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Los Angeles   Travel Guide

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33 Best Things to Do in LA

Los Angeles has an exhaustive array of fun things to do, from the family-friendly La Brea Tar Pits and the must-visit Natural History Museum to a behind-the-scenes studio tour at Universal Studios or Warner Bros. Out-of-towners love the palm-lined

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• 3-Day Itinerary

Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park free

Griffith Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood and overlooks the Los Angeles basin. Its location gives visitors impressive views of the surrounding area, which many rave about. But there's more than just a pretty photo-op here. The observatory hosts fascinating exhibitions and features a top-notch planetarium.

Most recent visitors cited the beautiful setting as Griffith Observatory's main draw, though the free entry was certainly a bonus. However, you will have to pay between $6 and $10 to see the planetarium shows. Griffith Observatory is open Tuesdays to Fridays from noon to 10 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. A gift shop and cafe can be found on-site as well. For information about parking, public transportation and other information to plan your visit, check out Griffith Observatory's  website .

The Getty Center The Getty Center free

The Getty Center is one of the most impressive architectural achievements in the United States – and it also contains some of the finest works of art in the world. The circular concrete-and-steel structure was designed by renowned architect Richard Meier, and it houses an abundance of art from various ages and nations. Here you'll find Renaissance paintings, 20th-century American photography, Baroque sculptures, historic manuscripts and more, all housed inside a sprawling, modern campus amid the Santa Monica Mountains. The museum also offers spectacular views of Los Angeles on clear days.

Recent travelers loved the museum for its vast collection and beautiful grounds and views, with some stating that they enjoyed the tram ride to get to the museum. Many visitors suggest taking a guided tour, noting that the volunteer guides were very knowledgeable. Tours of the Getty Center's architecture and gardens are available, as well as a Collection Highlights tour and tours of art in specific eras. Tour times and days vary depending on tour type. Check the Getty Center's website for a complete calendar . Visitors can also download the GettyGuide app for self-guided tours.

Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre free

U.S. News Insider Tip: In this area, you'll find people dressed as celebrities and Hollywood characters, such as Spiderman, Shrek, Marilyn Monroe and Darth Vader. Have some cash on hand as a tip if you want to take photos with any of them. –  Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

One of Hollywood's most iconic and memorable sites, the TCL Chinese Theatre (originally Grauman's Chinese Theatre) opened in 1927 and represents the excess of Hollywood's Golden Age. You can take a 30-minute walking tour of the theater for $16; tours are offered daily at multiple times. Because of this attraction's popularity, it's best to reserve your spot online in advance. This working theater also shows various newly released films throughout the year.

Popular Tours

Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches and More

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Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

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Half-Day Sightseeing Tour of the Best of Los Angeles

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Santa Monica Pier and Beach Santa Monica Pier and Beach free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Don't miss trying the classic (and yummy!) funnel cake, a kind of fried waffle topped with powdered sugar and your choice of toppings, such as strawberries, chocolate syrup, caramel syrup, whipped cream and ice cream. They are big enough to share. –  Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

West of downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica contains one of the most legendary beach scenes in the United States. It also boasts an abundance of great restaurants and excellent nightlife spots. Its more than 3 miles of shoreline are renowned as some of the best in the area thanks to the soft sands, ideal weather and bevy of attractions. "State Beach," as it's known, has more than 300 days of sunshine a year and acted as the backdrop for the popular TV series "Baywatch."

Zuma Beach Zuma Beach free

Malibu has a reputation for excessive wealth and exclusivity, yet all of the town's beaches are public – everyone's welcome. If you're seeking an LA beach spot for sunbathing and swimming, look no further than Zuma. This 1.8-mile beach is far cleaner than those at Santa Monica or Venice Beach .

Malibu's Zuma Beach is considered one of the finest beaches in the Los Angeles area. Locals and tourists laud Zuma for its awesome waves, ample parking and easy access to beachside snacks. Plus, there are a plethora of lifeguard stations and bathroom facilities. Beach wheelchairs and a beach mat (from April to October) are also available.

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard free

One of the most iconic thoroughfares in the United States, Sunset Boulevard continues to live up to its legend. In the old days, it represented the classic and glamorous Hollywood lifestyle and became the setting of several famous films, including the obvious classic "Sunset Boulevard." Today, the palm-lined street (which connects downtown LA to Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Coast Highway) retains its cinematic appeal, and the Sunset Strip portion has become a popular nightlife spot. The strip is also home to many classic music venues, including the Rainbow Bar & Grill and The Roxy Theatre .

Recent visitors loved driving along this famous boulevard, adding that gorgeous sunsets can be enjoyed during late afternoon drives. But like other parts of LA, this thoroughfare gets congested with traffic.

The Original Farmers Market and The Grove The Original Farmers Market and The Grove free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Kids will love riding the free, open-air, double-decker trolley that runs through The Grove and connects to The Original Farmers Market. It runs daily from 1 to 8:45 p.m. – Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

Sitting south of West Hollywood is one of LA's most beloved landmarks: The Original Farmers Market. Founded in 1934, this cream-colored facility reels in both residents and tourists with the promise of fresh produce and the aroma of ready-to-eat snacks. You can visit throughout the week, although hours vary depending on the day. Entry is free, but you'll want to have some cash on hand should any of the treats whet your appetite. You can park for free for up to 90 minutes at the market's two lots, provided that your ticket is validated at the market. (Fees apply for parking after the allotted 90 minutes and for non-validated tickets.) For a little help navigating the market, you can also take a guided foodie tour  (one of the best California tours ).

Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Next door to the La Brea Tar Pits sits the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the linchpin of the Los Angeles museum district. Since its 1965 opening, LACMA has showcased thousands of pieces, from Islamic artifacts to European impressionist paintings to modern art. With constantly shifting exhibitions and unique architecture, LACMA offers a rewarding experience for both serious art buffs and casual travelers.

Currently, the museum is constructing a new building for its permanent collection, called the David Geffen Galleries, which is scheduled to open in 2024. For now, pieces will be on display in the BCAM and the Resnick Pavilion. The Urban Light and Levitated Mass exhibits remain open to visitors. There is a restaurant and grab-and-go eatery on-site. Many visitors appreciated both the indoor and outdoor art exhibits and were impressed with the size of the collection of modern and contemporary art.

Universal Studios Hollywood General Admission Ticket

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Hollywood Sightseeing and Celebrity Homes Tour by Open Air Bus

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Skip the Line: Express Ticket at Universal Studios Hollywood

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The Broad The Broad free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Two of the most popular exhibits that have blown up on social media are Yayoi Kusama's "Infinity Mirror Rooms." You have to book tickets online for timed entry to these exhibits, but they are free and include general museum admission. – Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

Philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad founded The Broad museum in 2015 and the structure made for a stunning addition to downtown Los Angeles. The eye-catching, honeycomb building, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler, is home to an expansive collection of contemporary art dating from the 1950s to the present. The collection includes works by Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker and Andy Warhol. In addition to the permanent collection, temporary exhibits showcase new and emerging artists. The museum gets high marks from recent visitors who loved both the artwork and the architecture.

Runyon Canyon Park Runyon Canyon Park free

Just two blocks from Hollywood Boulevard, Runyon Canyon Park is an often-overlooked urban park that offers some great views. The park boasts several hiking trails and is a popular spot for celebrities to exercise. During your hike, you'll see plenty of palm trees. Atop the canyon, you'll be treated to sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley.

Hikers recommend bring plenty of water and going later in the day since it can get hot on the trails. Some recent visitors lamented the lack of facilities, while others raved about the views.

Paramount Pictures Studios Paramount Pictures Studios

Since 1912, Paramount Pictures Studios has showcased the talents of film's all-time heavyweights, including Mae West, Alfred Hitchcock, Eddie Murphy and Meryl Streep. The notable site has been home to everything from classic television shows like "I Love Lucy" to modern favorites like "Glee" to box-office hits like "Mission: Impossible" and "Titanic." Today, Paramount Pictures is the only remaining film studio in the Hollywood area.

For an authentic Hollywood experience, set aside some time to tour the grounds . On the 2-hour studio tour, a guide will take you around the site's 65 acres in a golf cart, and you'll also be able to hop off and explore sound stages and recognizable studio sets from many current TV shows and movies. Previous visitors praised the friendly and knowledgeable tour guides, although some felt the tours offered at Warner Bros. Studio were better. Also, keep in mind the tours' age restrictions. Studio and VIP tours permit visitors ages 10 and older.

Hollywood Bowl Hollywood Bowl free

If you can catch a gig at the Hollywood Bowl , LA's beautiful amphitheater, don't pass it up. Since its inaugural season in 1922, this unique stage, set in the Hollywood Hills, has entertained thousands of fans and hosted some of the biggest names in music, including Stevie Wonder, Igor Stravinsky, Madonna, Elton John and Tina Turner.

Many travelers praise the Hollywood Bowl, touting everything from the sound quality to the scenic overlook. Several also add that all of the seats offer great views and suggest arriving early with a bottle of wine and a picnic basket.

Walt Disney Concert Hall Walt Disney Concert Hall free

This Frank Gehry-designed concert hall's curvaceous, stainless-steel façade is an imposing structure in downtown LA. The hall helped revive this particular section of downtown, which was once dominated by mundane office buildings and lackluster entertainment options. Now, nightlife and culture burgeon in the area and the concert hall is at the forefront. Music-loving travelers will want to catch one of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's performances here. (For ticket and price information, visit the Los Angeles Philharmonic's website .)

You don't have to invest in concert tickets to experience this performance venue: You can follow  a self-guided audio tour of the exterior and interior (though the actual concert auditorium is off-limits). Past visitors recommend the free hourlong audio tours; self-guided tours are also offered daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For a full tour schedule, visit The Music Center's website .

Perfect 5 ½ Hour LA & Hollywood Tour from Santa Monica

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The Best of LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Griffith Park + More

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Shared 3 Hour Los Angeles Tour

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Hollywood Homes Tours Hollywood Homes Tours

Once you've seen where the stars shop, where they eat, where they surf and where they party, you'll want to see where they live. A variety of Hollywood homes tours provide ample opportunities to spot homes owned by the rich and famous. You probably won't see the celebs themselves, but you can snap pics of the homes affiliated with A-listers like Sandra Bullock, Tom Cruise, Bruno Mars and Halle Berry. Also, expect to see facades that once housed the likes of Lucille Ball, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. Along with the stars' abodes, buses usually make stops at the Hollywood Walk of Fame , the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive .

Some recent travelers were disappointed because many homes are at the end of long driveways or behind hedges. Be sure to check the weather for the day: Extreme heat or a sudden shower can put a damper on an open-top bus ride.

Rodeo Drive Rodeo Drive free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Stop for lunch at the hidden Mexican steakhouse, The Hideaway, on the subterranean level of the Rodeo Collection. – Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

Immortalized by Julia Roberts' "Pretty Woman" shopping spree, Rodeo Drive is an upscale shopping street in Beverly Hills that features world-class designer stores and small private boutiques. The area is popular with wealthy shoppers, sunglass-wearing celebrities and tourists hoping to see fashion icons.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery free

As morbid as it may seem, your best chance of spotting a celebrity in LA is at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Here, you'll find the final resting places of Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille and other stars who once worked at the adjacent Paramount Pictures Studios . Maps detailing the celebrities' gravesites are available at the cemetery's flower shop or on its website . A 2 ½-hour walking tour is also available starting at $25.

