getty center tours

Guide To The Getty Center In Los Angeles: What To See + Tips

Planning a visit to the Getty Center in Los Angeles? This is the ultimate guide to visiting the Getty, which is one of the best art museums in the United States. I identify 20 must see masterpieces and give you must know tips for visiting.

The Getty Center showcases the best art that money can buy. LA’s hilltop acropolis houses the magnificent collection of billionaire oil magnate J. Paul Getty.

Getty wasn’t just wealthy. He was a true connoisseur, a lifelong history buff and art lover. He built a fantastic art collection rich in Greco-Roman works and old master paintings.

Today, 2 million tourists a year visit the Getty Center, housed in a fabulous Richard Meier designed museum space. They come for the fabulous art, gorgeous city views, water features, and lush gardens.

Overview Of The Getty Center

Who was j. paul getty.

J. Paul Getty was an oil tycoon and art enthusiast. He came from money and power. With a loan from his father, he invested in oil wells in the Middle East and became “the richest man in the history of the world.”

But Getty didn’t just have oil fever. Getty started seriously collecting art in the 1930s and was a passionate and lifelong collector. 

Trips to Italy left him with a taste for bronze and marble sculptures from ancient Greece and Rome. He then developed a taste for old masters from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

Getty believed that art should be displayed in a place of “equal quality.” In 1954, he added a museum wing to his 64 acre Malibu ranch.

But that wasn’t enough space either. So, in 1974, Getty built a replica of an Italian villa from Herculaneum, known today as the Getty Villa , and moved his collection there.

Getty never saw his audacious villa-museum. In 1951, he moved to England for good. Getty didn’t return to the US because of a fear of flying. But he approved every Getty acquisition until his death in 1976.

Overview & History Of The Getty Center

Creation of the getty center.

In his will, Getty left the bulk of his fortune ($700 million) to the J. Paul Getty Trust. Overnight, the Getty became the most richly endowed museum in the world.

In 1984, the trust decided they needed more room to house the ever-burgeoning collection. It commissioned Richard Meier to build a billion dollar campus.

In 1996, the bulk of the museum’s collection was relocated there and the museum opened in 1997. The pieces from antiquity remained at the Getty Villa.

Perched on a hilltop, the Getty Center is a beguiling modern day temple made of rough surfaced travertine stone, aluminum panels, and glass. It’s a place where undulating lines follow the natural terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Terraces offer beautiful views of the city and ocean. In the late afternoon, the buildings looks almost golden.

The Getty Center, moreover, is more than a museum. It’s an art institution and urban laboratory. It houses research and administrative centers, conservations programs, and a grant institution. The original collection that Getty amassed has also been expanded to include photographs, drawings, and sculptures.

Layout Of The Getty Center

You enter the museum up a flight of stairs to reach the large Museum Entrance Hall. There you can pick up a map of the museum and other brochures. You can also sign up for one of the Getty’s free tours.

The permanent collection is housed in four pavilions — North Pavilion, East Pavilion, South Pavilion, and West Pavilion. The galleries are minimalist, with skylights and coved ceilings that show off the art with natural light instead of electric light.

The Getty’s most famous painting, Van Gogh’s ( Irises ), is in the West Pavilion. Adjacent to that pavilion is the Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Terrace.

In the center of the complex is a museum courtyard and Exhibition Pavilion. When I was there, the Getty had mounted a fascinating Cy Twombly exhibit exploring the artist’s fascination with Greco-Roman art and poetry.

The Central Garden and Lower Terrace Sculpture Garden are to the Far East of the complex.

The separate pavilions and garden complexes allow you to catch your breath and relax in indoor/outdoor spaces as you proceed from pavilion to pavilion. It makes for a better museum experience than endlessly walking through the typical white or gray corridors.

You can check out this online map to help plan your visit.

Guide To The Getty Center: What To See

The Getty collection covers the period from the Middle Age to the early 20th century. There is no modern art save for the outdoor sculptures.

