Outdoor Activities in New York City
New York City's best outdoor activities include 230 Fifth (No cover Sun–Thu; $15–$20 Fri–Sat), Active Pickleball & Tennis Center ($25-65/hr depending on court and time), Apollo Theater ($22–$34), Asser Levy Recreation Center ($150/year with pool, $75/year gym only), and Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park (Free admission).
Your kid will try to live here. Plan for 3 hours minimum.
145 Brooklyn Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11213 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 0–12
450+ exhibits. Free Fridays 2-5pm. The 'why' kids go nuts here.
47-01 111th St, Queens, NY 11368 · Wed-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 2–14
Free for kids 0-8. The building alone is worth the trip to Sugar Hill.
898 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 10032 · Thu-Sun 10am-5pm · Ages 0–12
An actual aircraft carrier with a space shuttle on the deck. Kids under 5 free.
Pier 86, W 46th St, New York, NY 10036 · Daily 10am-5pm · Ages 5–14
Three floors of slides and obstacle courses. Bring socks or they'll send you home.
30 Broad St, New York, NY 10004 · Mon-Thu 9:30am-7:30pm, Fri-Sat 9:30am-8:30pm, Sun 9:30am-7:30pm · Ages 1–13
Half toy store, half theme park. Recent installations: Bluey's House, Slime Bar.
110 5th Ave, New York, NY 10011 · Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm · Ages 0–10
Named Best of New York by NY Mag. Free. Summer only -- get there early.
171 East Dr, Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY 11225 · Daily 10:30am-6pm (seasonal, Memorial Day-Sep) · Ages 0–12
Four playgrounds in one park. Bring a change of clothes -- they will get soaked.
Atlantic Ave & Furman St, Brooklyn, NY 11201 · Daily 10am-7pm (seasonal) · Ages 0–12
22-foot rainbow pipefish sculpture. Sprays kick on automatically at 80F.
557 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011 · Daily dawn-dusk (splash pad seasonal) · Ages 0–12
Tiny Park Slope studio. Low-key, no-pressure art for ages 1.5-5. Drop-in $38.
413a 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 · Varies by class schedule · Ages 1–12
Pyramids, obelisks, water features -- and it's right next to the Met. Free.
85th St & Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10028 · Daily dawn-dusk · Ages 0–12
Free. Walk the elevated park, do the scavenger hunt, hit the playground at the end.
820 Washington St, New York, NY 10014 · Daily 7am-10pm · Ages 0+
Central Park's biggest playground. Climbing rocks, bridges, water features. Free.
62nd St & 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019 · Daily dawn-dusk · Ages 0+
Free organized sports, games, and fitness in playgrounds across the city. Just show up.
Various playgrounds citywide · Schedule varies by park and season · Ages 0–14
Waterfront playground with Manhattan views. Taco stand. Free.
300 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249 · Daily 6am-1am · Ages 0+
Free kids cooking demos at the farmers market. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat.
E 17th St & Broadway, New York, NY 10003 · Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 8am-6pm (year-round) · Ages 0+
Hidden gem. Bluestone slide built into the hill. Splash pad. Sand pit. Free.
Warren St & River Terrace, New York, NY 10007 · Daily dawn-dusk · Ages 0–12
"The Cage." 20-foot fence. Marbury and Mason played here. Free pickup, first come.
272 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10011 · Dawn to dusk
Most famous streetball courts in the world. Free. Year-round pickup.
280 W 155th Street, New York, NY 10039 · 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
26 clay courts in Central Park. $7/hr single-play permit. April-November.
1 West 96th Street & Central Park West, New York, NY 10025 · Seasonal, April - November, dawn to dusk
Play where the US Open happens. 34 courts open to the public Oct-Aug. $42/hr.
1 USTA Way, Flushing, NY 11354 · Daily 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
$150/year gets you pool, basketball, fitness rooms. Free if you're under 24.
430 West 25th Street, New York, NY 10001 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Sun 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Indoor + outdoor pools, gym, classes. $150/year. $10/year if you're 62+.
