This is a beautiful campus. I had some visitors come from outside the country so I was the…read moredesignated tour guide. The daughter loves museums, so this was definitely on my list to take them. There are a variety of art pieces, paintings, photos and what not to look at and admire. The view is amazing a dm there are a few places to grab some snacks and food if you get hungry. As far as the tours, you can guide yourself, get audio devices for a guided tour and there are staff ready to answer your questions if needed. The staff is friendly and professional. Parking is easy and there is a tram that takes you from the parking structure to the museum. Definitely a great place to visit to appreciate art and the views. Great place to take photos also.

I never really know how to write reviews for museums because I'm not someone who can effortlessly…read moreanalyze art and start speaking in poetic paragraphs but I do love the Getty & just wanted to share my experiences so far. I've visited the Getty several times over the years and at first I found it a little overwhelming because there are so many exhibits and paintings that it's hard knowing where to even begin. Eventually I decided to make a game out of my visits instead. I started using ChatGPT to give me lists of paintings to look for, questions to ask myself while observing them, facts about the artwork, and prompts about what I do and don't like about each piece. Weirdly enough, that completely transformed my experience at the museum and made each visit feel much more intentional instead of me just wandering around aimlessly pretending to understand everything. Highly recommend trying this if you're someone who enjoys museums but doesn't necessarily feel "educated" in art. As a huge Van Gogh fan, I was shocked to learn that his painting Irises is actually displayed here. I had seen some of his work at MoMA in New York City and somehow never realized one of his paintings was practically in my own backyard. If you love Van Gogh, definitely don't miss it. I also personally enjoy exploring the North Pavilion the most because it's where many of the religious paintings are located. The gardens are absolutely beautiful and probably one of the most photographed parts of the museum for good reason. Great spot for pictures, especially if you enjoy Instagram-worthy scenery. There are also several areas throughout the Getty where you get gorgeous views overlooking Los Angeles. The Getty also has two restaurants, several cafés/coffee carts, and recently added a lounge bar around the plaza level. The food is decent but definitely expensive (which honestly shouldn't surprise anyone at this point). The café areas sell salads, sandwiches, pita and dip plates, pastries, snacks, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. Personally, I don't think the salads are worth the $18-$19 price tag, so I usually just grab coffee, snacks, or occasionally a small bottle of champagne and save my actual appetite for afterward. One thing I appreciate is that they have charging stations in the entrance hall in case your phone is dying halfway through your visit. There are also multiple gift shops throughout the museum with a pretty wide variety of books, souvenirs, stationery, art prints, and gifts. I think weekdays are probably best if you want smaller crowds, but I usually go on Saturdays because the museum stays open until 9 PM and parking becomes free after 6 PM on Saturdays specifically. Otherwise, parking is usually around $25, though reduced rates kick in later in the afternoon. A few tips in case you plan to visit for the first time: - Bring a sweater or coat because it can get surprisingly cold and windy. - Download the Getty app beforehand so you have the map available. - Wear comfortable shoes because you will walk a lot. - And don't pressure yourself to "understand" every piece of art. Some aren't going to stand out to you and that's okay. - Be ready for traffic. The downside of the museums location is that it's smack next to one of the worst freeways known to man -- the dreaded 405.

Did you know that LACMA is free for LA County residents after 3 pm on weekdays. The large new…read moregallery space designed by Swiss architect Zumthor is light filled and spans Wilshire Blvd. It was very crowded on the Friday that we went, as the D Line had just opened. There was also free jazz in the courtyard. There were a couple of food trucks and lots of seating. The outside views from the gallery are awesome. The collection is outstanding however I didn't like the random displays which made no sense whatsoever. Most museum galleries are organized by sections but not here, which made it very confusing. Don't forget to see the massive Matisse at one end. There's also a Erewhon and gift store. Highly recommend for every Angelino.

So much concrete.... It's everywhere covering everything. Who needs trees or greenery when you can…read morewalk on a large open concrete patio.... Luckily it was cool out when I went, but I don't think I want to be there when the sun is full blast. Between this and the big rock surrounded by dirt, the whole outside of museum is a pretty unwelcoming bleak space for something trying to make art more accessible. The new gallery itself is confusing. Our party kept loosing each other and getting turned around. My friend likened the display to scrolling through social media where random things are just thrown at you with little to no context. It was jarring and exhausting. The building is also very loud due to all the hard surfaces. The windows cased glass cases to be hard to see into and backlit a lot of the works. Some of the information tags were so hard to find we had to image search the works for more info. There were also not enough benches in front of the art. As someone who grew up sitting in museums drawing the works this is a major bummer. I feel like they have a lot more art that used to be on display that's just not there. The Egyptian section was very small and I was unable to find my favorite painting. It felt very heavy on the modern art. Which is my least favorite. The Erewhon cafe is expensive, the only thing around and is giving let them eat cake, the gift shop is also horrendously high priced and pretentious. Gucci stationary anyone? I do truly like art, I have a fancy piece of paper that claims I know stuff & things about it, and I like experimentation. Sadly though, this building doesn't feel like it celebrates the art inside. It celebrates itself and the view of the street below it. It might be interesting architecture, but I don't feel it's serving its function to the best of its ability. I'm majorly disappointed and would recommend visiting another of our great art museums instead. They also having amazing views, but realize their actual purpose.

