New York with kids

Rainy Day in NYC with Kids: 12 Indoor Ideas (and a Ready-Made Plan)

Rain in New York is an excuse for the city's indoor giants. The trick is to stay in one neighbourhood, so you aren't crossing town in the wet, and to mix one big museum with something playful.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

A pixel-art page of a Broadway night from a family's New York adventure book

A rainy day on the Upper West Side and in Midtown

Dinosaurs in the morning, toys in the afternoon, a show or a diner at night, with short hops between them.

  1. Morning

    American Museum of Natural History (opens Google Maps)

    Go at opening time. Dinosaurs on the fourth floor, the blue whale, and the Gilder Center's insectarium and butterfly vivarium. The subway station (81st Street) opens straight into the museum.

    Official site

  2. Midday · Lunch

    Lunch on Columbus Avenue (opens Google Maps)

    Plenty of family places within two blocks of the museum.

  3. Afternoon

    Rockefeller Center toy stores (opens Google Maps)

    The LEGO Store, the Nintendo store and FAO Schwarz: an afternoon of looking (and probably some buying), all under one plaza.

  4. Evening · Dinner

    Ellen's Stardust Diner (opens Google Maps)

    The waiters sing Broadway songs between orders. Expect a line.

12 indoor ideas for a wet day

  • American Museum of Natural History: dinosaurs, the blue whale, butterflies.
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art: knights in armour, mummies, and the Temple of Dendur, a real Egyptian temple inside the museum.
  • Intrepid Museum: an aircraft carrier with the Space Shuttle Enterprise. The shuttle pavilion and the ship's inside are covered.
  • New York Transit Museum (Brooklyn): set inside a decommissioned subway station, with vintage trains to walk through.
  • MoMA: children 16 and under get in free; families find the big, bright paintings surprisingly fun.
  • Museum of the Moving Image (Queens): the Jim Henson exhibition, with real Muppets.
  • New York Hall of Science (Queens): hands-on science for every age.
  • New York Public Library: the original Winnie-the-Pooh toys.
  • Grand Central Terminal: the star ceiling, the whispering gallery and a food hall.
  • Chelsea Market: an indoor food hall for a long, warm lunch.
  • Rockefeller Center: the LEGO, Nintendo and FAO Schwarz stores.
  • A Broadway matinee: check the age guidance first.

Tips for rainy days

  • Pick one neighbourhood and stay in it. Crossing town in the rain takes the longest.
  • Go early to museums: rainy days are when everybody has the same idea.
  • Bring a spare pair of socks for each child. Seriously.
  • Pack a compact umbrella or ponchos: sidewalks are too crowded for big umbrellas.

Questions

What can kids do in NYC when it rains?

Head for the big museums (Natural History, the Met, the Intrepid), the New York Transit Museum, the toy stores at Rockefeller Center, Grand Central, Chelsea Market, or a Broadway matinee.

Which NYC museums are free for kids?

MoMA admits children 16 and under free, and several museums have pay-what-you-wish times. Prices and policies change, so check each museum's website before you go.