Norton Simon Museum

Expérience fantastique: Great collection of impressionist and post impressionist art. The Goya exhibit was fantastic!

Expérience fantastique: A really nice museum to visit alone or with a group! The outdoor courtyard is lovely as well. Be sure to go on the first Friday of the month or bring a student ID for free admission if ticket price is prohibitive.

Expérience fantastique: Small but very varied art work.

Expérience fantastique: First time visitor. Norton Simon Museum is definitely a world-class museum and a must-visit in Pasadena. Every gallery and art piece is remarkable and glad I was able to see the Goya exhibit before it ends. Lastly, gallery associates and security were very polite, friendly, and helpful which added to me and my wife’s wonderful experience. Thank you we will visit again!

Expérience fantastique: Stunning museum! We really love to visit this place! We are definitely coming back! The have a store with nice prints

Expérience fantastique: Intimate experience with a top tier collection. Parking is easy and ticket prices are reasonable. Highly recommend viewing the introductory movie prior to strolling the museum. It will provide you with insight on Norton Simon & his passion for art. One of my favorite places to visit, wish I lived closer. DO NOT go there in late December or early January as the Rose Bowl/parade takes up entire area & you will not be able to park anywhere near the museum. Other than that, treat yourself & enjoy!

Expérience fantastique: Amazing artwork and very nice facility’s. We were not even able to finish it all after 4 hours. They do need a little more parking.

Expérience fantastique: This is my fav museum. Great art pieces, polite guide, and the best cafe.

Expérience fantastique: This beautiful museum transports you into another world! Timeless art pieces and beautiful gounds. I totally recommend this to people who love art, museums or zen places to relax. It has a cute bookstore and a cafe as well.

Expérience fantastique: This museum is amazing. I was delighted to discover how many significant works of impressionist painting are here in Los Angeles. Well worth a visit.

Expérience fantastique: Has one of the most rounded collections from Rodin sculptures out front to classic Renaissance to impressionism. Has something for everyone, and the only thing missing is classical, but that's what the Getty Villa is for. My favorite SoCal museum!

Expérience fantastique: Fabulous art, sculpture, paintings and drawings. Lovely garden too.

Expérience fantastique: I love this place. I can never grow tired of the garden area, nor the artwork inside.

Expérience fantastique: My 7 year olds first time at a museum, and he loved it. The staff are very friendly

Expérience fantastique: A wonderful collection of art spanning across cultures and time. Pleasantly surprised, and will go back.

Expérience fantastique: Small but might museum! On display are works from Rembrandt, Rodin, Rivera, Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh. There is also an outside patio cafe for snacks!

Expérience fantastique: Great collections. One of the best museums. My favorite in LA area. Highly recommended.

Expérience fantastique: Sublime, total inspiration! such a friendly staff!

Expérience fantastique: Great museum with lots of historic paintings and exhibits to discover and gain knowledge of. Free entrance for those who are college students with their student IDs required for entry.

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful art museum and amazing story of Norton's life. Watch the movie on site in the theater before you explore the art. Makes it much more meaningful.

Expérience positive: Lovely museum with an incredible collection. Visit slightly spoilt by rather snooty gallery staff and unwelcoming security; wasn’t surprised that the visitors were overwhelmingly white, wealthy and middle class given the lack of a genuine welcome. Easy to reach using public transport.

Expérience fantastique: Very nice museum with variety of art pieces. I love that they offer free admission for students. The museum has free and nice parking lot, and it is close to great boba stores ❤

Expérience fantastique: Not so hidden Gem. I am amazed that this place is not as well known as the Getty because it is absolutely gorgeous and has so many priceless works of art. I highly recommend visiting. Great place to go alone, as a group, or family.

Expérience fantastique: Incredible museum!!! The collection is so impressive and very thoughtfully curated.

Expérience fantastique: I was so excited, felt so good seeing the work of the artists. It’s free for students

Expérience positive: Had a great time, the gallery area was spacious and all pieces were adequately displayed. My only gripe was the outside seating area chairs and tables were not tended to; which made it unpleasant; other than this it was a fantastic tour!

