Visiting New York With Kids

Favorite Family Things to Do, Hotels, Attractions

Visiting New York with kids is truly a delight. After all, it is how I first experienced my hometown…as a kid! Luckily, NYC offers tons of activities, hotels, shows, restaurants, things to do, attractions and festivals for kids, parents and families of all kinds. The best part is you don’t have to compromise – what’s fun for kids is usually just as much fun for adults. If you are joining us in NYC for a family vacation, then please read all about our local kid’s favorites, along with special tips just for visitors.

Best Shows in New York with Kids

NYC always has an amazing selection of Broadway Shows for Kids, like Aladdin, Lion King, Wicked, Harry Potter and more. The shows geared to kids tend to be just as much fun for adults, with grander sets and costumes, spectacular singing and choreography and overall, a very classic "Broadway" feel to them.

Tickets are usually upwards of $100 each, which can add up for a family, shows are roughly 3 hours and children under the age of 4 are generally not permitted in theaters. If any of these seem like challenges for your family, then you MUST check out a New York Off Broadway Show, like Gazillion Bubble Show (photo above), Stomp or Blue Man Group. Tickets are much less money, more readily available and suitable for younger ages.

Read more About New York Broadway Shows, including how to get half price tickets and my personal tips on whether a Matinée or Evening Show is better.

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Best NYC Hotels for Families

The best NYC Hotels for Families offer you family suites, bunk beds, configurable rooms, interconnecting & adjacent rooms, kitchens/kitchenettes and special treats for the kids. While almost ANY hotel in NYC and surrounding areas is family-friendly, some hotels really stand out when welcoming your precious little ones. Here are a few of our top picks for the best family hotels in NYC.

• Fifty Sonesta NYC - 'perfect location and size for our family'
• Moxy Hotel Times Square - flexible furniture, bunk beds & connecting rooms
• Westin at Times Square - named "Best NYC Family-Friendly Hotel"
  

See all our top picks for the Best NYC Hotels for Families.

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Things to Do in New York With Kids

Check our picks for the best NYC activities, tours, attractions and Insider Tips for kids and families at Things to Do in New York With Kids. The Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan and so much more!

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Best New York City Museum for Kids

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New York City Events for Kids

Our new New York City Kids Events Calendar is searchable by category and date and keeps you up to date on the latest and greatest for kids in NYC! Of course, plenty of our events are suitable for all ages, so you may also want to review all my NYC Insider Top Event Picks.

Every month in NYC offers spectacular events, shows and things to do with Kids. Some of our don’t miss annual events include: Big Apple Circus, Harlem Globetrotters, Kids Night on Broadway, Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the US Open, Disney on Ice, Kids Week at the Intrepid Museum, Children’s Day at the South Street Seaport and so many more!

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Family Friendly New York City Nightlife

How do you make the most of your time in the city that never sleeps?? Of course kids need their sleep, but there are plenty of evening and night NYC options to keep the whole family busy and well-fed, all while continuing to sightsee. Find out which attractions and tours are great evening and night options and all our Top Picks: New York City Nightlife

NYC Bus Night Tour

A family-friendly evening bus tour is a great choice allowing you to easily see our twinkling lights, especially after a long day of sightseeing. Since I see and hear these guys outside my window EVERY night, I can say for sure, everyone loves to sit on the top of the double-decker bus!

Night Bus Tour Choices:

• NYC Night Bus Tour - From Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge, see our city wink and twinkle right at you.
• NY Night Bus Tour - 4 hrs, Tues/Thurs/Sat eves. Includes a short nighttime stroll on the High Line, then hop on a bus for a ride through Times Square, Rockefeller Center, SoHo, Chinatown and short walk through Grand Central.

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New York City with Kids Vacations

Our awesome One Day in NYC with Kids Itinerary is jam-packed with the Statue of Liberty, lunch at Serendipity, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Plaza Hotel and Central Park. Five year old Maggie called it "the BEST day of her life."

Also make sure to explore Day 1 of the same itinerary at New York City Vacation with Young Girls, which follows each day of Kim’s family weekend escape, keeping the kids busy morning through night and takes you all around NYC like a pro. See the world’s largest candy land, best toy store, Central Park carriage ride secrets, the glass window amphitheater right on top of a city street, Harry Potter’s NYC home…and the BEST restaurant for kids in Little Italy.

Our awesome NYC One Day Boys Itinerary is perfect for almost ANY adult or child (no gender or age bias here!) and organizes the Intrepid Museum, Beast Speed Boat Ride, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center (Lego Store, Nintendo World) and many more options into a super-packed and organized day.

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Riding the NYC Subway with Kids

For some kids, riding the Subway is a top NYC attraction! I’ve seen kids ask to ride again and again all day long. Just about everything you need to know about riding the subway is on our NYC Subway Map page, but keep reading here for special info on riding the subway with kids.

Riding the Subway with Kids: Up to three children, 44 inches tall and under, ride for free on subways and local buses when accompanied by a fare-paying adult. The real trick is getting in to the stations and knowing which entrance to use.

Almost all subway stations have elevator access and service entry gates that open (rather than just turnstiles). Any corner with a subway stop might have 4 entrances to the same train, so if you need an elevator (for strollers) or a door that will allow your kids in free, you need to choose the right entrance for your subway. Once you are at the service gate, just wave to the attendant in the booth and they will buzz you in.

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Save BIG on Things To Do in New York With Kids

Check out all my favorite places to get huge discounts to tickets for things to do in New York City with Kids. Examples include Rockettes at Radio City, Gazillion Bubble Show, Percussion People, Harlem Globetrotters, Sesame Street Live Elmo Makes Music, Disney on Ice, Big Apple Circus Spectacular, STOMP, and lots more.

See the full Insider Guide to ALL our NYC Coupons.

Ticketmaster offers a special New York with Kids Entertainment Guide. Browse through all the events especially those just for kids: the Circus, Broadway, Disney, Cirque du Soleil and much more! (Note: if you need a zip code, try 10019)

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New York With Kids

• New York With Kids Guide
• Best Boadway Shows for Kids
• Best NYC Hotels for Families
• Things to Do in New York With Kids
• Fun Things to Do at Night With Kids in NYC
• Best NYC Museums for Kids
• Best NYC Kids Events by Month
• One Day in NYC with Kids Itinerary
• New York City Vacation with Young Girls
• NYC One Day Boys Itinerary
• NYC Kids Ticket Deals
• Museum Sleepovers in NYC

Top New York City Attractions for Kids

One of the best parts of NYC is that what is fun for kids is usually just as much fun for adults.

• Intrepid Museum
• Madame Tussauds
• Bryant Park
• Central Park
• Circle Line Cruise
• Rockefeller Center
• Bronx Zoo
• Things to Do in New York With Kids

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