Updated for 2025
New York City is an incredible place to visit with kids, but when you only have a weekend in Manhattan with kids, it can feel overwhelming to decide what’s actually worth your time. There is so much to see and do that it’s easy to overplan, and end up with exhausted kids and stressed parents.
After visiting New York City as a family, we learned what really works when time is limited. These tips are based on our own experience and are focused on helping you create a fun, realistic, and memorable weekend in Manhattan with kids, without trying to do it all.
Plan Ahead for a Weekend in Manhattan With Kids
Before our trip we made a list of things to do and places to visit, which included everything from parks and museums to tours and major tourist attractions. We focused on things that we knew our kids would enjoy and kept it all in Manhattan so we could maximize our limited time. Everyone picked their two top things to do and I planned our trip around them. That way everyone got to do something they wanted. I had additional options each day that we would do just in case we had the time and we ended up being able to do much more than I had expected.
How to Save Money Visiting New York City With Kids
There are so many free things to do in New York City from strolling along Central Park or visiting the High Line to waling along Chinatown so start by including those in your travel plans. Going to the top of the Empire State and visiting the museums and other attractions in New York City can get really expensive so make sure to check out museum and attraction websites for offers and coupons, include some free activities into your itinerary like visiting Central Park or the High Line and take advantage of companies that sell discounted attraction tickets if you buy them as a package. We got CityPASS saved a lot of money as they includ ticket entrances for most of the places we wanted to visit at a discounted price. Choosing the right hotel can also save you a lot of money: look for a hotel that is centrally located as transportation costs add up and that ideally includes breakfast. We stayed at the Best Western Premier Herald Square which was the perfect choice as it was close to most of the things we wanted to do and see. Budgeting smartly is especially important when you’re planning a weekend in Manhattan with kids, since attraction costs add up quickly.
Where to Eat in Manhattan With Kids (Without Wasting Time)
Sitting down at a restaurant can shave a couple of hours from your day, especially if you have a child who takes forever to eat like our little guy. To make the most out of our time we planned our meals around our activities. On the first day we had luch aboard a cruise: we got to enjoy beautiful skyline views along the Hudson river, hear about the history of New York City and got up close to the Statue of Liberty without dealing with the crowds; all while enjoying a delicious lunch. On our second day we bought hot dogs and had a picnic in Central Park: a must do in New York that was cheap, quick and provided far better views that almost any restaurant in the city. We had a couple of kid friendly restaurants we wanted to eat at but we left those for dinner since by then most museums and attractions where closed.
Take a Tour of Manhattan With Kids: Best New York Family Friendly Tours
I used to be a bit of a snob when it came to bus tours. I wanted to avoid anything that felt like a tourist trap and preferred exploring cities on my own. After years of traveling with kids, though, I’ve completely changed my mind. Tours can be a great way to see a city, learn some history, and give everyone a break from walking — especially in a place as big and busy as Manhattan.
A bus tour also helps you get a sense of the city early on, so you can decide which neighborhoods or attractions you want to come back to later. And honestly, being able to sit down in an air-conditioned bus while still sightseeing is something both parents and kids appreciate.
Here are some Manhattan tours that work especially well for families:
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Big Bus NYC: Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Tour by Open-top Bus (1 hour 30 minutes)
This is a flexible option if you want to see a lot without committing to a full day. You can hop on and off at major attractions, making it easy to explore at your own pace or just stay on and enjoy the ride when everyone needs a break. -
New York Night Tour: Open Top Bus Tour (1 hour 30 minutes)
Seeing New York lit up at night feels completely different than during the day. This tour is a great choice if your kids can stay up a little later and you want to experience the city’s skyline, bridges, and landmarks without more walking. -
Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights (4 hours)
If you want a more structured overview of the city, this tour covers many of New York’s most famous sights in a single morning or afternoon. It’s a good balance between sightseeing and downtime, especially for first-time visitors. -
New York in One Day Guided Sightseeing Tour (6 hours)
This is ideal if you have limited time and want to see as much as possible in one go. With a guide handling the logistics and sharing context along the way, it takes a lot of pressure off parents trying to plan every detail.
Taking a tour like one of these made our trip feel more relaxed and helped us see parts of the city we probably would have skipped otherwise. It’s not about replacing independent exploring — it’s about making the most of your time in Manhattan with kids.
Getting Around Manhattan With Kids
We had planned to move around using the subway but after walking around in museums and parks the kids where exhausted and usually could not walk those few extra blocks to make it to the subway and just going up and down so many steps to get into and out of subway stations turned out to be more challenging for them than we though. We ended up using Uber a lot and because we where staying at the Best Western Premier Herald Square which had such a great location most times Uber was even cheaper than taking the subway.
Best Neighborhoods to Explore With Kids in Manhattan
Most of the major attractions you’ll want to see during a short trip are in Midtown, so it makes sense to focus your days there — especially when you’re visiting Manhattan with kids and trying to minimize travel time. This is where you’ll find many of the iconic sights, museums, and easy transportation options.
As the day winds down, we found it nice to slow things down by heading into nearby neighborhoods for dinner. The Upper West Side feels especially family-friendly, with quieter streets and plenty of casual restaurants. The West Village is great for an evening stroll, grabbing a relaxed meal, and letting kids explore at a calmer pace. The Meatpacking District, while busier, offers a different side of the city and is fun to experience at least once.
New York can feel overwhelming, especially with kids, so don’t try to see everything in one visit. A weekend is about getting a feel for the city, not checking off every neighborhood. Leaving a few places for your next trip gives you a great excuse to come back.