392 Asser Levy Place, New York, NY 10010 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Olympic-sized. Free. Summer only. Get there before 11 or forget it.
776 Lorimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Summer only: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Indoor pool AND an indoor hockey rink in Queens. $150/year. Free under 24.
131-04 Meridian Road, Flushing, NY 11368 · Mon-Fri 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sun 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Indoor basketball, outdoor pool with kiddie pool, cardio room. Free under 24.
155 Bay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231 · Mon-Fri 6:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM - 10:45 PM, Sun Closed
$29 student day pass. Bouldering, ropes, sauna, and a chess club.
23-10 41st Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM, Sat-Sun 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
14 courts in Central Park. Community play just $5/hr with free paddle.
830 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10065 · Daily 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM (seasonal, Apr-Oct)
$25/hr outdoor, $40/hr indoor off-peak. Cheapest indoor pickleball in NYC.
65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367 · Daily 8:00 AM - 10:30 PM
$22 off-peak. Over $100 at Christmas. Go on a random Tuesday.
600 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10020 · Daily 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM (Oct-Mar)
$5 Mondays. $10 skate rental. A fraction of Rockefeller Center prices.
171 East Drive, Brooklyn, NY 11225 · Seasonal (Nov-Mar), hours vary by day
Free Thursday nights in summer. Walk, run, or jog a pro 400m track.
10 Central Road, Randall's Island, NY 10035 · Park open 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM; track by permit/event
4 dedicated courts on the Hudson. Permanent nets. Free with your own paddle.
353 West St, New York, NY 10014 · Daily dawn to dusk
Free yoga Tue/Thu mornings, free tai chi Wed. On the Bryant Park lawn. Just show up.
Bryant Park, 42nd St & 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Yoga: Tue/Thu 10am (May-Sep), Tai Chi: Wed 7:30am
$150/year. Indoor pool, pickleball, basketball, water aerobics. Free under 24.
232 W 60th St, New York, NY 10023 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM, Sat 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Free outdoor courts in the heart of the East Village. Pickup runs every evening.
E 7th St & Ave A, New York, NY 10009 · Daily 6:00 AM - midnight
$36 day pass. Largest climbing gym in North America. Indoor and outdoor walls.
11-11 44th Dr, Long Island City, NY 11101 · Mon-Fri 6:00 AM - 11:00 PM, Sat-Sun 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM
6.1-mile car-free loop. Free. The most famous urban running route in the world.
Central Park, New York, NY 10024 · Open 24 hours
Free sand volleyball on the Hudson. Bring your own ball. Summer pickup runs.
Riverside Park at W 100th St, New York, NY 10025 · Daily dawn to dusk (seasonal)
Indoor and outdoor pools in the Village. $150/year. Free under 24. Boxing classes.
1 Clarkson St, New York, NY 10014 · Mon-Fri 7:00 AM - 8:30 PM, Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Central Park rink. $16 off-peak, $28 peak, $40 prime. Kids always $12. Open late October through March.
830 5th Ave, New York, NY 10065 · Mon-Tue 10am-2:30pm, Wed-Thu 10am-9pm, Fri-Sat 10am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm
Free admission with your own skates. Skate rental $18-65 depending on demand. The only free-admission rink in NYC. Reserve online a week ahead.
42nd St & 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Daily, sessions vary -- reserve at bryantpark.org
$15 weekdays, $17 weekends. Skate rental $5-7. Lower Manhattan's rink. Quieter than Midtown options and half the price.
230 Vesey St, New York, NY 10281 · Mon-Fri 4-8:45pm, Sat-Sun/Holidays 9am-9:15pm (60-min sessions)
$14-35 admission. NYC's only rooftop ice rink. Brooklyn Bridge views. Kids 5 and under free.
89 South St, New York, NY 10038 · Daily, sessions vary -- check theseaport.nyc
Sets until 3:30am. BYOB beer and wine. $25 walk-in if there's room.
183 W 10th St, New York, NY 10014 · Mon–Thu 7pm–3:30am, Fri–Sun 2pm–3:30am
Dizzy's Club after 11pm: $10-20 cover, Central Park views through floor-to-ceiling windows.
