New York for Families

♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA

General

New York is the business, entertainment, and advertising capital of the USA and also the largest city in the USA. It is a vibrant and diverse city with many options for entertainment, touring, food, and more. It is not the classic city for family visits, but a trip to the USA without a visit to New York is incomplete. Every family member, of any age, will be impressed and fascinated by the size and diversity of the city, its bustle, the height of the buildings, and the variety of entertainment sites it offers. No one remains indifferent to this vibrant and lively city. Some hate the city, but many are captured by its charm and return to it again and again.

The optimal duration for a family stay in the city is 3-5 days. In this time frame, of course, you will not have time to see and discover all the city's secrets, but you can certainly get an impression of it and see its main attractions, especially those suitable for children.

New York is the only city where I do not recommend a family rent a car. The roads are very busy and congested at all hours of the day, and driving, even if you are well-oriented, is difficult and scary, and it is even more complicated for tourists who do not know the city. Additionally, the city has severe parking problems. Since most attractions are concentrated in a relatively small area in Manhattan, you can manage perfectly with a combination of walking and public transportation and taxis.

For a family (especially with small children), the most convenient way is by taxi, or UBER (cheaper and more convenient), especially for short distances. Taxi and Uber prices in the city are reasonable, and during the ride, you can observe the city's impressive scenery without needing to go deep underground, change trains, and navigate maps. For the experience, take the subway once with the children, but by no means do so during rush hours: 8:00-9:30 AM and 5:00-6:30 PM. Many taxis circulate throughout the city (12,000!), but remember that during rush hours you will have difficulty catching a free one. A light on the front of the taxi means "available." It is customary to add a service charge (tip) of 15-20% of the price. Yellow taxis are the only ones operating with a license, do not ride in other taxis!

A particularly recommended and enjoyable way to see Manhattan's views is on a cruise tour of about two and a half to three hours, which circles Manhattan and allows a great view of the large and busy New York Harbor and the city's skyline.

The most worthwhile cruise is on the ferry between Manhattan and Staten Island, The Staten Island Ferry. During the cruise, you will pass by lovely views including the Statue of Liberty, cargo ships in the harbor, and the giant buildings in Manhattan. And the price? Unbelievable! Free!

A popular and cheap way to travel in New York is by foot. This way you can get the best impression of the city's power. Walk among the skyscrapers, visit museums and shops, and discover the city on your own and at your own pace. When you get tired, take a taxi back to the hotel. Keep your children close to you and watch them carefully! The number of people flowing through the streets is huge, and it is easy to lose a child in this busy metropolis.

Discounted admission tickets to museums and attractions in New York:

Spending time at attractions, entering museums, and going up observation towers costs quite a bit of money, so it is recommended to buy a combined discount ticket for several attractions:

Admission ticket packages and attractions in New York from GetYourGuide.com:

New York City Pass - is a combined admission ticket to six popular tourist sites in the city including the Empire State Building, a cruise around Manhattan or to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and four museums. It is worthwhile for those planning to visit at least four of these attractions. The ticket can be used for 9 days from the day you visited the first attraction. There is also an option to purchase a ticket for 3 attractions only.

The ticket can be purchased directly from this site:

CityPASS - New York - 6 (or 3) recommended attractions in one ticket.

Recommended Hotels in New York:

In Central Manhattan:

San Carlos Hotel New York 4-star hotel with family suites, kitchenette, dining area, spacious rooms. Includes continental breakfast (kosher available). There are other kosher restaurants in the hotel's vicinity. Free internet.

Hyatt Place New York

3-star hotel, rooms for 2-6 guests, including breakfast and free internet. Refrigerator, desk. Located a 5-minute walk from the Empire State Building.

Hotel Belleclaire 4-star hotel, rooms and suites for 2-6 guests, located 3 blocks from Central Park. Free internet.

The New Yorker Hotel 4-star hotel, rooms and suites for 2-6 guests, located a 2-minute walk from Madison Square Garden. Free internet.

Renwick Hotel 4-star hotel belonging to Hilton's Curio network, rooms for 2-4 guests, located a 3-minute walk from Grand Central Station. Each room has a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, desk, safe, free internet.

TRYP by Wyndham Times Square South 3-star hotel, rooms for families up to 8 people, located a 5-minute walk from Penn Station.

In South Manhattan near Wall Street and Ground Zero:

Residence Inn by Marriott

4-star hotel, suitable for 2-5 guests, full breakfast buffet included, suites have kitchens, near Ground Zero, fitness center, free internet.