Recent visitors described the cemetery's quiet grounds as "peaceful," adding that the grounds are well-maintained. Some recommend doing a walking tour to learn the stories of famous people buried there. The venue also offers cultural events, such as outdoor classic film screenings, concerts and author evenings. Visit their events calendar to find out more.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

You could spend an entire day at this property that includes a research library with 11 million items, an art museum with more than 42,000 pieces and a 130-acre botanical gardens with more than 12 themed gardens. The Huntington opened in 1928 and is a nonprofit that provides humanities scholarships, fellowships, special exhibitions and hosts more than 800,000 visitors a year. Ongoing exhibitions feature items such as Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" manuscript, replicas of Pacific Electric Railway Company's "red cars," rock slab art in the Japanese Garden, contemporary art and so much more. There are also temporary exhibits that rotate regularly. The Botanical Gardens include themed gardens – such as the California garden, jungle garden, rose garden and Japanese garden – botanical living collections and is the site for botanical conservation and research. Most visitors enjoyed touring the gardens the most and said that the gardens alone can be a full-day excursion.

The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens is open from Wednesdays to Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations are recommended from Monday to Thursday and required for weekend visits. Weekday admission is $25 for adults, $21 for students, $13 for youth (ages 4 to 11) and children younger than 4 explore free. Weekend rates are slightly higher. Admission is free the first Thursday of every month; you can snag tickets on the final Thursday of the month prior at 9 a.m. PST. Free parking is available. A variety of guided tours and events are offered; dates and prices vary.  View the online calendar for more information. There are restrooms, a gift shop and dining facilities on the property, as well as a limited number of picnic tables. Picnics in the garden are not permitted. For more information, visit the website .

Angeles National Forest Angeles National Forest

In about a half-hour, travelers can trade busy downtown LA for the serenity of nature at the Angeles National Forest. The almost 700,000-acre forest is an easily accessible place for locals and visitors to hike, bike, ski, ride horses, swim, fish and even camp. Encompassing the San Gabriel Mountains, terrain ranges from desert to dense forest. Perhaps one of the most visited sites is Mount San Antonio (nicknamed Mount Baldy), which is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains at 10,064 feet. There you will find a variety of hikes, from moderate to challenging. Recent visitors loved the views and found the range of trail options perfect for different types of hikers.

Visitors to the Angeles National Forest must purchase a National Forest Adventure Pass. It’s $5 for a daily pass or $30 for an annual pass; the pass is good at other national forests in the area. There are visitor and information centers in different areas of the forest, which offer general information, activities and educational events. Visit the forest's website for specific hours and details.

Authentic 3-Hour Hollywood to Beverly Hills Tour

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The Official Hollywood Sign Walking Tour in Los Angeles

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La Brea Tar Pits La Brea Tar Pits free

If your kids go crazy for dinosaurs – and really, what kid doesn't? – then a visit to La Brea Tar Pits is sure to be the highlight of their trip. Although the pits look like the set of a cheesy PG movie, hot tar has been bubbling from the earth at this spot along Museum Row in the Miracle Mile for about 50,000 years. And from the gooiest part of LA, more than 3.5 million fossils have been discovered. The adjoining museum houses many of the artifacts found at the tar pits; consequently, it is home to one of the largest collections of Ice Age fossils in the world. Recent visitors said the site was very educational and the amount of fossils was impressive.

You can check out the tar pits completely free of charge, but museum tickets start at $15 for adults and $7 for children 3 to 12; reduced entry fees are available for students and seniors. LA County residents get in free Mondays through Fridays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. All tickets include tours of property facilities like the fossil lab, lake pit and observation pit; some special exhibits will cost extra. Ticket lines can be long, so consider purchasing your ticket online before you arrive. Even if you have to pay to visit, most visitors agree that the exhibits are well worth perusing.

California Science Center California Science Center free

A world of fun and exploration await kids, as well as curious adults, at the California Science Center. In the permanent "Ecosystems" exhibit, museumgoers will learn about everything from islands to rivers to forests across ten different zones via interactive displays. In "Life! Beginning," visitors learn about reproduction, mating and genes. Many recent visitors were impressed with the museum's "Air & Space" section that includes the Space Shuttle Endeavour and the Gemini 11 Capsule. An IMAX theater is also on-site. Recent visitors say the center is wonderful, lots of fun and especially great for kids.

The center is free to visit (including the Endeavour) though special exhibits and IMAX screenings incur a fee. Timed tickets for IMAX and special exhibits are required and can be purchased online . The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking costs $15. You can also take the Metro Expo Line to Expo Park/USC Station and walk five minutes to the center. Visit the center's website for more information.

Dodger Stadium Dodger Stadium

Baseball fans should enjoy a visit to Dodger Stadium, which is home to the LA Dodgers and is Major League Baseball's third oldest continually used park. The stadium is carved into Chavez Ravine and overlooks downtown LA to the south and the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, making this ballpark quite unique. If the Dodgers aren't playing when you're in town, you can still see the stadium on a guided tour. Tours of the 56,000-seat stadium last approximately 90 minutes. During the tour, visitors will learn about the stadium's history and may get to go on the field, look at the Dodger Dugout or peek into the Yaamava' Dugout Club (the VIP restaurant and lounge located behind home plate), which houses the team's World Series trophies and various other awards. Additional specialty tours, such as a Jackie Robinson tour, are also offered. Recent tour-goers say the guides are knowledgeable and engaging.

The Dodger Stadium Tour is offered on the hour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (on game days ) or 3 p.m. (on nongame days). Tickets cost $30 for adults and $25 for kids 14 and younger. Specialty tours are also available for varying fees. Parking is $25 in advance and $30 to $50 at the gate, with no in-and-out privileges and no refunds. Tickets to baseball games are seasonal and prices vary.

Greystone Mansion and Park Greystone Mansion and Park free

Greystone Mansion is one of the largest mansions in Beverly Hills and an important landmark for American cinema. The nearly 13-acre parcel of land was a wedding gift from oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny to his son, Ned, in 1926. Construction on the mansion began in 1927 and took almost three years to complete. Greystone now represents a golden age in American cinema. Many films, including "The Big Lebowski" and "Ghostbusters," and television shows like "General Hospital" and "Gilmore Girls" have been shot on these gothic-inspired grounds.

Visitors can walk around the property and self-guided tours of the inside of the mansion are offered monthly. Many visitors say Greystone Mansion has stunning grounds with picturesque views. Travelers describe the park grounds as spectacular and enjoy learning which of their favorite movies and shows used Greystone as a backdrop.

Venice Beach Venice Beach free

U.S. News Insider Tip: Rent an e-bike at the boardwalk and spend the day riding along "The Strand" (aka the Marvin Braude Bike Trail) to the Santa Monica Pier. Enjoy delicious Mexican dishes at MariaSol, which sits at the end of the pier. – Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

Developed in the early 20th century, Venice Beach is modeled – canals and all – after its  namesake city in Italy . Admittedly, the experiment didn't live up to its Italian inspiration, but the neighborhood has become distinctly Californian, embodying the spirit of the wealthy, the alternative and the just plain bizarre. Rather than towering churches and intimate pizzerias, you'll find canal-side mansions near funky boutiques and restaurants.

3-Day California Coast Tour: Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Yosemite

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7-Day Tour to San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, and Zion from LA

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Swan Boat Rental in Echo Park

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Explore the Arts District in Downtown L.A. Explore the Arts District in Downtown L.A. free

If you're looking for a trendy hot spot, heed the advice of recent visitors and head to the Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles. Formerly an urban artists' colony in the 1970s, the area is now filled with restaurants, cafes and bars serving creative cuisine and craft cocktails. Popular favorites include Angel City Brewery, Bestia, Girl & the Goat and EightyTwo, a bar that features vintage pinball and arcade machines. The neighborhood is also home to art galleries featuring a variety of genres showcasing inspiring art, art shops and art classes. One example is Art Share L.A., a 28,000-square-foot creative art space featuring community art classes, art exhibits and live performances.

According to past visitors, parking in this area can be challenging. Though there is street parking, it's limited. Travelers advise leaving your car in a public parking garage.

Universal Studios Hollywood Universal Studios Hollywood

One of the most popular attractions in the Los Angeles area, Universal Studios Hollywood features rides and amusements based on some of the most popular scenes and characters from film and television. You can take the tram Studio Tour past the creepy Bates Motel from "Psycho" and get caught up in a high-speed chase with the "Fast & Furious" cast. Kids can shake hands with cartoon favorites like The Minions and Scooby-Doo. Of course, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is another huge hit, as is Jurassic World – The Ride. SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, a new attraction opened in 2023, features a Super Mario-themed ride, interactive games, a restaurant and shop.

If thrills are your thing, there are plenty of hair-raising coasters and rides. On Transformers: The Ride-3D, riders join Optimus Prime in his battle against the Decepticons; meanwhile, youngsters will love the 3D ride Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (complete with a Minion dance party).

Abbot Kinney Boulevard Abbot Kinney Boulevard free

Shoppers will love this retail mecca that stretches for a mile from Washington Boulevard to Main Street. Located a half-mile inland from Venice Beach , the boulevard features popular chain stores, such as Lululemon, Birkenstock and Warby Parker, as well as local boutique shops, including Ananda Venice, Satine and The Stronghold. In between shopping, stop for a bite to eat at The Butcher's Daughter, Plant Food + Wine or Gjelina. Or, plan your visit for the first Friday of every month, when starting at 5 p.m. dozens of food trucks serve up casual craft meals along the street.

Recent visitors suggested you stroll along Abbot Kinney Boulevard if you're in the Venice Beach area, praising its hip collection of boutiques and restaurants. In addition to the shops and eateries, reviewers also admired the colorful murals and street art. 

Grand Central Market Grand Central Market free

U.S. News Insider Tip: For something fun and unique near the market, check out the Angels Flight Railway. Built in 1901, the funicular takes passengers between Hill Street and Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill. One-way tickets cost $1. – Sharael Kolberg, Contributor, Travel

Grand Central Market, or foodie heaven according to visitors, is located in downtown Los Angeles by the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad . The venue features high ceilings and an open layout, with food vendor stalls offering different cuisines that represent cultures from the Los Angeles area and beyond. The market has been in operation since 1917 and serves everything from coffee and pressed juices to deli fare, egg sandwiches, falafel, tacos and chow mein.

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Whether you're interested in the deep sea, dinosaurs, insects or gems and minerals, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County offers hours of exploration of all things related to natural history. Ongoing exhibitions include the impressive Dinosaur Hall (where you can view more than 300 fossils and see 20 life-sized dinosaur skeletons), Nature Lab, Hall of Birds and Visible Vault, which houses artifacts from Aztec, Maya and Inca civilizations. Visitors said that the museum is great for all ages, with the Dinosaur Hall being the most popular attraction. There are also special exhibitions that are on display for a limited time. Kids will love the Dinosaurs Encounters Show that features juvenile dinosaur puppets. The shows are offered Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person.

Guests can also explore the nature gardens with more than 600 varieties of plants and a plethora of garden wildlife. Free guided tours are available daily. If you want to dive deeper into natural history, special programs are available for children, adults and families. Check the events calendar online for more info.

Hollywood and Celebrity Homes Bus Tour

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Los Angeles Private, Guided, Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

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Battleship USS Iowa Museum Battleship USS Iowa Museum

A visit to the iconic Battleship USS Iowa Museum includes access to both interior and exterior areas on seven decks. The self-guided tour lets visitors see what life was like on the ship. You'll also view the officer's wardroom, senior officer's cabins, admirals bridge, navigation bridge and crew's quarters. Recent visitors enjoyed the multiple exhibits along the route that tell the story of the Battleship USS Iowa, as well as the U.S. Navy, through artifacts, photographs, artwork and equipment. Kids can participate in the "Vicky the Dog" scavenger hunt to get a more in-depth look at the ship through the eyes of its canine mascot.