Here are the top 20 masterpieces and things to see on a visit to the Getty.

1. Van Gogh, Irises

The absolute star of the Getty Center is Vincent Van Gogh’s Irises. In fact, it’s so sought after that the museum employees may point you right to the West pavilion where it’s housed.

Van Gogh was a Dutch Post-Impressionism artist now considered one of the greatest and most influential painters in art history.

Van Gogh’s work is notable for its swirling line, emotional honesty, and bold vivid color. His radical landscapes were like nothing anyone had painted before. 

Irises has Van Gogh’s trademark exuberance. It’s a swirling mass of green and blue flowers with powerful brush strokes. You can almost feel the paintings strong colors and rhythmic vitality.

Van Gogh painted the scene after slicing off his own ear and landing in an insane asylum. The irises were in the asylum garden, and provided a therapeutic outlet for the tortured artist.

2. Edouard Manet, Spring

Manet is known as the “Father of Impressionism,” though he really preceded and overlapped with the movement.

Manet had a huge impact on the development of modernism. He led a bohemian life and scandalized the official Salon with his utter disregard for academic conventions and his strikingly modern images of urban life.

This late Manet portrait depicts a young actress as the embodiment of spring. The actress wears a floral ensemble and is set against a lush background of rhododendrons.

The painting is one of Manet’s most vibrant works. His color palette was typically darker. It was exhibited at the 1882 Paris Salon to rave reviews.

3. Claude Monet Works

The Getty has a trio of significant paintings by the ever-popular Impressionist artist Claude Monet.

Sunrise is a painting that kicked off the Impressionism movement. Along with its companion piece Impression Sunrise at Paris’ Musee Marmottan Monet , it exemplifies Monet’s “plein air” (outdoor) approach to painting and his signature informal and spontaneous brushstrokes.

The painting shocked critics. They denigrated it as an unskilled “impression,” rather than a polished art work. That term gave rise to the movement’s name.

Wheatstacks  was Monet’s first series and the first in which he concentrated on a single subject. In each canvas, the light is different depending on the time of day he painted. The painting reveals Monet’s signature ability to capture form and light with small dabs of paint.

Rouen Cathedral was Monet’s third series, after the poplars and haystacks. Monet loved to paint the lacy western facade of Rouen cathedral in  Normandy . 

Monet painted 30 versions of Rouen Cathedral in Normandy in 1892-93. The Getty’s version was painted with morning light.

The cathedral series was a watershed moment in Monet’s career. The paintings were well-received by critics and found a ready commercial market.

READ : The Impressionism Trail In Normandy

4. Cezanne, Still Life With Apples

Cezanne was a hugely influential painter of the late 19th century. Monet called Cezanne “the greatest of us all.” For Picasso, he was the father of modern art.

Cezanne threw away the long prevailing convention of single point perspective. He used multiple perspectives in a single canvas, portraying objects as sets of abstract shapes.

Still lifes were an obsessive motif for Cezanne. During the last 30 years of his life, he painted the objects in this painting –the green vase, the rum bottle, the ginger pot, and the apples — over and over again. His interest was not in the objects themselves, but in using them to experiment with shape, color, and lighting. 

5. J.M.W. Turner, Modern Rome

Turner is Britain’s most famous and important Romantic era artist. In the mid 19th century, Turner shocked his colleagues with his loose brush strokes and fiery palette, presaging the later Impressionist movement. 

In this Getty painting, Turner captures the Eternal City of Rome . The city’s ancient ruins are seen through a shimmering veil of paint and light. Amid these monuments, you see citizens carrying on with their day’s work.

The Getty acquired the painting in 2010 at a Sotheby’s auction in London for $44.9 million. Because the painting has always been behind glass, it’s in pristine condition, unusual for a Turner painting.

6. Goya, Bullfight

In the 19th century, Goya was the most famous painter in Spain, with no rival during his lifetime. He was the official court painter for Charles IV and Ferdinand VII, specializing in portraits and religious paintings.

