THE MET CLOISTERS – ONE OF MANHATTAN’S HIDDEN GEMS

by Alex Millsupdated on October 1, 2024August 11, 2024Leave a Comment

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOU’RE STILL IN NYC

Are you looking for something to do in New York that’s a little bit off the beaten track and not so touristy? Or perhaps, like myself, you love beautiful places. The Met Cloisters will be the perfect place for you.

Everyone has heard of The Metropolitan Museum of Art but did you know that The Met has a second sight? Maybe not! This guide will tell you all you need to know about visiting The Met Cloisters, so read on.

The grounds of the Met Cloisters

We were lucky enough to call Manhattan our home for two years and discovered some amazing places that we didn’t know about until we lived there.

DON’T FORGET TO READ OUR OTHER GUIDE FOR MORE:
ALL THE HIDDEN GEMS IN NEW YORK CITY

The Met Cloisters Guide - Secret things to do in NYC

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

ENTRY: Adult tickets cost $30, kids under age 12 are free. The entry fee also includes The Metropolitan Museum of Art but you need to visit on the same day and they’re not that close together.

Note: both The Met and the Cloisters are closed on Wednesdays.

GETTING THERE: The Cloisters are located at 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park, New York, NY 10040 (this is North Manhattan). I would recommend Starting at The Metropolitan Museum and then walking 15 minutes to the 3rd Avenue & East 86th Street bus stop. (Located on 86th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenue.) Take the BXM1 bus, getting off at Dyckman St/Sherman Av which takes roughly 20-30 minutes.

This is the easiest route and will maximize using the ticket to enter both sights. However, this is a select bus, meaning it’s quicker than a regular bus but also costs more (currently $7 each way).

ACCESSIBILITY: The Cloisters are not accessible. It’s an old building with lots of steps and narrow passages. If you need to take a pushchair (stroller) make sure it’s a lightweight one. You will also probably need to fold it on the bus. Luckily we took our Joolz Aer+ as I don’t think our UppaBaby Vista would have fit up the stairs!

If you’re thinking about a travel pushchair, we’ve been so pleased with the Joolz Aer+.

READ OUR FULL JOOLZ AER+ REVIEW HERE.

EATING: The Cloisters has its own cafe, open from April through to October. Alternatively, it is located in a park which is the perfect place for a picnic. There were also a lot of eating places located near the bus stop.

Inside The Met Cloisters Museum

TIPS FOR ENJOYING THE MET CLOISTERS

Grab a map to make sure you don’t miss anything. There are lots of passageways, steps and doors so it would be easy to accidentally miss an area.

You’ll probably want to plan around 2-3 hours here.

The Cloisters Museum and Garden is dedicated to Medieval Art. It is home to many great tapestries, sculptures and other artwork.

The garden is extremely beautiful and was my favourite part. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to somewhere in Italy.

They offer daily guided tours of the museum and gardens which are included in your ticket price. We chose to explore on our own but you can check the schedule on their website HERE if that interests you.