The Broad
The Broad sits on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles behind a skin of 2,500 rhomboidal fiberglass-concrete panels — a structure that manages to look both geological and futuristic depending on the light. Inside, two floors of gallery space hold more than 2,000 postwar and contemporary works from one of the more serious private collections assembled in the United States.
General admission to the permanent collection is free, which partly explains why the average visitor here is 33 years old and the standby line moves slowly. Timed tickets are released monthly and disappear fast — book before you arrive.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who come back tend to book the Infinity Mirrored Room ticket separately and treat it as its own event — the 45 seconds inside Yayoi Kusama's installation go faster than you expect. The Thursday evening hours until 8 pm are noticeably quieter than weekend afternoons, and the public plaza's century-old Barouni olive trees make a decent place to decompress afterward.
The story behind The Broad
Eli and Edythe Broad began exploring sites for a public museum as early as 2008, and in August 2010 Eli Broad formally committed to building on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles. Six architecture firms competed for the commission — among them Rem Koolhaas, Herzog & de Meuron, and SANAA — before Diller Scofidio + Renfro, working with Gensler, were selected. The $140 million building took shape around what DS+R called 'the veil and the vault': a porous concrete-panel envelope filtering daylight over a protected gallery core.
The museum opened on September 20, 2015. Its founding director, art historian Joanne Heyler, oversees not just the galleries but the Broad Art Foundation's lending library, which has been placing collection works in museums worldwide since 1984. A 55,000-square-foot expansion, again by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, was announced in 2024 with a target completion tied to the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
Good to know
Metro lines A and E stop at Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill Station; the Red and Purple Lines put you 0.4 miles away at Civic Center/Grand Park. Parking with museum validation runs $19 for three hours. Closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Timed-entry tickets drop on the last Wednesday of each month at 10 am PT.
Where is The Broad?
More tickets & tours for The Broad
Book directly at the provider
What travellers say about The Broad
We had a wonderful visit to The Broad! The museum is beautiful, modern, and very well organized. The art collection was impressive and interesting to explore, with so many unique and creative exhibits. The atmosphere felt calm and inspiring, and we enjoyed walking through every gallery. It’s a great place to spend time with family or friends and experience something different in Los Angeles. Definitely worth visiting — we would love to come back again!
An excellent, free museum that requires a reservation. It is incredibly well-organized and meticulously maintained by a vigilant staff. Just a heads-up: backpacks must be worn on the front of your chest while inside. the elevator—it's very cool.
The Broad is a fantastic museum and a must-visit for anyone who enjoys contemporary art. The collection is unique, the galleries are beautifully curated, and the exhibits are thoughtfully presented. The museum itself is beautifully designed, with striking architecture that makes the visit special before you even step inside. It's easy to explore, and the overall atmosphere is inspiring and enjoyable. A great place to spend a couple of hours while visiting downtown Los Angeles.
I visited The Broad in downtown Los Angeles and had a mix of great art and a little frustration. First, it was FREE. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get anything from the gift shop because I waited in line for about 10 minutes and the line never seemed to move—definitely disappointing when you’re hoping to take a memory home. That said, the art exhibits were pretty cool. Some of the standout pieces I saw included: • Rabbit by Jeff Koons — a polished stainless steel sculpture that looks like a shiny, oversized bunny.  • Balloon Dog (Blue) by Jeff Koons — a larger-than-life blue stainless steel sculpture shaped like a balloon dog.  • Tulips by Jeff Koons — a colorful bouquet of reflective stainless steel flowers that really pop in the gallery.  • Under the Table by Robert Therrien — an oversized table and chairs that makes you feel small and whimsical walking around it.  These pieces were fun, bold, and memorable—each one very different but all worth seeing. The oversized kitchen table especially gave the space a playful, immersive feel. Even with the gift shop hiccup, the art at The Broad made the visit worthwhile, especially if you enjoy contemporary work that’s both visually striking and thought‑provoking.
Spent the day at The Broad, and hunty... what an experience. 🤍✨ We explored the Yoko Ono exhibit, and it had us slowing down, thinking, and seeing art in a completely different way. Some pieces made us smile, some made us reflect, and that's what I love about art—it doesn't have to be loud to leave an impression. The Broad itself is beautiful, the atmosphere is peaceful, and it was the perfect way to spend quality time with my babygirl. Between the creativity, conversation, and making memories together, today was one for the books. If you're looking for a free date, family outing, or just need a little inspiration, put The Broad on your list. We had the best time. 🎨🤍
More of Los Angeles
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Los Angeles →More attractions in Los Angeles
All of Los Angeles →
Background adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) · map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · ratings & place photos via Google · other photos with per-image credit. Ticket links may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.