The best things to do in New York City for families are the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, a ferry to the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island, the Bronx Zoo and the free Staten Island Ferry. Pick one big anchor per day, keep everything else in the same neighborhood, and match the choice to your kids’ ages. Children under 44 inches tall ride the subway free, which keeps getting around cheap.
The short list: top family attractions in NYC
Most guides rank New York attractions as one long list. That works until you are standing in Midtown with a tired six-year-old and the next stop is in the Bronx. Use this table to see the main options at a glance, then use the neighborhood section further down to build days that make geographic sense.
| Attraction | Borough | Good for | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Museum of Natural History | Manhattan | Ages 3 and up | Dinosaurs, the blue whale model, open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm |
| Central Park | Manhattan | All ages | 843 acres, playgrounds, free |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island | Harbor | Ages 5 and up | Ferry ticket required, museums free once you arrive |
| Staten Island Ferry | Manhattan to Staten Island | All ages | Free, passes the Statue of Liberty |
| Coney Island (Luna Park, New York Aquarium) | Brooklyn | Ages 2 and up | Rides run seasonally |
| Bronx Zoo | Bronx | All ages | Full day outing |
| Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum | Manhattan | Ages 5 and up | Aircraft carrier museum |
| New York Hall of Science | Queens | Ages 4 and up | Hands-on science |
| New Victory Theater | Manhattan | Ages 2 and up | Shows made for kids and families |
Prices and hours change, so confirm on each attraction’s official site before you go.
Things to do with toddlers and preschoolers
Under-fives need short outings, snack access and somewhere to run. Central Park is the obvious base: its playgrounds are free, and you can stop whenever a nap or a meltdown demands it. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has areas designed for toddlers as well as older kids, which makes it a safe rainy-day bet. The New Victory Theater on 42nd Street stages plays, dance and circus-style acts for children as young as two, so a first theater experience does not mean sitting through a three-hour musical.
The American Museum of Natural History admits children under 3 free, and the big dinosaur halls and the blue whale are impressive even to a very small child. The Staten Island Ferry is another toddler win: boats are a thrill, the ride is free, and you can turn around at the other end without leaving the terminal. Keep the plan to one anchor per day, and build in a playground stop between anything with a ticket.
Things to do with kids aged 5 to 8
This is the age when New York pays off fastest. Dinosaur fans should start at the American Museum of Natural History, where the fossil halls hold the most famous mounts. The Bronx Zoo is large enough to fill a whole day, and the Intrepid lets children walk the deck of a real aircraft carrier. At the New York Hall of Science in Queens, nearly every exhibit is meant to be touched, which suits this age group better than museums that say “do not touch.”
Coney Island is the classic summer-to-early-fall trip: the Cyclone roller coaster, the boardwalk, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and the New York Aquarium sit within walking distance of each other. Luna Park and the other amusement areas operate from late March to October, so check opening dates if you are visiting this late in the season. Kids in this range are also old enough to enjoy the Statue of Liberty ferry, with the crown and pedestal access best reserved for older children.
Things to do with tweens and teens
Older kids want views, big moments and a bit of independence. The city’s observation decks suit them well, including SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, the 86th-floor deck at the Empire State Building, One World Observatory and Top of the Rock. They cost real money, so pick one rather than all four. Broadway is the other splurge: with 41 theaters in the district, there is a show for most teenagers, and one travel guide recommends Wicked for children aged 8 and up.
For something quieter, MoMA appeals to creative kids, and the Roosevelt Island Tram gives a cable-car view of the East River and takes the same OMNY fare as the subway. Ellis Island is worth a stop for history-minded teens, though note that extensive renovation of the historic buildings has been reported through 2025 and 2026, so check the National Park Service site for what is open.
Free and low-cost things to do in NYC with kids
New York is expensive, but a surprising amount of the best material costs nothing. These are the strongest free or nearly free options:
- Staten Island Ferry: a free ride across the harbor with a view of the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan skyline. It does not land at Liberty Island.
- Central Park: playgrounds, lawns and paths for every age, with no admission.
- Neighborhood playgrounds: each Manhattan playground is built differently, so kids rarely get bored of them.
- Library story hours and NYC Parks programs: free scheduled events for younger children, listed through local branches and the parks department.
- Museums with pay-what-you-wish options for residents: the American Museum of Natural History sets a pay-what-you-wish price for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut residents, which helps if you live nearby but not if you are visiting from abroad.
