Things to do
Ranked by what's actually worth your time.
Free admission to this iconic hilltop observatory with telescope viewing, planetarium shows ($6–$10), and commanding views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium offers live shows and interactive exhibits exploring space and astronomy.
Free public observatory with telescopes and one of the best views in Los Angeles, set within one of the largest urban parks in North America. Hike trails to overlook the entire city, visit the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles Zoo, and watch the city lights come up at sunset.
Perched high above the city at 4730 Hollywood Blvd, this free-admission observatory offers spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. Griffith Park is one of North America's largest urban parks with hiking, horseback riding, and unmatched sunset vistas.
One of North America's largest city parks spanning 4,310 acres with the iconic Griffith Observatory offering free admission and unmatched views of the Hollywood Sign and Los Angeles basin. Home to the LA City Zoo, hiking trails, and Mount Hollywood viewpoints.
Popular 2.8-3.5 mile loop hike offering panoramic vistas of downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean, with views of the Hollywood Sign. Best visited at sunrise or early morning to avoid crowds.
World-class art collection in a stunning Richard Meier-designed building with panoramic views over the city. Features European masters and contemporary works with free admission, though parking costs $20.
Among the most famous municipal parks in North America, spanning from Los Feliz to the San Fernando Valley with endless hiking trails, picnic areas, and multiple attractions including the LA Zoo, Autry Museum, and Griffith Observatory. Film-famous for its appearances in countless movies.
Wide sandy beach anchored by an iconic pier featuring a Ferris wheel and Pacific Park amusement rides, plus volleyball courts and bike paths. One of LA's most recognizable attractions with consistent crowds year-round.
Historic 1909 pier featuring a charming old-fashioned amusement park, aquarium, and classic seaside dining with spectacular sunset views over miles of quintessential Southern California beach. Less corporate than modern theme parks.
Iconic pier in continuous operation since 1909 with wide sandy shores, gentle surf, playgrounds, and volleyball courts. Perfect for a quintessential California beach experience with family-friendly facilities and a 3.3-mile walking path south to Venice Beach.
World-class hilltop art museum featuring free admission with a $20 parking fee. Notable works include Van Gogh's Irises, plus a renowned central garden and striking architecture that justifies a visit on its own.
An iconic pier offering family-friendly entertainment including an amusement park, aquarium, and classic seaside eats. Santa Monica Beach provides the classic LA beach experience with a relaxed vibe.
Raw and energetic beachfront promenade renowned for vibrant street performers, unique vendors, and public art. A more chaotic, unpolished alternative to Santa Monica with strong skateboard culture and local character.
Active fossil excavations in the middle of the city with nearly 15,000 glowing reviews. Watch Ice Age remains being extracted in real-time—nowhere else in the US can you see active tar pits in a major city.
LA's extrovert beach featuring the iconic pier with roller coasters, sunset views, volleyball courts, and bike rentals along the strand. Parking $8–20/day with easy access to shops and restaurants.
Family-friendly stretch of white sandy shoreline with a historic pier accessible by Metro E Line. Three and a half miles of paved path for biking, rollerblading, or walking along the coast with sunset views.
The iconic Santa Monica Pier has anchored the coast since 1909 with an amusement park, aquarium, and classic seaside entertainment. The wide, relatively clean beach and street performers create genuine LA atmosphere despite the tourist crowds.
Iconic oceanfront stretch from Santa Monica Pier south to Venice featuring an amusement park, arcades, and carnival atmosphere. Continue to Venice Boardwalk for Muscle Beach, street performers, Venice Canals, and the energetic beach culture.
Contemporary art museum in a beautifully designed space featuring bold modern works from artists like Yayoi Kusama and Jeff Koons. Free admission but advance booking recommended; located on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles.
Contemporary art museum housed downtown with works by Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Cindy Sherman, and Roy Lichtenstein. Free admission but requires advance online booking as it fills up regularly.
The city's newest big-ticket museum in a Renzo Piano building, dedicated entirely to the art and history of movies. Current shows include Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, running through Feb 2027.
Quintessential Southern California experience walking 2-5 miles along the Marvin Braude Bike Path from Venice Beach through the famous Boardwalk and Venice Fishing Pier to the historic Santa Monica Pier, marking the Route 66 endpoint.
Six-mile moderate hike through Griffith Park delivering hikers to the back of the iconic Hollywood Sign with downtown Los Angeles spread below. This is the photo most visitors seek and worth the effort.
Active Ice Age excavation site in the middle of a city park where thousands of fossils are still being actively unearthed from natural asphalt deposits. A unique window into prehistoric life preserved in one of the world's richest fossil sites.
Major art museum with over 150,000 artworks on Wilshire Boulevard in Miracle Mile, adjacent to the iconic illuminated Urban Light installation and La Brea Tar Pits. Comprehensive collection spanning multiple periods and cultures.
Bold red-and-steel structure on the Miracle Mile housing one of the world's largest car collections with rotating exhibits from Hollywood vehicles to groundbreaking design. $18 admission.
LA's most popular 160-acre hike at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains with trails ranging from 0.85 to 3.3 miles. Features the city's only legal off-leash dog area on trails and fantastic summit views over the city and ocean on clear days.
Easy to moderate free hike in Malibu's canyon country leading to a waterfall and ruins. Cooler than coastal bluff trails and ideal for hot days, offering shade and a relaxed pace with scenic payoff.
Opened in 2021 and already one of LA's most visited museums—the finest museum dedicated to cinema history and art in the world. Located in Miracle Mile with comprehensive film collections and exhibitions.
New Oscar-focused museum in the Miracle Mile neighborhood dedicated to the art and history of motion pictures. Showcases cinema artifacts, costumes, and memorabilia from Academy Award winners.
