Los Angeles, United States: travel guide
Southern California's sprawling centre, running from the Pacific across the Santa Monica Mountains into the San Fernando Valley — Hollywood and the Griffith Observatory above, Venice and Santa Monica on the sand.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- United States
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Nearest airport
- LAX
Top places to visit in Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Heritage · 4.2 rating · about 1 h
Five-block stretch of Hollywood Blvd embedded with 2,700+ terrazzo-and-brass stars honoring entertainment figures.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Activity · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · entry USD 109
Major film-studio theme park with the Studio Tour backlot tram, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.
Santa Monica Pier
Activity · 4.5 rating · about 2 h
Historic 1909 pier with Pacific Park amusement rides, an aquarium, arcade and the western end of Route 66.
Griffith Observatory
Viewpoint · 4.7 rating · about 2 h
Iconic Art Deco observatory on Mount Hollywood with free public telescopes, space exhibits and sweeping views of LA and the Hollywood Sign.
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Beach · 4.3 rating · about 2 h
Vibrant 2.5-mile oceanfront walk with Muscle Beach, street performers, skate park and bohemian vendors.
Getty Center
Museum · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
Richard Meier-designed hilltop art museum with European paintings, gardens and skyline views. Free admission; parking $25.
Hollywood Sign
Viewpoint · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h
World-famous white letters on Mount Lee, erected 1923. Best viewed from Griffith Observatory or hiked via Griffith Park trails.
Grand Central Market
Market · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h
Bustling 1917 food hall in DTLA with dozens of stalls spanning tacos, ramen, Thai, egg sandwiches and craft coffee.
TCL Chinese Theatre
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h
Opulent 1927 movie palace on Hollywood Blvd famed for its forecourt of celebrity handprints in concrete.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
Museum · 4.4 rating · about 2.5 h · entry USD 28
The largest art museum in the western US, spanning 6,000 years. Home to the Urban Light installation.
Griffith Park
Nature · 4.7 rating · about 3 h
One of the largest urban parks in North America (4,310 acres) with hiking trails, the LA Zoo and the Greek Theatre.
The Broad
Museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h
Contemporary art museum in DTLA with a free collection including Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Rooms (timed reservation needed).
Things to do
- Universal Studios Hollywood Studio Tour Theme Park · 8 h · from USD 109 per person
- Griffith Observatory Planetarium Show Attraction · 1 h · from USD 10 per person
- Santa Monica Surf Lesson Water Sports · 2 h · from USD 90 per person
- Hollywood Sign Hike Guided Tour Hiking · 3 h · from USD 50 per person
- Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Open-Top Bus Tour Sightseeing · 2 h · from USD 60 per person
- Venice Beach Bike Rental Cycling · 4 h · from USD 25 per person
- Downtown LA Food Walking Tour Food Tour · 3 h · from USD 75 per person
- Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Studio Tour · 3 h · from USD 75 per person
Day trips and tours
- Disneyland Resort Day Trip from LA 12 h · from USD 90
- Joshua Tree National Park Day Trip 12 h · from USD 180
- Malibu Beaches & Coast Day Tour 7 h · from USD 120
- Hollywood, Beverly Hills & Santa Monica City Tour 6 h · from USD 85
Where to stay in Los Angeles
- Santa Monica about USD 350 per night
Beachfront base with the pier, walkable promenade and easy ocean access. Pricey and far (45-60 min) from Hollywood/Downtown, but the most relaxed, scenic side of LA.
- Hollywood about USD 220 per night
Central tourist hub near the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre and Griffith Park. Lively but touristy and uneven block-to-block at night; great transit access via the B Line.
- Downtown LA (DTLA) about USD 250 per night
Skyline district with world-class music/arts venues, museums and rooftop bars. Best Metro connectivity in the city; some streets feel rough after dark, choose your block.
- Beverly Hills about USD 500 per night
Upscale, safe and leafy, with Rodeo Drive shopping and easy reach to the Getty and Hollywood. Among the most expensive areas; limited budget options.
- Venice about USD 280 per night
Bohemian beach neighborhood with the boardwalk, canals and indie shops on Abbot Kinney. Fun and quirky by day; the boardwalk gets sketchy after dark.
Hotels
- The Beverly Hills Hotel 5-star · USD 900 to USD 2,500 per night
- Hotel Casa del Mar 5-star · USD 700 to USD 1,800 per night
- InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown 5-star · USD 350 to USD 800 per night
- Magic Castle Hotel 3-star · USD 180 to USD 350 per night
- Shore Hotel 4-star · USD 280 to USD 550 per night
- Loews Hollywood Hotel 4-star · USD 250 to USD 500 per night
Where to eat
- In-N-Out Burger (Hollywood) American, Burgers, Fast Food · about USD 12 per person
- Bestia Italian, Contemporary · about USD 90 per person
- Philippe the Original American, Sandwiches · about USD 15 per person
- Park's BBQ Korean, BBQ · about USD 55 per person
- Eggslut American, Breakfast · about USD 15 per person
- Guelaguetza Mexican, Oaxacan · about USD 30 per person
- Langer's Delicatessen American, Deli, Jewish · about USD 25 per person
- Musso & Frank Grill American, Steakhouse · about USD 70 per person
Getting around
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Metro main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Ride Hail main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
- Walking main way to get around
Seeded from the curated primary_local_modes array; per-city parameters not yet researched.
Safety and scams to avoid
Costumed character tip demand
Hollywood Walk of Fame / TCL Chinese Theatre
People dressed as superheroes or movie characters pose for photos, then aggressively demand $20+ tips, sometimes surrounding tourists.
How to avoid it: Agree on a price or decline before any photo. A $1-5 tip is plenty; you are never obligated to pay.
Free CD / mixtape hustle
Hollywood Blvd, Venice Beach Boardwalk
A "rapper" hands you a CD as a gift, asks your name to sign it, then demands $10-20 and refuses to take it back.
How to avoid it: Do not accept anything handed to you. Keep walking and say no firmly; never give your name.
Fake parking attendants
Near beaches, events and busy lots
Scammers in reflective vests direct you to park and collect a "parking fee" for spots that are free or not theirs to charge for.
How to avoid it: Only pay at official machines, pay stations or staffed booths with posted rates. Get a receipt.
Inflated taxi / unlicensed rideshare at LAX
LAX airport
Unofficial drivers approach in the terminal offering rides at inflated flat rates instead of using the meter or app.
How to avoid it: Use the official LAX-it rideshare lot or licensed taxi line; book Uber/Lyft in-app only.
Boardwalk shell game / street gambling
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Three-card monte or shell games run with planted "winners" in the crowd; the game is rigged and you will lose.
How to avoid it: Never play street gambling games. They are designed so you cannot win.