Spotlight on The Best Things to Do with Teens in NYC

Last Updated on February 15, 2026 by Lindsey

Looking for the best things to do with teens in NYC? Have I got a treat for you! This post is extra special—because for the very first time, it wasn’t written by me, but by my daughter. She’s my frequent travel buddy and, let’s be honest, there’s no better expert on what teens and tweens actually think is fun than a tween herself. These are her picks, straight from a kid who just lived them. Consider this your insider guide to New York City—tween-approved.

---

Hi! I’m Gemma, and I’m pretty much obsessed with New York City. I’ve been there a bunch of times, and every trip is different—Broadway shows one day, the best pizza ever the next. If you’re looking for things to do in New York City with teenagers and tweens, trust me, I’ve got ideas. I’ve gone with just my mom, and I’ve gone with my whole family (dad and little sister included), and somehow there’s always more to see. In this guide, I’m sharing my favorite spots so you can spend less time Googling and more time having fun.

This article is for people struggling to plan the best trip to New York with teens and tweens. It’s perfect for people who have never been to NYC with teenagers, or if you just want to try something new. There are plenty of fun things for teenagers to do in New York City; you just have to know where to find them!

So, without further ado, let’s get into the guide!

---

The Best Things to Do in NYC with Teens: A Quick-Guide Summary

To plan the ultimate trip to New York City with teenagers, prioritize activities that are interactive, culturally rich, and highly photogenic. Based on the teen-approved recommendations in this article, the top five categories and corresponding activities are:

• Interactive Museums: The Sloomoo Institute (slime-making), the Museum of Ice Cream, and the Museum of Illusions offer immersive, photo-friendly fun.
• Iconic Landmarks & Views: Experience New York from above at Summit One Vanderbilt or Top of the Rock, then see the classics like the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge.
• Culture & Entertainment: Don’t miss a Broadway performance (Wicked, Hamilton, or Hadestown are recommended) and explore world-class art at The Met and MoMA.
• Food & Shopping Hotspots: Grab unique treats in Chinatown and Little Italy, explore the food hall at Chelsea Market, and check out the Official Harry Potter Shop.
• Best NYC Hangouts: Take a break in the green space of Central Park or people-watch among the street performers at Washington Square Park.

---

Museums of Awesomeness: Best Museums for Tweens & Teens

Sloomoo Institute and the Museum of Ice Cream 

Though you may have never heard of them before, they are fun for all ages!

At the slime museum (Sloomoo Institute), you get to play with slime of all kinds, make your own slime with whatever texture, scent, color, and charms you want! You can also walk on slime, jump into a pit of squishes, get a bucket of slime dumped on your head, and more.

First, we stuck a piece of slime to a wall covered in the very substance we just put on it! Then we catapulted slime onto a piece of glass. The catch? Someone could sit behind it. And after all of that, we got through about 15% of the museum, at most, and I haven’t even told you about all the breaks in between those activities to squish slime! Hopefully, now you can understand why I have already been to Sloomoo Institute twice. And maybe it seems too young for your kids, but trust me; my parents had fun the last time they went, and they are waaaaay past being teenagers. So, I’m confident that you can put this on your list of things to do with teens in NYC.

---

The Museum of Ice Cream is a whole other experience. Though I haven’t been, I have friends who have, and they absolutely loved it! From pictures, I can tell that the entire place is freaking adorable. Will you brave the Celestial Subway, Banana Jungle, Sprinkle Cave, Rainbow Hallway, pink slide, Melting Cave, Carnival games, Sprinkle Pool, and unlimited ice cream at the Museum of Ice cream?

It is on my list for the next time I go to New York, and hopefully, it’s on yours too. But, beware, it can be quite expensive.

---

Museum of Illusions

The rooms play tricks on you, entertainingly manipulating your perception. In one exhibit, depending on which side you are on, you look either super tall or small. There is also a Tilted Room, where you appear to be standing in a position that many would associate with the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

There are also installations: mirrors that distort and clone you, things that make your hair float, etc. They have images, holograms, and pictures meant to deceive you. If you just change where you are standing or close one eye, it becomes completely different.

---

The Best Things to Do in New York City with Teens: Educational Museums

American Museum of Natural History

 The Natural History Museum in DC is one of my favorites, so of course I had to go in NYC, too! Dinosaur fossils. Rooms filled with butterflies. Exhibits filled with extraordinary things. What more could you ask for?

👉 Get tickets now

The Met and MoMA  

If you only visit two museums in NYC, make it these. The Met has everything from an entire Egyptian temple to annual fashion exhbitions (my mom’s favorite!) The MoMa has modern art, so it’s less history and more weird! I recommend you go on a mission when you’re at either: when you see a statue or painting with an expression or pose you can copy, take a photo of yourself imitating that piece while standing right next to it. This game kept my sister and me from getting bored!

