KidPaths

Things to Do with Kids in New York City, NY

New York City has 30 kid-tested activities for families across museums, parks, zoos, restaurants, and outdoor adventures. Every listing includes age ratings (infants through teens), stroller access, cost estimates for a family of 4, and real parent tips you won't find anywhere else.

4.6 avgacross 30 rated
6 free
14 stroller-friendly

By Kit, KidPaths editor

Covers 71 cities. Reads a lot of parent reviews.

New York City family activity overview

New York City is one of the best family travel destinations in the US.

From world-class museums to outdoor adventures, there's something for kids of every age. Our guide helps you find exactly what works for your family. The KidPaths guide for New York City currently includes 30 KidPaths-vetted activities, including 6 free options, 15 indoor or mixed-weather picks, 7 outdoor or partly outdoor picks, 14 stroller-friendly stops.

Use it to balance one anchor outing with a backup plan, especially when weather, naps, or meal timing start driving the day. Start with Complete Playground, Children's Museum Of Manhattan, Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place if you want a quick scan of the strongest local picks, then use the filters below for age fit, stroller access, cost, and rainy-day backup options.

Top kid-friendly places in New York City

New York Aquarium4.2Museum of Illusions - New York4.4Color Factory NYC4.4Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side4.9Children's Museum Of Manhattan4.2Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park4.4Heckscher Playground4.7Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center4.2Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place4.8Empire Adventure Park4.7Billy Johnson Playground4.6Pier 51 at Hudson River Park4.8

Plan New York City by age, weather, and budget

Jump straight to the pages parents search for most, with only indexable KidPaths listings linked here.

One day itinerary →
No admission feeFree Activities6 picksWeather backupRainy Day Activities15 picksClimate controlledIndoor Activities15 picksFresh airOutdoor Activities7 picksEasy accessStroller-Friendly14 picks
Toddler23Infant7Little Kids28Big Kids27Tweens10Teen7

New York City with kids: common questions

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

New York City has 6 free family activities. Top picks: Battery Playscape, Heckscher Playground, Discovery Playground, River Run Playground, Bernard Family Playground. See all free activities at kidpaths.com/new-york-city.

What can we do with kids on a rainy day in New York City?

New York City has 15 rainy-day options. Top indoor picks: Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side, Kid's Play World, Play Street Museum - Upper West Side, Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place, Fun Island Playground.

What are the best activities for toddlers in New York City?

23 activities in New York City are rated for toddlers (ages 1 to 3). Parent favorites: Kid's Play World, Play Street Museum - Upper West Side, Fun Island Playground, Pier 51 at Hudson River Park, Battery Playscape.

Which New York City attractions are stroller-friendly?

14 of 30 activities in New York City are fully stroller-friendly. KidPaths rates stroller access as yes, limited, or no for every listing.

What are fun things to do with teens in New York City?

7 activities in New York City are rated for teens (ages 13 to 17). Top picks: Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side, Empire Adventure Park, Color Factory NYC, Museum of Illusions - New York, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park.

How much do family activities cost in New York City?

KidPaths tracks family-of-4 cost estimates for 30 activities in New York City. 6 are completely free. Each listing shows the real cost for a family of four, not just per-person pricing.

Complete PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Complete Playground

4.6(325)

Ages: Best for ages 0-10

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Children's Museum Of ManhattanMuseums

Children's Museum Of Manhattan

4.2(3,077)

Ages: Best for ages 1-9

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party PlaceEntertainment

Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place

4.8(907)

Ages: Best for ages 4-14

IndoorRainy Day
Fun Island PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Fun Island Playground

4.8(149)

Ages: Best for ages 0-10

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Color Factory NYCArts & Culture

Color Factory NYC

4.4(4,624)

Ages: Best for ages 5 and up; particularly fun for ages 7-14

IndoorRainy Day
Museum of Illusions - New YorkMuseums

Museum of Illusions - New York

4.4(13,222)

Ages: Best for ages 6-16

IndoorRainy Day
Chinatown Fair Family Fun CenterEntertainment

Chinatown Fair Family Fun Center

4.2(910)

Ages: Best for ages 8 and up; primarily a teen/young adult arcade

IndoorRainy Day
New York AquariumZoos & Aquariums

New York Aquarium

4.2(18,909)

Ages: All ages; best experiences for ages 3 and up

Indoor/OutdoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure ParkEntertainment

Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park

4.4(2,605)

Ages: Best for ages 4-16

IndoorRainy Day
Battery PlayscapeParks & PlaygroundsFree

Battery Playscape

4.7(160)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Immersive Gamebox - Lower East SideEntertainment

Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side

4.9(3,821)

Ages: Best for ages 7 and up

IndoorRainy Day
Twinkle PlayspaceParks & Playgrounds

Twinkle Playspace

4.6(483)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Empire Adventure ParkEntertainment

Empire Adventure Park

4.7(801)

Ages: Best for ages 4-16

IndoorRainy Day
Kidz Fun Palace – Indoor Playground & Birthday PartiesEntertainment

Kidz Fun Palace – Indoor Playground & Birthday Parties

4.6(557)

Ages: Best for ages 2-11

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Heckscher PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Heckscher Playground

4.7(1,200)

Ages: Best for ages 2-12

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Kid's Play WorldEntertainment

Kid's Play World

4.9(230)

Ages: Best for ages 0-7

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Play Street Museum - Upper West SideMuseums

Play Street Museum - Upper West Side

4.9(465)

Ages: Best for ages 0-6

IndoorStroller-FriendlyRainy Day
Tarr Family PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Tarr Family Playground

4.6(163)

Ages: 1-10

Hippo PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Hippo Playground

4.7(421)

Ages: 1-10

Toll Family PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Toll Family Playground

4.5(151)

Ages: 1-10

Safari PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Safari Playground

4.5(153)

Ages: 2-10

Evelyn's PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Evelyn's Playground

4.5(143)

Ages: 2-12

Billy Johnson PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Billy Johnson Playground

4.6(717)

Ages: 2-12

Rudin Family PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Rudin Family Playground

4.5(98)

Ages: 2-10

Pier 25 PlaygroundParks & Playgrounds

Pier 25 Playground

4.7(113)

Ages: 2-12

Pier 51 at Hudson River ParkParks & Playgrounds

Pier 51 at Hudson River Park

4.8(584)

Ages: 0-10

River Run PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

River Run Playground

4.6(287)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Bernard Family PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Bernard Family Playground

4.5(78)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Imagination PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Imagination Playground

4.1(220)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly
Discovery PlaygroundParks & PlaygroundsFree

Discovery Playground

4.7(61)

Ages: Best for ages 2-10

OutdoorStroller-Friendly

Browse by Age

Toddlers (Ages 1–3)Infants (Under 1)Little Kids (Ages 4–6)Big Kids (Ages 7–9)Tweens (Ages 10–12)Teens (Ages 13–17)

Common Questions About New York City with Kids

What are the best free things to do with kids in New York City?
New York City has 6 free family activities. Top picks: Battery Playscape, Heckscher Playground, Discovery Playground, River Run Playground, Bernard Family Playground. See all free activities at kidpaths.com/new-york-city.
What can we do with kids on a rainy day in New York City?
New York City has 15 rainy-day options. Top indoor picks: Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side, Kid's Play World, Play Street Museum - Upper West Side, Max Adventures Kids Birthday Party Place, Fun Island Playground.
What are the best activities for toddlers in New York City?
23 activities in New York City are rated for toddlers (ages 1 to 3). Parent favorites: Kid's Play World, Play Street Museum - Upper West Side, Fun Island Playground, Pier 51 at Hudson River Park, Battery Playscape.
Which New York City attractions are stroller-friendly?
14 of 30 activities in New York City are fully stroller-friendly. KidPaths rates stroller access as yes, limited, or no for every listing.
What are fun things to do with teens in New York City?
7 activities in New York City are rated for teens (ages 13 to 17). Top picks: Immersive Gamebox - Lower East Side, Empire Adventure Park, Color Factory NYC, Museum of Illusions - New York, Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park.
How much do family activities cost in New York City?
KidPaths tracks family-of-4 cost estimates for 30 activities in New York City. 6 are completely free. Each listing shows the real cost for a family of four, not just per-person pricing.

Browse by Interest

Free ActivitiesRainy Day ActivitiesIndoor ActivitiesOutdoor ActivitiesStroller-FriendlyOne Day Itinerary

Nearby Family Destinations

Philadelphia, PA81 miBoston, MA190 miWashington DC204 miWilliamsburg, VA279 miVirginia Beach, VA287 mi

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