Getty Center

4.8 (36,882 reviews)

Art MuseumTourist AttractionNon Profit OrganizationMuseumAssociation Or Organization

Best time to visit

Late afternoon on weekdays, when there are fewer people and the sun lights up the travertine walls in gold. At midday, the museum is often crowded, especially on weekends.

Budget tips

Admission is free, parking costs $20 (free after 5:00 PM and until 3:00 PM on Sundays). Metro bus 734 takes you directly there and saves you the parking fee.

Recommended for

Art and gardening enthusiasts, View seekers, Free culture enjoyers, Romantic strollers

Plan your visit

3-5 hours

About

Quick facts: The art center buildings are made of travertine, which glows warmly like honey in the setting sun. The center sits on a 130-acre hill with a view of all of Los Angeles stretching to the Pacific Ocean.

Highlights: What is most special is the garden: a collection of 134 varieties of cacti and succulents forming a living sculpture garden with a view of the city. The artworks are arranged so that every window opens onto a new perspective, as if the painting itself is searching for light.

Insider tips

Instead of the midday rush, come at 2:00 PM, when the quieter corners are still yours.
Sitting on the steps of Central Garden at sunset gives you a free concert of light and water play.
Bring a small picnic mat; the lawns on the northern terrace are ideal for a lunch break with a city view.
After visiting the museum, it is worth taking a peaceful 800-meter walk along the garden paths to find the hidden Flower Courtyard.