The General Access pass is valid for two hours and costs $29.95 for adults, $21.95 for kids 3 to 11 and are free for kids 2 and younger. For an additional fee, visitors can upgrade to a themed guided tour, such as the Gun Tour or Engineering Tour. Past visitors said it is worth paying extra for a guided tour. They also enjoyed their visits overall. While visiting the ship, check out the waterfront views, grab a snack at Vicky's Doghouse Café and pick up a souvenir at the Ship's Store. The ship is open daily at 10 a.m. and closes around 4 p.m. (or whenever the final guided tour ends). Parking is available, with the first hour free and $2 each hour after that, with a maximum of $20 a day.

Shop along Olvera Street Shop along Olvera Street free

Stroll this historic street in Downtown Los Angeles for authentic Mexican culture, music and cuisine. Along the block-long, brick-lined street, you'll find strolling mariachi bands, taco shops, Aztec and Mexican folkloric dancers and vendors selling handcrafted souvenirs, such as pottery, leather goods and traditional clothing. The street also hosts various traditional events throughout the year, including the Blessing of the Animals (Saturday before Easter), Cinco de Mayo, Fiestas Patrias (Mexican Independence Day), Dia de los Muertos and Las Posadas.

This Mexican marketplace is part of the El Pueblo Historic Park, the "birthplace of LA," which also includes historic sites, such as Avila Adobe (LA's oldest house), Pico House and the America Tropical Interpretive Center. 

L.A. Live L.A. Live

L.A. Live is the hub of entertainment in Downtown Los Angeles. It's features the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers basketball teams, the Los Angeles Kings hockey team, as well as the Los Angeles Sparks women's basketball team. It's also where music fans attend world-class concerts by some of the biggest names in the industry. Other entertainment includes the interactive GRAMMY Museum, a Lucky Strike bowling alley and a Regal movie theater, as well as smaller event venues like the Microsoft Theater, The Novo and The Conga Room.

There are more than a dozen eateries to choose from, including Yard House and Katsuya. After a night of entertainment, stay over at the JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE or The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.

Petersen Automotive Museum Petersen Automotive Museum

Car enthusiasts will be thrilled with a visit to the Petersen Automotive Museum as it houses a range of impressive cars, from high performance to historic. In the permanent galleries, travelers can try an exhilarating racing simulator, see the “Commutercycle” from the HBO documentary "The Lady and the Dale" and participate in hands-on activities with a Disney "Cars" theme. Featured exhibitions rotate frequently. There are an additional 250 cars that are stored in The Vault. The museum also hosts a variety of events, from exhibition openings to hands-on workshops. Visit its online calendar for more info.

Admission is $21 for adults, $13 for youth ages 12 to 17 and $11 for kids 4 to 11. There is an additional $27 fee for people 12 and older to tour The Vault (children 4 to 11 will pay an extra $10); many visitors say it's worth the fee, but warn that it could take you a half-day to explore. Keep in mind children younger than 4 cannot enter the museum nor the vault. If you're a true car fanatic, consider taking the guided Vault and Workshop tour to see both the Vault and the museum's restoration area. Tickets for this tour are limited and run on Saturdays only. Fees are $150 for individuals 4 and older.

Warner Bros. Studio Warner Bros. Studio

Located in Burbank, California – a city that sits just 5 miles north of Hollywood – Warner Bros. Studio gives visitors a close-up look at iconic movie and TV sets and props, such as the original Batmobiles, costumes from the "Harry Potter" movies and a replica of the cafe featured in "Friends." Travelers will also drive around the studio's 110-acre backlot, where 30 soundstages are used for producing shows like "Young Sheldon," "Bob Hearts Abishola," and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show."

Previous visitors loved exploring this property and appreciated their "fun and knowledgeable" tour guides. Additionally, many enjoyed getting out of their golf carts to go inside a working set and other buildings used for filming, citing this as the main reason to tour this studio instead of others like Paramount Pictures Studios . But keep in mind, children 7 and younger are not permitted on any tour.

Grand City Tour of Los Angeles

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TCM Classic Films Tour

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Big Bus Los Angeles: Hop-on Hop-off Tour by Open-top Bus

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from $ 51.00

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The 26 Best Things to Do in Los Angeles

By Maxwell Williams

Los Angeles: Of course, the weather is nice, the beaches iconic. But it’s a city that's much more culturally inclined than many non-Angelenos give it credit: It’s solidified itself as an international playground for artists, the museums are top-notch, and L.A.'s vastness checks so many boxes. There's spectacular natural scenery, a cemetery that becomes a nightclub, and sports stadiums galore (including many new ones that will play host to the 2028 Summer Olympics.) Of course, there's ample shopping and celebrity spotting, too. Here are our picks for the best things to do in Los Angeles, no matter how many trips they may take to complete.

Read our full Los Angeles travel guide here .

This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

Angeles National Forest Arrow

With over 1,000 square miles of wilderness and 53 trailheads, it's no wonder Angeles National Forest is one of the most popular day trips for locals and visitors alike. Whether you're hiking, biking, running, boating, or even skiing, there's something for every outdoors-y type here. The drive up Mt. Baldy is pleasant and results in spectacular views from nearly 10,000 feet. The hikes to the Devil's Punchbowl and the Bridge to Nowhere are some of the best full day options in the region.

Bradbury Building Arrow

The Victorian-style atrium of the Bradbury Building, built for gold baron Lewis Bradbury, is filled with architectural flourishes like open-cage hydraulic elevators, marble staircases, and wrought-iron balconies. The massive skylight and  open balconies create a mood that is like no other building; it's both haunting and magical. Culture buffs will know it from appearances in movies like Chinatown (1974), Blade Runner (1982), 500 Days of Summer (2009), and a smattering of music videos and commercials.

The Broad Arrow

Housed in a building with a dimpled façade that many say looks like a cheese grater, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad, who accumulated a formidable cache of contemporary art with her late husband Eli. The collection is more pop than academic, earning it a reputation as a stop on tourists' lists, if only to take selfies in front of Jeff Koons' balloon dog or Robert Therrien's enlarged table and chairs. There are also works from the likes of Ruscha, Warhol, Basquiat, Murakami, and Sherman. A reservation is required and hard to come by due to the museum's popularity, so plan in advance. It's free, and if you hustle, you can see the museum's hits in no time.

The Getty Center Arrow

The Getty has established itself as the nexus of Los Angeles art , and its palatial grounds reflect that. Perched atop a hill in the Brentwood neighborhood of West Los Angeles (with 360-degree views), the Richard Meier architected space is a perfect union of medieval castle and rigorous academia. Floating bridges connect marble buildings, and you're never too far from a burbling fountain. And of course, the garden, built by legendary Southern Californian artist Robert Irwin, is a magical place to reset once you've had art overload. The museum's collection is vaunted. In fact, few collections in the world match up to the mix of ancient and modern. Seeking 2500-year-old Etruscan statues? Van Gogh's Irises? Delicate and rare illuminated manuscripts? 20th century photography from the likes of Robert Mapplethorpe and Walker Evans? The Getty has it all.

Alexandra Hall

CNT Editors

Jessica Puckett

Adrienne Jordan

Santa Monica Farmers Market Arrow

The Los Angeles area is famous for having a farmers market every day of the week, and the Santa Monica Farmers Market, held on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, is the mother of them all. Taking up several city blocks, the market is lined with seasonal fruits, vegetables, and other products and provisions. There are some remarkable splurge items that you won't find other farmers markets; for instance, black truffles, bergamot, emu eggs, and sea urchin. This farmers market has a huge following within L.A.'s restaurant industry.   Some of the city's most famous chefs, including Niki Nakayama of n/naka and Michael Cimarusti of Providence , shop here. You'll also be among locals, many of them regulars, shopping for their home kitchens.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Arrow

LACMA describes itself an "encyclopedic museum." There are different buildings for different collections, separated by culture (i.e. the Korean Art Galleries, Pavilion for Japanese Art). Though right now, the museum is going through a massive, controversial construction project, which is set to complete in 2024. When it's complete, there will be one large building—the Geffen Galleries, by Peter Zumthor—that will house LACMA's vast collections. The collections, when they come back on view, are world-class. There's a mix of Islamic, Korean, Japanese, Greek, and Mexican art, as well as collections of contemporary art, jewelry, fashion, and design. Chris Burden's Urban Light (rows of street lamps) and Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass (a giant boulder suspended above a walkway), are two of the most popular selfie spots in town.

Venice Canals Arrow

Hidden in plain sight, the canals flow behind adorable bungalows just blocks from Venice Beach . Built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney, it’s not unusual to see herons, egrets, pelicans, and parrots, making it one of the best off-the-beaten-path landmarks in all of L.A. There are a number of bridges perfect for romantic photo ops, and there are enough quiet corners to find your own little patch of bliss. It’s a perfect place to stroll and catch your breath amid the hustle and bustle of the city.

The Museum of Contemporary Art Arrow

Three museums in one, really, MOCA is a cutting-edge museum with temporary exhibitions by established and emerging artists. Also, it's home to one of the greatest contemporary art collections in the world. The 6,000-piece collection contains prime works by Agnes Martin , Nam June Paik, Jackson Pollock, and Mike Kelley. MOCA has two main buildings: the Grand Avenue building in Museum Row, the Geffen Contemporary in nearby Little Tokyo—start at the Grand Avenue building and then grab lunch in Little Tokyo before taking in the works at the Geffen. The exhibits are what make MOCA crackle; under the watchful eye of director Johanna Burton and a crack team of curators, MOCA has seen blockbuster shows by the likes of Pipilotti Rist, Tala Madani, and Simone Forti.

Rose Bowl Flea Market Arrow

Rose Bowl Flea Market is held on the second Sunday of every month in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, a historic athletic stadium built in 1922. The flea market is a behemoth, the biggest on the West Coast, with approximately 2,500 vendors serving 20,000 visitors each month. It has a little bit of everything, but it's best known for its selection of mid-century modern furniture and vintage clothing. It's best to go with a few things in mind (a coffee table, or a few t-shirts) and a budget. Wear comfortable shoes, bring snacks, and make sure to get cash before going. 

Hollywood Bowl Arrow

The Hollywood Bowl is an icon of the past, and one of the most unique concert-going experiences you can find anywhere. Since its opening day in 1921, the Bowl has seen the L.A. Philharmonic play hundreds of concerts, as well as ballets, jazz concerts, and operas. More recently, it's become a hub for pop stars to perform in front of a regal backdrop with state-of-the-art acoustics. As an amphitheater, the sight lines at the Bowl are almost always unobstructed no matter where you're seated. The sound at the Bowl is always crystal clear, and top notch. Depending on the night, the Bowl is truly a mixed crowd. From those looking for some highbrow entertainment to pop star super fans, the Bowl is for everyone.

Kapowui Surf Lessons Arrow

For anyone who has ever admired the majestic surfers carving up waves, Kapowui is the best crash course out there. Kapowui has one goal: giving nascent surfers the shaka spirit and leaving them stoked to surf a wave. With a list of clientele that includes 5-star hotels like Shutters on the Beach , Kapowui has a reputation for turning even the most knock-kneed landlubber into a verifiable porpoise. The lessons are two hours, and start on the beach in Santa Monica or Venice. Instructors will run you through surfer safety, a physiognomy of the board, and the dynamics of popping up. After the preamble, you hop in the water, and stay out there for the rest of the lesson. Everything you need—the board and a high-end a wetsuit—is included. Kids are more than welcome and you're practically guaranteed to leave ready to go it alone next time

Melrose Place Arrow

Just off Melrose Avenue, Melrose Place is a surprisingly quiet little street that deserves a closer look. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills might be iconic, but let's not forget Melrose Place also had a TV show named after it in the 90s. From Balmain's classic men's looks to Rachel Comey's "cool mom" mules, the Row's edgy elegance, and Zimmerman's Aussie-style festival garb, Melrose Place is a shopping destination that can take care of all of your needs, plus offer a relaxed stroll down a quiet street. Full of stylists, fashionistas, and the occasional celebrity, keep your eyes peeled and grab a bite at Fig & Olive's Melrose Place location, a favorite of Kim Kardashian, Kristin Cavallari, and Halle Berry. The best tip is to show up to Alfred Coffee early to try and sample their seasonal menu to keep you warm while you shop—in winter, it's an Oatnog Latte or a Mint Mocha. Grab a cup before letting that credit card loose.

