Best Museums in NYC for Kids (and Which Ones Are Pay What You Wish)
The big names, the small ones that suit a six year old better, and who really gets pay what you wish, with prices, free days, stroller rules and subway stops checked.
The short answer
The best museums in NYC for kids are the Children's Museum of Manhattan (ages 0 to 6), Brooklyn Children's Museum (6 months to 10), the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid and the New York Hall of Science. Pay what you wish is mostly for New York State or City residents, so visitors pay full price at the big ones; the Queens Museum is pay what you wish for everyone.
Checked October 5, 2026. Prices and hours move, so the museum's own page wins on the day.
New York has more museums than a family could visit in a year, and most lists of the best museums in NYC for kids are just the three famous ones and a hopeful sentence about stamina. This one is built differently. It covers the big names, then the smaller places that suit a six year old better, and it says plainly which ones are pay what you wish, who that applies to, and where the stairs are.
Best museums in NYC for kids: the quick version
- Best for under 6: Children's Museum of Manhattan (designed for ages 0 to 6) and Brooklyn Children's Museum (6 months to 10).
- Best for dinosaurs and big stuff: American Museum of Natural History, and the Intrepid for planes and a submarine.
- Best for a hands-on morning: New York Hall of Science in Queens.
- Best free or cheap: Queens Museum (pay what you wish), Museum of the City of New York (kids free), Museum of the Moving Image (free Thursdays 2pm to 6pm).
- Smaller and easier on the nerves: the Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island picks further down.
A museum visit goes well when it is short, has a snack in it, and ends before anyone says the word 'bored'. Forty-five minutes of dinosaurs beats three hours of 'we paid for this'.
Pay what you wish, and who it is actually for
Several big museums let you choose your price, but the rule is almost always for New York State or city residents, with ID, and it is not for tourists. Visitors pay the standard price. Here is how it works at the places in this guide, as the museums describe it:
- American Museum of Natural History: New York State residents pay what they wish (suggested $25 adult, $14 child 3 to 12). Standard adult $37, child $22.
- The Met: New York State residents pay what they wish. Children 12 and under are free for everyone.
- Museum of the City of New York: New York City residents pay what they wish. Anyone 18 and under is free.
- Queens Museum: pay what you wish for everyone (suggested $8 adult), and children 12 and under are free.
- MoMA: 16 and under free for everyone; New York State residents are free on Fridays 5:30pm to 8:30pm with a reservation.
One more free route. Brooklyn and New York Public Library cardholders can reserve passes through Culture Pass, but the library pages say passes are limited and have to be booked ahead, so it is a plan, not a walk-up.
Manhattan: the big names and the smaller ones
Manhattan has the most famous museums and also the longest lines on rainy Saturdays. Book timed tickets where the museum offers them, pick one wing rather than the whole building, and ride an accessible station if you have a stroller.
American Museum of Natural History
At 200 Central Park West, open daily 10am to 5:30pm. It is the one with the whale, the dinosaurs and the very large elephants, and it is far bigger than a child's attention span, so choose two halls and leave. Strollers are welcome except in theaters, and double strollers aren't allowed in ticketed galleries.
There are restrooms on floors 1 to 4, family restrooms included.
Practical
- Subway
- 72 St (1/2/3), accessible, about 0.46 mile; 81 St (B/C) is not accessible
- Stroller
- Welcome, except theaters; no doubles in ticketed galleries
- Restrooms
- Floors 1 to 4, including family restrooms
- Cost
- Adult $37, child 3 to 12 $22, under 3 free; NY State residents pay what they wish
- Check first
- Which ticketed exhibits you want, and timed entry
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
At 1000 Fifth Avenue. Children 12 and under are free, so the Met costs a family less than it looks. The Egyptian wing and the Temple of Dendur are the child-friendly start, and the armor hall is where a certain sort of seven year old will refuse to leave. The museum lists the 81st Street Studio as a family space, so check what it is running that day.
