Best Museums in Los Angeles

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

The film academy's museum, devoted to the art, history and craft of moviemaking with galleries on everything from costumes and props to special effects, plus an Oscars Experience and rotating exhibitions. Housed in a restored Streamline Moderne building topped by Renzo Piano's spherical glass dome, it sits next door to LACMA on Museum Row. Open Wednesday through Monday and closed Tuesdays; timed tickets are recommended.

Museums

Autry Museum of the American West

A thoughtful museum exploring the history, art and diverse cultures of the American West, including strong Native American collections alongside film-era Western memorabilia. It sits in Griffith Park across from the LA Zoo, making it an easy add-on to a park outing. Closed Mondays (with some holiday exceptions); galleries close at 4pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.

Museums

Getty Villa Museum

A re-creation of an ancient Roman seaside villa overlooking the Pacific, dedicated to the art and culture of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria amid formal gardens and reflecting pools. It reopened in mid-2025 after the Palisades Fire closure and is a serene, atmospheric contrast to the larger Getty Center. Admission is free with a timed reservation; note the limited schedule (open Friday through Monday) and $25 parking.

Museums

Griffith Observatory

A free, iconic Art Deco observatory perched on Mount Hollywood with planetarium shows, hands-on space and science exhibits, public telescopes on clear evenings, and some of the best panoramic views of LA and the Hollywood Sign. As much a destination for the setting as the science, it gets busy at sunset. Admission is free (planetarium shows ticketed), it is closed Mondays, and parking fills up fast, so arrive early or use the shuttle.

Museums

Hammer Museum

A free, forward-looking art museum run by UCLA, known for ambitious contemporary exhibitions, an excellent permanent collection and a buzzy courtyard programming scene of talks and performances. It is compact and rewarding, set in the walkable heart of Westwood Village. Admission is free, it is closed Mondays, and underground parking is validated to a daily maximum.

Museums

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

The largest art museum in the western US, spanning everything from ancient to contemporary across a 150,000-piece collection. The long-awaited David Geffen Galleries, a sweeping Peter Zumthor building straddling Wilshire Boulevard, opened to the public in May 2026 and is the reason to visit now. Don't miss the outdoor Urban Light lamppost installation; the museum is closed Wednesdays.

Museums

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The largest natural history museum in the western US, with nearly 35 million specimens spanning 4.5 billion years, including a famous dueling dinosaurs hall, a gem and mineral vault, and lush outdoor Nature Gardens. It is family-friendly and easy to pair with the neighboring California Science Center in Exposition Park. Open daily 9:30am to 5pm; allow a half day to do it justice.

Museums

Petersen Automotive Museum

A car-lover's landmark wrapped in a dramatic red-and-steel ribbon facade, showcasing rare hot rods, movie and celebrity vehicles, supercars and the rotating treasures of the underground Vault tour. It is one of the world's largest automotive museums and a fun, accessible stop even for non-gearheads, anchoring the Miracle Mile's Museum Row. Open daily 10am to 6pm; the Vault is a separate ticketed add-on.

Museums

The Broad

A free contemporary art museum in a striking honeycomb-clad building on Grand Avenue, home to the Broad collection's heavy hitters including Warhol, Koons, Basquiat and a Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room. It sits right by Walt Disney Concert Hall in the heart of downtown's cultural district. General admission is free, but book timed tickets weeks ahead as they sell out; the museum is closed Mondays.

Museums

The Getty Center

A hilltop art complex famed as much for its Richard Meier travertine architecture and gardens as for its collection of pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, sculpture, manuscripts and photographs. The views over LA from the ridge are spectacular, and a cable tram carries you up from the parking structure. Admission is free but requires a timed-entry reservation; parking is $25 (cheaper after 3pm), and it is closed Mondays.