The Met Cloisters
4.8(8.9K)google
4.6(820)yelp
Date SpotHealingSlow-PacedIndoorOutdoorPhoto SpotMust-SeeHistoric BuildingDecorative Art
Overview
Perched gracefully atop a scenic, isolated hill overlooking the sweeping Hudson River within Fort Tryon Park, The Met Cloisters serves as a profoundly peaceful medieval sanctuary. A spectacular branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the facility's unique architecture masterfully integrates stones and chapels dismantled meticulously from five medieval European abbeys. The beautiful galleries proudly exhibit world-class treasures like the legendary Unicorn Tapestries, historic stained glass windows, and pristine indoor herb gardens wrapped completely in tranquil stone columns, providing an inspiring oasis.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
WedClosed
Thu10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Best TimeOpen year-round (closed Wednesdays), this unique branch of The Met dedicated to medieval European art is an architectural treasure, peaking during the late spring bloom in May. Planning a weekday arrival at 10:00 AM at opening is highly advised; early morning sun rays filter elegantly through the reconstructed Romanesque and Gothic stone cloisters, illuminating the tapestries and herb gardens in quiet serenity.
Getting TherePerched dramatically on a rocky bluff inside Fort Tryon Park at the northernmost tip of Manhattan (99 Margaret Corbin Drive). Drive north from Midtown along the Henry Hudson Parkway for about 15 minutes, taking the dedicated Fort Tryon Park exit straight to their free public parking fields. For transit, ride the MTA Subway A Line straight to 190 St station, and jump onto the local M4 Bus terminating right at the front gate.
Travel Tips
- General admission to the main Met Fifth Avenue includes same-day or consecutive-day entry to The Cloisters; retain your physical or digital receipts to prevent double ticketing.
- The medieval architecture features tight spiral stone stairs and uneven open courtyards; large strollers and rolling utility wagons are physically restricted from interior routes.
- On-site public parking inside Fort Tryon Park is highly limited; parking along local park access curbs is illegal and met with immediate park police towing actions.
Reviews
Positive
- The most brilliant branch of the Met; the visual view is gorgeous! Reconstructed from real medieval European abbey stones on a hill above the Hudson, it feels like traveling to ancient Europe.
- The cultural core value is incredibly high; the crowning Unicorn Tapestries offer immense historical weight, curated in a serene, premium setting free from Manhattan's bustling noise.
- Three authentic medieval herb gardens in the courtyards are picturesque; walking through stone cloisters with ethereal classical chords provides the rarest rustic quiet and relaxation in NYC.
- Entering via a same-day general Met ticket offers fantastic value. Despite the ancient structure, they added discreet, thoughtful ADA wheelchair elevators and kept restrooms spotless.
Heads up
- The location is remote at the summit of Fort Tryon Park in northernmost Manhattan; riding the A train requires a long walk up park slopes and steps, inconvenient for car-free elders.
- The opening hours are short, closing around 4:30 or 5 PM, limiting late visitors; the single outdoor patio cafe has very few seats, yielding frustrating lines and high prices.
- Multilingual interpretation is largely missing; displaying niche medieval religious art, exhibit plaques are packed with dense, technical English text, making it obscure for foreign travelers.
- During icy winter/spring months, the open-air stone abbey interior gets freezing cold, and the iconic courtyard herb lawns are completely bare, severely cutting the visual majesty.