Expérience fantastique: Visiting for the first time, was a very nice experience. I was so surprised at the exquisite curation of art on exhibition. I took my wonderful stepson, who has special needs, and the staff was understanding, welcoming and patient. This allowed us to explore and contributed to his growth. I am very appreciative of the way the Norton Simon Museum management is hiring and training their staff. Truly wonderful. Thank you so very much! Side note: Cafe and pond/garden area was very comfortable, as well!

Expérience fantastique: One of my all-time favorites. This museum has a pretty staggering permanent collection that does an awesome job of summarizing art history 101 in a succinct way. I also think the downstairs eastern art collection is a gem also worth spending time in because the collection is just enough to peak the interest (sate one's curiosity). It is just the right size to spend an afternoon, enjoy lunch, and have a chat in the sculpture garden.

Expérience fantastique: Intimate museum filled with top quality paintings and sculptures. Encyclopedic in scope but each piece high quality. Beautiful garden and plenty of parking.

Expérience fantastique: Excellent small museum with first class collection of paintings and other art objects.

Expérience fantastique: i love their garden and contemporary pieces :) so glad this is free for students

Expérience positive: The girl at the front desk was so helpful. I don’t know her name but she made such a difference for me and my visit. The crowd on the day I went was so unruly. The quality of the collections, particularly the postindustrial era painting and classical era Christian work, is impressive.

Expérience fantastique: Great place to spend an afternoon. Museum has interesting collection of art and garden area is beautiful. They also have a nice cafe we stopped for lunch.

Expérience positive: It was fun. Lots of art. The guide we had was a little boring, though. Also, there were some nude statues, but that is what art is.

Expérience fantastique: It was my first time visiting this museum. It is such a beautiful place with a beautiful garden area. Definitely will be visiting here again.

Expérience fantastique: Great museum! However, it was sad to see there is no accessible entrance for those with disabilities in the main entrance to the museum. Nor is there automatic doors, someone has to open them for you. There is a ramp to the door but its all the way on the side, and wraps around to the front.

Expérience fantastique: I love the Norton Simon Museum. Love the impressionist artwork they have here. Always come back to get some more inspiration. The Cezanne collection is amazing. Though I'm partial to Manet.

Expérience fantastique: Can’t wait to go back! It’s been one of my favorites. It was a lovely experience. This museum is truly beautiful.

Expérience fantastique: I found this museum on google accidentally. it was a very nice place with couple of master pieces and beautiful garden. It is definitely worth to visit.

Expérience fantastique: This is a wonderful art museum. All the great artists are represented. We were here for 3 hours and only saw half of it. Bring your earbuds to listen on your phone to information about each piece. First Friday of each month, entry is free at 4 p.m.

Expérience fantastique: Smaller than the average L.A. museum, but this place is iconic and full of great works of art.

Expérience fantastique: Great selection of art work. Very enjoyable, with helpful staff. Just not the best parking

Expérience fantastique: I went for Pasadena Art Night which happens 2x a yr: it was nice walking around the Norton Simon museum for free.(regular adult admission is $ 20.00). Go to the museum !

Expérience fantastique: Beautiful!. Got the book...explains Mr. Simon's choices!. I picked 3 very different favorite pictures. All Picasso!!. I have a type!

Expérience fantastique: Nice place to spend an hour or two. I enjoyed looking at the artworks and admiring the design of the building itself. There are also quite a few opportunities for free admission to the museum, like the first Friday of the month, which is a plus.

Expérience fantastique: Diverse group of Artwork. Museum has really good shop.

Expérience fantastique: Wow! This place is really something! We spent about 2 hours there on a Friday evening and although we entered at a reduced admission, I would say if you can dedicate 2-3 hours and really soak in everything on display at this museum it would be worth full admission! The collection is simply put a who's who exhibition of the great European masters! There are Van Gogh's, Gauguin's, Pissarro's, Degas', Rousseau's, Matisse's, you name it... the list goes on and on! The space is absolutely gorgeous and spotless! The lighting and aesthetic is just perfect for viewing all of these pieces! There are explanations on every single painting! There is a parking lot which is immaculately kept as well as a sculpture garden and other outdoor spaces to enjoy! The museum was not too crowded on the day we visited and virtually free from the instagram-mobs that have overtaken some of the more well known European and American art museums. An under-rated gem, for sure!

