New York City is a must-visit for families – regardless of the season. In the summer, you can enjoy some of the beautiful outdoor spaces, like Central Park, while in the Christmas season, you can explore outdoor markets and see the festive Rockefeller Center.
But what happens when it rains? It seems that the Northeast has gotten a lot of rain in the past few months. Luckily, the city that never sleeps offers world-class indoor activities – including amazing shows, recreational activities, and incredible museums.
Seeing a rainy day in your vacation schedule? Here are 31 of the best things to do on a rainy day in NYC. Did we miss your favorite? Leave us a comment.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. A purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
We’ve received complimentary admission to some of these things, and have paid our own way also.
Save Money on Some of These Things to Do on a Rainy Day in NYC (And Other NYC Attractions)
If you are planning a vacation to NYC, consider purchasing the NYC CityPASS. It offers admission to popular museums and attractions for one fee. It can definitely be worthwhile if you have most of these places on your list already.
It includes admission to the following:
Empire State Building
American Museum of Natural History
In addition, you get admission to three of the following attractions. You can choose these attractions later.
Top of the Rock Observation Deck
9/11 Memorial and Museum
Ferry Access to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Guggenheim Museum
31 Best Things to Do in NYC in the Rain
Throw On a Poncho and Explore
Okay, so this isn’t exactly an indoor activity. But sometimes, you can throw on a poncho or a raincoat and keep your outdoor plans.
I wouldn’t do this in heavy rain or thunderstorms, but you may find fewer crowds at popular attractions on rainy days if it’s a little rain.
Be sure to pack raincoats and umbrellas in your suitcase, even if there isn’t rain in the forecast. You never know when things will change.
Watch a Broadway (or Off-Broadway Show)
I love musicals, and of course, NYC is the home of Broadway. Whether it will rain or be the perfect sunny day, seeing a Broadway show is a must-do in NYC.
Shows can be expensive, and popular shows do sell out way in advance. So, if you’ve arrived in NYC without tickets, you’ll probably be looking for a way to get Broadway tickets for less.
You have a few options. Most shows offer a lottery where you can get great seats at a low price. These, of course, aren’t guaranteed in any way.
Another option is to visit one of the TKTS booths. They are located in Times Square and Lincoln Center. There’s also an app that shows real-time availability.
At the TKTS booth, you can find same-time discount tickets and next-day tickets (for matinees). Since this is one of the more popular things to do on a rainy day in NYC, get to the booth early.
There are always great shows to see with kids on Broadway, including The Lion King and Disney’s Aladdin. We’ve had lots of luck at the TKTS booth in the past.
One World Observatory
If it’s a rainy day with decent visibility, you may want to visit the One World Observatory. From there, you’ll get a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline from the highest point in NYC. However, If you want to see the Manhattan skyline, ensure it isn’t foggy or raining too hard.
It offers a Sky Pod elevator, depicting how NYC has developed over the years. During our visit, my kids loved this elevator ride.
There are multiple levels, and in addition to the views, there is a gift shop and a restaurant. You can also find a variety of tour options and tickets here.
Chelsea Piers
Located on the waterfront in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC, Chelsea Piers offers many great family activities. This 28-acre village, originally a cruise terminal area, has ice skating rinks, bowling, a driving range, batting cages, and much more.
Eataly NYC
Love Italian food? Eataly in NYC is located in the Flatiron District in Manhattan. It offers various restaurant venues, including sit-down restaurants and take-out counters. There are also places to sit and enjoy your purchase.
In addition, Eataly offers traditional Italian groceries, desserts, pasta, and more. It can get very busy and crowded, so arrive at an off-peak time or make a restaurant reservation. We visited over the weekend and found it very busy at lunchtime.
Museum of Mathematics
The Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), is a hands-on museum that is great for kids. Because of a planned expansion, it’s currently the MoMath on Fifth (225 Fifth Avenue (on the NE corner of Fifth Avenue and 26th Street).
