30 Sep 12 NYC Museums Kids Will Actually Be Excited to Visit
Museum days don’t have to mean convincing the kids to quietly follow you from gallery to gallery. Across NYC, there are museums where children can climb aboard vintage subway cars, experiment with science, explore an aircraft carrier, discover movie-making secrets, see an enormous model of New York City and even spend an afternoon surrounded by art inspired by dogs.
Whether you’re looking for a rainy-day plan, or simply a new weekend idea, these are worth adding to your family list.
Several also offer free hours, pay-what-you-can admission or free entry for kids, which makes exploring somewhere new a little easier on the family budget.
New York Transit Museum
If you have a train-loving child, this one is almost guaranteed to be a hit.
Hidden inside a decommissioned subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the New York Transit Museum lets families step inside vintage subway and elevated cars while learning how New York’s enormous transportation system developed.
The old trains are the big draw for younger visitors, but there are also exhibits about buses, subway construction, fares and the people who have kept the city moving.
Where: 99 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn
Admission: Adults $15 | Children ages 2–17 $10
Website: https://www.nytransitmuseum.org/
New York Hall of Science
For kids who want to touch, test and experiment rather than just look, NYSCI is one of the best museum days in the city.
The Queens science center is packed with hands-on exhibits covering science, technology, engineering and math. Families can also add experiences such as the Science Playground and Rocket Park Mini Golf when available.
General admission is currently $22 for adults and $19 for children, students and seniors. Even better, NYSCI offers free Community Hours every Friday from 2–5pm, with reservations available on the day of the visit. nysci
Where: 47-01 111th Street, Corona, Queens
Website: https://www.nysci.org/
AKC Museum of the Dog
Yes, NYC really does have a museum devoted to dogs.
The AKC Museum of the Dog near Grand Central explores the relationship between people and dogs through paintings, sculptures, exhibitions and canine history.
It’s an especially fun choice for animal-loving kids and makes a refreshingly different family museum day.
Admission is currently $15 for adults, $10 for ages 13–24 and students, $5 for children ages 3–12, and free for children 2 and under. Museum of the Dog
Where: 101 Park Avenue, Manhattan
Website: https://museumofthedog.org/
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
For younger children, Brooklyn Children’s Museum is one to keep firmly on the list.
Designed for children from around 6 months to 10 years, the museum has three floors of interactive exhibits and hands-on cultural and science activities. Brooklyn Children’s Museum
It’s a particularly good choice when you need somewhere children can actively play, explore and learn rather than simply walk around.
General admission is currently $15 per person, while Community Access Thursdays offer free admission from 2–5pm. Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Where: 145 Brooklyn Avenue, Brooklyn
Website: https://www.brooklynkids.org/
Museum of the Moving Image
Movie, TV and gaming fans should have the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria on their radar.
Its exhibitions explore how films, television programs and digital entertainment are created, with displays covering everything from cameras and costumes to animation, sound and special effects.
The museum’s core Behind the Screen exhibition takes families through the creative and technical process of making moving-image entertainment, and its calendar regularly includes family screenings and kids’ programs. Museum of the Moving Image
Admission is $20 for adults, $10 for ages 3–17 and free for children under 3. The museum also offers free admission every Thursday from 2–6pm. Museum of the Moving Image
Where: 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens
Website: https://movingimage.org/
Intrepid Museum
Planes, ships, submarines and space travel all come together at the Intrepid Museum.
Housed aboard the historic aircraft carrier Intrepid, the museum gives families access to the ship, its flight deck, the Space Shuttle Pavilion, submarine Growler and temporary exhibitions.
General admission is currently $38 for adults, $28 for children ages 5–12, and free for children 4 and under. Admission includes Intrepid, the Space Shuttle Pavilion and Growler. Intrepid Museum
Where: Pier 86, West 46th Street & 12th Avenue, Manhattan
Website: https://intrepidmuseum.org/
Queens Museum
The Queens Museum is a great option for families who want a museum that feels manageable but still has plenty to discover.
One of its best-known attractions is the Panorama of the City of New York, an enormous architectural model covering all five boroughs. Kids can spend ages spotting familiar neighborhoods, bridges, parks and landmarks from above.
Admission is pay what you wish, with a suggested price of $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Children 12 and under are free. Queens Museum
Where: New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens
Website: https://queensmuseum.org/
Studio Museum in Harlem
The Studio Museum in Harlem reopened in its new purpose-built home on West 125th Street in late 2025, with more room for exhibitions, education and family programs. Studio Museum in Harlem
The museum focuses on artists of African descent and work inspired and influenced by Black culture.
Families can also look out for special programming for younger children and teens throughout the year. Studio Museum in Harlem
Admission is pay what you can, with a suggested adult price of $16. Children 16 and under are free, and admission is free for everyone on Sundays. Studio Museum in Harlem
Where: 144 West 125th Street, Harlem
Website: https://www.studiomuseum.org/
Museum of the City of New York
For children who are curious about the place they call home, the Museum of the City of New York is a great way to explore the story of NYC.
Exhibitions look at the city’s neighborhoods, people, immigration, architecture, fashion, photography, music and culture.
It’s the sort of museum that can make familiar streets and neighborhoods feel completely different once kids know a little more about the stories behind them.
Where: 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, Manhattan
Website: https://www.mcny.org/
Banksy Museum
For older kids and teens interested in street art, the Banksy Museum offers something very different from a traditional gallery.
The immersive exhibition features recreations of Banksy’s street works alongside installations, videos and large-scale environments.
It’s worth noting that the exhibition is independently produced and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Banksy.
Where: 277 Canal Street at Broadway, Manhattan
Website: https://museumbanksy.com/
National Museum of the American Indian
A completely free option in Lower Manhattan, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian explores the histories, cultures, art and contemporary lives of Indigenous peoples across the Americas.
It’s housed inside the impressive Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House at Bowling Green, and admission does not require a ticket.
Where: 1 Bowling Green, Manhattan
Admission: Free
Website: https://americanindian.si.edu/visit/ny
El Museo del Barrio
El Museo del Barrio celebrates Latino, Caribbean and Latin American art and culture through exhibitions and programming on Fifth Avenue in East Harlem.
It’s a good museum to introduce children to artists, traditions and stories from across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Admission is pay what you can, with suggested prices of $9 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. Children under 12 are free. Admission also currently includes access to the Museum of the City of New York. El Museo del Barrio
Where: 1230 Fifth Avenue at 104th Street, Manhattan
Website: https://elmuseo.org/
Save These for Your Next Museum Day
The best family museum days are often the ones where kids can actually do something — climb aboard a train, experiment with science, hunt for their neighborhood on a giant model of NYC, learn how movies are made or discover an entirely new kind of art.
And with free hours and pay-what-you-can options available at several of these museums, you don’t necessarily need to make it a big-ticket family day out.
Tip: Prices, free-admission times and opening hours can change, so check the museum’s website before heading out.
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