Goya was known for capturing not only his subjects’ likenesses, but their personal expressiveness and individuality.

Bullfights were a lifelong theme for Goya. In this Getty painting, he depicts the fraught confrontation between a passionate picador, his terrified horse, and the besieged bull.

Goya painted this romantic scene at the end of his career. He had begun experimenting with different techniques and more ominous themes, as seen in the terrifying Black Paintings in the Prado Museum .

7. Jacques-Louis David, The Farewell of Telemachus and Eucharist

French artist Jacques-Louis David was a master of the grand Neo-Classical style of painting. It was a style and subject matter derived from antiquity. His painting are characterized by firm linear contours, pure colors, polished forms, and frieze-like compositions.

This painting is the very image of ideal love. It was inspired by characters from Homer’s Odyssey .

The son of Odysseus, Telemachus, falls in love with the nymph Eucharist. But he’s forced to end the romance to go off in search of his missing father. The painting conveys their sorrow.

8. Jean-Honore Fragonard, The Fountain of Love

Fragonard was an 18th century French painter whose reputation rests on his light-hearted Rococo love scenes. He was renowned for his use of light, color and expressive brushstrokes.

Fragonard’s most famous painting is the iconic Swing in London’s Wallace Collection .

Like that one, this Getty Center painting, Fountain of Love , is set in a verdant and shadowy forest. Two young lovers rush to an ancient fountain to sip its magical waters. One sip and they will fall in love. It’s a dreamy and luminous moonlit image.

The Getty acquired the painting in 1999. X-ray analysis suggests that it was Fragonard’s primary version of the subject, and that a better known and more highly finished painting,  The Fountain of Love in the Wallace Collection, London , was painted afterward. 

9. Andrea Mantegna, The Adoration of the Magi

Italian artist  Andrea Mantegna  bridged the Early and High Renaissance periods of art history. He was a pioneer of spatial illusionism.

Mantegna used visual distortions to create uncanny effects of 2D and 3D images on flat surfaces. His works reflect a perfectionist love of detail. 

This painting is a close up composition of half length figures set against a neutral background. It was inspired by ancient Roman reliefs. This private devotional piece was likely created for Mantegna’s patron, the Gonzaga family of Mantua .

10. Gentle de Fabriano, The Coronation of the Virgin

This beautiful painting is an early Renaissance work by Italian artist Gentile da Fabriano. In a formal ceremony, Christ crowns his mother, the Virgin Mary.

The painting was once a processional standard.Typical of Fabriano’s worth painting has richly saturated colors ad decorative gold leaf.

The other side of our panel once bore another painting, also by Gentile:  St. Francis Receiving the Stigmata . No one knows why the two pieces were separated.

11. Bronzino, Virgin and Child

Bronzino was a Mannerist (late Renaissance) painter in the Medici Court in Florence . He’s know as an elegant master of portraiture.

This is an arrestingly beautiful and deeply saturated composition of this common grouping. The gleaming figures are crisply outlined with luminous skin. They almost appear as marble statues.

The painting was only rediscovered. It went on view at the Getty in 2019 for the first time.

The painting shows Bronzino at the height of his career. Characteristic of his style are the enamel-like surface and the lavish use of expensive pigments.

12. Titian, Penitent Magdalene

The Italian artist Titian was to Venice what Michelangelo was to Florence — a hugely important and defining artist. More than other Renaissance artist, the Venetians celebrated the sensual in art and often used courtesans as models.

Titian painted six versions of the Mary Magdalene, a famous penitent sinner. She’s a woman with a dissolute past who asks Jesus for forgiveness.

Titian portrays Mary with long, almost sensuous, copper brown hair. She tries to cover her breasts with it. She gazes upward at heaven, with a look of love and awe in her eyes.

13. Artemisia Gentileschi, Lucretia

The Getty owns a rare and striking painting by the Baroque master Artemisia Gentileschi , Lucretia . It’s flanked by paintings by her artist-father Orazio Gentileschi.

