New York with kids
3 Days in New York City with Kids: an Easy Itinerary
Three days is enough to see the New York kids talk about for years, as long as you don't try to see all of it. This plan gives each day one neighbourhood and one big moment, keeps walking between stops short, and leaves room for a playground, a snack and a slow afternoon.
It works for school-age kids (about 5 to 12). With toddlers, see New York with toddlers; for wet weather, swap in a day from rainy day NYC with kids.
Day 1 · Midtown icons
Grand Central, the library lions, Rockefeller Center and Times Square after dark. Everything here is within a 20-minute walk.
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Morning · Breakfast
Breakfast near your hotel
Start slow. A bagel or a diner breakfast sets the pace for a city that's best on foot.
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Morning
Grand Central Terminal (opens Google Maps)
Look up at the painted constellations on the main concourse ceiling, then find the whispering gallery on the lower level outside the Oyster Bar: stand in opposite corners of the tiled arch and whisper into the wall.
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Late morning
New York Public Library (opens Google Maps)
Say hello to the stone lions, Patience and Fortitude, on the steps. Inside, the Children's Center displays the original Winnie-the-Pooh toys that inspired the books.
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Midday · Lunch
Lunch in Bryant Park (opens Google Maps)
Right behind the library. Grab food nearby and eat at the movable tables; there's a carousel, and its public restrooms are among the cleanest in Midtown.
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Afternoon
Rockefeller Center (opens Google Maps)
The plaza is a kids' block: the LEGO Store, the Nintendo store and FAO Schwarz are all here. In winter, watch the skaters under the famous tree.
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Late afternoon
Top of the Rock (opens Google Maps)
The best view of the Empire State Building is from here, with Central Park spread out to the north. Book a timed ticket ahead, ideally just before sunset.
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Evening · Dinner
Dinner in the Theater District (opens Google Maps)
West 46th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues is lined with restaurants used to feeding families before a show.
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Night
Times Square lights (opens Google Maps)
Save it for after dark, when the screens are at their brightest. Sit on the red steps above the TKTS booth for the classic view.
Day 2 · Central Park and the dinosaurs
A morning in the park's southern half, then the American Museum of Natural History on the west side.
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Morning · Breakfast
Breakfast
Fuel up: this is the day with the most walking.
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Morning
Central Park Zoo (opens Google Maps)
Small enough for little legs: sea lions, penguins and snow leopards. Just outside, the Delacorte Musical Clock's bronze animals dance on the hour and half hour.
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Late morning
Central Park Carousel (opens Google Maps)
One of the largest carousels in the country, in the middle of the park around 65th Street.
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Late morning
Bethesda Terrace and Fountain (opens Google Maps)
Street musicians under the arcade, the Angel of the Waters fountain and rowboats on the lake. In season you can rent a boat at the Loeb Boathouse.
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Midday · Lunch
Lunch on the Upper West Side (opens Google Maps)
Columbus Avenue in the 70s and 80s has easy family spots. Leave room for a giant cookie at Levain Bakery on West 74th Street.
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Afternoon
American Museum of Natural History (opens Google Maps)
Pick three things, not thirty: the T. rex in the fourth-floor dinosaur halls, the 94-foot blue whale in the Hall of Ocean Life, and the butterflies and insects in the Gilder Center. Book timed tickets online.
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Evening · Dinner
Pizza for dinner
Everyone's earned a New York slice. Fold it in half, the local way.
Day 3 · Lady Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge
Downtown by water, then walk the bridge back to Manhattan with the skyline in front of you.
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Early morning · Breakfast
Early breakfast
Aim for one of the first boats to Liberty Island: the lines are shortest early.
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Morning
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island (opens Google Maps)
Boats leave from Battery Park. Statue City Cruises is the only official ferry, so ignore anyone selling tickets on the street. Pedestal and crown tickets sell out, so reserve those well ahead.
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Midday
Charging Bull and Fearless Girl (opens Google Maps)
A short walk from the ferry. The bull is at Bowling Green; Fearless Girl now stands facing the New York Stock Exchange on Broad Street.
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Midday · Lunch
Lunch downtown
Plenty of quick options around the Financial District and the Oculus.
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Afternoon
Ride to DUMBO, Brooklyn (opens Google Maps)
Take the subway one stop under the river and start in Brooklyn: walking the bridge toward Manhattan keeps the skyline ahead of you the whole way.
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Afternoon
Jane's Carousel and Brooklyn Bridge Park (opens Google Maps)
A 1920s carousel in a glass box on the water, and big playgrounds along the park's piers. Find the Manhattan Bridge framed between the buildings on Washington Street.
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Late afternoon
Walk the Brooklyn Bridge (opens Google Maps)
A little over a mile on a pedestrian walkway, so 30 to 45 minutes at kid pace, more with photo stops. You finish near City Hall, with a subway right there.
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Evening · Dinner
Farewell dinner
Pick the place your kids voted for. Then count the coins: who found every stop?
Getting around with kids
Walk inside a neighbourhood and take the subway between them. Tap a contactless card or phone at the turnstile: up to three children 44 inches tall or under ride free with a paying adult. Many stations have only stairs, so with a stroller, check for elevators before you go, or use buses.
More practical tips are in first time in NYC with kids.
Book these ahead
- Statue of Liberty pedestal or crown access, through Statue City Cruises.
- An observation deck at sunset: Top of the Rock, the Empire State Building, Summit One Vanderbilt or Edge.
- Museum timed tickets on busy days, especially weekends and school holidays.
- A Broadway show, if you're going. Most theatres don't admit children under 4, so check each show's age guidance.
If you have more time
Add the Intrepid Museum (an aircraft carrier with the Space Shuttle Enterprise on board), the High Line and Chelsea Market, or a day at Coney Island in summer. Our 5-day NYC itinerary fits them in.
Questions
Is 3 days enough for New York with kids?
Yes, if you pick one area per day: Midtown, Central Park with a museum, and Downtown with the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Trying to add more usually means more time in transit and tired kids.
Where should a family stay in New York?
Midtown or the Upper West Side keep you close to the subway lines, Central Park and the big sights. Staying near a station on several lines saves the most time.
Do kids pay on the New York subway?
Up to three children 44 inches tall or under ride free on subways and local buses with a fare-paying adult. Older children pay the regular fare.