The Met Cloisters
The Met Cloisters
4.5
Art GalleriesArt MuseumsHistory Museums
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Atop a tall hill in the northern tip of Manhattan, you’ll find The Met’s second location—The Met Cloisters. Visiting is like traveling through time: medieval architecture is incorporated into a modern building purpose-built to evoke the Middle Ages.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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  • Ellen A
    Copenhagen Region, Denmark162 contributions
    A taste of European medieval history on Manhattan
    Accompanied by my Parisian friends we set out to check the Met Medieval collection at The Cloisters. Very well done, no less than four cloisters on the grounds all with their distinct style. A highlights tour of Renaissance Europe, very well done. Situated in a large hilly park overlooking the Hudson River, a great excursion so different from the bustling highrise life of NYC.
    Visited November 2022
    Written December 20, 2022
  • Justin W
    Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey3,631 contributions
    Taking the Holiday Decoration walking tour
    What a perfect day to visit the Cloisters! It was a warm (for the winter) day and clear beautiful skies and the perfect day to walk to the Cloisters from the subway. The museum was having a "Holiday Tour" of Medieval Christmas decorations and a talk on how people decorated for the Christmas holidays during the Middle Ages. Our tour was packed with people. There must have been forty of us on the tour. The tour guide explained the symbolism of items like ivy, holly, pine, fruits and roses during the holiday season and how they were part of the way the churches were decorated for services back then. There still was that Pagan influence in the way the church was run. We talked about how the museum was decorated and how the ideas for decorating came about, the museum pieces that were influenced by the holidays and the story of the Magi and how the beginnings of Christmas were established. It was a really interesting talk. The tour guide gave detailed accounts of the protocol of the holidays during that time. Things seemed to loosen up by the Middle Ages. The staff of the museum did a nice job decorating the museum for the holidays and it looked very festive. I also got to see the "Hunt of the Unicorn" tapestries and go outside onto the terraces and admire the views on this beautiful warm afternoon. It was a great visit.
    Visited December 2022
    Written December 31, 2022
  • Eric G
    8 contributions
    The Cloisters Fort Tryon NYC
    Visited these museum grounds over Memorial Day weekend. Absolutely beautiful location on a hillside overlooking the Hudson River, this museum resembles an old fortress/castle. Cost us 25.00 recommended but pay what you can/wish. Some beautiful tapestries and statues/carvings fill the castle like interior. Awesome raised ceilings add to the "feel". Courtyard gardens are an excellent touch and seem well maintained. Well worth an early Saturday trip for this treasure. We are planning to head back to explore the trail system all around the museum. A treasure in NYC's backyard.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written March 14, 2023
  • FamilytripItalia
    Cold Spring Harbor, New York7 contributions
    Awesome Tour of The Cloisters, The Met !
    Our Book Club had just finished The Cloisters ! Excellent Read. Karen K was so awesome. She spent an enormous amount of time pointing out all the architectural elements as well as points of interest from the book. I highly recommend a private tour with Karen K if you can swing it ! The views are worth the trip alone !
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written May 6, 2023
  • Melissa B
    Oxford, New York124 contributions
    Beautiful Medieval Art and Gardens - a MUST SEE
    The Cloisters is one of the most amazing places to visit anywhere in the country. It is in a beautiful location and is chock full of the most gorgeous medieval art you will find anywhere - including the famous Unicorn Tapestries. When visiting New York City, especially in the warmer months, you MUST visit the Cloisters. The gardens in the Cloisters are lovely and it overlooks the Hudson River. Put this one on your list!
    Visited May 2023
    Written May 16, 2023
  • gmiker
    Reston, Virginia237 contributions
    Perfect Day
    The bus ride was long as we came from midtown. However, it was well worth it. The Cloisters has a great setting and the artifacts are amazing. We enjoyed our visit and will come back on subsequent visits to NYC.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 2, 2023
  • Bruce D
    Bellingham, Washington26 contributions
    Medieval times in upper Manhattan
    The Cloisters is a fascinating look at history during Medieval times. It is an offshoot of the Metropolitan Museum located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan. The museum, situated in Fort Tryon Park, specializes in European medieval art and architecture, with a focus on the Romanesque and Gothic periods. There is a lovely courtyard and the grounds overlook the Hudson River. Definitely worth a visit for history buffs.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written July 3, 2023
  • Sandy B
    204 contributions
    Worth the Trip
    Although this museum was a long way from our hotel, I can say it was worth the trip. We are not veteran subway riders, but found the correct trains to take thanks to Google maps. I can’t imagine how long (and the expense) it would have taken us to get there if we had taken a cab or Uber! Be warned that the trek up to the museum from street level is not for the faint of heart….it’s a long way up. But despite the rain the walk was beautiful and the views made it pleasant. The museum itself feels like you are visiting Europe, this alone made the trip worth it The exhibits are well done but there aren’t many of them. The museum’s collection of tapestries is extraordinary. Don’t expect to spend the day here by any means, a few hours is all you will need. We had lunch in the courtyard amongst the flowers….such a charming setting. The food was very expensive and not very tasty. Be sure to visit the medieval gardens, we found this fascinating. We found that no one who works here seems to enjoy their job…every employee we interacted with was unfriendly and unwelcoming. Seemed kind of strange for a venue that deals with the public.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written July 5, 2023
  • sophie301
    Silver Spring, Maryland51 contributions
    A NYC Total Gem
    This is a beautiful museum that all would love to see. The setting is just gorgeous and the art included is very interesting. It was an easy runway ride from our hotel in Midtown. Your paid ticket will also get you into The Met Fifth Avenue for no additional fee if you use on the same day. The Cloisters does not require a full day's time so seeing The Cloisters and then taking in some of The Met's exhibits in the same day is completely doable. The cafe at The Cloisters, while a beautiful, cool outdoor setting, does not offer memorable food but gets the job done if needed.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written July 31, 2023
  • D P
    Wellington, New Zealand6,688 contributions
    A secret delight worth seeing in NY
    What an absolutely beautiful place to visit. If it wasn’t for friends who live in NY I would not have known about this place as it’s not advertised. It was stunning- a building made up of other buildings from around the world then all pieces back together in a wonderfully clever way I order to show the architecture and piece inside. All set high on the hill with delightful views over Manhattan. This is well worth a trip to see.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written October 19, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Maury S
New York City, NY5 contributions
Dec. 2023 • Family
We go to the Cloisters Museum all of the time since we live only ten blocks from Fort Tryon Park where the Cloisters is located. People generally go to the museum for the Unicorn Tapestries. They are well worth seeing but there are also many little gems that you might come across as you walk through the galleries, for instance, a statue of Saint Roch , Saint of Plague victims. According to the story in his required isolation, a dog would bring him food. Here it is a statue of a dog with a roll in its mouth leaping up on the Saint.
One thing that we have felt lacking is a really good restaurant close to the museum. Museum. Now one has just opened.
Restaurant near Museum: The Bonnefont restaurant is at the entrance to the park, off Margaret Corbin Circle, about a half mile from museum. It is pricy but worth it. Here is a review that I just wrote for Resy:
The food was wonderful, the service friendly, and the dining room quite pretty but chilly. We loved the appetizers: A very hearty rich sipping chicken broth and an aromatic bacon rapped around a roast pear. But the stars of the meal were the Monkfish (A fish that I usually don't like) and a delicious surprising "Poulet de Sanoma"--a braised chicken breast with capers and olives peaches and blue berries--and it works! We would recommend that it be served with sopping bread. This was our favorite dish. The only real downside is that the room is chilly. You should wear a sweater when you go.
Written December 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kate R.
Brooklyn, NY130 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
This place is very special and if you can try to visit every season. They have super interesting rooms filled with artifacts of medieval life and art bur we were very interested with their 3 court yards. So interesting.
Every time we visit, we see something else there and the visits always lift our spirits.
Written November 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