In  Lucretia , Gentileschi depicts a female figure on the brink of suicide. Lucretia was a Roman noblewoman. After being raped by the son of an Etruscan king, she killed herself rather than be dishonored as unchaste.

Many other painters have tackled Lucretia’s story. But none in the same way as Artemisia.

Artemisia shows the moment before the suicide, when Lucretia aims a dagger at her chest. She portrays a determined Lucretia, secure in her decision to end her life.

In the Baroque style, Lucretia’s skin and pearls are translucent and contrast with the horror of suicide.

14. Jan Steen, The Drawing Lesson

Jan Steen was the humorist among Dutch Golden Age painters. He created nearly 800 paintings, most with a moral beneath the wit. In fact, moral ambiguity was a central concern of many 17th century Dutch artists.

But in The Drawing Lesson , Steen celebrates the status of the artist’s profession, a rare subject of the time. In it, a painter tutors a young boy and girl who are tasked with drawing a plaster cast of a male nude.

The studio is littered with objects that were the frequent subject of Dutch still lifes. Steen’s technique is especially refined.

15. Masaccio, Saint Andrew

The artist  Masaccio  was a Renaissance wunderkind. Though his life went by in a flash (he died at 27), he was a hugely innovative painter. He was the first painter in art history to experiment with linear point perspective. 

His radical ideas about what could be done on a flat surface helped shape the history of Western art. Some art historians call Masaccio the first truly Renaissance artist.

The Getty owns Masaccio’s painting of Saint Andrew . It’s a panel that was formerly in a private chapel in Pisa Italy .

The saint is shown with his usual attributes, a cross and a book. His features are careworn. His haunted gaze is one of the first steps toward the naturalism that would dominate Italian Renaissance art.

READ : Guide To Masaccio’s Brancacci Chapel In Florence

16. Workshop of Leonardo, Madonna and Child with Saint Anne

If you can’t get to the Louvre to see Leonardo da Vinci’s The Virgin and Child With Saint Anne , you can see a faithful copy of it at the Getty Center. It was created by Leonardo’s worship in Milan , possibly by his lover and pupil Salai.

In the painting, the infant Chris turns toward his mother as he mischievously tugs the ears of a lamb. It has the classic background landscape invented by Leonardo — a misty vista of mountains.

READ : Guide To the Paintings of Leonardo da Vinci

17. Rembrant, Rembrandt Laughing

Rembrandt is considered the greatest painter of the Dutch Golden Age.He was renowned for his ability both to depict very realistic human figures and portray deep human emotion.

His extensive self-portraits (over 80) form a unique visual biography of the artist. He always portrayed himself without vanity and with a vulnerable sincerity.

In 2012, the Getty acquired one of Rembrandt’s self portraits, Rembrandt Laughing . It’s an early self-portrait, depicting the 22 year old artist as a soldier. His features are animated as if captured in a spontaneous moment.

18. Parmigianino, Virgin and Child With Saint John the Baptist and Mary Magdalene , 1535-40

With the possible exception of his nemesis Correggio, Parmigianino was the leading painter of Palma Italy. He was technically adept virtuoso who also worked in Rome and Bologna. 

Like Bronzino, he was brilliant exponent of the Mannerist style. The Getty painting has a polished and enamel-like surface, with a lush landscape.

The original function of this painting is unknown, but its scale and subject matter imply that it was perhaps independently commissioned for a private chapel. The unconventional iconography of this painting typifies Parmigianino’s innovative work. 

READ : Best Renaissance Paintings in the United States

19. Modern Outdoor Sculpture

The Getty Center has an impressive collection of outdoor sculpture, consisting mostly of works bequeathed by the late legendary film producer Ray Stark and his wife, Fran.

Most of the sculptures can be found in The Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Garden (near the tram) and The Fran and Ray Stark Sculpture Terrace (adjacent to the Museum’s West Pavilion).

I’ll just highlight a few pieces.

