New York with tweens and teens (11+)
With tweens and teens, go for the landmarks they have seen on screen. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, the Intrepid and the natural history museum all hold up at this age. Skip the small zoo and the children's museum, and let them choose the viewpoint.
Tips by age · 11+
- Children up to 12 still pay child prices at the natural history museum, the Intrepid and the Statue ferry.
- Let them pick between the 86th floor and a museum. Doing both in one day is a lot of standing.
- Give them the camera on the Staten Island Ferry. It is free and passes through the open harbor.
What works at 11+
10 activities
Natural history museumAmerican Museum of Natural History
child from $22Dinosaur halls, a blue whale and a planetarium. Strollers go everywhere except the theaters.
Landmark and ferryStatue of Liberty and Ellis Island
child from $17The ferry ride is the fun part for kids. The crown is for children 4 and over and 42 inches tall.
Observation deckEmpire State Building
child from $38Open-air deck on the 86th floor, free for children 5 and under. Strollers must fold on the decks.
Ship and aircraft museumIntrepid Museum
child from $28An aircraft carrier with jets on deck, a space shuttle and a submarine. Submarine from 40 inches tall.
Free harbor ferryStaten Island Ferry
No ticket neededA free 25-minute boat ride across the harbor, running day and night from Lower Manhattan.
City parkCentral Park
No ticket neededFree, open 6 am to 1 am, with a big playground at the south end and room to run everywhere.
ZooBronx Zoo
child from $27.70A full day at one of the largest city zoos in the country. Expect to park the stroller often.
AquariumNew York Aquarium
child from $25.95Sharks, sea lions and penguins by the Coney Island boardwalk, at the end of the F and Q lines.
Waterfront parkBrooklyn Bridge Park
No ticket neededFree waterfront park with a run of playgrounds at Pier 6, a $4 carousel and the skyline across the river.
Aerial tramRoosevelt Island Tram
A cable car over the East River for the price of a subway ride. Strollers roll straight on.
Nothing matches these filters.
Less suited to this age
3 days in New York with kids
Getting around
- Subway and bus fare
- $3 a ride, tap a card or phone
- Weekly fare cap
- $35 in 7 days on the same card or device
- Children on transit
- Under 44 in ride free, up to 3 per paying adult
- Strollers on buses
- Open in the marked area, otherwise folded
- AirTrain JFK
- $8.75, free for children under 5