Places where children have room to move and something to look at, all free. Booking rules matter more with kids in tow, so check each card.
Always free in Los Angeles12
Open to everyone, every day they are open. No ticket to buy.
Getty Center
Brentwood
Always freeBooking requiredIndoorGood with kids
European paintings, photography and a hilltop garden in Richard Meier's travertine campus, with a view from Downtown to the ocean. The tram ride up from the garage is part of the visit.
Free when
Always · Tue–Fri and Sun 10 am–6:30 pm, Sat 10 am–9 pm. Closed Mon. Some North, East and South Pavilion galleries are closed for renovation.
Free for whom
Everyone. Admission is free, parking is not: $25 per car, $15 after 3 pm, $10 after 6 pm, free on Saturdays after 6 pm.
Reservation
Free timed-entry reservation required, booked on getty.edu. Weekday slots are easy, weekends go a few days ahead.
Time needed
3–4h
How to get there
Metro bus 761 stops at the entrance on Sepulveda Blvd at Getty Center Dr. Catch it at the E Line's Expo/Sepulveda station or in Westwood. The tram from the gate is free.
Worth it? Yes.The best free museum day in the city if you skip the garage. Take the 761, or drive up on a Saturday after 6 pm when parking costs nothing and the museum stays open until 9.
Greek and Roman antiquities inside a re-created Roman country house on the coast, with a long reflecting pool and herb garden. It reopened in June 2025 after the Palisades fire.
Free when
Always · Wed–Mon 10 am–5 pm. Closed Tue.
Free for whom
Everyone with a reservation. Parking is $25 per car, $15 after 3 pm. There is no street parking, and people on foot are turned away unless they arrive by public bus or are dropped off inside the gate.
Reservation
Free timed-entry reservation required, online or at (310) 440-7300. Every person needs one, including those arriving by bus or rideshare.
Time needed
2–3h
How to get there
Metro bus 134 from downtown Santa Monica stops at Pacific Coast Hwy and Coastline Dr, across from the entrance. Rideshares must pull inside the gate to drop you off.
Worth it? Yes.Smaller and calmer than the Getty Center, and the building is the main exhibit. If you do both on the same day, ask the information desk for the pay once, park twice coupon (not valid Mon or Tue).
Always freeBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kids
Postwar and contemporary art from the Broad collection: Koons, Basquiat, Kusama, Warhol, Kara Walker. Two floors, easy to see in one visit.
Free when
Always · Tue, Wed, Fri 11 am–5 pm, Thu 11 am–8 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am–6 pm. Closed Mon. An expansion is being built next door, so expect some construction noise.
Free for whom
Everyone. General admission is free. Some special exhibitions carry a separate charge.
Reservation
Timed tickets recommended, booked on thebroad.org. Extra same-day tickets are released online each day and walk-ups are taken. Kusama's Infinity Mirrored Room needs its own advance reservation.
Time needed
1.5–2h
How to get there
Metro A or E Line to Grand Av Arts/Bunker Hill, 2 minutes on foot. The garage under the museum is $19 for 3 hours with validation.
Worth it? Yes.Book the Infinity Mirrored Room at the same time as your entry ticket or you will not get in. Thursday after 5 pm is the quietest slot.
A big hands-on science museum with a kelp forest tank, a desert flash flood and a sports science floor. Space shuttle Endeavour belongs here but is off display until the new Air and Space Center opens.
Free when
Always · Daily 10 am–5 pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Endeavour is off display until the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center opens on November 13, 2026.
Free for whom
Everyone. The core galleries are free. IMAX and special exhibitions are paid. Parking in the Exposition Park lot is about $20 per car.
Reservation
Not needed for the core galleries. From November 13, 2026 the Air and Space Center will use timed reservations that carry a small service fee, and walk-up entry may be very limited.
Time needed
2–3h
How to get there
Metro E Line to Expo Park/USC, then 5 minutes on foot through the Rose Garden.
Worth it? Yes.Great with kids on any day, including Mondays when most museums are shut. If you are coming for the shuttle, wait until after November 13 and reserve ahead.
A 1935 observatory on the south slope of Mount Hollywood with free exhibits, public telescopes and the classic view of the city grid and the Hollywood Sign.
Free when
Always · Tue–Fri 12 noon–10 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am–10 pm. Building closed Mon. The grounds and terraces are open daily with Griffith Park, 5 am–10:30 pm.
Free for whom
Everyone. The building, grounds and telescopes are free. Planetarium shows are ticketed. Parking in the lot and along West Observatory Rd is paid (card only) from noon on weekdays and 10 am on weekends, until 10 pm.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
2h
How to get there
Metro B Line to Vermont/Sunset, then the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus, every 20–25 minutes from 10 am to 10 pm. Fare is 50 cents cash or 35 cents with a TAP card.
