7-Day Family Travel Itinerary to New York City With Teenagers
Updated: Oct 3
I created this the template itinerary based on the feedback I got from my daughter and her friends (14-15 years old), who are familiar with the city. We picked the activities and things that teenagers would love to do and grouped them based on their proximity to each other.
This template is based on areas. Ultimately, the final itinerary depends on you and your family, how many days you are planning to be in New York and the pace for the trip.
You can choose if you want to have more days and do everything in that list or combine nearby areas together and skip some of the activities in the list. Hope you'll find it helpful.
Day 1: Things to Do with Teens Around Times Square
It's the first day, take your time, and enjoy the city. The pace for the day depends on your family and the way you like to take all in and enjoy new places. The things suggested below may take more than one day.
Explore Times Square. Feel the Vibe. Explore the Area.
Explore Cool Shops Around Times Square
Visit Line Friends Store. This is such a cute store for teenagers. You can't miss the giant teddy bear at the entrance of the store. Take as many photos as you want. It's awesome!
Location: 1515 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
Go to Hershey’s Chocolate World Store. From colossal cupcakes to candy-inspired clothing, step off the busy New York sidewalk and into a magical world of chocolate. Location: 20 Times Square, 701 7th Ave, New York, NY 10036
Experience Madame Tussauds
Visit Madame Tussauds museum in Times Square.
There is so much to see there! There are 7 zones in the museum itself, each zone with different theme.
Glow Gala - Inspired by New York’s own gala scene, the Glow Gala transports you up atop an exclusive NYC rooftop for a party you won't want to miss!
The room is packed with today's hottest celebrities, including Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, P Diddy, Angelina Jolie, and even some of the Kardashians.
MARVEL Hall of Heroes - Ever dreamed of meeting your favorite hero? Now is your chance, at the MARVEL Hall of Heroes! Meet, greet, and fly with Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, the Hulkbuster, Nick Fury, Spider-Man, and more!
Sit in the Oval Office - Guests can get up close and personal with President Biden and Vice President Harris in the all-new Oval Office Experience!
With visits by administration invite only, the world’s greatest wax museum offers you an interactive alternative– the nation's only re-creation of the President's current Oval Office.
Warner Bros. Icons of Horror - Come face to face with Warner Bros. Icons of Horror at Madame Tussauds New York. Plunge into chilling scenes of some of the most classic horror films ever released by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema! For the first time ever, Annabelle and The Nun from "The Conjuring Universe", Regan MacNeil from "The Exorcist", and Pennywise from "IT" will bring life to all four films under one roof. It's time to face your fears!
Join the Ghostbusters - Celebrating the return of Ghostbusters, Madame Tussauds has brought the cinematic experience to life like never before in a one-of-a-kind experience inspired by the 2016 film. From the eerie underground tracks of the NYC subway to the basement of a haunted mansion to Ghostbusters Headquarters to the streets of Times Square, brace yourself for several spooks and even catch a ride on Ecto-2.
Face Off with King Kong- Awaken Kong! Feel the roar of the LARGEST ANIMATRONIC in New York City and unearth the secrets of Skull Island! Do you dare cross his path? In partnership with Ledgendary Pictures and Warner Brothers Pictures, Madame Tussauds New York brings the experience to life with an eighteen-foot, multi-sensory animatronic head of the gigantic ape that is sure to wow and terrify in the larger than life Kong: Skull Island experience.
Guest Star on the Tonight Show - Welcome to MTNY Studios where YOU'RE the star! Tell jokes with Jimmy Fallon, report on the Weather with Al Roker, or share breaking daytime news with Michael Strahan. Whatever you do, the camera's on you.
Explore Bryant Park
Walk to Bryant Park, depends on the season, the park offers different attractions.
Partial list of the activities in the park:
Winter Village and Ice Skating (during the winter)
Accordions Around the World (during the summer)
For the complete list, click here.
New York Bagel Tour / Bryant Park
Go inside the New York Public Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building Tours
Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures
For more than 125 years, The New York Public Library has collected, preserved, and made accessible the world’s knowledge. Now, for the first time, the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library’s Treasures, now open at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, showcases some of the most extraordinary items from the 56 million in our collections, inspiring and empowering visitors to discover, learn, and create new knowledge—today and in the years ahead.
Have you seen the movie the Day After Tomorrow?
People are running to hide inside the New York Public Library. Everytime I pass the library, I remember that scene...
Play an Escape Room Game
This is one of the best places in the city to play an escape game in New York City.
Feel the thrill at the RiseNY
RiseNY is such a thrilling experience for the kids!
