Getty Center: a practical visitor guide
Quick answer
The Getty Center is free, but you need a timed-entry reservation. It opens Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 10am–6:30pm, Saturday 10am–9pm and is closed Mondays. Parking is $25 per car, and a free tram carries you up the hill. The Center is expected to close for renovation from March 15, 2027.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
More Getty Center guides
- Getty Center in 2 hoursA 2-hour route through the Getty Center: Van Gogh's Irises, the Impressionists, Meier's architecture and the gardens, with timings and tram tips.
- Hours, tickets & free entryGetty Center free entry: how to reserve, opening hours, parking fees, best time to visit to avoid crowds and what costs money. Checked in 2026.
- Must-see artKey works and places at the Getty Center: Van Gogh's Irises, Monet, Manet, Turner, the Central Garden and Richard Meier's architecture.
- Getty Center with kidsHow to visit the Getty Center with kids: a 75-minute route, the tram, gardens, picnics allowed, free entry with reservation and family tips.
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Why the Getty Center is a must
The Getty Center brings European art, photography and decorative arts together on a Richard Meier-designed hilltop campus in Brentwood, with views from downtown to the Pacific. Admission is free, and alongside masterpieces such as Van Gogh's Irises, Monet, Manet and Turner you get travertine architecture, Robert Irwin's Central Garden and a cactus garden. Many visitors call it LA's best free outing.
How to plan your visit
- Reserve your free timed entry on getty.edu. Parking cannot be reserved (reservations aren't accepted).
- Park in the garage and ride the free electric tram to the arrival plaza.
- Some galleries are closed for improvements (the South Pavilion, the East Pavilion plaza-level galleries and the North Pavilion when checked), so confirm what's on view.
- You may bring your own food and non-alcoholic drinks; eating and drinking are not allowed inside the galleries.
- Use the AnyArt app to point at a painting and hear its story, or the free GettyGuide app.
2027 closure: go before it shuts
Press reports say the Getty Center will close to the public on March 15, 2027, and reopen in spring 2028 after its largest modernization since opening in 1997. The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades will stay open and will show a selection of works from the Center. Check getty.edu for exact dates before planning a trip around then.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Getty Center free?
Yes. Admission is free but requires a timed-entry reservation on the official website. The only cost is parking, $25 per car ($15 after 3pm, $10 after 6pm).
How long do you need at the Getty Center?
Two hours covers the highlights of the galleries and the architecture. With gardens, lunch and views, plan 3 to 4 hours.
How do you get to the Getty Center without a car?
City buses stop at the lower entrance, and the free tram carries you up the hill. Taxis and ride-shares also reach the garage.
Where is Van Gogh's Irises?
Irises (1889) hangs in the Getty Center's 19th-century painting galleries. With renovations under way, confirm its location at the information desk.
When does the Getty Center close for renovation?
A closure from March 15, 2027 to spring 2028 has been announced. Check the exact dates on getty.edu before traveling.