The Getty Center

Plan your visit to The Getty Center

Researched from the venue and public sources, not a first-hand visit. How we write these

How long to spend

Families typically spend three to five hours, split between the tram ride, the Central Garden and lawns, and a few galleries. With younger kids, the outdoor spaces often take up more of the visit than the art.

Best time to go

Weekdays are less crowded, and arriving at opening makes for a calmer visit. Admission is free but requires a timed-entry reservation, so book ahead, especially for weekends.

Parking & getting there

Park in the paid main structure at the base of the hill off Sepulveda Boulevard, then ride the free tram up; there is no street parking nearby. Smaller vehicles can drop off passengers at a turnaround inside the main entrance, and Metro bus 761 stops at Getty Center Drive and Sepulveda.

Best ages

All ages can enjoy the tram, gardens and lawns. Kids who can follow a hunt do well with the Art Detective cards and the family audio tours on the GettyGuide app; every person over age two needs a reservation.

Food

Bringing your own food and non-alcoholic drinks is allowed, and picnics are welcome on the lawn next to the Central Garden and at the Lower Tram Station tables, but no glass or metal cutlery, and no eating in galleries. The Garden Terrace Cafe and coffee carts sell box lunches and snacks, and there is a sit-down restaurant.

What to bring

Pencils and paper for sketching (pens and markers are not allowed in the galleries), a front-facing carrier rather than a back carrier, and sunscreen for the gardens. Free strollers are available at the Lower Tram Station and at Coat Check; double strollers over 31 by 52 inches and stroller wagons without harnessed seats are not allowed.

Rain or heat plan

On a rainy or very hot day, spend more time in the galleries and less in the gardens. Some galleries are temporarily closed for the Getty's modernization project, so check what is open before you go.