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Family-Friendly General Interest Tours of NYC

1. Contrasts, Color, and Character Bus Tour of NYC – Midtown West

Best for: Ages 10+
6 hours
The Contrasts, Color, and Character Bus Tour might jump off from Midtown, but it's an excellent tour if you want to step outside of Manhattan and explore New York City’s outer boroughs, including Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens. On this tour, expect to ride around on a bus and hear about Harlem’s African American history at the Apollo Theater, see numerous graffiti murals and bold street art that decorates the outer boroughs, and learn about the culture and everyday life of Brooklyn’s Hasidic Jewish community.

2. Broadway and Times Square Walking Tour – Midtown West

Best for: All ages
1 hour, 45 minutes
If you want to be immersed in the heart of New York City, the Broadway and Times Square Walking Tour is the tour for you. On this NYC tour, guests learn about Broadway's different theaters and hear some spooky stories and behind-the-scenes tales. This a great New York City tour for kids as it’s less than 2 hours and kids under 4 get in for FREE!

3. Brooklyn Bridge and Dumbo Neighborhood Walking Tour – Civic Center

Best for: All ages
2 1/2 hours
This tour steps off on the Manhattan side of the Brooklyn Bridge. Hear about the construction of the infamous Brooklyn Bridge as you walk across this NYC landmark. From the bridge, you’ll be able to see beautiful city views. Once you hit Brooklyn, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Dumbo’s galleries and shops, before snapping a family photo with the city skyline as your famed backdrop.

4. Secrets of Grand Central Walking Tour – Midtown East

Best for: All ages
1 1/2 hours
The famed Grand Central Terminal is full of surprises you’d never expect! This New York City transport hub is popular for many reasons, but even people who commute through it daily don’t know its hidden secrets. From a concealed tennis court to a backward ceiling, you’ll learn all the confidential history. Stick around once your tour is over to enjoy some of these fun, kid-friendly finds.

5. New York In A Day Walking Tour – Midtown West

Best for: Ages 10+
6 hours
This tour makes for an ambitious adventure for any family, so definitely note that it lasts six hours, and pack snacks and water accordingly! Explore all the highlights of New York City, from Times Square to the 9/11 Memorial to the Statue of Liberty on foot, via subway, and even by ferry. Make sure to bring good walking shoes.

Best Boat Tours of NYC for Families

6. Circle Line Manhattan Cruise – Hell's Kitchen

Best for: Ages 3+
2 1/2 hours
If you’re looking for a solid boat tour, the Circle Line Manhattan Cruise is a great choice. This guided boat tour circumnavigates the entire island, offering views of New York City’s waterfront. See the skyline, sail under the Brooklyn Bridge, and even snap a postcard-worthy picture of the Statue of Liberty. Guests learn about all five boroughs as you sail past. This boat tour of NYC lasts a whopping 2 1/2 hours. If you're crunched for time, consider booking the 50-minute Downtown Express Sightseeing Cruise guided by the same company.

7. Freedom Liberty Cruise – Hell's Kitchen

Best for: All ages
1 hour, 15 minutes
The Freedom Liberty Cruise is another popular boat tour in NYC. As you cruise along the Hudson River, you’ll see major landmarks, such as the Statue of Liberty and Freedom Tower. Instead of a guided tour, this boat tour of NYC is more free-form, and passengers take in the views with their families, take photos, and enjoy concessions from the boat. This more relaxed, less structured option may be a better choice for some families.

8. North River Lobster Company – Hell's Kitchen

Best for: All ages
1-2 hours
What's not family-friendly about a Hudson River cruise that comes complete with a seafood lunch or dinner? As this boat sets sail up the Hudson River, its waitstaff gets to work, keeping cups filled and tummies full. There's a full bar on board. Feeding a crowd? Opt for The Shelly, a 28-inch classic lobster roll with slaw and chips served on a board and worthy to feed the entire family. Kids can top off their meal with a lobster-claw-shaped popsicle in a variety of flavors.

9. Manhattan Adventure Boat Tour – Battery Park City

Best for: Ages 5+
1 hour
If you’re looking for a more exhilarating option, the Manhattan Adventure Boat Tour is the best option. This intimate, 12-person, narrated NYC tour cruise takes place on a speed boat, so expect to go fast while you explore some of New York’s must-see sights, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, The High Line, and the Freedom Tower.

RELATED: 3 Days in NYC an Ultimate Itinerary from a Local Mom

A guided tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art lets families connect to artwork in unexpected ways. Photo by Jody Mercier

Pop-Culture, Music, and Museum Tours of NYC

10. Museum Tour For Theater Lovers – Upper East Side

Best for: Ages 8+
2 hours
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a kid-friendly treasure, but if your family is into theater, take the Staged tour. Fun for the whole family, this interactive museum tour looks at the history of theater from ancient Greece to contemporary musicals that its stories inspired. It also examines other cultures and how they used theater for thousands of years. Throughout this NYC museum tour, there are activities and questions to keep your family engaged. This is definitely a fun one!

11. Super Tour of NYC: Heroes! Comics! More! – Midtown West

Best for: Ages 6+
3 hours
The Super Tour of NYC is full of comic books and cinema lore! Visit the iconic locations where favorite superheroes “saved the day.” Guests see 40 locations over three hours. If you aren’t a fan of comics at the start of this tour, you will be by the end.