Indoor Activities Near Manhattan for Kids (For Rainy Days or When Everyone’s Tired)
When we traveled to Manhattan with kids, we quickly learned that you do not want to be stuck wandering the streets when the weather turns or when little legs need a break. Thankfully, there are several indoor spots, both inside the city and just outside of it, that gave us a much-needed reset on tough days.
Here are specific places we either visited or put on our “if-we-had-extra-time” list that work great for kids on a rainy day:
Indoor Options Inside NYC
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American Museum of Natural History (Upper West Side, Manhattan) — This huge museum gave us hours of distraction when rain hit. The dinosaur halls and interactive exhibits were a hit with our kids, and it was easy to go at our own pace.
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Children’s Museum of Manhattan (Upper West Side, Manhattan) — If you’ve got toddlers or preschoolers, this place was a breath of fresh air after a morning of walking. It’s hands-on, very kid-oriented, and feels made for little explorers.
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Brooklyn Children’s Museum (Brooklyn) — Worth the quick subway or rideshare trip if you’re already exploring Brooklyn. The exhibits and play spaces are really interactive, and it’s a nice way to break up museum-heavy days in Manhattan.
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Chelsea Piers Sports & Entertainment Complex (Chelsea, Manhattan) — For older kids who need to move, we liked this for indoor rock climbing, skating, or just burning off steam between sightseeing.
Indoor Play Spaces Near Staten Island and New Jersey
If you’re staying near Staten Island or you have a car, heading just outside Manhattan opens up several indoor play options — especially helpful after museum days or on cold, rainy city afternoons.
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Kids Empire Woodbridge (Woodbridge, NJ) — A big indoor playground and play center with climbing structures, slides, and open play areas. This was one of our go-to spots when we needed somewhere simple where kids could run around and have fun indoors.
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SEA LIFE New Jersey Aquarium (American Dream Mall, East Rutherford, NJ) — Not a playground in the climbing sense, but a fun indoor attraction that kids enjoy, watching sea creatures, tunnel tanks, and colorful exhibits. It’s inside the American Dream entertainment complex, so you can pair it with other activities nearby.
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The Funplex East Hanover (East Hanover, NJ) — A bigger indoor entertainment center with arcade games, rides, bowling, bumper cars, and more. This one’s especially good if you have older kids who want a mix of activities under one roof.
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American Dream Mall (East Rutherford, NJ) — This massive indoor entertainment complex has even more options: a LEGOLAND Discovery Center, DreamWorks Water Park (indoor!), and Nickelodeon Universe indoor theme park — all great for longer rainy day excursions with kids.
Having a mix of these specific indoor ideas, from museums and aquariums to playgrounds and indoor entertainment centers, saved us more than once on trips where the weather didn’t cooperate or our kids just needed a break from walking the city.
Is a Weekend in Manhattan With Kids Enough? Final Tips for Families
Yes! A weekend in Manhattan with kids can absolutely be enough, as long as you go in with the right expectations. New York City is not the kind of place where you “do it all” in one trip, and honestly, that’s part of what makes it special. Trying to see everything in two days usually leads to tired kids and frustrated parents.
What worked best for us was focusing on a few must-see experiences, building in downtime, and leaving room to be flexible. Pick one or two big highlights each day, mix in free or low-key activities like parks or short walks, and don’t underestimate how much energy the city takes out of kids.
It also helps to think of your first trip as an introduction. A weekend gives you enough time to get a feel for Manhattan, explore a couple of neighborhoods, and figure out what your family enjoys most, whether that’s museums, tours, parks, or just wandering and people-watching.
If you leave wishing you had more time, that’s a good thing. Manhattan is a city you can come back to again and again, and each visit with kids feels different as they get older. With the right expectations and a flexible plan, a weekend in Manhattan with kids can be both manageable and incredibly memorable.
More Family Travel Inspiration
If you’re planning more trips with kids — or already thinking about where to go next — here are a few other family-friendly travel guides you might find helpful. These are all trips we’ve either taken ourselves or planned with kids in mind, keeping things realistic and enjoyable.
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Planning a Road Trip With Kids? Don’t Forget These!
If New York is part of a longer trip, this guide covers the little things that make road trips with kids smoother — from planning stops to keeping everyone sane in the car. -
The Finger Lakes: Fun Things to Do With Kids
Looking for a slower-paced New York getaway after the city? The Finger Lakes are a great option for families who want nature, outdoor activities, and space to relax.
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10 Best Free Things to Do in Orlando With Kids
If you’re planning future trips and trying to keep costs down, this roundup focuses on fun, free activities that work well for families traveling on a budget. -
Exploring Brooklyn’s Greenpoint and Williamsburg Neighborhoods
If you enjoyed Manhattan but want a different side of New York next time, this guide focuses on two Brooklyn neighborhoods that are great for walking, food, and exploring with kids.
Paula studied architecture and now makes a living as a freelance writer,traveler and amateur photographer.She started her writing & publishing career as the editor of Bebé y Mamá, the first parenting magazine in Guatemala.She is the founder of www.GrowingUpBilingual.com and www.365thingsswfl.com and writes articles in Spanish and English for both magazines and the web on travel,food and bicultural and bilingual parenting .
When she is not on a plane or road trip she likes to create recipes inspired in the flavors of her native Guatemala.
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Those sound like awesome ways to enjoy the city! Pinned and shared.