👉 Tours for the Met

👉 MoMA ticket

⭐ If you’re heading to NYC for the holidays, don’t miss our Christmas in New York City guide. ⭐

---

The Best Things to Do with Teens in NYC: The Broadway Experience

No trip to New York is complete without seeing at least one Broadway show! It is one of the best things for teenagers to do in New York City! My favorites:

Six

This is a show about the wives of Henry VIII. I learned a lot from it — I am proud to say I can name all six wives in order— and it has fun concert vibes. Plus, the songs are really fun to sing along to.

&Juliet

Based on Romeo & Juliet. What if Juliet didn’t kill herself? What if, instead, she ran off to France with her best friends and Nanny? All the songs from & Juliet were co-written or written by Max Martin. That includes songs by Britney Spears, like Oops!…I Did It Again, songs by Demi Lovato, like Confident, and even a Backstreet Boys song!

Hamilton

You know what this is by now, so I’m not going to bother explaining it besides this: It can help you connect with people since almost everyone knows it, and You’ll Be Back is funny to see in real life.

Operation Mincemeat

Don’t be scared off by the fact that it’s based on a real historical event. It has good music, it’s hilarious, and the plot is very interesting. In World War II, the Allies tricked the Axis Powers into moving their troops. How? See the show to learn the crazy story!

Cheaper tickets

For those looking for same-day tickets, you stand in line at the TKTS booth at either Columbus Circle or Times Square. I recommend Columbus Circle for shorter lines. You can check on the TKTS website to see what shows will be available that day, but you can only buy them in person and on the day of. However, they are cheaper than box office tickets.

---

Iconic Things to Do in NYC with Teenagers

If you haven’t been to New York City before, you have to go to all of these places. When people think of New York, these places are some of the first things people think of. Also, they are great things to do in New York City with teenagers.

Statue of Liberty + Ferry Ride + Ellis Island

Taking the Staten Island Ferry is free, and one ticket will allow you to see both the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island! You’ll also get a chance to interact with American history more and get a good look at the skyline. Visiting Ellis Island will help you see from an immigrant’s perspective. Ellis Island was once the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station from 1892 to 1954.

Walk the Brooklyn Bridge

An iconic New York landmark you can’t miss. It opened as the longest suspension bridge in the world in 1886, connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan over the East River. It is one of the main things to do in New York City with teenagers, especially if you have never been before!

Empire State Building or Top of the Rock

Go to the observation decks of these great buildings! If you are looking for something more recognizable, I recommend the Empire State Building. But, the Top of the Rock has an astonishing view of Central Park. 

👉 Book Top of the Rock Observation Deck New York City Ticket

Dumbo Waterfront

The waterfront has a gorgeous view of the city. On the streets, there are fun shops, art galleries, a flea market, and generally, a fun time; and with tons of good restaurants, you won’t be going hungry here! There are so many things for teens to do here, it’s a great way to spend your time!

Times Square

It is a massive tourist trap, and we tend to avoid it, but Times Square is close to Broadway, so you could kill some time there while waiting for a show. Times Square is really crowded and filled with tourists. There is a LOS TACOS No. 1 there, along with some other good restaurants, but most of the restaurants there have other locations that are less busy. A few cool shops are located there, though, and you could probably spend a good amount of time walking around.

---

---

Interactive & Photo-Worthy Experiences in NYC for Teens

Okay, so this is the section where I tell you about the stuff that’s actually cool. Not “educational” cool. Actually cool. The kind of places where you walk in and immediately want to text your friends about it.

ARTECHOUSE NYC: It Looks Like You’re Inside a Video Game

ARTECHOUSE is under Chelsea Market, which sounds random, but it’s actually amazing. The whole space is floor-to-ceiling digital art that reacts to sound and movement — like, the art responds to you. The current exhibit has 3D visuals from Emmy-winning artists and a soundtrack by Zedd, which, okay, my mom hadn’t heard of him, but trust me, it’s good.

Every single room is a different experience and the photos come out incredible. My mom kept saying “oh wow” every two minutes, which is her version of losing her mind.

Book ahead. It fills up on weekends and you don’t want to show up and not get in.

Mercer Labs: I Don’t Even Know How to Describe This Place

Mercer Labs is in the Financial District and it’s 15 different rooms across a huge space, and every single room is completely different. There’s a 4D sound gallery, infinity rooms, a massive projection room with walls that are like 26 feet high, and — I’m not joking — a slide and a ball pit. And it’s still cool as a teenager. I promise.

Families keep calling it the best thing they did all weekend in NYC, and some of them had been to NYC before. Tickets are around $52 so it’s not cheap, but it’s worth it. Plan for at least 90 minutes, maybe more.

It’s also right near the 9/11 Memorial and the Oculus, so you can make a whole day of that part of the city.