I couldn't verify the current hours or stroller policy, so check both on the museum's page.
Practical
- Subway
- 86 St (4/5/6), partly accessible (uptown local only), about 0.4 mile
- Cost
- Adults $30, seniors $22, students $17; 12 and under free; NY State residents pay what they wish
- Check first
- Hours, stroller policy and the 81st Street Studio schedule
Children's Museum of Manhattan
At 212 West 83rd Street, open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, and designed for ages 0 to 6. Tickets are $17 online and $18 in person for everyone aged 1 and up, adults included, and under 1 is free. Strollers aren't allowed in the exhibits, but there is a free stroller and coat check. Restrooms are on the third floor and the lower level.
The obvious pick for a toddler. Station note: the closest local stops on the 1 (79 St and 86 St) are not accessible.
Practical
- Subway
- 72 St or 96 St (1/2/3), accessible, about 0.6 mile; 79 St and 86 St (1) are not accessible
- Stroller
- Not in exhibits; free stroller and coat check
- Restrooms
- Third floor and lower level
- Cost
- $17 online, $18 in person; under 1 free
- Check first
- Timed tickets, and elevators go out of service: check the mta status page first
Museum of the City of New York
At 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, open Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm, with Wednesdays open until 9pm. Anyone 18 and under is free, adults are $23, and New York City residents pay what they wish. It is a good, quiet museum about the city your children are standing in, which makes it a fair rainy day pick with older kids.
The 6 train's 103 St stop is not accessible, but the 96 St station on the Q is.
Practical
- Subway
- 96 St (Q), accessible, about 0.6 mile; 103 St (6) is not accessible, then three blocks
- Cost
- 18 and under free; adults $23; NYC residents pay what they wish
- Check first
- Wednesday evening hours, which the site lists as free (check)
Children's Museum of the Arts
At 103 Charlton Street, for ages 10 months to 15 years. It is more messy studio than exhibit hall, so don't wear anything you love. Weekends run 10am to 5pm, while weekday hours vary: general admission is closed Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday runs to 6pm. Pay as you wish on Thursdays 4pm to 6pm.
Practical
- Subway
- W 4 St (A/B/C/D/E/F/M), accessible, about 0.48 mile; Houston St (1) is not accessible; Spring St (C/E) is downtown direction only
- Check first
- Weekday hours and the Thursday pay-as-you-wish slot
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
A real aircraft carrier on the Hudson at Pier 86, with planes on the deck, a space shuttle in its own pavilion and a submarine. From October to March it is open daily 10am to 5pm. Adults 13 to 64 are $38, children 5 to 12 are $28 and under 5 is free; NYC residents get a discount with ID. Strollers are prohibited in the submarine and the Concorde, and the Exploreum has the G-Force simulator and a 4D experience. Plan two to three hours.
The walk is long and exposed to the wind, so dress for the river.
Practical
- Subway
- 34 St-Hudson Yards (7), accessible, about 0.6 mile
- Stroller
- Prohibited in the submarine and the Concorde
- Cost
- Adults $38, children 5 to 12 $28, under 5 free
- Time
- Two to three hours
- Check first
- Hours, the discount for NYC residents, and elevators go out of service: check the mta status page first
Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
At 11 West 53rd Street. It's open Monday to Thursday and Saturday to Sunday 10:30am to 5:30pm, and Fridays until 8:30pm. Adults are $30 and everyone 16 and under is free, which is generous. It suits children who like color, and it works best as one floor and a coffee.
Practical
- Subway
- 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (B/D/F/M), accessible, about 0.27 mile; 5 Av/53 St (E/F) is not accessible
- Cost
- Adults $30, 16 and under free; NY State residents free Fridays 5:30pm to 8:30pm with a reservation
- Check first
- Friday reservations and timed tickets
See also The rainy-day guide has more indoor options when the weather turns →
Brooklyn: a children's museum and a train one
Brooklyn Children's Museum
At 145 Brooklyn Avenue, open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (last entry 4:50pm), for ages 6 months to 10. General admission is $15, and Thursdays 2pm to 5pm are free courtesy of Amazon, with a reservation online. The exhibits are the sort that were made to be touched.