Search for a hotel on Booking on the Manhattan area map:

Booking.com

Booking Guided Tours in New York

In New York, it is mandatory to book popular sites and tours in advance; otherwise, in the best case, you will stand for hours in lines or, in the less pleasant case, no tickets will remain for you.

Booking from GetYourGuide.com:

♦ Popular guided tours in New York - to book from Viator:

Observation Towers

The two symbols most identified with New York, allowing a great view of the city from different directions, are:

Empire State Building Empire State Building

This is one of the tallest buildings in the world designed in a special "Art Deco" style. Its construction was completed in 1931 and it serves as one of the city's symbols and a must-visit site for tourists. The construction pace of the building was particularly fast: more than four floors a week and ahead of the planned schedule. When its construction was completed, it was the tallest building in New York. The 102 floors of the building rose to a height of 381 meters and together with the antenna reached a height of 449 meters. In 1985 the antenna was replaced and since then its height is "only" 443 meters. With the completion of the Twin Towers in 1972 it lost its lead, but after their collapse in the terror attack on 9/11/2001, it returned to being the tallest building in the city until the construction of the new One World Trade Center which is 541 m (which is 1776 feet, a number indicating the year of the declaration of independence of the USA). The top 30 floors of the Empire are lit throughout the year from dusk until midnight. The lighting colors change according to the season: on Christmas the building is lit in red and green, on national holidays in red, blue, and white, etc. An open observation deck is located on the 86th floor. The indoor observation is from the 102nd floor (going up to the 102nd floor involves an additional fee). The view reflected is breathtaking! On clear days the visibility range is more than 100 km! In the building, 73 service and passenger elevators operate. The passenger elevators are extremely fast: they go up 86 floors in just 45 seconds. It is worth going up to the observation at twilight, in order to witness the impressive sight of the city lights turning on one after another. On the second floor of the Empire State Building, there is a giant simulator called "A Journey through New York Skies" New York Sky Ride simulating a ride through New York skies while encountering its most famous sites. The Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue, corner of 34th Street.

View of New York from Rockefeller Center

"Rockefeller Peak" TOP OF THE ROCK

At the top of Rockefeller Center, on the 70th floor, a historical observation deck was reopened in November 2005, from which a magnificent view of the northern part of Manhattan is reflected, including a panoramic view of Central Park. From the building, you can see the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Times Square, Hudson River, Brooklyn Bridge, and even the Statue of Liberty. The original observation deck was opened at the site by John D. Rockefeller Jr. already 70 years ago and was designed like a ship's deck, including lounge chairs, chimneys, etc. It was closed about 20 years ago. The current observation deck was planned and designed by architect Michael Gabellini in Art Deco style. The well-known crystal factory "Swarovski" Swarovski prepared an impressive crystal wall on the first observation floor and a crystal waterfall at the entrance to the building.

Statue of Liberty Statue of Liberty

The famous Statue of Liberty which is placed on a small island in New York Harbor, south of Manhattan, is a gift from the people of France to the Americans, to mark the long friendship between the two nations. The statue in the figure of a woman holding the torch of liberty in one hand and a book in the other hand was inaugurated already in 1886 and has since welcomed millions of immigrants who arrived in the land of dreams. The statue was created by French sculptor Frédéric Bartholdi who was assisted by French engineer Gustave Eiffel who planned and built the iron frame.

Bartholdi designed the statue's face inspired by his mother's face and the statue's body inspired by his mistress. On the statue's head is a crown with seven rays, symbolizing the seven continents and seven oceans of the earth. The woman is stepping with her feet on chains, a symbol of liberation from slavery, the dress she is wearing symbolizes the Roman Republic and the torch symbolizes enlightenment to the world. At the base of the statue is engraved the sentence: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." The height of the woman is 50 meters and the height of the entire statue (including the base) is 93 meters. This is the tallest statue in the whole world. The statue weighs 225 tons (like the weight of 250 cars!) of which 100 tons are copper and 125 tons are iron and steel. The statue was built over ten years in France and transferred to the USA disassembled into 214 parts. Some parts were transferred by ship and some by plane. The island can be reached by ferry departing from Battery Park. From Jersey City (located in New Jersey) a ferry leaves for Liberty Island every 30-45 minutes. You can climb to the top of the Statue of Liberty by 354 narrow and spiral stairs. In the busy summer months, the climbing duration may be about 3 hours due to long lines. You can definitely skip entering inside the statue and standing in lines and view it from the outside. The sight of Manhattan from the island itself and during the cruise is magnificent in its beauty.

