Keep your Mind Moving: The Best LA Museums

Getty Gardens by Ed Bierman (CC BY 2.0)

It’s always the perfect time to visit the best LA museums. I love learning about art, history and everything else under the sun! So what are the best LA museums? Los Angeles is full of so many great ones; it’s hard to pick the best LA museums. I’ll tell you about some that I think are the best LA museums:

LACMA

The LA County Museum of Art is one of the best LA museums! This museum has every art imaginable: African, American, Chinese, contemporary, European, modern, the list goes on!

Insider tip: As one of the best LA museums, LACMA has special days of free admission, such as holidays like Labor Day. Check the LACMA website for details.

Best LA Museums: LACMA (Photo by Kevitivity)

MOCA

The Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the best LA museums for its amazing collection of American and European art made between 1940 and the present. Home to great artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol, MOCA is positively one of the best LA museums.

Insider tip: As of one of the best LA museums, admission to MOCA Grand Avenue is free on Thursdays from 5-8pm. There are 3 locations for MOCA. If you’re looking for a specific collection, look up which location you want to visit.

Best LA Museums: MOCA (Photo by jimw)

The Getty

The J. Paul Getty Museum is a wonderful spot full of gardens and architecture overlooking all of Los Angeles. That alone should make it one of the best LA museums. With a collection of art stretching from antiquity to the present, it’s gotta be one of the best LA museums!

Insider tip: The Getty is also separated into two locations: The Getty Center in LA and the Getty Villa in Malibu. Both have free admission, but you’ll have to pay for parking to see these best LA museums.

Best LA Museums: Getty Center (Photo by cm195902)

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

The Natural History Museum is a fantastic place for artifacts, California history, dinosaurs, bugs, gems, and many other animals. This is one of the best LA museums because you can spend a whole day exploring and learning about the treasures of the natural world.

Insider tip: if you take the Metro there, you can get $1.25 off adult admission!

Best LA Museums: Natural History Museum (Photo by levork)

Norton Simon Museum

The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is a small museum that packs a punch as one of the best LA museums! With a collection of Asian, European, modern and contemporary art, you may just fall in love with van Gogh, Degas, Picasso or Diego Rivera.

Insider tip: Although closed on Tuesdays, this museum stays open until 9pm on Fridays. Students, active military, members and children under 18 are always free.

Best LA Museums: Norton Simon Museum (Photo by Wallula Junction)

The Huntington

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Gardens is my favorite of the best LA museums. The gardens are stunning. The library and art are also worthy to be called one of the best LA museums with amazing works such as a Gutenberg Bible and The Blue Boy by Thomas Gainsborough.

Insider tip: Admission is free on the first Thursday of every month with an advanced ticket. Definitely one of the best LA museums!

Best LA Museums: Huntington Gardens (Photo by Corrie Jacobs)

Did I miss any museums you think are the best LA museums? Tell me about them in the Comments section!