Wi Spa Arrow

Koreans spend nearly 1.5 billion US dollars on the spa life in South Korea, so when we say this jimjilbang (a traditional K spa) is an iconic Koreatown staple, just know that this spa is probably going to surpass your expectations of what a spa can be. Separated into men's and women's sides, guests strip down, shower, and then hop into one of the treated medicinal tubs (see how long you can stay in the cold one). Then head up to choose a treatment, which costs extra, from the vast menu of body buffs, seaweed massages, and facials. After your treatment, you'll head up to the next floor to the common area, where you can grab a bite at the cafe, which offers healthy Korean soups and noodles, before heading into the multitude of cavernous saunas. There's even a sleep room, a room full of soft leather recliners, and a full gym. Oh and you'll be doing all of this in your comfy Wi Spa shorts and t-shirt, which are provided.

Grand Central Market Arrow

Not much has changed structurally in the 103 years since Grand Central Market opened, though of course none of the original vendors are around. Today, it is the epicenter of the high-low culture that Los Angeles pulls off so well. The cheaper takeaway spots—the tacos and sandwiches—are just as good as the more ballyhooed counters. It just depends on what you're in the mood for. Villa Morelianas carnitas tacos are as good a Michoacan offering as you can find, while For the Win serve up a classy grass-fed beef burger with onions, cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on a potato bun. Then of course, there is Egg Slut and it's sometimes hour-long line for one of America's most famous breakfast sandwiches. It may seem like the line itself is the point, those sandwiches deliver.

The Magic Castle Arrow

There are few places in the world quite like the Magic Castle. This mansion in Hollywood serves as a clubhouse for magicians (it's quite hard to become a member), with illusionists, mentalists, and more performing nightly to a crowd required to dress in vintage formal attire. At a small magic club's show, you may see few magicians in the course of an evening, but at the Magic Castle you could see a dozen shows in a single night. You have to be invited by a magician to get in but there’s a secret tip: Find out which magicians are performing the night you’d like to see, and email them a few weeks in advance to see if they’ll get you an invite.

Watts Towers Arrow

Somehow both space-age and D.I.Y., the Watts Towers are an awe-inspiring series of 17 interwoven sculptural pillars built from scrap metal and concrete and decorated with found objects like glass bottles, volcanic rock, and ceramic tile. Coming here is nothing like any other museum experience in Los Angeles . Italian immigrant construction worker and artist Sabato "Simon" Rodia built the towers over a 33-year period, from the 1920s through the 1950s. They're considered a prime example of "outsider art," and can be visited for free in the Simon Rodia Historic State Park in the Watts neighborhood in south Los Angeles.

Griffith Observatory Arrow

Griffith Observatory is an Art Deco stargazing spot atop Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park and one of the most visited observatories. It got it's reputation for a reason: It's rich with exhibit halls (one of which houses a rare, electricity-pulsing Tesla coil), photogenic views of the Hollywood sign, a planetarium that hosts brainy but fun shows about the universe, and, of course, the 12-inch Zeiss telescope. More than 600 guests look through that telescope each night, which the observatory claims makes it the highest trafficked telescope in the world. Emotions range at Griffith Observatory, from the romantic (see: La La Land , when Ryan Gosling waltzes Emma Stone into the stars in the planetarium) to the gleeful (try not to smile in wonder at that Tesla coil) to the odd feeling of insignificance looking up at the universe can give you.

Marvin Braude Bike Trail (The Strand) Arrow

A mostly flat, leg-friendly ride along the coastline, the Strand is 22 miles each way, and easily doable in a day. With the Pacific breeze against your face, it's one of the most pleasant rides with some beautiful views along the way. You'll pass by Dockweiler Beach in Vista del Mar, famous for its hang gliders, and Manhattan Beach, where you can post up and watch the surfers as they ride the waves. You can start and end your ride at Santa Monica Pier , which is worth a visit in and of itself, and afterward have a bite to eat at one of Santa Monica's many seafood restaurants.

Barnsdall Art Park Arrow

Quiet, big, secluded, and full of art galleries, historic buildings, and a theater, the Barnsdall Art Park is one of L.A.'s best-kept secrets. Start with a tour of the Hollyhock House , the first Frank Lloyd Wright project in Los Angeles; the building has a fascinating history. The Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery (LAMAG) and the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, built in the mid-century, play host to excellent exhibitions of contemporary art, plays, and panel discussions. You can also just swing by for a picnic; the park is an ideal setting.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Arrow

Home to the graves of silent film stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino, you'll also find the tombs of modern celebrities like Johnny Ramone and Kim Fowley. Try and find the memorial to Toto, Dorothy's dog in The Wizard of Oz ; there's also a section of the cemetery where peacocks roam. Nighttime events like movies projected on a mausoleum for an ongoing film series and nightclubby DJ sets are perfect for an al fresco night out on the town.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Arrow

Millions of manuscripts, hundreds of thousands of books, tens of thousands of plant species, and thousands of art objects add up to a lot to see here. The Huntington is more than your run of the mill institution—in fact, there are few places in the world quite like it. The area tends draw a crowd of older couples (think: symphony attendees) , but the Huntington has an area that that can be calibrated to suit every group and mood. The Desert Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Japanese Garden are all spectacular enough that if a visitor wanted to just go to one of them it would be enough. The Library or Gallery could be zoomed through, adding on a quick pop over to the Conservatory, where the Carnivorous Plant Bog and the Rain Forest offer educational opportunities for the whole family.

Bob Baker Marionette Theater Arrow

Marionette puppetry is an ancient form of entertainment—they've even found wire-controlled puppets in Ancient Egyptian tombs—so it makes sense that stepping into Bob Baker Marionette Theater would be like stepping into a time warp. Set in a 1920's-era silent movie theater in the Highland Park neighborhood of Northeast L.A., the children's theater playhouse is adorned with red curtains and carpet; when the curtains come up, and the puppets come out, you might be mesmerized that this art form remains practiced by top-notch artists. Many of the marionettes were actually made by Baker himself, who passed away in 2014. Around Christmastime, the puppeteers put on a rendition of the Nutcracker, and there's currently a run of shows featuring Baker's most beloved puppets doing some of the theater's greatest hits in a show called Magic Strings.

Philosophical Research Society Arrow

What's L.A. without a little occult? Founded in 1934 by Canadian astrologer and all-around mystical man of mystery, Manly P. Hall, Philosophical Research Society is something of a tribute to the man himself. The library is chock full of Hall's esoterica accumulated over the years traveling as a mystic, containing some 50,000 books—a treasure trove of knowledge on obscure and rare religions and philosophies (impressive even if you're not about to hold a seance). When Elvis was going through his divine knowledge era, he sent Priscilla to Philosophical Research Society to do some recon; Charles Bukowski was married by Hall himself on the Society's campus; it's a historically protected building and definitely a major hub of mystical activity. Be ready to stare into the abyss of knowledge.

The La Brea Tar Pits & Museum Arrow

The La Brea Tar Pits are pits of, well, tar that has been bubbling up from beneath the earth for tens of thousands of years. They're viewable for free, and the compact La Brea Tar Pits Museum (which does charge admission) exhibits fossils and bones that were preserved when animals became trapped in said tar. It's a major landmark, and one of the most visited tourist spots in all of Los Angeles. The collection of bones is extraordinary. There are spectacular composite skeletons of many extinct species, including Columbian mammoths, ground sloths, dire wolves, North American camels, and, of course, the famous saber-toothed cat. Beyond the skeletons, there are over a million Ice Age fossils to peruse.

Runyon Canyon Yoga Arrow

Runyon Canyon itself is one of the most popular outdoor destinations in Los Angeles —an undeveloped public park smack in the middle of Hollywood. It's not the prettiest place on Earth—it's mostly a dirt trail surrounded by scrub brush—though the top offers a nice view of Downtown. A bit further down the hill, near the South entrance to the park, is a small fenced-off area where you'll find donation-based Runyon Canyon Yoga every morning at 10:30 a.m. It's a relaxing counterpoint to the oh-so-crowded trails. The yoga area is in a nook away from the path, so no hiker hordes will disturb your peace. Consensus is that Daniel, who teaches the Saturday class at the park, is one of the best yoga teachers in L.A. 

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9 things you should know about L.A. before visiting

Los Angeles is an amazing place, but you have to know a few things about it before you learn to love it

Los Angeles isn’t the  celebrity  and paparazzi-filled la-la-land it’s made out to be in the movies and TV . It is, however, a beautiful, diverse and sometimes confounding city. If you’re visiting for the first time, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the gridlock and sprawl or overly fixated on famous landmarks and lose sight of what makes Los Angeles such a unique destination. So before you book your flight into LAX (bonus tip: try Burbank or Long Beach instead), here are nine things you should know about the city.

(Oh, and those mountains in the photo above? You may see them in photos all the time, but they’re not actually  that close—blame a long camera lens for the illusion. They are, however, often covered with snow in the winter, and only an hour or two from much of L.A.)

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1.  Los Angeles has no true center.

In most world-class cities, you can step off a plane and onto a train that’ll whisk you into the heart of the city. Not so in L.A. First of all, said train doesn’t exist (at least not until 2024 ). But second, L.A. is simply too spread out to stick to one compact area.

You can’t just wander around most of the city on foot and expect to stumble onto something amazing. On paper,  Downtown L.A. comes close to being a central exception: The onetime dead zone has developed walkable district for bars, restaurants, performance spaces and museums, all linked up by public transit. But DTLA is still very  hit-or-miss when it comes to how exciting or pleasant you’ll find each block, and the pandemic has sapped much of the dense area’s momentum.

Downtown also won’t satisfy most tourists’ ideas about an L.A. vacation—and that really goes for locals, too. Stick to only DTLA and you’d be missing out on hilly hikes through Griffith Park , dim sum in the San Gabriel Valley , Silver Lake’s coffee shop  culture and all of the Westside’s  glorious beaches  and ritzy shopping districts .

2.  In fact, L.A. has multiple cities inside of it.

We should step back and talk about what we mean when we say “L.A.” Somewhat confusingly, “L.A.” is often used interchangeably for both the City of Los Angeles and the dense cluster of neighboring cities within Los Angeles County.

The city proper is broadly split into the Valley  (the warmer, suburban sprawl to the north) and the Basin (the ocean-adjacent flat lands south of the Santa Monica Mountains). Within the Basin, you’ll find fancy suburbs and beachfront towns on the Westside, while Central L.A. harbors multicultural enclaves and hip ’hoods. Some famous neighborhoods  in those two regions, like Santa Monica , Beverly Hills and West Hollywood (home of the Sunset Strip ) are actually separate cities sandwiched into the middle of the City of Los Angeles. The same goes for some Valley cities like studio-filled  Burbank  and  Glendale  and celeb-magnet Calabasas.

We could go on and on when it comes to parts of L.A. that are technically outside of city limits: the South Bay, where Manhattan Beach and its neighbors are their own cities;  Long Beach;  all of the the communities within the San Gabriel Valley , like Monterey Park and Alhambra; and East L.A., which isn’t technically a city but instead an unincorporated area within L.A. County.

But here’s all you really need to know: We typically think of those areas and even more far-flung spots like Malibu and Pasadena  as part of L.A., culturally speaking—which means that your Airbnb within “the heart of L.A.” might not actually be as centrally located as it claims.

3.  You’re going to want a car.

After our little geography lesson, you might understand now why Angelenos measure distances in minutes and not miles —Los Angeles is big . As a result, navigating from one side of the city to the other during rush hour will absolutely test your patience. But thanks to our infamous freeways, when traffic finally eases up, cutting across town can be a cinch by car.