Expérience positive: Lovely bright museum with lots of art to see. Added bonus that you can bring your earbuds and listen to snippets about much of the art. Definitely for older audiences, there won't be any horse play tolerated by the docents.

Expérience fantastique: One of my favorite museums in the LA area. Love the Van Goghs and Degas

Expérience fantastique: I thought I'd just spend an hour or two here... Five hours later I was wandering out and I regret nothing at all!

Expérience fantastique: Do not miss this. We could not believe this is the collection of one man. Be sure and see his story in the movie theater. We have never stood inches away from so many grand master works and were left speechless. The building and grounds are also impeccable.

Expérience fantastique: This is an awesome museum with very interesting exhibits. It’s not big and well organized so I’d say half a day is enough to see everything. If you’re a student, then it’s free to you.

Expérience fantastique: Magnificent museum near downtown Pasadena with pieces painted by world renowned artists on display. Has a fabulous gift shop on site.

Expérience négative: It’s a little expensive and they are a bit uppity about things that I didn’t have issues with at other museums. One security person kept hovering like 6 inches away from me. The attendees seemed to lack some etiquette as well. Art is a bit basic and themes were eh. Some things were cool and historic, but not particularly mindblowing.

Expérience fantastique: Amazing collection of world class art. Cool docents and beautiful grounds.

Expérience fantastique: It's a favorite of ours! Be sure to walk around the pond with the water lilies and sculptures. There is a Cafe out there. I have yet to avail myself of it. We always visit after Huntington Gardens, but today we visited the quirky, extensive, singular, and fun Bunny Museum for 2 hours, then enjoyed 90 minutes here at the pond and in the collection. Guests even got to take home a free art print today! Military are free. Parking is free, in the lot.

Expérience fantastique: Great collection, European & American master ground level, Asian and religious collectiin lower level. Smaller more relaxed than larger impressive collections eg Getty, so easy visit. Comfortfortable cafe in courtyard by pond makes for break & chat ( some traffic noise from freeway in courtyard at times) Great for one to two hour visit ( You may spend all day, I'm overloaded after 90 mins at a gallery). Currently closed Monday & Tues (12/2023)

Expérience fantastique: This is for sure a must visit place for art lovers or honestly anyone. The collection is indeed magnificent.

Expérience fantastique: Beautiful museum. We had out of town visitors and other plans that did not work out. We saw that this museum was open and popped in without having to prepurchase tickets. It was a great decision.

Expérience fantastique: Such a nice Museum. Looks smaller from the exterior, but there is lots to see, and there are a few members on the team who are always friendly (especially near the Renoir paintings). There is a large variety of art and peaceful gardens. I like that they are open late on fri and sat...it makes for a nice beginning to a night out.

Expérience fantastique: Beautiful museum, lovely architecture and best of all is the lower level gardens.

Expérience fantastique: The collection is very nice but probably the most pretentious museum staff I have come across. Don't dare have lunch on their property or the guards will shoo you off. Once inside you have to check your back pack quickly or they will be on you about that. The photos show a variety of brushwork.

Expérience fantastique: Small museum that packs a punch. Carefully selected artwork from 14th through 20th century, every piece deserves attention. It's nowhere near the scale of Getty, but that's not the point. Beautiful garden, and excellent staff. Only wish they'd run the Norton Simon bio movie more frequently. Don't end your Pasadena visit just here, go see the magnificent City Hall and surrounding area.

Expérience positive: Such a variety of paintings. Really enjoyed walking thru the galleries and seeing the greats. Nice sculpture garden outdoors. All lit up at night. Didn't even know this museum existed. Heard the name.