In 1984 towards the 100th-anniversary celebrations of placing the statue in New York, the statue was disassembled, renovated, and cleaned and then reassembled. The old torch was replaced with a new torch covered with gold decorations. In 2001, after the terror attack on the USA the site was closed to visitors for a long period out of fear that terrorists would want to harm the statue that became one of the important symbols of the USA. Gradually the site was opened to visitors, while adhering to particularly strict security procedures, but it was not possible to climb to the top of the statue. In recent years they allow climbing to the top of the statue again while taking maximum safety measures. For this purpose, it is required to book places long in advance. Climbing to the crown is allowed for children four years old and older whose height is above 120 cm.

Brooklyn Bridge Brooklyn Bridge

From the Brooklyn Bridge, the New York skyline is reflected in all its glory. The bridge is located on the East River at Frankfort Street, across from City Hall Park. The bridge connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. This is one of the busiest bridges in New York and every day about 144 thousand vehicles, 1500 cyclists, and about 2000 pedestrians cross it. For pedestrians and cyclists, there is a special path above the car lanes.

The bridge that opened to traffic in 1883, is considered one of the largest suspension bridges in the world, its total length is 1053 meters and the length of the central suspension section between the two towers is 486 meters. Bridge width: 26 meters. The bridge has two towers with double arches in Gothic style. The foundations of the Brooklyn tower are planted at a depth of 17 meters and those of the Manhattan tower at a depth of 24 meters. The two towers, intended to serve as entry gates to the cities of Manhattan and Brooklyn, rise to a height of 84 meters above the river level.

Museums in New York

Museum lovers can spend many days among the many and impressive museums in New York.

Details about the museums in New York in the article: Museums in New York .

The museums detailed below are the largest and most famous in the city and mainly, the most suitable for the whole family. Most of them are concentrated in the heart of Manhattan, in the center of the tourist area. In each of them, you can spend long hours:

American Museum of Natural History

This is one of the most famous museums in the world, considered the most popular museum in New York. The museum, four stories high and spanning four city blocks, has 45 permanent exhibitions (13 of which were opened in the last ten years). In the museum are impressive exhibitions on the development of the earth with its people, its animals, plants, and minerals. Permanent exhibitions in the museum are: Dinosaurs (don't miss!), People in Asia, Africa, Mexico, and the Pacific, Indians in America, Mammals in Asia and Africa, Insect exhibition (most impressive!), Snakes and birds, Minerals, precious stones, and meteorites. In the museum is an IMAX cinema, planetarium, and a special room for children's activities including games and interesting activations (especially suitable for ages 5-12). Another recommended wing to visit is the center for the study of the earth and space called: "Rose Center for Earth and Space" and in it an impressive planetarium named: Hayden Planetarium. In the planetarium is a hall with 430 seats where films full of effects on space subjects are screened. There are also advanced simulators, a dynamic model of the earth, a 3D model of the Milky Way, a 3D map of the galaxy, and more. If you intend to visit only one museum in the city it is highly recommended to choose this museum, which will not leave any child indifferent. It is worth joining a free hour-long tour that passes between the most attractive exhibits. In the museum, invested and unique rotating exhibitions are also presented for an additional fee. Address: Central Park West at West 79th St.

Immigration Museum at Ellis Island Ellis Island

At Ellis Island, also known by its nickname "The Island of Tears," the first immigrants who arrived at the shores of the USA between 1892 and 1954 were concentrated. More than 24 million immigrants arrived at the island and only 16 million of them were privileged to enter their new homeland afterwards. Today, remains of the buildings where the immigrants were housed and checked stand on the island. On-site is an immigration museum presenting the process of immigration to the USA and teaching how a diverse collection of different cultures merged together to create the human mosaic of New York. Most impressive and interesting! The island is located near the Statue of Liberty and can be reached by ferry cruise from Battery Park or from Liberty State Park. The ferry sails every 30-45 minutes between 9:30-15:30. In the summer hours until later. Entry to the museum is free, but the ferry cruise costs money. It is worth leaving on one of the first ferries in order to avoid the crowd of visitors. Immediately upon your arrival, stop at the museum's information center and collect tickets for a 30-minute film called: "Island of Hope, Island of Tears." It is recommended to combine a visit to Ellis Island with a visit to the Statue of Liberty.

