Los Angeles museum tickets add up fast, especially when you’re covering a family or a group for a week. The good news: free museums in los angeles are everywhere once you know where to look, from world-class art collections to quirky niche spots you won’t find in the guidebooks, and they’re only part of the 25 best free things to do in Los Angeles. You just need the right list and the right days.
This guide gets straight to the point. Below you’ll find 12 museums with free general admission or set free days and hours, plus the details you actually need: which days are free, whether you need a reservation, and what makes each one worth your time. No fluff, no outdated info pulled from a press release five years ago.
We put this together the same way we build our LA tours: with local knowledge and an eye for what actually delivers value, not just what’s popular. Whether you’re planning a solo crawl through the LA museums worth a full visit or fitting a stop between your Hollywood and Beverly Hills sightseeing, this list will help you see more of the city without spending more money.
1. The Broad
The Broad anchors LA’s Downtown arts district, and it’s the museum most visitors mean when they ask about free museums in Los Angeles. General admission has been free since the building opened in 2015, backed by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, and that policy hasn’t changed since. You’ll still need a timed ticket, but you won’t pay a cent to walk through the main galleries.
Free days & hours
Admission is free every day the museum is open, not just on one special day a month like most museums on this list. The Broad runs Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, with hours generally 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and extended evenings on Thursdays and Fridays until 8 p.m. Grab your free timed ticket online through the museum’s site before you go; walk-up spots exist, but the line forms early and often closes by mid-morning on weekends.
Free admission at The Broad isn’t a once-a-month perk, it’s the everyday policy.
What you’ll see
Inside, you’ll find one of the most recognizable contemporary art collections on the West Coast, with major works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Cindy Sherman. The building’s signature draw is Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms, a rotating installation that needs its own separate reservation because demand far outstrips the tiny room capacity. Jeff Koons’ oversized sculptures and Kara Walker’s politically charged pieces round out a collection that leans hard into art made after 1950.
Good to know before you go
Book your ticket two to three weeks ahead if you’re visiting during summer or a holiday week, since slots disappear fast. Special ticketed shows on the third floor carry an added fee, so check the current exhibition schedule before assuming everything inside is free. Parking in the attached garage runs a flat rate, and the museum sits within easy walking distance of Walt Disney Concert Hall and MOCA if you want to stack more Downtown LA stops worth adding into one afternoon.
2. Getty Center
Perched above the 405 in Brentwood, the Getty Center offers free general admission every single day it’s open, no membership or donation required. The Getty Trust funds the museum through its endowment, so unlike most spots on this list, you don’t have to time your visit around one special free day a month. That said, the free part covers the museum only, not what it costs to get up the hill.
Free days & hours
The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed Mondays. Admission is always free, but you’ll pay $25 for parking (less after 3 p.m. on weekdays), or you can skip that fee entirely by arriving on foot, bike, or via the Metro Expo Line plus a connecting bus. Reservations aren’t required for entry, though booking a free timed slot online during peak season saves you a wait at the tram, and a guided tour of the Getty Center adds context to the collection.
The Getty Center is free every day it’s open. The parking garage is the only thing that’ll cost you.
What you’ll see
The permanent collection spans European paintings, drawings, and photographs, including Van Gogh’s Irises and works by Rembrandt and Monet. Richard Meier’s travertine architecture and Robert Irwin’s Central Garden are as much a draw as anything inside, and the hilltop views stretch from Downtown LA to the Pacific on a clear day.
Good to know before you go
Factor in 20 to 30 minutes for the tram ride up from the parking structure, since it’s the only way in besides walking the access road. Bring a jacket even in summer; the hilltop breeze runs noticeably cooler than the flats below.
3. Hammer Museum
Sitting on the edge of UCLA’s campus in Westwood, the Hammer Museum has offered free general admission to everyone since 2014, no strings attached. Armand Hammer’s original collection anchors the place, but the museum has grown into one of LA’s sharpest venues for contemporary and emerging art, run in partnership with UCLA. You won’t find a ticket counter here at all, since the free policy covers every gallery, every day the doors are open.
Free days & hours
The Hammer is open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridows during select programming, and closed Mondays. There’s no timed entry system and no reservation required, you just walk in. This makes it one of the easiest free museums in Los Angeles to slot into a spontaneous afternoon near campus.
