Los Angeles in three buildings: a weekend of art, light and architecture
A new Zumthor landmark on Wilshire, Richard Meier's hilltop campus and a free downtown collection. How to see the city through its museums.
Los Angeles is a city people drive through rather than walk, which makes its great buildings all the more valuable: places to stop, slow down and look. Three museums, one weekend, and a very different idea of the city at each.
LACMA: Zumthor on Wilshire
The newest landmark is the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA, designed by the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. The building opened on 19 April 2026 and now houses the museum’s permanent collection. It spans Wilshire Boulevard and offers about 110,000 square feet of gallery space, designed to show roughly 2,500 to 3,000 works at a time, according to LACMA. Since 4 May 2026, general admission tickets include access to the galleries.
Three museums, one weekend, and a very different idea of the city at each.
The Getty Center: the hilltop
Richard Meier’s Getty Center is reached by a free tram from the parking garage at the foot of the hill — the ride is part of the ritual. Admission is free; the Getty’s own pages now mention timed-entry reservations, so book before you go. Parking is paid, and the rate is listed on the Getty site. Go late in the afternoon, when the travertine warms and the city spreads out below.
The Broad: downtown, free
On Grand Avenue, The Broad offers free general admission. Timed reservations are recommended, walk-ups are available daily, and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room requires its own advance reservation. The museum is closed on Mondays and stays open until 8 pm on Thursdays.
How to plan it
Do one museum per day and let the rest of the day be the city: a long lunch, a drive at golden hour, a dinner booked well ahead. Check each museum’s site the week you travel: hours, reservations and exhibition charges change.
