Getty Center and Getty Villa
The best of the Getty Center
Free timed entry, parking and the tram, the art and gardens, and the Getty Villa by the ocean: here is how to visit the Getty Center, with honest advice on parking costs, closed galleries and whether a paid tour is worth the money.
See our 4 picks
Short answer The Getty Center is a free art museum on a hilltop off the 405 freeway in Los Angeles. Entry costs nothing but needs a timed-entry reservation. Parking is $25 per car, or $15 after 3pm. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am, until 6:30pm, or 9pm on Saturdays, and closed on Mondays.
Our 4 picks for Getty Center and Getty Villa tours
Entry is free, so you only pay for a guide or an audio tour. Three picks are at the Getty Center and one is at the Getty Villa.
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from €200 per group up to 6 Our top pick 1.5 - 2 hours 5.0 (65) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private Getty Center tour with an art historian
A private 1.5 to 2-hour walk through the highlights with an art historian. You see works by da Vinci, Monet, Rembrandt and van Gogh. Your entry tickets are booked for you.
Best for Families and small groups who want their own guide
Check availability: Private Getty Center tour with an art historian on GetYourGuide -
from €35 per person 2 hours 4.0 (37) reviews on GetYourGuide
Expert-led art and garden tour
Two hours with a local guide through the galleries, the gardens and the buildings. Stops include Van Gogh's Irises and a Rembrandt self-portrait.
Best for Solo travellers and couples on a budget
Check availability: Expert-led art and garden tour on GetYourGuide -
from €7 per person 2.5 hours 4.4 (6) reviews on GetYourGuide
Reserved entry with a self-guided audio tour
The free timed-entry ticket plus an audio tour on your phone, with offline maps and directions. It covers the collection, the architecture and the gardens.
Best for Independent visitors who want stories without a guide
Check availability: Reserved entry with a self-guided audio tour on GetYourGuide -
from €200 per group up to 6 1.5 - 2.5 hours 5.0 (16) reviews on GetYourGuide
Private Getty Villa tour
A private 1.5, 2 or 2.5-hour tour of the Greek and Roman art and the gardens, with views of the Pacific. Admission tickets are included.
Best for Fans of ancient art and history
Check availability: Private Getty Villa tour on GetYourGuide
Getty tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Pickup | Free cancellation | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Getty Center tour with an art historian | €200 per group up to 6 | 1.5 - 2 hours | Private: Just your group, up to 20 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Families and small groups who want their own guide | The best-reviewed Getty tour: 5.0 from 65 reviews. The price is for the whole group. |
| Expert-led art and garden tour | €35 per person | 2 hours | Standard group: Up to 20 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Solo travellers and couples on a budget | The cheapest live guide at the Getty, from €35 per person; rated 4.0 from 37 reviews. |
| Reserved entry with a self-guided audio tour | €7 per person | 2.5 hours | Private group | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Independent visitors who want stories without a guide | From €7, it is mainly the audio tour you pay for, since entry itself is free on the Getty's own site. |
| Private Getty Villa tour | €200 per group up to 6 | 1.5 - 2.5 hours | Private: Just your group, up to 6 people | Meet on site | Yes, up to 24 hours in advance | Fans of ancient art and history | The only Villa tour here, rated 5.0 from 16 reviews; one price for your group. |
Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
What is the Getty Center? The Getty museum in short
The Getty Center is a free museum of art from the Middle Ages to today, set among modern buildings and gardens. It opened in 1997. The architect Richard Meier designed it on a 110-acre site in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains.
You park at the bottom of the hill and ride a free tram to the top. Up there are the galleries, a courtyard with fountains and Robert Irwin's Central Garden, which changes with the seasons.
Getty Center hours, free entry and parking
The Getty Center is open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday from 10am to 6:30pm, and Saturday from 10am to 9pm. It is closed on Mondays. It also closes on New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Is the Getty Center free?
Yes, the Getty Center is free, but you must reserve a timed entry online. Same-day slots may be available, so check before you go.
Parking and getting there
Parking costs $25 per car, $15 after 3pm and $10 after 6pm. On Saturdays after 6pm it is free. Payment is cashless. There is no street parking nearby. Metro bus 761 stops at the entrance on Sepulveda Boulevard, and bikes park for free.
Closed galleries
Some galleries are closed for renovation right now: the South Pavilion, the East Pavilion plaza-level galleries and the North Pavilion galleries. If you come for one work, check that it is on view before you go.
Getty Villa: the other Getty museum
The Getty Villa shows ancient Greek and Roman art in a re-created Roman country house near the ocean. It is at 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. Entry is free with a timed reservation.
The Villa is open daily from 10am to 5pm, except Tuesdays. Parking is $25 per car, or $15 after 3pm. You cannot walk in unless you arrive by public bus; Metro bus 134 stops across from the entrance.
Visiting both on one day
Book both sites for the same date and you pay for parking only once. Ask for the parking coupon at the first museum's information desk. The offer does not apply on Mondays or Tuesdays. The drive between them takes 20 to 45 minutes.
Getty Center tour: guided, audio or on your own
For most visitors, the free visit with the Getty's own GettyGuide app is enough. Book a paid tour if you want a person to explain the art. The private art historian tour rates highest, at 5.0 from 65 reviews.
Be clear on what you pay for. Entry is free on the Getty's site. The paid tours sell a guide or an audio tour, and none of them includes parking.
For a second museum day, pair the Getty with the La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA.
How long to spend at the Getty
Plan two to three hours for a first visit. The Getty suggests 15 to 20 minutes for the tram, 30 minutes in the courtyard, 30 to 45 minutes for the exhibitions and 30 to 45 minutes in the Central Garden. The guided tours on this page last 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
Tips for visiting the Getty
Reserve your free entry first
Every visitor needs a timed-entry reservation. Book it on the Getty's site before you plan the rest of the day.
Come after 3pm to save on parking
Parking drops from $25 to $15 after 3pm. On Saturdays the museum is open until 9pm, and parking after 6pm is free.
Check the closed galleries
Three gallery areas are closed for renovation. Check the Getty's site if you want to see one work.
Read the cancellation line
Each pick shows free cancellation on its booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you pay.
Questions people ask
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Related guides
Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Getty: Visit the Getty Center · Getty Center: parking and transportation · Getty Center: FAQs · Getty Center: top things to do · Getty: Visit the Getty Villa · Getty Villa: parking and transportation · Getty fact book.
Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.