No ticket, no reservation, no catch: the Hammer is simply free, every open day of the week.
What you’ll see
Expect rotating contemporary exhibitions alongside the permanent Armand Hammer Collection, which includes works by Van Gogh, Monet, and Mary Cassatt. The museum leans into showcasing living artists and social-practice projects you won’t see at LA’s bigger institutions, plus a sculpture-filled outdoor courtyard that hosts free public programs and talks throughout the year.
Good to know before you go
Parking underneath the museum costs a few dollars with validation from the front desk, cheaper than most Westwood garages nearby. Thursday evenings often bring free lectures or film screenings, so check the calendar before you visit if you want more than just the galleries.
4. Getty Villa
Up the coast in Malibu, the Getty Villa recreates a first-century Roman country house and houses the Getty’s antiquities collection, free to enter just like its sister site in Brentwood. J. Paul Getty built the original villa in the 1970s as a home for his growing collection of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art, and the free-admission policy has carried through every renovation since. Unlike the Getty Center, though, this location requires a timed-entry reservation even though nothing costs money.
Free days & hours
The Villa is open Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed Tuesdays. Admission is always free, but you must reserve a specific entry time online in advance since walk-ups aren’t guaranteed a spot. Weekend slots fill up roughly a week or two out during summer, so book early if your schedule is fixed.
Free admission still means booking ahead here, the Getty Villa turns away walk-ups when its timed slots fill.
What you’ll see
The collection focuses on Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities, including bronzes, mosaics, and the famous Lansdowne Herakles. The building itself, modeled on the ancient Villa dei Papiri near Pompeii, is worth the trip alone, with reflecting pools, formal gardens, and an outdoor amphitheater that occasionally hosts classical theater performances.
Good to know before you go
Parking runs $25, the same rate as the Getty Center, though it drops to $15 after 3 p.m. Plan for at least two hours to see the galleries and gardens properly, and pack sunscreen since much of the outdoor space sits exposed to Malibu sun.
5. LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, better known as LACMA, isn’t free every day, but the museum builds in enough free access that it belongs on any serious list of free museums in Los Angeles. Its Wilshire Boulevard campus anchors the Miracle Mile, and the free-entry windows make it easy to see major works without paying full price.
Free days & hours
LACMA offers free general admission on the second Tuesday of every month, open to all visitors, no residency proof needed. LA County residents also get in free on weekday afternoons, generally 3 p.m. to close on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, though you’ll want to check the current schedule since hours shift seasonally. The museum runs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday until 7 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Wednesdays, and the free Friday night jazz concerts on the LACMA plaza are worth building an evening around.
Time your visit to a second Tuesday and LACMA costs nothing, no residency check required.
What you’ll see
Outside, Chris Burden’s Urban Light installation of restored streetlamps is a favorite LA photo stop, alongside Michael Heizer’s massive granite boulder, Levitated Mass. Inside, the permanent collection spans Latin American art, Islamic art, and a deep photography archive that rivals any museum on the West Coast.
Good to know before you go
Bring proof of LA County residency, like a driver’s license or utility bill, if you’re aiming for the weekday free window. Parking in the on-site garage runs a flat fee regardless of admission cost, so budget separately for that.
6. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Exposition Park’s Natural History Museum offers free general admission on select days tied to LA County’s cultural access program, making it one of the best free things to do with kids in LA among free museums in Los Angeles. Founded in 1913, it’s the county’s oldest museum and still runs on a mix of ticketed general admission and scheduled free days aimed at getting more residents through the door.
Free days & hours
Check the museum’s site for the current free admission calendar, since dates rotate and sometimes tie to specific funding cycles or county-resident promotions rather than a fixed monthly slot. The museum is open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and reservations aren’t required even on free days, though arriving early avoids the midday school-group crowds.
Free days here shift year to year, so a quick check of the current calendar beats guessing.
What you’ll see
The dinosaur hall anchors the collection, with a growth series of Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons spanning different life stages, a rare setup you won’t find at most natural history institutions. Beyond dinosaurs, expect the Age of Mammals exhibit, a gem and mineral vault, and the Nature Gardens outside, a living lab of California habitat right in the middle of the city.
Good to know before you go
Pair your visit with the neighboring California Science Center, since both sit inside Exposition Park within a short walk. Parking in the park’s lots runs a flat daily fee, and weekends bring heavier traffic thanks to nearby USC events, so budget extra time if a game or graduation lands on your visit date.
