Top Los Angeles Tourist Spots to Explore

Free admission at Los Angeles’s biggest museums is one of the city’s better-kept secrets — the Getty Center and Grand Central Market both cost nothing to walk into, and even the Griffith Observatory’s exhibits are free. The catch is that each spot has its own rules about parking, reservations, and hours, and getting those wrong is the easiest way to waste half a day of a trip. Here’s what to actually expect at four of the city’s best tourist spots.

Griffith Observatory

The observatory sits on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, and admission to the building, grounds, and public telescopes has been free since it opened in 1935. The only thing you pay for is a Samuel Oschin Planetarium show, which runs about $10–$12 depending on age category and lasts roughly 30–35 minutes.

A few things worth planning around:

• It’s closed Mondays. Hours are noon–10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on weekends.
• Parking is the real cost and the real hassle. On-site parking runs about $10 an hour, and the lot fills fast on weekends and around sunset — the single-lane road up the hill backs up badly during peak times. Parking near the Greek Theatre, about a mile downhill, is free if you don’t mind the walk. The LADOT DASH Observatory/Los Feliz shuttle (50 cents, or 35 cents with a TAP card) runs from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station and is worth it if you want to skip the parking search entirely.
• Sunset is the busiest slot, not a hidden trick. If you want the classic golden-hour skyline view, plan to arrive well before sunset, since that’s also when everyone else shows up.

Getty Center

The Getty’s art collection spans European paintings, drawings, sculpture, and rotating special exhibitions, set in Richard Meier-designed travertine buildings on a hilltop in Brentwood. Admission is free, but you now need a timed-entry reservation booked online in advance — walking up without one isn’t guaranteed to get you in, especially on weekends.

Parking is where the Getty actually charges you: about $20 per car, dropping to $15 after 3 p.m. That fee includes the tram ride from the parking structure up to the museum, which takes about 5–7 minutes. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays), with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Saturdays.

Huntington Library, Art Museum & Botanical Gardens

The Huntington, in San Marino, combines a rare books and manuscripts library, several art collections (including Gainsborough’s The Blue Boy), and roughly 130 acres of themed gardens — the Desert Garden and Japanese Garden are the standouts. This is the one stop on this list that actually costs money to get into, and the rules are stricter than the other three.

• Reservations are required Friday through Sunday, on holidays, and during peak seasons — you won’t get in without a pre-booked timed ticket on those days.
• Standard admission runs around $29 for adults, $24 for students, and $13 for youth ages 4–11; prices run higher during peak-season dates. Children under 4 are free.
• The first Thursday of every month is free admission, but tickets go live online at 9 a.m. on the last Thursday of the prior month and tend to sell out within minutes — have an account set up and be ready at that exact time if you want one.
• Parking is free, which helps offset the admission cost somewhat.
• Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Wednesday through Monday (closed Tuesdays).

Grand Central Market

Housed in the historic Homer Laughlin Building in downtown LA, Grand Central Market is a food hall with dozens of vendors covering everything from Mexican and Salvadoran food to ramen, oysters, and coffee. Entry is free and it’s open daily, which makes it an easy add-on if you’re already downtown for the Broad, MOCA, or Angels Flight. It gets genuinely crowded at lunch on weekdays and around dinner on weekends, so if you want a table rather than standing room, an early or late visit helps.

Bottom Line

If you’re planning a day around these four, the practical order that avoids the worst crowds and parking headaches is: Grand Central Market in the morning or for a late lunch, the Getty Center or Huntington midday (book your reservation before you leave home), and Griffith Observatory in the late afternoon heading into sunset. Book Getty and Huntington reservations at least a few days ahead, and if you’re set on the free first-Thursday Huntington admission, put a calendar reminder for 9 a.m. on the last Thursday of the month before.