WRITTEN BY A NEW YORKER – NYC TRAVEL GUIDE
This is one of my most requested travel guides and I’m so excited to finally sit down and write our perfect 4 days in New York with kids itinerary. We spent two years living in New York when our eldest son was aged 2 – 4 and our baby was born there so we got to know the city so well!
There is so much to do in New York City and 4 days is a short amount of time, so this is a fairly full itinerary. This guide covers all the major things you’ll want to see your first time in New York but I’m also going to include lots of kid tips to help you make the most of your time there.
Ready to find out the perfect 4 days in New York with kids itinerary? Grab yourself a cup of tea (or a glass of wine) and read on!
WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK CITY?
The most popular place to stay in New York is the Midtown/ Times Square area. New Yorkers will tell you that Times Square is massively overrated. However, this is a good area to stay in as you’ll be central. It’s easy to get around the city from here (I’ve written a guide with more information on this here.). If you stay out of the centre, you’ll spend a lot of time travelling and especially with kids, it’s just not worth it!
PERFECT 4 DAYS IN NEW YORK WITH KIDS ITINERARY
DAY 1 – CENTRAL PARK & UPPER EAST / WEST SIDE
I loved taking visitors to Central Park on their first day. It’s great to get outside and have some fresh air after travelling. It’s also a fantastic place for kids and adults to enjoy.
I would suggest starting on The Upper East Side, then going to Central Park and finally, heading to the Upper West Side. There are a lot of museum options here, trying to do everything will be overwhelming, so I’ll give you the options and you can pick which is best for your family.
UPPER EAST SIDE
Start your day early and head to The Upper East Side. It is well known for Museum Mile. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim and The Museum of the City of New York, to name just a few. The Met being the most iconic, the architecture of the MET is just beautiful and I’d highly recommend you see it even if you choose not to go inside.
Kid Tip: Recently, The Met opened a Children’s Studio which is aimed at ages 11 and under and is really fun. Unfortunately, you can’t book this in advance, you have to turn up and put your name on a waitlist. You’re also limited to half an hour in there. But it is free, the rest of the museum you pay for.
I didn’t love the Guggenheim for kids and there’s not as much to see there as The Met. We enjoyed The Museum of the History of New York and they had a kid’s activity you could do as you look around. It is also a beautiful building however it’s located quite far north in Manhattan so may not be worth the extra walk if you’re on a tight schedule.
CENTRAL PARK
Central Park really was our happy place and we spent many hours there. I’ve written a full guide to Central Park but I’ll summarize the key areas in this post.
If you’re coming from the East side, stop at a playground to let the kids burn some energy. Central Park has 21 playgrounds so you’re spoilt for choice. On the left of The Met is Ruth and Arthur Smadbeck-Heckscher East Playground which is great for small children or on the other side, you have The Aincent Playground which is better for older kids.
Walk down through the park passing the Alice in Wonderland and the Hands Christian Anderson Statues. Kids are allowed to climb on both of these.
Kid Tip: kids (and dads) often get hungry, there are various carts selling drinks, pretzels and hotdogs. They’re not the most delicious or nutritious but they are iconic New York and a budget-friendly snack option. There’s also a cafe opposite the Hans Christian Anderson statue.
Continue on to the Bethesda Terrace and Central Park Mall. It is so beautiful and you’ll definitely want to go there.
Kid Tip: The terrace has a lot of steps however it is possible to get around with a stroller (pushchair) by walking the long way around.
Here, you can decide. Do you want to see more of the Park or check out the Upper West Side?
If you want to continue in the park, go on to The Pond, Umpire Rock and Heckscher Playground. If you’re going to the Upper West Side, cross The Bow Bridge and stroll through The Ramble.
UPPER WEST SIDE
The main attraction on the Upper West Side is the Museum of Natural History. Unfortunately, it’s not free like many of the other history museums but it certainly is better than the London one. This was our 4-year-olds favourite and we went here a lot.
You’re probably getting hungry. Our favourite kid-friendly restaurant on the Upper West Side was Jacobs Pickle. We also liked Freds.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Personally, I would pick one museum to visit. This is a tough choice. The Museum of Natural History is the best one for kids. It’s also much better than the version in London. However, The Met is iconic and you won’t find it anywhere else. If you’re going to do The Met, try to book into the kid’s play space!
DAY 2 – MIDTOWN
Day 2 of your 4 days in New York with kids itinerary, is in midtown Manhattan. Midtown gets extremely busy so start early if possible.
SKYSCRAPERS
When in New York, you’ll definitely want to do one of the skyscrapers. Top of the Rock would be my recommendation but Summit One Vanderbilt is the best for kids. Full NYC Skyscraper guide liked here. I would start your day with one of these while everyone is feeling fresh.
Bills Bar & Burger is right by Rockefeller and a great American place to get lunch (depending on your timings.)
SHOPPING
Kids will just love FAO Schwarz. It’s a good place to pick up some non-tacky NYC souvenirs. The Lego Store is also popular. You also have the FDNY Fire Zone. The fire department store but you can sit in a life-size fire engine, my boys absolutely loved coming in here!
I’m a boy mum but I hear good things about American Girl Place if your kids like dolls. All these are located in Rockefeller Plaza.
