Things to do in Los Angeles
Welcome to Los Angeles
From its sun-kissed beaches to the star power of Hollywood, the Southern California metropolis of Los Angeles is known for its celebrity culture, mild weather, and breadth of experiences. Los Angeles visitors who look beyond the bright lights of Hollywood find an increasingly multidimensional destination, a city offering an incredible array of cuisines, historic architectural landmarks including Griffith Observatory, and a wealth of outdoor opportunities such as hiking, surfing, and horseback riding. Whether you’re drawn to the beach, nearby amusement parks, or celebrity-spotting opportunities in Beverly Hills, the City of Angels never fails to make an impression—or steal the show.
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Top 15 attractions in Los Angeles
#1
Hollywood Sign
One of LA's most distinguishing icons, the famous Hollywood Sign proudly stands on Mt. Lee (Mount Lee) in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Los Angeles and the California movie industry it has come to symbolize. This LA landmark first appeared on its hillside perch in 1923 as an advertising gimmick for a real-estate development called Hollywoodland. Each letter stands 50 feet (15 meters) tall and is made of sheet metal painted white.More
#2
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Only in Los Angeles are stars so common that they can even be found on the sidewalk. Studded with more than 2,600 brass stars across 18 city blocks, the Hollywood Walk of Fame features names of celebrities in mini monuments. See if you can spot the stars of your favorite motion pictures, TV shows, live theater, and more.More
#3
Universal Studios Hollywood
One of the world's oldest continuously operating movie studios, Universal® Studios Hollywood presents an entertaining mix of thrill rides and live action shows, plus a tram ride. The large California theme park cleverly integrates the shows and rides with behind-the-scenes presentations on movie-making.More
#4
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is one of the largest city parks in North America, covering a vast 4,310 acres (1,744 hectares). An oasis in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles, this green space caters to visitors of all ages and interests with attractions such as the Los Angeles City Zoo, the Griffith Observatory, and the iconic Hollywood sign.More
#5
Sunset Strip
The legendary 1.5-mile (2.4-kilometer) stretch of Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood known as the Sunset Strip extends east–west from Beverly Hills to Hollywood, laid end to end with celebrity-studded music venues dating back to the heyday of rock and roll, comedy clubs, boutiques, restaurants, hotels, and cocktail bars with stellar views of the surrounding city.More
#6
Venice Beach
Known for its free-spirited vibe, Venice Beach is a happening, upscale outlier of Los Angeles, fronted by the iconic Venice Boardwalk, officially known as the Ocean Front Walk. Encounters with pickup basketball teams, fortune tellers, and roller skating sunseekers are pretty much guaranteed—especially on hot Southern California summer days. Beyond the sand, visit the skate park, the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym, and Abbot Kinney Boulevard, featuring trendy restaurants, stylish boutiques, galleries, and cafés.More
#7
Santa Monica Beach and Pier
Set along California’s Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica has two claims to fame: the Santa Monica Beach and pier. At Santa Monica Beach, miles of sand host playgrounds, parks, picnic areas, staffed lifeguard stations, and the original Muscle Beach. Nearly 8 million visitors frequent the area each year, most of whom follow the boardwalk to the Santa Monica Pier, whose neon-lit arch and ferris wheel are instantly recognizable from film and TV.More
#8
Rodeo Drive
One of the most famous shopping districts in the world, Rodeo Drive attracts a well-heeled crowd of label lovers who exercise their credit cards at designer shops like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tiffany, and Gucci. Between the elegant storefronts, luxury cars, and swaying palm trees, it’s a Hollywood movie scene come to life.More
#9
Disneyland® Park
The original Disney® destination, developed in 1955 by Walt Disney, Disneyland® Park remains a favorite of both kids and adults alike. Known for its nine lands—including Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, and the most recent addition, Star Wars™: Galaxy’s Edge—this is the place to enjoy classic Disney attractions such as the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Space Mountain®, and Pirates of the Caribbean®.More
#10
TCL Chinese Theatre
Peek into old Hollywood on a visit to the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. This quintessential California landmark, featured in movies since 1927, is still a favorite location for star-studded red-carpet premieres. A recent upgrade to the theater’s seats and IMAX 3D equipment enhances the experience while keeping the theater’s original charm.More
#11
Solvang
Just over the hill from sunny Santa Barbara lie the Santa Ynez Valley and the small, Danish-style town of Solvang. Founded in 1911 by a group of Danish teachers, Solvang (Danish for “sunny field”) is now a bustling hub of activity, ripe with wine-tasting rooms, a fairy-tale-esque downtown, and all sorts of quirky shops.More
#12
Mulholland Drive
A drive on at least one portion of this iconic road should be a part of any first-time visit to Los Angeles. Built largely in 1924 as the scenic highway it remains today, Mulholland (as it’s locally known) offers unparalleled views of the L.A. Basin, San Fernando Valley, the Hollywood Sign and more.More
#13
Hollywood
From the Hills to the Sign, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood has become synonymous with the entertainment industry—and, often, its glamorous appeal. Match your handprints and footprints to those of Hollywood stars on the Walk of Fame; look out for celebs in Tinseltown; and visit famed theaters, such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre—now the TCL Chinese Theatre—and the Egyptian.More
#14
Los Angeles Original Farmers Market
Open since 1934, the Los Angeles Farmers Market, aka the Original Farmers Market, draws both locals and visitors to its 100-plus food stalls, grocers, eateries, and other vendors that sell everything from fruit, meat, and baked goods to skincare, candles, flowers, and housewares. You can easily spend a couple of hours here eating, browsing, and people-watching.More
#15
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (LA Coliseum)
Dating back to 1923, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (LA Coliseum is one of LA’s most storied sporting venues. A National and State Historic Landmark, the 78,000-capacity stadium has seen more major sporting events than almost any other athletic arena. It’s also home to the University of Southern California’s Trojans football team.More
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When to visit
Head to Los Angeles in summer for the quintessential SoCal experience, complete with sunshine and beach days. Though you’ll be sharing the shores with the masses, an endless stream of events, including LA Film Festival, is worth the summer crush. Cool, but not cold, winter temps make December through February a great alternative for the crowd-averse.
Currency
US Dollar ($)
Time Zone
PDT (UTC -8)
Country Code
+1
Language(s)
English
