Things to Do in Brooklyn
Brooklyn's top activities include Prospect Park, Brooklyn Museum (free first Saturdays), DUMBO waterfront, Brooklyn Bowl, Smorgasburg food market, and dozens of live music venues in Williamsburg.
75 places · 29 free · Updated Oct 2026
The world's first children's museum, and kids still don't want to leave. Water play, block building, art studio, sensory galleries -- all for ages birth to 10. Free for kids under 1. Free every Thursday 3-5pm and every third Thursday 3-7pm.
Run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. Discovery Trail, barn with domestic animals, sea lion pool, nature theater. The whole thing is compact enough that a 2-year-old can actually enjoy it without getting overwhelmed. Book tickets online in advance -- required.
52 acres with a dedicated Children's Garden -- the first in the world. Kids get a dipping pond, musical instruments, and touch-and-feel stations. The Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden and Cherry Esplanade are stunning for a walk. Kids under 12 always free.
Multiple free playgrounds and the LeFrak Center Splash Pad, named Best of New York by New York Magazine. Splash pad free for kids 12 and under, 10:30am-6pm, Memorial Day through mid-September. Harmony, Vanderbilt, and Imagination Playgrounds round out the options.
40,000 square feet of ziplines, ropes courses, climbing walls, laser tag, paintball, obstacle courses, roller skating, and slides. Three hours of unlimited everything with admission. Ages 3+. The kind of place where you drop kids off and they come back exhausted.
Youth climbing programs starting at age 3. After-school classes, weekend programs, summer camps, birthday parties, and parents' night out events. Drop-in climbing starts at age 5. Day passes available for families.
Toy store up front, then themed play installations behind secret doors. Rotating themes -- recent ones included Bluey's House and a Slime Bar. Arts and crafts, a cafe, and a little theater. Free to walk in and browse. Downtown Brooklyn location.
1.3 miles of waterfront with playgrounds at every pier. Pier 6 has a water-play lab and sand village. Pier 5 has sports fields. Pop-up pool in summer. Jane's Carousel ($2). Manhattan skyline right across the water. All playgrounds free.
Free storytime, craft programs, STEM workshops, and a dedicated children's reading room. All 60+ Brooklyn branches run free kids programming year-round -- baby lap-sit to teen maker labs. The Grand Army Plaza building is an Art Deco landmark worth seeing on its own.
Cafe with a playroom attached. You drink coffee, they play. Also runs construction workshops, sing-alongs, yoga, and new-parent meetups. Free Wi-Fi. The kind of place where nobody gives you a look when your toddler screams.
Free museum covering 200+ years of the Brooklyn Navy Yard -- Civil War, WWII shipbuilding, and its current life as a manufacturing hub. Interactive exhibits. Walking tours of the active Navy Yard campus also available. Best for school-age kids who like building things and asking how stuff works.
100+ food vendors every Sunday in Prospect Park, April through October. Free to walk around -- just pay for what you eat. Kids get to run on the grass between bites while you try the ramen burger or whatever's new.
Inside a real decommissioned 1936 subway station. Kids walk through vintage subway cars, sit in the driver's seat, and pull levers. Interactive exhibits on how the city moves. $10 adults, $5 kids. The gift shop has train conductor hats. Good for ages 3 and up.
Free public canoeing on the Gowanus Canal, offered by volunteers on weekends during warm weather. Life jackets provided. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. It is the Gowanus Canal, so manage your expectations on water clarity, but kids think it is an adventure. First-come, first-served.
The Audubon Center at the Boathouse runs free nature programs for families -- birdwatching, pond dipping, nature walks, and animal encounters. Electric boat tours of Prospect Lake also available ($8 adults, $4 kids). The building is a restored 1905 boathouse on the lakefront. Open seasonally.
Kids' activity center in Gowanus offering tumbling, gymnastics, rock climbing, martial arts, and dance classes. Open play sessions available for drop-in. Birthday parties too. Ages 6 months to 14. The tumbling and climbing combo works well for kids who need to burn energy on a rainy day.
