The Getty Center
ExperienceSanta Monica#11 of 50

The Getty Center

Los Angeles, California

Photo: Phyllis Walker

Richard Meier's white travertine campus sits on a hilltop above the 405, and the architecture alone is worth the tram ride up. The gardens are immaculate, the views stretch from the mountains to the sea, and the collection — Van Gogh's Irises, manuscripts, photography — is staggering and free. This is a place that makes you proud of what a city can build.

Insider tip

The Central Garden designed by Robert Irwin. Walk the azalea maze, then find the terrace overlooking the Pacific. Free parking after 3pm.

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