The Best Museums in LA that Are Actually Worth Visiting
You can’t leave without perusing LA’s underrated art scene.
With more than 100 museums across Los Angeles, the city's art scene covers a lot of ground yet rarely gets its due. While most people recommend visiting Disneyland, tanning on the beach, or going for a Hollywood Sign hike, iconic spots like the Getty Villa, The Broad, and the Museum of Jurassic Technology are what truly make up LA's rich cultural landscape. In other words, you can't leave LA without uncovering the artistic, scientific, historic, and quirky gems that await you in this city's array of museums.
Exposition Park
One of the oldest museums in Los Angeles, the Natural History Museum is a treasure trove of wonders from the past and present. In one visit, you can see dinosaur skeletons and ancient fossils, then hop over to see life-size dioramas of mammals from Africa and North America. Explore the natural world through their spectacular collections of gems and minerals, along with their outdoor Nature Gardens full of butterflies, birds, and lizards.
Mid-Wilshire
It’s only fitting that Tinseltown is home to a museum that salutes all things cinematic. Movie buffs and novices alike will geek out on the museum’s dynamic exhibitions and interactive experiences. Marvel at props from enduring classics like Jaws and The Godfather. See iconic costumes up close like the ruby red slippers from The Wizard of Oz and the original costumes from Black Panther.And keep an eye on their upcoming film screenings for a chance to see a movie in their state-of-the-art theater.
San Marino
If you can’t decide between a day inside a gallery or outside in a garden, choose both at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The expansive grounds hold 16 different themed gardens, including Desert, Japanese, and Chinese Gardens. Then, head into their galleries to see paintings, sculptures, and decorative art from Europe and America, rare books, and more.
Mid-Wilshire
Inside the flashy chrome and red building that is the Petersen Automotive Museum, you'll find a polished collection of over 300 vehicles, from classic cars and motorcycles to futuristic concept cars and some you’ve probably seen on TV and movies. The museum is fully loaded with interactive displays and rotating exhibits that celebrate the artistry and innovation of automobiles. Car lovers or those looking for a unique outing will find the Petersen Automotive Museum to be a memorable trip through the world of wheels.
Long Beach
Check out the only museum in the United States dedicated to modern and contemporary Latin American and Latino art—MOLAA. Immerse yourself in the museum’s permanent collections and temporary exhibitions that feature artists working in a wide range of mediums. Their Sculpture Garden is particularly whimsical, featuring a mix of abstract and figurative pieces.s. MOLAA also hosts engaging educational programs and lively events, making it a must-do.
Malibu
You can easily spend an entire day at The Getty Villa in Malibu. Modeled after a Roman country estate from the 1st century, The Getty Villa contains works of Greek and Roman art from the Stone Age to the final days of the Roman Empire. The Getty Villa itself is a work of art with beautifully colonnaded walkways, mosaics at your feet, lush gardens, and an awe-inspiring reflecting pool. To top it all off, it has scenic views of the Pacific Ocean.
Pasadena
Relax and take in some art history at the serene Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena. Find inspiration in the museum’s remarkable collection of artwork from the Renaissance to the 20th century. See masterpieces by the likes of Raphael, Rembrandt, Monet, and Van Gogh all housed in a building designed by architect great Frank Gehry. The art carries on outside where you can recharge in their splendid sculptural garden.
Culver City
This endearing Culver City gem defies traditional museum experiences, blurring fact and fiction into mesmerizing exhibits. It isn’t so much a museum about a subject but a museum about being a museum. Illuminated cases are filled with eccentric artifacts like micominiatures carved out of hair. There’s an exhibit about a woman who grew a horn from her forehead and a room dedicated to the Soviet dogs sent to space. The mix of scholarly tone with surreal and speculative content epitomizes the museum's fascination with the boundary between reality and imagination.
Downtown
Since its opening in 2015, Yayoi Kusama’s immersive Infinity Mirror Rooms has attracted the culturally curious to The Broad like moths to a flame. The upstairs area is a contemporary art lover’s paradise with works from renowned artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, and Barbara Kruger. Admission is free with reservation, but the special exhibitions carry a separate fee.
Van Nuys
Take a journey through time at the Valley Relics Museum, where you can experience the heydays of the San Fernando Valley through a large collection of objects that date back to the 1800s. The space is filled with things you would expect to see in a museum, like rare documents and photographs. However, the spot is full of unexpected objects as well, like flashing vintage neon signs, cars, and possibly the last surviving tabs of (legal) Qualudes.
Montecito Heights
See Victorian architecture up close at the Heritage Square Museum. Stroll through the outdoor grounds and see 9 different structures including homes, a train depot, a carriage house, a church, and a re-created corner drug store. You can make a day out of it and bring a picnic or opt for the docent-led interior tours to see how Southern California residents lived in the 1800s. Keep an eye on their events calendar for programs like ghost tours and film screenings.
Discover inspiring historical and art exhibitions that look at the rich heritage of people of Japanese ancestry. Captivating displays of artifacts, photographs, and personal stories showcase the resilience and incredible achievements of its community. With exhibitions that range from contemporary art to those that examine current events, JANM is more than a window into the past—it's a lively celebration of identity and heritage today.