The most famous museums in Los Angeles are the Getty Center, LACMA, The Broad, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the Getty Villa. A good pick has a signature draw you cannot see anywhere else, a building worth the trip on its own, and a visit that fits into half a day. Art lovers should start with the Getty Center or LACMA. Film fans belong at the Academy Museum, car fans at the Petersen, contemporary art fans at The Broad, and anyone chasing ancient art and ocean air at the Getty Villa.
Los Angeles is spread out, and these museums sit in very different parts of town. Several are free museums in LA but still need a timed reservation, and the parking can cost more than a ticket. First-time visitors often try to cram three museums into one day and end up seeing none of them properly.
We have guided visitors around the city since 2007. Below you get what each museum is known for, what to see, what it costs, and how to combine them. Prices change, so confirm them on each museum’s website before you go.
1. The Getty Center
What it is and what to see
The Getty Center is a hilltop campus in Brentwood that opened in 1997, and it is the most famous art museum in the city. Its collection covers European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts from before the 20th century, plus photography and modern art. Van Gogh’s Irises is the painting most visitors look for.
The grounds matter as much as the galleries. Richard Meier’s stone-clad buildings, the Central Garden and sweeping views of the city and the Pacific Ocean make this a place to linger. Bring a picnic or eat at the on-site cafe and restaurant. A tram carries you from the parking garage up the hill.
The Getty Center is the one LA museum where the building, the garden and the view earn the trip as much as the art does.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Brentwood
- General admission: Free, though parking is charged
- Booking: Check whether your date requires a timed reservation
- Best for: Art lovers, photographers and anyone who wants a view
If you would rather skip the driving and parking, we run an Exclusive Tour of the Getty Center. It is $499 per guest with a 2 guest minimum, so a couple pays $998. It lasts about 5 hours, runs Tuesday through Sunday between 10:00am and 3:00pm, and includes luxury round-trip transportation and light refreshments. Your guide stays on hand during the visit.
2. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
What it is and what to see
LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with more than 150,000 works from around the world. The collection runs from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces, with strong holdings from the Americas, Asia and the Middle East. It sits on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile area, next to the La Brea Tar Pits.
Most people know LACMA through Urban Light by Chris Burden. It is a grid of restored 1920s and 1930s street lamps at the entrance, and you can see it from the sidewalk. The lamps light up at dusk, so sunset is the best time for photos.
LACMA is the broadest art collection in Los Angeles, and Urban Light is the free appetizer outside the front door.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Miracle Mile (Mid-City)
- General admission: Roughly $21 to $25 for adults, depending on whether you live in LA County
- Booking: Advance timed tickets are recommended
- Best for: First-timers who want range, and anyone who likes to see art and architecture in one stop
Our Early Bird LA Segway Tour starts in the Miracle Mile and rolls past LACMA and the Urban Light exhibit. It costs $99 per guest and runs daily at 8am and 9am, with reservations required. It lasts about 1.5 hours and is semi-private, with an option to upgrade to a private experience when you book.
3. The Broad
What it is and what to see
The Broad is a contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue in downtown LA. Its collection holds more than 2,000 works from the 1950s to the present, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons and Cindy Sherman. Robert Therrien’s giant dining table is a favorite with kids and adults alike.
The headline attraction is Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Room, a mirrored chamber of colored lights. It draws long waits, and one traveler reported close to two hours. The building is also a draw, with a white honeycomb-like exterior designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro.
At The Broad, reserve your ticket first and expect to queue separately for the Infinity Mirror Room.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Downtown, Grand Avenue
- General admission: Free, with timed entry reserved online
- Booking: Reserve ahead to avoid long lines
- Best for: Contemporary art fans and visitors with only a couple of hours
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry’s stainless-steel landmark, is about a two-minute walk away. That makes The Broad easy to pair with an architecture stroll and other things to do in downtown LA. Plan a couple of hours inside, and more if you want the Infinity Mirror Room.
4. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
What it is and what to see
The Academy Museum opened in 2021 and is the best museum for film history in the city. Renzo Piano designed the complex, which pairs a restored historic building with a glass dome that holds a theater and terrace. It stands on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile.
Inside, the Stories of Cinema exhibition covers the art, history and technology of movies. Objects include Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the mechanical shark from Jaws. The Oscars Experience lets you practice an acceptance speech. Parts of the ground floor have been free to enter, which helps if you are short on time.
If you love movies and visit only one museum in Hollywood’s hometown, make it the Academy Museum.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Miracle Mile (Mid-City)
- General admission: About $25 for adults, with discounts for seniors, students and children
- Booking: Reserve timed entry online in advance
- Best for: Film fans, families with older kids and anyone planning a Hollywood-themed trip
The Petersen Automotive Museum is across the street, so the two pair well. Give the Academy Museum at least two to three hours if you want to see the full permanent exhibition rather than a slice of it.