Aristide Maillol’s  Air is located on the Museum’s grand staircase, You’ll see it as you enter the complex.

Maillol was a French sculptor who specialized in monumental sculptures of nude women. His sculptures were both objects and allegorical.

With a grayish-blue surface, Air seems to float in space. She’s idealized, a personification of air. You’ll also find his Torso of Dina and Torso of Summer on the museum grounds.

Marino Marini is known for his equestrian sculptures. Angel of the Citadel depicts a man astride his horse, excited by the pure joy of living. Every part of his body is alert and stretched, even, intentionally, his manhood.

Seated Cardinal is a work by Italian artist Giacomo Manzu on the south terrace. Manzu created sculptures that were not simply representational, but were also symbols of universal meaning. This simplified form was inspired by the stiff looking cardinals he encountered at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City .

The Getty also owns some bronze sculptures by British artist Henry Moore. He was a radical and experimental artist who became the leading sculptor of his generation and a pioneer of modern sculpture.

You can see his intentionally distorted Seated Woman , Draped Reclining Mother and Baby , and his Bronze Form (more than 14 feet high!). The reclining pose was one of Moore’s favorite, as was the mother and child theme.

A couple other modern sculptures to looks for are Roy Lichtenstein’s Three Brushstrokes , Alberto Giacometti’s Standing Woman I , and Rene Magritte’s Delusion of Grandeur .

20. Getty Gardens

From its inception, outdoor gardens were pivotal to the Getty’s mission of building a beautiful space to experience art.

Architects wanted the landscape and architecture to interact and reflect the changing seasons, with brilliant pink and red blooms contrasting with the pale travertine. 32 full time gardeners work at the Getty to achieve this sublime effect.

The most beloved space is the Central Garden. Designed by Robert Irwin, you access the garden by a zig zagging path, a stream coursing underneath. The garden culminates in a reflecting pool in which a maze of colorful azaleas seem to float.

Five water gardens also enliven the space at the Getty. The Museum Courtyard has a long reflecting pool with jets and a secluded pool with rocks and a fountain.

Practical Guide & Tips For Visiting The Getty Center

1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049

The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. Saturday hours are 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. Closed Mondays.

The Getty Center is completely free, which is amazing for a museum of this caliber. To visit, you just have to book a timed entry ticket online (no fee). You’ll be turned away without a reservation.

Print your ticket out to show the attendants. But they can also look up your ticket by name, if you’re traveling and don’t have access to a printer.

If you’re visiting in the high season (summer), you should book several weeks in advance. Otherwise, it’s probably fine to book several days or a week in advance.

The Getty offers many free tour. They leave from the Information Desk and include:

• Architecture Tour : 45 minute outdoor tour at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm
• Garden Tour : 45 minute outdoor tour focusing on the Central Garden at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm, and 2:00 pm
• Spotlight Tour : Quick 20 minute tour of the special exhibition at the Getty at 11:15 am, 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, and 2:15 pm
• Collections Tour : 45 minute tour featuring select masterpieces at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm

For a more extensive tour, you may want to book this 90 minute guided tour , which focuses on either the highlights or a particular period of art history.

Parking & Shuttle :

You’ll need to park in the designated parking lot, which costs $20. You get a ticket and pay at the pay station machine on your way out.

From the parking lot, you will need to check in and give your ticket to the attendant. Then, you board a tram that takes you to the Getty Center in 5 minutes or so. On the brief ride, you’ll see the unfolding vistas of the museum.

How Long To Visit The Getty Center?

I think the Getty Center deserves at least 3 hours for a first time visitor. It’s a large complex. There are many pavilions, special exhibitions, the gardens, the outdoor sculptures, etc.

If you are an art lover, you may want to dedicate the better part of the day to the Getty.

For example, you could arrive around 10:00-10:30 am, break for lunch at the Garden Terrace Cafe, and then spend a couple more hours admiring the art. You’ll need to make a reservation on Open Table for the restaurant.