Expérience fantastique: Great little museum it will take about 2 hours to walk the whole thing a lot of great art from 1200 to present and a very nice collection of Hindu and buddest statues from the Nepal India kashmier meamar and tibet very nice exhibits

Expérience fantastique: Norton Simon Museum is a true artistic gem. With its captivating paintings, breathtaking sculptures, and ever-changing exhibitions, it's a must-visit for art lovers. The sculpture garden is a peaceful escape, offering a moment of mindfulness and the chance to enjoy a coffee. A perfect blend of culture and tranquility ✨

Expérience positive: I enjoy museums I visit them frequently, it was my first time at this museum.....it was part of my college class that we needed to attend.....I enjoyed the time however here are a few things that this place must work on...... 1. The noise at this place is Ridiculous they have people used their phone for a walk through with explanations and people have it on speaker so you cannot hear anything when you try to talk softly. 2. The cafeteria is very lame about 6 of us ordered hot chocolate with croissants, the croissants were not fresh very very dry, the the drink had no flavor we try to talk to the staff they said its the machine.......oh well.

Expérience fantastique: Parking: plenty of site and on adjacent street. Free. Entry: paid or free once a month or frew with bank certain cards on certain days I went on a free day, the parking lot was nearly full but I found a spot in 5 minutes. Surprisingly a good amount of well known artists including Picasso, Rodin, Rivera, van Gogh and Monet. They have sections for Italian, Dutch, French, and Spanish as well as small sections of 'modern art' like Warhol. Downstairs they have Oriental art, mostly Hindu idols and some Buddhist statues. The best art here is the Italian. In terms of LA county art museums I would place this second only to Getty center and Villa. On site outside the building they have the famous 'thinker' sculpture. Behind the building they have a pond, and nicely manicured garden with a Cafe. Definitely worth a visit

Expérience fantastique: My recent visit to this museum was a true cultural immersion. The exhibits were masterfully curated, offering an insightful journey through various periods and themes. The museum's commitment to preserving and showcasing history was evident in the meticulous attention to detail. The staff's enthusiasm and expertise enriched the experience, adding depth to the narratives behind each display. From ancient artifacts to contemporary art, this museum offers a dynamic and educational experience that resonates with visitors of all ages.

Expérience fantastique: Great museum in the heart of Old Town Pasadena. You can get a membership for two for $85 that allows you to go together with your spouse or for one of you to bring a guest any time you visit. Great exhibitions with several pieces each by the likes Matisse, Picasso, Renoir, Degas and Brasque.

Expérience fantastique: Amazing art collection. Spent 3 hours on first floor and, have to return for Asian Collection on lower level. Lovely sculpture garden too.( bring earphones , the free audio tour with your phone is a must!)

Expérience fantastique: Very nice small art museum. I believe it is based on Mr Simon's collection, and upstairs he seemed to focus on having excellent examples of 4 centuries of European paintings. Downstairs is a bit eccentric, with lots of South Asian religious stone sculptures as well as temporary exhibits. Nice outdoor water and sculpture garden, with snacks and drinks.

Expérience fantastique: The norton Simon always delivers. Great art, reasonable prices, friendly staff.

Expérience fantastique: We were members and lived a 10-minute walk away before covid. Had not visited for over 3 years. We rejoined as members today. This is a great museum, high quality and not overwhelming. It is easily seen on a day. The collection of South and SE Asia art is outstanding. Small but nice cafe by a beautiful outdoor pond and sculpture garden. Parking is free. Don't miss it if you are in the Pasadena area.

Expérience fantastique: Breathtaking display of Old World masterpieces. Very well exhibited in a beautiful surrounding. Nice little Cafe for a luncheon.

Expérience fantastique: Many great artwork. Free for students.

Expérience fantastique: A lovely experience. Delightful art. Friendly docents and staff.

Expérience fantastique: It's the perfect sized museum. You can see it all in a day, including a trip to the giftshop. Cozy yet spacious with a great mix of classic European works, Asian sculptures, and a sprinkling of contemporary art. The outdoor cafe has a great selection of pastries, drinks (try the Italian sodas), coffee, and snacks. The sculpture garden is lovely to walk through or sit by and enjoy. l could almost ignore the noise coming from the freeway nearby. Highly recommended.

Expérience fantastique: A wonderful place for fine arts and sculpture! I love it so much!

