NYC has a reputation as the most expensive city in America, and for some family activities, that's accurate. But the city also has more free, world-class family activities than any other city in the US. The trick is knowing which paid experiences are worth it — and building your days around the free foundation. Here's exactly what things cost.
Free Activities in New York City
The free options in NYC are not consolation prizes. They're genuinely excellent.
Central Park — $0 to enter. 840 acres with 21 playgrounds, Turtle Pond, Belvedere Castle (free), and a nature center. The Carousel is $4/ride. Budget $30–60 for park food and vendors. Row the lake for $15/hour for a boat that holds 4 — so $4/person for a full hour on the water.
Pier 51 at Hudson River Park — $0. Rated 4.8 stars with 584 reviews — one of the highest-rated playgrounds in all of NYC. Water spray playground right on the Hudson River. Budget $40–70 for a West Village lunch after.
Battery Playscape — $0. Award-winning nature-themed playground at the southern tip of Manhattan with direct views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Budget $20–40 for nearby food. The Staten Island Ferry is steps away and is completely free — a 25-minute round trip with excellent Statue of Liberty views.
Heckscher Playground — $0. The largest playground in Central Park, with multiple age zones, sand areas, and water spray in summer. Budget $20–40 for park snacks.
Tarr-Coyne Tots Playground — $0. Designed specifically for infants through age 6 in Central Park. Budget $25–40 for Columbus Ave lunch nearby.
Adventure Playground — $0. Free and fully enjoyable.
Hippo Playground, Pier 25 Playground, Discovery Playground, Ancient Playground, Billy Johnson Playground, Tarr-Coyne Wild West Playground, Tarr Family Playground, River Run Playground, Safari Playground, Evelyn's Playground, Rudin Family Playground, Bernard Family Playground — All free. NYC's park system is extraordinary.
Butterfly Gardens of Central Park — $0.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden — Most outdoor grounds and gardens are free. Some indoor exhibits charge $0–25. Staten Island access via free ferry.
Imagination Playground — $0 admission. Near Seaport District — budget $50–70 for lunch nearby.
Queens Botanical Garden — Free most of the year. Small fee during select events. Budget $0–15.
Budget Picks (Under $50 for a Family of 4)
Fun Galaxy — $40–70 for a family of 4 including admission and bubble tea. Rated 4.8 stars. Flushing indoor playground where parents get a real drink (the bubble tea) while kids play. Main Street Flushing is walking distance for a very affordable, excellent lunch.
Kid's Play World — $30–50 for 2 young kids per session. Rated 4.9 stars. Staff actually engages with kids. Saturday open play is 9–10am only — plan accordingly.
Staten Island Children's Museum — $40–50 for a family of 4 plus $15–20 snacks. One of the most underrated and affordable children's museums in the NYC metro — combine with the free Staten Island Ferry.
Bronx Children's Museum — $40–50 for a family of 4. Significantly more affordable than Manhattan equivalents. The Bronx has some of NYC's best and most affordable food nearby.
Staten Island Museum — $30–40 for a family of 4. Very affordable by NYC standards.
Children's Museum Of Manhattan — $60–80 for a family of 4 plus subway access. Hands-on exhibits designed for ages 0–10. Upper West Side location is easy to pair with Central Park.
Sugar Hill Children's Museum of Art & Storytelling — $40–50 for a family of 4. Modest, accessible pricing in Washington Heights.
Mid-Range Activities ($60–$120 for a Family of 4)
Brooklyn Botanic Garden — $50–70 for paid admission days ($20/adult, children 12 and under free). Select weekdays and Saturday mornings before noon are free for everyone — check the BBG calendar before you pay. Add $15–25 for café food. Rated 4.7 stars.
NYBG All-Garden Pass — $60–80 for 2 adults (children 12 and under free on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings). Includes the Enid Haupt Conservatory, Everett Children's Adventure Garden, and Thain Family Forest. Holiday Train Show (Nov–Jan) costs more — $40–50/adult.
New York Aquarium / Ocean Wonders: Sharks\! — $60–80 for a family of 4 total admission. The 360-degree shark tunnel is the centerpiece. WCS members get in free. Coney Island boardwalk is steps away — combine both for a full day.
NY Hall of Science — $70–90 admission plus $15 parking plus $40–50 café. Total: $130–155 for a full day. Hands-on science exhibits for ages 5+. Rated 4.5 stars.