Food at the Getty Center :

There are four food options at the Getty Center.

The Restaurant on the Plaza level is a sit down space with majestic views. You’ll need to make reservations in advance on Open Table to ensure a a spot, it’s poplar. You can also book afternoon tea on Friday and Saturday from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.

There’s also the Garden Terrace Cafe overlooking the Central Arden and a self service cafe on the lower level with sandwiches, soups, etc.

There’s also a coffee art with food and beverages in the Museum Courtyard. This honestly wasn’t bad. I missed my reservation at the restaurant beccause there is just so much to see, but had a tasty chicken curry wrap instead.

Is The Getty Center Worth Visiting?

100% yes. The Getty Center is one of the top museums in the United States and it’s magnificent.

Even if you’re not an art lover, it will delight. The buildings and gardens are beautiful and you have stunning views of LA from every terrace.

If you’re an art lover that admires Old Masters, the Getty is a must visit US bucket list destination. Plus, it has one of the most famous Van Gogh paintings in the US.

What To Visit Near The Getty Center

The best place to visit in conjunction with the Getty Center is the Getty Villa, just 15-25 minutes down the road.

The villa is a pristine recreation of a seaside Roman estate housing billionaire oilman J. Paul Getty’s collection of Greco-Roman antiquities. It’s wonderful and the perfect way to see all of the Getty’s treasures in one day!

Here’s my compete guide to the Getty Villa .

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to the Getty Center. You may enjoy these other US travel guides and resources:

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Last Updated on August 31, 2023 by Leslie Livingston

The Getty Center

Price & Hours

• Facilities 4.5
• Atmosphere 4.5

The Getty Center is one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the United States – and it also contains some of the finest works of art in the world. The circular concrete-and-steel structure was designed by renowned architect Richard Meier, and it houses an abundance of art from various ages and nations. Here you'll find Renaissance paintings, 20th-century American photography, Baroque sculptures, historic manuscripts and more, all housed inside a sprawling, modern campus amid the Santa Monica Mountains. The museum also offers spectacular views of Los Angeles on clear days.

Recent travelers loved the museum for its vast collection and beautiful grounds and views, with some stating that they enjoyed the tram ride to get to the museum. Many visitors suggest taking a guided tour, noting that the volunteer guides were very knowledgeable. Tours of the Getty Center's architecture and gardens are available, as well as a Collection Highlights tour and tours of art in specific eras. Tour times and days vary depending on tour type. Check the Getty Center's website for a complete calendar . Visitors can also download the GettyGuide app for self-guided tours.

Located just north of Santa Monica  near the UCLA campus, the Getty Center can be a bit tricky to get to. (Note: The only public entrance to the Getty Center is by Getty Center Drive from North Sepulveda Boulevard. Some GPS devices offer misguided directions.) Parking costs $25 per vehicle or $15 after 3 p.m. For evening events and Saturdays after 6 p.m., parking is $10. Upon arrival, you board a tram that ascends the hill to the museum grounds. Best of all, entry to the museum is free, however timed reservations are required, which can be made through their website .

The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except on Saturdays, when it stays open until 8 p.m. Available facilities include two coffee carts, two cafes, a restaurant, gift shops and a garden with more than 500 kinds of plants. Guests are also allowed to bring their own picnic (no alcohol). Visit the Getty Center's  website  to learn more.

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Griffith Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood and overlooks the Los Angeles basin. Its location gives visitors impressive views of the surrounding area, which many rave about. But there's more than just a pretty photo-op here. The observatory hosts fascinating exhibitions and features a top-notch planetarium.

Most recent visitors cited the beautiful setting as Griffith Observatory's main draw, though the free entry was certainly a bonus. However, you will have to pay between $6 and $10 to see the planetarium shows. Griffith Observatory is open Tuesdays to Fridays from noon to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A gift shop and cafe can be found on-site as well. For information about parking, public transportation and other information to plan your visit, check out Griffith Observatory's  website .

