Which fun and immersive museums in New York are actually worth it?
Times Square and the Theater District hold a cluster of museums built for a good time rather than a quiet stroll, with a sprinkle pool in SoHo a short ride away. This guide compares all seven, what each one actually delivers, and who should skip which.
About This Experience
Several spaces around Times Square, Midtown and SoHo, from the Museum of Ice Cream in SoHo to RiseNY and the Museum of Broadway in the Theater District.
Most cluster near Times Square, including the Museum of Broadway, RiseNY, Madame Tussauds and SPYSCAPE, or in SoHo for the Museum of Ice Cream; the Museum of Sex sits near Madison Square.
All keep daily hours with timed entry; check each one's calendar before you go.
The Museum of Ice Cream is $40, the Museum of Illusions $35, RiseNY $48, the Museum of Broadway $41, Madame Tussauds $37, SPYSCAPE $39 and the Museum of Sex $32. All sell timed tickets.
The city's photogenic, hands-on, built-for-a-good-time museums, mostly a few blocks from Times Square.
A sprinkle pool in SoHo, a flying-theater ride over the city, real Broadway costumes, and a laser-tunnel spy challenge.
Check Live Availability & Prices
Prices and time slots shift by day and season, so check live availability before you commit to one stop or a full day of them.
Which Museum Ticket to Pick
None of these seven will change how you see the world, but each is a good time, and the right pick depends on who is standing next to you. The Museum of Broadway ($41) is the standout for anyone who loves theater, with real costumes from past productions and rooms built to feel like backstage. RiseNY ($48) trades galleries for a flying-theater ride that banks and dips over a projected New York skyline, wrapped in exhibits on the city's film, television and music.
SPYSCAPE ($39) turns real espionage history into a scored obstacle course, better suited to teens and adults who want to move rather than read wall text. The Museum of Ice Cream ($40) is built for photos and groups, with a SoHo sprinkle pool that dominates every feed; it is lighter on substance than the Museum of Broadway, but nobody goes in expecting a lecture. The Museum of Illusions ($35) is the quickest stop, an hour of tilted rooms and holograms that plays best with kids, and Madame Tussauds ($37) remains the reliable rainy-day fallback: wax celebrities on 42nd Street and not much more.
The Museum of Sex ($32) is the outlier, adults-only and more thoughtful than its name suggests, closer to a serious exhibition on culture and history than a novelty stop. If none of these seven quite match your day, the full lineup of New York museums covers the art and history collections these skip.
Fun and Immersive Museums in New York
Seven stops built for a good time rather than a quiet stroll, from a SoHo sprinkle pool to a flying-theater ride over the skyline.
from $40 Museum of Ice Cream Ticket
- Sprinkle pool
- Unlimited samples
- Very photogenic
from $35 
from $48 
from $41 Museum of Broadway Ticket
- Real show costumes
- Immersive sets
- In the Theater District
from $37 
from $39 
from $32 Side by Side
| Museum | Vibe | Price | Book | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Museum of Ice Cream | Sprinkle pool, pink everything | $40 | Check | 4.3★ | Photos and groups |
| Museum of Illusions | Tilted rooms, optical tricks | $35 | Check | 3.3★ | Kids and quick visits |
| RiseNY | Flying-theater ride plus exhibits | $48 | Check | 4.6★ | Thrill seekers |
| Museum of Broadway | Real costumes, immersive sets | $41 | Check | 4.7★ | Theater lovers |
| Madame Tussauds | Wax celebrities on 42nd Street | $37 | Check | 4.7★ | Rainy days with kids |
| SPYSCAPE | Espionage history, scored challenges | $39 | Check | 4.2★ | Teens and adults who want to move |
| Museum of Sex | Serious exhibits on sexuality and culture | $32 | Check | 4.3★ | Adults-only culture fans |
What You'll See
The Museum of Broadway spreads across several floors of sets built to match specific shows, with real costumes and props under glass and a timeline of the Theater District from vaudeville to today. RiseNY straps visitors into a moving theater seat for a ride that swings and tilts over a projected New York, then follows it with galleries on the city's film, television and music history. SPYSCAPE pairs real Cold War and modern espionage artifacts with interactive stations that time your reflexes and memory, ending in a score that ranks your spy potential.
