The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, California, is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The $1.3 billion Center opened to the public on December 16, 1997[2] and is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overlooking Los Angeles. The Center sits atop a hill connected to a visitors’ parking garage at the bottom of the hill by a three-car, cable-pulled hovertrain funicular.
Located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Center is one of two locations of the J. Paul Getty Museum and draws 1.3 million visitors annually. (The other location is the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.) The Center branch of the Museum features pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and 19th- and 20th-century American, Asian, and European photographs.[3] In addition, the Museum’s collection at the Center includes outdoor sculpture displayed on terraces and in gardens and the large Central Garden designed by Robert Irwin. Among the artworks on display is the Vincent Van Gogh painting Irises.
Designed by architect Richard Meier, the campus also houses the Getty Research Institute (GRI), the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation, and the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Center’s design included special provisions to address concerns regarding earthquakes and fires.
Tours
Architecture Tour
Collection Highlights Tour
Exhibition Tour: Eyewitness Views: Making History in Eighteenth-Century Europe
Garden Tour
05 Reviews
Write a Review
Is this your business?
Claim listing is the best way to manage and protect your business
Get to The Getty
This is a must do attraction if you're in LA. An amazing building with terrific views across the city, beautiful gardens to walk around and picnic in. Even if you don't want to view the huge collection of art it's still worth coming just to hang out. For a $15 parking fee and free entry it's also a great value day out.
Awesome
My wife had always wanted to visit the Getty Center and I finally was able to get some time to take her. What an awesome display of art. We took a tour with a docent and she was very knowledgable of the time period and was able to tell us the subtle differences in the artists work. We could have spent a few more hours there but we needed to catch our flight. We will definitely be going back.
Fantastic art museum
I can't really add to what's already been said about this fantastic art museum. I love the exhibition spaces that have clearly been thought through to the smallest detail. The building itself is a work of art, and its location is stunning. An amazing achievement in planning and design. The iPad based audio tours are pretty good.
Parking is below, while the main exhibition spaces are reached by a monorail that actually levitates. You'll have to try it to appreciate it.
Good eating venues are available that seem to be able to cope with the crowds. Good book and gift shops with a good range to tempt all ages. Prices are not inexpensive, but what do you expect.
There are very good tours around the building itself, but be aware of the heat. Some areas are really a sun trap and you'll quickly over-heat! Make sure you borrow one of their sun-umbrellas!
An absolutely must-see day out.