16 Things to Do in New York City with Kids

Remus

Last updated 12 Mar 2024

Full photo rights granted to Klook by photo owner

Things to do in New York City

From Times Square to the Empire State Building, you'd be hard pushed to ever run out of things to do with kids in New York City. With so many things to see and experience in the Big Apple, we can totally understand if you’re a bit daunted about where to start your adventure, so to help you out, we’ve pulled together a couple of must-do activities to fully maximise your stay.

See all the sights in New York City with your own Go New York City Card – Explorer Pass! The pass allows you to experience 11 attractions and tours in and around the city and you can handpick the ones that are most suited for your family.

Here’s a quick list of the things to do in New York city:

Bike around Central Park!
Watch a Broadway Show
Get tickets to a Baseball Game
Visit the Color Factory!
Bronx Zoo
Empire State Building
The High Line
The Vessel
New York Museums
Brooklyn Botanical Garden
The Oculus
Chelsea Market
Dylan’s Candy Bar
Lombardi’s Pizza
New York Pizza
New York Hotdog

Read along to see how you can navigate the streets of New York City:

MUST-DO

1. Bike around Central Park

With 843 acres of land, make sure to rent a bike to enjoy the beautiful sights of various flora and fauna within the park. If you don’t know how to ride a bike or you are bringing an infant or a toddler, don’t fret! You can spend your time going on a walk or having a picnic in the park instead.

Address: Central Park stretches from 59th Street to 110th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Central Park West

Operating Hours: 6 AM to 1 AM, Monday to Sunday

2. Watch a Broadway Show

With all those posters plastered throughout Times Square, it’s an absolute must that you watch at least one Broadway play in New York. Come see the stars portray some of your favorite characters in musicals such as Wicked, The Phantom of the Opera, Waitress the Musical, The Lion King, and so much more! These musicals will leave a great impression for your kids. Make sure to check permitted entry age and book your tickets beforehand on Klook so you get the best seats in the house at the best price.

Pre-book Your NYC Broadway Tickets on Klook!

3. Get tickets to a Baseball Game

Take yourself out to a ball game even if you aren’t familiar with this famous US Sport! Read up to understand how the game works and watch some highlights before seeing the New York Yankees in action as they play in the different stadiums across the city. Grab a quick snack and cheer on your favorite team with your foam hand in the air. Remember, watch carefully, because you might just be that lucky fan who gets to catch that major home run ball.

4. Visit the Colour Factory

Let your true colours shine through with the Colour Factory! Learn more about different palettes, shades, hues, and even engage in some activities within the museum. With various rooms to explore, Colour Factory is a definite eye-catcher that’ll be sure to captivate your imagination.

Address: 251 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013

Operating Hours: 10 AM to 10 PM, Fridays to Tuesdays | 9:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Wednesdays

5. Bronx Zoo

Zoo are one of the best places to take your kids. They can meet and possibly interact with many animals close-up in the Bronx Zoo. There are monorails and trams that bring you around the zoo, but we’d suggest taking a walk instead without rushing through, that way you can say h and bye to each Tiger or Gorilla that you’ve encountered. Like many other zoos, there are special 11am and 3pm feeding times to lookout for and you’d want to check out the daily calendar for the latest update.

MUST-SEE

6. Empire State Building

Everyone knows it’s not a trip to New York unless you’ve gone to the Empire State building. One of the most iconic buildings in the world, the Empire State building is one of the main skyscrapers that beautifully shows you the New York City skyline on the 86th floor. Lines can be long, so make sure you get a ticket beforehand to see the breathtaking sight that is New York City without the hassle of waiting in line.

Address: 20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001

Operating Hours: 8 AM to 2 AM, Monday to Sunday

7. The High Line

The High Line is a public space in the city perfect for anyone looking to relax amidst New York’s fast-paced lifestyle. Formerly one of the city’s old railroad tracks, this elevated park was renovated into a communal area for locals and tourists to gather. Here, you can enjoy various dining experiences, public art and gardens.

