The Getty

The Getty is definitely worth a visit when you are in LA. Strolling around and taking your time is what one should do there.

The parking is clearly indicated but do take into account that the neighbourhood can be jammed packed with traffic. We lost two hours in traffic on a Tuesday around 2-3pm in May, arriving just one hour before closing. Parking is covered, wide enough for large vehicles and was 15$.

We had no tickets reserved and called upfront if that was a problem and they said no and indeed they let us in. Though I think they may reject you if the museum is fully booked.

It is easy to find your way around and even if you are interested in a particular item, the staff will happily point you the direction. We saw some nice paintings from famous artists which was very mesmerising. Many styles also to witness, not only paintings but also sculptures. We had little time but could have spend easily couple of hours. Ohw and even at closing they don’t chase you out too harsh, you can take your time to end your visit.

Restrooms are plenty and mostly clean. The gardens are also worthwhile to visit, and wander around between the succulents and varieties of flowers.

Up and back to the centre and the parking you go via a small train, which very convenient. You can see LA from it in a scenic way. Bring a hat and sunscreen on warm days.

There are also couple of food stands in case you want to buy something small to eat or a drink. Very relaxing atmosphere.

I’ve been here twice, both w friends. To get here, you can even search for “Getty Center Parking” on your maps app. Parking costs $25, but it’s $15 after 3:00 PM. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. You’re allowed in within one hour of your designated time.

Give yourself some time to get to the center; you’ll need to parking in a giant multi-floor garage where spaces are rather small (note the code for your area), and then take an elevator to the security line for the tram. There are bathrooms in this area and it’s open air. You can even see a nice sculpture here. You’re allowed to pack a little picnic and food items, even though there are at least 2 places where they sell food and drink inside. Some people have a little picnic on the greens, near the garden, where the grass lawn is perfect.

Then, the tram comes every so often and shows you a great little panoramic view of LA and its hills. It’s very clean and has shaded windows.

The main entrance has some stairs. Not sure about accessibility here. Then there are several buildings where you can see the art collections. There are elevators indoors and also map guides in multiple languages, including Spanish and Chinese. There’s also a Getty store when you first get inside.

The botanical garden is wonderful / my fave, and the sculpture garden and catcus garden are also great. You could easily spend a day here wandering through everything. There are fountains and pools, and the garden has a little winding labryinth and all kinds of amazing blooms and rest areas.

Getty has a villa in a separate location. The Getty Center can also be reached by public transportation. I’ll be back for sure. This is the perfect place to take new visitors to LA.

Everything about The Getty is a work of art, from the buildings to the gardens and everything inside! Even the layout is fun and creative. Wandering around the campus is an adventure in itself!

The collection of artwork inside is almost overwhelming. Room after room of beautiful pieces from all different time periods, mediums, and styles. We could have spent the entire day here. It's incredible that you can visit and see all they have to offer for free!

The gardens are particularly notable. You will really be missing out if you don't wander down to the back of the campus and follow the zig zag trail to the giant fountain. You'll see huge succulents and so many varieties of flowers. The bougainvillea towers are amazing, and there are huge crepe myrtles everywhere.

This is a must see stop on any itinerary, and again, no cost to get in! There's literally no downside.

Pro Tip: Although the museum is free, you are expected to set up reservations online to enter. We didn't and they let us in, but it seemed pretty clear that they will turn you away on a busy day if you don't reserve tickets for your party.

The museum is architectural and aesthetically beautiful. The landscape and its topography is also excellent. The layout is engineered to perfection. The contents of the museum are mostly from the renaissance are and are mostly Italian with some French, German and Dutch from what I noticed. It’s definitely a must visit if you’re in town.

Great museum to spend the day. Free entry and located near the beach. You do need to pay for parking ($25 when we visited) and they do have several locations for electric vehicles to charge (without any extra payment needed). I had reserved free tickets the day before, but I don't think it's necessary... I would recommend reserving a time slot though, just in case (it's free anyways).

It doesn't take too long to walk through the majority of it (maybe 2 hours at a leisurely pace, 3+ if you take it really slow). There are both indoor and outdoor sections to the museum. Plenty of places to stop and rest as you go. They do check your bag, but I was able to take in water and snacks. Reception isn't great, and the free wifi was incredibly spotty for me (hopefully this improves).

Definitely recommended for anyone interested in ancient Greek/Roman art/history. There's also a "Percy Jackson" audio tour, although I only heard part of it. I personally prefer the "other" Getty museum (I prefer painting to sculpture), but this one is definitely worth a visit as well.