10 Columbus Circle, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10019 · Box office Mon–Sat 10am–6pm; show times vary
Pay what you wish for NYS residents. Yes, $0.01 works. Rooftop bar has Central Park views.
1000 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10028 · Sun–Tue & Thu 10am–5pm, Fri–Sat 10am–9pm. Closed Wed.
Every Wednesday since 1934. The crowd boos people off stage. It's incredible.
253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027 · Amateur Night every Wed at 7:30pm; other events vary
Free Shakespeare in Central Park. Tickets at noon. Line starts by 6am.
Delacorte Theater, Central Park, New York, NY 10024 · Performances typically 8pm; ticket distribution at noon. Late May–early Sep.
60+ free concerts every summer. Just show up. Mavis Staples, Spoon, De La Soul in 2026.
Rumsey Playfield, Central Park, New York, NY 10021 · Jun–Aug; show times vary, typically 7pm. Gates open 1hr prior.
Free movies every Monday. Lawn opens at 5pm. Bring a blanket and food.
Bryant Park, 42nd St & 6th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Mondays mid-Jul through mid-Sep; lawn opens 5pm, film at sunset
Burger, cocktail, and a movie -- all from your seat. Menus change with each film.
136 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Weekday afternoons are cheapest ($35/person). 60 minutes. 2-10 players.
265 W 37th St, Suite 802A, New York, NY 10018
No cover Sun-Thu. Empire State Building right in your face. Winter igloos.
230 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10001 · Mon–Thu 12pm–2am, Fri 12pm–4am, Sat–Sun 11am–4am
Pay what you wish Saturdays 4-6pm. The building IS the exhibit. Walk the spiral.
1071 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10128 · Sun-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-8pm. Closed Tue.
Pay what you wish Fridays 5-10pm. Rooftop terraces with river views.
99 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014 · Mon & Wed-Thu 10:30am-6pm, Fri 10:30am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-6pm. Closed Tue.
Free summer concerts, movies, dance, yoga along the Hudson River. Just show up.
Riverside Park, various locations, Manhattan · Jun-Sep, event times vary
Magic shop since 1929. Free demos. The staff will blow your mind in 30 seconds.
45 W 34th St, Suite 608, New York, NY 10001 · Mon-Sat 11am-6pm
Walk-in phone and electronics repair near Penn Station. iPhone screen repair from $79, Android from $59. Most repairs completed in 15-40 minutes while you wait. Also handles tablet, laptop, and game console repairs. No appointment needed. Open late until 11pm daily.
499 7th Ave, New York, NY 10018 · Mon-Sun 10am-11pm
Specialist iPhone and iPad repair shop on the Upper East Side. Walk-ins welcome, no appointment needed. iPhone 13/14/15 screen repair at $149, Pro/Pro Max models at $179. Also handles battery replacements, water damage, and data recovery. Quick turnaround — most repairs done in under an hour.
1351 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10021 · Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
UES tailor with a loyal following. Suits, dresses, casual wear, military uniforms. Pants hemming from $15, suit jacket from $40. Walk-ins for basic work, appointments for custom fitting.
1404 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128 · Mon-Sat 8am-7pm
Licensed plumbing and heating service covering all five boroughs. Handles drain cleaning, pipe repair, water heater installation, boiler repair, and radiator service. Service calls start around $100-150, with most residential jobs running $200-600. No overtime charges for weekends.
225 W 35th St, Suite 610, New York, NY 10001 · 24/7 emergency service
Dry cleaner and tailor in the East Village. Pants hemming from $12, suit alterations from $35, dry cleaning from $5/garment. Walk-ins welcome. Does both cleaning and tailoring well.
302 E 6th St, New York, NY 10003 · Mon-Fri 8am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm
Tailor on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint. Alterations, custom fitting, repairs. Pants hemming from $12, jacket sleeves from $25. Walk-ins welcome.
704 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222 · Mon-Sat 9am-6pm