Things to Do in New York With Kids: A Parent's One-Day Plan

The best things to do in New York with kids are Central Park and its zoo and carousel, the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Museum, the Staten Island Ferry and, for older kids, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. This guide is a parent's plan, not a list of everything: it sorts twelve open places by age, tells you where to eat, and ends with a full-day route that never asks a small child to walk more than they can.

Every place below is inside the five boroughs of New York City. Hours and prices change, so treat the numbers as typical and check each official site before you leave.

How did we choose?

Every pick had to be confirmed open on its own official site or official social page, sit inside New York City, and give kids something to do rather than just look at. We favored places where a meltdown does not ruin the day: you can leave, the next stop is close, or the whole thing is free.

What suits which ages?

Plan the day around your youngest child: under 5, stick to parks, carousels and hands-on museums; older kids can handle lines and boats.

• Toddlers and preschoolers (0 to 5): Central Park, Central Park Zoo, the Central Park Carousel, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Brooklyn Children's Museum, Jane's Carousel, the Staten Island Ferry.
• Early school age (5 to 9): American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid, Bronx Zoo, Empire State Building.
• Older kids and teens (10 and up): Statue of Liberty National Monument, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Empire State Building.

Where do you start? The big names

Central Park (Manhattan)

Central Park is our first stop with kids in New York, and it costs nothing: it covers 843 acres in Manhattan and, by the Central Park Conservancy's count, draws 42 million visits a year. It is open 6 am to 1 am, every day of the year, per the Central Park Conservancy.

Do this: pick one corner, not the whole park. The southeast corner near 64th and 65th Streets has the zoo, the carousel and open lawns within a few minutes of each other, which is what a stroller-age day needs. Pack lunch and eat on a lawn; it is the cheapest, fastest meal you will have all day.

Inside the park, the Central Park Carousel sits mid-park at 65th Street and typically runs daily from 10 am until dusk, weather permitting, according to the Conservancy's carousel page. Prices are not posted there, so check the carousel's own site. It is good for ages 2 to 8, and a reliable reset when a child is done walking. Ten minutes here buys you another hour of goodwill.

Central Park Zoo (Upper East Side edge of the park)

Central Park Zoo, at 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, is a small zoo you can finish in two hours, which is the point. From November 1 to late March it typically opens at 10 am and closes at 4:30 pm, with last entry an hour before closing. Tickets are bought online and typically cost $22.95 for adults and $16.95 for children 3 to 12; ages 2 and under are free. Confirm on the official plan-your-visit page.

Best for ages 2 to 8.

Statue of Liberty National Monument (Liberty Island, New York Harbor)

The Statue of Liberty is a half-day ferry trip, not a quick stop. Ferries leave from The Battery in Lower Manhattan, and Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ticket seller and operator, per the National Park Service. Everyone passes through airport-style security before boarding, and the time printed on your ticket is when to join the security line, not when the boat leaves.

Two parent notes. Pedestal and crown tickets are limited and sold online only, and the crown is 162 steps with no elevator, so it suits older kids who can climb. Best for ages 8 and up, or younger kids with real patience for boats and lines.

The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886, which is a good fact to give a child before the ferry.

Empire State Building (Midtown)

The Empire State Building, at 20 West 34th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, is open 365 days a year, and every visit needs a timed reservation. Children under 6 are free and ages 6 to 12 get a reduced ticket, per the official visit page. Hours vary by season, so check the day you go.

Strollers are allowed but must be folded in the observatory areas, and elevators are available. Go early, before the lines build, and pick a clear day: a foggy deck is a very expensive cloud. Best for ages 6 and up.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Upper East Side)

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 1000 Fifth Avenue, is free for children 12 and under, according to the Met's admission page. That makes The Met an easy big museum to try with a family in New York: if a child is done after 20 minutes, you have lost nothing. The museum is typically closed one weekday each week and on a few holidays, so check hours on the official site before you go.

Don't try to see it. Choose one or two rooms a child will remember, such as the armor and Egyptian galleries, and leave when interest drops. Best for ages 7 and up, and for a short visit with younger kids.

Which other places are worth the trip?

These seven round out the list, and four of them take you beyond Manhattan to Staten Island, the Bronx or Brooklyn.

American Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side)

The American Museum of Natural History, on Central Park West at 79th Street, is typically open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm, according to its official hours page and official Instagram. It is the obvious rainy-day stop for ages 4 to 12, and it sits right across Central Park from the zoo. Buy tickets ahead and check the official site for current prices.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (Hell's Kitchen)

The Intrepid Museum, at Pier 86 on the Hudson River, typically opens 10 am to 5 pm daily, with last entry an hour before closing, per the Intrepid's official site. Children 0 to 4 need no ticket. It is an aircraft carrier you can walk across, which wins over most 5 to 12 year olds without any effort from you.

Children's Museum of Manhattan (Upper West Side)

The Children's Museum of Manhattan, at 212 West 83rd Street, is built for ages 0 to 6 and typically opens Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. It offers free stroller and coat check and free sensory kits, per the official visit page. It is a short walk from the American Museum of Natural History, so you can pair them for a toddler-plus-older-sibling day.