Operating Hours: Open daily: 7 AM to 10 PM, April 1 through May 31 | 7 AM to 11 PM, June 1 through September 30 | 7 AM to 10 PM, October 1 through November 30 | 7 AM to 7 PM, December 1 through March 31

8. The Vessel

Having recently opened in March 2019, the Vessel has quickly become one of New York’s most iconic landmarks. The Vessel’s spiral staircase showcases over 154 flights of stairs, 2,500 steps, and 80 landings. This is definitely worth the climb just to see the majestic views of the city!

Address: The Shops and Restaurants at Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001

Operating Hours: 10 AM to 9 PM, Monday to Sunday

9. New York Museums

Aside from its many iconic landmarks, New York City is also home to some world-class museums, too. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you’ll lay your eyes on some extremely rare pieces of art that tell tales of America’s past and present – including each years’ exhibition from The MET Ball. While you can pay the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) a visit to appreciate modern and contemporary art.

Book your museums tickets to the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) and skip the long queues!

Address: The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10028) | The MoMA (11 West 53 Street, New York, NY 10019)

10. Brooklyn Botanical Garden

Relax and unwind at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, a public park located outside of Manhattan. This urban botanic garden boasts of 52 acres of land where you can take a lovely stroll to see the various flora and fauna within the park’s multiple gardens and conservatory. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is home to multiple gardens within a garden, plant collections, as well as the Steinhardt Conservatory.

Address: 990 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225

Operating Hours: 8 AM to 6 PM, Tuesday to Friday | 10 AM to 10 PM, Saturday to Sunday

11. The Oculus

Travel further in time as you walk into the Oculus – one of New York’s newer landmarks. Otherwise known as the World Trade Center Station, the Oculus is one of the most expensive train stations built, boasting a jaw-dropping design suitable for anybody’s Instagram feeds! Designed by Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus replaces the PATH train station that was previously destroyed during the 9/11 attacks.

Address: New York, NY 10007

Operating Hours: 12 AM to 11:59 PM, Monday to Sunday

MUST-EAT

12. Chelsea Market

Curious to find out where the locals go to dine? Head onto Chelsea Market for a wide variety of both food and drink to choose from. With over 35 stalls in the area, this indoor market has food from all over the world! From New York Cheesecakes to Boston Clam Chowders, the options at Chelsea Market will surely make your taste buds tingle with excitement.

Address: 75 9th Avenue (Between 15th and 16 Streets), New York, NY 10011

Operating Hours: 7 AM to 2 AM, Mondays to Saturdays | 8 AM to 10 PM, Sundays

13. Dylan’s Candy Bar

Dylan’s Candy Bar is an unmissable stop for children. The bar is known for selling over 7,000 different types of candy and it’s decor will light up any child’s eye. They also sell ice cream which is so delicious, you won’t be able to say no to an extra scoop!

14. Lombardi’s Pizza

Can you believe that you can still try what is said to be America’s first pizza created in 1905? In Lombardi’s Pizza, you can try their infamous coal-oven baked pizza – favored by locals, tourists, and celebrities alike! Lombardi’s simple combination of tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil always keep customers coming back for more. Drop by and you might just spot someone famous at the next table.

Address: 32 Spring St, New York, NY 10012

Operating Hours: 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Sundays to Thursdays | 11:30 AM to 12 AM, Fridays to Saturdays

15. New York Pizza

If there is one dish you need to try in New York – it’s definitely got to be their pizza. New Yorkers pride themselves on their large, hand-tossed, thin crust pizzas, and we totally understand why! Fortunately for us tourists, New York has dozens of pizzerias to try all over the city, so you have no reason not to get a slice or two.

16. New York Hotdog

If there’s one thing you can count on while you’re in the streets of New York, it’s a hotdog stand at almost every corner. Kids love it! If you get hungry while shopping on Fifth Avenue, don’t worry, the street has a handful of hotdog stands just for you. Just like their pizzas, New York’s hotdogs are simply not the same hotdog you’ll find anywhere else. New York’s hotdogs are often topped with a spicy brown mustard, with either sautéed onions or sauerkraut in tomato sauce.

There’s definitely more things to do, see and eat with your kids. Alongside our top favourites, you can find out more New York experiences at Klook!

New York United States

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