10 Best Museums in Los Angeles

When people think of Los Angeles, museums don’t usually seem to come to mind.

While cities like New York City or Paris usually inspire people to go museum-hopping, LA’s more about the beach and Hollywood.

I get it, I do — (and I do love both of those things), but Los Angeles is definitely an underrated arts and culture destination as well.

Going to museums is one of my favorite things to do, and luckily, there are a ton of them here. While this is by no means an exhaustive list (trust me, there are plenty more to explore in LA depending on your interests!), these are the 10 best museums in Los Angeles to explore during your next trip. 

Getty Villa

Starting off with one that may be my favorite (a bold declaration, I know) is the Getty Villa.

For some reason, it took me several years of living out here to visit this place for the first time, so don’t repeat my mistakes and add this to your LA itinerary!

If you love ancient art and history (think ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, etc.) gorgeous architecture and beautiful gardens, you’ll for sure love the Getty Villa.

It’s so beautiful that I’m convinced even people who don’t like museums would like this place. (I’m assuming that’s not you though, since you’re reading this.) The building itself is a recreation of an ancient Roman home, and there are plenty of exhibits to explore so you could easily spend two to three hours here. 

Plus, I can’t forget to mention that it’s free! You do, however, have to make a reservation online. While sometimes you can do this last minute, it’s not unheard of for it to be booked up in advance, so it’s not a bad idea to try to make your reservation at least a couple of days ahead if possible.

The one downside is that while the Getty Villa is free, parking, sadly, is not. 

Parking is a steep $25 per car, or $15 after 3 p.m. I always try to make my reservation at 3 p.m. for that reason!

Best for: Fans of the antiquities, architecture lovers

Hours: It’s open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day except for Tuesdays, when it’s closed.

Price: Free (but see above information about parking)

Getty Center

This is the other Getty location, but it couldn’t be more different from the villa.

While it also has amazing architecture, it’s very modern, and instead of dedicating its exhibits to the antiquities, you can find mostly European paintings. There’s also a photography exhibit that’s always cool too. 

In true Getty fashion though, there’s a beautiful garden out front, making this an awesome place to spend a few hours. It also has one of the best views of LA!

Like the Getty Villa, the Getty Center is free, but it’s the same deal with the parking: $25 before 3 p.m. then $15, or $10 after 6 p.m. on Saturdays. You also need to reserve your spot ahead of time.

If you do want to try and make it to both Getty locations in one day, you only have to pay for parking once.

However, they’re not particularly close to each other, so especially if you have limited time in Los Angeles, it may not be the most efficient to visit them both on the same day. 

Best for: fans of art from the Middle Ages onward, lovers of modern architecture

Hours: The museum is open until 5:30 p.m. five days a week except Saturday (when it’s open until 8). It’s closed on Mondays.

Price: Free, but parking is not (see above)

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

This is another one of LA’s most well-known museums, and for good reason.

You may recognize the iconic “Urban Lights” installation right outside of the museum, but the LACMA also prides itself on being the largest art museum in the Western United States.

Based on my most recent visit, I can say that it has a giant modern art collection, which includes a lot of Picasso paintings, but you’ll find a bit of everything here. 

Tickets are $25 (or $21 with a student ID), and they’re free after 3 p.m. for LA County residents Mondays through Fridays, and for everyone on the second Tuesday of every month. 

Best for: Art fans, particularly modern art fans

Hours: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays the LACMA is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday is it open from 11 to 8 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays, you can visit from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The museum is closed on Wednesdays.

Price: $28, or $24 with a student ID for visitors from outside L.A. County. For L.A. County visitors, admission is $23 or free after 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. It’s free for everyone the second Tuesday of each month. 

The Broad

The Broad is one of the best things to do in Downtown LA! This museum is free, although there’s typically an exhibit or two that you do need to pay for.

You also need to make a reservation ahead of time, but it’s usually not difficult to do. The Broad is also where you can see the famous Infinity Room exhibit by Yayoi Kusama, which while also free, is trickier to access because it needs a separate reservation.

Tickets become available on the last Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. PT for admission the following month.

If you’ve never been to one of Kusama’s exhibits, I’d say it’s 100% worth the hassle. The one main downside I encountered was that you’re only given a minute inside the exhibit. Find out more here.

Best for: fans of contemporary art, anyone on a budget, those looking for a smaller museum

Hours: The Broad is on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m, Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays.

