The best museums in Los Angeles in 2026 are the Getty Center, LACMA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, The Broad and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. The Getty Center, Getty Villa, The Broad and the Hammer Museum all have free general admission, though the Getty sites need a timed reservation and charge for parking.
Los Angeles has some of the strongest museums in the country, and several are free. The Getty Center, Getty Villa, The Broad and the Hammer all let you in without a ticket fee, which makes museum-hopping cheaper than almost any other big-city itinerary. The catch is that parking and timed reservations are the real costs to plan for.
Many of the best museums cluster on Wilshire Boulevard's Miracle Mile and in Exposition Park, so group them by area. For everything else on your list, see the best attractions in LA and the best hotels for a base near the museums.
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1. The Getty Center — Brentwood, Westside
Free hilltop art museum with gardens, architecture and city views.
Best for First-timers · Couples · Budget
The Getty Center is the most-visited museum in LA for good reason: admission is free, with a timed-entry reservation, and the hilltop campus has galleries, architecture and the Central Garden. A tram carries you up from the parking structure.
Plan half a day. The views over the city and the grounds are as much of the draw as the collection.
Good to know: Reserve free timed entry online. Parking is $25 per car, $15 after 3pm, $10 after 6pm, and free on Saturdays after 6pm.
The county art museum, now with the David Geffen Galleries open.
$$Mid-rangeBest for First-timers · Couples · Families
LACMA, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is on Wilshire Boulevard in Miracle Mile. The David Geffen Galleries opened in May 2026 and general admission includes them. Urban Light, the streetlamp installation outside, is free to see from the street.
It is the broadest art museum in town and a short walk from the La Brea Tar Pits and the Academy Museum.
Good to know: Closed Wednesdays. Timed tickets are highly recommended and walk-up slots can sell out.
3. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — Miracle Mile, Mid-City & Fairfax
Film museum next to LACMA with props, costumes and the Hollywood story.
$$Mid-rangeBest for Couples · First-timers · Families
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures sits across the street from LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard. It covers film history and craft through costumes, props and exhibitions, in a building that includes a spherical theater.
It is the best museum in LA for movie fans, and a natural pairing with a LACMA visit the same day.
Good to know: Closed Tuesdays. Nearby paid parking runs from about $10 to $40 depending on time and garage.
Free contemporary art museum known for its Infinity Mirror Rooms.
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The Broad is a contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue with free general admission. Its Infinity Mirror Rooms are the most-requested draw, and the collection focuses on postwar and contemporary art.
It sits next to Walt Disney Concert Hall and a short walk from Grand Central Market.
Good to know: Reserving a timed ticket in advance is recommended; walk-ups are available daily. Closed Mondays.
5. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County — Exposition Park, South LA & Inglewood
Dinosaur Hall, Nature Gardens and a long list of permanent exhibits.
$$Mid-rangeBest for Families · First-timers
The Natural History Museum is in Exposition Park, with Dinosaur Hall, outdoor Nature Gardens and a dozen permanent exhibits. It is a favorite family stop and sits next to the California Science Center.
Plan two to three hours, longer with kids who want to see everything.
Good to know: Check nhm.org for current ticket prices, hours and any free-admission windows before you go.
6. The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens — San Marino
Art galleries, a research library and themed botanical gardens in San Marino.
$$$UpmarketBest for Couples · Families · First-timers
The Huntington in San Marino combines an art museum, a library and extensive botanical gardens, so one ticket covers all three. The gardens include a Japanese garden, a rose garden and a desert garden.
It is a half-day trip from central LA and works well paired with Pasadena.
Good to know: Closed Tuesdays. Check huntington.org for current ticket prices and whether timed entry applies to your date.
Free Greek and Roman antiquities in a seaside villa near Malibu.
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The Getty Villa is the Getty's second campus on the coast near Malibu, home to Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities in a villa setting with gardens. Admission is free with a timed-entry reservation.
Pair it with a drive along the coast, or visit the Center and the Villa on the same day.
Good to know: Reserve free timed entry in advance. The Getty gives a coupon for same-day parking at the second site if you visit both.
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Free UCLA museum for modern and contemporary art in Westwood.
Best for Budget · Couples
The Hammer Museum, part of UCLA, is a free modern and contemporary art museum in Westwood. It offers rotating exhibitions and a courtyard that is a pleasant place to rest.
It is an easy stop on a Westside day with the Getty Center.
Good to know: Admission is free and the museum is closed Mondays.
9. Petersen Automotive Museum — Miracle Mile, Mid-City & Fairfax
A car museum on Wilshire with a separately ticketed Vault tour.
$$Mid-rangeBest for Families · First-timers
The Petersen Automotive Museum is on Wilshire Boulevard across from LACMA, and it covers car culture, design and history. The Vault, a separate guided tour with more cars, is ticketed on its own.
It is a clear pick for car fans, and it works well on the same day as LACMA and the Academy Museum.
Good to know: Buy Vault tickets separately and check petersen.org for current hours, prices and tour days.
10. California Science Center — Exposition Park, South LA & Inglewood
Free science museum, with Space Shuttle Endeavour's new home opening November 13.
Best for Families · Budget · First-timers
The California Science Center is in Exposition Park and has free general admission. The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, with Space Shuttle Endeavour displayed upright, opens to the public on November 13, 2026.
It is an easy pairing with the Natural History Museum next door.
Good to know: Reserve timed tickets for the Air and Space Center in advance, as demand is expected to be high.
The Getty Center and Getty Villa have free admission with a timed-entry reservation, The Broad has free general admission, and the Hammer Museum offers free admission. The California Science Center's general admission is also free. Parking and special exhibits can carry a separate fee.
What is the best museum in Los Angeles for first-time visitors?
The Getty Center is the usual first pick because it combines art, architecture, gardens and views and costs nothing to enter. LACMA is the best choice if you want a broad art museum, and the Academy Museum is the pick for film fans.
Are LA museums closed on certain days?
Yes, and the closed day differs: LACMA is closed Wednesdays, the Academy Museum is closed Tuesdays, The Broad and the Hammer are closed Mondays, and the Huntington is closed Tuesdays. Always check the museum's site before you go.
Do I need to book LA museums in advance?
For the Getty Center and Getty Villa, yes, since free timed-entry reservations are required. The Broad recommends booking a timed ticket in advance, and LACMA's site highly recommends timed tickets. The California Science Center recommends reservations for the new Space Shuttle Endeavour building.
What about the La Brea Tar Pits museum?
The Museum at La Brea Tar Pits is temporarily closed for renovation, though many outdoor areas of Hancock Park remain open. Check tarpits.org for updates before planning a visit.
Which LA museum is best for kids?
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County has Dinosaur Hall and outdoor Nature Gardens, and the California Science Center has the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Both are in or near Exposition Park, so you can pair them in one trip.