The important point for visitors: the Statue of Liberty National Monument charges no entrance fee, but the ferry that takes you there is a paid transportation ticket. Plan the free items around the paid ones to keep a daily budget in check.
Rainy-day and indoor ideas
When the forecast turns, you have more good options than most cities offer. The American Museum of Natural History alone can fill a day, and the Intrepid, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the New York Hall of Science are all indoors for most of the visit. The New York Transit Museum is housed in a decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn, and kids can climb through vintage subway cars, which turns a boring wet afternoon into a highlight of the trip.
Other good indoor picks include the National Museum of Mathematics, which is hands-on and appeals to both kids and adults, and the New York City Fire Museum, which occupies a former firehouse. A Broadway or New Victory matinee is the best use of a rainy afternoon if your children can sit through a full show. Always check opening hours first, as many museums close one weekday.
Information gain: build your day by neighborhood, not by “top 10”
The mistake families make is following a ranked list across five boroughs. Pairing one anchor with one nearby backup keeps travel short and gives you a plan B if a child melts down.
| Area | Anchor | Easy add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Upper West Side | American Museum of Natural History | Central Park playgrounds across the street |
| Lower Manhattan | Statue of Liberty ferry from Battery Park | Staten Island Ferry terminal nearby |
| Midtown West | Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum | New Victory Theater or a Broadway matinee |
| Brooklyn | New York Transit Museum | Brooklyn playgrounds and parks |
| Coney Island | Luna Park and New York Aquarium | Boardwalk and Nathan’s Famous |
| Queens | New York Hall of Science | Flushing Meadows-Corona Park |
| Bronx | Bronx Zoo | Plan a separate day for the New York Botanical Garden |
A practical rule: no more than one outer-borough trip per two days. Coney Island, the Bronx and Queens each need most of a day once you include the subway ride.
How much do family activities in NYC cost?
Budgeting is easier when you know which prices are fixed. Here are the 2026 figures that matter most to parents:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Subway or local bus fare (OMNY) | $3.00 per ride |
| Children under 44 inches | Free, up to 3 per paying adult |
| Staten Island Ferry | Free |
| Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferry | $25.50 adult, $16.50 child (ages 4 to 12), free under 4 |
| American Museum of Natural History, adult general admission | About $37, children under 3 free |
The National Park Service lists the ferry ticket as a transportation fee, with no extra charge for the museums on either island, so a family of four with two kids aged 4 to 12 spends $84 on the ferry, which makes the Staten Island Ferry’s free view a strong budget alternative if you only want a glimpse of the statue. Reported prices for a Coney Island ride wristband run roughly $60 to $75 for several hours, so decide in advance whether rides or the aquarium and boardwalk are your priority.
Getting around NYC with kids
The subway is the fastest way to move between boroughs, and the rules are friendly to families. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile with OMNY: the fare is $3.00 per ride, transfers between the subway and local buses are free within two hours, and fare capping stops charging you after about 12 paid rides in a rolling seven days. Up to three children under 44 inches tall ride free with a paying adult, so measure your youngest before you assume they need a fare.
Taller children and teens pay the standard fare using their own card or phone. Because the cap applies to the same card or device, use the same tap method for every adult ride. The Roosevelt Island Tram and the Staten Island Railway accept OMNY as well.
One warning about the Statue of Liberty: the National Park Service says only Statue City Cruises is authorized to land passengers at the islands, and it warns about aggressive third-party ticket sellers near Battery Park. Buy online from the official operator or at its office inside Castle Clinton.
FAQ
What are the best free things to do in NYC with kids?
The Staten Island Ferry, Central Park, neighborhood playgrounds and library or parks programs are the best free options. The ferry gives you harbor views and a look at the Statue of Liberty at no cost.
What is the best age to bring kids to New York City?
Ages 5 to 12 get the most from the main attractions, but toddlers can enjoy playgrounds, boats and the New Victory Theater. Teenagers do best with observation decks, Broadway and food stops.
Do kids ride the NYC subway for free?
Children under 44 inches tall ride free with a paying adult, up to three children per adult. Taller children pay the standard fare of $3.00.
How many days do you need in NYC with kids?
Four to five days lets you do one anchor per day without rushing, with a lighter day built in after any outer-borough trip.
Should we buy the Statue of Liberty crown ticket for kids?
Crown and pedestal access are limited and need advance purchase, so they suit older children who can handle the climb. For younger kids, the ferry, island grounds and museum are plenty.