Roman, Greek and Etruscan art spanning 4000 plus years right here in Pacific Palisades in Los…read moreAngeles with breathtaking views of the gorgeous Pacific? Free admission? No way!! After driving past the world renowned Getty Villa so many times on the 405 Freeway I finally made it to this absolutely stunning gem. I was joined by my three very curious and ready to travel and conquer the world granddaughters who had read up on this. No guide needed. This replica of a First Century Roman Country house that was buried under Mt Vesuvius also had a coincidental close call with the recent fires In the area and came back stronger. Behold the lovely Roman style gardens that feature plants and herbs from the Mediterranean; the mosaic floors and the classical fountains in this calm and serene environment. There are over 1400 spectacular pieces of art( pottery, jewelry, statues and sculptures) plus an outdoor theater for special events and plays. Please do set aside 2 and a 1/2 to 3 hours to truly enjoy the entire experience. You also have to just sit in the gardens and take in the fresh air and the views. Goose bumps and conversations for days. Online timed reservations that are gratis. Parking is $25 and drops $10 after 3 pm.( you have to wrap things up by 4:30 pm). Closed on Tuesdays. There is a nice cafe on the villa campus. There is something for every age group. This truly was a WOW experience.

As an LA native, this remains at the top of my family's favorite museums in our entire city and we…read morelove bringing over friends and family here when they come to visit to impress them with its stunning beauty. Built to be a 1:1 replica of a destroyed villa from Mt. Vesuvius at Herculaneum, Mr. Getty really did his thing with this one!! I personally find the architecture of this museum to be its best part because it feels like you've been transported back into Ancient Rome before the eruption. The museum itself contains antiquities from Ancient Greece, Rome, and other societies both pre-dating the two civilizations from the same region as well as those that existed at the same time in different regions (Egypt) in an effort to put antiquity in context. Parking here is $25 and the gift shop always contains some fun gems.

I've been wanting to come here since I was a kid. I'd pass by this place so many times with my…read moreparents but never got a chance to make it here. I finally had the opportunity to come here and felt like I was living a dream! Although this museum is smaller than the Natural History Museum, the fact alone that this place is a literal tar pit is amazing. Reading the history and about the site alone is amusing. Would recommend for anyone in the area looking to learn more.

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley but this is the first time I have ever been here. My wife has…read moretaken the kids a few times but I was always working. She wanted to check it out one more time before the 2-year renovation begins in July. They hope to be open in time for the Olympics in '28. I was not blown away by anything but it was still pretty cool. You can walk the grounds for free but the museum was $16 for us seniors. The free guided tour was super hokey and meant for kids but it was surprisingly fun and informative. Plan on a couple hours to check the place out.

The Petersen Automotive Museum is simply phenomenal. Home to one of the world's largest car…read morecollections, it's truly an auto enthusiast's dream. For starters, I love the building's futuristic-looking facade -- it immediately stands out before you even walk inside. There's an on-site parking garage with reasonable pricing. Current rates are listed as: first 2 hours $18, each additional hour $3, with a daily max of $24 when combined with museum admission. Even the parking garage is impressive. Visitors can view several vehicles for free, including a 1981 Ford McLaren Mustang, 1967 Dodge Hemi Coronet, 1992 Ford F-150 Flareside XLT Lariat, 1990 Laforza, and a 1991 Bentley Turbo R. I paid $51 for full access to the museum, including the Vault tour, and I thought it was absolutely worth it. The museum features more than 100 vehicles spread across 25 galleries, along with three public exhibit floors and a basement Vault containing 300+ rare vehicles. (The Vault tour is a separate add-on from general admission.) As someone who was a teenager in the '80s, I especially loved the "Totally Awesome! Cars and Culture of the '80s and '90s" exhibit. This is easily the best automotive museum I've ever visited, and I had an incredible time!

Love coming here. Nice seeing all these cool cars collections. Nice place to visit for people who…read moreloves seeing awesome cars. Parking is free if you spent $75 at one of the store.

Tim was so funny and helpful definitely made the experience much better had so much funread more

Needed a last minute outing to keep the kids busy so naturally, I googled my options. This…read morelocation was pretty convenient so off we went. Tickets were pretty easy to purchase online. I thought it was a timed entry but it is not...or it wasn't when we went. I followed the parking sign on the wall which led me to a lot just a little north of the museum. It was $20 to park there. Had I had more time to plan, I may have parked somewhere else as I felt that was a bit steep. I'm assuming metered parking would be hard to find in that location as it is in the heart of Hollywood. I thought it would be similar to the Museum of Illusions in New York, but rather than a museum feel, this was purely just photo ops. You can rent tripods at the front for $10. They also provide free lockers for your bags and stuff- which I would highly recommend. I didn't take up the offer in the beginning but soon realized that was a better option. I would also like to highly recommend and thank Tim! He showed us the ropes of how to take photos and he took some photos for us. He was friendly, professional and patient with my two young kids. He definitely knows his way around an iPhone camera and showed me some tricks I didn't even know. Tim's photos came out a lot better than mine as you need to find the perfect angle for the pictures to have that illusion effect. The tickets I purchased online also allowed us to go to the giant house next door and the upside down house. Tim came to the rescue again and took some amazing photos for us in the upside down house. It was a fun experience for all of us and I would definitely recommend visiting this location. If you see Tim, ask him for some pointers! Thank you, Tim!

