Space, slime and skeletons: New York’s top science attractions

Ever fancied coming face-to-fin with an enormous blue whale, tinkering with electricity, or gazing up at distant galaxies? The Big Apple is bursting with science adventures for curious minds of all ages. Here, you’ll find epic museums crammed with ancient fossils, high-tech labs where tomorrow’s inventions are born, space shows that speed you across the universe, and even cafes where robots take your order! Read on for our guide to NYC’s most science-rich experiences, from classic museums to hidden gems. No lab coat required!

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

There’s nowhere else in New York where you can tour a legendary aircraft carrier, a sleek Concorde, a real submarine and a genuine space shuttle, all in a single afternoon. The Intrepid Museum lets you climb aboard the historic USS Intrepid, exploring its sprawling decks and peeking into vintage airplanes. The Space Shuttle Pavilion is especially awe-inspiring, showcasing the prototype orbiter Enterprise under dramatic lighting, alongside stories and artifacts from NASA’s groundbreaking years. It’s manna for anyone with even a passing interest in engineering, aviation, or space flight, with hands-on exhibits that entertain and educate in equal measure Don’t miss the Growler submarine, where you can squeeze through tiny hatches and discover firsthand how Cold War-era technology shaped the tides of history. With roaring jet engines overhead and panoramic Hudson River views, the Intrepid is as atmospheric as it is informative.

National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey

Dive deep without even getting wet at National Geographic Encounter: Ocean Odyssey, an immersive underwater journey brought to life in Times Square. Huge digital screens and interactive displays surround you with shoals of fish, glowing jellyfish, sea lions and larger-than-life humpback whales. The technology here is sophisticated and the storytelling pure adventure – you’ll feel as though you’re navigating mysterious ocean trenches or dodging a predatory squid. Standout moments include the coral reef tunnel, bioluminescent bay, and a VR-like shark encounter. Staff are on hand to answer wildlife questions and spark mission-style challenges for kids.

SPYSCAPE

Put your inner agent to the test at SPYSCAPE, a Midtown museum that’s dedicated to the science of spying, cryptography and espionage. Part museum, part challenge, SPYSCAPE takes you deep into the world of code-breaking, laser-dodging, and high-tech surveillance. Start by browsing stories of real-world intelligence and spycraft, then tackle hands-on missions: test your nerve in the lie detector booth, race the clock through a laser maze, or try your hand at analyzing data like an MI6 pro. The immersive sets, slick lighting, and interactive leaderboards give this place a fast-paced, adrenaline-charged feel. It’s perfect for science-minded visitors who love solving puzzles and probing mysteries.

New York Transit Museum

Ever wondered what keeps New York City running? Climb down into a decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn and explore the New York Transit Museum. The authentic setting is half the charm: ancient tiled walls, old wooden benches, and vintage trains on real tracks. Walk through preserved subway cars from every decade, try your hand at driving a city bus, and discover the secrets behind tunnels, switches, and power lines. Thoughtful interactive displays and friendly guides make the science of public transit come alive, showing how math, physics and tech keep millions moving every day. From detailed signal models to stories of transportation pioneers, it’s a love letter to the city’s beating heart.

ARTECHOUSE NYC

Step into the digital future at ARTECHOUSE in Chelsea, where art, technology, and science converge in a series of mind-bending installations. This isn’t a museum you walk through so much as one you grab by the hand, where floor-to-ceiling projections swirl, shift, and respond to your movements thanks to cutting-edge computer graphics and sensors. Themes rotate throughout the year, usually blending physics, math, and nature into psychedelic dreamscapes. Stand inside a shifting fractal landscape, send ripples across walls with a wave of your hand, or ponder how data and algorithms shape the world we see. It’s soothing, interactive, and a feast for the senses, especially after dark.

Liberty Science Center

Just across the river in Jersey City, Liberty Science Center buzzes is chock-full of hands-on activities for all ages. Explore towers built of playing cards, step into a pitch-black touch tunnel, or try your hand at surgical simulators in the medical innovation wing. The ‘Eat and Be Eaten’ gallery introduces live creatures from poison dart frogs to friendly turtles, while the Infinity Climber – an airborne maze suspended several stories up – lets brave visitors test their balance… and their nerves. The Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, one of the largest in the Western Hemisphere, hosts visually stunning shows that let you zip through planetary systems or orbit the Milky Way. Don’t miss the rotating blockbusters: whether it’s robots, puzzles, or ancient artifacts, they always bring a new perspective.

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum

Science and creativity collide at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, nestled in a grand old mansion just off Central Park. Step inside for interactive exhibits on material science, sustainable design and the digital tools inventors use to shape our world. Try the pen devices available at the entrance, which let you ‘collect’ digital objects from the galleries and use them to design your own furniture, logos and cityscapes at giant touch tables. Delve into the science of textiles, biomimicry or environmental innovation through kid-friendly hands-on installations and ever-changing galleries. The museum’s shaded garden is a standout for a picnic break – think willow trees and a design shop packed with curious gadgets and creative souvenirs.

Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe

If your inner scientist has a thing for eccentric geniuses, don’t miss the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe (a quick train ride east to Long Island). Explore exhibitions about engineer Nikola Tesla, whose inventions, from radio waves to wireless electricity, helped shape the tech world as we know it. Guided tours give visitors access to Tesla’s historic laboratory, plus interactive exhibits on electricity, magnetism, and early wireless transmission. Check the event calendar for Tesla birthday celebrations or family-friendly ‘mad scientist’ days filled with plasma balls, coil demos, and hands-on electricity experiments. You’ll leave with a new appreciation for all those inventors who tap into the wild side of science.

Einstein’s Café at Neue Galerie

Sneak a bit of physics into your snack break at Café Sabarsky inside the Neue Galerie, inspired by the classic Viennese coffeehouses frequented by one Albert Einstein. Marble tabletops, wood-paneled walls, and river views provide a quietly stylish backdrop for your scientific musings. Sip a signature melange (Viennese espresso with milk foam) or go all-out with a traditional apple strudel. Surrounded by books, art deco décor, and the gentle hum of intellectual conversation, you might almost expect old Albert himself to lean over, Viennese pastry in hand, and explain the theory of relativity.

Thirsty for more? Check out our guide to the best bars near Central Park, and discover more things to do near the American Museum of Natural History.

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