Must-See Cloisters Museum NYC

On Tuesday, I took a little trip with my roommate to a place I had had my eye on since we first arrived in NYC. The Cloisters, located in the far northwest of Manhattan, looked amazing online, so I definitely wanted to visit, especially since, as a local, you can choose how much you want to pay for admission.

The Cloisters are part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET), located on Manhattan’s 5th Avenue. Housed in a reconstructed medieval-style monastery, the museum showcases European medieval art. You can also explore several beautiful courtyards with gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the Hudson River. Some parts of the building are made from original stones taken from European monasteries, while the rest was faithfully reconstructed. The cloisters reminded me a lot of my time at the University of Teacher Education in Rorschach, Switzerland, where I wandered through old stone buildings every day that looked very similar to the museum.

I highly recommend this trip, especially if you can go with someone from the city—this way, the cost can be kept lower. The park near the Cloisters is also beautiful to wander and enjoy time away from the bustling city.

Quick Info

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM, closed on Wednesdays

Admission: $30 for adults, free for children under 12. Pay-what-you-wish for residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut

Time Needed: About 2 hours

Getting There: Take the A-Train to Dyckman Street station, then walk about 10 minutes up the hill. If you’re driving, there is parking available in front of the museum.

Website: The Cloisters