'Tis the season to be in New York City this Winter. Manhattan museums are hosting numerous special exhibitions devoted to the splendors of medieval and Renaissance art. Their permanent collections have been spruced up. And time is of the essence to see these prestigious institutions' seasonal offerings. Many of the shows' locations are either their last stops or sole venues. Some of the exhibitions do run past the Christmas season.
A two-day itinerary is highly recommended. Comfortable shoes are a prerequisite for this tour. And pacing oneself is of the utmost importance. Start at The Cloisters in northwest Manhattan, conveniently reached by bus, subway or car. Traverse down Fifth Avenue. Travel through the galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the renowned Frick Collection. By the time that you reach the New York Public Library, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, you'll have been thoroughly immersed in the culture of the Late Middle Ages and the Renaissance (and done some sightseeing and possibly ice-skating along the way, too).

