Best Museums in Los Angeles

Los Angeles – home to 65 degree winters, beaches, mountain hikes, city skylines, and an impressive roster of some of the country’s best museums. Spread apart, true, but that’s where we come in. Here’s our list of LA’s essential museums for when the forecast calls for indoor activities.

LACMA

An iconic landmark in LA, even if just for Chris Burden’s Urban Light installation. The LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States. Specializing in Asian, Latin American and Islamic art, it houses nearly 130,000 objects in its collection and hosts a myriad of special events, speakers, and visiting exhibits.

Getty Center

A mini-city upon a hill, the expansive Getty Center boasts Greek and Roman antiquities, fountain-filled gardens, distinct architecture in the form of curved pavilions, and unparalleled views of Los Angeles.

Griffith Observatory

Located within Griffith Park, the Observatory is home to the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, the infamous Tesla coil, and public viewing of the stars through its 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope. And for the less scientifically-inclined, Griffith Observatory has one of the best views of the Hollywood Sign in the city. We recommend sunset.

CAAM

The California African American Museum, located in Exposition Park, seeks to preserve and interpret the history, art, and culture of African Americans with an emphasis on California and the western United States. The museum features rotating exhibits from the likes of Hank Willis Thomas, Genevieve Gaignard, and many others. And with February being Black History month, we’re offering discounted rides to CAAM – simply enter code BHM20OFF in the app for 20% off your uberX rides to and from.

Natural History Museum

Next door is the Natural History Museum, which takes its visitors back in time for a historical look at both the natural and cultural worlds. The museum protects over 35 million specimens and artifacts dating back 4.5 billion years including a 63-foot-long blue whale skeleton. The NHM building is reason enough to go: built in 1913, its Beaux Arts structure features a 50-foot stained glass skylight.

The Broad

A recent addition to LA’s cultural scene, the Broad is one of the newest contemporary art museum in DTLA. General admission is free and includes access to Yayoki Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room if you’re lucky enough to get in (the space accommodates one visitor at a time). If not, check Instagram – it’s been well-documented.

Petersen Automotive Museum

Angelenos can attest that cars and LA are almost synonymous, making the Peterson Automotive Museum all the more relevant. The space’s three distinct floors celebrate the “History’, “Industry” and “Artistry” of the automobile’s overall impact coupled with LA’s unique car culture.

California Science Center

See a space shuttle up close at the California Science Center, which houses the retired NASA orbiter Endeavour. The 400,000 sq ft museum also includes exhibits on technology, life forms and, ecosystems (featuring a 188,000 gallon kelp tank).

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Home to the LA Philharmonic, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most acoustically refined concert halls in the world due in large part to its distinct architecture. Make your way to DTLA to catch a performance or tour the venue.