A modern playground on the Williamsburg waterfront with climbing structures, slides, swings, and a sandbox -- all with the Manhattan skyline right across the river. The park also has a taco stand, open lawn, and artifact walk from the old Domino Sugar factory. Free. Stroller-friendly throughout.
Free admission for all visitors under 19. Family Art Saturdays offer free hands-on workshops tied to current exhibitions. The Egyptian galleries and mummy collection are a reliable hit for school-age kids. The museum is right next to the Botanic Garden and Prospect Park -- easy to chain together for a full day.
Outdoor roller skating rink at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park with views of the Manhattan skyline. $10 includes skate rental, or bring your own for $6. Free admission days throughout the summer. Open May through October. Good for kids 5 and up -- the surface is smooth and the vibes are relaxed.
STEAM workshops for kids held inside the working Brooklyn Navy Yard campus. Kids use real tools and materials for age-appropriate building, design, and engineering projects. Programs run on select weekends and school breaks. Pre-registration required. Best for kids 6 and up who like making things.
Indoor soft play area for kids under 7 in Flatbush. Ball pit, slides, climbing structures, and a toddler area for the youngest ones. Two-hour play sessions. Birthday party packages available. A solid rainy-day option for the Flatbush and PLG neighborhoods.
Hand-carved marionette puppet shows for kids in a tiny Park Slope theater that has been running since 1980. Productions adapt fairy tales and classic stories. Shows last about an hour. $11 per person, cash only. Reservations recommended -- the 75-seat theater fills up on weekends. Ages 3-9.
A 1912 carousel with 53 hand-carved horses, a lion, a giraffe, and a deer. $2 per ride. Located near the Prospect Park Zoo entrance. Open weekends year-round and daily in summer. The kind of thing toddlers want to ride seven times in a row.
An old-fashioned soda fountain and ice cream shop inside a restored 1920s apothecary in Carroll Gardens. Egg creams, sundaes, floats, and milkshakes made the classic way. Not an activity per se, but kids treat this as an experience -- they think they stepped into another era. Sundaes from $8.
Eleven hard courts at the Parade Ground managed by the Prospect Park Alliance. During the outdoor season (May through October), eight courts are available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. During the indoor season (late October through early May), all 11 courts are covered by a bubble and available for hourly rental. Single-play passes are available for those without a seasonal permit.
Three regulation-sized sand volleyball courts at Pier 6 with views of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor. Free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis when leagues are not scheduled. Bring your own ball and net -- posts are installed. Popular for pickup games on summer weekends.
Free Olympic-sized outdoor pool on the Greenpoint-Williamsburg border. Open daily in summer, closed 3-4pm for cleaning. Busy days may limit swim time or use return bracelets. Just show up.
Climbing gym in Gowanus with bouldering walls, fitness area, yoga, sauna. Day pass covers everything. No membership required. $15 Fridays. Shoe rental available. Short walk from Union St (R) and Carroll St (F/G).
Ice skating November through March, roller skating and splash pad in warmer months. Covered and uncovered rinks connected. Skate rental available. Free Monday afternoon skating for kids in winter.
Soccer fields at the Parade Ground next to Prospect Park, grass and synthetic turf. Free for pickup under 20 people; groups of 20+ need an NYC Parks permit. Also baseball diamonds and cricket pitches.
Six public hard courts in Fort Greene Park, available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. The seasonal permit is $100 for adults, $20 for seniors, and $10 for youth. Single-play passes are $15. Courts are first-come, first-served and popular for casual play on weekday mornings. A short walk from the G train at Fulton St.
Full YMCA in downtown Brooklyn. 25-yard indoor pool, gym, basketball court, 130+ group fitness classes per week (yoga, Pilates, bootcamp, TRX, water aerobics). Membership required, no day passes for classes. Non-member swim drop-in $30.