Worth it? Yes.Go an hour before sunset and stay for the lights. Do not drive up at dusk: the road backs up and gets closed. Take the DASH, or park free near the Greek Theatre and walk the mile uphill.
A wide fire-road trail from the Observatory to the top of Mount Hollywood, with the Hollywood Sign to the west and the whole basin to the south.
Free when
Always · Griffith Park is open daily 5 am–10:30 pm. Inbound park gates close at 10 pm.
Free for whom
Everyone. Park entry is free. Parking is free around the Greek Theatre (not after 1 pm on concert evenings) and paid next to the Observatory.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1.5–2h round trip
How to get there
DASH Observatory/Los Feliz from Metro B Line Vermont/Sunset to the Observatory or the Mt. Hollywood Dr stop. The trailhead is at the north end of the Observatory parking lot.
Worth it? Yes.The easiest proper view of the Hollywood Sign without a tour. Bring water and a hat, there is almost no shade, and start before 9 am in summer.
A 1909 wooden pier with an amusement park on top and three miles of wide sand on either side. Walking on, watching the fishermen at the far end and using the beach all cost nothing.
Free when
Always · Pier open daily 6 am–10 pm. Rides, the carousel and restaurants keep their own hours and are paid.
Free for whom
Everyone. Beach parking lots charge posted rates.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1–3h
How to get there
Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica, the last stop, then 10 minutes on foot down Colorado Ave. About 46 minutes from Downtown L.A.
Worth it? Yes.The pier itself takes 20 minutes. The reason to come is the beach and the sunset, so walk north along the sand afterward, away from the crowd under the Ferris wheel.
A mile and a half of beachfront promenade with street performers, the skate plaza, the outdoor Muscle Beach gym and a fishing pier at the south end.
Free when
Always · Open every day. It is liveliest from late morning to sunset and thins out fast after dark.
Free for whom
Everyone. Watching the skate plaza and Muscle Beach is free, using the gym is not.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1.5–2h
How to get there
From Santa Monica Pier, walk or cycle 2 miles south on the beach path. Big Blue Bus 1 runs from downtown Santa Monica down Main St to Venice.
Worth it? Yes.Scruffy, loud and still worth an hour, mostly for the skaters. Stand on the ocean side of the skate plaza in late afternoon when the light is behind you.
A state park on a hilltop above Culver City, reached by a steep stone staircase straight up the slope, with a view from the Pacific to the Downtown towers.
Free when
Always · Daily 8 am to sunset. Visitor center Wed–Sun 9 am–5 pm.
Free for whom
Everyone on foot. The lot at the top charges $2 an hour or $6 a day. Park on Jefferson Blvd at the bottom and climb instead.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1h
How to get there
Metro E Line to La Cienega/Jefferson, then about 20 minutes on foot west along Jefferson Blvd to the base of the stairs at Hetzler Rd.
Worth it? Yes.A wider view than Griffith on a clear day and far fewer tour buses. Go the morning after rain, when you can see snow on the San Gabriels.
Everyone. Campus parking in Lot 4 is $5 an hour, $17 a day maximum.
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1h
How to get there
Buses to the UCLA transit stops at Hilgard and Strathmore, then a 10-minute walk across campus. From the Hammer it is about 25 minutes on foot up Westwood Blvd.
Worth it? Depends.Worth it if you are already at the Hammer or want a look at the UCLA campus. Royce Hall and the sculpture garden are a few minutes away and cost nothing.
A steep loop trail a few blocks above Hollywood Blvd, popular with locals and their dogs, with views over Hollywood to Downtown.
Free when
Always · Daily sunrise to sunset. The city has posted the West Trail as closed after a fire, the rest of the park is open.
Free for whom
Everyone
Reservation
Not needed
Time needed
1–1.5h
How to get there
Metro B Line to Hollywood/Highland, then 15 minutes on foot to the gate at 2000 N Fuller Ave. Street parking nearby is tight and mostly permit only.
Worth it? Depends.More of a workout with a view than a nature walk, and it is crowded by 9 am. Fine if you are staying in Hollywood, otherwise Griffith Park gives you more for the same effort.
The plaza where Los Angeles was founded in 1781, with a brick-paved Mexican market street, the city's oldest surviving house and several small free museums.
Free when
Always · The plaza is open daily. Shops, restaurants and the museums keep their own hours, so come between late morning and mid-afternoon.
Free for whom
Everyone. The city-run museums and exhibits in the historic district are free.
Reservation
Not needed. The free guided tours of the district must be requested at least two weeks ahead by email.
Time needed
1h
How to get there
Any train to Union Station (Metro A, B, D Lines), then cross Alameda St.
Worth it? Depends.The stalls sell the same souvenirs you will see everywhere, so skip the shopping and go into the Avila Adobe halfway down the street. Walk through Union Station's old ticket hall on your way out.
