Things to do
Ranked by what's actually worth your time.
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.
Perched high above the city in one of North America's largest urban parks, this free admission observatory offers telescope viewing, planetarium shows ($6-$10), and spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. The surrounding 4,210-acre Griffith Park provides hiking, horseback riding, and outdoor activities.
Free art-deco landmark offering telescope viewing, planetarium shows, and exhibits with spectacular views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign. The 4,310-acre park also encompasses the LA Zoo, Autry Museum, and hiking trails.
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 museum housed in an architectural marvel nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, featuring European masters and centuries of artworks with free admission and $20 parking. The building itself is considered a masterpiece.
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.
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.
The largest art museum in the western United States with collections spanning geographical borders and historical periods. Features the iconic 28 cast-iron Urban Light installation, one of LA's most recognizable landmarks.
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.
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.
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.
Iconic bohemian coastal community with a paved multi-use boardwalk stretching through Venice and up to Santa Monica, showcasing street performers, artists, skaters, and genuine eccentricity along wide sandy shores.
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.
Stretches along Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to La Brea celebrating more than 2,700 figures from film, TV, music, radio, and theater. Gritty but iconic for photo ops. Free.
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.
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.
Contemporary art museum in Downtown LA featuring an impressive collection of post-war works with free entry (advance ticket booking required). Part of the emerging cultural center in Downtown.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Popular 7.5-mile urban hiking route taking 3 hours with scenic coastal views, walking along the sand with the city behind and mountains in the distance. Accessible, scenic, and distinctly quintessential LA.
Holiday festival at L.A. Live featuring a European-style market, 30-foot illuminated light tunnel, Santa's Workshop, and outdoor ice-skating rink surrounded by 20+ vendors. Open November 27, 2026 – January 3, 2027.
Seasonal evening event at the Los Angeles Zoo (November 20, 2026–January 10, 2027) featuring illuminated paths, larger-than-life light installations, seasonal snacks, and photo-ops with Santa and festive backdrops. Tickets start at $19.
Vibrant national historic landmark celebrating Japanese culture and history with Japanese Village Plaza for shopping, dining at historic establishments, and the Japanese American National Museum exploring community heritage.
One of the country's major zoos, the LA Zoo transforms into a world of holiday light and magic during Zoo Lights (November 20–January 10, 2027). Located within sprawling Griffith Park, it offers year-round wildlife viewing and seasonal events.
Outdoor skating rink in Downtown LA (November 12–January 3, 2027) with special events including holiday tree lighting, K-Pop skate night, and country Christmas celebrations. Part of LA's winter holiday season programming.
A relatively short coastal trail with panoramic Pacific Ocean views, dramatic cliffs, and tide pools. Clear days offer potential wildlife-watching including sea lions, dolphins, and whales.