A Culture Lover’s Guide to Los Angeles

Arguably the crown jewel of Los Angeles museums and galleries—quite literally, as it sits atop a hill overlooking the city—the Getty (officially the J. Paul Getty Museum) is home to a collection of pre-20th-century European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, plus 20th-century photography. Explore with a guide to learn more about the center’s many masterpieces, including pieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Degas.

A short drive away in Pacific Palisades, the Getty Villa is a recreation of a Roman country house, where you can see Greek and Roman antiquities, as well as its beautiful grounds and gardens.

Did you know?: The Getty Villa miraculously escaped the 2025 Palisades fire largely undamaged, thanks to herculean efforts by the museum's emergency preparation team.

Frank Gehry’s signature undulating forms make the Walt Disney® Concert Hall a standout structure in Downtown LA. Home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the hall boasts a busy calendar of classical music concerts, with shows taking place most days. Book your tickets ahead online via the venue’s official website to experience its stellar acoustics yourself. Even if you’re not attending a show, a stop here on an architectural walking tour provides a fascinating insight into its design and history.

There's no doubt that Hollywood is the main attraction in Los Angeles; the film industry makes up a significant part of the LA cultural experience and most travelers sign up for at least one movie tour.

For film and television fans, the Warner Bros. Studio Tour offers an inside look into one of the world’s most famous studios. You'll take a tram around the Warner Bros. active backlot, walk through some famous outdoor sets, and if you're lucky, even get onto a soundstage. There's also a museum component of the tour, during which you can sit on the famous Friends couch and see props from film series, such as Harry Potter™ and the DC Universe.

Insider tip: You get better access to all areas of the lot on weekends when filming doesn't often take place. But, there's also something cool about knowing that shows are filming live on weekdays.

Located just outside of LA, in Pasadena, the Huntington is worth the drive. Combining literature, art, and horticulture, the complex is a veritable treasure trove for culture lovers. Its library houses rare books and manuscripts, while the art museum’s collection showcases British, European, American, and Asian art. But the star of the show might just be the gardens—there are 16 themed gardens across some 130 acres (52 hectares), including a serene Chinese garden.

Built into the Hollywood Hills, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the city’s most famous cultural landmarks. The massive amphitheater hosts a variety of performances, including classical symphonies, contemporary pop concerts, and movie screenings with live orchestras. Pack a picnic—you're allowed to bring in food—and enjoy a concert under the stars for a quintessential LA experience. If you don’t have time to catch a show, the Bowl is a mainstay on Los Angeles sightseeing tours, so you can still get a glimpse of this legendary venue.

Did you know?: Getting caught in traffic chaos before and after a show here is part of the traditional culture of Los Angeles. But seriously—you'll want to check the concert calendar before driving by.

As the largest art museum in the western United States—it houses more than 150,000 objects—LACMA’s collection spans centuries and continents. It might be a cliche, but there's something for everyone here. Its outdoor installation Urban Light by Chris Burden, which features a forest of street lamps, is a favorite among the social media set, is free to visit, and is open 24/7. If you’re short on time, book a hop-on hop-off bus tour to drop into the museum and see some highlights during a day of sightseeing.

Related: An Art Lover’s Guide to Los Angeles

It's not only about the silver screen in Los Angeles. Located in the heart of Hollywood, the Pantages hosts touring Broadway productions, bringing the best of the Great White Way to LA. Naturally, the art deco theater did have its roots in the film industry—it opened in 1930 as a hybrid vaudeville theater and a movie house before switching exclusively to films. It even hosted the Academy Awards from 1950–1960. If you can't make it here for a performance, don't worry: Thanks to its place in Hollywood history, many walking tours stop here for a photo op.

Barnsdall Art Park combines the best of Los Angeles' artistic and architectural heritage with the city's proclivity for outdoor recreational spaces. Across its 11.5 acres (4.6 hectares) are the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, the Barnsdall Art Center, and the UNESCO–designated Hollyhock House designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. There's also plenty of grassy space for picnics, an olive grove for picturesque strolls, and scenic viewpoints, from which you can spot Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign.

While the TCL Chinese Theatre might be the most famous movie theater in LA—and it's worth stopping by if you're star-hopping on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—film buffs might choose another spot to catch a flick.

The New Beverly Cinema, owned by director Quentin Tarantino, is a historical movie theater that exclusively screens movies printed on film, rather than digital versions. You might need to head elsewhere if you’re hoping to see the latest blockbuster though, as the Beverly is best known for showing classic, independent, and arthouse films.