SFOBEYOND
San Francisco70 contributions
Nov. 2023 • Couples
Reviews capture the special and unique experience visiting The Cloisters. It is truly a respite from the busy museums and a place of contemplation. If anything, see the famous Unicorn tapestries and the brilliance of the ones that are being restored. Stunning views of the GW Bridge and the Hudson River. The steps from the subway to the museum is a long way. The best plan is to take the subway and then pick up the M 4 bus the rest of the way to Fort Tryon Park. If anyone had any suggestions for places to grab a light bite to eat, we are all ears. You can easily head to the Upper East Side and find many wonderful cafes.
Written November 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kristine T
Fargo, ND7 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Family
This is a gem. A great find and a nice break from the packed museums. I went expecting a totally different experience but what a pleasant surprise. The religious art was amazing and the space and gardens were grand. I felt immersed in history.
Written November 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RoadtripMommy
California172 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
We were unable to visit the Cloisters the last time we visited NYC so I made sure we included it in our itinerary. It is easy to get to via Subway but beware of a steep walk up to the Cloisters. The collection is amazing not to mention the gardens and the views. It was so peaceful! Get there when they first open to avoid the crowds.
Written November 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Greg Harris
Bronx, NY1,593 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Couples
The Cloisters, aka The Met Cloisters is a magnificent museum that’s located at Fort Tyron park in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, New York.