The Museum of Ice Cream is mostly one long photo set: a sprinkle pool, a gummy bear tunnel and unlimited scoops across two SoHo floors. The Museum of Illusions packs more than 70 optical tricks and a room tilted enough to make a level floor look uphill into a single Midtown space. Madame Tussauds lines up wax versions of presidents, pop stars and athletes on 42nd Street, while the Museum of Sex, open to visitors 18 and over, treats the history and culture of human sexuality with more seriousness than its name implies.
How a Visit Flows
-
Morning
Start in the Theater District
Begin at the Museum of Broadway before the sidewalks fill in, moving room to room through the immersive sets at your own pace, about 60 to 90 minutes.
-
Late Morning
Add RiseNY or SPYSCAPE
Both sit within a few blocks. RiseNY's flying-theater ride runs on a fixed schedule, so book a slot in advance, while SPYSCAPE's challenges take about 90 minutes start to finish.
-
Midday
Break for lunch
Times Square has plenty of fast options nearby; a bite between stops keeps the pace from feeling rushed.
-
Afternoon
Cross to SoHo
A subway ride or a 20-minute walk gets you to the Museum of Ice Cream, best visited on a fuller stomach given the unlimited samples.
-
Late Afternoon
Quick stops if time allows
The Museum of Illusions and Madame Tussauds each run about an hour and pair well back to back if you are not ready to stop.
-
Evening
Save the Museum of Sex for last
Adults-only and better suited to an evening slot without kids in tow, closer to Madison Square than the rest of the cluster.
Know Before You Go
Not suitable for
- Anyone expecting traditional art or history galleries
- Young children at the Museum of Sex, which is 18 and over
- Travelers on a tight budget looking to hit all seven
What to bring
- A phone charged for photos
- Comfortable shoes for standing and walking between stops
- ID if visiting the Museum of Sex
- A printed or mobile ticket confirmation
Not allowed
- Large bags or backpacks at most locations
- Outside food inside exhibit spaces
- Flash photography in some galleries
Insider Tips
A few habits make the difference between a rushed day and a good one.
- Book RiseNY's flying-theater slot online since walk-up tickets often sell out on weekends
- Visit the Museum of Ice Cream on an empty stomach, not after lunch
- Go early on weekends; Madame Tussauds and the Museum of Illusions both get crowded by early afternoon
- Pair the Museum of Broadway with a same-day show ticket for the fuller effect
- Check age requirements before booking the Museum of Sex if traveling with a group
- Wear shoes you can stand in for hours; several of these have no seating
Where You're Headed
Fun and Immersive Museums in New York Tickets FAQ
How much do tickets cost for these museums in New York?
Prices range from $32 for the Museum of Sex to $48 for RiseNY, with the Museum of Illusions the cheapest general-admission stop at $35.
What are the opening hours?
All seven keep daily hours with timed entry slots; exact hours shift by season, so check each museum's calendar before you go.
Do any of these museums close on certain days?
All seven typically open daily, though hours can shift around holidays, so confirm your date when booking.
How do I get to these museums in New York?
Most sit within walking distance of Times Square, including the Museum of Broadway, RiseNY, Madame Tussauds and SPYSCAPE; the Museum of Ice Cream is in SoHo and the Museum of Sex is near Madison Square.
What will I actually see at these museums?
Expect immersive sets and real costumes at the Museum of Broadway, a flying-theater ride at RiseNY, spy history and challenges at SPYSCAPE, a sprinkle pool at the Museum of Ice Cream, tilted rooms at the Museum of Illusions, wax celebrities at Madame Tussauds, and serious exhibits on sexuality and culture at the Museum of Sex.
Should I book tickets ahead of time?
Yes, especially for RiseNY and the Museum of Ice Cream, which sell out on weekends; timed slots fill fastest in the middle of the day.
Is the Museum of Sex appropriate for kids?
No, it is restricted to visitors 18 and over.
How long does each museum take?
Most run about an hour, so two or three fit comfortably into one day if you plan around the neighborhoods.
What Visitors Say
We did the Museum of Broadway in the morning and caught a matinee that afternoon; seeing the actual costumes first made the show hit differently.
RiseNY was more fun than I expected for something I almost skipped. My teenager talked about the flying ride for days.
The Museum of Sex surprised me. It's a real exhibition, not a gimmick, and worth the $32 if you go in without assumptions.