Experience the Getty Center through a PRIVATE, museum-trained expert. This tour is designed for guests who want depth, clarity, and a relaxed pace — not a crowded group of strangers. Your personal guide leads you through highlights of the collection with engaging stories, accessible insights, and plenty of time to look closely and ask questions.
You’ll explore masterpieces of European painting, sculpture, and decorative arts while learning how to “read” a work of art with confidence. Every tour is conversational and tailored to your interests, whether you’re a first time visitor, a family, or an art lover seeking a deeper understanding of the collection.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy the Getty’s architecture and breathtaking views of Los Angeles — all with an art historian who knows the museum intimately and creates a conversational, personal experience.
Tour Options
Translator surcharges apply
Private: Only your group will have the tour
Duration: 1 hour: 90 minutes, 2-hour tour is available for additional fee. Please inquire.
Restaurant on premises.: Cafe and upscale restaurant at The Getty. Not included in tour price.
Tour is chronological: The tour starts with Renaissance art to the Post-Impressionists
Itinerary
120 min
Enjoy walking through time and "peek behind the canvas" as I guide you through the spectacular collection at The Getty Center Museum. You'll see the highlights of the museum and be wowed and amazed with the stories I'll tell you about how artists have impacted history and yet still relate to our current, everyday lives. DaVinci decoded. Rembrandt revealed. Monet mastered. Van Gogh verified. In the two-hour tour, find out why there are so many nudes in Renaissance Art--- and how Louis XIV, XV and XVI influenced fashion and furniture. And, why are there dead bugs, wilted flowers and skulls in Dutch paintings? Question why the Virgin Mary is always painted in red or blue or both. Why does impressionism look blurry? The 2-hour tour includes the highlights of the permanent collection, PLUS the Decorative Arts Pavilion ( with many items belonging to the Kings and Marie Antoinette) PLUS, you can opt to concentrate on a specific art period. It's about what you want!
Highlights
Wheelchairs, strollers and UV-sanitized listening devices when 6+ people or on special request
What's included
Included
Wheelchairs, strollers and UV-sanitized listening devices when 6+ people or on special request
Not included
Price doesn't include The Getty's $25 ($20 after 3:00 PM) per car parking fee.
There are many dining options --- from casual to elegant! (We can make the reservation for you if you choose the full service indoor dining.)
Snacks
Traveller Ratings
4.8
20 reviews
5
19
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
1
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Coat check and phone charging stations are available.
Convenient ride-share drop off.
Parking is $25 per car or motorcycle; $15 after 3pm.
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Private Getty Center 1-Hour Tour with Museum-Trained Art Expert lasts about 1 hour. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $175 per person for this Los Angeles experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Quick Culture will meet you at the departure tram level. . Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in RU, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 15 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible Wheelchair accessible
Reviews(20)
6
675michelleb
January 8, 2026
Worth the splurge
Ellen was our tour guide and she was our art savior(in human angel form). She took us from building to building showing us highlights with lots of fascinating extra information about everything. She brought along lots of extra picture “props” to help explain what interesting point she was conveying. Everybody should book an Ellen for their 1st time at such a huge museum. Our tour was money well spent;she made our day so memorable.
Operator response
Wow! Thank you so much. Touring you was effortless and fun! Your comments were insightful!
S
Steven_C
December 31, 2025
Everyone enjoyed the tour...
Everyone enjoyed the tour very much. The tour guide was Sasha. She was very friendly and explained the stories behind the very well. She also also explained the museum history. Fun experience!
Operator response
So glad you enjoyed the tour! Thank you for leaving the review. It means a lot. Next time let me show you The Getty Villa!
Kind regards,
Sasha
O
Odette_M
May 18, 2025
Outstanding Tour Guide
Sasha’s insights and knowledge made the whole experience at the Getty enjoyable and rewarding for the non-art expert.
Operator response
Thank you very much! Please come to my other tours at the Getty Villa and LACMA!
R
Robert_C
December 6, 2024
Personalized and interactive travel through time with Ellen.
Shirls and I loved the private tour with Ellen Greenberg. She immediately clarified what our priorities were for the Getty so we took a wonderful trip through several centuries as she highlighted several paintings and sculptures, provided background stories and supplemented with pictures from her bag of resources. She is an excellent teacher and we were fully engaged for our entire time together. We would give her our highest recommendation.
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you so much for the great review and your generosity! You were such a delight to tour and had insightful (and sometimes humorous) comments that I look forward to incorporating into my tours ( I will give you credit!)
Hugs in thought,- (Vincent Van Gogh)
Ellen
F
FabioMassimo_V
September 8, 2024
Amazing place
The entire tour was amazing and my private guide was very good. The center is an example of beautiful architectural success with a stunning view on LA and the ocean. I strongly suggest a visit to the Getty center if you are in LA
Operator response
Thank you for your review! I enjoyed touring you through The Getty your observations were insightful and spot on! Hope to see you again on your next visit!
J
Janice_W
June 29, 2024
Worth 60 mins of your time
Ellen was delightful and knowledgeable. I have been to many museums worldwide but I was able to learn many new things. The one hour was well spent.
Operator response
Thank you! I enjoyed the insights you and Dave contributed!
A
amandav806
May 6, 2024
Enchanting Getty museum tour with Ellen
I recently booked a tour for a company outing for my department (10 of us, ages 35-60). Our private tour guide was Ellen whose passion and expertise made our tour an amazing experience through art history and the grounds. Ellen had a unique storytelling approach rather than simply proving facts, weaving a captivating narrative that brought the artwork to life, leaving us delighted with her insights and anecdotes. Ellen's infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge not only deepened our appreciation for the art but left us eager for more. I wholeheartedly recommend Ellen! Her blend of education and storytelling made our department outing truly memorable, and I look forward to joining her for another adventure in the future.
Operator response
Thank you so much! You were a great group and the comments and questions from your group were inspiring!
9
944jeanes
April 24, 2024
The Best way to see the Getty
Sasha was fantastic! She is warm, funny and tremendously knowledgeable about the Getty and the collection. We have visited before and never gotten as much from our visit. And her pace was sensitive to our age.
We would absolutely recommend Sasha.
The best way to see the Getty,
Operator response
Thank you very much, Jeane! It was a pleasure to spend time with you and Roger! Hope to see you again, for the Getty Villa tour this time! :)
I
I210WGshelleyc
August 9, 2023
A great experience!!
We had such a fabulous museum tour with our guid Sasha! She was a wealth of information; we learned so much. She was a delight, and really made the trip!!
Operator response
Thank you for your great review! Sasha enjoyed sharing stories and providing an unforgettable art experience!!!
L
lolitar676
June 19, 2023
Great Experience
Ellen was an excellent tour guide. She knows art history and conveys her knowledge with passion and enthusiasm. She never rushed the experience and spent more than the allotted time. Good sense of humor as well. We highly recommend this tour with Ellen.
Operator response
Hi Lolita~ Thank you for the wonderful review! you and your group were a pleasure to tour...and the kids were so insightful, smart and fun! I hope to see you at The Getty Villa in the future! All best, Ellen
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