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Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center Tour

Art, astronomy, and the best views in all of los angeles.

• When 10 AM Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
• Duration 6 hours
• Meeting Point In front of TASCHEN Store Hollywood at 6333 W. 3rd St.

$95 per adult

Local experts, worry-free booking.

Check Availability

• Meeting Point
• Travel Tips

• Get an insider’s look at these two famous landmarks on our guided tour designed by an astronomical artist.
• Explore art, science, architecture, movie trivia, LA history, and much more.
• Learn how The Getty Center and creator J. Paul Getty established a cultural hub overlooking the beaches of LA.
• Discover the history of Griffith Park, a gift to the city from philanthropist Griffith J. Griffith.
• See exhibits at both locations with an expert to show you highlights you don’t want to miss.
• Enjoy panoramic views of the coastline, LA Basin and Hollywood Sign from the top of The Getty and Griffith Park.
• Upgrade for an out-of-this-world planetarium show at Griffith Observatory, featuring art by the guide who designed your tour!

What you'll do

The Getty Center and Griffith Observatory are two of LA’s best landmarks. See both in one perfect day. 

We’ll begin at the Getty, which features thousands of paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts inside and beautifully landscaped gardens outdoors. Your guide will show you the highlights on a 30-minute tour and allow an hour of free time so you can enjoy the art and grounds at your own pace. See paintings by Rembrandt and van Gogh, ancient Roman statues, French furniture, pottery, porcelain, and much more.

Then we’ll head to Griffith Observatory. This portion of the tour was designed by some of the observatory’s former employees as well as an astronomical artist that worked on the current planetarium show. We’ll enhance your experience by taking you on a curated journey through the exhibits. Here again, we’ll allow you plenty of free time to explore at your leisure. 

And get ready for the incredible photos. There are so many Instagrammable shots at both locations. You’ll be blown away by these stellar West Coast views.

Don’t forget the opportunity to add a show in the world-famous planetarium with our optional upgrade available for ages 5 and older. It’s a 40-minute show through outer space with live narration in a high-tech theater.

Ready to discover the wonders of the Getty Center and the Griffith Observatory all in one perfect day? We can’t wait to show you the real stars of LA!

Original Farmers Market

Our meeting point and a celebrity hotspot

The Getty Center (30-minute highlights tour + 60 minutes free time)

Featuring European paintings and sculptures from the 1800s to present day

Bus ride to Griffith Park

Narrated tour through Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, and Hollywood as we drive to the observatory

Food options available at both The Getty and Griffith Observatory cafes or BYO to enjoy at either destination

Griffith Observatory (15-minute highlights tour + 60 minutes free time)

Your doorway to the cosmos and a glimpse of our place in it

Hollywood Sign

One of the best views of this LA icon

Optional upgrade: Samuel Oschin Planetarium

A show in an immersive theater with a high-tech star projector

Ride back and dropoff

Returning to the Original Farmers Market

Make this tour private

Book this tour for just your group, starting from $199.

Plan your trip

Planetarium tickets.

Tickets are available on-site for $10 per adult and $6 per child aged 5-12. Children under 5 aren’t allowed in the theater.

Accessibility

This tour is accessible for strollers and wheelchairs.

Tour ending point

This tour ends at Original Farmers Market.

Refund policy

We offer a 100% refund up to 24 hours before the start time.

Matt provided an exceptional tour experience at the Getty Museum and Griffith Observatory. His deep knowledge of the artworks, engaging storytelling, and friendly demeanor enhanced our visit. Highly recommended for an informative and enjoyable tour!

Meeting point

You’ll board the bus in front of TASCHEN bookstore at 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Look for your guide wearing official ExperienceFirst gear.

Do I need a seat for my infant or toddler?

There are no reserved seats for children 2 and under (and no charge for their ticket), and they are required to sit on your lap. If you’d like a seat for your toddler or infant, please purchase one at the child rate. Children 3 and older require their own seat. Car seats are optional and must be provided by you with a reserved seat.

