Ed. note: The newly reopened Getty Villa was temporarily closed after the Pacific Palisades fire surrounded the 55-acre museum in January of 2025. Thanks to firefighters, volunteers, and the Villa’s own facilities and security team, who rallied to save the art inside, the antiquities and structure were spared. The Villa now welcomes tourists and visitors to return to the property.
The Getty Villa Museum is a premier free activity in Los Angeles, and just one part of the J. Paul Getty Museum campus. Located in Pacific Palisades, about 14 miles from The Getty Center, the structure is a magnificent recreation of the ancient Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum, which was lost in 79 AD after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius covered the Roman town.
The exhibits housed inside this painstakingly recreated country home focus on the study of ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. Oil tycoon J. Paul Getty funded the operation, which was designed by architects Robert E. Langdon, Jr., and Ernest C. Wilson, Jr., with the help of archaeologist Norman Neuerburg.
Walking the grounds and gardens is a trip into the ancient world with thousands of artifacts on display. But if you’re looking for a little more as you explore, you can take a guided tour for in-depth information and behind-the-scenes details from a museum expert.
Tickets to the Villa are free to the public, but a timed-entry reservation is required to attend. Most tours run multiple times a day, but make sure to check the current calendar to see which will be available during your visit or confirm at the information desk in the museum entrance hall on the day you go. The tours are interactive as the guides share their knowledge and unique perspectives while engaging and answering audience questions.
Art, Architecture, and Garden Tour
While the Getty Villa collection includes more than 44,000 Greek, Roman, and Etruscan antiquities dating from 6,500 BC to 400 AD, the Villa is a work of art on its own. The 50-minute Art, Architecture, and Garden Tour highlights various design elements of the Villa as well as the unique materials and building concepts used to create the structure, along with the gorgeous gardens and artwork that it houses. Guides on this first-come, first-served tour answer visitors' questions and offer insights into daily life in the ancient world.
Exhibition Tour: The Kingdom of Pylos
Journey back to the Late Bronze Age with these newly added antiquities as they make their international debut outside of Europe. Decipher the tablet on the Priestess Eritha, marvel at the Routsi Crown, and take in the elaborate reconstructions of colorful paintings that adorned the walls of ancient Greece. The collection of Mycenaean relics and the tour will be available until January 12, 2026.
Exhibition: Sculpted Portraits from Ancient Egypt
This sneak peek into ancient Egypt showcases several works on loan from the British Museum in London. Behold the Statue of Nakhthorheb, the sarcophagus of Nesisut, and several other carved stoneworks that date back to the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (664–526 BCE). This exhibit will be on display until January 25, 2027
More to do at the Getty Villa
“Oedipus the King, Mama!”
Outside of the Villa is a giant, outdoor amphitheater known to host the occasional concert, opera, or play. This year’s 2025 summer offering is a wild mashup of Elvis and Oedipus, titled “Oedipus the King, Mama!” Oedipus is the “King of Malibu” but is plagued by his “suspicious mind.” Twisting together Elvis' discography with Sophocles' classic Greek tragedy, the play revolves around deceit, deception, and a devil in disguise. Tickets are $30. Note, the museum states that the show is not recommended for children under the age of 12.
The Garden Tea
Enjoy a Mediterranean-inspired tea party harvested from the Villa’s gardens. A collection of teas will be paired with sandwiches, scones, tea breads, cheeses, and desserts. The package is $60 for adults and $50 for children and is available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m. However, if you’re looking for something a little more wallet-friendly, the Getty Villa welcomes picnics in the designated areas. Be aware that outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted on museum premises.
More to do near the Getty Villa
The Getty Center sits in the hills above West Hollywood, a free cultural destination featuring a world-class art museum, music and theater performances on the weekends, a conservation institute, two cafes, and more across 86 acres.
For more, check out the Getty app—you’ll see information about visiting the Getty Conservation Institute, additional areas of the J. Paul Getty Museum, and other cultural attractions on the campus. Meanwhile, the University of California Los Angeles and luxurious Beverly Hills are just down the street from the Getty Center while the legendary Sunset Strip and the cinematic magic of Universal Studios Hollywood sits a bit further afield.