Hotels near The Getty Center

The Getty Center is one of the great cultural institutions of Los Angeles, a campus of travertine-clad pavilions by architect Richard Meier set on a Brentwood hilltop and reached by a driverless tram. Admission is free, and the galleries hold European paintings - including a Van Gogh Irises - drawings, sculpture and decorative arts.

Many visitors come as much for the setting as the art: the Central Garden, the fountains and the sweeping views across the city to the ocean are spectacular, particularly in late-afternoon light. It is one of the best-value half days in the city, with only parking to pay for.

Pro Tip: Entry is free but you pay for parking, so arrive by tram in the late afternoon for the best light and cooler galleries. Allow time for the Central Garden and the terrace views, which are as much a highlight as the paintings inside.