As much as we love ice skating outside, sometimes it’s just too cold, hot, or rainy for New York City’s seasonal outdoor ice skating rinks. Indoor ice skating rinks in NYC let kids skate year-round. Some in-the-know parents with young ice skating enthusiasts say they prefer indoor ice skating rinks in NYC because the ice’s quality is better, making for a smoother glide, which is especially helpful for newbies.
Here are six indoor ice skating rinks in NYC to consider the next time your kids want to go for a glide. Find more indoor places to play in our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces and Fun Zones.
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Top Indoor Ice Skating Rinks in NYC
1. City Ice Pavilion – Long Island City, Queens
Open year-round; visit the website for a complete schedule.
Admission: $12; skate rentals, $8. Helmet rentals are no longer available; you must bring your own.
Located on top of a mattress store in Long Island City, this indoor ice skating rink is very popular with Queens residents. Its proximity to Manhattan means plenty of families I know take the short subway ride to go ice skating here, too. The indoor ice skating rink offers public ice skating times, youth hockey, lessons of all kinds, and birthday parties.
2. Abe Stark Rink – Coney Island, Brooklyn
Open October-March on Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays, 1:30-4pm
Admission: $10; Skate rentals, $5
Go ice skating on the Coney Island boardwalk this winter at this decades-old indoor ice skating rink. Open Saturdays and Sundays (and some holidays) only, this popular destination gets crowded. The Greater New York City Ice Hockey League has its home here and offers ice hockey lessons.
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The Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers is a popular destination no matter the season.
3. Sky Rink at Chelsea Piers – Chelsea
Open year-round; visit the website for a complete schedule.
Admission: $20; skate rentals, $10.
The Chelsea sports complex boasts two indoor ice skating rinks that are open year-round and offer drop-in ice skating nearly every afternoon. Programming includes figure skating lessons, ice skating school, and youth hockey leagues. Locker, skate, and helmet rentals are available on-site. The Sky Rink also offers ice skating birthday parties.
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The Staten Island Skating Pavilion offers all-ages fun.
4. Staten Island Skating Pavilion – Staten Island
Open year-round; visit the website for updated hours.
Admission: Adults, $14; children, $12; skate rentals, $7
This busy indoor ice skating rink offers public ice skating on weekends. The weekdays are taken up with ice skating lessons, events, and hockey games. There is lots for skaters here, including hockey league play and learn-to-skate instruction for tots and older kids.
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Take a spin—or a lesson—at World Ice Arena.
5. World Ice Arena – Flushing, Queens
Open year-round; visit the website for a complete schedule.
Admission: $8 weekdays; $11 weekends; skate rentals, $6.
Located on the northeastern edge of Flushing Meadows Corona Park, World Ice Arena offers more public ice skating sessions than any rink on this list, along with ice skating lessons, parties, and hockey leagues. World Ice Arena is a sister ice skating rink to the City Ice Pavilion.
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Aviator Sports and Events Center houses a pair of indoor ice skating rinks.
6. Aviator Sports and Events Center Ice Skating Rink – Marine Park, Brooklyn
Editor’s note: As of publication time, public skating has not reopened; bookmark the website for updates. Kids wanting to get on the ice in the neighborhood can participate in hockey leagues, ice skating lessons, and camps.
In this airport hanger turned mega sports center, there are two giant indoor ice skating rinks with lots of public ice skating sessions to choose from, including extended hours on weekends. Additionally, Aviator offers hockey leagues, figure skating lessons with skate rentals, and free lockers (bring a lock). This spot makes for a great daylong destination: If the kids get tired of ice skating, they can check out rock climbing (ages 5 and up), pickup basketball, and tons of other drop-in activities.
This post, originally published in December 2010, is updated annually.
Photos courtesy of the rinks
