The 10 best things to do in Albany, NY

Most of the best things to do in Albany sit within a mile of the Capitol, which makes the city an easy day trip down the Northway for Saratoga County families and couples, and a full weekend for visitors. Several of the biggest draws are free: Capitol tours, the New York State Museum, where donations are welcome, and skating at the Empire State Plaza ice rink, which opens Dec. 4.

All ten picks are in the City of Albany. Weekday visits get you the Capitol and the Corning Tower observation deck, which close on weekends, while Saturdays suit the museums, the rink and an evening show at the Palace, The Egg or MVP Arena. The Capital Holiday Lights show that once filled Washington Park has not returned since 2021. For breakfast or a cup of coffee, see our Albany breakfast list and Albany coffee shops list.

How we chose

We looked for attractions, museums, historic sites, parks and venues with a steady local reputation and staying power, and we mixed ages, budgets and weekday and weekend options. Each one was checked in early November 2026 against the place’s own website or the agency that runs it, and hours, prices and event dates come from those sources. Seasonal sites that have closed for the year without a posted reopening date, such as Schuyler Mansion, were left off. Restaurants and coffee shops are on separate lists. The list is unranked and in alphabetical order, and no business paid to be included.

Hours, prices and dates below come from each business or official source and change without notice. Call ahead if you are making a special trip.

Albany Institute of History & Art

Hudson River School landscapes fill the walls at the Albany Institute of History & Art, and the show Inspired Landscapes: Women of the Hudson River School runs through Jan. 3, 2027. The Ancient Egypt gallery and the hands-on Explorers Gallery keep kids busy. Adult admission is $12, children 6 to 12 pay $8, and kids under 6 get in free. Park in the free museum lot at Dove and Elk streets.

Hours and dates: Wed–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun noon–5 p.m.; closed Mon–Tue

Address: 125 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210

Why they made the list

• The institute was founded in 1791 and holds more than 25,000 objects, according to the museum.
• Mexico Masks / Rituals: Photographs by Phyllis Galembo is also on view through Jan. 3, 2027, according to the museum.
• SNAP EBT and WIC cardholders get free admission for up to four people per card, the institute’s visit page says.

More details are in our directory listing.

The Egg

Two theaters sit inside the domed concrete shell of The Egg, the performing arts center on Empire State Plaza. Families can RSVP for Family Circle, a free interactive program in the lobby at 2 p.m. on first Saturdays, and Dec. 5 brings kid-friendly aerial yoga. Judy Collins plays a farewell tour date Dec. 6. If the plaza lobby is locked, enter by the Vietnam Memorial at 156 State St.

Hours and dates: Box office Mon–Fri 11 a.m.–3 p.m. on the concourse level; show times vary

Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242

Why they made the list

• The Egg describes the venue as a year-round home for music, theater, comedy, dance and family shows.
• Into the Light, a holiday show of world dance and giant puppets, plays Dec. 5, 2026, at 4 p.m., according to the venue.
• Weekend parking in the plaza visitor lot below the building is a $5 flat fee, card only, the venue’s directions page says.

More details are in our directory listing.

Empire State Plaza

Skating costs nothing on the outdoor rink at Empire State Plaza when the 2026-27 season opens Dec. 4, and rental skates are $5 with a photo ID. On weekdays, a dedicated elevator climbs to the Corning Tower Observation Deck on the 42nd floor, with views of the Hudson River Valley and the Catskills. Families and couples both fit here. Weekend parking in the underground visitor lot is a $5 flat fee.

Hours and dates: Ice rink from Dec. 4: Tue–Sun skating sessions between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.; closed Mon. Observation deck Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Address: Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12242

Why they made the list

• A free Learn to Skate clinic runs Dec. 5, 2026, from 8 to 10 a.m. with registration, according to the plaza’s events calendar.
• Food trucks and hot drink vendors set up on weekends, according to the rink page.
• Texting ESPICE to 888777 signs skaters up for delay and closure alerts, the state says.

More details are in our directory listing.

MVP Arena

Siena men’s basketball plays home games at MVP Arena from Nov. 8 through Feb. 28, including Vermont on Nov. 24 and St. Bonaventure on Dec. 9, both at 7 p.m. Families can book Disney On Ice from Jan. 21 to 24, 2027, including an 11 a.m. Saturday show. Bring only a small clear bag, and enter 1 Market St. in the GPS to reach the attached garage.

Hours and dates: Box office Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; weekends on ticketed event days only, from 2 p.m.

Address: 51 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207

Why they made the list

• Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays the arena Dec. 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m., according to the arena calendar.
• Siena season tickets start at $19 per game, the arena’s Siena page says.
• Concession stands are cashless, and a reverse ATM near Section 126 turns cash into a prepaid card, according to the arena.

More details are in our directory listing.

New York State Capitol

Free guided tours leave the Information Desk in the State Street lobby of the New York State Capitol at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. on weekdays, and parties under 10 can walk in. Tours last 50 to 60 minutes; inside, look for the hand-carved Great Western Staircase and the Hall of Governors. History buffs and school-age kids enjoy the tour most. Leave backpacks behind, since every visitor goes through metal detectors.

Hours and dates: Mon–Fri 7 a.m.–7 p.m.; closed weekends and holidays

Address: State Street and Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12224

Why they made the list

• The state Office of General Services says the Capitol was built by hand over 32 years and has housed state government since the 1880s.
• Evening First Friday tours start at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2026, and Jan. 8, 2027, according to the plaza visitor site.
• Carvers cut 77 famous faces into the stone, including Abraham Lincoln and Susan B. Anthony, according to the agency.

