Things to do in Manhattan with kids
19 attractions in Manhattan • Updated May 2026
The best things to do in Manhattan with kids, all in one place. Manhattan is home to The High Line and a stack of historic sites & landmarks for families, plus easy day trips across New York. Below are 19 family things to do in Manhattan with addresses, ticket info and age suitability. Use the search to find a specific name or filter by category.
Last reviewed May 2026 by James Morgan. AI-assisted, human-edited. Our editorial standards
19 attractions in Manhattan
Search and filter by category to find your next family day out.
19 of 19 attractions
History Museums
American Museum of Natural History
Manhattan, New York
Forty-five exhibition halls of dinosaurs, a blue whale and the cosmos, right beside Central Park, one of the world's great natural-history museums.
Family Entertainment
Bryant Park Winter Village (seasonal)
Manhattan, New York
Lace up for free-admission skating and browse holiday boutiques when Bryant Park turns into a winter wonderland.
Zoos Wildlife
Central Park Zoo
Manhattan, New York
Get nose-to-glass with wildlife in naturalistic habitats right in the heart of Manhattan.
Family Entertainment
Chelsea Piers, Pier 62 Carousel & Sports
Manhattan, New York
Ride the Hudson River carousel and play at the riverside sports complex on Manhattan's Pier 62.
Childrens Museums
Children's Museum of Manhattan
Manhattan, New York
Hands-on arts, science, and culture made for the under-sixes, with deep commitments to accessibility.
Nature Outdoor
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Manhattan, New York
Glide past the Statue of Liberty and 150 NYC landmarks with live narration from a real New Yorker.
Art Museums
Color Factory New York
Manhattan, New York
An immersive color-themed art experience famous for its confetti rooms and ball pits, though the New York location now appears permanently closed.
Historic Sites
Empire State Building Observatory
Manhattan, New York
Step onto an open-air deck 86 floors up for 360-degree views stretching as far as 80 miles.
Science Museums
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Manhattan, New York
Board a real WWII aircraft carrier, then stand beneath the world's first space shuttle, all docked on the Hudson in Manhattan.
Parks Gardens
Little Island at Pier 55
Manhattan, New York
An artificial island on concrete "tulips" over the Hudson, part park and part stage.
History Museums
Madame Tussauds New York
Manhattan, New York
Pose with 200-plus lifelike wax stars, from Taylor Swift to the Ghostbusters, in Times Square.
Science Museums
National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath)
Manhattan, New York
The only museum in North America devoted entirely to making math hands-on and joyful.
Historic Sites
One World Observatory
Manhattan, New York
Ride a Sky Pod elevator to the top of One World Trade Center for sweeping views of the city.
Theme Parks
SeaGlass Carousel at The Battery
Manhattan, New York
Ride iridescent fiberglass fish through a glowing underwater fantasy at the tip of Manhattan.
Science Museums
SPYSCAPE
Manhattan, New York
Test your spy skills through interactive challenges and discover your secret-agent profile.
Historic Sites
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (via Statue City Cruises)
Manhattan, New York
Ferry across New York Harbor to two monuments that define American freedom and immigration.
Science Museums
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
Manhattan, New York
An art-filled Midtown observation deck with transparent sky boxes hovering over Madison Avenue.
Parks Gardens
The High Line
Manhattan, New York
Stroll an elevated park built atop a disused Manhattan railway, wild plantings and all.
Historic Sites
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
Manhattan, New York
Three levels of Rockefeller Center decks frame the Empire State Building and Central Park.