Escape Virtuality: VR Escape Rooms

This one is for people who want to actually do something instead of just look at things. Escape Virtuality in Midtown has VR escape rooms where you put on a headset and physically move around inside the game. The staff is really helpful, especially if you’ve never done VR before.

Fair warning though: some people have had issues with the equipment being glitchy. I’d check recent reviews before you book. When it works well, it’s genuinely one of the most fun things you can do. Just don’t go in expecting it to be perfect and you’ll have a great time.

Urban Air Adventure Park: For People Who Cannot Stand Still

Okay this one is for teens who would rather jump off things than look at art (no judgment, I get it). Urban Air in Brooklyn has trampolines, a ninja warrior course, laser tag, bumper cars, VR experiences, and a ropes course. Basically if you have siblings with completely different interests, everyone can find something here, which is honestly impressive.

It’s a pretty easy subway ride from Manhattan. Give yourself at least two hours.

Food Things You Need to Know About

NYC has really good random food moments if you know what to look for. Here’s my list:

Bubble tea: Chinatown is your best bet. Xing Fu Tang and Chicha San Chen are both worth it. Tiger Sugar does this brown sugar boba with tiger stripe patterns on the cup and it’s the one everyone keeps posting. It’s as good as it looks.

Food halls: Chelsea Market is already in this guide, but Urban Hawker near Times Square is worth adding. It’s a Southeast Asian hawker-style food hall and the food is way, way better than anything else you’re going to find near Times Square. Trust me on this one.

General NYC rule: If there’s a long line outside a tiny place with barely any sign, just get in the line. You’ll thank yourself later. It’s so common, SNL even did a skit about big dumb lines.

One last thing: ARTECHOUSE and Mercer Labs both rotate their exhibits, so whatever I described might be different by the time you go. Check what’s running before you book.

---

Places to Take a Break for Teens

Where to go when you just want to take a break.

Central Park for teens

Rent bikes, paddle boats, or just chill on the grass with snacks. Also, a nice place to take a walk. There is also a zoo and a castle!

👉 Book a pedicap tour around Central Park.

NY Public Library + Bryant Park

 The library is great if you’re into books, but also fun to just look around. Bryant Park is Midtown Manhattan’s town square. It has a free admission ice skating rink.

SoHo or 5th Avenue

Who doesn’t love window shopping, historic architecture, and art scenes in the Big Apple? Also, 5th Avenue is a great place to practice your people-watching skills. Both places are fun to just walk around and poke into places. SoHo and 5th Avenue have some of the best activities for teenagers in New York!

Chelsea Market + High Line

Chelsea Market is basically heaven if you’re hungry—you can grab tacos, donuts, or bubble tea all in one place. Then hop up to the High Line, an old train track turned into a park in the sky, where you can walk, snack, and take cool photos.

Washington Square Park

This place always has something going on. It’s filled with skateboarders, street performers, and crazy outfits. It’s super fun to just sit by the fountain and people-watch.

Chinatown + Little Italy

If you like snacks (and who doesn’t), Chinatown has bubble tea, dumplings, and crazy candy shops. Walk a few blocks and you’re in Little Italy, where you can grab cannoli or gelato.

---

Shopping with Teenagers in NYC

Sometimes, you have time before your next activity. Whether it is a lunch reservation or a tour, you have time to kill. So, this section is for you! There are so many things to do in New York City with teenagers, and some of them include shopping. Actually, a lot of them include shopping.

The Official Harry Potter Shop

Do your kids (or you) love Harry Potter? Then you have to go to this store! I went there, and it was so fun! I bought a Niffier stuffed animal, with a pouch and everything. While it did get a tear relatively quickly, don’t let that dissuade you. They have butterbeer. For those of you who don’t know what that tastes like, it has a bit of a cream soda taste, but something else too. You have to try it!

You can buy wands and wizard candy (Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and more!). There is also a ‘Fly a Broomstick’ experience. You learn how they filmed the flying scenes in the movies, and then you get to film one of those scenes yourself. After it, you get a cool video that makes it seem as if you were flying.

For those of you who are wondering, yes, I do love Harry Potter.

The Lego Store

Besides the fact that they sell Legos and Lego sets, they also have The Minifigure Factory, where you can make your own custom Lego person. There are Exclusive Lego Sets, and also specific times when you can come in and make different things, including a Lego boom box.

Strand Bookstore

The Strand Bookstore has over 2.5 million books that span 18 miles of shelf space. Old, used, almost new, they’ve got it all. Even if you aren’t a reader, the Strand would still be fun to walk around. But if you are a reader, then you have to go!

This bookstore began in 1927 on Book Row. What was Book Row? Well, it was six blocks in New York City, and 48 bookstores were distributed around it. Now, the Strand is the only one left from Book Row. So, visit this historic bookstore, an icon of New York!