In October of 2023, I brought and treated my wife and myself for a visit to the museum and we very much enjoyed our experience there.

Constructed by industrialists and philanthropist, John D. Rockefeller Jr. in the 1930’s and then later given and governed by the Metropolitan Museum Of Art (The Met), the Cloisters primarily features renowned European medieval architecture and art, with a particular emphasis on Christian symbols and themes.

The museum holds about 5,000 works of art and architecture, many of them originating from the Byzantine and Renaissance periods. During our visit, my wife and I viewed and took several pictures of beautiful tapestries, panel paintings, sculptures and effigies. Our favorite works of art were the “Mérode Altarpiec,” “the Enthroned Virgin and Child” and the various statues of Mary & Jesus.
We also enjoyed visiting the Cuxa & Trie Cloisters.

If you are an aficionado of Medieval Art & Architecture, then we highly recommend that you visit and explore the Cloisters!!!
Written October 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D P
Wellington, New Zealand6,688 contributions
Oct. 2023 • Friends
What an absolutely beautiful place to visit. If it wasn’t for friends who live in NY I would not have known about this place as it’s not advertised.
It was stunning- a building made up of other buildings from around the world then all pieces back together in a wonderfully clever way I order to show the architecture and piece inside. All set high on the hill with delightful views over Manhattan.
This is well worth a trip to see.
Written October 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sophie301
Silver Spring, MD51 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Friends
This is a beautiful museum that all would love to see. The setting is just gorgeous and the art included is very interesting. It was an easy runway ride from our hotel in Midtown. Your paid ticket will also get you into The Met Fifth Avenue for no additional fee if you use on the same day. The Cloisters does not require a full day's time so seeing The Cloisters and then taking in some of The Met's exhibits in the same day is completely doable. The cafe at The Cloisters, while a beautiful, cool outdoor setting, does not offer memorable food but gets the job done if needed.
Written July 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

R. K. V.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam2,521 contributions
Jul. 2023 • Family
A beautiful location for an incredibly rich collection. Well worth the day trip to visit from New York
Written July 21, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sandy B
204 contributions
Jun. 2023 • Couples
Although this museum was a long way from our hotel, I can say it was worth the trip. We are not veteran subway riders, but found the correct trains to take thanks to Google maps. I can’t imagine how long (and the expense) it would have taken us to get there if we had taken a cab or Uber! Be warned that the trek up to the museum from street level is not for the faint of heart….it’s a long way up. But despite the rain the walk was beautiful and the views made it pleasant. The museum itself feels like you are visiting Europe, this alone made the trip worth it The exhibits are well done but there aren’t many of them. The museum’s collection of tapestries is extraordinary. Don’t expect to spend the day here by any means, a few hours is all you will need. We had lunch in the courtyard amongst the flowers….such a charming setting. The food was very expensive and not very tasty. Be sure to visit the medieval gardens, we found this fascinating. We found that no one who works here seems to enjoy their job…every employee we interacted with was unfriendly and unwelcoming. Seemed kind of strange for a venue that deals with the public.
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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