The Met Cloisters
Worth it if you're watching the budget and you only have one day.
Short answer
Is The Met Cloisters worth it?
The Met Cloisters deserves a place on most first itineraries.
The answer depends on your budget, time and travel style; the breakdown below shows who gets the most value.
The Met's medieval branch — reassembled European monastery cloisters in a hilltop park overlooking the Hudson.
How to do it right
- 01
Weekday for quiet galleries; spring or summer for the herb gardens in bloom.
- 02
Same ticket as the main Met; reserve timed entry online.
- 03
A train to 190th St, then a short walk or the M4 bus through Fort Tryon Park.
- 04
Accessible via elevator, though the hilltop park approach involves some slopes.
Is it a fit?
Go if
You're watching the budget
The Met Cloisters earns the spend, even on a tight budget.
You only have one day
Short trip or not, keep The Met Cloisters.
You're traveling as a couple
As a couple, The Met Cloisters is an easy yes.
You're traveling solo
Solo, The Met Cloisters is an easy yes.
Think twice if
You're traveling with kids
With kids, The Met Cloisters needs the right timing and tolerance.
You want the trip to feel easy
The Met Cloisters offers some relaxation, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- ~$30 (included with Met admission)
- Timing
- Weekday for quiet galleries; spring or summer for the herb gardens in bloom.
- Booking
- Same ticket as the main Met; reserve timed entry online.
- Allow
- 2–3 hrs (plus travel)
- Accessibility
- Accessible via elevator, though the hilltop park approach involves some slopes.
- Getting there
- A train to 190th St, then a short walk or the M4 bus through Fort Tryon Park.
Consider instead
Keep exploring
Top verdicts in New York
.jpg?width=1600)
Sources and method (1)
- The Met's medieval branch in Fort Tryon Park opened May 10, 1938; admission is included with Met general admission and a ticket is valid at the Fifth Avenue Met the same day. metmuseum.org ↗
- Houses the famed Unicorn Tapestries, donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr., among over 5,000 medieval works. metmuseum.org ↗