Tips for visiting New York with children

1/ Getting Around New York with Children

• Here’s what you need to know about traveling in New York with kids: children under 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) ride free on buses and the subway. Free transit applies to up to three children per paying adult.
• Tip: take the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in New York to explore the city with children. These buses connect New York’s main attractions, which saves a lot of walking. You can hop on and off as you like, making it easy to move from one sight to the next. Plus, these buses are free for children under 5.

2/ Free Admission for Children at New York Attractions and Museums

If your children are young—6 years old or under—most New York attractions and museums offer free admission for them. Here’s what’s free for children at major New York sites:

• Empire State Building: free for children under 6.
• Summit New York: free for children under 5.
• Top of the Rock: free for children under 6.
• One World Observatory: free for children under 5.
• Statue of Liberty: free for children under 3.
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: free for children under 12.
• Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): free for children under 16.
• Guggenheim Museum: free for children under 12.
• Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: free for children under 4.
• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum: free for children under 2.
• 9/11 Memorial & Museum: free for children under 6. That said, the content is intense, so consider whether it’s appropriate for your family.
• American Museum of Natural History: free for children under 2.

3/ Family Activities in New York

Here are plenty of New York attractions that always go over well with children. Tested and approved!

• The American Museum of Natural History. An incredible place to explore and have fun. Your kids can even touch a meteorite from deep space.
• If your teens love fighter jets and naval history, they’ll love the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, an air and space museum housed on a former aircraft carrier. They can walk the flight deck and stand at the captain’s bridge.
• For younger children, head to Bleecker Street Playground on Bleecker Street. This playground is open from morning to evening without a break and has plenty of toys for children up to 6 years old. It features a large sandbox and several play structures.
• The Roosevelt Island Tramway. This cable car connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in 7 minutes and offers stunning views of the city. Once you arrive, there’s plenty of space for your children to run around while taking in the Manhattan skyline.
• For candy lovers, a visit to the M&M’s Store on Times Square is a must. This two-story shop is entirely devoted to M&M’s candy!
• Another sweet spot: the Museum of Ice Cream. A place designed for fun photos—think giant ice cream cones.
• The Luna Park at Coney Island, an amusement park with rides for all ages. Afterward, grab a hot dog at Nathan’s, the hot dog specialist!
• Another spot for teens: the Harry Potter New York store, with an incredible selection of merchandise. You’ll find a full range of wands, including one available only in New York.
• Take your children to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. This park is peaceful and perfect for a horseback ride. The park also has a lake with paddleboats available in summer. You could easily spend an afternoon here as a break from city sightseeing.
• Why not take a cruise around New York Harbor? Children love boats, and it’s a great way to see New York without walking. Note that all cruises are free for children under 3. There are different options and durations to explore on the New York cruises page.
• In the evening, head to the theater district at Times Square to catch a musical. Two shows are especially geared toward children: The Lion King and Aladdin. Keep an eye out for the Paddington musical arriving in 2027! Another family-friendly show is the Gazillion Bubble Show, featuring amazing soap bubble performances.
• You can also treat your children to a magic show. Head to the Broadway Comedy Club for performances by magicians Jim Vines and Carl Mercurio. You can even take a photo with them after the show.

4/ Activities Outside New York for Children

Don’t hesitate to venture outside New York to discover other activities that will captivate your children!

• Head to the massive American Dream mall to explore the fantastic DreamWorks Water Park. The mall also houses an impressive aquarium, notably featuring a long shark tunnel. The Sea Life aquarium offers an educational experience, with the chance to touch starfish!
• You can also spend a day at Legoland New York, which opened in May 2021 about an hour from central Manhattan by bus.

5/ Guided Tours for Families

• Join our team of guides certified by the City of New York to explore New York with your family. It’s an excellent way to see the most important sights and keep children and teens engaged.
• We especially recommend our detective mystery tour at Grand Central Terminal. An adventure that lets children solve a mystery in New York’s main train station!
• Younger children can meet Alice in Wonderland at Central Park. They won’t stop talking about it!
• Find all our guided tours of New York on our special page.

6/ Lunch Breaks

After exploring New York’s streets, here are some nice spots for a break with your children:

• Alice’s Tea Cup, a charming place with a very child-friendly décor. The food is delicious. Address: 102 West 73rd Street.
• Chinatown Ice Cream Factory in Chinatown New York. The shop doesn’t look like much from the outside and is tiny, but the ice cream is delicious. Address: 65 Bayard Street.
• You can grab legendary hot dogs along the way and sit on a bench in one of New York’s many parks.
• Try a slice of pizza at a pizzeria like Two Boots.
• For a burger, I recommend Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, with a view of the Flatiron Building.

One last thing to know if you’re traveling with a teenager: nightclubs and bars are off-limits to anyone under 21, even if accompanied by parents.