In a nutshell
- We took our kids to New York and are sharing everything that worked — from the coolest observation decks and dinosaur skeletons to a bike ride through Central Park.
- Top family attractions in New York include the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Edge observation deck.
- Getting around with kids takes some planning. If you have a stroller, the subway isn’t always your best option — taxis and Uber are often easier and surprisingly affordable.
- We’ve handpicked the best family-friendly hotels for you. The Residence Inn in Manhattan has spacious rooms with their own kitchens — perfect for families.
What you should know about New York with kids
New York is a fantastic destination for families with kids. Before you head there, here are a few important things to know:
- If you’re in New York with toddlers or babies, the sheer volume of impressions and the noise level on the street can feel overwhelming at first. But they’ll get used to it — we promise!
- Getting around on the subway is tricky with a stroller. Many stations have no elevators, so you’ll end up carrying it up and down stairs — and it won’t fit through the turnstiles either. For babies, a carrier is a lifesaver; for toddlers, bring a lightweight travel stroller.
- New York taxis have no car seats — kids just ride along. Uber offers at most one car seat per vehicle. If a car seat or booster seat matters to you, check out our article on the best travel car seats for kids.
- New Yorkers are incredibly kid-friendly. People will speak kindly to your children, restaurants sometimes hand out a lollipop, and on the subway, kids are almost always offered a seat.
Is New York safe with kids?
New York with kids is no more dangerous than any major European city. In some ways, we actually found it safer.
American sidewalks are very wide, so kids can walk freely without you having to hold their hand constantly — something you can’t always say about European cities.
In Manhattan, crime is no bigger an issue than anywhere else. We never felt unsafe here with our kids. It’s a genuinely great city trip destination for families.
Costs with kids in New York
New York is expensive — and as a family, even more so.
From hotel stays to museum tickets, diapers at CVS, or snacks at the hot dog stand.
At museums that appeal to kids, children start paying admission from age two or three.
Here’s a list of prices (as of 2024) that are relevant when visiting New York with kids:
- A good hotel room for four in Manhattan: from $300 per night
- Ticket to a skyscraper observation deck: $40–$50 per person, children under 6 free
- Diapers at CVS (drugstore): from $20 for 27 diapers
- Hot dog from a food truck: $5–$6
- Fruit cup to go in Central Park: $4
- Subway ticket: $3.25, children under 44 inches free
- Soft serve from an ice cream truck: $8
- Burger at a restaurant: from $10
One more thing: tipping is expected almost everywhere — yes, even at the ice cream truck. Add at least 15% on top of the prices above.
At many museums and attractions, toddlers get in free, but not at all of them.
At the American Museum of Natural History, for example, children from age three pay $18, while adults pay $30.
For a family of four, that adds up to around $100 for an afternoon at the museum.
There are ways to save, though. On accommodation, for instance: staying in Jersey City instead of Manhattan can cut costs significantly. More on that in our hotel tips for families below.
A tourist pass might also be worth it. With our Tourist Pass Calculator for New York, you can quickly figure out which pass makes sense for your family and how much you’ll save. Our comparison of all New York passes gives you a great overview.
More money-saving tips for New York:
Budget accommodation in New York
Getting around New York with kids
The subway is the best way to get around New York — unless you’re traveling with toddlers and a stroller.
Many subway stations simply have no elevator, which means carrying the stroller up and down multiple flights of stairs.
Strollers won’t fit through the turnstiles either, so you’ll have to lift them over.
If your kids don’t need a stroller, though, the subway is a great and affordable way to get around.
Children under 44 inches ride free; after that, a ticket costs $3.25.
Note: If you skip the ticket machine and simply tap your credit card at the turnstile, the fare drops to $2.75. The catch: this only works for one person per credit card, so it’s not very practical for families.
A great alternative we used several times is a taxi or Uber. They’re surprisingly affordable in New York. For about 1.2 miles, we paid $12 for four people including tip. That’s cheaper than the subway — and a lot less stressful.
The only downside: taxis don’t have car seats, but kids are legally allowed to ride without one in New York.
With Uber, you can request at most one car seat per vehicle through the app.
For longer distances — which come up often in New York — the subway is still unbeatable on price.
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Is a tourist pass worth it in New York with kids?
You’ll need to do the math carefully. The key factors are your children’s ages and the New York attractions you want to visit.
Free admission age limits vary by attraction.
For tourist passes, children count as paying guests from age three. But at some museums and at all observation decks, kids only start paying from age six.