Hands-on museum in Exposition Park featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavour as its centerpiece, along with interactive exhibits on ecosystems, engineering, and space exploration. Free admission for all galleries.
Rugged Malibu beach featuring dramatic sea caves, natural arches, and unique rock formations. Less crowded than neighboring beaches with striking coastal geology and tide pools to explore at low tide.
A manicured park housing multiple world-class institutions: California Science Center (free with IMAX theater), Natural History Museum, and African American Museum. One stop offers hours of cultural exploration.
Smaller Getty location dedicated to Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities, housed in a replica of a Roman villa overlooking the Pacific. Free admission with advance reservation required.
Classic Hollywood history along one of the world's most famous streets, featuring the legendary TCL Chinese Theatre. An essential stop for experiencing Hollywood's golden age heritage and celebrity culture.
The largest art museum in the western United States houses extensive collections spanning geographical borders and historical periods. The iconic "Urban Light" installation of 24 restored vintage streetlamps outside is one of LA's most photographed spots and free to view.
Both located in Exposition Park with free admission, featuring dinosaurs, fossils, and the Space Shuttle Endeavour. Ideal for families or anyone interested in natural history and science.
One of the largest natural history museums in the US featuring a T-Rex skull, African mammal dioramas, California history, and the Spider Pavilion (seasonal fall)—a walk-through outdoor enclosure of hundreds of orb-weaver spiders. The 3.5-acre Nature Gardens showcase native California plants and urban wildlife.
A major repository of natural history collections spanning dinosaurs, gems, wildlife, and cultural artifacts. Located in Exposition Park alongside the Science Center and California African American Museum.
The classic Pacific-edge combo: the pier's Ferris wheel and arcade, then a walk south along the boardwalk to Venice's skate park, canals, and Muscle Beach.
3.5-mile stretch featuring the iconic Pier with solar-powered Ferris wheel, Pacific Park amusement rides, and original Muscle Beach. Well-staffed lifeguard stations and swimming instructors make it ideal for families.
A free museum of Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art housed inside a stunning re-created Roman country house overlooking the Pacific Ocean. One of LA's most underrated landmarks.
Major movie studio theme park with movie-based rides, studio backlot tours showing actual filmmaking processes, and the immersive Harry Potter's Wizarding World attraction worth the ticket price alone.
Unapologetic, gritty beach culture with a lively boardwalk featuring street art, skate tricks, and Muscle Beach. Free to enter with street parking and the most authentic soul of LA's beaches.
A self-guided walking tour between 1st and 5th Streets showcases galleries, street murals, vintage shops, and independent restaurants where old industrial LA reveals its creative soul. The area is completely free to explore and rewards diners who plan ahead at acclaimed restaurants.
Transformed warehouse district that has become LA's most vibrant cultural hub with galleries, street art, emerging restaurants, and authentic neighborhood character. Less polished than other LA zones with genuine local energy.
Dramatic coastal gem with rock formations and secluded coves accessible via a steep but short trail. Sea stacks and caves make it Instagram gold while retaining a hidden-oasis feeling despite its popularity.
Buzzy 1917 food hall in Downtown LA with neon signs, vendor stalls, and diverse cuisines reflecting the city's multicultural makeup. Feels like a slice of New York with its bustling crowds and casual dining energy.
San Marino institution featuring extensive gardens, fine art collections, and rare books and manuscripts. Combines botanical beauty with cultural and literary heritage in a serene setting.
Quirky and fascinating museum featuring prehistoric fossils bubbling up from ancient tar pits on Wilshire Boulevard. Unique geological phenomenon paired with extensive paleontology exhibits.
75 miles of public coastline offering free swimming, surfing, and volleyball. Venice Beach delivers boardwalk culture, skate park, and Muscle Beach; Santa Monica Beach anchors the northern strip with pier access and iconic charm.
Dramatic coastal trails including El Matador Beach Trail (0.5 miles, easy) leading to iconic beaches with sea stacks and hidden coves, and Point Dume State Beach with panoramic ocean views and possible wildlife sightings. Combine beach time with wine tasting in the Malibu hills.
Located in Exposition Park, this museum houses over 35 million artifacts including T. rex skeletons, an insect zoo, and diverse exhibits on animals, ecosystems, fossils, and gems. The Becoming Los Angeles exhibition explores the city's growth over five centuries.
Large museum in Exposition Park featuring notable dinosaur exhibits and California history collections. Admission tickets start at $18 with various pass options available.
Highway 1 tightly hugs the shore through Malibu, Will Rogers State Beach, and Pacific Palisades. Best enjoyed as a scenic drive with stops at Surfrider Beach, Point Dume coves, and El Matador Beach.
Near Malibu, this coastal trail offers unparalleled ocean scenery and tide pooling with only 347 feet of elevation gain. Perfect for accessible hiking with sweeping Pacific views and a protected headland headland featuring wildflowers in spring.
Short, steep hike with panoramic views of Greater Los Angeles. Great for quick cardio and people-watching with a mix of dogs, early morning runners, and city vistas.
A one-stop destination featuring world-class art, history library collections, and 120 acres of themed gardens including a Japanese garden, Chinese garden, and desert garden. One of California's greatest collections set in a privilege-feeling real estate with unmatched botanical spaces.
A mile-and-a-half of soft sand bustling with street performers and skaters. The people-watching is unmatched, and the nearby Venice Canals offer peaceful walks past charming homes.
Palos Verdes cliffside park offering picturesque ocean views, accessible tide pools, and scenic walking trails. Free access with dramatic coastal geology and marine life viewing opportunities at low tide.