Very unique and entertaining exhibits. I enjoyed the combination of nontraditional exhibit topics…read moreand truly eclectic array of specimens, though I found some of the exhibits to be a bit misleading, such as the collection of diatoms. My favorite exhibits were the Decaying Dice, Tell The Bees, and Cat's Cradle. Partner really enjoyed the architecture-focused set of exhibits. A bit crowded in the exhibits near the entrance, but the crowd thins out the further you walk into the museum. If the jumble of information I presented in this review confuses you, then I would recommend that you visit the museum. It's immersive in the sense that I feel as though I traveled to many different worlds just by walking from room to room in a large house. I would certainly visit again if I was in the area.

This is more than a museum - it's an experience…read more Take your time. There are countless pockets with some of the most unique exhibitions you'll ever find. Amazing culture and ambiance; need multiple visits to truly let it all sink in. An absolute LA staple.

If you didn't take a photo at the LACMA lamps, did you even go to Los Angeles?…read more This installation is a masterpiece. Each lamp post has its own unique design from the 1920s and 30s. I highly recommend wearing bright colors to pop against the gray and white background. Even though it's popular, the grid is large enough that you can usually find a good angle. The parking was $15 but it's free to check this place out

I've only seen this during the day time but will be back next time at night. Apparently there are…read moreno tripods or selfie sticks allowed at the urban light and the security guard will let you know. There are street parking outside along 6th street. To park underground at the LACMA it's a flat rate of $23 with no hourly parking options.

i've been to the academy museum a handful of times, and each visit has been so fun seeing what…read moreexhibits they have on display. i'm not the biggest movie buff, but it's still really interesting to see all the costumes, props, and different rooms with videos that go into behind-the-scenes explanations of films. i've stopped into some exhibits before that cover things like foley sound recording and other production details, and it's always really cool to learn about. i went a few years ago when they had the ghibli exhibit, and that experience was so immersive and fun. so when i heard they were bringing another one back, this time featuring ponyo, i made sure to get tickets to go with my boyfriend. i also had no idea there was a live action beauty & the beast exhibit until we got there, and i practically lost my mind with excitement. i also loved seeing the displays for different movie costumes (like wicked's) and the barbie exhibit! there are about three floors to explore, plus a lower level for restrooms. it's pretty accessible with the option to take escalators or elevators between floors. parking is kind of awful, so we usually end up at the lacma lot, which can be a bit pricey. luckily, the ticket prices for the museum itself aren't too bad, so it's still fun to go every once in a while. i do recommend buying tickets in advance so you don't get stuck in line day of. overall, it's a really fun experience whether you're really into movies or just going for a specific exhibit. they also have a pretty solid gift shop that's usually themed around whatever's on display if you want to pick up a souvenir.

Took my family here since they've never been to the Academy museum and it's been a few years for…read moreme. I was pretty happy with the exhibits shown this time around, especially with the Ponyo exhibit. I loved that movie growing up and watched it with my dad in theatres so it was super nice to see the movie's process and enjoy the world of Ponyo. We also came here the day before May the Fourth so we came across a person dressed as Darth Vader and took pics with BB-8 and R2-D2. How cool! I recommend coming here early to enjoy the museum at your leisure because it did start to get really busy when we were about done with our visit. Saw so many people in cosplay, kids and adults alike it was so cute! Seeing the history of the Academy/Oscars and just the highlight on the world of filmmaking makes this museum a very great activity to do with the family! Good visuals and sound elements. I also enjoyed a movie screening here in the theatre and signal gets very bad, but their free wifi works like a charm. - clean bathrooms, but only located on the basement floor or the 2nd floor

The Hammer Museum is a must-visit. The exhibits are eclectic, unique, and definitely give you…read moresomething to think about. And the best part? It's free, y'all... you can't beat that.

My second time coming here, with my first time a few years back for one of the free events they…read morehosted. What I like most about this museum (other than that it's free admission) is that the inner courtyard is clean and modern with a nice breath of outdoor air!!! The iconic pieces from this museum is the roundtop chairs that are fun for anyone of all ages to sit and enjoy. We came here unplanned and only walked in to enjoy some art in the middle of the Cicla Via West LA event. If I remember correctly, there's garage parking. Lots of different art buildings to walk into. Good time to kill time and also to study at the courtyard. Well-maintained!!!