Getty Center Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Getty Center. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now: 

• Private Getty Center to Griffith Observatory Guided Tour

• Getty Center Guided Tour from Los Angeles

• Getty Center PRIVATE TOUR by a MUSEUM-TRAINED expert--90 minutes

• Getty Center PRIVATE 2-hr Tour with MUSEUM-TRAINED Art Expert

• Getty Center PRIVATE tour led by a MUSEUM-TRAINED expert

It’s free to visit the Getty Center, including the Tram to the Top, the Art Galleries, and the temporary exhibition halls, although reservations are required. Many travelers choose to visit on a tour: guided tours start at US$39 and self-guided audio tours are from US$4.

Yes, the Getty Center is one of Los Angeles' most celebrated cultural institutions, home to world-class art exhibitions and beautiful landscaped gardens—not to mention one of the best views in the city. While the museum is free to visit, timed-entry reservations are essential. With so much to take in, a guided tour can maximize your time and ensure you don't miss anything.

Per one customer who booked the Getty Center PRIVATE TOUR by a MUSEUM-TRAINED expert–90 minutes, "Sasha promised my 14-year-old son a tour of the Getty that would not be boring, and she delivered! She shared the true stories and "inside information" about the museum, its patrons, and the artists. The tour was a cohesive lesson of European art tailored to our knowledge and interests. Sasha made the art and the artists come to life, as stories of painters, movements, and philosophies flowed together from room to room and period to period. So much more fun, engaging, and immersive than a college course or a stroll through the museum on your own. Her story about van Gogh's life and relationship with his brother meant so much more to my boy than his pic in front of the Irises. Sasha, thank you for a memorable tour that was much more than just "not boring"!"

The main highlights of the Getty Center are a collection of art spanning medieval to modern times; a tram that takes you from the parking lot to the galleries on the hill; one of the world’s largest art libraries; and seasonally changing gardens with city and ocean views.

Yes, the Getty Center offers daily guided tours—these are typically held several times a day and focus on the museum architecture, art collections, or gardens, but sometimes center on specific exhibits. Tours with private companies tend to explore the main art collections in a few hours.

Yes, photography is allowed inside the Getty Center, but there are restrictions. You’re encouraged to take photos and videos with handheld devices at a safe distance from the artwork, as long as they’re only for personal use. Flashes are prohibited, and you’re only allowed selfie sticks outdoors.

To reach the Getty Center by public transport, take Metro Bus Line 761, which stops at the Getty Center entrance on Getty Center Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard. Visitors arriving on bikes can park for free at the bike racks on the entry-level of the parking structure by the elevators.

Yes, there are many places to eat inside the Getty Center. Your options are a self-service lunch café on the lower level; the Garden Terrace Cafe overlooking the Central Garden; several coffee carts; and the full-service Restaurant that serves lunch and dinner. You can also picnic at any public seating area.

No, there is no admission fee to enter the Getty Center in Los Angeles—admission is completely free. However, you can book timed entry slots at 30-minute intervals on the museum’s website—these sell out quickly and guarantee your entry. Parking at the museum is not free.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting the Getty Center. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Los Angeles:

• Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Universal Studios Hollywood

• Hollywood Sign

• Griffith Park

• Sunset Strip

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Los Angeles.