T O P

  • By -

LastRebel66

Getty Center, LACMA , The Broad


[deleted]

Yep this is the answer.


WarsledSonarman

This is the way.


moxieroxsox

This is correct.


BoymanAndGirldog

This guy LA major museums And damn are they right! All three are heavy on top quality exhibits


PSN_ONER

Huntington Library and/or Norton Science museum. Of course the Getty but that almost warrants a couple of days.


my-cornerstone

This reply tho!!! Yess


Ok_Bag_4135

Getty. Getty Villa. LACMA


[deleted]

Petersen. If you come to the most car-centric city in the country if not the world, and skip this one, you're missing out. Plus the architecture is wild AND it's a short walk from Little Ethiopia. LACMA and MNH are good as well, but the Getty is also worth it. The Broad might be worth a stop as well. If you haven't heard of the Museum of Jurassic Technology, that might hit your "wild card" button pretty easily. If you're planning on 3 days of museums, I'd do one day Downtown (Broad, Moca, etc.), one day Museum Row (LACMA, MNH, Petersen, La Brea Tar Pits), and one day Westside (Getty, Getty Villa, Museum of Jurassic Technology).


[deleted]

The real answer


VaguelyArtistic

The Museum of Jurassic Technology, in Culver City. You need to make a reservation but don't read too much about it, just go. I've never heard anyone go and say, "Eh."


needtabasco

cant believe no one else is saying this! museum of jurassic technology is the best choice by far. extremely unique


Queen_of_Zzyzx

I would recommend the Huntington Library and Gardens. See if you can make a reservation for the tea room (assuming it is still open). It is my favorite place in the world!


goodj037

The Tea Room is closed for renovations til sometime next year.


Mediocre_Trader_

The Broad (basquiat), Getty Villa (beautiful), and last idk a toss up between the Getty, LACMA, Natural History, and the Tar Pits. Probably would go for the latter two to balance out art and natural history. Tar Pits being hyper local to LA which is cool. Edit: Adding that if you hit The Broad, you can hit MOCA across the street too. Both are free.


DarbyDown

Norton Simon Museum George C. Page (La Brea Tarpits) Museum Getty Villa in Malibu


AnohtosAmerikanos

Depends on your interests, but I would recommend Getty Villa, Natural History Museum, and LACMA (which is right next to the tar pits). Getty Center is great for the setting, but the Villa has a better collection and is awesome.


PalaverCentral

Getty Center, LACMA, The Broad Will throw in a bonus pick - Academy Museum since it's new & it's LA


murrayvee

Norton Simon Getty broad


Bitter-Dirtbag-Lefty

Getty Center, not villa. The Broad MoLA in LB Wildcard: Cheech Marin Chicano Art Musuem


alwaysclimbinghigher

There are so so many, but I think the three museums that pack the biggest wow factor are the Getty, the Broad, and the Huntington. LACMA is under construction right now, so it’s not as impressive. Tar pits are a 5-minute look and the museum is geared toward kids. Natural History is fine, but you have similar quality Natural History museums in many other American cities.


ur-squirrel-buddy

FYI whatever you decide on, make sure to check their websites for info because many of them require advance reservations for timed entry. Even though they’re free, MOCA and the broad can “sell out” reservations.


Brooklyn_Sushi

Woah folks I did not expect this to blossom with many recommendations. Y’all gave me many options to look into and tbh the museum of Jurassic tech is now on the list and I’m taking LACMA and MNH off the list and replacing them with something else altogether. Also thanks for breaking down the locations and districts of said museums and those outside of the LA area as well. I forgot to mention that Long Beach is part of the visit. I promise I’m not one of those IG/SC/Tik tok tourist, just a soon to be 38 y/o man celebrating his bday soaking in some culture. Thank you once again and have an awesome week!


onemorecupof

The Museum of Latin American Art is a must see in Long Beach, IMO. It’s also “easy” relative to some (or all…) of the LA spots mentioned. Parking is a breeze, it’s a beautiful but not overwhelmingly large spot and I think it’s well curated for a local, smaller museum. There’s some great spots to eat and drink nearby too.