So if you’re visiting New York with toddlers, definitely add up the individual ticket prices first and see whether a pass actually saves you money.
We were in New York with a 3-year-old and a 7-year-old, and in our case, individual tickets worked out cheaper.
If you’re traveling with older kids, though, a pass can absolutely be worth it. In that case, the New York CityPass is often a great choice — it bundles the top family attractions in one ticket.
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Fun things to do in New York with kids
There’s so much to discover in New York with kids! Here’s a little inspiration.
You’ll find even more highlights in our guide to the top 25 New York attractions.
Bike tour through Central Park
Central Park has several bike rental stations, and because the park is so huge, this is the perfect way to explore it with kids.
You’ll find kids’ bikes, child seats, tandems, and cargo bikes — and helmets are included for free (and required for children).
Rental stations are at the entrances near Columbus Circle and Grand Army Plaza. An adult bike costs around $30 for two hours; a kids’ bike runs about $25.
We rode the entire Central Park Drive — a wide bike path that loops all the way around the park, about 6 miles in total.
We covered it easily in two hours, with plenty of stops along the way.
Everything you need to know about Central Park
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is pretty small compared to other zoos — but that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable with kids.
You can see everything in one to two hours without ending up exhausted.
Highlights include a penguin lagoon, a rainforest house, monkeys, sea lions, bears, and snow leopards.
Admission costs $13 from age three; adults pay $16.
If you want a really large zoo, you’ll need to head to the Bronx Zoo, north of Manhattan.
Climb the Edge skyscraper
One of the most exciting family attractions in New York is the Edge observation deck.
You stand at 1,132 feet on the 100th floor, with a 360-degree view of Manhattan through thick glass walls.
The real showstopper is the glass floor, where you look straight down onto the streets far below — kids absolutely love it.
Tickets are often available the same day, since many visitors head instead to New York’s newest attraction, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt.
SUMMIT is seriously cool with its art installations — but it gets packed. Not ideal with kids.
Children under six get in free at all New York observation decks.
Book a ticket for SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
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Boat ride on the East River
There are many boat tours in New York, but with kids, a ride on the East River is especially worthwhile.
The route passes under the bridges connecting Manhattan to Brooklyn: the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge, and the Williamsburg Bridge — something kids often find incredibly exciting.
You can choose between a sightseeing boat tour or the non-touristy New York Ferry, which locals use to commute between Manhattan and Brooklyn.
If you’re in New York with restless toddlers, the New York Ferry is the better bet.
The crossing only takes a few minutes, it’s much cheaper, and far less crowded than the sightseeing boats. You can buy tickets at any dock.
Our route tip: Take the ferry from the Wall Street / Pier 11 dock, cross the East River, and get off at Brooklyn Bridge Park. The ride takes just 12 minutes. There’s a lovely playground in Brooklyn Bridge Park and the famous Jane’s Carousel. Afterward, you can walk back to Manhattan over the Brooklyn Bridge — or hop on the subway.
Note: It can get quite chilly on the ferry. Bring a layer or two.
Book a boat tour on the East River and Hudson
Watch street performers at Times Square
Times Square belongs on every New York itinerary. Massive, colorful LED screens and billboards, breakdance shows, musicians, and street performers of every kind.
Especially fascinating for kids are the superheroes — Spider-Man, Batman, and others who shake hands and pose for photos.
Times Square can feel overwhelming, though. Try to avoid it with young kids around sunset, when it’s at its most crowded.
Climb the stairs at the Vessel
The Vessel in Hudson Yards is a labyrinth-like artwork made up of 154 climbable staircases and observation platforms.
Kids absolutely love exploring the different routes to the top and discovering a new view of the city around every corner.
Admission costs $10, and kids pay from age six.
Buy tickets online to reserve a time slot — otherwise you’ll be waiting in line for a long time.
Book a ticket for the Vessel
Our tip: Combine a visit to the Vessel with the Edge or the High Line — both are right next door.
Sail model boats in Central Park
In the eastern part of Central Park, near Fifth Avenue, there’s a pond called Conservatory Water with a model boat rental.
Kids and adults alike can rent boats and sail them across the water. Many of the boats are easy to steer, so everyone has a great time.
Rental prices vary by boat, but an hour costs around $15.
Our tip: It’s always busy here on weekends — come on a weekday to make sure boats are still available.
Walk the High Line
The High Line is a elevated walking path lined with shrubs and trees, running through Manhattan at about 23 feet above street level.
