stroller?
Yes, but it requires preparation. Only about a quarter of stations have functioning elevators. Ideally, travel with a very light folding stroller that you can carry up stairs if needed, or use an ergonomic baby carrier for smaller children.
How many days in New York with kids?
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The ideal length for a family stay is between 5 and 7 days. This gives you time to keep a slower pace, alternate morning museum visits with afternoon relaxation in the parks, and avoid unnecessary exhaustion.
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Where to stay in New York with kids?
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The best family neighborhood is the Upper West Side in Manhattan. It offers quiet tree-lined streets, direct access to Central Park, and proximity to museums. A great and more affordable alternative is peaceful Brooklyn, for example the Park Slope or DUMBO neighborhoods.
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Is New York suitable for families?
Surprisingly, yes. It offers a huge number of safe and clean playgrounds, interactive exhibits, accessible public drinking fountains, and a wide selection of food that even picky eaters will enjoy. You just need to slow down the pace and adjust the program to match children’s energy levels.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
🚗 Car rental on the roadVerified rental cars in the United StatesSearch with the DiscoverCars comparison engine — it compares prices from dozens of local and international rental companies, and most bookings come with free cancellation.
Compare car prices in the United States →Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
