The Getty Center Tram Ride Is Half the Fun for Los Angeles Kids

The Getty Center’s free tram ride is a short, scenic journey that kids remember as much as the art inside. It’s the kind of thrill that turns a museum visit into an adventure.

The Getty Center sits on a hilltop in the Sepulveda Pass, and the only way up (unless you walk the winding path in about ten minutes) is a driverless, electric tram that glides along a dedicated track from the parking garage to the arrival plaza. The ride takes just a few minutes, but the views across the 405 freeway and the Los Angeles basin unfold in a way that makes every kid press their face to the window. It’s free, it’s smooth, and it’s the first thing kids talk about afterward.

Why the Tram Steals the Show

For children, the tram feels like a mini amusement ride. It glides silently up the hillside, and the angle gives a pilot’s-eye view of the traffic below and the city beyond. Standing on the right side going up offers the best look at the Sepulveda Pass. Once you reach the top, the tram lets you off right at the museum’s entry plaza, where the white travertine buildings and the Central Garden stretch out. The whole sequence — park, board, ride, arrive — builds anticipation in a way that walking through a lobby never could.

The tram itself is a people mover manufactured by Doppelmayr, the same company that builds mountain gondolas. It runs continuously during opening hours, so there’s never a long wait. Kids can ride as many times as they want (though the museum is big enough that one trip each way usually suffices). The ride is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and the cars are spacious enough for a family group.

Planning Your Visit with Kids

General admission to the Getty Center is always free, but you need a timed-entry reservation booked in advance on the Getty website. Same-day slots are often available, but weekends can fill. Parking costs $25 per car (or $20 on weekends before 3 p.m., dropping to $15 after 3 p.m. weekdays, $10 after 6 p.m., and free on Saturdays after 6 p.m.). The museum is open Tuesday through Friday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and on Saturday until 9 p.m. It’s closed on Mondays and major holidays.

One important update: the Getty Center will close temporarily beginning March 2027 for a major renovation that includes tram upgrades, a new arrival plaza, and gallery improvements. It’s scheduled to reopen in spring 2028. If you’re planning a visit after February 2027, check the Getty website for alternative options (the Getty Villa in Malibu remains open).

Getting There

Driving is the easiest way. Take the I-405 to Getty Center Drive, exit, and follow signs to the parking structure. The tram station is just inside the garage. Traffic on the 405 can be heavy, especially during weekday rush hours and summer weekends. If you’d rather skip the parking fee, take Metro’s E Line to Expo/Sepulveda station, then transfer to Bus 761 north to the Getty Center entrance. The walk from the bus stop to the tram station is short.

Ride-sharing services can drop you at the tram plaza at the base of the hill — no parking fee needed. The tram is free for everyone, regardless of how you arrive.

Tours That Make It Easy

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If you want a guide to help your family navigate the galleries and keep kids engaged, consider a small-group guided tour. The Los Angeles: Getty Center Guided Tour runs about two hours, costs from around $42 per person, and covers highlights like Van Gogh’s Irises, the French decorative arts rooms, and the Central Garden. It includes timed entry, so you skip the reservation step. The group is small, and the pace works well for families with school-age kids.

For a more tailored experience, a private Getty Center tour with an art historian starts at around $225 for up to six people. You can focus on what your family likes — Impressionists, architecture, or gardens — and the guide adjusts the depth. Parking is included in the price, which simplifies the day.

If you’re combining the Getty with other LA highlights, the Best City Highlights with Getty Center and Griffith Observatory private tour runs about six hours, includes an air-conditioned vehicle, and stops at the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, and the Original Farmers Market. It’s a full-day option for families who want to see a lot in one go.

What to Know Before You Go

Who Should Skip the Getty Center?

The Getty Center is a great fit for most families. Kids who love heights, machines, or views will be captivated by the tram. The museum itself has plenty of open space, a garden with a stream and a floating azalea maze, and family workshops on weekends. If your children are very young or need constant hands-on interaction, the La Brea Tar Pits or the California Science Center might be more engaging. But for a free museum with a fun ride to start — it’s hard to beat.

For a broader Los Angeles family itinerary, the Los Angeles with kids offers plenty of other options, from Griffith Observatory’s free planetarium shows to the Santa Monica Pier. But the Getty Center’s tram remains one of the most memorable five-minute rides in the city. It’s half the fun — and the other half is what you find at the top.

Sources

Getty Center travel guide. The Better Vacation, 2026.

Getty Center visitor information. Airial Travel, 2026.

Getty Center tours and tickets. Tourteller, 2026.

Gehry Partners, WHY Architecture, Olin selected as project leads for Getty Center visitor sequence renovations. Dezeen, 2026.

Getty Center free galleries and tram guide. Karpo, 2026.