New York is surprisingly family-friendly. There are world-class museums like the American Museum of Natural History, historic zoos from the compact Central Park Zoo to the vast Bronx Zoo, an aircraft carrier turned museum at the Intrepid, the magical Rockefeller ice rink in winter, and the roller coasters of Coney Island in summer. For younger children there are hands-on museums and playgrounds; for older ones, science, space and thrill rides. Here are the best family attractions, with prices, age guidance and tips — including plenty of air-conditioned indoor options for hot summer days and rain.
$28American Museum of Natural History
Area
Upper West Side
Ages
5+ / all ages
“The 'Night at the Museum' setting since 1869 — dinosaurs, the blue whale and the Hayden Planetarium. Allow a full day.”
$20Central Park Zoo
Area
Central Park
Ages
3+ / all ages
“A compact zoo inside Central Park, good for younger children — snow leopards, penguins and red pandas. Allow two hours.”
$44Bronx Zoo
Area
The Bronx
Ages
All ages
“The largest metro zoo in the USA — 6,000 animals across 107 hectares. Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish; allow a full day.”
$35Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Area
Hudson River (Pier 86)
Ages
6+
“Set on a real 1943 aircraft carrier, with the Space Shuttle Enterprise and a Concorde. Great for ages 6+; allow four hours.”
$17Children's Museum of Manhattan
Area
Upper West Side
Ages
0–10
“Five floors of hands-on play for under-10s — perfect for rainy days and younger children. Allow three hours.”
$25–60Rink at Rockefeller Center
Area
Rockefeller Plaza
Ages
5+ / all ages
“The famous holiday ice rink beneath the Christmas tree, open roughly October to April. Book timed skating sessions ahead.”
$38Madame Tussauds New York
Area
Times Square
Ages
3+
“The Times Square waxwork museum, with Marvel and pop-star zones. Book online to save; allow about two and a half hours.”
$50 wristbandLuna Park (Coney Island)
Area
Coney Island (Brooklyn)
Ages
6+
“The classic Coney Island amusement park, home of the 1927 Cyclone. Open April–October; take the D/F/N/Q, about 45 min.”
New York with kids in detail
1.American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side, open since 1869, is one of the world's great natural history museums and a superb day out with children — famous, too, as the 'Night at the Museum' film setting. Its 200,000-plus objects include a towering Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, the vast 94-foot blue whale model suspended from the ceiling of the Milstein Hall, and the 563-carat Star of India sapphire. The Rose Center for Earth and Space, with its Hayden Planetarium, is included, adding immersive space shows to the dinosaur halls, dioramas and gem collections. Admission is $28 for adults and $16.50 for children aged 3–12, and it is best suited to children aged five and up, though younger ones love the dinosaurs and whale too. Allow a full day, or at least four to six hours, as the museum is enormous. It sits right by Central Park, so you can easily combine the two. Buy tickets online to save time, and check the planetarium show times when you arrive. For families, it is one of the very best attractions in the city — endlessly absorbing for children and adults alike, and a reliable rainy-day winner.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–17:30
Price
$28 adult; $16.50 child 3–12
Getting there
Subway B/C to 81 St–Museum of Natural History
Insider tip: The 'Night at the Museum' setting since 1869 — dinosaurs, the blue whale and the Hayden Planetarium. Allow a full day.
2.Central Park Zoo
Central Park Zoo, open since 1864, is the oldest public zoo in the United States, run by the Wildlife Conservation Society and set inside Central Park itself. It is compact — around 6.5 acres, much smaller than the Bronx Zoo — which makes it ideal for younger children who would tire on a bigger site. Its 130 species include snow leopards, penguins and red pandas, and there is a 4D cinema (a few dollars extra). Admission is $20 for adults, $14 for children aged 3–12, and free for under-3s, and a visit takes around two hours. Because it sits within Central Park, it pairs perfectly with a walk in the park, a play in the nearby Heckscher Playground or a ride on the carousel, making an easy half-day for families. For parents who want a manageable, central animal experience without the time and travel of a trip out to the Bronx, the Central Park Zoo is a lovely choice — small enough for little legs, well laid out and in the heart of Manhattan's greatest green space. Combine it with a picnic in the park and time the sea lion feeding, which is a reliable crowd-pleaser for children.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–17:00 (seasonal)
Price
$20 adult; $14 child 3–12; under 3 free
Getting there
Subway N/R/W to Fifth Av–59 St; enter Central Park at 64th St
Insider tip: A compact zoo inside Central Park, good for younger children — snow leopards, penguins and red pandas. Allow two hours.