NYC Parks rec center with indoor pool, gym, fitness room, and a large seasonal outdoor pool that's free in summer. $150/year for adults, free for youth under 24. Good youth sports and swim lesson programming.
Climbing gym in Bushwick with bouldering, rope climbing, yoga, fitness. Day pass $35, first-timer package includes a lesson. Monthly $139. Less crowded than Williamsburg and Gowanus spots.
A 400-meter running track at the Red Hook Recreation Center, free and open to the public during open hours. The track shares the facility with soccer and football fields. Less crowded than Prospect Park for runners who want a consistent surface and measured distance. Adjacent to the rec center pool and gym.
Two bocce courts at Pier 2, free and open to the public. Bring your own bocce set or borrow one from the Pier 2 sports equipment shed (available on a first-come, first-served basis). A surprisingly social activity on the waterfront -- regulars show up on summer evenings and weekend afternoons.
Free outdoor basketball courts and a dog run at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Beverly Road. The courts are well-maintained and get reliable pickup runs on weekday evenings. Less competitive than the Bed-Stuy and DUMBO courts -- a good option for casual players in south Brooklyn.
Six public hard courts in Midwood, available to NYC Parks tennis permit holders. A quieter alternative to the Fort Greene and Prospect Park courts. Seasonal permit $100 for adults, $20 for seniors, $10 for youth. Single-play passes $15. First-come, first-served.
Dedicated pickleball courts at the Parade Ground in Prospect Park, part of the Parks Department's expansion of the sport across the city. Free for permit holders ($15 single-play). The courts are newer and the lines are clear. Pickup games on weekday mornings draw a regular crowd of all ages.
A full-service YMCA with an indoor pool, full gym, basketball court, and group fitness classes including yoga, spin, and water aerobics. Monthly membership required -- no single-visit day passes. Financial assistance available for those who qualify. A solid option for East Brooklyn residents.
16 lanes, a concert stage, Blue Ribbon fried chicken, and spiked milkshakes. National touring acts play here. Family Bowl on weekends (Sat 11am-5pm, Sun 11am-6pm) is all-ages with free entry. Evenings are 21+. Bowling from $30 per half hour.
650-capacity venue booking indie rock, electronic, and underground acts most nights. Run by The Bowery Presents -- same people as Bowery Ballroom. Standing room with a balcony, solid sound, two bars. Tickets $15-50 depending on the act.
Operating since 1861. Theater, dance, music, opera, and film across the Howard Gilman Opera House, Harvey Theater, and BAM Rose Cinemas. The annual Next Wave Festival brings the most experimental work in the country. Student rush tickets $25.
Second-largest art museum in New York. Egyptian antiquities, American art, contemporary work, and a feminist art center. Free for ages 19 and under. First Saturdays (5-11pm, select months) open the whole place for free with live music, performances, and gallery talks.
The place that started dine-in cinema in NYC. Craft cocktails and a full food menu delivered to your seat during the film. New releases, indie films, repertory screenings. This is the original Williamsburg location -- intimate, neighborhood feel. Second spot near Prospect Park.
12 screens with a no-talking, no-texting policy they actually enforce. Sony 4K projection. Full food and drink menu at your seat. New releases, classic repertory, and special events. The House of Wax bar downstairs is a solid pre-show spot.
Converted 1920s warehouse with a 25-foot vaulted ceiling. Comedy, stand-up, podcast tapings, trivia, live music, themed dance parties -- they book a little bit of everything. Separate lounge bar. The kind of venue where regulars get fiercely protective.
Free cultural programming year-round: concerts, art exhibitions, film screenings, community events. Contemporary gallery, two performance spaces, a glass-walled TV studio. They also produce the free Celebrate Brooklyn! summer concert series in Prospect Park.
The bigger, newer Nitehawk near Prospect Park. Multiple screens, full dine-in menu, dedicated bar. Brunch screenings on weekends and midnight movies for the night owls. The default date night for Park Slope and Windsor Terrace.
