Hotels near Family-Friendly Attractions

Part of New York City’s charm is in the five boroughs’ many famed neighborhoods. If you’re visiting with your family, choosing the right hotel will put you steps from fun activities that you and your kids will love. Here are a few popular locations—and some suggestions for nearby stays.

Upper West Side

Big family attraction: The American Museum of Natural History is a favorite with kids thanks to the Fossil Halls, where you’ll find real, gigantic dinosaur skeletons, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space, which includes the Hayden Planetarium and its immersive space show.

Also consider: DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Central Park

See more Upper West Side hotels.

Times Square

Times Square is one of New York City’s biggest and brightest attractions. Its neon lights and giant billboards pack so much wattage that they light the streets up brilliantly even late at night, and it’s where kids and adults can marvel at the the dazzling spectacle of Broadway theater.

Big family attraction: Discovery Times Square hosts big, exciting, rotating exhibits about the likes of King Tut, Vikings, Star Wars and the Titanic, with real artifacts and interactive displays. Check their schedule to see what’s coming up and whether it aligns with your kids’ interests. We bet it does.

Also consider: Broadway Shows, Madame Tussauds New York, Disney Store Times Square

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Lower Manhattan

This waterfront neighborhood is the center of the global economy—with the striking facade of the New York Stock Exchange and the Charging Bull sculpture making for great family photo ops—and a key location in early American history.

Big family attraction: One World Observatory sits atop the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Its elevator whisks you to the observatory in a single minute, and its gigantic windows will give your children a view they’ll remember and talk about for years.

Also consider: Federal Hall National Memorial, South Street Seaport, Skyscraper Museum

See more Lower Manhattan hotels.

Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights

Just across the Brooklyn Bridge from Lower Manhattan is the excitement of Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, where you’ll find live entertainment, great family restaurants and sweeping Manhattan views from the Promenade.

Big family attraction: Brooklyn Bridge Park, as its name suggests, is a big waterfront park under the Brooklyn Bridge. Your kids will love Pier 6, where they can cool off at the “water lab” and ride on creative slides and swing sets. It’s also where you can catch a ferry to Governors Island. There’s more family fun at Pier 2, which has a roller rink and a pop-up pool. The park is also home to the beautifully restored Jane’s Carousel, originally built back in 1922 and now housed in a striking, giant glass box.

Also consider: Barclays Center, New York Transit Museum, Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery

See more Downtown Brooklyn hotels.