Los Angeles is filled with opportunities to enjoy art, science, history, and culture without spending anything this December. Whether you want a budget-friendly date, a family outing, or a solo art day, many of LA’s top museums are offering free admission. Some are always free, others have specific free days, and a few require timed tickets. This guide includes every verified free museum day for December 2025, with direct links to each institution brought to you by the MrCheckpoint Verified Legal Directory.
Always Free Museums
These museums are free year-round.
The Broad: Always free, timed tickets required
https://www.thebroad.org/
Hammer Museum: Always free
https://hammer.ucla.edu/
Getty Center: Free with timed reservation
https://www.getty.edu/visit/center/
MOCA Grand Avenue: Always free
https://www.moca.org/visit/moca-grand-ave
Griffith Observatory: Always free
https://griffithobservatory.org/
Getty Villa: Free with timed ticket
https://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/
Orange County Museum of Art: Always free
https://ocma.art/
California African American Museum: Always free
https://caamuseum.org/
California Science Center: Permanent galleries always free
https://californiasciencecenter.org/
The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA: Free daily, some exhibits may cost
https://www.moca.org/visit/geffen-contemporary
Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles: Always free
https://www.icala.org/
La Plaza de Cultura y Artes: Always free
https://lapca.org/
Wende Museum: Always free
https://wendemuseum.org/
Travel Town Museum: Always free
https://www.traveltown.org/
Hauser and Wirth Los Angeles: Always free
https://www.hauserwirth.com/locations/los-angeles/
Hollywood Bowl Museum: Always free
https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/visit/bowl-museum
Fowler Museum at UCLA: Always free
https://fowler.ucla.edu/
Torrance Art Museum: Always free
https://www.torranceartmuseum.com/
Academy Museum (ages 17 and under): Free for youth
https://www.academymuseum.org/
GRAMMY Museum (ages 17 and under): Free for youth
https://grammymuseum.org/
USC Pacific Asia Museum: Free on select gallery days
https://pacificasiamuseum.usc.edu/
ASU FIDM Museum: Free when exhibitions are open
https://www.fidmmuseum.org/
Free for LA County Residents
LACMA: Free Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 3 to 6 pm and Friday from 3 to 8 pm for LA County residents. Ages 17 and under always free. Free day also on December 9.
https://www.lacma.org/
Natural History Museum: LA County residents free Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 pm
https://nhm.org/
La Brea Tar Pits Museum: LA County residents free Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 pm. Outdoor tar pits always free.
https://tarpits.org/
Free Garden and Cultural Center Days
Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens: Free first Thursday (December 4). Reservation required.
https://www.huntington.org/
Autry Museum of the American West: Free Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 to 4 pm with RSVP
https://theautry.org/
Skirball Cultural Center: Free every Thursday in December
https://www.skirball.org/
Monthly and Weekly Free Days
Norton Simon Museum: Free on first Friday, December 5, from 4 to 7 pm. Ages under 18 and students always free.
https://www.nortonsimon.org/
Kidspace Children’s Museum: Free first Friday, December 5, from 2 to 5 pm. Reservation required.
https://kidspacemuseum.org/
Museum of Latin American Art: Free every Sunday in December
https://molaa.org/
Craft Contemporary: Pay-what-you-wish Sundays
https://www.craftcontemporary.org/
Additional Free Cultural Spots
Public, free, and verified.
Annenberg Community Beach House:
https://www.annenbergbeachhouse.com/
Bradbury Building (public lobby):
https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/bradbury-building
Union Station art and cultural exhibits:
https://www.unionstationla.com/
El Pueblo Historical Monument and Olvera Street:
https://elpueblo.lacity.gov/
Grand Park:
https://grandparkla.org/
Tips Before You Visit
Some free days require reservations or timed entry. Plan your visit early, especially for The Broad, Getty Center, Huntington Gardens, LACMA, and Kidspace. Expect higher crowds on well-known free days. Consider Metro or rideshare for Downtown LA locations.
