We did not feel like we were in the largest city in America in this quiet, pastoral location adjacent to a beautiful park with walking trails. It was a sacred space that other visitors also revered with quiet tones. Courtyards and medieval gardens had bright pops of color, and inspired my future herbal garden set up. I loved the architecture and stained glass. Give yourself 2-3 hours for a leisure walk through. Pack a lunch and enjoy it on the benches or grass or shade of a massive tree in the adjoining park.

The Cloisters, an extension of the Metropolitan Museum of Art located in Upper Manhattan, provides a completely different experience compared to the main Met building. Getting there is part of the adventure—take the A train to 190th Street and then transfer to the M4 bus. Like the main Met, The Cloisters offers a “pay what you wish” admission for local residents, making it very accessible.

What makes The Cloisters so special is its atmosphere. Designed to resemble a collection of medieval monasteries, it truly transports you to another time and place. For a moment, you might forget that you are in New York City.

It’s also absolutely worth taking advantage of the museum’s free English-language guided tours. They add a lot of value to the visit, offering deeper context, historical insights, and details you might otherwise miss when exploring on your own. Even if English isn’t your first language, the experience is engaging and easy to follow, making the visit even more enriching.

The museum features beautiful courtyards and serene gardens, many of which have stunning views overlooking the Hudson River. Its exhibitions focus on medieval art and architecture, showcasing incredible attention to detail throughout. Even the gift shop is worth a visit, offering thoughtfully curated items that reflect the museum’s unique character.

Overall, The Cloisters provides a peaceful, immersive, and culturally rich experience—definitely worth a visit.

New York City never fails to surprise us with its new attractions. This time, the Met Cloisters was the highlight of our visit. The walk from the subway to the museum was breathtaking, and the castle-like structure set the stage for an exciting adventure. The gardens were a delightful surprise, and we couldn’t resist taking countless pictures. The museum’s collection was truly awe-inspiring, from the intricate tapestries to the fascinating artifacts. If you prefer driving, there’s ample parking available.

We took some great pictures here Saturday. We went into the different gardens that they have which are so pretty lots of great art pieces. You will enjoy your time here. It is always great to get time in the museums while we are all just trying to find out more about why art is so important in our lives. I love that they had this gift shop with a lot of cute little things and especially the snacks because they were inexpensive so I was able to buy my daughter something and sometimes you don't get lucky like that right the snacks are usually more costly. So I love that and I love to pay what you want feature for New York City residents you can't go wrong with that and make a donation and you walk right in just have your ID. We also found out on our visit that they have art classes that you can just walk in and join I'm sure some of them you might have to register for but I didn't ask too many questions but one lady just told us come on you can sit down and join us so that was cool.

Definitely one of the most transportive spots in NYC. There’s so much to see, and it really makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a completely different time period.

Even getting there is part of the experience—the walk through the surrounding gardens sets the tone perfectly, and then you’ve got beautiful interior courtyards once you’re inside. It’s peaceful in a way that’s hard to find elsewhere in the city.

Pro tip: don’t rush this place. There are so many small, hidden details and quiet corners that are easy to miss if you’re moving too fast.

Overall: calm, immersive, and absolutely worth slowing down for.