The Getty Villa in Malibu is a stunning museum that is well worth visiting. Parking is $15 before 3 pm and $10 after, but free Getty Villa tickets are available on their website. A good thing to know is that you can also go to the Getty Center afterward without having to pay for parking again. Visit the information desk to get a coupon for same-day complimentary parking at the other location.
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Located above the Pacific Coast Highway, the Getty Villa offers visitors a gorgeous view of the ocean. Once you start exploring the grounds it can be easy to forget that you are still in Malibu. Everything from the architecture to the walkways makes you feel like you are in Europe. The museum, which is also an education center, which focuses on ancient Greece and Rome.
My parents and I decided to stop here after we had lunch at Malibu Farm. As we were in line to pay for parking I suddenly remembered that while admission was free you had to get tickets through their website. I quickly filled out the ticket request form and had the tickets saved in my email. Well, no one ever asked to see our tickets. To be on the safe side be sure to have them just in case you have to show them to get in. If you cannot print them out make sure to save them in the pictures on your phone in case you cannot access the internet here.
Talks and tours are free with your timed ticket from their website. You can choose from an architecture tour, garden tour, culinary garden tour, collection highlights tour, exhibition tour, spotlight talks, the observant eye, and the curator’s and conservator’s gallery talk. Be sure to check out their website for more details on what each tour or talk covers and the times it is offered.
There is so much to see here and it is all beautiful. What I enjoyed the most was walking around on the outside.
I wish the pool behind my Mom and me was not under refurbishment because I know it would have looked even better with water. It reminded me a little bit of the outdoor pool at Hearst Castle.
The museum reminded me of one that I visited in Greece. I was impressed by how large the collections were. The villa is not that big compared to most museums but it holds an incredible amount of history.
The Getty Villa is open Wednesday through Monday. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