Embark on a three-part journey that lifts and connects you to New York City’s most famous sites and moments. Start with a captivating film by award-winning documentarian Ric Burns, explore museum-style galleries that transport you through the city’s expansive pop-culture evolution. Then, fly over the iconic skyline on a soaring ride that suspends you 30 feet in the air! Get ready to fall in love with New York all over again.
Day 2: Things to Do with Teens Around Midtown/ Below Central Park
Visit Spyscape Museum
If your teenagers love suspense and problem solving, this is the museum for them!
Either pick MAD or MoMA, or do both in different days of the trip.
Visit MAD
Museum of Arts and Design - offers new ways of experiencing and telling stories about craft, art, and design.
Two recommended exhibitions for teens:
HUMOR AND IRREVERENCE IN CERAMIC SCULPTURE Through Aug 27, 2023
Generation Paper, A FASHION PHENOM OF THE 1960S, Through Aug 27, 2023
Explore the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
Explore MoMA - there are so many great exhibits for teens or take the guided tour.
Also, check out MoMA Design Store – such a cute store for unique things, located next to the museum.
Don't Miss Visiting Summit One Vanderbuilt
Summit One Vanderbuilt is really a must experience for teenagers. Go up before the sunset to see the city from above in daylight, wait for the sunset and then to see the city and its lights at night.
Day 3: Things to Do with Teens Around Central Park & Rockefeller Center
Discuss the suggestions below with your kids and pick the ones that you would excite the entire family.
Explore Central Park
Gapstow Bridge – one of the most iconic bridges in the park
Skater’s Circle (only during the summer weekends) – skaters gather together to skate and dance in this part of the park
The Mall - lined by stands of American elms. Its south end is known as “Literary Walk” for its monuments
Then, visit One of the Museums Around Central Park.
American Museum of Natural History
Even just for a few hours, it’s a must museum for teenagers. There are so many great exhibits. Click here for more information about the current exhibits.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
The Cooper Hewitt museum Dedicated to historic and contemporary design, with a collection of over 210,000 design objects.
Guggenheim Museum
Guggenheim museum exhibits modern and contemporary painting and sculpture in one of the most famous buildings in the world.
The Met Museum
The Met museum is one of the most amazing art museums in the world.
Explore Rockefeller Center
NBA Store - In the NBA store, you can find collectable items of NBA players and shop by team. Fun store for Basketball fans!
Nintendo Store - Definitely one of the coolest stores in New York...
PIQ Store - cute store, worth the visit. PIQ’s clever and colorful brand serves as a one stop shopping destination, seamlessly integrating an assortment of globally curated products that is sure to induce smiles on faces of all ages.
Saint Patrick Cathedral
Day 4: Things to Do with Teens Around Financial District
Take the Cruise to Statue of Liberty/ Ellis Island
Visit 9/11 Memorial Museum
Shop at The Fulton Center and Brookfield World Trade Center
Explore the Financial District
Wall Street and the Charging Bull
Fearless Girl
Day 5: Cross Brooklyn Bridge & Explore the Area Around DUMBO
Cross Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge in movie scenes
Explore DUMBO
Dumbo Manhattan Bridge View - Street intersection & well-known selfie spot with the iconic Manhattan Bridge as a backdrop. 39-21 Washington St
Brooklyn Bridge & DUMBO Neighborhood Tour - from Manhattan to Brooklyn
Timeout Market New York
Feel the Thrill at Area53
Area53 – Laser Tag – if you have the extra time to have some good time
Take the NYC Ferry back to Manhattan
Day 6: Explore the Area Between 14th and 34th
The Museum of FIT
At the Museum of FIT, there are rotating exhibits & a permanent collection of garments & accessories, plus free admission.
Little Island
Little Island is a new public park, located in Hudson River Park, where you can experience nature and art in a unique urban oasis on the Hudson River.
Chelsea Market
Rubin Museum of Art
Rubin Museum of Art includes paintings, statues, textiles from Tibet, Bhutan & more
Harry Potter Store
Harry Potter Store is the most amazing store in New York (in my opinion)… where else you can shop for wands? They have couple of amazing VR experiences
CandyTopia
Candytopia is a deliciously immersive and outrageously interactive candy wonderland
Day 7: Union Square/Greenwich Village/ Soho
Union Square
Surrounded by stores and restaurants. Feels less touristic than Times Square.
Titanic. The Exhibition
The exhibition is about the Titanic's passengers, their testimonies, and stories.
Art galleries in Soho
Explore this beautiful neighborhood and its art galleries.
Washington Square Park and NYU Campus
Most of the teenagers in the world heard about NYU in one way or another (features in so many movies). They may be curious to see the campus in person.
Museum of Ice Cream
The museum is a cute place to celebrate ice-cream