"Intrepid" Sea, Air, and Space Museum

Interpid Sea- Air- Space Museum The heart of this museum is the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid which was one of the most famous warships in the American Navy and served it faithfully for 31 years. This ship was one of 23 "Essex" class aircraft carriers which were considered the most efficient warships in the USA. The "Intrepid" served in World War II in the Pacific Ocean and absorbed seven bombings, five kamikaze attacks, and a torpedo hit. Despite this, it was repaired and renovated each time anew and returned to service. Thanks to this wonderful survival ability, the enemies of the USA called it the "Ghost Ship." It was a partner in sinking two large Japanese warships, many small ships, and downing more than 600 enemy planes. The "Intrepid" also served as a NASA recovery ship and participated in the Vietnam War. Its last role was to track Soviet submarines during the Cold War with the Soviet Union. The Intrepid retired in 1974 and starting in 1982 it began a "second career" as a sea, air, and space museum. Since then it has been permanently docked in the Hudson River, at Pier 86 located at the west end of 46th Street (at 12th Avenue). On the ship's deck and around it is a diverse display of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and a submarine. Also, the space shuttle Enterprise is there. In 2007 the museum underwent a major renovation and today has many interactive displays. The museum is open daily between 10:00-17:00. On holidays and on Saturdays and Sundays open until 18:00. Entry is paid. Discount for seniors over 62, for children and youth up to 17. Free for children up to 3.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Those who have not visited the famous wax museum in London are invited to visit the New York branch located on 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenue (in Times Square). In the five-story museum, more than two hundred wax figures of the most famous people in the whole world, with an emphasis on American celebrities, from Charlie Chaplin to Oprah Winfrey. On-site are interactive displays including "The Chamber," a twilight zone for the brave only. The museum is open daily between 10:00-20:00. On Fridays and Saturdays open until 22:00. Entry is paid. Discount for children up to 12. Free for children up to 3.

Sony Wonder Technology Lab Sony Wonder Technology Lab

Closed in January 2016

An interactive science and technology museum that emphasizes communication technologies and allows touching exhibits and experimenting. You can produce videos, plan computer games, compose tunes on the computer, program a robot, etc. In the museum are four floors where there are seven permanent exhibitions, rotating exhibitions, and a modern theater hall.

Children Museums Children Museums

In New York are two recommended children's museums, the newer one in Manhattan and the second in Brooklyn which is the first children's museum in the world. The museums are built on the principle of "Hands On" touch and experience, and are especially suitable for families with small children (up to age 10).

Children's Museum of Manhattan

And Brooklyn Children's Museum

Is the first children's museum in the world that first opened already in 1899. From then until today it has of course undergone many changes, innovations, and adjustments and it is still a wonderful place for active spending of time with children, even in the 21st century.

Queens Museum of Art QMA

The highlight of the museum and the main reason why it is recommended to visit it (even if you are not at all interested in art) is an exhibition called: "Panorama of the City of New York" considered the largest architectural model in the world (with 800,000 buildings!) providing a magnificent bird's eye view of the entire metropolis. This is a model of the city of New York, miniaturized, with all its sites, bridges, and famous buildings. Here you can see how this giant metropolis looks, with its different neighborhoods and boroughs. Visitors circle the model 360 degrees on an elevated plaza. Every few minutes the light dims and the miniaturized city can be witnessed during the dark hours. The panorama was built for the Great World's Fair that took place at the site in 1964 and was at the time the most popular attraction at the fair. From then until today the model has been renovated and updated several times. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, free guided tours of about an hour are held at the exhibition. Entry to the museum is paid (donation). Discount for seniors, students, and children. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and on all American holidays.

Theater and Shows

Those interested in theater plays and shows in New York can read about it in the article: Theater and entertainment shows in New York

Tickets for shows in New York from GetYourGuide.com:

Tickets for popular shows in New York from Viator:

Sports in New York

New York is a paradise for sports lovers. It has good and famous teams in all sports branches.

Further details in the article: Sports in New York.

Booking tickets and guided tours from GetYourGuide.com:

Recommended site for purchasing tickets for sports events and shows:

Ticket Network

About sports events in the city you can read in the article Sports in New York.