When I visited with my kids, they were skeptical about the museum, fearing it would be boring. But MoMath is most similar to a small children’s museum.
While everything has an educational component, the exhibits are interactive and fun. For instance, kids can ride a small tricycle with square wheels to see how shapes affect movement.
MoMath is open 364 days a year (closed on Thanksgiving), although it closes early on Wednesday once a month for special programming. Tickets can be purchased online in advance for a discount.
You can find more information about MoMath on their website.
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History is a world-class museum that is a great option for families. I recommend a visit here regardless of the weather, but it is also an excellent option for families visiting NYC on a rainy day.
The Natural History Museum offers several exhibits, including separate ticketed exhibits, like the butterfly vivarium. There is also a large-screen movie theater and the Hayden Planetarium. These are also additions that you would need to purchase with your tickets.
As part of the base admission ticket, you can see the blue whale model, the T-Rex, the Insectaria, and the gem and mineral collection, among many other exhibits. I’ve visited several times and haven’t been able to see the whole museum in one visit.
Timed tickets are now required, so it’s best to purchase your tickets as soon as you know when you want to visit. You can find tickets online here.
The Ride NYC
The Ride is not your traditional guided tour. Instead, it’s an entertainment experience aboard a custom-made bus. During your 4+ mile ride around some of the city landmarks in Midtown Manhattan, like Columbus Circle, Times Square, and Grand Central Terminal, you’ll be entertained by the pop-up entertainment outside the bus.
The Ride NYC bus is specially designed, with huge windows along one side. Guests sit sideways, and there’s no bad seat on the bus.
When you purchase your ticket, you’ll choose the date and time. There are a few upcharges – you can pay extra for a front-row seat, and can also purchase a “shout-out” for a special occasion.
While sitting in the front row is nice, it’s not a requirement. There are only a few rows in the bus. We’ve been on the Ride twice – once in the front row and once in the third row, and both experiences were excellent.
You can find tickets online here.
Intrepid Museum
Several years ago, my kids and I headed to the Intrepid Sea, Air, and Space Museum after taking a Circle Line cruise. While I wouldn’t recommend the cruise in bad weather (although it was awesome in nice weather), the Intrepid can be visited on a rainy day in NYC.
This museum has some outdoor areas, but it also has lots of indoor activities and areas. It includes a space shuttle pavilion (with a focus on the space shuttle Enterprise).
There are also simulators, aircraft exhibits, 3D movies, a submarine, and more. Kids really love this museum.
Dated tickets are available online. You can add simulators, movies, VR, and guided tours when you purchase. You can find tickets here.
Watch a Game at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, located above Penn Station in Manhattan, is a huge venue offering sports, music, and other performances. It’s the home of the New York Rangers hockey team and the New York Knicks baseball team.
Depending on what you want to see, you’ll need to purchase tickets directly from Ticketmaster. The MSG website has a schedule of events and links to purchase tickets.
Want to see the Brooklyn Nets? They play their home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
See Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an Art Deco theater known as the home of the world-famous Rockettes. The annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular, the popular Rockette’s show, typically runs each year from the beginning of November to the beginning of January.
If you aren’t visiting during the busy holiday season, you’ll still have a chance to explore Radio City Music Hall. Sixty-minute tours are offered seven days a week, including a peek at the Roxy Suite. It’s a great thing to do on a rainy day in New York City.
Visit this website for more information and the link to purchase.
The Tenement Museum
I’ve heard fantastic things about the Tenement Museum in NYC, although I haven’t personally experienced it yet. At the museum, you’ll have the opportunity to tour two Tenement Museum houses (tenement apartments) and an optional neighborhood tour. As part of the experience, you’ll learn about immigrants and migrants from the 1860s through the 1980s in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
When you purchase your tickets, you can choose from different apartment tours or neighborhood tours. On a rainy day, you may want to choose an apartment tour. The Tenement Museum website has more information.
The Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, offering 50,000 square feet of indoor exhibit space, is located in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District (near where you’d be walking the High Line). This is a newish building for the museum, which moved to its current location in 2015.
It’s a beautiful museum, with more than you can see in one visit. They do offer family programming, including open art studios and family tours. The schedule of these activities is shown on their website – most seem to be scheduled for Saturdays.
Tickets for the Whitney Museum can be purchased in advance on their website. You can also find tickets online here.
Madame Tussauds
Is it a bit kitschy? Sure is! But Madame Tussauds Wax Museum is an iconic museum located in Times Square, New York City. It’s a great place to visit on a rainy day.
In addition to the standard wax museum, Madame Tussauds offers a 4D movie and a 7D motion simulator. Combination tickets are available. Purchasing your timed tickets in advance is a good idea to ensure entry at your preferred time.
You can find tickets online here.
See a Movie
Admittedly, there are a lot better things to do on a rainy day in NYC than see a movie at a local theater. But if you are traveling with tired and rundown kids, this is always a great option.
As you’d expect, New York City is filled with many movie theaters, from larger chain theaters to smaller arthouse theaters. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best movie theaters in New York City.
Guggenheim Museum
Another fantastic art museum in New York City is the Guggenheim Museum. It is located in a unique Frank Lloyd Wright-designed building and offers a collection of art from the Impressionist era through modern times.
Visiting with kids? The Guggenheim Museum offers a variety of different kids’ and teen programming.
The museum also has a museum shop and a cafe that you can enjoy during your visit. Timed tickets are currently required, so purchase your tickets in advance. You can find tickets online here.
Color Factory New York City
With additional locations in Chicago and Houston, Color Factor is an interactive museum offering 14 immersive exhibits. If you are traveling with teens and tweens, this is a great place for them to get some Instagram pictures on a rainy day in New York City.
Different ticket options are available, including timed tickets and visit-anytime tickets. Prices vary based on date and time. Color Factor New York City is located in the SoHo neighborhood.
The Museum of Ice Cream New York City
Like the Color Factory, the Museum of Ice Cream offers immersive exhibits that are great for exploring and taking photos. In addition to NYC, there are five locations: Singapore, Austin, Chicago, Boston, and Miami.
The highlights of this immersive attraction (in addition to some delicious ice cream) are the tallest indoor slide in New York City and the famous sprinkle pool. It’s one of the best NYC rainy day activities for families with tweens and teens.
Timed tickets are offered online and should be purchased in advance.
The Skyscraper Museum
Unlike most popular New York City attractions, the Skyscraper Museum offers free admission. However, guests must book a reservation in advance.
The Skyscraper Museum is best for those interested in architecture and the history of skyscrapers in New York City. It’s located in Battery Park City and is open Wednesday through Saturday.
9/11 Museum and Observatory
The 9/11 Museum and Observatory is located next to, but is not affiliated with, One World Observatory. It utilizes stories and artifacts to tell the story of what happened on 9/11 as well as in 1993.
It’s a deeply moving experience, and everyone who comes to NYC should definitely visit. A youth and families tour offers a 45-minute guided tour appropriate for families.
The outdoor memorial is free to visit (audio and guided tours are extra), but you must purchase advance tickets for the museum. Combo tickets with a tour are also available. The standard tour is appropriate for adults and teens.
You can find tickets and tours here.
Museum of the City of New York
Want to learn about New York City’s history, cultural significance, and stories? The Museum of the City of New York offers permanent and temporary exhibits about the Big Apple.
Tickets to the Museum of the City of New York, located in East Harlem, can be purchased online. It’s open from Thursday to Sunday.
Eat at Some Great New York City Restaurants
Of course, I think you should spend some time dining at some of New York City’s best family restaurants, regardless of the weather. But on a rainy day, you may want to spend some extra time dining.