Mostly museums. The free window, who it applies to and the booking rule are on each card.
LACMA free second Tuesday
Miracle Mile
Free on certain daysBooking requiredIndoorGood with kids
The county art museum, now centered on the new David Geffen Galleries spanning Wilshire Blvd. General admission is free for everyone one Tuesday a month.
Free when
Second Tuesday of each month · 11 am–6 pm. On other days adults from outside L.A. County pay $30.
Free for whom
Everyone on the second Tuesday. Bank of America cardholders also get in free on the first full weekend of each month.
Reservation
Timed-entry ticket required for all visitors. Reserve the free ticket on lacma.org ahead of time, slots do run out.
Time needed
2–3h
How to get there
Metro D Line to Wilshire/Fairfax, right at the museum. Metro bus 20 or 720 on Wilshire also stops outside.
Worth it? Yes.The only way a visitor from outside the county sees LACMA for nothing, so plan the trip around it if you can. Urban Light, the lamppost installation on Wilshire, sits outside the ticketed area and can be seen any day.
Free on certain daysResidents onlyBooking requiredIndoorGood with kids
The standing weekday deal at the county art museum for people who live in Los Angeles County.
Free when
Mon, Tue, Thu after 3 pm until 6 pm, Fri after 3 pm until 8 pm. Closed Wed.
Free for whom
L.A. County residents with valid ID only. Visitors from outside the county pay $30 at these times. County residents 17 and under are free at all times.
Reservation
Timed-entry ticket required, reserve the free resident ticket on lacma.org and bring ID showing a county address.
Time needed
2h
How to get there
Metro D Line to Wilshire/Fairfax. Metro bus 20 or 720 on Wilshire.
Worth it? Depends.Friday is the one to pick, since you get five hours instead of three. Tourists should not count on this: staff check ID, so use the second Tuesday instead.
Natural History Museum free hours for L.A. County residents
Exposition Park
Free on certain daysResidents onlyBooking recommendedIndoorGood with kids
Dinosaur Hall, the gem vault and the Becoming Los Angeles galleries, free for locals in the last two hours of each weekday.
Free when
Mon–Fri 3–5 pm. The museum is closed on the first Tuesday of each month, except June to August. Regular adult admission is $18.
Free for whom
L.A. County residents with ID or a utility bill. Also free every day: California teachers and school staff, active or retired U.S. military, EBT cardholders, USC students and faculty, and children 2 and under.
Reservation
Free resident tickets can be reserved online with an ID upload, or picked up at any ticket desk from 3 pm.
Time needed
2h
How to get there
Metro E Line to Expo Park/USC, then 5 minutes on foot.
Worth it? Depends.Two hours is enough for the dinosaurs and one more hall, so go straight upstairs at 3. Special exhibitions and the Butterfly and Spider Pavilions still cost extra.
Free on certain daysBooking requiredIndoorGood with kids
A museum of the American West, from Native California to Hollywood westerns, on the northeast side of Griffith Park across from the zoo.
Free when
First Wednesday of each month · 10 am–4 pm. Regular adult admission is $20.
Free for whom
Everyone on the first Wednesday. Active-duty U.S. military and veterans are free every day. Parking is free for Autry visitors.
Reservation
Register for a free spot on theautry.org before you go.
Time needed
1.5–2h
How to get there
Metro bus 96 to the L.A. Zoo and Autry stop. By car, free parking in the museum lot at 4700 Western Heritage Way.
Worth it? Depends.Better than its cowboy reputation suggests, and one of the few free days in town with free parking attached. The Colt firearms gallery and the movie costumes are the parts people remember.
Free on certain daysBooking requiredGood with kids
A 130-acre botanical garden with a desert garden, a Chinese garden and a Japanese garden, plus an art collection and a rare-book library. Regular tickets are among the priciest around Los Angeles.
Free when
First Thursday of each month, at the time on your ticket.
Free for whom
Everyone with an advance Free Day ticket. Limit of 5 tickets per household per year, and every guest needs one, infants included.
Reservation
Required. Tickets are released at 9 am on the last Thursday of the month for the following week, through a virtual waiting room that assigns places at random. They sell out, so be online before 9.
Time needed
3–4h
How to get there
Metro A Line to Allen station in Pasadena, then about 1.5 miles south down Allen Ave on foot or by rideshare.
Worth it? Depends.Worth the effort if you get a ticket, but it is a lottery and San Marino is 45 minutes from Downtown. Head for the Desert Garden first, it empties out by midday heat.
If you spend on one thing in Los Angeles, make it this.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Los Angeles is a company town and nothing free gets you inside the company. The tour drives through working backlots and soundstages in Burbank, which the Walk of Fame and a distant look at the Hollywood Sign cannot stand in for.
Everything above is free. This is the only paid pick on the page, chosen because no free option replaces it.