3.Bronx Zoo
The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States — 107 hectares in the Bronx, home to more than 6,000 animals from 700 species, and a fantastic full day out for families. Open since 1899, it pioneered naturalistic habitats over cages, and its standout exhibits keep children absorbed: Tiger Mountain, with Siberian tigers; Congo Gorilla Forest, a recreated rainforest of western lowland gorillas; the Wild Asia Monorail, a 20-minute ride past elephants, rhinos and water buffalo; and a Children's Zoo where younger visitors can pet animals. The Total Experience ticket ($44) covers all the exhibits plus the monorail and a 4D cinema, and Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish, though queues form early. Allow five to six hours for a proper visit — it is a big site, and comfortable shoes and a plan help. It is reached on the 2 or 5 subway or the BxM11 express bus from Manhattan, about an hour away. For families willing to make the trip out of Manhattan, the Bronx Zoo rewards it richly, with world-class animal exhibits and enough space and variety to fill a whole day. Some exhibits move indoors in the colder months, so check ahead in winter.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–17:00 (seasonal)
Price
$44 Total Experience; pay-what-you-wish Wed
Getting there
Subway 2/5 to West Farms Square, or BxM11 express bus
Insider tip: The largest metro zoo in the USA — 6,000 animals across 107 hectares. Wednesdays are pay-what-you-wish; allow a full day.
4.Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is set aboard a genuine aircraft carrier, the USS Intrepid, launched in 1943 and now moored at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. Its exhibits are a hit with children and aviation fans: the Space Shuttle Enterprise (the first shuttle built, which never flew in space), a Lockheed A-12 Blackbird spy plane, a Concorde once flown by Air France, and the Growler submarine, which visitors can go inside. Across the flight deck sit dozens of military aircraft, and interactive exhibits explain flight, space and naval history. Admission is $35 for adults and $26 for children aged 5–12, and it best suits children aged around six and up, with about four hours needed to see it properly. It sits on the West Side, an easy trip from Midtown, and its riverside location adds to the appeal. For families with children who love planes, ships, space or all three, the Intrepid is one of the most engaging and hands-on museums in the city — a chance to walk the deck of a real warship and stand beneath a space shuttle. Buy tickets online, and check whether any special flight simulators or tours are running during your visit.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–17:00
Price
$35 adult; $26 child 5–12
Getting there
Subway A/C/E to 42 St, then walk or bus to Pier 86, W 46th St
Insider tip: Set on a real 1943 aircraft carrier, with the Space Shuttle Enterprise and a Concorde. Great for ages 6+; allow four hours.
5.Children's Museum of Manhattan
The Children's Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side, open since 1973, is a five-storey playground of hands-on, imaginative exhibits designed for children from birth to around age ten. Interactive themed areas — over the years including Curious George and Dora & Diego worlds, plus body- and science-themed exhibits such as an MRI-machine simulator — invite children to climb, build, role-play and experiment, learning through play. Admission is $17 per person (the same for adults and children), free for under-1s, and a visit takes around three hours. It is entirely indoors and air-conditioned, which makes it a reliable choice for rainy days or the height of summer, and it suits younger children particularly well — the age group often underserved by the city's bigger museums. It sits close to Central Park and the American Museum of Natural History, so it slots easily into an Upper West Side day with little ones. For families with toddlers and young children who need a space designed entirely for them — where they can touch, play and burn energy — the Children's Museum of Manhattan is one of the best options in the city. Check opening days before you go, as they can vary.
Hours
Most days ~10:00–17:00 (closed some days; check ahead)
Price
$17 per person; under 1 free
Getting there
Subway 1 to 86 St or B/C to 81 St; on West 83rd St
Insider tip: Five floors of hands-on play for under-10s — perfect for rainy days and younger children. Allow three hours.
