New York with kids

NYC Scavenger Hunt for Kids: 40 Things to Spot in New York

Long walks go faster when there's something to find. Tick these off as you explore; some are everywhere, some take a sharp eye, and a few are famous landmarks. Print this page, or keep it open on your phone.

By Play Your Trip · Updated · 3 min read

Kids collecting coins at each stop in a pixel-art New York adventure book

Count them up at the end of the day: 10 is a good day, 25 is a great trip, and all 40 is a perfect run.

On the street

  • A yellow taxi
  • A hot dog cart
  • A pretzel cart
  • Steam rising from the street
  • A fire escape zig-zagging down a building
  • A water tower on a roof
  • Someone walking more than three dogs
  • A brownstone stoop
  • A bodega cat
  • A food truck
  • A police horse
  • A street performer

In the subway

  • A subway musician
  • A mosaic on a station wall
  • The animal mosaics at 81st Street–Museum of Natural History
  • A train on an elevated track
  • A station with a funny name
  • Someone carrying something huge on the train

In Central Park

  • The Alice in Wonderland statue
  • Balto, the hero sled dog statue
  • Belvedere Castle
  • A turtle in Turtle Pond
  • A model sailboat on Conservatory Water
  • A horse-drawn carriage
  • The Bethesda Fountain angel
  • A squirrel that's not scared of you
  • The musical clock at the zoo playing

Landmarks

  • The Statue of Liberty
  • The Empire State Building
  • The Chrysler Building's shiny spire
  • The library lions, Patience and Fortitude
  • The stars on Grand Central's ceiling
  • Charging Bull
  • Fearless Girl
  • The Brooklyn Bridge
  • The Manhattan Bridge from Washington Street
  • Times Square's red steps
  • A skyscraper you can see from the top of another skyscraper

Bonus

  • Eat a New York slice, folded
  • Say 'thank you' to a bus driver
  • Find the whispering gallery and whisper a secret

Make it a game

Give each child their own list and a pen, or play in teams. Award a point for each find and double points for anything in the Landmarks list. The winner picks dinner.

For a trip-long version, a My NY Trip book turns every stop of your itinerary into a quest with a coin to collect, a STAGE CLEAR! stamp when a day is done, and a final score at the end. Play the demo.

Questions

Is this NYC scavenger hunt free?

Yes. Print the page or keep it open on a phone; there's nothing to buy or download.

What age is it for?

About 4 to 12. Younger kids can do the street list with help; older kids can race to finish the landmarks.