The Met Cloisters

A medieval cloister on a hill above the Hudson

Hours: Thu-Tue 10am-5pm, closed Wednesday
Tickets: Adults $30, seniors $22, students $17, under 12 free
Address: Inside Fort Tryon Park at the northern tip of Manhattan

A branch of the Met built around cloisters brought from several European monasteries. Herbs grow in the stone-columned courtyards, and people stand a long time before the unicorn tapestries. Windows look out over the Hudson and the Palisades cliffs. It takes over half an hour by subway from midtown, but the sudden quiet makes up for it.