EVENT | The Getty Villa Museum
7/25/2021
Have you ever thought, “Man, there’s nothing to do in my area lets go somewhere else and do something different… like go to a cool museum or something”. Those were the exact thoughts that went through my girlfriend and I’s head. Malibu is a city we’ve heard so much about but have never been to. From beautiful beaches to ritzy dining options, we knew there HAD to be something to quench our thirst for adventure. After a few google searches, we finally decided on making reservations at the Getty Villa Museum.
The Getty Villa is the original home of the Getty Museum. The displays focus primarily on ancient Greek and Roman artwork. I’m not a history buff or anything, and actually history was my worst subject in high school and college… but even I knew there’s definitely lots to be appreciative of here at the Getty Villa Museum.
Things to Consider Before Your Trip
Reservations:
Admissions require a timed-entry reservation. Basically, this just means you have to pick a day and reserve a time slot to come visit the museum (they’re open everyday except Tuesday). They make it really easy to book your reservation - just go online here, select a day, time, number of people going, and you’re set! The great thing about the Getty Museums is that admissions is free!
Attire:
It’s a museum! Some people dress up nicer on dates, or for Instagram worthy photo opportunities. Others come casual in shorts and flip flops. No dress code here, but I would advise you to wear something comfortable, as there is lots of walking.
At the time of writing this blog, COVID-19 is still a threat, so the museum enforces wearing masks indoor (you are not required to wear a mask in outdoor areas).
Parking:
I KNEW free admissions was too good to be true… parking was $20 per car. There is a covered parking structure that is connected to the museum. You don’t have to take any buses or trams to get from the parking structure to the museum.
Location:
Absolutely beautiful location. The museum sits on top of a hill, right along Pacific Coast Highway. While walking through parts of the outdoor exhibits, you can actually feel a gentle sea breeze. The exact address is 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272. Don’t get this location mixed up with the Getty Center - they’re different!
Top 5 Best Things to See at the Getty Villa Museum
These are ranked according to the most efficient pathway through the museum!
Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater - Once you get through the admissions desk, you’ll take an elevator, a few sets of stairs, and end up here. This is a massive outdoor classical theatre that is the focal point of the museum. I suggest spending about 15 to 30 minutes here before moving on. From here, you can head into the museum building and gardens, the gift shop, or the exit to the parking structures.
Greek and Roman Antiquities - Once entering the museum, you can either check out the artwork on the first floor, or take the stairs up to the second floor. The Greek and Roman displays are present on floors 1 and 2 of the museum. They feature about 4,000 years of ancient art, from the Stone Age all the way up until the end of the Roman Empire. There is a LOT to see here. I would suggest spending at least 1 hour in this section. If you’re the type to read every single placard and comment on every piece of art, I’d suggest even 1.5 hours. Head up to the second floor (if you haven’t already) to take a look at the “changing exhibitions”.
Changing Exhibitions - This section refers to artwork that I’m guessing changes seasonally (about every 4 to 5 months). While we were there, the featured artwork was Assyria: Palace Art of Ancient Iraq and Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins. Estimated time to get through these exhibitions is roughly 45 minutes. Head back downstairs and make your way to the “pool” or garden area.
Outer Peristyle - The largest and most beautiful garden at the Getty Villa Museum. It features a brilliant central reflecting pool, luscious greenery, and awe-inspiring architecture. This was by far our favorite part of the museum. Plenty of photo opportunities here, and if you come in the late afternoon, the lighting is absolutely stunning. Depending on how many photos your significant other wants to take, you can easily spend 30 to 45 minutes here. Once you’ve finished admiring the outer peristyle, make your way back to the classical theater for the final destination.
Gift Shop - Thinking of getting a gift for someone who appreciates Greek or Roman art? Want to take home a little something to remember the trip? The gift shop is the perfect last stop. From apparel such as masks and t-shirts to miniature sculptures and jewelry, this place has got it all. They’ve even got an online store in case you forgot to visit the shop in person. I did notice things were a bit on the pricier side, just something to note ($10 for a cloth face mask, $23 for a t-shirt, and upwards of $100 for a sculpture).
Outer Peristyle - definitely our favorite garden at the Getty Villa Museum.
My girlfriend says this is my “stressed” face.
The Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theater. The building behind is the entrance to the museum and gardens.
A personal favorite. They didn’t leave much to the imagination here.
Hercules - One of J. Paul Getty’s most prized possessions!
Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins - One of the changing exhibitions.
The Verdict
For a price of $20 (parking fee), the Getty Villa Museum offers excellent value - especially for you history and European art buffs out there. Even if you’re just looking for somewhere to browse around and explore, I would still recommend building this museum into your day in Malibu (not as a standalone activity, especially if you’ve got a far drive to Malibu). To be completely honest, the museum was nice, but there wasn’t really any WOW factor for me. I know this review wasn’t that detailed in terms of artwork, and it’s because I have no perception whatsoever when it comes to European history. Personally, I’m more of a contemporary art kind of guy, hence the rating below. But hey, to each his own!
If you’re going to book a reservation here, I would suggest staying at the museum for at least 3 hours. Technically speaking, you could see all the artwork in 2 hours (that’s what we did), but you definitely won’t get the full experience. For a lot of the exhibits, we just didn’t have enough time before they closed (5pm daily). The end of our visit consisted of us scrambling from one showroom to the next, just to say “we saw everything”.
Kha’s Official Rating: 7.5/10