What is the rescheduling policy?

We understand plans change. We offer a 100% refund or the option to reschedule up to 24 hours prior to your tour start time. Within 24 hours of your tour, we would have incurred hard costs and therefore cannot allow rescheduling or cancellation without costs.

When should I get there?

Plan to show up 15 minutes early. The tour starts promptly, and you may not be able to catch up if you arrive late.

What if it rains?

Our tours run rain or shine. If there’s extreme weather and we have to cancel, you’ll get a full refund.

Are gratuities included?

Tips aren’t included but are always appreciated by our guides. If you think your guide did an outstanding job, a tip is a great way to show that.

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We offer a tour in which, you can visit the Getty Center to view various exhibitions, collections, and outdoor art installations—all of which reaches across European and American history, from medieval times to the present. Join us as we visit the Getty Center LA and view various works of art.

Our Museum Tour

Travel with us in our luxurious and spacious Sprinter vans as we head north toward Los Angeles, where you can find the Getty Center. We’ll board a tram to the top of the hill, where we can marvel at this architectural wonder designed by architect Richard Meier.

Entering the Getty Center

As you cross the threshold of the Getty Center, you can marvel at its classy and luxurious grounds and walls that have been anointed with 80,000-year-old travertine stone. The inspiring views of the Bel Air, Santa Monica, and Downtown LA form the backdrop of this museum.

Walk the grounds of the Getty Center. You will pass by flowing waters, fountains, and gardens that are artistic sculptures themselves. The Central Garden—created by renowned artist Robert Irwin—lies at the heart of the site.

The Getty Center is the flagship destination of the J. Paul Getty Trust that welcomes more than a million visitors yearly. It is also the home to the Central Garden, Research Library at The Getty Research Institute, and the J. Paul Getty Museum’s collection of Western art from the Middle Ages to the present.

With its distinct and high-class architecture, the Getty Center is certainly worthy of Jean Paul Getty—history’s first recorded billionaire. In this museum, your curiosity will be inspired and your understanding of art will deepen. You can enjoy a collection of European drawings, paintings, sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, and decorative arts as well as American and European photographs from the 19th century to today.

The Getty Center is a modernist hilltop campus featuring expansive open spaces as well as panoramic views of Los Angeles. Docent-led tours are also available for you and your group. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of dining options including a restaurant, two cafés, a picnic area, and several coffee carts.

Duration: +/- 8 Hours

Lunch Not Included in Our Rates

Subject to Availability

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HEARST CASTLE NOW OPEN FOR TOURS.

Hearst Castle

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Plan Your Visit

A museum like no other

William Randolph Hearst started to build a fabulous estate on his ranchland overlooking the village of San Simeon in 1919. He called the estate "La Cuesta Encantada" - Spanish for The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, the hilltop complex included a twin-towered main building, three sumptuous guesthouses, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and pools.

The fanciful Gothic Study is the centerpiece of Hearst's private suite on the third floor of "Casa Grande" - the main building of the hilltop estate at San Simeon. He previewed his newspapers every night here before printing. The concrete arches were decorated by Camille Solon in 1934-35, but the historic Spanish ceiling dates from the early 1400s.

The world-famous outdoor swimming pool at Hearst Castle was refilled in August 2018 after two years of restoration and repair. With water that refracts light to create a brilliant turquoise hue, the Neptune Pool is a photographer’s delight.

Featured Tours View All »

Grand rooms tour.

Travel back in time and experience what it was like to be a guest at The Enchanted Hill.

Upstairs Suites Tour

Explore the upper floors of the architectural wonder called Casa Grande.

Cottages & Kitchen Tour

Tour some of the most personal rooms of the property and some of its most practical ones.

Julia Morgan Tour

This seasonal tour is a two-hour look into the woman behind the masterpiece.

The Perfect California Road Trip!

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Covid-19 Safety Measures

Before visiting, please make sure you read our COVID-19 safety measures page.

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