Ice Skating in NYC With Kids: The Main Rinks Compared, With Prices
Eleven rinks across four boroughs, with the 2026-27 dates and prices that have actually been published, an honest note where they haven't, and a few that most visitors never find.
The short answer
The big free-admission rink is The Rink at Bryant Park's Winter Village (October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027), though skate rental there runs $18.72 to $64.48. Rockefeller Center opens October 10 with tickets from $22 for a 60-minute skate, and Wollman Rink in Central Park lists opening day as October 24. For lower prices, check the Davis Center in Central Park (children $5), NYC Parks' World Ice Arena in Queens and Lakeside in Prospect Park.
Checked October 5, 2026. Prices and dates below are from each rink's own page; where a rink hasn't published its 2026-27 prices, I've said so and linked the official page rather than guess.
Ice skating in NYC with kids is one of those things the city does so publicly that it's easy to book the wrong rink. The famous ones are in midtown, they cost more than most families expect, and on a December Saturday they have the atmosphere of a very beautiful parking lot. The good news is that there are also rinks in Queens, Brooklyn, Harlem and Staten Island where, going by the listed prices, a child can fall over for $5 to $10, and the day isn't ruined if it rains. Some of the 2026-27 seasons haven't even been announced, so this page tells you what's confirmed and what you need to check.
Bryant Park's rink has a rule that children can't be carried on the ice. It's a sensible rule. It will be tested by a four-year-old in the first ten minutes.
The quick version: dates and prices at the time of writing
- Rockefeller Center: opens October 10, 2026. General skate from $22 (60 minutes). Prices for rental and hours not yet listed on the official page.
- Bryant Park: October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027. Free to skate, $18.72 to $64.48 to rent skates.
- Wollman Rink, Central Park: opening day listed as October 24. Prices not published on the pages I could read.
- Roebling Rink, Brooklyn Bridge Park: November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Prices not yet published.
- Davis Center, Central Park: community skate children $5, adults $5 to $10, skate rental $10 (FAQ page). Season dates not announced yet.
- Lakeside, Prospect Park: season closed, returning toward the end of 2026. Currently posted prices start at $5 on Mondays.
- Year-round indoor rinks (Sky Rink, City Ice Pavilion, World Ice Arena): check each, since schedules change with hockey and lessons.
Midtown: the famous two
They're fine, and good for the trip photo. They're also the most expensive and, on a December weekend, the most crowded.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center
The official page says skating returns on October 10 for the 2026-27 season. General Skate is listed 'from $22' and VIP Skate 'from $131', sessions run 60 minutes, and the page says seasonal hours will be available soon. Last season, according to NBC New York, tickets ran from $22 to $124 depending on date and time, skate rental was $12 extra and the rink was open 9am to 11pm daily. 'From $22' is a starting price, and it varies by date and time.
Rules worth knowing: children under 6 must skate with an adult, children aged 7 to 13 must be supervised, phones and cameras are not allowed on the ice, and everyone entering The Rink needs a ticket, including non-skaters. That means a grandparent who just wants to watch needs a ticket too. Small lockers are free.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M to 47-50 Sts-Rockefeller Ctr (accessible station)
- Cost
- General skate from $22 for 60 minutes; rental extra, price not yet listed for 2026-27
- Time
- 60 minute sessions; about 30 minutes on the ice is plenty for a five-year-old
- Check first
- Seasonal hours, which the page says are coming soon.
The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village, Bryant Park
Free to skate, which the park says makes it NYC's largest free-admission rink, and which is also why it's crowded. The 2026 season runs October 28 to February 28, 2027, daily 8am to 10pm, with extended hours (8am to midnight) from November 19 to January 3. If you bring your own skates, it's free. If you rent, the page lists $18.72 to $64.48 including a fee, depending on the date. An Express Lane option is $87.52 with a rental, or $18.42 to $36.86 if you bring skates.
Rules: children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times, no more than two people may hold hands on the ice, spins, jumps and backwards skating are not allowed, and the rink says plainly that carrying a child on the ice is very dangerous. Limited lockers are available; bring a lock or buy one there.
Practical
- Subway
- B/D/F/M to 42 St-Bryant Pk (not accessible); 7 to 5 Av (not accessible); Times Sq-42 St (accessible station) is a couple of avenues away
- Cost
- Free to skate; rental $18.72 to $64.48; Express Lane from $18.42
- Time
- Plan 45 to 60 minutes including the rental line
- Check first
- Rental price by date, and extended hours. Check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one
Central Park: Wollman and the one almost nobody knows about
Wollman Rink
The big rink at the south end of Central Park, with the skyline behind it. The rink's own site lists opening day as October 24 for the 2026-27 season and names Wollman Park Partners as the operator. The pages I could read didn't list this season's ticket prices, so check the rink's site or call (833) 615-3500.