6.Rink at Rockefeller Center
The Rink at Rockefeller Center is New York's most famous ice rink, set in the sunken plaza beneath the giant Rockefeller Christmas tree and open roughly from October to April. It is the most photographed ice rink in the world, especially once the tree is lit in early December, and skating here is a quintessential New York winter experience for families and couples alike. Skate hire is included, with general admission running $25–60 depending on the date (the Christmas week is the priciest), and VIP options adding 'skip the line' access and hot chocolate. A session lasts around 90 minutes on the ice. It is best for children aged five and up, though the surrounding spectacle — the tree, the golden Prometheus statue, the holiday crowds and the Fifth Avenue window displays a block away — is magical at any age. Book a timed session ahead, especially over the holidays when it is extremely busy. For families visiting in winter, a skate here, wrapped up warm beneath the tree, is one of the season's great memories. Combine it with the nearby Top of the Rock observation deck and the Fifth Avenue Christmas windows for a perfect festive afternoon.
Hours
Seasonal, ~October–April
Price
General admission $25–60 (higher over the holidays)
Getting there
Subway B/D/F/M to 47–50 Sts–Rockefeller Center
Insider tip: The famous holiday ice rink beneath the Christmas tree, open roughly October to April. Book timed skating sessions ahead.
7.Madame Tussauds New York
Madame Tussauds New York, open in Times Square since 2000, is the New York outpost of the international waxwork museum, with more than 200 lifelike figures of celebrities — from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Tom Cruise and famous politicians. Themed zones cover Hollywood, sports stars, music and a Marvel Super Heroes 4D experience, and the whole point is the chance to pose for photos alongside your favourite stars. Admission is $38 for adults and $32 for children aged 3–12, and a visit takes around two and a half hours. It is squarely a fun, photo-driven attraction rather than an educational museum, and it suits families and teenagers who enjoy the celebrity angle, as well as being a reliable indoor option on a hot or rainy day right in the heart of Times Square. Book online to save on the gate price. For families with children who love the idea of standing next to a lifelike Spider-Man, pop star or film hero — and who want an easy, entertaining stop between the sights of Times Square — Madame Tussauds delivers exactly what it promises. Combine it with the neon spectacle of the square outside and a Broadway show for a classic Times Square evening.
Hours
Daily ~10:00–20:00
Price
$38 adult; $32 child 3–12
Getting there
Subway 1/2/3/7/N/Q/R/W/S to Times Sq–42 St; on W 42nd St
Insider tip: The Times Square waxwork museum, with Marvel and pop-star zones. Book online to save; allow about two and a half hours.
8.Luna Park (Coney Island)
Luna Park is the classic Coney Island amusement park, open since 2010 on the site of the original 1903 Luna Park, and a brilliant day out with older children. Its star attraction is the Cyclone, the wooden roller coaster of 1927 — a National Historic Landmark, 26 metres high, that rattles and thrills in a way modern steel coasters cannot match. Alongside it are more than 50 rides, plus Deno's Wonder Wheel, the 1920s Ferris wheel next door. An unlimited-ride wristband is around $50 per person, or you can pay about $10 per ride. It is open only from April to October, closed through the winter, and it suits children aged around six and up. The subway (D, F, N or Q) reaches Coney Island–Stillwell Avenue in about 45 minutes from Manhattan, and the wider area — the beach, the boardwalk, the New York Aquarium and Nathan's Famous hot dogs since 1916 — easily fills a whole day. For families visiting in the warmer months, a day at Coney Island combines rides, sand, sea and classic Americana in one nostalgic, only-in-New-York outing. Ride the Cyclone, grab a hot dog and stroll the boardwalk.
Hours
Open April–October (seasonal hours)
Price
Rides ~$10 each; unlimited wristband $50
Getting there
Subway D/F/N/Q to Coney Island–Stillwell Av
Insider tip: The classic Coney Island amusement park, home of the 1927 Cyclone. Open April–October; take the D/F/N/Q, about 45 min.