The best Los Angeles museums for a first visit are the Getty Center, LACMA, The Broad, the Griffith Observatory and the museums of Exposition Park, which now include the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Several are free, and the biggest news this fall is in Exposition Park: Space Shuttle Endeavour goes on display standing upright on November 13, 2026.
Below are prices, hours and timing tips for each, checked against the museums’ own sites in late October 2026. Hours and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Quick comparison: prices and closed days
| Museum | Area | Adult admission (fall 2026) | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getty Center | Brentwood | Free, timed reservation; parking $25 | Mondays |
| Getty Villa | Pacific Palisades | Free, timed reservation; parking fee | Tuesdays |
| LACMA | Miracle Mile | $25 LA County residents, $30 others | Wednesdays |
| Academy Museum of Motion Pictures | Miracle Mile | $25 | Tuesdays |
| The Broad | Downtown | Free general admission | Mondays |
| Griffith Observatory | Griffith Park | Free building; paid parking | Mondays |
| California Science Center | Exposition Park | Free; $4 optional reservation fee | Open daily |
| Lucas Museum of Narrative Art | Exposition Park | $25; 17 and under free | Tuesdays |
| Natural History Museum | Exposition Park | Paid; free 3-5 p.m. weekdays for county residents | First Tuesday of each month |
Most of these museums use timed-entry tickets now. Even free ones ask you to book a slot online, especially on weekends.
The Getty Center and Getty Villa
The Getty Center sits on a hill above the 405 freeway, and a small tram carries visitors up from the parking garage. Admission is free with a timed reservation. Parking costs $25 per car, $15 after 3 p.m. and $10 after 6 p.m., according to the Getty’s visitor page. Saturdays after 6 p.m. are free.
It is open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. most days and until 9 p.m. on Saturdays, so a late Saturday visit gives you sunset views and free parking. It closes on Mondays.
Plan ahead if this is on your list. The Getty has announced that the Center will close on March 15, 2027, for about a year of renovation, including a new tram. It expects to reopen in spring 2028, before the Olympics.
The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades shows Greek, Roman and Etruscan art in a recreated ancient villa. It closed after the January 2025 Palisades fire and reopened in summer 2025. The buildings and collection were not damaged, although many trees on the grounds were lost. It is free with a reservation and closed on Tuesdays.
Museum Row: LACMA, the Academy Museum and more
Wilshire Boulevard’s Miracle Mile has the densest cluster of museums in the city. Since May 8, 2026, it is also easier to reach, because the Metro D Line extension opened a Wilshire/Fairfax station steps from LACMA. Our guide to LA Metro fares and passes explains what a ride costs.
LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened its new David Geffen Galleries in spring 2026. The long building stretches over Wilshire Boulevard and holds much of the permanent collection. Admission includes the new galleries.
The LACMA ticket page lists $25 for LA County residents and $30 for others. County residents get in free on weekdays after 3 p.m. with ID, and kids under 18 from the county are always free. LACMA is closed on Wednesdays, which catches many visitors off guard.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Next door, the Academy Museum covers film history, from costumes to the craft of sound and editing. Adult tickets are $25, seniors 62 and up pay $19, and anyone 17 or younger gets in free. After 4:30 p.m., a cheaper “Last Looks” ticket costs $18 for adults. It is closed on Tuesdays.
Nearby on the same stretch are the Petersen Automotive Museum, Craft Contemporary and the La Brea Tar Pits. So one day on Museum Row can easily cover two or three stops.
Downtown: The Broad and MOCA
The Broad on Grand Avenue holds a large collection of postwar and contemporary art. General admission is free every day it is open, as the museum’s visit page confirms. You can walk up, but booking a timed ticket skips the standby line.
The museum is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. It is closed Mondays. The popular Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room needs a separate free reservation.
Across the street, MOCA Grand Avenue also offers free general admission, though some special exhibitions charge extra. Pairing the two takes a relaxed half day, and Walt Disney Concert Hall is on the same block.
Exposition Park: Endeavour, Lucas and Natural History
Exposition Park, just south of downtown next to USC, now has three major museums within a short walk. The Metro E Line stops at Expo Park/USC station.
California Science Center and Space Shuttle Endeavour
General admission to the California Science Center is free. Its new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens on Friday, November 13, 2026, with Endeavour standing upright in launch position, attached to real boosters and an external tank. The science center says it will be the only place where the public can see a complete shuttle stack like this.
Demand will be high in the first weeks. Reservations opened on October 21 through the Science Center’s reservation page, with a $4 per person fee that members do not pay. Visitors without reservations may be turned away at busy times. The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Lucas Museum opened on September 22, 2026. It focuses on storytelling in art, from paintings and illustration to comics and film. Adult tickets are $25 and seniors pay $21, while visitors 17 and under get in free.
Everyone needs a timed ticket, even those who enter free, according to the museum’s plan-your-visit page. It is open late on Fridays and Saturdays, until 9 p.m., and closed on Tuesdays.
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is known for its dinosaur hall and its gem and mineral collection. It is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except the first Tuesday of each month. LA County residents get free entry from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays, though special exhibits cost extra.
Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory is part museum, part viewpoint. Entry to the building, its exhibits and the public telescopes is free. Planetarium shows cost extra.
According to the observatory’s visit page, the building is open noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends. It is closed Mondays, although the grounds stay open.
Parking near the building is paid and fills up fast around sunset. Instead, many visitors take the city’s DASH bus up the hill. Evening visits are best for the telescopes, which usually open after dark on clear nights.
How to plan a museum day in LA
Distances are the main challenge, since the best Los Angeles museums are spread across the city. Grouping them by area saves hours in traffic.
- Westside day: Getty Center in the morning, then dinner in Brentwood or Santa Monica.
- Miracle Mile day: LACMA and the Academy Museum, with the Tar Pits or the Petersen if you have energy left. Avoid Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when one of the two big museums is closed.
- Downtown day: The Broad and MOCA, then a show or food in the Arts District.
- Exposition Park day: Endeavour, the Lucas Museum and Natural History, all walkable.
Weekday afternoons are the cheapest time for locals, because LACMA and the Natural History Museum both offer free entry after 3 p.m. to county residents. Also, Mondays are tricky: the Getty Center, The Broad and the Griffith Observatory building are all closed.
If you are new to the city, our Los Angeles neighborhoods guide helps you see how these areas connect. For more local explainers, see our Los Angeles and California guides.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free museums in Los Angeles?
The Getty Center, the Getty Villa, The Broad, MOCA Grand Avenue, the Griffith Observatory and the California Science Center all have free general admission. Parking or reservation fees may apply.
When can I see Space Shuttle Endeavour standing upright?
From Friday, November 13, 2026, at the California Science Center’s new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. Reserve ahead, because entry may be limited without a reservation.
Is the Getty Center closing?
Yes, temporarily. The Getty plans to close the Center from March 15, 2027, until spring 2028 for renovations. The Getty Villa stays open during that time.
Which LA museums are closed on Mondays?
The Getty Center, The Broad and the Griffith Observatory building close on Mondays. LACMA, the Academy Museum and the Lucas Museum are open that day.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- getty.edu/visit/center
- lacma.org/tickets
- lacma.org/visit
- academymuseum.org/en/visit
- thebroad.org/visit
- californiasciencecenter.org/visit/get-reservations-tickets
- californiasciencecenter.org/press-room/pressrelease/2026-06-24/california-science-ce…
- lucasmuseum.org/plan-your-visit
- nhm.org/plan-your-visit/nhm-buy-tickets
- griffithobservatory.lacity.gov/visit
- metro.net/about/metro-d-line-extension-section-1-through-historic-…