More details are in our directory listing.

New York State Museum

Admission is free at the New York State Museum, with a suggested donation of $5 per person or $10 per family. Through January, the fourth-floor Kids Zone holds Expedition Dinosaur: Rise of the Mammals, with animatronic dinosaurs beside the carousel. Teens and adults can see Witness to 9/11, on view through May 2, 2027. Weekend visitors can park free at the state’s Madison Avenue lot, except during events.

Hours and dates: Tue–Sun 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.; closed Mon and state holidays

Address: 222 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12230

Why they made the list

• The dinosaur exhibit has 10 life-size animatronic dinosaurs and mammals plus an augmented reality sandbox, according to a May 2026 state announcement.
• Witness to 9/11 opened Sept. 5, 2026, with photographs and rarely seen artifacts, CBS6 reported.
• Long-running galleries include the Cohoes Mastodon, Fire Engine Hall and Native Peoples Hall, according to the museum.

More details are in our directory listing.

Palace Theatre

Holiday movie nights at the Palace Theatre cost nothing this December: The Muppet Christmas Carol on Dec. 15, It’s a Wonderful Life on Dec. 18 and Home Alone on Dec. 21, each at 7 p.m., plus a Toy Story 5 family matinee at 1 p.m. Dec. 29. Free tickets are at the box office or online. Couples can book Lord Huron on Dec. 11. Park in the Quackenbush Garage, one block away.

Hours and dates: Box office Mon–Thu noon–5 p.m. (posted as summer hours), plus event and on-sale days

Address: 19 Clinton Avenue, Albany, NY 12207

Why they made the list

• Doors open at 6 p.m. for evening screenings, and the Muppet night adds a kids’ craft and free cocoa, according to the theater.
• The Albany Symphony plays Magic of Christmas at the Palace on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at 3 p.m., the orchestra says.
• The Quackenbush Garage at 25 Orange Street is open 24 hours a day, according to the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District.

More details are in our directory listing.

Ten Broeck Mansion

December is the month to see the Ten Broeck Mansion, when the house reopens for Holiday House from Dec. 2 to 20, 2026, with a concert, free family programs and artist demonstrations. The home of Revolutionary War Gen. Abraham Ten Broeck suits history lovers and families with young kids. Register ahead, and use the lot at 136 Livingston Avenue for GPS.

Hours and dates: Regular tours ended Oct. 17, 2026; reopens for Holiday House Dec. 2–20, 2026 (tour times not yet posted; check the website)

Address: 9 Ten Broeck Place, Albany, NY 12210

Why they made the list

• The 2026 tour season ran April 16 to Oct. 17, and tours resume in December for Holiday House, according to the mansion’s hours page.
• Last year’s Holiday House had free walk-through tours and a children’s program with Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa Claus, according to the mansion’s website.
• Regular mansion tours cost $5, and children up to 18 get in free, the mansion’s website says.

More details are in our directory listing.

USS Slater

A restored World War II destroyer escort moored on the Hudson River, the USS Slater runs guided tours every 30 minutes through Nov. 29, and the one-hour History Tour covers about 80 percent of the ship. Children under 13 cannot take the engine room or stem-to-stern tours. Parking in the museum lot is free. Winter visitors can book Deep Freeze tours starting Dec. 7, and should dress warmly.

Hours and dates: Wed–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m. through Nov. 29, 2026, the last day of regular tours; pre-booked Deep Freeze winter tours begin Dec. 7

Address: 141 Broadway, Albany, NY 12202

Why they made the list

• Of 563 World War II destroyer escorts, the Slater is the only one still afloat in the United States, according to the museum.
• Deep Freeze tickets are sold online only, and some spaces close for winter, the museum says.
• Last winter’s Deep Freeze tours ran weekdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., so confirm 2026-27 times when booking.

More details are in our directory listing.

Washington Park

Open daily from sunrise to sunset, Washington Park covers the blocks between Madison Avenue and State Street, from Willett Street to North Lake Avenue. Admission is free, and leashed dogs are welcome, though the park has no designated dog park. The park suits couples and families who want a walk before an evening show. Street parking is limited to 90 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and unrestricted otherwise.

Hours and dates: Daily, sunrise to sunset

Address: Madison Avenue at Willett Street, Albany, NY 12210

Why they made the list

• An all-volunteer conservancy has worked with the City of Albany to care for the park since 1985, according to the group.
• The Capital Holiday Lights show left the park after the 2021 season; in January 2026 the Albany Police Athletic League said it was too soon to comment on a return, CBS6 reported.
• Parking rules change during special events, the conservancy notes.

More details are in our directory listing.

Also worth knowing

On North Pearl Street, Capital Repertory Theatre stages The Magi, a musical reimagining of O. Henry’s holiday story The Gift of the Magi, from Nov. 27 to Dec. 24, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Are tours of the New York State Capitol free?

Yes. Walk-in tours leave the Information Desk in the Capitol’s State Street lobby on weekdays at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m., and parties under 10 need no reservation. Evening First Friday tours start at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2026, and Jan. 8, 2027.

When does the Empire State Plaza ice rink open for the 2026-27 season?

The rink opens Dec. 4, 2026. Skating is free, skate rentals are $5 with a photo ID, and the rink is closed Mondays.

Is Capital Holiday Lights still held in Washington Park?

No. The show left Washington Park after the 2021 season, and in January 2026 the Albany Police Athletic League said it was too soon to comment on a return, CBS6 reported. The park itself is open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Last checked November 6, 2026. See a place we missed or a detail that has changed? Send us a correction.