By NYC Photo Journeys founder Jessie Festa. Note that some of the links below are product links as well as affiliate links to trusted partners.
Gather the kids and hop on the subway: it’s time to explore family-friendly NYC! Luckily, there are many fun things to do in New York that appeal to visitors of all ages.
Many of the classic NYC attractions are great for families, like the Empire State Building (though we prefer the SUMMIT One Vanderbilt observation deck), Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge – a very popular spot for our private NYC photo tours and family photoshoots.
Spend time exploring Central Park — or book a tour. Along with our private photo tour, you can opt for a walking tour, bike tour, or pedicab tour, or even something more niche like a Central Park TV & Movie Sites Tour.
There are also numerous cultural institutions that are great for families, like the American Museum of Natural History, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, and the Museum of Ice Cream – the latter of which is an Instagrammer’s dream with loads of photo opps.
Additionally, Tannen’s Magic Store in Midtown West is not only NYC’s oldest magic shop since 1925, but it’s staffed with magicians who will happily perform tricks to show off their cool products.
Food is an important part of any visit to NYC, and Times Square in particular is full of family-friendly eateries. Have a meal among singing waitstaff at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, savor a rooftop meal at Beast & Butterflies (which doesn’t have an age minimum), and have pizza in a historic church at John’s of Times Square.
In Lower Manhattan, Cauldron is a wizard-themed bar and restaurant that infuses magic into their food and drinks. For some extra fun, their Potion Making Class allows you to don a cloak, wield a magic wand, and use molecular mixology to brew drinkable elixirs (non-alcoholic available too).
No matter what you decide to do, make sure to preserve your cherished memories with a private NYC photo tour or professional photoshoot – both of which are customizable! You can see photo examples on Instagram @NYCPhotoTour.
Family-Friendly NYC Tours:
- 📸 Private NYC Photo Journey
- 🧞♂️ Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway
- 🥘 Greenwich Village Walking & Food Tasting Tour
- 🛥️ New York City Harbor Lights Cruise
- 🎨 Skip the Line Kids and Families New York Metropolitan Museum Private Tour
- 😍 Boroughs of NYC: Harlem, Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Coney Island
- 🍕 Pizza Walking Tour Of Downtown Brooklyn
➡️ Click here for a full list of New York City tours.
Family-Friendly NYC Hotels:
- 🏨 New York Marriott Marquis (Times Square, Manhattan)
- 🏨 The Belvedere Hotel (Times Square, Manhattan)
- 🏨 AKA Central Park (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
- 🏨 The Lowell (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
- 🏨 NU Hotel (Boerum Hill, Brooklyn)
➡️ Click here for a full list of family-friendly NYC hotels.
New York City Travel Tips:
- Depending on what tours and activities you add to your itinerary, a New York CityPASS is an amazing value and can save you a lot of money
- Want to see a Broadway show? You can save money by visiting a TKTS Booth for up to 50% off same-day shows
- While Midtown Manhattan is great, make sure to also explore some of the other neighborhoods – like the West Village, Upper East Side, and SoHo – as well as the other boroughs (like Long Island City in Queens and Bushwick in Brooklyn)
- If there is a restaurant you really want to dine at, be sure to make a reservation
- To find unique and pop up things to do in NYC, check park calendars, subscribe to NYC newsletters, and research websites like The Skint, Fever, and Secret NYC
Bonus NYC Travel Resources:
Best Central Park Photo Spots To Capture Gorgeous Pictures
Best Places To Take Pictures In NYC
Stunning Spots For The Perfect NYC Picnic
Uniquely New York Experiences Not To Miss