If you're in New York City with kids, there are a lot of great things you can do. Here's a detailed selection of free things to do, tours, shows and places you shouldn't miss.
1. Explore Central Pak
Central Park is an incredible oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. New Yorkers and tourists flock here to escape the crazy traffic and fast pace of life in New York.
Three avenues extend from 59th Street to 110th Street, covering 840 acres of landscaped and recreational areas and 6% of the entire island of Manhattan.
You can explore Central Park in different ways. On foot, by bike , by horse-drawn carriage, by pedicab...
It is the place where children can run around in nature.
Some of the interesting places you can visit include:
-
Belvedere Palace
-
Gapstow Bridge
-
Bow Bridge
-
zoo
-
Google the numerous playgrounds
-
Bethesda Fountain
-
Alice in Wonderland sculpture
-
Walk through the so-called Mall, which is lined with American elm trees and leads to the beautiful Bethesda Terrace
-
Visit the John Lennon Memorial in Strawberry Fields
-
Loeb boathouse
-
A picnic on sheep meadow field
-
The Great Lawn
-
carousel
-
and for the super activists, there are 58 miles of trails throughout the park
2. Child-friendly tours
Take a tour! They are an easy and convenient way to see the city. Guides are great for making it interesting for kids (and adults).
-
Harlem Gospel Tour
-
Bronx, Queens Brooklyn Tour
-
Boat trips
-
The Dyker Heights Christmas Lights
-
Buddy's Cake World and New Jersey Tour
-
Personal photo shoot
-
Hop on hop off bus
-
Brooklyn Bridge Sunset Tour
3. Children's Museum of Manhattan
4. Shows and sporting events
Sports events in New York take place year-round in arenas that are just as exciting as their teams. Some are iconic, like Yankee Stadium, home of baseball's winningest team, and Madison Square Garden, where the New York Kicks play basketball and New York Rangers play hockey. Broadway shows are generally ages 4 or older, there are great shows like Aladdin and The Lion King. Tickets for Broadway shows and sporting events are available here.
5. Empire State Building
A visit to the Empire State Building with its breathtaking views of the city from the 86th floor is a great experience in New York. It is advisable to purchase tickets in advance to skip the ticket line. You can get them from us.
Tips:
-
Sunset is an ideal time to see the city and afterwards the lights twinkle, a magical sight.
-
Everyone has to go through security, to speed things up you can prepare yourself - no liquids, no tripods, pack everything from your trouser pockets, including your belt, into your jacket pocket and push it through the scanner.
-
There is no cloakroom, so don't bring anything you can't comfortably wear.
-
If you visit the building during peak hours, bring something to keep the children entertained.
6. Highline Park
An abandoned freight railroad has been transformed into a remarkable elevated park that runs roughly from 15th to 34th Streets on the city's west side. It's a great walk and offers a view of the Hudson River, the city from an aerial perspective, a lush landscape that reflects the wild plants that have grown along the neglected tracks. Along the way are art installations, videos, a place where you can kick off your shoes and cool your feet in an inch-sized pool or sit back, relax and enjoy. Many programs in July and August are aimed at children. Thursday mornings feature music and stories for little ones on the 23rd Street Lawn. On Saturday there are art projects for ages 4 and up. Food and treats are available at various locations along the way. Don't forget hats and sunscreen in summer.
7. Staten Island Ferry (Free)
This 25-minute, five-mile ride is one of the best free rides in the world with unbeatable views of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan. At Whitehall Terminal at the tip of Manhattan, a 75-meter-high entrance hall welcomes guests with panoramic views of the downtown Manhattan skyline. On nice days, a rooftop terrace with benches is an excellent place to wait for the next boat. The nearest subway station is South Ferry, Line 1. The ferry provides easy transportation to Manhattan for Staten Island residents. Therefore, avoid the peak times in the morning and evening when commuters are on the move. Things are quieter on the weekends.
8. One World Observatory
You can spend most of the day visiting the One World Observatory (or Freedom Tower), the 911 Memorial and Museum, The Oculus.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The top of the new One World Observatory is the highest viewing point in New York City and offers spectacular 360 degree views of all of Manhattan and beyond, everything is encased in glass and has great security, ideal for visiting with children. Order your tickets in advance on our homepage to save yourself the hassle of queuing.
9. Nitendo World
A paradise for fans of Wii or Nintendo games. Here you can try out the latest games and find a variety of unique souvenirs, including hard-to-find plush toys. The second floor is a mini-museum that showcases every console and character ever created, a great nostalgia tour for older kids (and many parents). The "ambassadors" around the floor are all enthusiasts who enjoy showing visitors around and showing how to use various equipment. Fans line up outdoors for product launch days and see life-size costumed favorite characters like Mario and Pikachu. It's all free, but you're guaranteed not to leave the country without buying something. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday, Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
10. Bryant Park