Long Island Children's Museum — $70–90 for a family of 4 including admission (~$16/person) and snacks.
Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place — $60–100 for open play for 2 kids including basic food. Laser tag, multi-level playground, arcade games in one Brooklyn venue. Rated 4.8 stars.
Play Street Museum - Upper West Side — $50–80 for 2 young kids per session including art activities. Rated 4.9 stars. Combines open play with actual art-making (pottery, painting) — kids leave with something tangible.
Splurge-Worthy Experiences (Over $100)
These cost real money. All of them earn it.
American Museum of Natural History / Gilder Center — AMNH admission for a family of 4: ~$100–130. Add a planetarium show: $10–15/person = $130–190 for a full museum day. The Gilder Center's butterfly vivarium alone is worth the admission — kids walk through a living cloud of tropical butterflies. NYC residents pay what they wish. AMNH membership ($250/family) covers 2 visits and includes planetarium shows — buy it at the door if you plan to return.
Bronx Zoo — $150–200 for a family of 4 including admission (~$27/adult, ~$20/child ages 3–12) and parking ($25). Congo Gorilla Forest has an additional ~$5–6/person fee even for members. Wednesday pay-what-you-wish admission applies to the zoo grounds — the best value day to visit. Budget a full day.
RiseNY — $120–160 for 4 tickets ($30–40/person). No significant discounts available. The Times Square location means walk-in crowds — book in advance.
Liberty Science Center — $120–150 for a family of 4 including admission ($26/adult, $22/child), parking ($15), and light food. New Jersey Transit makes it accessible without a car. Rated 4.5 stars.
Ferox Ninja Park — $80–120 for a family ($20–30/person). Rated 4.8 stars. This is not a standard trampoline park — it's a serious parkour and ninja athletics facility. Kids ages 10+ who watch American Ninja Warrior get legitimately excited.
Immersive Gamebox — $80–120 for a private session for 2–4 players. Rated 4.9 stars. Floor-to-ceiling projection gaming where kids physically run around the room. Priced per room, not per person — the more people you bring, the better the value.
Color Factory NYC — $120–160 for a family of 4 ($30–40/person). Immersive color-and-art experience. Teens and tweens are the sweet spot; younger kids do fine but don't get full value.
Sloomoo Institute — $120–160 for timed entry ($30–40/person). Add $20–30 for slime purchases. The slime-making and sensory experience is genuinely popular with kids ages 6–12.
Money-Saving Tips in New York City
- NYC resident discounts are real. AMNH, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and other institutions offer significantly reduced rates for NYC residents. Bring ID and always ask.
- Free museum days exist. Brooklyn Botanic Garden is free on weekdays and Saturday mornings before noon. NYBG children's free days (Wednesdays and Saturday mornings). Check websites before paying.
- WCS membership ($199/family) covers the Bronx Zoo, NY Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and Queens Zoo. If you plan to visit any two of these, the membership pays for itself.
- AMNH membership ($250/family) covers all general admission plus planetarium shows. Pays off in 2 full-day visits.
- EBT cardholders receive reduced admission at AMNH, many botanic gardens, and several major museums. Always ask.
- Subway + walking eliminates parking costs entirely — a family parking in Manhattan pays $30–50/day. Budget that savings toward a paid attraction.
- Pack lunch. A deli or grocery store picnic for 4 costs $15–25. The same meal at a museum café costs $50–70. The difference is another admission ticket.
- Weekday visits are consistently less crowded and sometimes cheaper at trampoline parks and entertainment venues.
What a Typical Family Spends
Budget Day (free and cheap focus): Central Park morning — free playgrounds, $12 carousel rides, $40 vendor lunch. Brooklyn Botanic Garden afternoon on a free-admission day — $0. Dinner in Brooklyn: $80. Total: ~$130 for the day.
Mid-Range Day: NYBG morning ($60–80 admission + $20 café) then Bronx Zoo afternoon on Wednesday pay-what-you-wish ($50–80 donation + parking). Dinner in the Bronx ($60). Total: ~$190–220.
Splurge Day: AMNH full day with planetarium show ($150–190), dinner on the Upper West Side ($100+). Total: ~$280–300.
Realistic 3-day estimate for a family doing a mix: 1 free/cheap day, 1 mid-range day, 1 splurge day, plus all meals and subway = $800–1,100 total on activities and food (not including hotel). NYC is expensive, but if you anchor each day to the city's extraordinary free parks, the total stays manageable.