10 Kid-Friendly Museums to Explore in New York City

New York City is home to hundreds of institutions, museums, and historic sites that represent diverse cultures in the US and internationally. Many of these educational and national museums offer opportunities for children to learn about art, science, and history with their families, all while having fun! From history museums to art museums and more, New York City has it all. Below are 10 kid-friendly museums in or near New York City that you must visit!

Keep in mind that admission and hours may vary from the below information. We encourage you to verify up-to-date information with the museum before visiting.

American Museum of Natural History

The American Museum of Natural History features kid-friendly museum exhibits surrounding aquatic animals and extinct animals. A life-size blue whale inside the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life and the Tyrannosaurus Tex on the fourth floor will captivate little ones. For those who don’t mind paying for a ticketed exhibition, consider the Davis Family Butterfly Vivarium, where children can get up close and personal with 1,000 butterflies inside this natural history museum. 

• Location: 200 Central Park West
• Admission: Senior ($22), Adult ($28), Child 3-12 ($16), Child under 3 (free), NY/NJ/CT residents pay what they wish
• Hours: 10 am – 5:30 pm, daily

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan offers a variety of exhibits featuring water play, art creations, and more. Adventures with Dora and Diego invites children ages 2-6 years old to go on an adventure to get to Dora’s house for a fiesta. PlayWorks, a 4,000-square-foot play space, includes a ‘talking’ dragon, deli, soft play space for little ones, and a drop-in Art Lab for those who want to focus on their creative side.

• Location: 212 West 83rd St
• Admission: Senior ($13), Adult ($16), Child 1+ ($16), Child under 1 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Tue-Sun

Related:

• Visiting the American Museum of Natural History with Kids
• 11 Things to Do With Babies in NYC
• 12 Must-Visit Children’s Museums in the US

New York Hall of Science

Visit the New York Hall of Science to observe live STEM performances, watch feature films in the 3D theater, and play a round of putt-putt at the space-themed Rocket Park Mini Golf. Children can also take advantage of Maker Space, a ‘drop-in’ workshop where kiddos can learn more about science with hands-on activities in this kid-friendly museum.

• Location: 41-01 111th St
• Admission: Senior ($13), Adults ($16), Students ($13), Children 2+ ($13), Child under 2 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 2 pm, Tue / 10 am – 5 pm, Wed-Sun

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

The Museum of Modern Art is one of the best kid-friendly museums for large families since children under the age of 16 are free! Kiddos can get creative in MoMA’s Art Lab or walk through the various art galleries. This American art museum has even put together a brief children’s guide that includes activities to complete while visiting. 

• Location: 11 West 53 St
• Admission: Senior ($18), Adults ($25), Students ($14), Children 16 and under (free)
• Hours: 10:30 am – 5:30 pm, Sun-Fri / 10:30 am – 7 pm (Sat)

Brooklyn Children’s Museum

The Brooklyn Children’s Museum features four main exhibits for children. This includes Totally Tots, a safe play space for children under age 6, and World Brooklyn, where kids explore various cultures in a real-life space. Another exhibit in this kid-friendly museum, The NEST, is an outdoor space for little ones to play and climb on. On top of that, the museum houses live animals and a greenhouse!

• Location: 145 Brooklyn Ave
• Admission: Senior ($12), Adult ($13), Children ($13), Child under 1 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Wed-Sun

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The last kid-friendly museum on our list, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers an interactive digital feature where kids can travel in a time machine, explore an art-filled map, and more right from their home! There are also plenty of family-friendly activities within the museum to enjoy, like children’s classes, storytime, and drop-in events where kids can create art with the family.

• Location: 1000 Fifth Ave
• Admission: Senior ($22), Adult ($30), Students ($17), Child under 12 (free), NY/NJ/CT residents pay what they wish
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Sun-Tue & Thu / 10 am – 9 pm, Fri-Sat

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

If your kiddo loves planes, space shuttles, and submarines, they’ll certainly love visiting the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. In this kid-friendly museum, young ones can play in a 13,000 square feet interactive exhibit, give a flight simulator a try, and check out one of the many family programs the museum offers.

• Location: Pier 86, W 46th St and 12th Ave
• Admission: Senior ($34), Adults ($36), Children 5-12 ($26), Child under 5 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 5 pm, Mon-Fri / 10 am – 6 pm, Sat-Sun

New York Transit Museum

Another museum focused on transportation is the New York Transit Museum. This kid-friendly museum features vintage subway cars and interactive exhibits. There is even a 10-week after-school program for children on the autism spectrum called Subway Sleuths where kids can engage with each other in games and activities regarding trains.

• Location: 99 Schermerhorn St.
• Admission: Senior ($5), Adult ($10), Children ($5), Child under 2 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Thu-Sun

Liberty Science Center

While the Liberty Science Center is technically in Jersey City, it is easily accessible from NYC and a family favorite due to its extensive list of exhibits. Exhibits like Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails, Skyscraper!, Block Party, Dino Dig Adventure, and Infinity Climber keep families coming back year after year. Science Camp and homeschool programs are also available!

• Location: 222 Jersey City Blvd, Jersey City
• Admission: Adult ($31.99), Child ($26.99), Child under 2 (free)
• Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, Tue-Fri / 10 am – 5 pm, Sat-Sun

The Guggenheim Museum

Finally, The Guggenheim Museum features family-friendly programs for children, teens, and everyone at once. Little ones can dive into after-school art classes and art camps. Parents with babies can enjoy Stroller Tours, and those with toddlers can participate in Little Guggs, a class involving art and storytime.

• Location: 1071 Fifth Avenue
• Admission: Senior ($18), Adult ($25), Student ($18), Child under 12 (free)
• Hours: 11 am – 6 pm, Sun-Fri / 11 am – 8 pm, Sat

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of kid-friendly museums in New York City—it’s almost overwhelming! But with so many options comes plenty of opportunity for your kiddos to learn more about various cultures, artworks, and historical events. Before planning a museum visit, double-check hours, ticket prices, and open exhibits. Checking off a family museum bucket list could be a great way to make memories together!