Price: Free

Natural History Museum

If you’re looking for anything from dinosaur bones to ancient fossils, the Natural History Museum is your best choice. I didn’t visit this museum for the first time until recently, and I can say it’s a really awesome museum.

There are a ton of impressive dinosaur displays and exhibits, plus a couple rooms focused on animals from North America and Africa. There’s also the ongoing Becoming California exhibit, a pretty extensive mineral hall, and the outdoor gardens. 

Best for: fans of animals, dinosaurs 

Hours: The museum is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is closed the first Tuesday of every month.

Price: General admission is $18 or $14 with a Student ID. L.A. County residents can also visit for free Mondays through Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m.

Note: It’s located in Exposition Park, an area in Downtown LA that doesn’t have the safest reputation. I honestly think it’s totally fine to visit, and I wouldn’t worry at all here if you’re solo during the day. But I broke down more of my thoughts on safety in LA, plus tips to follow when you’re here, in this guide.

Japanese American National Museum 

This is one that doesn’t seem to pop up often in top museum guides, but I really think that’s an oversight. I visited this museum in Little Tokyo for the first time recently, and was pleasantly surprised by just how extensive it was.

It takes a deep look into the history of Japanese immigration to the United States, and covers the years before, during, and since the internment camps that affected Japanese and Japanese American communities during World War II.

Best for: Those interested in history and Japanese culture.

Hours: It is open every day except for Monday, and its hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to Sundays are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; last entry is at 4 p.m. On Thursdays the museum is open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.; last entry is at 7 p.m.

Price: Tickets are $16 or $9 with a student ID. General admission is also free every third Thursday of the month, and from 5 to 8 p.m. all other Thursdays.

Griffith Observatory

This is one of the best free places to visit in LA (and also, just in general), partly for its amazing view of the city and Hollywood sign, but also just because it’s interesting!

It has a number of cool space-related exhibits, and it also has a planetarium, although you do have to purchase tickets to those shows. I haven’t done that yet, but I still always enjoy visiting the observatory without it. 

Some people think parking here is a nightmare, and I thought so at first, too. As it turns out, it’s usually remarkably easy (especially by LA standards), as long as you know where to go.

Assuming there’s no show going on at the nearby Greek Theater, you can park there for free, and then take a 20-minute walk up to the observatory (there’s a slight incline, but it’s on a paved sidewalk and is very easy as long as you have no mobility issues), or you can also take a bus from right across the street from the parking lot up to the entrance.

Last time I did this option, it was just about 50 cents. There’s also parking right near the observatory, but it’s paid.

Best for: budget travelers, fans of science/space exhibits

Hours: The observatory is closed on Mondays. Tuesdays through Fridays the observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. Weekends it’s open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Price: Free

Museum of Latin American Art

Maybe I’m a bit biased since I live in Long Beach, but in my opinion, this museum is highly underrated.

It’s actually the only museum in the country dedicated specifically to modern and contemporary Latin American art, and its exhibits are always great and show an interesting variety. 

It’s a pretty small museum, and it usually doesn’t take more than an hour or so to see everything.

Best for: Anyone interested in art and Latin American culture, anyone looking for a small and/or affordable museum. 

Hours: It’s open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. 

Price: It’s $7, or free on Sundays!

Grammy Museum

Somehow I haven’t made it to this one yet, but it’s high on my list, and I’ve heard great things!

At the time of writing, exhibits include the influence of hip-hop, the Roxy (a famous venue), Red Carpet outfits, and a Michael Jackson display. Past exhibits have focused on Shakira and Taylor Swift, songwriters, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and more.

Best for: music and pop culture fans

Hours: It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 to 5 on Sundays, Mondays, and Wednesdays through Fridays (it’s closed on Tuesdays). 

Price: $18 for adults or $12 with a student ID. 

Autry Museum of the American West 

This is a really interesting museum that covers all things Western, from Indigenous history and culture to cowboys and more. If you’re interested in learning about California, this would be the place to do it.

I’d plan to spend an hour-and-a-half or so here. It’s located in Griffith Park so can easily be combined with a trip to the Griffith Observatory!

Best for: Anyone interested in culture, Indigenous, California and American history 

Hours: It’s open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s closed on Mondays.

Price: $18, but it’s free every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 4 p.m. Registration is required and ends at 11:59 p.m. the day before.

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