A Little Museum… Rediscovering Beauty at the Getty Center

Last updated on June 10, 2023 by Shannon

The Getty Center in Los Angeles sits sentinel on the faded, olive green hills to the west of Hollywood. It’s a sprawling, artistic estate with glistening white marble construction that frames the surrounding scenery with poetic picture frames built into the building’s architecture.

I so easily forget parts of my own home; as I travel endlessly in search of other cultures and experiences, I often forget the U.S. offers so much to travelers—a fact a lot of my fellow Americans point out to me when I tell them I travel extensively overseas . . . I get a, “What’s wrong with the U.S.?”)

About the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California

The last place I lived in the U.S. was Los Angeles, and when I found myself back there for a friend’s wedding, I headed to LA’s Getty Museum. The Getty Museum channels the look and feel of a villa in the Tuscan countryside of Italy and is like traveling to Europe without ever leaving home.

Although you can see the surrounding city and buildings from the Getty Center, you’re sitting far above in a colorful landscape of preserved international sculpture and artwork picked and conserved out by the Getty research institute.

And though I’m often a fan of open and undisturbed nature, the elaborate and manicured gardens transported me into an experience far away from the honking car horns and city-bustle. All of this is a legacy left by a man named J. Paul Getty as a gift to Los Angelenos and the world; the museum is free-of-charge—not the norm in the United States.

The Getty Center was established by the J. Paul Getty Trust, which is one of the world’s wealthiest art organizations. It was named after J. Paul Getty, an American oil tycoon and philanthropist. The center was designed by architect Richard Meier and opened to the public in 1997.

It’s renowned for its extensive art collection, spanning thousands of years and encompassing diverse cultures and artistic styles. The collection includes European paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, illuminated manuscripts, and photographs. Notable highlights include works by renowned artists such as Vincent van Gogh, Rembrandt, Monet, and Renoir.

One of the exciting aspects of the Getty Center is that its exhibitions change regularly. This means that each visit offers a unique experience, with different artworks and themes on display. The museum showcases a mix of its permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, ensuring there’s always something new to explore.

What to Do at the Getty Center

My visit to the Los Angeles Getty Center took advantage one of California’s notoriously sunny days and I took advantage of the free sun umbrellas as my friend Jenn, her Aunt Viv, and I explored the sprawling grounds on one of the Getty’s free tours.

The position of the museum, perched on tall hilltop in the center of the county, affords panoramas of every major highlight on the Los Angeles skyline: downtown LA in the distance, Beverly Hills up close, and the Hollywood Hills just in the foreground.

Then from the other side the sun glitters on the nearby Pacific Ocean with sightings of Malibu, Venice, and even further south on a clear day (ie. after the rains clear the smog from the air). Really the only iconic LA landmark missing is the Hollywood sign (go hike Runyon Canyon to see that!).

The photography exhibit was captivating with portraits of communities and sub-cultures around the world, as well as a humbling and hard to look at photo-series spanning an entire long wall that documented a day spent in a medical tent on the battlefield as military medics operated on the soldiers fighting our wars.

We spent the entire day at the Getty Center and lunched with views looking out over the flowering landscape. The Getty Center is far from a traditional museum because of the huge variety of different experiences.

To lift ourselves out of the weighty feelings after the photography exhibit we played in the colorful gardens and walked through the sculpture exhibit.

We even got in touch with our inner child on a sloping green hill and rolled down the hill alongside the other playing children (they inspired the hill roll you’re about to witness . . . we figured, why not be a little silly on such a beautifully sunny day?!)

The Getty Center was more enjoyable than I had anticipated; it’s one of those things I completely put off visiting while I living in Los Angeles but now can’t imagine not associating with the city. The architecture of the Center so seamlessly fits into and frames the surrounding cityscape and hillsides—if you’ve always said you “hate Los Angeles,” I challenge you to visit the Getty for a day, see the city from above, and feel the same way!

Quick Travel Tips: Getty Center Los Angeles

How to Get to the Getty Center

You need a car to reach the Getty Center in the Hills—you can drive, take a taxi, or use rideshare services like Lyft or Uber. It’s located off of the 405 just north of Sunset Blvd. You park at the base and take the tram up the hill to the museum. Check out the the Official Getty Museum Site for more information. Technically you can also use buses or the Metro to reach the nearest station, from where a shuttle service operates to transport visitors to the center.

How Much Does Visiting the Getty Museum Cost?

Admission to the Getty Center is free, but you have to pay to park on-site. Parking costs $20 or $15 after 3pm. You can use the same parking pass to park at the Getty Villa in the Palisades.

Check the Getty Center’s website for up-to-date information on parking fees, hours of operation, and the changing guidelines or restrictions.

Travel Tips

Wear comfortable shoes and sunscreen. They have a very decent cafeteria for lunch. Bring your camera!