Plus, some of L.A.’s most iconic scenic spots, like a cruise along Angeles Crest Highway, Mulholland Drive  or the Pacific Coast Highway can only be experienced by car.

If you rent a car, just make sure to read the parking signs ; if you’re in a garage, remember where you parked and validate your ticket. Don’t forget to fire up Waze or Google Maps to avoid gridlock and getting lost.

4.  …But L.A. does have public transit options (including a subway).

L.A. may not have a subway system on par with New York, London or Paris, but the city’s six (and counting)  Metro  lines, two dedicated busways and countless sort-of-efficient bus routes can do the job.

If your destinations include  Downtown , Chinatown , Little Tokyo , Pasadena , Universal Studios , Santa Monica , Culver City or the museums in Exposition Park , you may be able to rely on Metro instead of a car. Don’t assume that you’ll be able to just hop on a train and go anywhere in the city, though. You largely won’t find subway lines on the Westside—except for Santa Monica—where bus rides become a matter of hours instead of minutes.

It’s still easiest to see everything in the city with a car, but it’s feasible to pair a Metro pass with a few Uber, bike, scooter or Metro Micro rides .

5.  Hollywood, West Hollywood and North Hollywood are not at all related.

When you’re booking a hotel, pay very close attention to which cardinal direction sits in front of “Hollywood.”

West Hollywood —which is technically a separate city from Los Angeles—probably best fits your image of Hollywood glamour: hilltop mansions, celebrity sightings and glitzy-yet-sleazy nightlife on the Sunset Strip.

Just to the east,  Hollywood  is home to all of those familiar Tinseltown attractions  along with a lot of grime and disappointment. The neighborhood is split by the 101 freeway; you won’t find many familiar sites in East Hollywood, but it is home to the Barnsdall Art Park and Hollyhock House , Thai Town and Little Armenia.

Head north over the hills and past Universal Studios, and you’ll reach North Hollywood, which is named as such so you forget that there’s a mountain range between it and Hollywood. The once gritty Valley suburb now boasts its own pedestrian and transit-friendly arts district dotted with small performance spaces.

6.  We pronounce some Spanish proper names with a Midwestern accent.

Midwesterners first started flooding into Los Angeles in the late 1800s, and the city’s Spanish-derived names haven’t been the same since then.

Forget everything you know about the Spanish language and instead pronounce all of L.A.’s landmarks with the haughtiest American accent possible. That means San Pedro becomes “San PEE-droh,” Sepulveda sounds like “Suh-PULL-veh-duh” and Los Feliz is—somewhat controversially—“Los FEE-lisz.”  Rodeo  (“Roh-DAY-oh”) is one of the few exceptions. Look out for some non-Spanish outliers, too, like Wilshire (“WILL-sher”) and the Broad (rhymes with “ode”).

7.  The most memorable destinations aren’t the most famous ones.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame and Venice Boardwalk are so much seedier than you would expect. We’re not proud to admit it, but some of L.A.’s most popular destinations are a bit of a letdown . We’re not saying you should skip  Rodeo Drive and the  Hollywood Sign  if seeing them is important to you, but do consider going beyond the as-seen-on-reality-TV locales.

For us, an ideal first fling with L.A. would involve an afternoon atop the Getty Center or at the Huntington Library , lunch at Grand Central Market  or by the beach , sunset at Zuma or El Matador State Beach and an evening spent gazing out on the city from the Griffith Observatory . If you’re  really  looking to get to know the city, this entire story of  things to do  will keep you busy.

8.  It’s always sunny, sometimes hot and usually “cold.”

Aside from some morning fog (dubbed May Gray and June Gloom in their requisite months), you can expect it to be sunny almost 300 days out of the year. Unless there’s a tropical storm hitting northern Mexico, you won’t see a drop of rain in the summer. In the winter, there might just be a handful of rainy days (or, more rarely, a week straight of precipitation).

When the sun’s out, it can get pretty toasty, especially in the summer and fall, and particularly in the Valley (streaks of Santa Ana Wind days bring triple-digital temperatures during the day). But at night, you’ll really regret wearing shorts as you learn that 70 degrees doesn’t actually feel warm at all. Oh, and the ocean? The water temperature barely breaks 70 degrees in the summer.

So to sum it up: Lather on sunscreen, bring a hat, leave the umbrella and carry around a sweatshirt.

9.  Los Angeles is like no other city.

You can keep it casual and wear flip-flops seemingly anywhere. Bar hopping isn’t feasible in most neighborhoods—and last call is an “early” 2am—but you’re never far from a fantastic hiking trail . You’ll have to make reservations for République  or Bestia  weeks in advance, but you can stumble up to the Taco Zone Truck  for a heaven-sent 2am taco. It’s possible to  surf in the morning, ski in the afternoon  and make it to Disneyland  just in time for fireworks. Los Angeles is an amazing place once you learn to embrace everything it has to offer, contradictions and all.

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The best things to do in Los Angeles

By Luciana Bellini

Los Angeles may be the birthplace of Hollywood, but there is so much more to this city than red carpets and movie stars (although there are still plenty of those). The city is sprawling, making it an enjoyable, multidimensional visit that offers many activities for holidaymakers of all ages. There are plenty of amazing things to do in Los Angeles, and with a thriving art scene, an exciting hotch-potch of restaurants and bars to choose from, plus surf , sea and sun on tap, there’s a reason why it’s still the number one city on the West Coast.

What month is the best to visit Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is lucky enough to have beautiful weather year-round, but some months reign supreme. We recommend going to LA in the early autumn or late spring for milder weather and more manageable crowds.

How many days should I spend in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is huge, and the public transport system leaves little to be desired, so you will likely be driving between activities. If you have the time and want to get to know the city, we recommend spending five days to avoid feeling rushed. This amount of days means you can enjoy all the things to do in Los Angeles while not rushing from Abbot Kinney boulevard to the Griffith Observatory.

Eat the best tacos in town

LA is famous for its food trucks, and perhaps none more so than the ubiquitous taco truck, which you’ll find parked curbside everywhere from Boyle Heights to Beverly Hills. But the best in the city can be found at Tacos 1986, where their lively taquero Jorge Alvarez-Tostado (known by everyone as ‘Joy’) serves up LA’s most sought-after Tijuana-style tacos. Best of all, you no longer need to refresh your Twitter feed every five seconds to track down their latest truck location, because they’ve just opened their first bricks and mortar spot in Downtown LA.

Address: Tacos 1986, 609 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Enjoy a spot of star gazing

The Art Deco Griffith Observatory is one of the city’s most prominent landmarks, up high in the Hollywood Hills, and offers stellar views of both the sprawling city below and the twinkling skies above. Its Samuel Oschin Planetarium puts on daily shows exploring the cosmos and there are free public telescopes available every evening, as well as monthly star gazing parties held on the front lawn. The observatory has also made guest appearances in several iconic films, including La La Land and Rebel Without A Cause .

Address : Griffith Observatory, 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Website : griffithobservatory.org

Trawl for vintage treasures

The city’s monthly Rose Bowl Flea Market has garnered near mythical status among LA’s stylists, who come on the second Sunday of every month to hunt through the sprawling rabbit warren of stalls for everything from vintage clothes and furniture to wonderfully weird collectibles. Bargain hunters should also head to the weekly Melrose Trading Post Flea Market, which is held on the campus of Fairfax High School every Sunday and has 250 stalls packed with eclectic bric-a-brac.

Address : Rose Bowl Flea Market, 1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, California, CA 91103; Melrose Trading Post Flea Market, 7850 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046 Website : rosebowlstadium.com/events/flea-market ; melrosetradingpost.org

Take a stroll down the coolest block in America

Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice has regularly been touted as the hippest shopping street, not just in LA but in the whole of the US. A few blocks inland from Venice Beach , this mile-long strip is lined with chic household brands, including Aesop, James Perse and Rag & Bone, as well as independent boutiques like the carefully curated homewares store Tumbleweed & Dandelion, which is housed in a charming bungalow with a white picket fence. Head to the Boulevard on the first Friday of every month for their food truck extravaganza, where you’ll find everything from Korean BBQ and overloaded hotdogs to meatless Nashville -style hot chicken.

Address : Abbot Kinney and Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90291 Website : abbotkinneyblvd.com

Get a dose of culture in the great outdoors

LA may not be famous for its theatres, but they do exist – you just need to look a little harder for them. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the city’s climate, the most popular ones are open-air. The 500-seat amphitheatre at the Getty Villa in Malibu, J Paul Getty’s museum inspired by ancient Rome and Greece, is always packed out come September, when they run their annual series of classical productions. Past sell-out productions have included Euripides’ The Bacchae and Plautus’s Tug of War.

Address : Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theatre at the Getty Villa, 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Website : getty.edu

Discover Downtown’s most talked-about new development

Spanning across 32 acres, ROW DTLA is one of LA’s most ambitious and exciting new projects. Rows and rows of fruit and veg warehouses have been repurposed and transformed into cool boutiques, modern art galleries and buzzing restaurants, all housed within a block of blissfully car-free streets. It’s as much of a hit with the city’s foodies, who come for the first LA outpost of the insanely popular San Francisco -born bakery, The Manufactory, and the weekly Sunday food market, Smorgasburg, as it is with the fashion crowd, who flock here to discover under-the-radar brands.

Address : ROW DTLA, 777 South Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 Website : rowdtla.com

Where to eat in downtown LA

Explore the largest art museum in the western United States

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (referred to as LACMA) has an incredible collection of nearly 150,000 works spanning 6,000 years. Their permanent collection features prominent works by Matisse, Kandinsky and Giacometti, to name just a few, and seminal exhibitions have included retrospectives of van Gogh and Picasso. The museum is now as famous for its sculptures as its paintings, with a huge Jeff Koons balloon animal in the main courtyard and Chris Burden’s much-Instagrammed ‘Urban Light’ lamppost installation outside the front of the museum.

Address : The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036 Website : lacma.org

Track down some literary gems

There’s no lovelier way to wile away a few hours than perusing stacked shelves in a bookshop, and The Last Bookstore in Downtown LA is one of the best places to do just that. Housed in a former bank, this sprawling shop – the largest used and new book and record store in California – is filled with labyrinthine rows of books, as well as some truly astonishing literary installations. Head upstairs and you’ll be met by books hanging in mid-air as they erupt from shelves, as well as entire tunnels built out of leather-bound tomes.

Address : The Last Bookstore, 453 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Telephone : +1 213 488 0599 Website : lastbookstorela.com

Soak up some Cali beachside living

Santa Monica’s most popular spot for sunset cocktails is Élephante, an ocean-facing bar and restaurant that looks like a cross between a Tulum beach bar and Soho House. Inside you’ll find artfully arranged cacti plants and lashings of reclaimed wood, but the best spot is on the terrace, where you can drink rounds of their potent signature cocktail – your choice of spirit mixed with passion fruit, lemon, meletti and Calabrian chilli – and watch the sun set over the ocean. Just don’t keep your eyes glued to that horizon for too long, or you’ll miss all the excellent people-watching opportunities.

Address : Élephante, 1332 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Website : elephantela.com

Matt Charlton

Sarah James

Olivia Morelli

Elephante bar in Santa Monica

Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Griffith Observatory

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman Theatre at the Getty Villa

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24 Things to Do in Downtown Los Angeles

In this post, we are heading the Los Angeles, and I’m going to show you 24 of my favorite spots to explore in Downtown LA. Check it out and let me know what I left off in the comments. Click on the images to read more about the recommendation.

1. Broad Museum

Stop number one, takes us to The Broad Museum, which is one of the most popular new museums in Los Angeles. This gallery became popular because of its “Instagram-able” attractions like the mirror rooms, the big tulips, the America sign. It even has a larger than life size table you can walk right underneath. It’s a free museum, but you do need tickets in advance, and be prepared to wait for about an hour if you don’t get a ticket in advance to get in.

