We spent 3.5 days in New York City with our 2.5-year-old, and we only took the subway once.
My wife Colleen, our son Johnny, and I flew into LaGuardia on a Friday afternoon in late October and stayed in Times Square. We did two observation decks, the Statue of Liberty, a botanical garden, a zoo, two toy stores, and a lot of chicken fingers. This is our full itinerary for New York City with a toddler, day by day, with links to every review from the trip.
Is New York City Good With a Toddler?
Yes. Almost everything we booked worked with a 2.5-year-old, and Johnny got into a lot of it free. The keys for us were a central hotel, cabs and walking for almost everything, a travel stroller, and building the days around naps.
What Is a Good 3.5-Day NYC Itinerary With a Toddler?
Here is exactly what we did:
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Friday: Land at LaGuardia, check in, dinner at Junior's, then Top of the Rock at night
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Saturday: New York Botanical Garden, the 9/11 Memorial pools, One World Observatory at sunset, and dinner at P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson
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Sunday: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, a late lunch at Danny & Coop's, dinner at Bad Roman, and FAO Schwarz
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Monday: Central Park Zoo, lunch at Tavern on the Green, and the Disney Store in Times Square
We stayed through Wednesday, but we do not count Tuesday in the 3.5 days. I was at a conference all day, and Colleen was visiting family in New Jersey.
Where Did We Stay in New York City With a Toddler?
We stayed at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, and the location was ideal. We walked to Junior's, Top of the Rock, and the Disney Store, and breakfast in the M Club was included with my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status.
The room was large by New York standards, with space for a pack and play and our travel stroller. Johnny loved the glass elevators. The one thing I would change is the room type I picked with my upgrade awards. Read the full Marriott Marquis Times Square review.
How Did We Get Around New York City With a Toddler?
We walked, and we took Ubers and yellow cabs. We only took the subway once, after dinner at P.J. Clarke's on Saturday night, when all of us, RT's family included, rode it back up to Times Square. We had a travel stroller with us the whole trip.
We did not bring a car seat, which is why yellow cabs worked for us. New York State law exempts taxis from its child car seat requirement, under Vehicle and Traffic Law 1229-c. You can still bring and use your own car seat in a cab. From LaGuardia, we took a cab straight to the hotel.
Day 1 (Friday): Junior's and Top of the Rock
We landed at LaGuardia in the afternoon, cabbed to the Marriott Marquis, and walked to Junior's on 49th and Broadway for a 6:30 p.m. dinner. My steakburger scored an 8.2/10, and the original cheesecake was absolutely amazing. Read the full Junior's Times Square review.
At 8:00 p.m., we went up Top of the Rock with our toddler. The pre-show was amazing, and it ended with the Christmas tree lighting up and snow falling inside the theater. Johnny got into Top of the Rock free, and Skylift was the add-on he could do with us, since it has no height requirement. The photo package was the one thing that caught us off guard.
Day 2 (Saturday): Botanical Garden, One World Observatory, and P.J. Clarke's
We took a cab from the hotel to the New York Botanical Garden with our toddler for a 10 a.m. entry. The Conservatory is a must-see; Johnny really enjoyed the children's garden, and the fall foliage was gorgeous. Getting a ride home was the hard part, and it cost us an extra 30 minutes.
RT and his family joined us on Saturday. We paired the 9/11 Memorial pools with One World Observatory with our toddler, which we did at 4:40 p.m. for sunset. The SkyPod elevator ride up was so cool, and Johnny thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Dinner was a table for eight at P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson. Colleen's chicken pot pie and mocktail were the best things we ordered, and my Cadillac burger was not one I would order again. Read the full P.J. Clarke's on the Hudson review.
Day 3 (Sunday): Statue of Liberty, Danny & Coop's, and Bad Roman
We caught the 9:00 a.m. ferry from Battery Park and did the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with our toddler. We did the pedestal, since the crown has a height requirement, and Johnny got a Junior Ranger badge just by asking a ranger.
From The Battery, it was a 17-minute drive to Danny & Coop's in the East Village for a late lunch. The cheesesteak scored a 7.8/10, with top-tier meat and cheese. Read the full Danny & Coop's cheesesteak review.
That night, we had a 7:00 p.m. dinner at Bad Roman at Columbus Circle. Colleen's Penne Luongo scored an 8.2/10, my Agnolotti Bistecca scored an 8.1/10, and I would come back again. Read the full Bad Roman NYC review.
Sunday night, we also went to FAO Schwarz. We waited 30 minutes in line to get in, and Johnny did not want a single toy.
Day 4 (Monday): Central Park Zoo, Tavern on the Green, and the Disney Store
We started Monday at the Central Park Zoo with our toddler. We did the Tisch Children's Zoo first, where Johnny fed the goats and sheep, and the sea lion show made his day. Right after the sea lion feeding, we walked up to a pop-up tour and ended up with a private tour.
We sat outside for lunch at Tavern on the Green. Colleen's Cobb salad was a perfect lunch, my burger was very good, and Johnny's kids chicken fingers were a huge portion. Read the full Tavern on the Green review.
We also stopped at the Disney Store in Times Square, and the second floor was winner after winner for Johnny. He left with a Toy Story action figure set. Read our Disney Store Times Square vs FAO Schwarz comparison.
We had a Monday dinner reservation at Chinese Tuxedo in Chinatown, but we cancelled it so Johnny could nap.
Top of the Rock or One World Observatory With a Toddler?
Do both. Top of the Rock is cool because you are outside, and the pre-show was amazing. The pre-show at One World Observatory was not anything special, but the elevator ride up was so cool.
What Was the Best Food on Our NYC Trip?
Junior's steakburger was the best burger, and Bad Roman had the best kids' chicken fingers. Here is how they ranked:
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Burgers: Junior's (8.2) beat Tavern on the Green (7.6) and P.J. Clarke's (7.1). See the full NYC burger ranking.
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Kids chicken fingers: Bad Roman won, followed by Tavern on the Green, P.J. Clarke's, and Junior's. See the chicken finger wars.
The highest score of the trip was a drink: Colleen's mocktail at P.J. Clarke's, at 8.4/10.
Is New York City Expensive With a Toddler?
It can be, but the attractions were easier on the budget because Johnny got into a lot of them for free. He got in free at Top of the Rock, One World Observatory, the Statue of Liberty, and the Central Park Zoo.
The hotel and the restaurants are where the money goes. Check each attraction's current age rules before you book, since they differ from place to place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in New York City with a toddler?
We did 3.5 days with our 2.5-year-old, and it was enough to see two observation decks, the Statue of Liberty, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Central Park Zoo.
Is the subway necessary in NYC with a toddler?
No. We only took the subway once, back up to Times Square after dinner downtown. The rest of the trip, we walked and used Ubers and yellow cabs, with a travel stroller.
Do you need a car seat for a taxi in New York City?
No. New York State law exempts taxis from its child car seat requirement, so we did not bring one. You can still bring your own.
Where should you stay in NYC with a toddler?
We stayed at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, and the location was ideal for walking to Junior's, Top of the Rock, and the Disney Store.
Is Top of the Rock or One World Observatory better with a toddler?
Do both. Top of the Rock is outside and has an amazing pre-show, and One World Observatory has a very cool elevator ride up.
Which NYC restaurant had the best kids chicken fingers?
Bad Roman. Its Chicken Parm Fingers won our chicken finger wars, and our server made a really cool moment with our toddler.
Final Thoughts
New York City with a toddler worked for us. Stay central, lean on cabs and walking, plan around naps, and leave room for the things you find along the way. For us, that was a pop-up tour at the zoo and the second floor of the Disney Store.
