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The Marvels of the Getty Center Los Angeles

On the hilltop overlooking the west side of Los Angeles is a fantastic and popular world class museum that offers free admission. The J. Paul Getty Museum’s Getty Center Los Angeles is a magnificent architectural marvel that features European paintings, drawings, sculptures, decorative furniture and photographs as well as a beautiful central garden.

Getty Center Los Angeles
We recently visited the Getty Center on a beautiful spring day in LA. It had been awhile since our last visit and made me wonder why it took us years to visit again. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, this museum opened in 1997. Visitors are taken on a tram to go up the hill with great views of the city on the way up. Kids love this smooth and quick ride and makes for a unique way to enter this special place.

getty Center Tram

Once on top, the center greets visitors with wide open areas and bright, modern buildings. It was designed by architect, Richard Meier, making it look like it grew out of the hillside.

Getty Center

There were 1.2 million square feet or 16,000 tons of textured, beige, Italian travertine used for the buildings that made up the complex with a central plaza. The buildings were well-designed and on a bright, sunny day were gleaming.

Getty Center architecture

We couldn’t help but look up numerous times to admire the lines and construction of these buildings.

getty architecture

The central plaza has water features and fountains with plenty of shaded areas to sit and relax. The sounds of water flowing was a wonderful background noise. There were enough things here to entertain kids without going into the museum.

Getty Center Los Angeles

There are five interconnected two-story pavilions that feature the museum’s extensive art collection in various exhibits and galleries. To help visitors orient themselves, they’re appropriately named East, West, South and North Pavilions. The Exhibitions Pavilions has rotating exhibits throughout the year.

getty Center museum

The pavilions mainly house pre-20th century European art including works from Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, Cezanne and Monet. It was an eclectic mix of Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist and religious art –  all amazing pieces that make one appreciate art no matter what subject matter.

getty Museum

The sculptures, decorative arts and some paintings were on the ground level and the second levels house the paintings. The buildings were also designed with a lot of natural light coming inside.

Getty Museum interior

We found rooms with large and colorful tapestries. The details on these pieces were extraordinary.

getty museum Tapestry

There were quite a few decorative arts and furniture. It was those pieces that made you wonder what rich people bought and decorated their houses with a few centuries ago. This bed was a very popular photo subject with many young girls during our visit.

getty fancy bed

There were wood paneled finished rooms, as they would have looked in a noble’s residence, showing their opulence like this French room in Regence style.

Getty Center French room
The museum’s star attraction is Vincent Van Gogh’s famous piece called Irises located on the West Pavilion. The museum acquired this piece in 1990. Irises was one of the many paintings Van Gogh painted the year before he died and while he was in the asylum. This was an amazing masterpiece and surprised it wasn’t enclosed in glass.

getty Museum Van Gogh Irises

They’ve gone a bit high-tech here too with the use of iPads to scrutinize the details on some artifacts.

Getty Ipad and exhibit

We also liked that many of the pavilions have outdoor terraces to sit and relax and enjoy the panoramic views of West LA and Century City. For a sweeping view of the city, it’s hard to beat the Getty Center’s prime location.

getty center view

Let’s face it, there’s only so much art youngsters can take no matter how colorful, large and interesting they look. One of the best things about the Getty Center is how it caters to kids. The Family Room houses five interactive activity areas with plenty of things for kids of varying ages to do. Kids can hunt for art treasures, make masks, re-create a tube sculpture, sit on a fancy bed, and play with a wall of mirrors or rearrange animals on a board that looks like the desert.

Getty Museum Family Room
We loved the treasure-hunt walls which featured 70 peepholes showing details from the museum’s art collection. It’s a wonderful way for kids to keep their eyes open for art they saw through the peepholes. It wasn’t a very big room so they let in a few families at a time. Despite its size, it packs a lot to entertain the kids. Some, like my son, may not even want to leave for awhile .

getty Museum Family room

The Getty Center Gardens

Despite the dramatic architecture and beautiful works of art, my favorite parts here are the center’s gardens. The Cactus Garden on top of one of the buildings had a varied collection overlooking the city.

Getty Center Cactus Garden
The Central Garden can be seen from many vantage points outside the pavilions. It wasn’t in full bloom yet but the colors were still vibrant. Getty Central Garden
The best part is going down and immersing yourself inside this beautiful area.

Getty bougainvilla

The 134,000-square-foot garden was created by renowned artist, Robert Irwin, using over 500 plant varieties. The centerpiece is the floating azaleas maze. I may come back here during the summer just to see this whole garden in full bloom.

Getty Central Garden
The walkways led down to specialty gardens and the pool. The sounds of birds chirping and the waterfall in the background along with a variety of heavenly scent made for a delightful walk down the path.

getty Center garden

Many of the flowers we saw had a lot of bees buzzing around it like this Purple Sensation allium.

Getty Musuem purple allium

This small creek area seemed to be a popular place especially for the kids.

getty Center creek

They’ve even strategically placed benches to enjoy views. This was my view relaxing on one of them.

Getty Center central Garden

The Getty Center is the #1 rated attraction in Los Angeles on Trip Advisor. Considering the variety and number of attractions in the area, it’s quite an accomplishment but not surprising. It offers so much (for free) with its modern architectural elements, open spaces, vast art collection and beautiful gardens. The Getty Center proves art and architecture can also make for a fun visit.

