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WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, MANHATTAN

An Afternoon at The Met Cloisters

Medieval European art, chapels and herb gardens on a hilltop in Fort Tryon Park, with the Hudson below.

The arcade of the Cuxa Cloister at The Met Cloisters, its carved capitals framing the garden
Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

More photos

  • The Met Cloisters' stone tower and arcades above an ivy-covered wall and garden path
    Photo by Brett Beyer, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • The Trie Cloister's medieval herb garden around a carved stone cross
    Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • The Late Gothic Hall, with a large tapestry, sculpture and tall windows
    Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Looking through the arches into the sunlit Cuxa Cloister garden
    Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Carved pink marble columns along the Cuxa Cloister walk
    Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

High in Fort Tryon Park, The Met Cloisters gathers the art, architecture and gardens of medieval Europe into a building that feels assembled from monasteries rather than designed as a museum. Its arcaded courtyards include the Cuxa and Saint-Guilhem cloisters, and the galleries hold the Unicorn Tapestries, the Merode Altarpiece from Robert Campin's workshop and the Belles Heures illuminated by the Limbourg Brothers for Jean de France, duc de Berry. Gardens planted inside the cloisters change with the seasons, and the views over the Hudson justify the long ride north.

New York State residents and New York, New Jersey and Connecticut students pay what they wish; other adults pay $30 as of October 2026, and the ticket includes same-day entry to The Met on Fifth Avenue. Advance tickets are optional. Take the A train to 190th Street and walk through the park. The approach has cobblestones and there are about 60 stairs inside between the main entrance and admissions; a free shuttle serves visitors who need step-free access. Go early on a weekday for the quietest cloisters.

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Editorial draft — core details last reviewed October 19, 2026. Confirm practical details with the official site before you go.