Los Angeles, United States: travel guide
Hollywood, Pacific beaches and mountain viewpoints across a sprawling basin
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.
About Los Angeles
Los Angeles is less a single centre than a string of districts joined by freeways, running from the Pacific shore across the Santa Monica Mountains into the San Fernando Valley. That scale is the first thing to plan around, and the reward is range.
You can look up at the Hollywood Sign, watch the city light up from the Griffith Observatory, see the art and gardens at the Getty Center, then finish with the Santa Monica Pier and the Venice Beach Boardwalk at sunset. Film history, surf culture and an enormously varied food scene all sit within a day's drive of one another.
Los Angeles suits first-time US visitors, film fans and anyone chasing coastal sunshine. The climate is mild and dry for much of the year, so the best time to visit is largely a question of crowds and coastal haze.
Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA.
- Country
- United States
- Currency
- USD
- Time zone
- America/Los_Angeles
- Nearest airport
- LAX
Last updated
Top places to visit in Los Angeles
Hollywood Walk of Fame
landmark · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Five-block stretch of Hollywood Blvd embedded with 2,700+ terrazzo-and-brass stars honoring entertainment figures.
Universal Studios Hollywood
theme-park · 4.6 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
Major film-studio theme park with the Studio Tour backlot tram, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.
Santa Monica Pier
pier · 4.5 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Historic 1909 pier with Pacific Park amusement rides, an aquarium, arcade and the western end of Route 66.
Griffith Observatory
observatory · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · free entry
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
boardwalk · 4.3 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
Vibrant 2.5-mile oceanfront walk with Muscle Beach, street performers, skate park and bohemian vendors.
Getty Center
art-museum · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · free entry
Richard Meier-designed hilltop art museum with European paintings, gardens and skyline views. Free admission; parking $25.
Hollywood Sign
landmark · 4.6 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
World-famous white letters on Mount Lee, erected 1923. Best viewed from Griffith Observatory or hiked via Griffith Park trails.
Grand Central Market
food-hall · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate
Bustling 1917 food hall in DTLA with dozens of stalls spanning tacos, ramen, Thai, egg sandwiches and craft coffee.
TCL Chinese Theatre
landmark · 4.5 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Opulent 1927 movie palace on Hollywood Blvd famed for its forecourt of celebrity handprints in concrete.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
art-museum · 4.4 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest art museum in the western US, spanning 6,000 years. Home to the Urban Light installation.
Griffith Park
urban-park · 4.7 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate
One of the largest urban parks in North America (4,310 acres) with hiking trails, the LA Zoo and the Greek Theatre.
The Broad
art-museum · 4.6 rating · about 2 h · free entry
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 to Los Angeles
Airport: Los Angeles (LAX)
How visitors arrive in Los Angeles
- Flights into LAX By air · common
LAX is the main international gateway and has the most flights of the area's five commercial airports. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Drive via I-5, I-10 or I-15 By road · common
Interstates I-5, I-10 and I-15 bring drivers from San Diego, Sacramento, the desert and the east. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Amtrak to Union Station By train from San Diego, Santa Barbara · possible
Pacific Surfliner, Coast Starlight and Southwest Chief trains arrive at Union Station downtown. Source: discoverlosangeles.com
- Intercity bus By road from Las Vegas, Phoenix · possible
Intercity buses connect LA with the Bay Area, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tijuana. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- LAX FlyAway bus
The FlyAway express bus runs from LAX to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles and to Van Nuys. Source: lawa.org
- Airport shuttle to Metro C and K Lines
There is no direct rail link into LAX. A shuttle runs from the LAX/Metro Transit Center on the C and K Lines to the terminals; a people mover was planned to replace it. Source: lawa.org
Getting around
- Car Rental Self main way to get around
Car travel dominates in Los Angeles and most commuters drive, so a rental car is a practical option for covering the spread-out city.
- Metro
Metro Rail combines light rail and subway lines reaching Downtown, Hollywood, Koreatown and Santa Monica, with no direct rail link to LAX.
- Ride Hail
Uber and Lyft operate in Los Angeles, as do taxi-hailing apps such as Curb and Flywheel.
- Walking
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.
Best time to visit Los Angeles
- Jan 18°C
- Feb 18°C
- Mar 20°C
- Apr 21°C
- May 24°C
- Jun 27°C
- Jul 30°C
- Aug 31°C
- Sep 30°C
- Oct 26°C
- Nov 22°C
- Dec 18°C
More in United States
Frequently asked questions about Los Angeles
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Los Angeles?
- The highest-rated places in our Los Angeles guide are Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Griffith Park, Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood Sign.
- Where should I stay in Los Angeles?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Los Angeles: Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown LA (DTLA), Beverly Hills.
- How do I get around Los Angeles?
- Ways to get around Los Angeles covered in our guide: Self-drive car, Metro, Ride-hailing app, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Los Angeles?
- Scams reported to us for Los Angeles include Costumed character tip demand; Free CD / mixtape hustle; Fake parking attendants. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Los Angeles?
- Average daytime highs in Los Angeles run from 18°C in Dec to 31°C in Aug.
- Which airport is nearest to Los Angeles?
- The nearest airport to Los Angeles has the code LAX.