The Brood List, number 22 of 40

Play all morning at the Children's Museum of Manhattan

Four floors of hands-on play for ages 0 to 6. Upper West Side, Manhattan.

ManhattanFamousUnder $25IndoorsUnder 5s

By DanUpdated Monday, October 5, 2026Famous for a reason

The entrance of the Children's Museum of Manhattan on West 83rd Street — Photo: Children's Museum of Manhattan (55466392496) by Ajay Suresh, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

The short answer

The Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is at 212 West 83rd Street on the Upper West Side and is designed for ages 0 to 6. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm, and at the time of writing tickets are $17 online or $18 in person for adults and children aged 1 to 18, with babies under 1 free. Its all-day ticket lets you leave and come back the same day, which is handy for a nap or a lunch run.

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What it is like

Be honest about ages. The exhibits across all four floors are pitched at young learners, and the museum says older children may enjoy select exhibits. I would take that to mean a seven-year-old will give it an hour and a half and then start eyeing the exit. For a three or four year old it is a proper morning. The flat price also means a family of four pays $68 online or $72 at the door.

The practical rules are the sort that catch people out. Strollers are not allowed in the exhibit areas (there is a free stroller check, so you can stop circling the lobby). Food and drink are not allowed inside, apart from baby formula and water, and there are water bottle refill stations. So lunch is a plan you make before you arrive, not an idea you have at 12:15 with a hungry toddler.

Best time to go

A weekday morning; it is the classic rainy-day answer.

Tips before you go

Eat before or after; food and drink are not allowed inside except formula and water.
Use the free stroller check at the entrance.
The ticket is good all day, so you can leave for lunch in the neighborhood and come back.

Practical

Address: The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024
Subway: 1 to 79 St or 86 St, or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History or 86 St. The MTA does not list any of these stations as accessible; the nearest accessible stations are 72 St and 96 St (1/2/3), a longish walk. Check the MTA's elevator status.
Stroller: Not permitted in the exhibit areas; a complimentary stroller check is available.
Restrooms: A fully accessible restroom on the Third Floor and an ambulatory accessible restroom on the Lower Level.
Cost: $17 online or $18 in person for adults and children 1 to 18; seniors and visitors with disabilities $14 online or $15 in person; under 1 free.
Time: 2 to 3 hours with a four or five-year-old.
Check first: Current ticket prices and any free or discounted days (none were listed on the visit page I read).
Ages: Under 5s
Indoors or out: Indoors
Best seasons: All year

Official page ↗

Checked against the pages under Sources. Times and prices change, so check before you set off. Elevators go out of service: check the MTA's elevator status.

Where it is

The Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024. OpenStreetMap ↗ · Directions ↗

What's on here

From The New York Almanac, the next 60 days.

Tue, Oct 6 to Sun, Oct 11
Colombian Inspired Gold Foil Art
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
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 ↗
Tue, Oct 6 to Sun, Oct 11
Street Art on the Move: Truck Design
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
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 ↗
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 10:30
Whitney Museum Pop-Up Open Studio
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
Hands-on artmaking and a bilingual library in the museum's Inside Art space, run with the Whitney Museum. Organizer ↗
Sunday, October 11, 2026, 10:30
Bilingual Author Event with Luz Maria Mack
Children's Museum of Manhattan, Upper West Side, Manhattan · $17 museum admission online
A bilingual author program for young children, with two sessions (10:30am and 11:30am). Organizer ↗

Search The New York Almanac

Nearby on the Brood List

Meet the dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History
Upper West Side · 0.4 mile away
The Metropolitan Museum of Art with kids: three rooms, not three floors
Upper East Side · 0.9 mile away
A Central Park day: Heckscher Playground, the carousel and the zoo
Central Park, Midtown to Upper West Side · 1.2 miles away
Take the Roosevelt Island Tramway above the East River
Upper East Side · 1.8 miles away

Questions people ask

What ages is the Children's Museum of Manhattan for?

It is designed for ages 0 to 6, and older children may enjoy some exhibits.

How much are tickets?

At the time of writing, $17 online or $18 in person for adults and children aged 1 to 18; under 1 is free.

Can I bring a stroller?

Strollers are not allowed in the exhibit areas, but the museum offers a complimentary stroller check.

Can I bring food?

No. Food and drink are not allowed inside, except baby formula and water.

How much does it cost?

$17 online or $18 in person for adults and children 1 to 18; seniors and visitors with disabilities $14 online or $15 in person; under 1 free.

Which subway stop is nearest?

1 to 79 St or 86 St, or B/C to 81 St-Museum of Natural History or 86 St. The MTA does not list any of these stations as accessible; the nearest accessible stations are 72 St and 96 St (1/2/3), a longish walk. Check the MTA's elevator status.

How long do you need?

2 to 3 hours.

Sources

Children's Museum of Manhattan, plan your visit

The whole list

All 40 on a map

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The printable list

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