We have our favorite New York City family restaurants listed in this post. One of our favorites is Ellen’s Stardust Cafe, a Times Square restaurant where the servers are also fantastic Broadway performers.
New York Public Library
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is the iconic Fifth Avenue location of the New York Public Library system. In addition to doing traditional library research, you can explore the library with a free audio or guided tour.
Guided tours are complimentary, but they are very limited. Reservations are required. A 15-minute tour of the Rose Main Reading Room is also offered.
Grand Central Station Terminal and Grand Central Market
While Grand Central Station offers train service through Metro North and the Long Island Railroad, it’s also a beautiful building worth exploring if you have time on a rainy day. Official guided tours are offered if you want more information. However, Whenever we’ve visited, we just popped in and walked around.
In addition to the terminal, there’s also Grand Central Market. Featuring about a dozen vendors in a food hall, this is a great option for picking up lunch or a snack.
Chelsea Market
Another great place to visit for a meal or a snack is Chelsea Market, located in the Chelsea/Meatpacking neighborhood of New York City. Chelsea Market is a food hall offering many different types of food, including tacos, noodles, bagels, donuts, and grilled cheese.
This is a great option if you are traveling with your family because everyone can choose what they’d like to eat. With picky kids, it’s always great to have multiple options.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The popular Metropolitan Museum of Art is known not only for its extensive art collection but also for its iconic steps. If you ever watched the original Gossip Girl, you’ll know exactly what these steps look like. On a rainy day, the interior of the Met is a great place to visit.
Dated tickets are available online for both locations: the Met Fifth Avenue and the Met Cloisters. Tickets for guests under 12 are complimentary.
Find tickets and tours here.
Museum of Modern Art
If you prefer contemporary art, visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), located in Midtown Manhattan (with another location in Queens).
The MoMA offers complimentary admission for those aged 16 and under. Dated tickets are available online in advance and are highly recommended.
You can find tickets and tours here.
Lincoln Center For the Performing Arts
Lincoln Center is another premiere New York City venue located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It’s the home of the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, and more. The complex includes several buildings, including the Metropolitan Opera House, David Geffen Hall, and Alice Tully Hall.
Many of these performances at Lincoln Center would have to be booked in advance. However, it’s always worth checking the schedule to see what performances are going on during your trip. Keep in mind that you may want to dress up for some of these events.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is so much more than an observation tour. However, it does offer some great views. So like the other observation areas on this list, you may want to skip this on a rainy day if the visibility isn’t great.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is located adjacent to the Grand Center Terminal. It includes immersive space, and to get there, you can take the world’s largest external glass-bottomed elevator (extra fee and reservation required). There are three separate levels, including the Kenzo Digital art installations and the glass ledges.
Timed tickets can be purchased in advance online.
Fashion Factory Tour New York City
Do you have a budding fashion designer in your family? Consider taking a unique tour of a factory in New York’s Garment District. This tour is a great option and includes a guided tour and the opportunity to create your own souvenir (either a tote or a t-shirt).
You can book this tour here.
Pasta Making Class
Another fun rainy day activity is learning how to cook. This two-hour cooking class in the East Village teaches you how to make homemade pasta.
This is something that is best for adults or older kids. It’s not a kids’ cooking class. You can find more details and book here.
The Tour at NBC Studios
I’m so glad this popular NYC attraction has reopened because it’s one of my favorites. During the tour, you’ll be guided by an NBC page through some backstage sets at NBC, including the Saturday Night Live set. Tickets should be purchased in advance online.
Where to Stay in NYC
There are so many options for where to stay in New York City. Some of this will depend on where you plan to spend much of your time and how busy you want the area of your hotel to be. For instance, Times Square hotels are so convenient, but this is a very busy area of the city.
One of my favorite hotels for a family is the New York Hilton Midtown. It has decent-sized rooms and is in a nice location for exploring the city. You can book that hotel here.
You can also find hotels and other lodging options on the map below.