Tickets for NBA games

Parks and Zoos:

Despite New York's density and its many buildings, it has many "green lungs": spacious parks, zoos, botanical gardens, and playgrounds. 17% of its area is dedicated to parks and playgrounds. Details about them in the article: Parks and Zoos in New York

Central Park Central Park

This is the most famous and largest park in New York. This is a well-kept green lung in the heart of the giant towers of busy Manhattan. The park area is 3360 dunams and it spans from 59th Street in the south to 110th Street in the north and from Fifth Avenue in the east to Central Park West in the west. In the park, established 150 years ago, are fountains, lakes, lawns and paths, statues and paved plazas. In the park more than 500,000 trees and shrubs! It is recommended to visit the park on weekends when it is crowded, full of activities and particularly vibrant. It is worth starting the visit to the park at the visitor center, located in a Victorian-Gothic building named: The Dairy. In the park are many family attractions, such as: the zoo (at 64th Street) serving as home to many animals from small insects to polar bears, including extinct animals such as tamarin monkeys and red pandas. The first home for animals in the park was established already in 1864 when there was a need for a home for the many animals donated to the park, from white swans to black bears. Daily you can watch animal feeding in the park (for example: penguin feeding and sea lion feeding occurring twice a day at fixed hours). In the park is Delacorte Theater (at 79th Street) hosting every year a festival of Shakespeare plays, puppet theater shows (mainly on weekends), an ice skating rink (at 62nd Street), open throughout the year: in winter for ice skating and in summer for rollerblades and mini-golf games. One of the favorite attractions for toddlers and a source of nostalgia for adults is the historical carousel (at 64th Street). The first carousel was built in the park already in 1871. Those who operated and turned it were a blind horse and a mule. The current carousel was built in 1908 and placed in Coney Island outside a trolley station. It was moved to its current location in Central Park after the original carousel was destroyed in a fire in autumn 1950. All sculptures on the carousel are handmade. The size of the horse statues is ¾ of the size of a real horse. To this day they paint the carousel and its figures manually. 150 different tunes play while the carousel turns. In the park is also a Wildlife Conservation Center (at 64th Street) presenting the animals in their natural environment (entry for a nominal fee).

In the park is a castle (at 79th Street) named "Belvedere Castle," from the 19th century built on a rock, from which a wonderful view of the park is reflected and in it a nature center named: Henry Luce Natural Observatory.

Free guided walking tours take place in the park on weekends by Manhattan National Park Rangers. Tour duration is an hour to an hour and a half (not recommended for small children).

Trolley tours (special bus) throughout the park are held Monday-Friday several times a day. A nice way to travel in the park is by horse-drawn carriage. Also you can rent bicycles and pedal boats for sailing in the lakes.

Battery Park Battery Park

A park at the southern tip of Manhattan from which a great view of the Statue of Liberty and many ships is reflected. It serves as a starting point for cruises to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island as well as for a walking tour at the memorial site for the "World Trade Center," the late "Twins." Bordered by the streets: Battery Pl., State and Whitehall Sts.

Hudson River Park Hudson River Park

An 8 km long park spanning between the streets Battery Pl. and 59th Street along the Hudson River. This is the place to stretch your bones, run, ride bicycles, ride on rollerblades and watch the sunset. This is actually a long promenade passing among lawns and piers, among others, along Chelsea Piers, these are four piers full of activity, sports, and entertainment, such as: baseball, ice skating, bowling, climbing wall, tennis, etc. On-site are many and varied restaurants (between 17th Street and 24th Street). Along Hudson River Park are playgrounds, historical ships in which you can tour and many other activities such as: fishing, mini-golf, kayaking, trapeze lessons, skateboarding and more. Many events and shows are held in the park.

"High Line" Park

A modern urban park (the first part opened in 2009 and the second in 2011) with a beautiful promenade and much atmosphere near the Chelsea neighborhood. From Chelsea Market continue on W 15th St toward the pier until you reach an elevated park built on the ruins of ancient elevated railroad tracks. The park continues until 30th Street and crosses about three neighborhoods. The park overlooks the Hudson River on one side and the city spread out to its east on the other side. Along the park are several cafes, delis, and food stalls. Art creations from different styles are scattered throughout the park. The southernmost entrance to the park is from Gansevoort Street and the northernmost is West 30th Street (with an elevator). Along the way the park has several additional entrances and exits at West 14, 16, 18, 20, 23, 26, and 28th Streets.

New York has plenty of other attractions to offer families with children of all ages.