Staten Island Ferry (Whitehall Terminal to St. George)

The Staten Island Ferry is free, every day, year-round, according to the NYC Department of Transportation. The official Staten Island Ferry site says it runs 24 hours a day between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island, with boats typically every 15 to 20 minutes at weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes at other times. It passes close to the Statue of Liberty, so it is the budget way to get the view without tickets or a security line.

Bronx Zoo (The Bronx)

The Bronx Zoo, at 2300 Southern Boulevard, is a full-day trip and worth it for ages 3 and up. Winter hours typically run 10 am to 4:30 pm, with last entry at 3:45 pm. Winter admission is typically $28.95 for ages 13 and up and $20.95 for ages 3 to 12, with children under 3 free, per the Bronx Zoo's official site. The official site posts each day's penguin and sea lion feeding times, and those feedings are the draw for younger kids.

Brooklyn Children's Museum (Crown Heights)

The Brooklyn Children's Museum, at 145 Brooklyn Avenue, is built for ages 6 months to 10 years, with three floors of exhibits, an art studio, a makerspace and an on-site cafe. It is typically open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday, and admission is typically $15 a person, per the official site. Thursdays from 2 to 5 pm are typically free through its community access program.

Jane's Carousel (Dumbo)

Jane's Carousel sits in Brooklyn Bridge Park on the Dumbo waterfront in Brooklyn. In fall it typically runs 11 am to 5:50 pm, closed Monday and Tuesday (winter adds a Wednesday closure), and a ride is typically $4. One child under 42 inches can share a ticket with an adult, per the official hours and tickets page. Add the waterfront views and it is an easy two-hour stop.

Where do you park, and how do you get around?

Don't drive into Manhattan with kids if you can avoid it. The MTA subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with 472 stations, according to the MTA. For most families visiting Manhattan, the subway beats a car on both time and cost. If you do drive to the Bronx Zoo or an outer-borough museum, check the official site for the attraction's parking before you leave, and expect to pay.

Keep a stroller light and foldable, because many stations have stairs and no elevator. For neighborhood context, see our Midtown and Upper West Side pages.

Where do you eat with kids?

Eat early. In our experience, lunch crowds at the big New York attractions build from about noon, so feed small children around 11:30 am and you will usually find a seat.

The best low-effort meal is a picnic in Central Park. Buy sandwiches, fruit and snacks from a deli or grocery on your way in, and eat on a lawn near the zoo. For a sit-down dinner after a long day, see our food and dining listings and choose somewhere near your hotel rather than near the attraction.

When should you leave?

Leave at the first sign of a meltdown, not after it. A good family day in New York ends while everyone is still a little happy. Budget up to two hours per attraction for kids under 6, three for older kids, and plan no more than three stops in a day.

If the weather turns, our weather page shows what is coming, and the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid and the Children's Museum of Manhattan are all indoors.

What is a good one-day route for ages 3 to 9?

This route stays on foot in one stretch of Manhattan, from Central Park Zoo to the American Museum of Natural History, with no subway needed. Start at 10 am and aim to be on your way home by 4 pm.

1. 10:00 am, Central Park Zoo. Arrive at opening to beat the lines. Allow about 90 minutes, and buy tickets online beforehand.
2. 11:30 am, picnic lunch. Eat on a lawn nearby, ahead of the noon crowds. Let the kids run.
3. 12:30 pm, Central Park Carousel. A short walk west into the park, around 65th Street. Ride once.
4. 1:15 pm, walk across the park to the American Museum of Natural History. Allow about half an hour on foot with small kids, or take a crosstown bus. The museum is typically open until 5:30 pm.
5. 3:30 pm, leave. Stop while it is still fun. Dinner early, bed early.

For older kids, swap the museum for the Empire State Building: take the subway south to 34th Street, and book a timed ticket for the early morning. For a ferry day, ride the Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal and back.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in New York with kids?

The best things to do in New York with kids are Central Park with its zoo and carousel, the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Museum, and the Staten Island Ferry. Older kids also enjoy the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Is the Staten Island Ferry free?

Yes. The Staten Island Ferry is free, every day, year-round, according to the New York City Department of Transportation. It runs 24 hours a day between Whitehall Terminal in Manhattan and St. George Terminal on Staten Island, typically every 15 to 20 minutes at weekday rush hours and every 30 minutes otherwise.

Do kids get into The Metropolitan Museum of Art for free?

Yes. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's official admission page says entry is free for children 12 and under, as well as members and patrons. Check the official site for current hours before you visit.

How many days do you need in New York with kids?

Three days is a comfortable minimum, because you should plan no more than two or three stops per day. A first day around Central Park, the zoo and a museum is a good start.

Is the Empire State Building good for young children?

It works best for ages 6 and up. Children under 6 are free, ages 6 to 12 get a reduced ticket, and every visit needs a timed reservation. Strollers must be folded in the observatory areas, and elevators are available.

Where do you buy Statue of Liberty tickets?

Buy Statue of Liberty tickets from Statue City Cruises, which the National Park Service names as the only ferry service to Liberty Island, with boats from The Battery in Lower Manhattan. Pedestal and crown tickets are limited and sold online only, and the crown climb is 162 steps with no elevator.