Los Angeles Getty Center Guided Tour
Description
Galleries, gardens, and unforgettable views — the Getty Center has it all. But with so much to see across this 110-acre campus, it’s easy to miss things. Our tour helps you make the most of your visit, guiding you straight to the museum’s must-see works along with exploring the gardens and architecture. With an expert leading the way, you’ll be dazzled by famous works like Van Gogh’s “Irises,” a self-portrait by Rembrandt, lavish decorative arts, 12th-century manuscripts, and more. And you’ll learn about the design of the garden and the building itself that make this landmark so unique. Along the way, your guide will share stories, historical context, and tips — plus the best views in LA. It’s a rich experience in just two hours, giving you a deeper appreciation for the Getty without feeling overwhelmed. Stay after the tour to explore more if you’d like or take the tram back down the mountains. Your local guide is happy to share recommendations for what to see and do next.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take a tram ride up the mountains of Santa Monica to the historic Getty Center. Explore the art and architecture of this world-class museum with your guide, who will show you the highlights and hidden gems, from medieval manuscripts to French decorative arts. We'll end with a guided tour of the gardens, featuring over 500 different types of plants. (2 hours)
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- You can take public transit, ride-share, or drive. Parking costs $25.
Reviews(43)
I would not recommend this tour. It felt less like a guided museum experience and more like a drop off service between the various Getty buildings, something any visitor can easily do themselves using the museum map. There was virtually no meaningful art or history knowledge provided, and much of the tour consisted of being told to explore galleries on our own and return later. One entire wing of French 18th century furniture was even described as “junk.” When we raised concerns afterwards, the response was disappointing. Overall, the experience fell well short of what was advertised.
Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We appreciate your feedback. Your insights are valuable, and we will be sharing them with our management team for review as we continue to enhance the experience we provide to our guests. Feedback like yours helps us identify opportunities for growth and improvement. We truly appreciate your time and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a better experience in the future.
For $40 each, our guide Mike with ExperienceFirst met 8 of us in the morning at the security entrance. He gave an excellent recap of each of the Pavillions as we toured. At the end, before we went in to see the Impressionists, we stopped outside to view the Los Angeles skyline. In the distance, we could see its hazy silhouette, an impression much like a Monet. Then we viewed the highlight for me, the Impressionists including Monet. He ended the 2-hour tour in the Garden area on a bright sunny day.
Hi Tanya, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We’re delighted to hear that Mike made your visit so engaging with his insightful commentary throughout the tour. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another experience soon.
Great guide. Very informative. Well organised. Very much enjoyed it. Worth planning to stay after the tour as there is a lot to see.
Happy that we had a guide-Brian was great!
Our guide was very knowledgeable and extremely diligent in communicating with us where and how to meet at the Getty Center. She discussed the history of the creation of the Center and the man behind his creation. Unfortunately, many exhibits and buildings are already closed in preparation of the Olympics. For anyone who has had the privilege of visiting Europe's great art museums, the Getty is pathetic and architecturally ungainly ugly.
Hi Karen, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. We're glad to hear your guide made a strong impression with her knowledge and clear communication. It means a lot to us that Muriel helped bring the story of the Getty Center to life. I’m sorry to hear parts of the experience didn’t meet your expectations, especially with some areas being closed. Thank you again for your honest feedback, and we hope to have the chance to offer you a more enjoyable experience in the future.
The Getty was awesome and the tour guide was really great. The only problem was that the meeting place address that was given to us took us to the wrong place. Fortunately we had allowed enough time to correct that. Then when we entered the security area we did not see a person with an orange hat as directed. Turns out she was carrying the hat in her hand. The people taking tickets at the security line had no idea who we were talking about and said they had no idea what the ticket I showed them was for. The let us walk in and we decided to wait at the entrance to the main building to see if we could spot the tour guide and we did. Had we not, we would have missed the tour completely. Please be more accurate in your directions and instructions as to how to participate in the tour. We have 3 excursions booked with Viator in May during our Alaskan cruise And I do hope they go more smoothly than this.
Hi Walter, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We’d like to clarify that detailed meeting instructions were provided in advance, including a photo of the exact meeting location to help guide you. We're sorry that it was not the case on your end and we apologize for any confusion. We're glad you were ultimately able to connect with your tour guide and enjoy your visit to The Getty. We truly hope your upcoming tours are smooth and enjoyable from start to finish.
This is a great overview of the complex and art Works that prepare you to spend more time by yourself admiring the beauty of the complex and the artwork.
The tour was booked and paid for then we received notification of the cancellation. Am watching my acct to see the $ was refunded. Was going to use Viator for an upcoming trip to Istanbul, but am looking at other alternatives due to this experience.
Hi Colleen, Thanks for reaching out. We're sorry that the tour was cancelled. Unfortunately, the guide who was scheduled to do the tour was sick and no other guide was available. The funds should appear in your account 5-10 business days after it was issued, which was February 28th. Please reach out if you have any other questions or issues. Thank you.
The guide was fantastic; he made the experience enlightening and fun, with an original take that kept us interested throughout.
Matt was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic! He was very assertive and made this tour very fun. Anyone who gets Matt as a tour guide is lucky to have him!
