Getty Villa

The Getty Villa is the second of the J. Paul Getty Museum's two sites, set on a hillside above the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades. Its design draws on the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum, the Roman country house buried by the eruption of Vesuvius, along with details from other ancient sites, so the building and gardens feel like a stage set for the art inside.

The collection is devoted to the ancient Mediterranean: Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities, with around 1,400 objects on view from a much larger collection. Galleries are arranged by theme, such as gods and goddesses, Dionysos and the theatre, and the Trojan War. Highlights include the bronze Victorious Youth and the Lansdowne Heracles. Outside, the long reflecting pool of the Outer Peristyle garden is modelled on the garden of the Villa of the Papyri.

The Palisades Fire reached the grounds in January 2025. No buildings or artworks were damaged, though many trees burned, and the Villa reopened in June 2025 after remediation work. Entry is free but requires a timed-entry reservation, which you can make online. The Villa is closed on Tuesdays and open from 10am to 5pm on other days.

It is a calmer, more compact experience than the Getty Center and suits couples, classics enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys gardens. Allow two to three hours. Arrive at your booked time, because entry is managed through the reservation system, and bring a layer, as the coastal air can be cool.

Plan to spend time outdoors as well as in the galleries. The gardens are planted with species known from the ancient Mediterranean, and the outdoor theatre and terraces look out towards the ocean. The Villa is smaller and quieter than the Getty Center, which makes it easier to see in a single relaxed visit. If you want to see both Getty sites, schedule them on different days rather than rushing between them, as they are about half an hour apart by car in normal traffic and each deserves a few unhurried hours.

There is no realistic way to arrive on foot along the highway, so most visitors drive or take a ride-share; parking is charged per car and is cashless, with a reduced rate after 3pm. Santa Monica and its pier are about a fifteen-minute drive south along the coast, and Malibu's beaches are a short drive north.