100 Cheap Things to Do in L.A.: Arts & Culture

Picnic at LACMA Jazz Night
Picnic at LACMA Jazz Night

Los Angeles is a mecca of arts and culture. Experiencing L.A.'s artistic side doesn't require stacks of cash. Get your culture fix for less than $20 at these arts and cultural institutions.

For more budget-friendly ways to experience L.A., visit our guide to the 100 Cheap Things to Do in Los Angeles.

Primary image for California Science Center
California Science Center

California Science Center



Get as close as you can get to being an astronaut without leaving the Earth. See the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center for just $2, the price of a timed ticket.

La Brea Tar Pits
La Brea Tar Pits  |  Photo: Yuri Hasegawa

La Brea Tar Pits & Museum



Delve deeper into the history of the La Brea Tar Pits at the Page Museum. Admission is $14.

LACMA
Pair of Sacred Monkeys | Photo: LACMA

Los Angeles County Museum Of Art (LACMA)



Explore the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the largest art museum in the western United States. The museum boasts strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European and American art, as well as a packed calendar of film and music programming. General admission for adults is $20 if residing in LA County, excluding specially ticketed shows. Kids admission under 18 residing in LA County is free. Senior admission 65+ residing in LA County is $16. Purchase of a special, timed ticket grants entry to all other LACMA galleries and exhibitions.

MOCA
"One Day at a Time: Manny Farber and Termite Art," MOCA Grand Avenue | Photo: Zak Kelley

Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles



Discover a robust collection of modern art at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Grand Avenue. Keep your energy up with a healthy lunch from Lemonade, the on-site café. General admission is free.

Museo Petersen del Automóvil
Photo: Petersen Automotive Museum

Petersen Automotive Museum



Find your new dream car. Explore the past, present and future of automotives at the Petersen Automotive Museum. Adult admission is $16. Seniors 62+ are $14, students with I.D. are $11.

Entrance to the Autry Museum of the American West
Photo: Autry Museum of the American West

Autry Museum of the American West



Get in touch with your inner cowboy. Visit the Autry National Center in Griffith Park, where admission is $14 for adults and $10 for seniors and students. On Thursday nights in July and August, put on your dancing shoes for their Latin-inspired Sizzling Summer Nights series.

Primary image for Center Theatre Group
Center Theatre Group

Center Theatre Group



See some of the best theatre in L.A. at the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Kirk Douglas Theatre. Center Theatre Group often offers $20 HOTTIX, making theatre accessible to new fans.

Craft and Folk Art Museum
Craft and Folk Art Museum

Craft Contemporary



Discover a hidden gem on Museum Row. Visit the Craft and Folk Art Museum with $9 adult admission. Student and senior admissions are $7.

Primary image for Hammer Museum
Hammer Museum

Hammer Museum



See works by Monet, Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Sargent at the Hammer Museum in Westwood. Make a day of it by planning your visit around one of the Hammer's film screenings, lectures or concerts. Admission is free.

Hollywood Museum
Hollywood Museum

Hollywood Museum



Walk the red carpet. Visit the Hollywood Museum to see the world's most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia. Admission is $15.

Paley Center For Media
Paley Center For Media

Paley Center For Media



Even the biggest TV junkies need to get off the couch sometimes. Take your love of the small screen to the Paley Center for Media, the foremost public archive of television and radio programming. Free admission. Suggested contribution: $10 for adults; $8 for students and Seniors; $5 for children under 14.

Primary image for Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County



You can't visit Jurassic Park, but you can get close at the Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles. Plan your visit around their First Friday programming to enjoy live indie music while exploring the museum. General admission is $14.

Museum of Tolerance
Museum of Tolerance

Museum of Tolerance



Visit the Museum of Tolerance to explore the dynamics of discrimination, legacy of the Holocaust and contemporary human rights issues. Admission is $15.50 for adults.

Central Garden au Getty Center
Central Garden at The Getty Center

Getty Center



Discover world-renowned art and architecture at the Getty Center or Getty Villa, both of which have free admission and $20 parking and $15 after 3 p.m. Make the most of your visit by participating in a free 45-minute architecture tour. The summertime Saturdays Off the 405 concerts are some of L.A.'s most popular outdoor music events.

Japanese American National Museum
Japanese American National Museum 

Japanese American National Museum



Visit the Japanese American National Museum, a hidden gem in Little Tokyo. The museum aims to promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience. Admission is $16 for adults.