Public transport within Los Angeles does exist! The city is very spread out, so be prepared to spend a long time getting from one location to another and don't forget that traffic is always a factor. The city does have local and express buses, light rail and subway lines, and the inter-city Amtrak rail lines, but many services are commuter-oriented and can be limited on nights and weekends.

Even if you have a car, it is sometimes more convenient to take public transport to avoid dealing with the traffic and finding a parking space. Metro Bus, Metro Rail, and other public transit providers serve all the major airports.

Note that all local buses require exact change for bus fares. Bus drivers cannot make change.

There are three bus companies in Los Angeles:

The Big Blue Bus or 310-451-5444

• Serves the Santa Monica area and parts of the Westside.
• The closest BBB line to the Getty Center is the #15 Big Blue Bus at Barrington Place and Chayote (close to Sunset Blvd.) It runs every 30 minutes. If you drop at this stop, it requires a 20 minute walk to the Getty or transferring to the Metro #2 or #302 to Sunset and Church Lane; crossing Sunset Blvd and catching the Metro Buses (#734, and #234 on weekends and holidays) to Getty Center Drive. Staff and guests with Getty badges can enter through the South gate.
• Regular rides cost $1.25, and an inter-agency transfer can be purchased to other regional bus lines, e.g. the Metro Bus. Daily, 13 rides, or monthly bus cards can be purchased, which reduces the price of the cost per ride. A Transit Access Pass, (TAP), card system is available on the Big Blue Bus system.
  
  

The Culver City "Green" Bus or 310-253-6500

• Serves Culver City and adjoining parts of the Westside. (note: the Culver City bus does not come to the Getty Center)

• One ride costs $1.
• Transfer to another Culver City bus is 25 cents and an inter-agency transfer is 40 cents.

The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) or 323-466-3876

• Serves the wider Los Angeles area.
• The MTA Rapid bus #734 stops at the Getty Center's North Gate on Sepulveda Boulevard and across from the Hotel Angeleno on Church Lane.
• Metro #734 has a Sylmar to Westwood route that operates only on weekdays. Limited weekend service between Sherman Oaks and Westwood is provided by Metro Local #234.
• MTA's red "Rapid" buses follow major avenues across town and make fewer stops.
• One ride costs $1.75. You can also purchase a re-loadable TAP (Transit Access Pass) and tap the card each time you board a bus. There are trip, day, weekly and monthly passes on the Tap card. Riders can also purchase a bag of tokens. Click here for more information on Metro fares.
• Public transportation to the Getty Villa is provided by Metro bus #534 (orange bus), which stops at Coastline Drive and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) directly across from the Getty Villa entrance.
• The Metro has a number of bus lines that operate through the night called Metro 24 Owl Service. Please refer to the Metropolitan Metro Service link above for detailed information regarding the route and hours of your intended trip.

The Metro Rail system (also provided by MTA) includes six rail lines. This system is mostly useful for travel in the eastern, northern, and southern parts of Los Angeles. The Expo Line will eventually move riders close to the ocean in Santa Monica and is currently being constructed but currently does not provide extensive access to the Westside. For up to date information on all lines, including the Expo line construction, please see the MTA route map.

• The Metro Blue Line runs north/south between the downtown areas of Long Beach and Los Angeles. This is a great way to get to Long Beach.
• The Metro Green Line crosses the Blue Line, running east-west between Norwalk in the east and Redondo Beach in the west. To travel to Los Angeles International airport, the Metro Green Line stops at Aviation Station. An LAX courtesy shuttle will pick up passengers at Aviation Station and transport travelers to LAX.
• The Metro Red Line subway meets the Blue Line in Los Angeles and provides service through Downtown, and between Union Station, the Mid-Wilshire area, Hollywood, and the San Fernando Valley.
• The Metro Gold Line connects with the Red Line at Union Station, and runs northeast to Pasadena and south east to East Los Angeles.
• The Metro Purple Line serves the Wilshire/Western sector in the west to Union Station in the east.
• The Expo Line provides round-trip service from downtown Santa Monica in the West to Downtown LA in the east.

By Car
The best way to travel outside of Los Angeles is by car. There are many areas in Southern California worthy of visiting that are not accessible any other way. To rent a car, search various travel and car rental Web sites. For more information about car rentals, go to the Driving in Los Angeles section of this Web site.

By Train
The national Amtrak train system offers services from Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to locations along the West Coast, and east to the rest of the U.S. Trains south to San Diego and north to San Francisco are convenient and reasonably priced. Train fares for longer distances can be as expensive as airfares.

By Bus
The Greyhound bus or the MegaBus is an inexpensive way to travel beyond Los Angeles.