Practical
- Subway
- Crown Hts-Utica Av (3/4), accessible, about 0.7 mile
- Cost
- $15; free Thursdays 2pm to 5pm (reserve online)
- Check first
- Free Thursday booking, and elevators go out of service: check the mta status page first
New York Transit Museum
A museum of old subway cars in a decommissioned station at 99 Schermerhorn Street, open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm. Adults $15, children 2 to 17 $10. The main entrance is two flights down, the wheelchair entrance is at Schermerhorn and Court Streets, and the museum discourages heavy strollers (there is stroller parking at the rear). Good for any child who has ever pressed a subway window.
Practical
- Subway
- Borough Hall (2/3/4/5), accessible, about 0.12 to 0.18 mile
- Stroller
- Heavy strollers discouraged; parking at the rear
- Cost
- Adults $15, children 2 to 17 $10
- Check first
- Which entrance suits your stroller
Queens: the museums most visitors skip
Queens is where the good surprises are. It also has the longest journeys, and most of the nearest stops aren't accessible, so check before you take a stroller.
New York Hall of Science (NYSCI)
At 47-01 111th Street, open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm). Adults are $22 and children 2 to 17 $19, and Fridays 2pm to 5pm are free with a reservation. It has a preschool area for under 6, strollers are permitted throughout, and Saturday 10am to 11am is a sensory hour. The Science Playground costs $6 more.
Practical
- Subway
- Junction Blvd (7), accessible, about 0.92 mile; 111 St (7) is not accessible
- Stroller
- Permitted throughout
- Cost
- Adults $22, children 2 to 17 $19; free Fridays 2pm to 5pm, reserved
- Check first
- Reservation for Friday free hours, and the Science Playground season
Queens Museum
Open Wednesday to Friday noon to 5pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm), and pay what you wish for everyone. The reason to go is the Panorama of the City of New York: a 9,335 square foot model of all five boroughs, built at a scale of 1:1200 for the 1964-65 World's Fair, with glass balconies over it. Children find their own street. It is a short, satisfying visit.
Practical
- Subway
- Mets-Willets Point (7), not accessible, about a 15-minute walk
- Cost
- Pay what you wish (suggested adult $8); children 12 and under free
- Check first
- Parking is free but limited; check hours
Museum of the Moving Image
At 36-01 35 Avenue, open Thursday 2pm to 6pm, Friday 2pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am to 6pm. It's best for older children who like games and film, with arcade games and a lot of screens. Adults $20, children 3 to 17 $10, under 3 free, and Thursdays 2pm to 6pm are free. Steinway St and 36 Av are not accessible, so a stroller needs a longer plan.
Practical
- Subway
- Queens Plaza (E/F/R) or Queensboro Plaza (7), accessible, about 0.9 mile; Steinway St (M/R) and 36 Av (N/W) are not accessible
- Cost
- Adults $20, children 3 to 17 $10; free Thursdays 2pm to 6pm
- Check first
- Thursday free hours and which exhibits are running
Louis Armstrong House Museum
At 34-56 107th Street, open Thursday to Saturday 11am to 4pm. Hourly 45-minute house tours run from 11am to 3pm with a maximum of 10 people. Adults are $20 (exhibits only $10), under 5 is free and Corona residents pay $5. Honest warning: the house tour has two steep flights of stairs. The newer Louis Armstrong Center is wheelchair accessible and has restrooms.
A small, warm place for a child who likes music, and nobody will mind a bit of wriggling.