The Central Park Conservancy's page says the season runs from October to April, with posted hours of 10am to 2:30pm Monday and Tuesday, 10am to 10pm Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 11pm Friday and Saturday and 10am to 9pm Sunday (the page carries no year, so confirm). It also says the restroom is in an area that needs an admission fee and is not wheelchair accessible. That's worth knowing before a six-year-old announces an emergency at the far end of the rink. West Side Rag reported in October 2025 that the city had chosen a new operator to take over on May 1, 2027.
Practical
- Subway
- N/R/W to 5 Av/59 St (not accessible), or N/Q/R/W to 57 St-7 Av (accessible station), then a walk into the park
- Restrooms
- Inside the paid area; not wheelchair accessible per the Conservancy
- Cost
- Prices not published on the pages I could read; see the rink's site
- Check first
- Opening day, hours and ticket prices on wollmanrinknyc.com
Davis Center (Gottesman Rink)
Central Park's other rink, at the north end by the Harlem Meer, and a better deal if you want skating without the spectacle. The center's FAQ lists community skate at $10 for adults at peak times and $5 off peak, $5 for children aged 4 to 16 at all sessions, and free for children 3 and under. Skate rental is $10, a lock is $5 and skate aids (the plastic frames that help beginners) are $10. The Central Park Conservancy says more than half of ice time is reserved for community skating.
The skate page says skating season returns in November but I couldn't confirm the year or exact opening date, so look at the calendar before you go. It's at 106-51 East Drive, and the page lists lessons for all ages and skill levels.
Practical
- Subway
- 2/3 to 110 St-Malcolm X Plaza (not accessible) or 6 to 110 St (not accessible), then a walk into the park
- Cost
- Children 4 to 16 $5; adults $5 off peak or $10 peak; under 4 free; rental $10; skate aids $10
- Time
- About an hour
- Check first
- Opening date and session times; community skate sessions vary
Brooklyn: three very different rinks
LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park
An outdoor rink and a covered rink next to the park lake. The official page says the winter season is closed and that skating will return toward the end of 2026, with updates to follow. The prices currently posted are probably last season's, so treat them as a guide: weekday daytime (Tuesday to Friday) $10, Monday $5, evenings, weekends and school breaks $15, seniors $8, and skate rental $10. A card payment costs a few cents more than cash.
Children 13 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian aged 18 or over, and skaters must be 14 or older to buy admission and rental skates themselves. No photography or video is allowed, on or off the ice, according to the rink.
Practical
- Subway
- B/Q/S to Prospect Park (accessible station)
- Cost
- Posted: weekday daytime $10, Monday $5, weekends and evenings $15, rental $10 (2026-27 prices not yet announced)
- Time
- About an hour
- Check first
- Opening date later in 2026; the page is the only place that will say
Roebling Rink, Brooklyn Bridge Park
A pop-up rink at Emily Warren Roebling Plaza with the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline as a backdrop. The rink's site says it is open daily from November 14, 2026 to January 31, 2027 and shows 'coming soon' for everything else, so prices, hours and age rules are not yet published. Last season ran November 24, 2025 to February 1, 2026, so this one starts earlier and ends earlier.
It's a waterfront rink, and waterfronts are windy in winter. Wear a hat.
Practical
- Subway
- A/C to High St (not accessible) or F to York St (not accessible), then a walk of about 10 to 12 minutes per the MTA's rink guide
- Cost
- Not yet published
- Check first
- Tickets and hours on roeblingrink.com, which says coming soon
Abe Stark Rink
The city's rink on the Coney Island boardwalk, at West 19th Street, a local rink rather than a destination. It's on the NYC Parks list of rinks, which also says all rinks are wheelchair accessible with adaptive sleds available. I couldn't find a published 2026-27 schedule or price list on an official page, so call before you go: NYC Parks lists (718) 946-6536.
An old Coney Island Fun Guide page lists a season of October to March and $9 admission with $5 skate rental, but it's not dated, so I'd treat that as a hint, not a price.
Practical
- Cost
- No 2026-27 price published; call (718) 946-6536
- Check first
- Season dates and public skate times, by phone
Queens, Staten Island and the indoor rinks
This is where the weather and the price are friendlier. The catch is that you'll be calling or checking a page that hasn't been updated, because the pages for city rinks are sparse.
World Ice Arena
An indoor rink in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, at Avery Avenue and 131st Street, listed by NYC Parks as open year-round. The listing shows weekday admission of $8 for adults and seniors and $6 for children, $11 on weekends and holidays, $6 skate rental, and coin lockers at $0.75. Hours were weekdays 10:30am to 5:15pm (Friday also 7pm to 9:50pm), weekends noon to 4:45pm, plus Saturday evenings from 8pm to 9:50pm. The page isn't dated, so call (718) 760-9001 or 760-9005 and ask what this season's prices are. It also says pre-registration is required.