• Read more about the Broad .

2. Walt Disney Concert Hall

Across the street from The Broad, we have the Walt Disney Concert Hall. You’ve probably seen this awesome architectural feat right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles multiple times while driving by. Still, I would recommend getting out of the car, walking around, taking a tour of the concert hall, and walking through the gardens. It’s a beautiful area and every time you go, you see something new. Of course, if you get a chance, see a show there as well. It’s supposed to have the best acoustics in all of Los Angeles.

3. OUE SkySpace LA (This location has been closed)

Recommendation number three is OUE SkySpace, which is in the US Bank Tower. This unique Los Angeles attraction has a glass slide, where you slide from the 70th floor to the 69th floor, all completely in glass. The slide goes fast, so you don’t have a ton of time to look around, but it’s a fun experience that gets the adrenaline going. Also, they have two open-air observation decks that are amazing spots for sunset.

• Read more about OUE Skyspace .

4. Union Station

Union Station is the Los Angeles train station, and it’s been featured in movies like Blade Runner. It’s many decades old and is an excellent place to walk around and explore the unique architecture or take the train somewhere outside of Los Angeles.

• Read more about Union Station .

5. Olvera St

From Union Station, head over to Olvera Street, which is right across the street from the train station and is a fun cultural heritage site in the middle of Los Angeles. Here, you can visit the center pavilion, go to some of the museums, see one of the oldest houses in Los Angeles and have taquitos at Cielito Lindo. Olvera Street is also impressive during the Day of the Dead Festival, which happens right around Halloween every single year.

• Read more about Olvera Street .

6. Chinatown

For a different cultural experience, head over to Chinatown, which is a few blocks up from Olvera Street. This small area has food, shopping, and lots of unique architecture. It also has the traditional Chinese lanterns that go across many of the streets, and it has a wishing fountain that you can throw coins into.

My next recommendation is MOCA, which is a contemporary art museum in the heart of downtown LA. While this doesn’t have as many of the crazy exhibits like The Broad does, it’s still a great place to see some unique art and walk around the two to three floors they have. The giant metal piece in the outdoor lobby is worth visiting just to see that.

8. Grand Central Market

Next stop, we have Grand Central Market, which is Downtown LA’s food court. It’s been there for decades, with lots of unique restaurants coming in and out over the years. Now, it’s part of the foodie revival in LA with places like Eggslut, PBJ.LA, Wexler’s Deli, and many others bringing people from all over Southern California to try a unique dish.

9. Bradbury Building

From there, head across the street to the Bradbury Building, which was also featured in Blade Runner, and is a super cool piece of architecture that you can explore during business hours. You can’t ride the old elevators, but you can walk up some of the staircases and see the building from many different angles.

10. Angels Flight

After that, head over to Angels Flight, a fun little train that you can ride. It takes you about a block up, and it only costs 50 cents to a dollar, depending on whether you have a metro pass or not. No doubt you’ve seen this fun attraction in some recent movies like La La Land. It was actually closed for about five years, so it’s great to have it back open again.

• Read more about Angels Flight .

11. The Last Bookstore

My next recommendation is The Last Bookstore. This old bank building was turned into a two-story bookstore that has an insane amount of books but has a lot of other cool things to see as well. Some of those are the book tunnel that you can walk through and the old bank vault, which houses crime novels. It’s a good place just to walk around and take it all in.

• Read more about The Last Bookstore .

12. Clifton’s Cafeteria

Close by The Last Bookstore is Clifton’s Cafeteria, which is a famous Los Angeles spot that has been around for over 50 years. This unique cafeteria has all sorts of absurd things for you to see, such as tigers that you can sit next to, a giant three-story tree, and all kinds of weird oddities around the restaurant. It just reopened a year or two ago, and it’s a great place to go with your family.  This location is not always open, check the website before you go. 

13. Art’s District

Next, I recommend heading over to the Art District. The Art’s District is the up and coming downtown neighborhood that everybody wants to live at, and everyone else comes to eat at. The Art’s District has lots of artistic murals on all of the buildings, a bunch of crazy places to eat like Wurstkuche, which has rattlesnake and rabbit sausages, breweries, ice cream, you name it they have it in the Art’s District. It’s an excellent place to just park, walk around and explore. Naturally, bring your appetite because there are lots you’re going to want to eat.

14. Spire 73 Bar at the InterContinental Hotel

If you are in LA at night, head over to the InterContinental hotel, the tallest building on the West Coast. From there, you can take the elevator to the 70th floor and then another elevator to the 73rd floor to go to the tallest open-air bar in the entire country. This is a great place to grab a drink or snack and look out over the city lights.

15. LA Live and the Grammy Museum

My next recommendation is to head down to LA Live, which is right across from the Staple Center and has lots of restaurants as well as the Grammy Museum. If you’re a fan of music, then the Grammy Museum is a great place to explore. It talks about past winners, has instruments that you can play, microphones you can sing into, and revolving exhibits on things like punk rock and famous guitars. Also, along the sidewalk, outside of the museum, there are big records in the ground, much like the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, that talk about the different artists that won categories during each year of the Grammy’s.

• Read more about The Grammy Museum .

16. Smorgasborg LA

If you’re in Los Angeles on a Sunday, the only day of the week that this happens, head over to Smorgasburg. Smorgasburg is much like a food truck event where 30 or so restaurants all have little pop-up shops in this one big industrial area. You can walk all around and try things ranging from fried chicken in a waffle cone, shrimp in a pineapple boat, acai bowls, tea, all sorts of crazy stuff. I recommend bringing your appetite and some money so that you can try a few different things. There’s also a shopping area down the middle that you can check out in between eating.

• Read more about Smorgasborg

17. Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is in the heart of downtown LA where Chinatown is a little bit north of the city center. This area has a unique mall full of all sorts of Japanese-related items, has different restaurants that you can try, and it has one of my favorite places in all of downtown Los Angeles which is Daikokuya, a ramen restaurant. Be sure to get there really early, though, as Diakokuya is always busy, super small, and you normally have to wait at least an hour.

18. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Next stop, we have a Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, a beautiful church that you can check out while you are in the city. This church is stunning with a contemporary design and a large open floor plan. You can walk through the entire area or go down to the mausoleum below the church. Obviously, be respectful if you visit here.

19. LA City Hall

If you’re in Los Angeles during a weekday, from 9 AM to 5 PM, go to LA City Hall. You can get a visitor’s pass and take the elevator to the top of the city hall. From there, you can walk around in an open-air observation deck completely free. This is a great place to explore as it gives you impressive views of downtown LA and all the surrounding areas. You can even see the Hollywood Sign if there’s not any smog.

• Read more about LA City Hall .

20. Grand Park

From City Hall, you can head up to Grand Park, another fun place to relax in downtown. This long narrow park goes up about three city blocks, and it gains elevation as you’re walking up to the top. Each area has grass with tables and chairs that you can relax at and look out over City Hall. Also, at the top, there is a fountain that kids often play in.

21. Pershing Square

From here, you can head to Pershing Square, which is one of the other popular city parks in Los Angeles. There’s not a lot to do in Pershing Square daily, but there is a park for kids to play at, and during Christmas, they have an ice rink here so you can ice skate in the heart of Downtown LA.

22. LA Library

Pershing Square is about a block from the LA Library, another excellent place to explore for a few hours during the day. They have a cool atrium with lots of unique art, and, on the second floor, they have rotunda that you have to see to believe.

23. Bob Baker Marionette Theater (the theater has moved to a new location)

My last two recommendations are a little bit outside the downtown area, but they’re both fun to visit. First, head over to Bob Baker Marionette Theater. This theater on the west side of downtown has been running for over 50 years, and it has an impressive marionette puppet show the whole family will enjoy. It’s a lot of fun during the holidays as well as they often have holiday-themed shows with their different puppets.

• Read more about Bob Baker Theater .

24. Dodger’s Stadium

My last recommendation is a visit to Dodger’s Stadium. You may have been to Dodger’s Stadium during a game day, but I recommend you visit it when there’s no game in town. During normal business hours, most days of the week, you can drive into Dodger’s Stadium, and you can visit the company store. From there, you can actually walk out into the upper deck, eat lunch, and look out over the beautiful stadium. I’m not a huge baseball fan myself, but there’s just something cool about being in Dodger’s Stadium with no one else around.

• Read more about Dodger’s Stadium .

If you want to see clips of all these spots, check out this video I made talking through them.

So, that’s it, 24 spots in downtown Los Angeles for you to check out. Hopefully, there are some new ones on there that you hadn’t heard of before and be sure to let me know where I left off that you love in the comments. Also, if you want to visit Hollywood, check out this guide .

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What to Do This Summer: Los Angeles

An indoor masking order hasn’t stopped visitors from enjoying Culver City, Downtown and Venice. Here are suggestions for food, culture and sights, with an outdoors emphasis.

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By Finn-Olaf Jones

In a city adept at producing catastrophe films for entertainment, few scenes were as dystopian as the reality of Los Angeles during lockdown. A little over a year ago, one could zigzag on a bike from sea to downtown on the city’s grand avenues emptied of cars and pedestrians. Even the beaches themselves were voids patrolled by police cars with masked officers.

What a difference a year makes. Los Angeles has awakened from its pandemic slumber with an aggressiveness that begs to make up for lost time. With 62 percent of its residents over 16 years old fully vaccinated, Los Angeles County is above the national average, but a Covid spike, including cases caused by the Delta variant, has resulted in the hospitalization of hundreds of unvaccinated patients. Los Angeles County recently issued an indoors masking order.

Not everyone, including the Los Angeles Police Department, is enforcing this order, but assume that bringing a mask along for all indoor excursions, including public transportation, is a must. Also, note that a lot of businesses, especially restaurants, have social distancing rules.

The party hasn’t stopped — masked or not, Angelenos are out en masse. The once-empty boulevards are now packed with summer traffic, new businesses and public celebrations. Organizers are even restarting the popular CicLAvia Sundays — the first one is Aug. 15 — where city streets are shut down so bikes and pedestrians can take over with food stands, live music and other performances along the route.

The beach-to-city corridor of Venice, Culver City and Downtown is a promising area for experiencing a revitalized Los Angeles. The Expo Line, the light railroad that opened in 2012 (the light blue line on the Metro map), goes through most of these neighborhoods and is a great way to bypass the traffic. Here are some suggestions for enjoying your visit, with an emphasis on the outdoors.

Venice and Marina del Rey

Until recently, generations of diners on the Venice boardwalk have had to settle for burgers, pizza and beach joints. The upside to this informal atmosphere is that most restaurants have ample outside dining, pandemic or not. But culinary sophistication has arrived with the overhaul of one of the most iconic of these restaurants, the Fig Tree , by the siblings Matias and Sophia Moreno-Bunge and the chef Dashiell Nathanson, formerly of Los Angeles’s excellent small plate wine bar AOC .

Inspired by several favorite South American restaurants, the globe-trotting trio stripped down the place to its minimalist core, planted a jungle of flowers, and put together a menu with strong Mediterranean and Latin roots. The offerings are fresh, locally sourced and, unique to the boardwalk, elegant. Diplomacy comes easy when sharing plates of tangy beet salad or squid ink pappardelle, but for desserts such as crispy churros in chocolate sauce: War! Meanwhile, the tables on the patio offer front seats to the theater of humanity that walks, rolls and dances along the boardwalk. Dinner for two with drinks is around $115. On weekend nights seek out the music for the inevitable salsa and samba sessions in surrounding parking lots or massive drum circles on the beach.