7. California Science Center
Right next door to the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park, the California Science Center takes free admission a step further: general entry costs nothing, every single day, with no free-day calendar to track. Opened in 1998 on the site of the old State Exhibition Building, the center runs on state funding, which lets it skip the ticket counter for its core exhibits entirely. Among free museums in LA, this is one of the few that never asks you to plan around a specific date.
Free days & hours
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and general admission is free year-round, no reservation or timed ticket required for walk-in visitors. The IMAX theater and special traveling exhibitions carry separate ticket prices, so budget for those if you want the full experience.
Free, every day, no calendar to check: the California Science Center skips the free-day guessing game entirely.
What you’ll see
The biggest draw is Space Shuttle Endeavour, displayed in a dedicated pavilion, one of only a handful of retired NASA orbiters on public display anywhere. Beyond the shuttle, expect hands-on exhibits covering ecosystems, human biology, and physics, built with kids and school groups in mind, which puts it among the Los Angeles attractions families love. The Ecosystems wing includes a real kelp forest tank stocked with live fish.
Good to know before you go
Weekdays bring heavy school-group traffic, so arrive right at opening if you want quieter galleries. Parking in the Exposition Park structure runs a flat daily rate, and it’s worth pairing this stop with the Natural History Museum since both sit within a five-minute walk of each other.
8. Autry Museum of the American West
Tucked into Griffith Park near the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West covers the history, art, and culture of the American West with a lens that includes Native American communities, Western film history, and the region’s ranching and frontier past. Founded by singing cowboy Gene Autry in 1988, the museum isn’t free every day, but it runs a reliable monthly window that puts it firmly on any list of free museums in Los Angeles.
Free days & hours
The Autry offers free general admission on the second Tuesday of every month, open to everyone, no ID or residency proof required. Regular hours run Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays. No reservation is needed for the free day, though arriving before noon helps you beat the crowds that build up by early afternoon.
One Tuesday a month, the Autry drops its admission fee entirely, no strings attached.
What you’ll see
The permanent galleries trace Western expansion through Native American artifacts, cowboy gear, and Hollywood memorabilia tied to classic Western films. A standout is the museum’s collection of Colt firearms alongside Navajo textiles and Plains beadwork, a combination that captures the West’s complicated, layered history rather than a single romanticized version of it.
Good to know before you go
Parking is free in the museum’s lot every day, a rarity in LA. Pair your visit with a walk through Griffith Park or a stop at the nearby zoo, since both sit within a short drive and make for an easy full-day itinerary in the area.
9. Skirball Cultural Center
Set in the Santa Monica Mountains along the 405, the Skirball Cultural Center explores Jewish culture and history alongside broader themes of migration, identity, and the American experience. Founded in 1996 and named for philanthropist Jack Skirball, the museum mixes permanent exhibits with rotating shows on topics ranging from civil rights history to contemporary photography. It isn’t free every day, but its monthly window puts it squarely among the useful free museums in Los Angeles for families and history buffs alike.
Free days & hours
The Skirball offers free general admission on Thursdays, every week, no ticket or reservation needed for the permanent galleries. Regular hours run Tuesday through Friday, noon to 5 p.m., and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Mondays. Special ticketed exhibitions sometimes carry a fee even on free Thursdays, so check the current schedule before you plan around a specific show.
A free Thursday policy, every single week, makes the Skirball one of the easiest free museum visits to actually plan around.
What you’ll see
The Noah’s Ark exhibit, a hands-on installation built from recycled materials, is the museum’s signature draw for families with young kids. Beyond that, permanent galleries trace Jewish history and the immigrant experience in America, and the outdoor courtyards host public programs, concerts, and seasonal festivals throughout the year.
Good to know before you go
Parking is free on-site, a genuine rarity for a museum of this size. Give yourself extra time on Thursday afternoons since free admission draws steady crowds, especially with school groups touring Noah’s Ark.
10. Norton Simon Museum
Over in Pasadena, the Norton Simon Museum holds one of the finest small art collections in the country, built almost entirely through the personal acquisitions of industrialist Norton Simon starting in the 1970s. Admission isn’t free every day, but the museum runs a first-Friday evening program that opens the entire collection at no charge, making it one of the more underrated free museums in Los Angeles for anyone willing to visit after dark, and it slots neatly alongside other LA evening tours and after-dark plans.
