Los Angeles: What to See & Do: Museums & Galleries: Getty Center/J. Paul Getty Museum/Getty Villa

Getty Center/J. Paul Getty Museum/Getty Villa

The Westside’s very own architectural landmark is the Richard Meier–designed, travertine-clad Getty Center campus, atop a 110-acre hillside in Brentwood. It’s the home of the J. Paul Getty Trust, which administers the Getty Research and Conservation Institutes, the Getty Foundation, and the J. Paul Getty Museum. Here you’ll see European paintings (including van Gogh’s Irises); selections from a vast photography collection, from Stieglitz and Man Ray to Hockney and Warhol; and inspired period rooms for decorative arts. Not into art? Then just gawk at the marvelous architecture, gardens and view. Dine at the upscale restaurant (by reservation) or the uninspired café. Open Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 10 a.m. — 6:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m. Closed Monday. Admission is free, but parking is $8.

The Getty Villa, about ten miles away in Malibu—reopened in 2006 after nine years of renovation. Here you’ll see the re-created Roman Villa dei Papiri (buried instantly when Mount Vesuvius erupted), gardens and all; galleries inside hold Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities. Eating outdoors at the delicious café with a villa view is an experience you’ll want to repeat. 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA; 310-440-7300. Open Thursday to Monday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Admission is free, but timed tickets are required; due to demand, tickets must be ordered far in advance. Parking is $8.