For a more relaxed coastal scene, head to Mother’s Beach , a broad swath of sand on the protected waters of Marina del Rey. The marina is bordered by modern condos, parks and cafes — notably the Beachside Restaurant and Bar , which just expanded its outdoor dockside perch for feasting on grilled branzino or octopus with peanut salsa and other fresh seafood. Brunch for two is around $70. Newly lifted beach restrictions mean you can now rent paddle boards and kayaks and drift into the marina’s Zen-like calm and even do sun salutations (paddle board yoga either alone or in guided groups is the norm here), along with the seals and barking sea lions making themselves at home on the docked boats.

For four decades West Los Angeles’ health food cognoscenti flocked to what was once a tiny natural goods market. Now covering a block selling some 50,000 items, many of them the store’s own products, Rainbow Acres Natural Foods became during the pandemic a sanctuary for those seeking supplements and healthy meals. The store offers contact-free shopping and home delivery, but it’s more fun to dig into the daily menu offerings like free-range chicken in soy sauce, organic sunflower oil, garlic and rosemary, or tofu cabbage stir fry with ginger, combined with a seemingly limitless array of cold-pressed juices and smoothies. The market’s outside dining tables are on a busy street, so do what locals do and picnic on nearby Marina del Rey or Venice Beach.

Culver City

Over the last two decades this once-sleepy inland residential community surrounding the anonymous white walls of the enormous Sony Pictures Studios lot has been reconstructed into one of California’s most vibrant, bohemian and creative neighborhoods.

Just a block south of the Culver City Metro station, Platform is an intimate mall featuring cafes and shops centered around a leafy courtyard. Left for dead during the pandemic, Platform is having a renaissance with Los Angeles’s chic denizens flocking to boutiques like Janessa Leoné’s hat and handbag shop (she’s the one who made the signature hat on Taylor Swift’s “Red” album cover) or to munch mesquite-grilled tacos in the Brutalist setting of Loqui .

The pop-up shop Stan Surf Couturier might be Platform’s most dramatic new arrival. Founded by the rising young designer Tristan Detwiler, Stan’s “after-surf wear” (Los Angeles-speak for loosefitting), pieced together from vintage textiles, is starting to crowd the pages of Vogue and other fashion magazines. Mr. Detwiler himself is usually at the counter, sewing together colorful swatches, and ready to give equally colorful histories of every item in the store — from a wool jacket fashioned from a 19th-century Amish blanket to pants made out of a 1980s “French Fryzz” potato sack. His pop-up is currently leased until Aug. 31.

Five blocks east, foodies waiting for the reopening of Jordan Kahn’s double Michelin-starred restaurant, Vespertine , are sating their appetites across the street at Destroyer , Mr. Kahn’s lunch and breakfast cafe. Consisting of a dozen tables and stools arranged on the sidewalk outside a gleamingly white, refurbished, midcentury industrial building, Destroyer offers a simple and inexpensive way to sample Mr. Kahn’s mastery of contrasting favors and seasonal foraging. Unlike Vespertine, which required a lot of advance planning for reservations, one can often just walk in to savor revolutionary dishes like caramel-glazed beef brisket in lettuce wrap, or beef tartar submerged in toasted grains and smoked egg cream washed down with a turmeric ginger latte or a melon kumquat tonic. Brunch is around $35 per person.

The Wende Museum , one of the first museums to reopen in Los Angeles, is another revolutionary spot. The brainchild of the historian, Justinian Jampol, the Wende is a “Citizen Kane”-worthy collection of Soviet Bloc art and design spread out in an elegantly redone concrete armory. In this setting, stripped of their political menace, Eastern European propaganda, household goods and furniture seem futuristic and cool, as if you’ve suddenly found yourself in the lair of a James Bond villain. Even the clench-fisted bust of the German Communist leader Ernst Thälmann seems oddly cheery framed by the museum garden’s palm trees and bubbling fountains. The best souvenir from the Wende’s exotic gift-shop: a stylized 903-page catalog of the Wende’s East German collection, personally produced by the king of art book publishing, Benedikt Taschen, one of the museum’s founders ($90). Entry is free, but online reservations are required. Currently, only 20 reservations per hour are allowed, so there’s plenty of space to spread out.

Downtown Los Angeles

While indoor masking laws have dampened some of Downtown Los Angeles’s interior festivities, the high life has resumed on the neighborhood’s signature roof bars and restaurants. The fashionable and famous throng to the refurbished Upstairs bar at the Ace Hotel, and those who yearn for Mexico City’s ambience head to LA Cha Cha Chá , overlooking the Arts District.

Perhaps the most impressive sky bar, Spire 73 , hardly had a chance to make its mark before the pandemic forced it to close last year. It reopened on July 4, and its 73rd-floor perch atop the Wilshire Grand building makes it the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. Lines of fire pits warm up the views of Los Angeles’s light grid dissipating into the distant sea and mountains. The vistas are matched by excellent craft cocktails, including the house version of the old fashioned, made with small batch Elijah Craig bourbon consecrated by dashes of bitters and maple syrup, or a white negroni with lillet blanc standing in for the vermouth. Drink up (and maybe grab a burger), as there’s a $60 minimum per person.

For a smaller, more iconic lift, head to Angels Flight , the tiny tramway built in 1901 to take pedestrians up Bunker Hill in the middle of downtown. After three tumultuous decades of accidents and decay, the tram is fully refurbished and finally running again (masks required). The tram’s two funicular cars, named Olivet and Sinai, take turns going up and down the steep, 298-foot rail. If the tramway looks familiar, it’s because it’s appeared in dozens of movies, including “Kiss Me Deadly” and “La La Land.”

Angels Flight is an especially glamorous ride at night, when downtown’s Art Deco and Beaux-Arts buildings disappear below and you emerge to the hilltop’s modern cityscape, crowned by Frank Gehry’s Disney Hall and the recently reopened Broad Museum . One only pays the dollar fare at the kiosk at the top of the tram, making this one of the best bargains for experiencing a rising Los Angeles.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to receive expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places list for 2021 .

43 Essential Things To Do In Los Angeles This Year

Whether you're visiting the city for the weekend or you're a bona fide Angeleno, everyone can agree that the following list is essential to getting a feel of Los Angeles as a city.

Los Angeles is filled with hidden gems to discover and explore, but we tend to overlook the obvious spots without realizing that some of the best the city has to offer, is hiding in plain sight. At these spots, you’ll find a diverse mix of both locals and tourists from all walks of life just going about their business. Read on to find out what to do in Los Angeles, and discover worthwhile attractions , and essential things to do in L.A. at least once in your life!

Edited by Sophie Len and Sofía Delpueche.

1. Take an iconic hike to the Hollywood sign

Experience the Hollywood sign up close and personal! Get ready for an awe-inspiring hike with an expert tour guide. Even if you’ve hiked Griffith Park before, this is an extraordinary tour you’ll surely want to cross off your bucket list — don’t miss out and book your Hollywood sign tour hike here !

2. Catch scenic views of Los Angeles and space at the Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is a must-see in L.A., which is why it’s number one on our list – what better way to get to know a city than to peer out at the fantastic views , including the famous Hollywood Sign? Come day or night, both experiences are different in their own right – telescopes are available to look at the starry sky and several exhibits can be found inside.

Another added benefit is that it’s totally free —you just have to get yourself there. The easiest way is to take the DASH Observatory bus from Vermont / Sunset Metro Red Line Station or get an UBER. 

📍Location: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

3. Wander through centuries of art at The Getty Center and The Getty Villa

You need to ride around the train and explore the living artworks within the gardens of the monumental Getty Center or wander amongst Roman-style columns of the Getty Villa at least once in L.A. These cultural gems exude art and beauty on every level. In addition to the 19-20th century European art that can be found in the museums , the entire premises are an architectural treat to walk around in. 

📍Location: 17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

4. Spend a romantic evening at a Candlelight Concert

We know Los Angeles is full of concerts across the city, but Candlelight Concerts take the music to another level. At these shows, you can find classical renditions of modern music all while in the glow of candlelight. You can find these concerts across the city, check out upcoming Candlelight Concerts here !

5. Visit this cat cafe chosen by celebrities

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Crumbs & Whiskers (@crumbs_whiskers)

Crumbs And Whiskers is the cat café chosen by cat lovers in the city, but on top of that, it’s a favorite spot for cat-loving A-listers. Besides bumping into personalities like Paris Hilton or Jackson Galaxy, the best part of this place is that you can relax in the company of felines and, if you and the furry friend hit it off, you can adopt them and give them a forever home.

📍 Location: 7924 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 ☎️ Reservations: (323) 879-9413

6. Take photos and listen to jazz at LACMA

You haven’t been to L.A. unless you’ve attempted to capture Chris Burden’s iconic “Urban Light” installation in front of LACMA . Why this is on the list of things to do in Los Angeles? Because here you have over 100,000 artifacts to explore inside the museum. You can even catch live jazz on select dates. Make it a day full of music and art!

📍Location: 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

7. Immerse yourself in cinematic magic at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

Hollywood finally has a dedicated place that honors the incredible creative legacy that put this coastal desert on the map. The Academy Museum is the first of its kind in the country and, once again, the impressive structure is just as jaw-dropping as the contents. You can even visit it for free .

8. Walk, skate, or cycle around Santa Monica & Venice Beach

While they are two different places, the good thing is that you can see Santa Monica and Venice in under an hour because they’re walking/biking distance apart. With the opening of the new Metro Rail Expo Line, there’s a direct route from Union Station in DTLA to Downtown Santa Monica. From there, it’s a 5-minute walk to the Third Street Promenade, where you’ll find restaurants and all the biggest name-brand shops.  

During this walk, you’ll pass by Muscle Beach:  aka the birthplace of the fitness boom in the US, where there are always people doing incredible gymnastics. You’ve reached the end of the walk once you get to the skate park, stick around for a bit and watch the talented skaters do their thing!

9. Discover the wonders of the Huntington Library, Museum, and Gardens

Only 20 minutes from the heart of our city, you’ll discover one of the most interesting things to do in Los Angeles. And that is, discovering one of the most interesting cultural landmarks in town. The Huntington covers 120 acres of botanical landscaped gardens, it has a library with 7 million manuscripts and more than 400,000 rare books. But that’s not all, here you can also visit a museum with American and European art pieces.

📍Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

10. Marvel at luxury without limits along Rodeo Drive

This street name must pop into your head right after Melrose when you think of L.A. right? Known for its luxury brand shops, you can find it in the heart of Beverly Hills, and although not everyone can afford to shop there — you can’t come to L.A. and not check out Beverly Hills !

📍Location: Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA

11. Watch video game fantasy come to life at Universal Studios

Does this really need any explanation? Universal Studios is one of the most quintessential things to do in Los Angeles, and it’s right in the heart of Hollywood so it’s easy to get to. You can get a guided tour of real-life movie lots and studios , see the re-imagining of Hogwarts where you can buy wands, Butter Beer, and anything else Harry Potter related, and go on a bunch of thrilling rides! On top of that, it recently became home to the first Nintendo World in the USA.

12. See a concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall

You simply cannot leave L.A. until you’ve watched the LA Phil play at the mind-blowing building designed by one of the most famous architects in the world Frank Gehry .

13. Enjoy a memorable night of burlesque

Time travel to vintage entertainment, with shimmering lights, feather boas, sizzling drinks, and spicy humor. One of the best things to do in Los Angeles is, by far, visiting some of the many cabaret and burlesque shows by the legendary Dollface Dames , starring top performers, and showcasing jaw-dropping adult entertainment. If you’re on the lookout for some kinky jokes, acid satire, and impressive dancing, L.A. won’t ever disappoint you.

14. Get a tattoo where celebrities get theirs

We know, there are plenty of tattoo shops in the city. But getting your body art, in the same place where celebrities have gotten theirs, is a whole different story.