It was once a freight rail line, and you can still see the old tracks along the route.
It’s especially great if you’re in New York with toddlers: the little ones can run around freely and safely without you worrying about traffic.
The path starts in Chelsea and ends at Hudson Yards, right below the Vessel — about 1.6 miles in total.
We walked the whole thing, but you can hop on at any access point along the route. Admission is free.
Catch a game at a stadium
If you’re in New York with older kids, catching a live sporting event is seriously worth it.
Madison Square Garden is one of the most famous arenas in the world — watching a basketball or hockey game there is a real experience.
If there’s no game on, you can also take a guided tour of the arena.
At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, you can catch NFL football games. It’s not in Manhattan, but it’s very easy to reach by train.
How to get stadium tickets in New York
Jane's Carousel
Jane’s Carousel is a historic carousel from 1922, located in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
What makes it extra special: it sits right on the water, with a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Tickets are super affordable too — one ride costs $3 per child.
The carousel is housed in a glass pavilion, so it runs year-round.
Coney Island
Coney Island is an incredibly popular day-trip destination for families visiting New York. Located at the southern tip of Brooklyn, it’s a full-on entertainment district.
You can visit Luna Park — the historic amusement park — head to the beach with views of the open ocean, or check out the New York Aquarium.
Plan a full day: the trip from Manhattan alone takes about an hour by subway.
Our tip: If you’re heading to Coney Island with a stroller, get off at the Stillwell Avenue subway station. It has an elevator and puts you just a few minutes from the beach and the amusement park.
The amusement park is also open in winter and has a festive, fair-like atmosphere — just a little wilder.
Hop-on/Hop-off bus
The hop-on/hop-off bus is a comfortable way to cover the city’s highlights with kids. In good weather, you can sit on the open top deck and listen to audio commentary in English.
The buses stop at all the key spots that are fun for families, including Times Square, Central Park, and the American Museum of Natural History.
You can hop on and off as many times as you like for the duration of your ticket.
It’s convenient, if not exactly cheap — a good option when you want to pack in the highlights without the logistics.
Tickets are time-limited and cover different routes. A one-day ticket costs around $50 for children from age three.
Book a hop-on/hop-off bus ticket
Broadway show
Broadway has a great range of kid-friendly musicals running year-round: Aladdin, The Lion King, Harry Potter, and Wicked.
The Lion King in particular is said to be incredibly impressive. We didn’t see it ourselves, but everyone we’ve spoken to agrees the New York production is on another level.
The shows are in English, but if the kids already know the story and have some basic English, that’s no problem. After all, musicals are mostly sung anyway.
Book a ticket for The Lion King
Book a ticket for Aladdin
Our tip: At Times Square there’s a TKTS booth where you can buy last-minute tickets for the same day at half price.
Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
If you’re in New York with toddlers, bring a stroller — the Brooklyn Bridge is almost 1.3 miles long.
For older kids, though, it’s totally doable — and really exciting. Ferries, motorboats, and cargo ships are constantly passing below the bridge.
Around the towers, you’ll find snack stands and benches where you can take a break with a view of the East River.
Our tip: The best family photos are taken with Manhattan at your back — that way you’ll also get the skyline in the shot.
The best museums for kids in New York
New York’s museums are large, immersive, and genuinely exciting for kids. One museum per day is a realistic plan with children.
These are the big hits for a family vacation in New York:
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is the most popular museum for kids in New York — and honestly, for adults too.
Topics covered include evolution, dinosaur skeletons, ecosystems, outer space, geology, and a massive exhibition on the world’s different cultures.
And of course, loads of interactive stations.
The museum spans four floors, so plan at least half a day.
Children from age three pay $18; adults pay $30.
Note: Snacking isn’t allowed in the exhibitions, but there are several cafés inside the museum. Alternatively, with your day ticket you can step outside, grab something to eat in Central Park, and come back in.
Book a ticket for the American Museum of Natural History
USS Intrepid
If your kids are into aviation, space travel, or technology, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is a must.
It’s housed in the former aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, docked right in Manhattan.
On display: aircraft, a real submarine, a real Space Shuttle, and all kinds of interactive stations with plenty of buttons and levers to try out.
Book a ticket for the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Children's Museum of Manhattan
You could easily spend an entire day at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Spread across multiple floors, there are interactive exhibitions focused on playful learning.
Giant foam building blocks, arts and crafts stations, an interactive doctor’s office where kids can learn about the human body, a dinosaur exhibition, and an instrument workshop.