Practical
- Cost
- Listing: $8 adults and seniors, $6 children weekdays; $11 weekends; rental $6 (not confirmed for 2026-27)
- Time
- About an hour
- Check first
- Prices and sessions by phone; pre-registration is required per the listing
City Ice Pavilion
An NHL-size indoor rink in Long Island City that describes itself as open year-round for open skating sessions. The public skating page I found still carried 2021 dates and vaccination rules, so I'm not going to quote its prices, and the 2026-27 schedule isn't there. Check the rink's site before you take anyone.
Practical
- Cost
- Not published for 2026-27 on the page I could read
- Check first
- Public session times and prices on the rink's own site
WWII Veterans War Memorial Ice Skating Rink, Clove Lakes Park
Staten Island's city-run rink in Clove Lakes Park, on Victory Boulevard west of Clove Road. The NYC Parks page says it is currently closed and gives (718) 720-1010 for questions, and the page says outdoor rink schedules can change with the weather. No 2026-27 dates or prices are published there, so call before you set out, and check the MTA's trip planner for the journey from the ferry.
Practical
- Cost
- Not published for 2026-27
- Check first
- Season status and prices by phone: (718) 720-1010
Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers
A year-round indoor complex at 61 Chelsea Piers. The page says it offers public general skating sessions all year, recommends pre-registering, and gives the main number as (212) 336-6100. The page doesn't list this season's public skate times or prices, and the rink also runs classes, so check the booking page rather than turning up. Indoors is good news if it's raining or cold.
Practical
- Cost
- Not published on the page I could read
- Check first
- Public skate schedule and booking on the Chelsea Piers site
Skating with small children: the unglamorous bits
- Age and supervision rules vary: under 6 with an adult at Rockefeller, under 14 accompanied at Bryant Park, 13 and under supervised at Lakeside.
- Gloves, always. They protect little fingers when the child goes down, and children go down.
- Rental is listed at $6 to $10 at several rinks and at $18.72 to $64.48 at Bryant Park, so the free admission there is only half the story.
- Skate aids help beginners. The Davis Center lists them at $10.
- Bring a hat, and a spare pair of socks. The first time a child falls, they'll discover that the ice is wet.
- Outdoor rinks close or pause in rain, lightning, wind or snow. Check the rink's own page on the day.
- Elevators at subway stations go out of service. Check the MTA's elevator status before relying on one.
If you're planning a trip around the Christmas lights as well, the guide to Christmas in the city has the tree, the windows and the markets, and the Dyker Heights guide covers the free Brooklyn lights.
See also Christmas in NYC with kids →
See also Dyker Heights Christmas lights with kids →
See also Free things to do in NYC with kids →
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Questions people ask
Where can you ice skate for free in NYC?
Skating at The Rink at Bryant Park's Winter Village is free (October 28, 2026 to February 28, 2027), but skate rental costs $18.72 to $64.48 and you save only if you bring your own skates.
When does the Rockefeller Center rink open in 2026?
The official page says The Rink at Rockefeller Center opens for the 2026-27 season on October 10. General skate tickets are listed from $22 for a 60-minute session.
What age can children skate at Rockefeller Center?
The rink's rules say children under 6 must skate with an adult and children aged 7 to 13 must be supervised. Everyone entering, including non-skaters, needs a ticket.
When does Wollman Rink open for 2026-27?
The rink's own site lists opening day as October 24 for 2026-27. Ticket prices were not published on the pages I could read, so check wollmanrinknyc.com or call (833) 615-3500.
What is the cheapest ice skating in NYC for kids?
The Davis Center in Central Park lists $5 community skate for children aged 4 to 16, plus $10 rentals. NYC Parks lists $6 weekday children's admission at World Ice Arena, though that listing isn't dated, so call to confirm.
Are there indoor ice rinks in NYC for rainy days?
Yes. World Ice Arena in Queens and City Ice Pavilion in Long Island City are indoor, and the Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers offers year-round public skating. Check each one's public session times before you go.
When does the Lakeside rink in Prospect Park open?
The official page says the season is closed and that skating will return toward the end of 2026. It has not published an opening date or 2026-27 prices yet.
Sources and further reading
Facts checked against 17 pages on Monday, October 5, 2026. Opening times and prices change, so confirm with the venue.
Show the sources
- The Rink at Rockefeller Center
- NBC New York, Rockefeller Center rink opening 2025-26
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park, ice skating
- Wollman Rink
- Wollman Rink, Central Park Conservancy
- West Side Rag, city selects new Wollman operator
- Davis Center FAQ, Central Park Conservancy
- Davis Center skating
- LeFrak Center at Lakeside, public skate
- Roebling Rink
- Brooklyn Bridge Park, ice skating
- NYC Parks, ice skating rinks
- NYC Parks, Clove Lakes Park ice skating
- Chelsea Piers Sky Rink
- City Ice Pavilion
- MTA, guide to outdoor ice skating rinks in NYC (2024-25)
- MTA accessible stations
