Things to do in Manhattan with kids

Central Park in the middle, with the big museums lined up along both sides of it (the Natural History Museum on the west, the Met on the east), the High Line on the West Side, and the ferries from Lower Manhattan to the Statue of Liberty and Governors Island. It's dense, so most days are short walks between long stops, and the hunt for a restroom is a real part of the plan.

Photo: Bethesda Fountain and the Lake, Central Park, Manhattan, New York by Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Holidays and seasons10 min↗

Best Museums in NYC for Kids (and Which Ones Are Pay What You Wish)

From our family album

Our own photos from days out in Manhattan, from when the children were tiny to now.

Two children on a walkway inside the white, cave-like atrium of the Gilder Center. — Inside the Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History, the big white canyon of a building that opened in 2023. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A small girl in a patterned dress among tropical plants in a butterfly house. — In the butterfly vivarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A child at a floor-to-ceiling window with the trees of Central Park below. — Looking out over Central Park from the museum's big windows on Central Park West. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A child in a cap standing below a mounted Triceratops skeleton. — Meeting the Triceratops in the dinosaur halls at the American Museum of Natural History. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A girl standing beside a mounted Stegosaurus skeleton in a bright gallery. — The Stegosaurus on the fourth floor of the American Museum of Natural History. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

Two children beside a purple amethyst geode taller than they are. — The giant amethyst geode in the Halls of Gems and Minerals at the American Museum of Natural History. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A toddler in a stroller beside the black and white Imagine mosaic. — The Imagine mosaic at Strawberry Fields in Central Park, seen from stroller height. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A dad and a small boy in a cap on the grass, with tall thin skyscrapers in the background. — Sheep Meadow in Central Park, with the towers of Billionaires' Row behind. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

Two children at a ferry window looking at the churning white water behind the boat. — Watching the wake from the Statue of Liberty ferry out of Battery Park. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

A girl in a sun hat looking back at the downtown skyline from a boat. — Lower Manhattan from the deck of the ferry to Liberty Island. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

Two children at a railing on Liberty Island, the skyline behind them under a blue sky. — On Liberty Island, with Lower Manhattan across the harbor. Our own photo, May 2024. More in Manhattan

What is on in Manhattan soon

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Colombian Inspired Gold Foil Art
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History
In PlayWorks, kids tear and mold gold foil into small sculptures, inspired by Colombian gold craftsmanship. Runs through the weekend in 45 minute sessions. Organizer
Street Art on the Move: Truck Design
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History
A Makerspace craft inspired by painted South American trucks: kids make a mini vehicle with animal scenes and landscapes. Two sessions a day Tuesday to Friday, afternoons over the weekend. The museum is built for ages 0 to 6. Organizer
Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!
10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue
A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer
After School Art Explorers: Free Drop-In
2:30pm, The Jewish Museum, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free
Subway: 6 to 96 St
A free drop-in art program for kids after school. Organizer

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Family Story Time
10:30am, Museum of Modern Art, Midtown, Manhattan
Subway: E/M to 5 Av/53 St
A 30 minute story time for kids in the Education Center. MoMA lists kids 16 and under as free admission. Organizer

Thursday, October 8, 2026

Storytime at The Met: Drip! Drop! Splash!
10:15am, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan · Free with museum admission
Subway: 4/5/6 to 86 St, then about a 10 minute walk west to Fifth Avenue
A toddler storytime in the galleries with a second session at 11am. Free with museum admission, no registration listed. Organizer

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Rink at Rockefeller Center Opens for the Season
The Rink at Rockefeller Center, Midtown, Manhattan · General skate from $22
Subway: B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr
The rink opens for its 2026 to 2027 season on October 10, with general skating from $22 for a 60 minute session. Hours had not been posted when we checked. Organizer
Whitney Museum Pop-Up Open Studio
10:30am, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
Subway: 1 to 79 St or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History
Hands-on artmaking and a bilingual library in the museum's Inside Art space, run with the Whitney Museum. Organizer

Everything on in Manhattan

The New York Almanac

What's on in Manhattan

Dated family events, seasonal happenings and local knowledge, updated every week.

Open the Almanac

Free things to do Rainy and freezing days Museums Parks and nature Eating out with kids Holidays and seasons Visiting New York with kids Neighborhoods Getting around Brooklyn Queens The Bronx Staten Island Day trips and weekends away The Brood List Playgrounds Subway with a stroller

Free, one short email a week. Thursday, 7am: the weather call, one proper day out and the family events worth leaving the apartment for this weekend, checked with the organizer. See the archive.

Thursday, 7am: the weather call for the weekend, made for you.
One proper day out: with the subway stop, the stroller verdict and where the restrooms are.
The family events worth it: each one checked with the organizer and linked, famous and lesser known side by side.

No spam, no ads. Unsubscribe from any email with one click. Privacy

Things to do in Manhattan with kids

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade With Kids: Where to Stand

Where to Find a Restroom in Manhattan With Kids: The Honest Map

Rainy Day Things to Do in NYC With Kids (Beyond the Big Museums)

NYC With Toddlers and Babies: What Actually Works

NYC Subway With a Stroller: Elevators, Etiquette, What to Avoid

Kid-Friendly Restaurants in NYC That Won't Glare at Your Stroller

Indoor Play Spaces in NYC for Freezing Days: Paid, Free and Library

Ice Skating in NYC With Kids: The Main Rinks Compared, With Prices

Halloween in NYC With Kids 2026: Parades, Candy and Pumpkins

Free Things to Do in NYC With Kids: 15 That Are Actually Free

First Trip to NYC With Kids: A Three-Day Plan That Doesn't Break Anyone

Christmas in NYC With Kids 2026: Tree, Trains, Lights, Rinks

Central Park With Kids: Day Plan, Playgrounds and Restrooms