Free days & hours
General admission is free on the first Friday of every month from 5 to 8 p.m., no reservation required, just show up. Regular hours run Wednesday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Friday extended to 8 p.m., and the museum stays closed Tuesdays. Outside that window, standard tickets apply, so mark the date if free entry matters to your plans.
One Friday evening a month, Pasadena’s best art collection costs nothing to walk through.
What you’ll see
The galleries hold major works by Rembrandt, Goya, and Raphael, alongside one of the largest Degas bronze collections outside France, including multiple casts of Little Dancer Aged Fourteen. A strong holding of Picasso and early modernist paintings sits near a sculpture garden filled with Rodin bronzes and Buddhist and Hindu art from South and Southeast Asia.
Good to know before you go
Parking is free in the museum’s own lot, no validation needed. Free Friday evenings draw a steady local crowd, so arrive close to 5 p.m. if you want to see the galleries before they fill up.
11. Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
Out in San Marino, the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens combines a rare-books collection, European and American art, and 120 acres of themed gardens on one sprawling estate. Railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington built the collection starting in the early 1900s, and while general admission usually carries a ticket price, the institution opens its doors free once a month for anyone willing to plan ahead.
Free days & hours
The Huntington offers free general admission on the first Thursday of every month, but you must reserve a timed ticket online in advance since walk-ups aren’t accepted on free days. Regular hours run Wednesday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Tuesdays. Free-day slots go fast, often within days of opening, so book as soon as the calendar posts.
Free admission at the Huntington exists, but only if you grab a reservation before the first Thursday slots disappear.
What you’ll see
The art galleries hold Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy and a strong collection of British portraiture, alongside American paintings spanning three centuries. Outside, the Japanese Garden, Desert Garden, and Chinese Garden (Liu Fang Yuan) rank among the finest botanical displays in Southern California, which also makes the estate a romantic afternoon in Los Angeles, and the rare-books library holds a Gutenberg Bible.
Good to know before you go
Plan for at least three hours since the gardens alone cover more ground than most visitors expect. Parking is free on-site, and wearing comfortable shoes matters more here than at almost any other museum on this list given how much walking the grounds demand.
12. Fowler Museum at UCLA
Closing out this list is the Fowler Museum, tucked into UCLA’s campus in Westwood and focused on global arts and material culture from Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas, one of the more rewarding cultural attractions across LA. Named for benefactor Francis E. Fowler Jr., the museum has offered free general admission to everyone since it opened its current building in 1992, no monthly calendar to track and no reservation system to navigate. Given its consistent no-cost policy, it belongs near the top of any list of free museums in Los Angeles for visitors who want a substantive collection without planning around a single Tuesday or Thursday.
Free days & hours
General admission is free every day the museum is open: Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m., with Thursdays extended until 8 p.m. The museum stays closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Walk-ins are welcome, no ticket or advance booking required.
No free-day calendar to memorize here, the Fowler is simply free whenever the doors are unlocked.
What you’ll see
Expect rotating exhibitions built around textiles, ceremonial objects, and contemporary work from artists across Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and Latin America. The permanent collection includes historic African sculpture and pottery alongside contemporary installations that connect global traditions to present-day social issues, a mix you won’t find at LA’s bigger encyclopedic museums.
Good to know before you go
Parking on campus runs an hourly or daily rate through UCLA’s structures, since the museum has no dedicated free lot. Visiting on a weekday afternoon avoids the heaviest student foot traffic, and the adjacent sculpture garden makes a quiet spot to finish your visit.
Making the most of your free museum day
Stack your calendar smart and you can turn a week in LA into a genuine museum crawl without touching your travel budget. Second Tuesdays cover LACMA and the Autry, Thursdays bring the Skirball, and first Fridays open the Norton Simon after dark, so a little planning turns scattered free days into a real itinerary. Combine that with the museums that are free every single day, like The Broad, the Getty Center, the Hammer, the California Science Center, and the Fowler, and you’ve got enough to fill several afternoons without spending a dime on admission.
Book your timed tickets early, bring proof of residency where it matters, and treat these free days and hours as the backbone of your trip planning, not an afterthought. Once the museums are locked in, let a local guide handle everything else. Reserve a private LA tour with an expert local guide and fill the gaps between galleries with the rest of the city.