Practical
- Subway
- Junction Blvd (7), accessible, about 0.5 mile; 103 St-Corona Plaza (7) is not accessible, about a 10-minute walk
- Stroller
- Two steep flights of stairs on the house tour; the Center is accessible
- Restrooms
- In the Louis Armstrong Center
- Cost
- Adults $20 (exhibits only $10); under 5 free
- Check first
- Tour times and the stairs
Staten Island: one that is worth the ferry
Staten Island Children's Museum
In Building M at Snug Harbor, 1000 Richmond Terrace, open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, for ages 1 and up. It has 12 indoor and outdoor exhibits, is stroller friendly and has restrooms on site. The Snack Zone Cafe is open 11am to 1pm Wednesday to Friday, and Bank of America cardholders get free admission on the first full weekend of the month. I could not retrieve the ticket price, so check it.
Practical
- Subway
- St George (Staten Island Railway) is accessible, about 1.5 mile; the Staten Island Ferry lands beside it
- Stroller
- Stroller friendly, per the museum
- Restrooms
- On site
- Check first
- Ticket price and the bank-card free weekend
Picks for a six year old and a four year old
If you only have one day and a six year old, go to the American Museum of Natural History in the morning, take a break, and see only two halls. If the day also contains a four year old, swap in the Children's Museum of Manhattan, which they can run around in without anyone minding. On a very wet day with older children, the Intrepid has the most to climb on.
Before you go
- Book timed tickets online where the museum offers them. It is the best way to avoid the entrance line.
- Strollers: most museums allow them in the galleries, and a few don't. Where it matters, the cards above say so.
- Restrooms: the big museums have them on several floors, but check the family restroom location when you arrive.
- Elevators on the subway fail often. Check the MTA elevator status page before you leave.
See also The subway-with-a-stroller guide lists the accessible stations and what to check →
See also More free ideas for the days when the budget is the main exhibit →
Every place in this guide, on a map
13 places. The map loads only when you ask for it, from OpenStreetMap.
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Questions people ask
What are the best museums in NYC for kids?
For under 6, the Children's Museum of Manhattan and Brooklyn Children's Museum. For older children, the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid and the New York Hall of Science in Queens.
Which NYC museums are pay what you wish?
The American Museum of Natural History and the Met are pay what you wish for New York State residents, the Museum of the City of New York for New York City residents, and the Queens Museum for everyone. Visitors from out of state pay the standard price at the first three.
Which NYC museums are free for kids?
The Met is free for children 12 and under, MoMA for 16 and under, and the Museum of the City of New York for 18 and under. The Queens Museum is free for children 12 and under.
Which NYC museum is best for toddlers?
The Children's Museum of Manhattan is designed for ages 0 to 6, and Brooklyn Children's Museum takes children from 6 months. Strollers aren't allowed in the exhibits at the Manhattan one, though it has a free stroller check.
Can you take a stroller into NYC museums?
Mostly yes, with limits. The American Museum of Natural History allows strollers except in theaters and doesn't allow doubles in ticketed galleries. The Intrepid prohibits them in the submarine and the Concorde, and the Transit Museum discourages heavy ones.
Are there free museum days for kids in NYC?
Several. Brooklyn Children's Museum is free Thursdays 2pm to 5pm, NYSCI is free Fridays 2pm to 5pm with a reservation, and the Museum of the Moving Image is free Thursdays 2pm to 6pm. Check each museum's page for current rules.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked against 15 pages on Monday, October 5, 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm with the venue.
Show the sources
- American Museum of Natural History: plan your visit
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art: plan your visit
- Children's Museum of Manhattan: visit
- Museum of the City of New York: visit
- Children's Museum of the Arts: visit
- Intrepid Museum: visit
- MoMA: visit
- Brooklyn Children's Museum: visit
- New York Transit Museum: visit
- NYSCI: visit
- Queens Museum: visit
- Museum of the Moving Image: visit
- Louis Armstrong House Museum: visit
- Staten Island Children's Museum: visit
- MTA subway station data with ADA flags (data.ny.gov)