---

The Best Things to Do in New York City with Teens: Where to Eat

One of the most unrivaled joys in life is eating a good meal, and where better to eat than the city that never sleeps? Every type of food you could ever want is in New York, and let me just say: New York has their culinary situation all figured out.

Restaurants In New York City

Chelsea Market is an indoor food hall with cool shops mixed in. They have all kinds of food, from seafood to Middle Eastern. In fact, one of my favorite restaurants, LOS TACOS No.1, is there. It has a more casual vibe, but don’t let that fool you. LOS TACOS is delicious, and anyone who disagrees can go. Honestly, some of the food at this place is better than some of the tacos I had while in Mexico, and that is saying something. I highly suggest a stop here.

Smorgasburg is the largest open-air market in America. It has locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, among other places, and it is a great place to find new foods to try. However, it is only open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Tim Ho Wan is the “world’s most inexpensive Michelin-starred restaurant.” It has mouthwatering dim sum, and as long as you have working taste buds, you’d love anything on the menu. I also love exploring Chinatown. We always go to the Golden Unicorn for dim sum. There’s always a wait, but you won’t regret it.

You can’t go to NYC with teenagers without getting pizza. You could go to Fornino Pier 6 or Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, both located in Brooklyn. The iconic experience is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan and then get pizza from Grimaldi’s. Expect a wait, but it’s worth it! Or, if you want something in Manhattan, you could get a slice from the famous Joe’s Pizza. It is another famous place for New York-style pizza.

Desserts in New York City for Teenagers (Yum!)

If you’re feeling dessert, then I’ve got you covered. You could get Milk Bar, my favorite is their cake truffles (little balls of cake), but everything there is delicious and will leave you feeling satisfied.

Rice to Riches, which my family loves, has the best rice pudding, and they have all the flavors you could ever want! Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream is another terrific option. They have unique flavors like Green Tea Pistachio, Pineapple Salted Egg Yolk, Cheddar Cheese Ritz Bits, and Caramel Salted KitKat.

Bear Donut has amazing drinks and food! They have glazed mochi donuts, cream-filled brionuts, and more! And while you eat your mochi donut, you can sip on a black sesame coffee. Weird but good!

Adventurous Tastes is reader-supported. I’ve included affiliate links in this post and may receive commissions for purchases made through links.

---

Bonus Tips for Teens in New York

•  Subway = fun (and cheap). Use Google Maps.
  
•  Download cool and helpful apps: CityMapper, Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Google Lens for exploring.
  
•  Always bring water. Exploring NYC is a workout.
  
•  Plan your days with breaks so you don’t get tired out. Chilling in your hotel room or going to one of the places that we include in our article, Places to Take a Break, both work fine.
  
• Don’t spend the whole time on your phone. Look around!

Where to Stay in NYC with Teens

• The Shelburne Sonesta: It has plenty of space, making it fit for families who need a bit of room and prefer a location close to all of the central New York attractions
• Hyatt Place Chelsea: Has modern rooms and supplies, along with spacious rooms
• Benjamin Royal Sonesta: One of my family’s favourites is near all the main attractions. It has reasonable suite prices, so you can have a bit of privacy from your kids and vice versa. After all, who doesn’t want two-bedroom hotel suites?
• SpringHill Suites by Marriott New York Manhattan/Chelsea: This hotel is in Midtown Manhattan, steps from New York’s best sights. It offers roomy suites, free WiFi, and other features perfect for families.
• Kimpton Eventi: My mother’s personal favorite. The neighborhood right around the hotel isn’t very exciting, but it’s close to the subway and in the middle of everything.
• Royalton Park Avenue: Gives a classic New York vibe and is practical.

If you decide not to stay in any of these hotels, then I would suggest staying around Hell’s Kitchen, Midtown, Chelsea, or near Union Square. Avoid staying in the financial district, which puts you too far from the more central parts of New York. There are lots of good options near Times Square but we prefer to avoid those crowds as much as possible.

Adventurous Tastes is reader-supported. I’ve included affiliate links in this post and may receive commissions for purchases made through links.

---

In Conclusion

There are a lot of things to do in New York City with teenagers; you just have to know where to find them. Thank you for reading this article, and I hope you have a great time in the Big Apple, now that you know how to plan a trip to New York for teens!

---

Plan More Trips with Your Teenager

• The 2025 Ultimate Guide to NYC at Christmas: The Best Markets, Lights, & More
• How to Make Paris with Teens a Wonderful Family Experience
• Your Ultimate Guide to Paris with Kids – Awesome Tours, Restaurants and More
• Ultimate Guide to Iceland with Kids in a Campervan
• Hotel Xcaret Review: Will Your Family Love this Mexican Resort?
• The Best Family Resorts for Spring Break – Book a Vacation Your Kids Will Love

Save for Later