The Cloisters- worth the subway ride? (New York, York: houses, living, bus)

[Angler]

Of all the hundreds of times I've been in the City, I've never been to the Cloisters. Is it a worthwhile excursion?

[NooYowkur81]

Well if your into art. Yes it is worth it. Plus Fort Tryon park is a very nice park.

[bmwguydc]

In a word, YES! I think it's worth it to take the ride up to the Cloisters, and highly recommend it.

[pureistheword]

yes, and my ride is usually almost 2 hours

[Green Irish Eyes]

I've only visited the Cloisters once (and I can see the facility from my living room window!), but it's well worth the trip. Keep in mind that after you get off the A train, you'll have a fairly long walk through Ft. Tryon Park to get to the museum itself, and then there's a $20 admission fee.

[UpsonDowns]

The Cloisters is part of the Met, which by it's funding sources can only suggest a certain donation towards admission. I'm a member, but I used to just pop in for a minute here and there and would toss in a tidbit.

I live near the Cloisters and I don't think it is worth the trip unless you are really into medieval art. I may be a philistine, but if I've seen one one illuminated manuscript, tapestry or suit of armor, I've seen it all. If you've never been to Europe, the Cloisters may be worth it. Otherwise, skip it.

If you do go, there is a bus that stops right in front of the entrance and you can skip the long walk from the subway.

[Classicalguy]

I think my 9 year old liked it. They have a great collection of unicorn tapestries. Park is nice too. The place feels like an old abby or something, but I think it was built by Rockefeller more recently.

[bmwguydc]

The basis of The Cloisters collection was purchsed by John D. Rockefeller as a gift to the Met, to which he added some of his own artifacts, including the unicorn tapestries. The building and land were also a gift from Rockefeller, and what is now The Cloisters is actually a composite structure of several different French cloisters that were disassembled, sent to New York, and rebuilt as a new structure. It's true that the Met can suggest a donation, but you are free to give what you like in terms of admission fees. I would plan to spend a good while at the museum as it can be a peaceful spot to study the building and the collections it houses.

[FuriousMaximum]

Definitely worth it at least once. One heck of a commute, have box lunches and such ready

[jonbenson]

$25 for adults; $17 for seniors;
New York State residents and NY, NJ, CT students, pay what you wish