Visiting the Getty Center Tips and Basics

  •  While admission is free, Parking is $15 per car or $10 after 5PM. Pay machines are available at many locations.
  • The center is closed on Mondays.
  • There are restaurants and snack cart throughout the center with many food options.
  • Bring your own picnic. We saw plenty of people with baskets and sandwich trays. There are many lawn spaces by the Central Garden.  
  • Sign up for the free talks, tours and other programs, including one for families, to enhance the museum experience. Be sure to get in line before the designated sign up time. We missed the Family Program due to limited spaces.
  • Get the free iPod touch tour “Getty Guide” from the GettyGuide Desk in the Museum Entrance Hall.
  •  If traveling with kids, get the perforated Scavenger Hunt cards in the Visitor’s Center or in the Family Room. Kids can hold on to these cards and use their senses and be more engaged with the art and garden features throughout the center.
  • Give the kids a camera. You never know what amusing things they’ll capture. It’s also a great way for them  to pay a little closer attention to details on the works of art.
  • Please allow plenty of time for tram lines on busy days (weekends and summer). There’s also an option to walk up the steep hill for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Go to the Events Calendar on the Getty Center website before your visit to see what will be in store for you.

*Have you visited the Getty Center in Los Angeles? 

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Getty Center Los Angeles

32 thoughts on “The Marvels of the Getty Center Los Angeles”

  1. Hi Mary, thanks for taking me to this museum that I always want to go to! Beautiful photos and details. I’d say much as I love the art and furniture collections my favorite feature of the museum is the garden. It’s so breathtaking. I can stay there the whole day. Lovely post.

    1. Thanks Marisol! The museum is always adding new pieces so they keep it interesting. Great minds think alike with the gardens. :) I think the Spring blooms just made the visit here a whole lot better.

  2. Well now you’ve made me want to visit Los Angeles – the Getty Center looks amazing! I love those statues on the stairs leading up to the center and the gardens look lovely. Pretty sure that Emma would want that bed after seeing it! Have you ever seen the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa/Hull – the architecture of this building reminds me of it.

    1. I don’t remember seeing the Ottawa museum when we visited. I just looked it up and they don’t have the same architect but the architecture is very similar. Emma would have loved this bed. My daughter wasn’t with us on this visit and I’m sure she would have taken quite a few pictures. You’d love this place!

  3. There are lots of photos that I like in this post. First of all the reflections
    on the window;the first painting;your son in the pipe maze; the bougainvillea;
    the allium and the framed view. Thanks :)

  4. I’ve just sent this post to my friend as visiting the Getty is on her list for when they head to LA this summer. I’ve only been to the old location in Santa Monica despite having driven past this museum numerous times. We always see the tram going up the hill and comment that we should go sometime. I’ll admit that the thought of suffering through an art museum visit with the kids was daunting, but you’ve given a lot of good tips to make the visit pleasurable for all involved. Yay!

  5. Debbie Beardsley @ European Travelista

    I’m impressed! I was just in the area and saw the trams but didn’t stop. Next time I’m visiting this museum. Beside the art, the furniture looks like it could be in any European castle and add in those beautiful gardens and well even this non-museum person would enjoy a day spent up on the hill!

  6. My mother-in-law raved about her visit to this place. It’s tops on my list for when I have a day in LA – though I’d be tempted to just hang out in the gardens. What fantastic creativity on display there. Glad to see they’ve got kids in mind – because I agree there is a limit to how much they – or anyone can take of wandering through gallery after gallery. Great photos Mary.

  7. Love the photos, Mary, and thanks for the intro and tour. Of course, I’ve heard of the Getty Center but haven’t visited. Love museums so I’m definitely adding this one to my list. Thanks!

  8. I would love to take a wall around this place. The buildings looks so very well constructed, the designs are so pleasing. Also loved the white color, so soothing to the eyes! Thanks for sharing Mary :)
    PS – Mary, I am hosting a giveaway contest on my blog, do check it out :)

  9. This is fantastic, Mary! I have to admit, I’ve had the Getty Center on my travel wishlist since seeing the designers from Project Runway visit! I loved seeing it through your eyes though, and I’m happy to know it would be a great place to take Bergen too. Those gardens are amazing.

  10. I visited LA twice so far but I regret now not having visited the Getty Center. Looks really interesting and those gardens wow just stunning and what an incredible view you have over the city from those gardens.

  11. It’s terrific that it’s still free, isn’t it? I thought maybe that would only last for a while when it first opened up to attract visitors. We need to make another visit ourselves.

  12. The Getty Center looks amazing and I’ve heard such wonderful things about it. Thanks for sharing some more tips and information about it. Would love the view from the gardens. Very cool.

  13. What an amazing place to visit! I loved the architecture and the sculptures of people on the steps and expected something very contemporary on the inside. I was very surprised to see the tapestries and Vincent Van Gogh (my favorite) pieces. Beautiful!

  14. Wow, even the building itself is a work of art! If I were there, I would really love to visit. Love the gardens, too. So much love and care is put into it! What is more amazing is that it’s for free! I just came from India where there’s an entrance fee almost everywhere, it’s so maddening, esp for someone like me who’s a budget traveler!

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