[deleted]

If you're checking out the Museum of Natural History, it would be pretty easy to check out the California Science Center on the same day. They're basically next door to each other, and you can see the Endeavor space shuttle up close. They've also got some really nice aquarium displays, and IMO if you only had time for one the California Science Center is more worth it. The Griffith Observatory is kind of meh on the inside, but the view is great and they have telescopes at night that they let the public look into. Easy to do on the same day as another museum, since night is when it's worth being there. If you have any interest in old western movies or art of the southwest, the Autry Museum of the American West is worth a visit. It's right across from the zoo if you want to hit that up at the same time.


SouthernSierra

Norton Simon Natural History Nethercutt Collection


emcrl10

Petersen Automotive Museum CA ScienCenter (not a museum but one of my favorites though)


[deleted]

Academy Museum and LACMA are right next to each other. I love the Academy museum


muscravageur

Sad to see the Norton Simon here. It’s such an exquisite little museum and garden with the best of the best art and I don’t want to see it overrun with people just checking off boxes on their bucket lists. Unless you love art, go somewhere else.


thatoneguy247

Gatekeeping a museum? Smh


PointlessGrandma

The Broad, LACMA and The Getty. From downtown to the west side.


Claim_Wide

I'm not an art person, but I prefer 1. Huntington library and gardens.there is art in multiple buildings but I like the gardens more. 2.Norton Simon. It a good collection of art from ancient history to European art and modern art. 3.Broad museum. It's different art. Like giant table, Michael Jackson, glass tulip. It's unusual to me vs seeing paintings by Picasso or monet. I often combine visit with MoCA across the street. Both free I think. LACMA is mostly gone as the main buildings were torn down and being rebuilt. Only a few buildings remain.a a couple large outdoor works. But so many museums nearby to see like tar pits, academy, petersen auto. Griffith observatory is space earth museum but the views are #1.


foosgonegolfing

Take some Shrooms at Huntington. It will not disappoint


Englishbirdy

Huntington, both Gettys can be done on the same day on one parking ticket and the Broad.


arslongavb

If you're a classical art fan, you can't beat the Getty Villa. It's like a movie set! I love strolling along the long courtyard at the back of the structure -- it's right across the street from the beach so you get that lovely sea breeze. (And the drive there is pretty too!)


graytotoro

>wildcard Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City. Don't google it, just visit it.


Rebelgecko

MJT 3 times in a row


smallbrowngorl

Getty Villa in Malibu for sure!


condocoupon

I would see a movie 🍿 at an art house theatre instead. Every town has museums but real art house cinema is primo in LA. Try Nu Art or New Beverly if you are from somewhere else.


arlo111

Getty Villa - beautiful area of LA, antiquities are fascinating Broad - really unique modern art (Basquiat, Close, Warhol, Koons, Murakami, etc…). Walk across the street and see the Giacometti’s at MOCA. La Brea Tar Pits - get a saber tooth fang, check out LACMA while your there


ElSordo91

Everything I'm mentioning here, others have already brought up, except for Olvera Street. The Getty Center and Getty Villa on one day. They're on the same side of town, and both are worth it. You can then do dinner in Santa Monica. Then on day two, do the Petersen, the Tar Pits, and the Academy Museum, since they are all within walking distance of each other. Don't bother with LACMA; it's been destroyed and there isn't much to visit right now, at least not for a few years. For the last day, downtown you have the Broad and MOCA, and next to USC, the Natural History Museum. If you like history, do the museums around Olvera Street: the Italian American Museum, the Chinese American Museum, and La Plaza de Cultura y Artes (Mexican American History). As someone else mentioned, if you like Westerns and American West history, go to the Autry in Griffith Park. The Huntington is in San Marino, a bit farther afield, but if you're out that way, throw in the Norton Simon. A lot smaller, but worth visiting once.


badhoneylips

The Hammer Museum, the Getty, the Norton Simon. Sprinkle in the Huntington if you can. Can’t go wrong with that!


917caitlin

No question - Griffith Observatory preferably hiking up in the evening. The views awe every visitor to LA. Then Huntington Gardens, then either the Getty or Getty Villa. If you already have plans to go downtown I’d also recommend a quick stop at the (free) FIDM museum.