Bucket list experience:
Credit The Getty Center
Stunningly designed by Richard Meir, this marble-clad modernist complex tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains houses the late billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty’s impressive art collection. Highlights on show include works by Titian and Van Gogh, illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Louis XIV-era furniture and decorative arts.
Strolling through the 110 acres of galleries, gardens and modern buildings perched overlooking the LA sprawl is a must for any visiting art fan.
Want more recommendations in this destination?
Destination Guide >The Getty Center is about 12 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. On-site parking is available – but it usually fills up pretty quickly, so come early (or late) if you want to park; a monorail then carries visitors up to the complex.
Download the museum’s guide app before you go, which has an audio a highlights tour and on-demand information to every exhibit (you just enter the exhibit number). Take your own earphones, or you’ll have to buy them there.
There is a museum café and a formal restaurant with views of the Santa Monica mountains (book ahead for the latter).
It’s open all year round, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed Monday.
Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[2.7 miles]
Live out all your Bel-Air mansion fantasies in this luxurious property, where you can stroll among the tranquil gardens, feed the resident swans and be pampered like one of the hotel’s A-list neighbours in the decadent spa.
Official star rating:
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[5.6 miles]
The Pink Palace is the place to go if you’re looking for pure Old Hollywood glamour – where Marilyn Monroe rubbed shoulders with Elizabeth Taylor.
Official star rating:
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[6.8 miles]
An elegant 1927 Spanish Colonial Revival Mansion with a country estate vibe that combines history with a hard-to-beat location, complete with quirky interiors and beautifully manicured courtyards.
Official star rating:
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[6.9 miles]
Elegant beachside resort in the heart of Santa Monica with the feel of a classic 1950s California beach hotel, just made for soaking up the sun and surf.
Official star rating:
Destination guides including or relevant to this experience
California, United States of America (USA)
The bright lights of Tinseltown are home to surfer-filled beaches, glorious mountain hikes, glitz and glamour in spades and year-round sunshine.
Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[8.1 miles]
An iconic, old-school amusement park and a two-mile stretch of golden beach offer the perfect day at the beach. Great surfing & cycling too.
Best for ages: 4+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[10.5 miles]
The world’s largest museum dedicated solely to the art of film, home to a collection of movie treasures, a rotating roster of exhibitions featuring industry creators and an experience where you can hold a coveted Oscars statuette.
Best for ages: 8+ | £22
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[10.7 miles]
A 20-acre compound of galleries and pavilions housing more than 100,000 works, from ancient Mayan bowls inscribed with bat heads and Japanese sculptures dating from 3000 BC to paintings by Rubens, Cezanne and Degas.
Best for ages: 13+ | £17
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[11.3 miles]
LA’s most vibrant neighbourhood, beachside Venice is a unique blend of boho and kitsch. Surf lessons too.
Best for ages: 6+ | Free
Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[5.3 miles]
For a fascinating insider look at a period mansion and estate in Beverley Hills, call ahead to reserve a tour of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The Beaux Arts mansion from 1911 is surrounded by stunning botanical gardens in a range of styles.
Best for ages: 13+ | £12
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[6.9 miles]
If this Tudor Revival mansion in Beverly Hills looks more than a little familiar it’s due to its stellar Hollywood lineage, having appeared in films including The Big Lebowski and X-Men. Come to explore its formal English gardens and elegant grounds.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[9.1 miles]
John Paul Getty’s homage to ancient Rome and Greece is a Malibu gem, filled with ancient art, beautifully landscaped gardens offering up sparkling ocean views and a 500-seat amphitheatre that hosts some of the city’s finest outdoor classical productions.
Best for ages: 18+ | Free
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)[10.5 miles]
This LA institution in West Hollywood first opened in 1934 and is home to over 100 food stalls and grocers, who specialise in everything from doughnuts and ice cream to beef jerky and gourmet pickles.
Best for ages: 13+ | Free
Round-ups that include this experience
Multiple countries
From New York to London, Paris to Berlin, here’s our round-up of the must-see art galleries and museums around the world that should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.
![Santa Monica Pier & Beach [surfing & cycling]](https://familyhotelfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/Los-Angeles-Santa-Monica-Beach1-SH.jpg)
