The Cloisters
Arts & Culture · New York, NY
About
This museum is ideal for queer travelers who love medieval art and want a peaceful escape from tourist crowds. The Met Cloisters, as it's officially known, opened in 1938 and houses about five thousand works of medieval European art. The building itself is part of the collection, assembled from twelfth- through fifteenth-century architectural elements. You'll find it in Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, far from Midtown's chaos.
The vibe is contemplative and unhurried. Weekday mornings are quietest. The cloistered gardens, planted with species known in the Middle Ages, offer a serene outdoor space. If you're also visiting the main Met, catch the express bus from there. Admission is pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and students from nearby states; otherwise it's the same as the main Met ticket.
The Cloisters sits in Fort Tryon Park in Washington Heights, a scenic neighborhood in northern Manhattan. The park offers Hudson River views and is a short walk from the A train's 190th Street station.
Features
- ✓Explore 5,000 medieval artworks
- ✓Wander cloistered gardens with period plants
- ✓Admire architecture from 12th-15th centuries
- ✓Pay-what-you-wish for NY residents
Practical
What people say
Rated from 819 reviews. 102 community ratings. View this venue on Yelp
From the community
If you visit on a weekday at 4:30, admission is free since the venue closes at 5.
A visitor · Over a year ago
“i love this place”
It feels like a secret treasure. Enjoy a full day at Fort Tryon; it's gorgeous.
A guest · Over a year ago
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Cloisters LGBTQ+ friendly? +
Yes, The Cloisters is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is a general admission venue welcoming all visitors. The museum's tags include mixed-lgbtq and mixed-gaystraight.
How much does admission cost? +
The Cloisters uses the same admission policy as The Met. Suggested admission is $30 for adults, but it's pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents and students from NY, NJ, and CT.
What are the hours? +
The Cloisters is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. It is closed on Wednesdays.
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