Book a ticket for the Children’s Museum
M&Ms Museum
The M&Ms Museum is a free museum right at Times Square.
It’s all about M&Ms: how they’re made, a bit of history, new flavors, and a station where you can design your own.
At the end, you’ll walk through the M&M’s store — and after all that sampling, you’ll almost certainly leave with something.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a perennial favorite in many major cities, especially with older kids.
You can pose for photos with lifelike wax figures of movie and music stars, superheroes, or the President. Touching is not just allowed — it’s encouraged.
There are also rotating special exhibitions around Halloween or Christmas, plus themed rooms with interactive games.
Children pay full price from age three.
Book a ticket for Madame Tussauds New York
Playgrounds in New York
We always built a playground stop into our daily plans in New York — and it worked out perfectly. Luckily, there’s almost always one nearby.
Here are the playgrounds we visited with our kids:
Heckscher Playground
The largest playground in Central Park, just a few minutes’ walk from Columbus Circle.
There are swings, seesaws, slides, a section with colorful rubber flooring, and a water playground in summer.
The playground also includes Umpire Rock — a massive rock outcropping where older kids can scramble around.
This section is technically meant for kids six and up, but in reality all age groups were running around here when we visited.
And tons of squirrels that weren’t the least bit shy — a real hit with the kids.
Diana Ross Playground
The Diana Ross Playground is also in Central Park, right across from the American Museum of Natural History.
We stopped here after the museum to let the kids burn off some energy and grab something to eat.
It’s not very large and is nicely shaded. With its wooden structures and sandbox, it’s a calm, low-key spot — ideal if you’re in New York with toddlers.
Playground Madison Square Park
Madison Square Park runs along Fifth Avenue and makes a great break spot while strolling the upscale boulevard.
Right next to the park, by the way, stands the iconic Flatiron Building.
The playground isn’t large, but it’s fenced in, nicely shaded, and has swings, slides, and climbing structures.
There’s also a really lovely Shake Shack in Madison Square Park with outdoor seating — one of our favorite spots to eat in New York.
Battery Playscape
If you’re planning a boat trip to the Statue of Liberty, there’s a great playground right in Battery Park, where the boats depart from.
The Battery Playscape has a fully rubberized surface, swings for every age, and the surrounding park makes for a lovely waterfront stroll.
Right next door, there’s also the SeaGlass Carousel — a beautiful carousel featuring stylized sea creatures.
Main Street Playground in Brooklyn
Once you and your kids have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan to Brooklyn, it’s worth planning a break in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Head along Washington Street, where you’ll find the famous view of the Manhattan Bridge.
The park starts right at the end of that street, and the Main Street Playground is right at the entrance.
Not far from the playground, you’ll also find Jane’s Carousel and Pebble Beach, which has a great view of Manhattan.
Hotels in New York with kids
There are endless places to stay in New York, but not all of them are a great fit for families.
True family resorts with childcare and indoor playgrounds don’t really exist here. But there are hotels that work really well for a family trip.
We’ve picked out two areas that are a great base for a family vacation in New York:
- Manhattan: all the highlights right on your doorstep,
- Jersey City: more affordable than staying in Manhattan itself.
Family hotels in Manhattan
Family hotels in Jersey City
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General tips for New York with kids
Here are a few more things we’d recommend for your trip to New York with kids:
- Bring a stroller. You’ll be doing a lot of walking, and a stroller is worth its weight in gold. Even if your 3- or 4-year-old hasn’t sat in one for a while, put it on the packing list.
- With the app Babyquip, you can rent baby and kids’ gear from locals — things like toys, a stroller, or a high chair.
- Build playground breaks into your daily plan. Even in Manhattan, there’s almost always one nearby — just check Google Maps.
- Bring a lunchbox and a reusable water bottle. Packing snacks from home saves a lot of money, and the parks have plenty of water fountains where you can refill.
- If possible, schedule longer sightseeing routes on a weekend. Manhattan is much more relaxed then — far less traffic and fewer crowds. Perfect for exploring with kids.
- On the website NYC Parks, you’ll find all current events in New York, including ones specifically for kids — like open-air theater in the park or events at the zoo.
- Bring a suitcase filled with toys. On intercontinental flights, every passenger is typically allowed one carry-on bag — we packed one full of toys for one of our kids so they’d have something to play with at the accommodation. Totally worth it! Check out our article on our 22 best travel games for kids on the go.