Expérience fantastique: Love this museum, still one of my favorites for Los Angeles County

Expérience fantastique: I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Norton Simon Museum, and I must say it was an enchanting experience. In the bustling city where life seems to move at a lighting pace, this museum proved to be an oasis of tranquility. Stepping through its doors, I was instantly transported to a world where time seemed to slow down, allowing me to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The museum's architecture and layout were meticulously designed to enhance the peaceful ambiance. The spacious galleries and strategically placed seating areas allowed visitors to navigate at their own pace and find moments of solitude amidst the captivating exhibits. Whether I stood in awe before a magnificent piece of art or found myself captivated by the intricate details of historical artifacts, the museum provided an environment conducive to quiet contemplation.

Expérience fantastique: Real hidden jem in the middle of Pasadena. El Greco, Degas, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Rafael and more. We were so happy to find this museum.

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful museum. Very beautiful. My daughters and I truly enjoyed ourselves. My daughter needed to do a presentation on Asian art. This was definitely the museum to visit. Free if you are a student. Even for myself. All 3 of us are in college. Free parking!

Expérience fantastique: Breathtaking experience. So much amazing art in one building.

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful collection, the staff was very knowledgeable when asked about the artwork. I hope they do more face-to-face exhibits!

Expérience fantastique: Tucked away in Pasadena you can catch some of the famous historical artists we studied growing up van Gogh amongst some of these timeless pieces .... great place for first date lots to see didn't get to stay long but very accessible for handicap elevator on floors wide ample aisle s so we're not bumping into each other ancient artifacts ..... don't forget the gifts/ bookstore for some great ideas gifts

Expérience fantastique: One of the best museums in LA County. Wonderful place with great exhibitions.

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful place to come and see art that is world class right in your own backyard.

Expérience fantastique: One of my fave museums in LA - amazing Asian art collection as well

Expérience fantastique: Jewel of a museum. Eclectic and important collection ranging from Dutch masters, early renaissance iconography, impressionists, modern American Beautiful sculpture garden.

Expérience fantastique: This is a must-see if you're in the Pasadena area. The museum has a great collection and their sculpture garden is so delightful to walk through.

Expérience fantastique: This museum has a gorgeous collection! It was way bigger than expected, and the gift shop had good quality souvenirs! Would go again.

Expérience fantastique: I love this museum in Pasadena. They have a variety of exhibits, and I really appreciate their collection of impressionist art. From Rembrandt to Van Gogh to Monet, there is so much to see. The courtyard gardens and sculptures are nice as well, and even the convenient station for snacks. There is a little something for everybody that makes for an entertaining and comfortable experience.

Expérience fantastique: Our favorite museum in LA. Huge art collection in display :) Also, there is a nice garden area with a cafeteria to relax. Entrance is $15dll but students are free.

Expérience fantastique: Enlightening, empowering spiritual eyes to see, ears to listen to the quietness of the depth of taking in such phenomenal historical art with artists from that time to present is the depth of appreciation, past to present!

Expérience fantastique: We celebrated Mother's Day by exploring Pasadena, and the Norton Museum was one of the few stops we took. We got here around 3ish, and it was very busy. Make sure you don't bring a big backpack so that you can fully enjoy the experience, I had to wear my package in front of me, lol. Because my sister, mom, and I took our time looking at the art pieces, the crowd did start dwindling down, so just take your time at the start so that you can have the rooms to yourselves hehehe. Also, bring some headphones or wireless headset so you can take advantage of their audio tour, which had the soundtrack of Claud Debussy (awesome!) when we were there. Don't forget to also check out the pond , it's breathtaking. If you do get hungry, they do have an outdoor cafe with plenty of setting area, or you can also enjoy your snack while walking around the pond.

Expérience fantastique: Best museum in SoCal. Very familiar paintings by impressionist artists including Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Cezanne and cou tless others

Expérience fantastique: This was my 2nd time visiting, they were hosting a garden party with various fun craft activities which was a free event for the family with museum general admission. I had a great time, and free parking!

Expérience fantastique: Wonderful! The gardens, fountains and galleries. Variety! So many famous artists represented! So many amazing things to see! A peaceful good feeling throughout.

Expérience fantastique: Beautiful collection of art in well designed museum set in lovely grounds. Highlights for me included Henry Moore works in the statue garden, and the South Asian collections. Staff and volunteers were very welcoming.