As college students, it is so easy to get caught up in the stressful environment that comes with school. Sometimes we all just need a break. Lucky for us, living in LA means that we have endless access to free and affordable world-renowned museums. Museums are a great way to learn about various historical, scientific and artistic discoveries. Museums also make for great photo opportunities for IG and for great hangouts! This article will showcase five free museums that are either free or discounted for students under $15.
- Hammer Museum
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The Hammer Museum, which is located in Westwood Village, is an art museum owned by UCLA. It is a short bus ride from UCLA’s campus, and you can take the U1 Bruin Bus to get there or get some extra steps in and walk. One of the current exhibits (as of Fall 2025) at the Hammer Museum is the “Made in L.A. 2025” exhibit. It highlights a variety of Los Angeles-based artists and reflects the culture and creativity encapsulating the city.
The Hammer Museum also features a restaurant called LULU, which is located in the courtyard of the museum. The restaurant offers a cafe-style menu serving salads and soups, pastries and many other foods as well, making for a great spot to eat after going through the exhibits!
- The Getty Center
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The Getty Center is a free-admission art museum located in Brentwood, right off the 405 freeway. The Getty Center features European art spanning hundreds of years, along with modern photography exhibits. The Getty Center also has beautiful outdoor gardens with astonishing views of LA that are perfect for those aesthetic Instagram photos! The Getty Center is also about a 30-minute bus ride from the UCLA campus, making it super accessible for students to go!
- The Griffith Observatory
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The Griffith Observatory is a scientific museum that showcases the beauty of our universe through astronomy exhibits, telescopes, and interactive displays. It is a great place for learning experiences and for learning about space through hands on exhibits. The Griffith Observatory has free admission and offers a special discount for college students to view the Planetarium at a discounted price of $8 instead of $10, totally worth it to get some of the best views of the cosmos, making for an amazing experience. The Griffith Observatory also features some of the most iconic views of LA, since it is located on Mount Hollywood, giving visitors a clear view of the Hollywood sign and the city’s skyline. From UCLA it is about an hour and a half bus ride, which is totally doable on a free day!
- Mr. Brainwash Art Museum
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The Mr. Brainwash Art Museum is a art museum with an aesthetic that is perfect for Gen Z. With its vibrant and pop art style, it’s definitely one of the best place to take some photos. The museum features a mix of graffiti, sculptures, signs, and huge installations that you can walk through, making for a fun interactive experience. This museum offers a student discount with admission costing only $10. This museum is located in Beverly Hills making it a quick bus ride from UCLA and the perfect location to build a full day itinerary if you want to explore the area afterwards.
- Photomatica Photo Booth Museum
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Photomatica is a photobooth Museum that showcases retro photo booths. All of photmasticas photos booths are all vintage photo booths that have been refurbished and restored allowing for guests to actively use them in the museum creating for an immersive experience. Photomatica has free admission and each photo strip ranges from $7-$7.50 making this museum incredibly affordable. Photomatica is located in Silver Lake which is 45-50 min bus ride from UCLA’s campus. This museum would make for such a fun hangout with friends, take some cute Instagram photos, and also learn about the interesting history behind photo booths.
Ultimately, Los Angeles is a city full of rich culture, with people from all different identities and backgrounds contributing to its art, history, and science. Having the opportunity to go to college in LA, or even just visit opens the door to so many affordable ways to experience that culture. With so many free and discounted museums available, there’s no better time to explore the city and take advantage of everything it has to offer.