Every Saturday on the Williamsburg waterfront, April through October. 100+ vendors -- ramen burgers, artisanal ice cream, and whatever food trend is peaking that month. Free to enter, pay for what you eat. Manhattan skyline right across the water.
A working laundromat with a pinball bar hidden behind a fake washer-dryer door. 16 machines, craft beer on tap. The only licensed laundromat in NYC that serves alcohol. You do your laundry, or you play pinball and drink beer, or both. $1/game.
First Saturday of select months, 5-11pm, the whole museum opens for free. Live DJs, dance performances, gallery talks, art workshops, cash bar. Draws large crowds -- get there early if you want to actually see the art.
Free museum inside a restored Civil War-era building. Covers the Navy Yard's 200-year run -- shipbuilding to its modern industrial and creative hub. Walking and bus tours of the active campus are also available for a fee.
1,800-capacity venue in Williamsburg run by The Bowery Presents. Great sound, good sightlines from everywhere, and a bar in the back that actually moves. Indie rock, electronic, hip-hop, and national touring acts. This is where mid-level acts play before they fill arenas.
Brooklyn's busiest stand-up comedy room with table service, attentive servers, and no drink minimum -- a rare combo for a comedy club. National touring acts and strong local lineups. Shows most nights of the week. The room is small enough that every seat feels close.
Improv and sketch comedy theater and school in Williamsburg offering shows, classes, and jams. Multiple shows per week across improv, sketch, and stand-up formats. Classes at all levels -- beginner to performance team. The vibe is supportive and the ticket prices are reasonable.
Theatrical spectacle mixing baroque opera, circus acrobatics, burlesque, and dance in an intimate, ornate setting. Productions like Nutcracker Rouge and Queen of Hearts run for months. Cocktails are part of the experience. There is nothing else like this in New York -- or most other cities.
A 70-seat folk music venue and school in the Columbia Street Waterfront area near Red Hook. Old-time, bluegrass, folk, country, and sea shanty music. Also teaches banjo, guitar, fiddle, and ukulele. There is a little cafe next door. The most unpretentious music room in Brooklyn.
Located in a decommissioned 1936 subway station. Vintage subway and bus cars you can walk through and sit in, interactive exhibits on the history of NYC transit, and rotating exhibitions. Kids go wild for the old trains. $10 adults, $5 kids. A genuinely unique museum experience.
Free outdoor concert series at the Prospect Park Bandshell, running late June through mid-August. Produced by BRIC. Major acts across world music, hip-hop, indie rock, and classical. A few benefit concerts are ticketed, but most are completely free -- just show up and claim your spot on the lawn.
A vinyl record store with a 250-capacity live music venue attached. Free in-store performances and signings alongside ticketed evening shows. The record selection is deep, especially for indie and electronic. The kind of place you walk in to browse and leave three hours later.
An 80,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor event complex in Bushwick with multiple stages -- The Great Hall, Kings Hall, and the Brooklyn Mirage rooftop. Primarily electronic music, but also hosts hip-hop, Latin, and live acts. The Brooklyn Mirage open-air stage is one of the best summer music experiences in the city.
A scrappy, DIY comedy club in Williamsburg hosting stand-up, improv, and open mic nights. The lineups mix seasoned local comics with newer acts working out material. $5-10 cover, no drink minimum. The kind of room where you catch someone two years before they blow up.
A 25,000-square-foot cultural center in a former iron works factory in Red Hook. Free art exhibitions, concerts, talks, residencies, and community events. The open-plan industrial space is impressive. Second Sundays are the big monthly event with music, art, food, and science talks -- all free.
A 170-seat venue in Williamsburg purpose-built for new music -- classical, electronic, experimental, and everything in between. The acoustics are exceptional for the size. Programming is adventurous and the production quality punches above its weight. Tickets from $15. One of the most important small music venues in New York.