5. Petersen Automotive Museum
What it is and what to see
The Petersen is a museum about car culture, and it works even if you do not care about cars. The red building on Wilshire Boulevard is wrapped in stainless-steel ribbons that look like a race track. Three floors cover the history, industry and artistry of the automobile, from early models to futuristic sports cars.
The crowd favorite is the Cars of Film and Television section. You can see the DeLorean from Back to the Future, a Batmobile and Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters. The Vault, a guided area with additional cars, needs a separate ticket. Start at the top floor and work down, and book a table at the on-site Meyers Manx Cafe as you reach the ground level.
The Petersen is the most fun museum in Los Angeles for people who think they do not like museums.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Miracle Mile (Mid-City)
- General admission: About $21, with Vault access around $28 extra
- Booking: Buy tickets online ahead of your visit
- Best for: Car fans, families and movie-trivia lovers
Our Miracle Segway Tour rides along Wilshire Boulevard past the Petersen and LACMA. It costs $119 per guest and takes about 90 minutes. It suits visitors who want the cultural and architectural history of the neighborhood. It is semi-private with a private upgrade, and parties of three or more get preferred pricing.
6. The Getty Villa
What it is and what to see
The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades is the quieter sister of the Getty Center and focuses on ancient art. The building replicates an ancient Roman villa, and the collection holds more than 44,000 objects from ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. Outdoor gardens and fountains are the main draw in spring and summer.
The Villa opened to the public in 1974. Visitors come for Greek and Roman sculpture, but they stay for the setting. You walk between courtyards and gardens with views of the ocean, and it feels more like a day trip to Italy than a museum stop. A cafe on site serves lunch with a view.
The Getty Villa is the best choice when you want ancient art and a calm half day by the coast.
Visit details and who it suits
- Neighborhood: Pacific Palisades
- General admission: Free, though parking has run about $25 per vehicle
- Booking: Timed entry must be reserved online
- Best for: History fans and couples who want a relaxed pace
Closed days have included Tuesday, so check the calendar. A car is strongly recommended because the Villa sits up the coast from the main sightseeing areas. If you only have time for one Getty, pick the Center for variety and the Villa for atmosphere.
How to compare and combine these museums
Side-by-side comparison
The table below sets the six museums next to each other so you can match one to your interests and budget. Prices are approximate and were listed when this article was written. Always confirm before you book.
| Museum | Known for | Area | General admission | Reserve ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Center | European art, gardens, views | Brentwood | Free (parking fee) | Check your date |
| LACMA | Global art, Urban Light | Miracle Mile | About $21 to $25 | Recommended |
| The Broad | Contemporary art, Infinity Mirror Room | Downtown | Free | Yes |
| Academy Museum | Film history | Miracle Mile | About $25 | Yes |
| Petersen | Cars, movie vehicles | Miracle Mile | About $21 (Vault extra) | Advised |
| Getty Villa | Ancient art, gardens | Pacific Palisades | Free (parking fee) | Yes |
Getty Center or LACMA, and which is biggest
LACMA is the biggest art museum in the western United States by collection, with more than 150,000 works. The Getty Center has the bigger campus and the better views, but a smaller scope. Neither is the wrong pick, because they offer different things.
Choose the Getty Center for European art, gardens and a free ticket. Choose LACMA for global range and the Miracle Mile cluster around it. If you have more than one day, do both on separate days.
Combining museums in one day
Group by area. The Miracle Mile on Wilshire Boulevard holds LACMA, the Petersen and the Academy Museum within easy reach of each other. The Broad pairs with Walt Disney Concert Hall downtown. The Getty Center and the Getty Villa are separate west-side trips, so give each its own half day.
Families can try a different mix. Our Ultimate Kid Friendly Tour is a private 7-hour day at the California Science Center, the La Brea Tar Pits and Griffith Observatory. It costs $399 per guest with a 2 guest minimum, and parties of four or more save $25 per guest. A family of four pays $374 each, or $1,496 in total, with snacks, bottled water and transportation included. Check the current status of each stop before you plan around it.
Group museums by neighborhood, not by fame, and you will see more with less driving.
Choosing your first museum
Pick the museum that matches what you love. The Getty Center and LACMA cover art at its broadest, The Broad covers contemporary art, the Academy Museum covers film, the Petersen covers cars, and the Getty Villa covers antiquity. Reserve timed tickets, budget for parking, and keep the Miracle Mile museums together on one day.
If you would rather skip the logistics, a guide and a driver remove most of them. Our private Los Angeles tours can build a day around the Getty Center and the neighborhoods around it, so you spend your time inside the galleries instead of circling for parking.