12. Walking Tour: All-of-a-Kind Family – Lower East Side

Best for: Ages 5+
Even if you haven’t read Sydney Taylor's classic book All-of-a-Kind Family, families love exploring the story and its characters on the Lower East Side with this dedicated walking tour. To make the most out of the tour, try to read the book beforehand, and then immerse yourselves in the excitement of visiting the Main Sanctuary of the Eldridge Street Synagogue, the Allen Street tenements, Hester and Orchard Streets, Seward Park, Seward Park Library, and The Pickle Guys, which carries characters’ favorite snack.

13. Griffins, Goblets, and Gold: A Magical Arts Tour – Upper East Side

Best for: Ages 5+
2 hours
Another guided tour of The Met, the Griffins, Goblets, and Gold Tour is a must-see. This two-hour tour explores the museum’s magical items, including parts of an actual castle, depictions of mythical creatures, and spooky objects. The whole family gets a chance to create their own magical world! Intrigued? Better get your tickets!

14. NYC TV and Movie Tour – Midtown West

Best for: Ages 5+
3 hours
The NYC TV and Movie Tour invites guests to travel around New York City, learning about the filming locations for favorite TV shows and movies from the comfort of a coach bus. Led by an NYC actor, you get the inside scoop on all the stops along the tour, and the host even quizzes you and your family with some fun trivia.

15. Radio City Music Hall Stage Door Tour – Rockefeller Center

Best for: Ages 5+
1 hour, 15 minutes
If you and your family haven’t visited Radio City Music Hall, booking the Stage Door Tour is a great way to experience this art-deco treasure. During this NYC tour, guests go behind the scenes of this iconic NYC location to explore its astonishing history. Plus, at the end of the tour, you meet a real Radio City Rockette! Read our full review here and book your tickets online.

Historic Educational NYC Tours for Families

16. Chinatown Official Historic District Tour – Chinatown

Best for: All ages
90 minutes
The Chinatown Official Historic District Tour is a 90-minute walking tour that sheds light on Chinatown's unique history. Aside from seeing a Taoist Temple, the largest Buddhist statue in NYC, and more, guests get exclusive access to places that are usually off-limits to the public.

17. NYC Slavery and the Underground Railroad Walking Tour – Financial District

Best for: Ages 5+
2 1/2 hours
On this historical tour, guests learn about the origins of slavery in colonial New York, visit the African Burial Ground National Monument, and explore a former stop along the Underground Railroad. Hear stories of courage and learn facts you won’t hear anywhere else.

18. Gilded Age Mansions Tour – Upper East Side

Best for: Ages 10+
2 hours
Sometimes it’s fun to take a trip back in time and on this Gilded Ages Mansions Tour, you can do just that! Learn about historic scandals and romances while stepping inside a few of the only remaining Gilded Age mansions located on Fifth Avenue. Visitors learn about the families who lived in these houses, and take in the beautiful architecture of the era. This is a tour for the kids who love a great story!

19. Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Walking Tour – Battery Park

Best for: All ages
4 hours
If you’re interested in immigration history and want to teach your children a little about their ancestors, the Secrets of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Walking Tour is a wonderful place to start. On this NYC tour, explore both Liberty and Ellis Island, while hearing stories of the immigrants who arrived through Ellis Island and their journey to America.

20. Catacombs by Candlelight – Little Italy

Best for: Ages 8+
1-2 hours
If you’re looking for a unique NYC tour, the Catacombs by Candlelight Tour at the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral is a stunner. This historic tour takes guests into the catacombs and explores parts of the building that are usually closed to the public. This is a tour your family will always remember!

21. Birthplace of Hip-Hop Bus Tour – Midtown West

Best for: Ages 6+
The Birthplace of Hip-Hop Bus Tour gives families a new way to discover music history. Journey through Harlem and the Bronx while learning about hip-hop's early days. Hear personal, real-time narratives and see secret rap battle sites! After this tour of NYC, your children will know everything about the hip-hop pioneer legends.

Family-Friendly NYC Food Tours

22. Tea Around Town: Afternoon Tea Bus Tour – Manhattan, NY

Best for: Ages 5+
90 minutes
This tour is a magical moving tea room paired with live entertainment. Pass sights like Grand Central Terminal, the New York Public Library's main branch, and Radio City Music Hall as you sip tea and champagne and eat scones and sweets in a double-decker bus dripping with luxurious floral decor.

23. A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour – Union Square

Best for: All ages
4 1/2 hours
Everyone loves pizza, and this is New York pizza at its best! Whether you’re a seasoned local or just visiting, exploring the world of pizza on the Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour is a delicious option. This bus tour escorts visitors to two Brooklyn pizzerias and shows you sites along the way, such as Coney Island’s boardwalk.

24. The Original Cupcake Tour – Greenwich Village

Best for: All ages
2 1/2 hours
If there is one thing kids love, it’s cupcakes! So, for a sweet treat, consider taking your family on The Original Cupcake Tour of Greenwich Village. Explore multiple bake shops and indulge in their treats during this guided food tour of NYC. Plus, get the chance to create your own cupcake. Who says you can't have your cake and eat it, too?

25. Walking and Food Tour – Flushing, Queens

Best for: Ages 6+
2 hours
Enjoy some tasty foods on the Walking and Food Tour in the melting pot of Flushing, Queens. This is a great tour for children who are open to trying new foods—diverse cuisines such as Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Indian are all on the menu. Little foodies get to try some of the best Flushing street food and snacks, guided by a local with a passion for cuisine.

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