I’ve always thought of New York as an expensive place, and it is – to live. But if you’re only visiting, there are a ton of cheap, fun things to do in New York with your family. New York is a safe, vibrant and energetic city with great public transport. If it’s not on your travel bucket list, put it on right now! Here are 10 cheap or free activities in NYC to get you started. And find out how to get a free book about New York for your kids to read on the flight!
1. American Museum of Natural History – free
Go into the foyer, past the crowds paying at the booths and straight to the ticket desk. The American Museum of Natural History has an inclusive policy of allowing guests to pay what they can. The suggested ticket price is $23 for adults and $13 for children but this inspiring place is open to all.
2. Bronx Zoo – free
You won’t believe you’re in the city at the Bronx Zoo. You could spend the whole day here, watching the animals, wandering the expansive grounds and even riding a camel. If you plan your trip for a Wednesday, you can pay what you like, although the suggested price is $28.95 for adults and $20.95 for children. Get there by subway and bring your own picnic for a cheap day out in New York City!
3. High Line – free
The High Line is a 1.45-mile long elevated park, built on a disused freight rail line. This walk gives you great views of the city while enjoying art installations and gardens – all for free! There are elevators, so it is stroller-friendly too. Begin at Gansevoort St and Washington St on the West side of Manhattan and continue up to 34 St. There are several points along the way to get down if you don’t want to do the whole line.
4. Staten Island Ferry – Free
The Staten Island Ferry takes 22 million passengers a year between Whitehall St in lower Manhattan and Staten Island. Keep your camera out because the 25-minute ride offers fantastic views of New York, its harbor and the Statue of Liberty. No ticket is required for this trip!
5. Staten Island Children’s Museum – $8, Free on Wednesday 3pm-5pm
Staten Island has a children’s museum where kids can have fun exploring the interactive, hands-on exhibits. The museum caters to a good range of ages, from babies and toddlers who would enjoy the soft block room, to older kids who will get a kick out of life-size chess games and the bugs exhibition. Perfect for a rainy day or for a break from sightseeing. Find Staten Island Children’s Museum at Snug Harbor by hopping on the S40 bus from the ferry terminal for 10 minutes.
6. Brooklyn Bridge walk – Free
It’s free to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge on the footpath. Enjoy the million dollar views without spending a penny by walking this beautiful bridge! You can take a stroller if your child isn’t up to the 1.3-mile span. Once you get over to Brooklyn, check out the cobbled streets and glimpses of Manhattan’s famous skyline. Go anytime, but try to time the return stretch for sunset to see the city lit up at night – it’s truly magical.
On the Manhattan side, the pedestrian bridge entrance is just across from the Chambers Street subway stop. On the Brooklyn side, the entrance is at Tillary Street and Adams Street.
7. Jane’s Carousel – Cheap at $2
For just $2, ride the Jane’s Carousel just across the Brooklyn Bridge. Open Thursday to Sunday in the winter and every day except Tuesdays in the summer, this historic 1920s carousel is cheap New York fun for all ages. There is a great playground nearby too, as well as a beach giving you a beautiful view of the city, perfect for a family snap.
8. Grand Central Station – Free
To me, exploring New York always feels like wandering around one giant movie set, and Grand Central Station is one of the best locations to enjoy the thrill! Make sure you look up at the ceiling, which is a giant mural of the zodiac painted in gold leaf. See if your kids can spot the dark brick next to Cancer, the crab. This is a small area deliberately left dirty after the restoration project in the 1990s to show how the ceiling used to look. You might think the dark was caused by smoke from the trains but nope, it was cigarettes. Yuck!
Check out the Whispering Gallery next to the Grand Central Oyster Bar and Restaurant – get your kids to stand on one side of the arch while you whisper to them on the other – see if they can hear you.
There are also lots of restaurants and shops here, including an Apple store, which may have fun demonstrations going on.
There is even an annex of the New York Transit Museum here, which showcases some of the exhibits of the downtown Brooklyn museum. Admission is free!
9. Domino Park – Free
Williamsburg in Brooklyn is home to super-cool bars, restaurants, shops and possibly the world’s best playground at Domino Park. Inspired by the sugar refinery that used to occupy the site, children crawl, swing and slide their way through this art installation/playground, mimicking the sugar refining process.
10. Central Park – Free
No visit to New York is complete without a stroll through Central Park. Let the kids burn off some energy at one of the playgrounds and enjoy the views of the city. Check out the rock formations, which offer a glimpse at the bedrock that Manhattan is built on. Also, see if you can find Belvedere Castle, a folly built out of the excavated rock during park construction. It’s a visitor center now, so you will be able to find out more about the park’s history here.
For families with children aged five and older (or if you can carry younger kids), go for a free guided discovery walk with Central Park Conservancy.
Getting around NYC with kids
Check out our post A Day In New York City With Kids for more ideas on where to go in New York, how to get around and kid-friendly places to eat. I highly recommend a lightweight stroller like this Kolcraft Cloud or a baby carrier like the popular K’Tan. Public transport is great and taking the subway is part of the fun. If you want to take a taxi, consider Uber as there is an option to request a forward-facing car seat (only for 12 months or older) for an extra $10 in New York.
Get your kids inspired ahead of your trip with this colorful Lonely Planet pop up book for New York
Or New York City Trails for slightly older kids.
This book is actually free with Prime reading, another Amazon Prime membership perk. If you don’t have Amazon Prime yet, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial here and read New York City Trails for free on any device!
Finally, New York is so much more than Manhattan. If you have time, take a New York road trip and see more of the Empire State.
Where to stay
I like to use Airbnb when traveling with children, as I like having a separate living/bedroom area and a kitchen. However, I have always stayed with family in Manhattan so I don’t have any specific places to recommend!
Kid & Coe is a good option – an Airbnb for families, it provides listings for places that are kid-friendly and pre-checked by the team. If you don’t want to trawl through Airbnb looking for child-proofed homes, this is the way to go.
More of a hotel fan? I get it, you don’t want to do any cooking on vacation! There are some great-value, family-friendly hotels in New York.
The Four Seasons ($$$) in Midtown East is a five-star hotel providing luxurious accommodation to kids as well as adults. Board games, child proofing and cribs are available free of charge. Children receive a welcome pack including kids toiletries and bath robes! There is also a babysitting service available so you can enjoy New York’s famous night life too.
TRYP by Wyndham ($$) is centrally located near Penn Station and has family rooms that can accommodate up to eight people, perfect for larger families who want to stay in a room together.
POD Times Square ($) is a modern, chic budget hotel, ideal for families. If you just need somewhere quiet to sleep, these rooms with full window shutters and soundproofing offer a quiet sanctuary after a busy day.
Very helpful post, im planning to take my kids to NY and that would make my life easier, thank you
This list is AWESOME!! We love NYC and can’t wait to spend more time down there with the kiddos!