BRYANT PARK
After lunch, head to Bryant Park, this is also a great place to stop for coffee or lunch. There are plenty of tables and chairs you can stop at. For coffee, We liked Le Pain Quatredien or Breads Bakery. Whole Foods is a good place to grab a to-go lunch. Or if you need a sweet treat try Waffles and Dingles.
Kid Tip: There is no playground but there is a children’s area with books, magnetic tiles and other things kids will love. There’s also a small carousel.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Next, walk around the corner to the New York Public Library. The building is so beautiful and really a must-see. It’s also beautiful inside and entry is free.
The Library also has an exhibition showing the original Winnie-the-Pooh teddy bear which Freddie always loved to see.
Kid Tip: the accessible entrance is to the right side of the building. You can’t take strollers into the exhibition but you can leave them in the cloakroom.
GRAND CENTRAL STATION
Less than 10 minutes walk from the library. Grand Central Station is so beautiful, don’t forget to look up at the amazing constellation print ceiling. You can also visit the Whispering Gallery (located near the Oyster Bar) and hear each other whisper from across the room.
Kid Tip: when Freddie was 2-3 he liked to go to the platforms and see the trains. He’d name them after Thomas the Tank characters.
TIMES SQUARE
I mentioned earlier that Times Square is overrated. It is. But it would also be a shame to miss out on it while you’re in NYC. It’s really best at night, depending on the age of your kids, you might want to see a Broadway show. The Lion King is an all-time favourite. Or if you’re there at Christmas, see the Rockettes.
DAY 3 – CHELSEA
HUDSON YARDS
Start day 3 at Hudson Yards. You’ll find places to get breakfast here. Just outside, is The Vessel. unfortunately, it has been closed for a while but it is still a cool building to see.
Kid Tip: Freddie was overjoyed when his Nana treated him to candy from the iconic Dylan’s Candy Shop in Hudson Yards.
THE HIGH LINE
This is an old elevated railway track which was once used for freight trains. Rather than demolishing it, it was transformed into a walkable path, surrounded by plants and works of art.
Kids and adults will both love walking the High Line and even better, it’s a free activity!
PIER 57
One of New York’s hidden gems. There are lots of options for lunch here (or in Chelsea Market across the street). The reason I recommend Pier 57 is because of its rooftop view. You can see Little Island and downtown Manhattan from the rooftop garden.
LITTLE ISLAND
Another free thing to do in New York!
This is a relatively new park for NYC (opened in 2021) and is a unique design. This is another place that kids and parents can both enjoy. There are some interactive elements for kids such as wheels to spin and musical instruments they can play. You’ll also get great views of downtown Manhattan.
It does get pretty windy, sometimes we didn’t make it to the top as it was just too cold!
TV LOCATIONS
If you’re not too tired by this point. The buildings used for the exterior shots for Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment (64 Perry Street) and the Freinds apartment (90 Bedford Street) are only around a 20-minute walk away.
I don’t think either of these are must-do’s unless you’re a big fan of either of the shows!
DAY 4 – DOWNTOWN
You are on to the final day of these 4 days in New York with kids itinerary and it’s another amazing one.
Depending on how exhausted you are, you could start your day in DUMBO, Brooklyn and walk back along the Brooklyn Bridge. DUMBO is very charming and you could easily spend the full day here.
Sometimes, trying to do too much with little kids is just not worth it, so I’ll leave it up to you!
THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
The Brooklyn Bridge is iconic in NYC and is a lovely walk with great views. It also gets very crowded, I would suggest going here early in the day.
Kid Tip: if walking the bridge is too much, you can just go part way and then head back to Manhattan.
If you choose not to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, you can get a good view of it from Pier 17.
WALL STREET
From the Brooklyn Bridge, walk through Seaport to Wall Street. Seaport is a beautiful little area and Wall Street is a must-see in NYC.
THE BATTERY
From Wall Street, head towards The Battery. There is a big playground that kids will love to stop at.
There is also the beautiful Sea Glass Carousel. This is unlike any other carousel I’ve ever seen, little kids will also love this.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
A free ferry ride to Staten Island and back. From the ferry, you’ll get the best free views of the Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty was the one thing on my bucket list I didn’t get to do (it was closed for renovations) so I can’t recommend it but, of course, it is popular!
ONE WORLD TRADE MEMORIAL
Finally, visit the 9/11 Memorial sight and One World Observatory. The memorial is pretty humbling and the museum is pretty heartbreaking. However, these are a key piece of New York’s history.
Kid Tip: we didn’t go into too much detail about the Twin Towers tragedy with our kids or take them to the museum. They’re too young to understand it properly.
Kid Tip 2: The Oculus shopping mall is located close by and has good restrooms or food if you need it. It’s also a cool building to look at!
GUIDES YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
HOW TO GET AROUND NEW YORK CITY
WHICH NEW YORK SKYSCRAPER SHOULD YOU VISIT?
CENTRAL PARK WITH KIDS
Thank you so much for reading this 4 days in New York with kids itinerary. I know this was such a long post but there really are so many amazing things to do. I hope you and your family have the best time,
Happy Exploring,
