New York City has something for visitors of all ages – including the youngest ones.
This world capital is home to fascinating museums, inventive restaurants, and beautiful parks, which (with a little planning) kids can enjoy as much as adults. Read on for the best things to do in New York City with children.
Is New York City good for kids?
The city’s hustle and bustle can quickly tucker out children – and parents. Long city blocks can be exhausting for little limbs. Cozy cafes can be a tight squeeze for strollers. However, exploring Gotham with kids is a magical experience, allowing adults to see one of the world’s most famous places through new eyes. Here are a few ways to make your next New York City trip a family-friendly delight.
Best things to do in New York City with kids
American Museum of Natural History
You don’t have to be a science buff to enjoy the renowned American Museum of Natural History. From life-sized dinosaur skeletons, including a scary Tyrannosaurus rex, to the galaxy-spanning presentations of the Hayden Planetarium, this thrilling museum has enough to occupy families for days. Your kids will be especially impressed with the jaw-dropping, 94ft-long hanging blue whale made out of 21,000 pounds of foam and fiberglass.
New Victory Theater
Few visitors to New York City can resist its spectacular selection of Broadway shows, but kids don’t always have the stamina for two-hour-plus productions, and the outlay for tickets may not seem worth it if you end up in the lobby with a rambunctious child.
Luckily, there’s New Victory Theater. Located in the heart of Times Square, yet one of NYC’s best-kept secrets, this nonprofit venue produces shows geared exclusively toward kids and families. Each performance has a suggested target age, ranging from babies to older kids, making it easy for parents to plan. Once the house lights go down, spectators will be captivated by theatrical fare of the highest quality, which might include puppets, fairytales, magic shows, and more – all at an affordable price point. Sensory-friendly performances are often also available.
SeaGlass Carousel
One of the most mesmerizing attractions to hit the city in recent years, the SeaGlass Carousel is a vision of aquamarine, pink, and coral spinning under a spiral-domed pavilion. The fiberglass fish are best seen at night when a light show is projected against the walls, creating the feeling of being underwater. Kids can choose from a dozen types of fish to ride; instead of moving around a pole, the fish spin on turntables, adding to the ethereal experience.
Central Park
The 843-acre urban oasis of Central Park is New York’s most beloved (and most famous) green space. With well-maintained meadows for picnicking, beautiful paths for walking, and an unbelievable 21 playgrounds, the park tops most visitors’ lists.
Don’t miss stopping by Wollman Rink for ice skating in winter, and be sure to check for summer events like free concerts, scavenger hunts, and birdwatching tours. Young park-goers, in particular, will adore the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre, a fairytale-like cabin hosting astonishing puppet productions.
Coney Island
Taking the subway to Coney Island is a summer rite of passage for New Yorkers. Located on the last stop of the D, F, Q, and N subway lines in Brooklyn, this unique spot boasts two amusement parks along a glorious beachfront boardwalk. As you slowly rotate the 150ft-high Wonder Wheel and enjoy a Nathan’s hot dog, you’ll experience a bit of urban Americana. Older kids will enjoy riding the Cyclone, a wooden roller coaster that has thrilled since 1927, while younger kids will find excitement in the kiddie rides. Stay late on Friday nights for a weekly fireworks show.
Chinatown
There’s nothing more fun for the entire family than an afternoon in Manhattan’s Chinatown. Numerous attractions here keep everyone engaged, from family programs at the Museum of Chinese in America to the delightful flavors at the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory.
For a unique brunch experience, families should stop by Golden Unicorn, a spacious Cantonese dim-sum restaurant. Steaming carts whiz past tables as customers select from dumplings shaped like pigs, pork buns, sweet sesame balls, and more. Even picky eaters will find something to love here.
Recommended New York City neighborhoods for families
There are countless wonderful neighborhoods in New York, with almost unlimited options catering to all price points and interests. Visiting families often choose to stay on the Upper West Side, which offers easy access to restaurants, museums, and the glorious Central Park. At the other end of Manhattan, the area around South Street Seaport welcomes with historic streets and plenty of playgrounds. One unique area to stay is Brooklyn’s Dumbo, where cobblestone streets (with few cars) meet the East River under the shadows of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.
The eco-friendly 1 Hotel Brooklyn gives families the perfect spot to rest. Kids are welcome throughout the hotel, including at the rooftop plunge pool with skyline views and the café featuring a kids’ menu. (Pets are also welcome, so feel free to bring furry companions.)
The hotel is situated on Pier 6, part of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a sprawling waterfront space offering sports fields, playgrounds, expansive lawns, and even kayaking. Kids of all ages will love riding Jane’s Carousel, a 101-year-old merry-go-round with views of Manhattan across the river.
Hungry youngsters can partake in a New York tradition: finding the perfect pizza slice. Grimaldi’s is a classic coal-brick-oven pizzeria whose pies are so revered that Frank Sinatra was rumored to have them delivered by jet to the West Coast. You’ll know you’re there by the line snaking out the door, but the wait moves quickly.
How to get around New York City with kids
There’s no better way to navigate New York City with kids than riding the subway. It’s also economical, as children under 44 inches (112cm) can ride for free when accompanied by an adult (up to three kids per adult). However, not all subway stops have elevators, so parents with strollers should take heed.
Parents still attending to diaper duty will be pleased to know that since 2019, all new public buildings and gathering spaces like restaurants and retail spaces have been required to provide diaper-changing stations, aiding in preventing unexpected bathroom emergencies.