Among the ink legends in L.A., there’s a place that stands out and that you should check out if you’re looking to get permanent artwork on your skin. Visiting Shamrock Social Club is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles if you want to feel rich and famous. This is the place where A-list celebs like Adele, David Beckham, and Harry Styles have “decorated” their bodies.

📍Location: 1114 Horn Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069

15. Catch an iconic concert at The Hollywood Bowl

The Bowl has been a music mecca since it opened in 1922 and has continued to cement its place as a top music venue in the world with its curated music roster. Whether it’s a centennial celebration, concert, or an immersive theater show, you’ll never be disappointed with a visit to this los angeles area attraction.

📍Location: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

16. Have a movie night at the iconic Chinese Theatre

Located in the heart of Hollywood, the TCL Chinese Theatre stands as an iconic symbol of cinematic history and glamour. With its legendary courtyard adorned with celebrity handprints and footprints, this historic venue offers an unparalleled movie-watching experience infused with star-studded allure.

Watching a film at the Chinese Theatre is more than just a night at the movies, it’s a journey into the heart of Hollywood’s golden age, where every screening becomes a celebration of cinematic excellence and cultural heritage. This is why this is some of the places to visit in Los Angeles you MUST visit.

📍Location: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028.

17. Catch a baseball game at the Dodgers stadium

Dodger Stadium beckons baseball enthusiasts with its iconic status and rich history dating back to 1962. Nestled in the hills of Chavez Ravine, the stadium offers an electric atmosphere, where fans unite to support the Los Angeles Dodgers. With breathtaking views of downtown LA and the San Gabriel Mountains, along with modern amenities and diverse culinary options, Dodger Stadium promises an unforgettable experience for fans of America’s pastime.

📍Location: 1000 Vin Scully Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

18. Ride the Ferris wheels at the Santa Monica Pier

Nestled along the vibrant coastline of Santa Monica, the Ferris wheel at Pacific Park stands as an iconic symbol of fun and adventure and one of the best things to do in Los Angeles. Offering unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean and the bustling Santa Monica Pier, this towering attraction promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages. As one of the most recognizable landmarks in Southern California, riding the Ferris wheel is a quintessential part of any Santa Monica excursion, allowing guests to soak in the breathtaking beauty of the coastline from a unique vantage point.

📍Location: 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

19. Visit Los Angeles Central Library

The Los Angeles Central Library stands as an architectural marvel and a beacon of knowledge. With its distinctive blend of Art Deco and Egyptian Revival styles, this historic landmark captivates visitors with its grandeur and cultural significance. Exploring the Central Library is a journey through time and intellect, where every corner reveals a treasure trove of books, artifacts, and exhibits waiting to be discovered. Oh, and you can get your L.A. Library Card that will give you access to plenty of free perks!

📍Location: 630 W 5th St, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

20. Head down to El Matador Beach for some righteous waves, dude!

Tucked away along the rugged coastline of Malibu, El Matador Beach stands as a pristine oasis of natural beauty and tranquility. Renowned for its towering cliffs, golden sands, and majestic rock formations, this hidden gem offers a breathtaking escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. A visit to El Matador is an immersive journey into the raw splendor of the California coast, where crashing waves make it a must for surfing fans and for everyone looking for things to do in Los Angeles (or near the city).

📍Location: 32350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265.

21. Stay on the pulse of cutting-edge creativity at The Broad

Browse around 2,000 works of art, all housed in this groundbreaking building. The Broad is considered to have the world’s best collections of contemporary and postwar art and constantly brings in renowned contemporary artists for temporary exhibitions every few months.

📍Location: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

22. Transport yourself to another Galaxy at Astra Lumina

Astra Lumia is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles. It’s truly a celestial experience combining a peaceful stroll in nature and glimmering lights! The soothing lights, ethereal soundscapes, and the lush nature of South Coast Botanic Garden result in a fairy-tale atmosphere that’s the perfect, illuminated escape for you and your loved one.

There’s nothing quite like the perfect symphony of serenity and celestial wonder that will leave you breathless. Tickets are officially on sale — grab your tickets to Astra Lumina here !

📍Location: South Coast Botanic Garden 26300, Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90274

23. Immerse yourself in creativity in the Arts District

The Arts District has become one of the most popular spots amongst locals and tourists. Its history began back in the 70s when artists started illegally occupying spaces for their studios and has slowly developed as the place to be for creatives. You can find wall art, galleries, breweries, and much more.

📍 Here are some spots we recommend

24. Belt it out with an evening of karaoke in Koreatown

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Step into the neighborhood that never sleeps , where neon-soaked streets are packed with exciting experiences and curiosities. This L.A. neighborhood is a must when it comes to nightlife (yes, that includes karaoke), but also has a vibrant food scene, incredible spas, and tranquil hideouts to discover. Check out our full Koreatown guide here !

25. Spend a Sunday on Melrose Avenue

What’s more L.A., than spending the day shopping on Melrose Ave? Melrose is known for its cool wall art, funky/trendy shops, and great cafes. It’s perfect for a stroll on a sunny day (which is pretty much every day), whether you’re there to go shopping, or just get a coffee.

Check out Melrose Trading Post, a market that happens every Sunday where you can find vendors selling things like antiques and vintage clothes. You may also want to stop by the Insta-famous hot pink Paul Smith wall for that obligatory wall snap.

📍Location: 8221 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

26. Hop on the trolley at The Grove

The Grove is an outdoor open-plan shopping mall and is within walking distance from Melrose so you can easily combine both into a day of activities. You can find more shops, several food vendors, places for drinks, a cinema and an overall cozy atmosphere.

You should come just before sunset to get the best of both worlds because the vibe is completely different during the day and night. While the twinkling lights and rushing fountains are an experience on their own, you should head to the rooftop parking spot for epic views of the city too.

📍Location: 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036

27. Catch top comedians at the Laugh Factory[/trackLink]

The Laugh Factory is a chain of comedy clubs that can be found in Chicago, Las Vegas, Long Beach, Reno, Scottsdale, and of course, Hollywood. It’s one of the most famous comedy clubs , home to some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy today. We recommend going to the event Chocolate Sundaes which is held every Sunday. 

📍Location: 8001 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

28. Get your grub on at Grand Central Market

Sure, there are hundreds of incredible food markets in Los Angeles, but none have featured in as many films as much as Grand Central Market . You might as well get a taste of the city with the delicious offerings while reliving romantic a moment from all your favorite films.

📍Location: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

29. Attend a Sunday afternoon concert at Mt. Wilson Observatory

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Ascend the mountainous landscape for these magnificent Mount Wilson Observatory concerts in the vaulted dome housing the monumental Hooker 100-inch telescope. This year you can enjoy an acoustical banquet of esteemed musicians in the historic temple of science over a mile above the city. 

30. Visit these magical La La Land filming locations

Image courtesy of @filmtourismus

Speaking of films — many come to mind when we think of Los Angeles. One of them being La La Land . To no surprise, you can visit the locations from the film all across the city. There’s nothing quite like exploring L.A. like through the lens of cinema. Get the list of La La Land filming locations here !

31. Watch planes at In-N-Out

While L.A. may offer top-notch dining, In-N-Out has become part of the city’s culture. Getting your favorite order “animal style” while watching planes fly overhead at their location near LAX (in the longest line you’ve ever seen), is an essential thing to do.

📍Location: 9149 S Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

32. Visit Sinatra’s favorite chocolate store

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Edelweiss chocolates (@edelweisschocolates)

Feel like a celebrity while indulging in one of the finest chocolate shops in Los Angeles. If you have a sweet tooth, Edelweiss is a mythical store where you can get only the finest chocolates you can find. This shop is renowned for its mouth-watering truffles, toffees, marshmallows, caramels, nuts, and of course, chocolates!

33. Take in the views from Yamashiro Hollywood

Los Angeles is all about the views and this historic hilltop restaurant is undoubtedly one of the best places to witness the skyline. Dine in an ornate Japanese-inspired setting with delicious food while taking in the sweeping vistas of the twinkling city lights.

📍Location: 1999 N Sycamore Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

34. Take the shortest railway in town at Angels Flight

Los Angeles is filled with unique rides and modes of transport, but this is definitely one that you can’t skip. For almost two centuries this charming orange, wooden railway has been carting people between Hill Street and Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill. It’s one of the cheapest thrills in the city and it’s also a cute date idea .

📍Location: 351 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

35. Catch a Kings game

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Whether you’re a sports fan or not, the buzz of a full crowd in the City of Champion s cannot be missed. It’s fall after all, which means catching a Kings game is a must! 

📍Location: Crypto Arena, 1111 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90015

36. Drive over Sixth St Bridge

The Sixth Street Viaduct connects Downtown Los Angeles with the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Take an evening drive past the 3,500-foot concrete creation and enjoy the glow of the city as a backdrop.

📍Location: E 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

37. Take a comedy class at The Groundlings

Some of the greatest actors and comedians have graced the halls and stages at The Groundlings . Will you be next? Whether you’re taking a class for professional reasons or are just looking to get your creative juices flowing — a class at The Groundlings is calling your name. Check out their class listings here !

📍Location: 7307 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

38. Dress Up For A Night At Magic Castle

The Magic Castle is Hollywood’s famed private clubhouse devoted to the art of magic. This alluring châteauesque residence is made up of parlors, hidden rooms, and mysterious illusions that will leave you bewildered.  It’s considered one of the most unusual places on the planet and is one of the classic Los Angeles things to do at least once. While you need to befriend a magician to be invited, it’s well worth the endeavor. 

📍Location: 7001 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028

39. Take a magical night ride on an Echo Park swan boat

Echo Park Lake is a tranquil paradise, during the day — where the signature lotus beds and mesmerizing fountain await you. But at night, the swan pedal boats offer a whimsical adventure on the shimmering water with the city lights as a backdrop. Grab your tickets to the beautiful swan boat on the lake here !

📍Location: 751 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles

40. Feast on local bites at Smorgasburg

The Smorgasburg LA takes place every Sunday at Row DTLA and has become a go-to destination for foodies throughout the city. It features over 100 vendors serving up an incredible selection of both international and local flavors, allowing visitors to sample cuisine from all around the world in one sprawling location. 

📍Location: 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

41. Take a stroll along the Venice Canals

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Strolling over the quaint bridges with vivid sunsets multiplied in the waters below, it would be almost impossible not to find the Venice Canals charming. Each home has its unique style which means you’ll never get tired of exploring. If you’d like to make it a little more adventurous, you could hire a canoe and paddle your way around, or head a little further out and take a gondola ride in Long Beach.

42. Let out your inner child at this carnival-themed VRcade

Hidden in plain sight within L.A.’s thriving downtown arts district — Two Bit Circus is a carnival-themed VRcade that includes a full-service bar and a snack stand stocked with hotdogs, pizza, and hot potato tots galore! The venue even has a cozy lounging area with tons of open seating where you and the crew can set your competitive differences aside and relax. Get your tickets here !

📍Location: 634 Mateo St, Los Angeles, CA 90021

43. Visit the oldest Mexican Restaurant

Did you know that the city is considered the mecca for Mexican tacos in the country? It is unclear how many actual restaurants, food trucks, and taco take-outs exist in L.A. as the list keeps expanding by the hour. But what we can tell you for sure is that El Cholo is the oldest place in town, a legendary spot for indulging in delicious tacos that has been around since 1923. Serving food and history all together.

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The Top 14 THINGS TO DO in LOS ANGELES in 2024

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: October 26, 2023

Los Angeles, the City of Angels, where the sun is usually shining, the palm trees are swaying, and the traffic is crazy. Los Angeles, or LA, forever holds a top spot for west coast destinations. You can watch for celebrities, visit iconic landmarks, enjoy an afternoon on the beach, or book one of many tours to learn more about this rich and diverse city. Get to know Los Angeles with our list of things to do in LA.

Top 14 Things To Do, See, And Eat In Los Angeles California

You can get lost wandering endless shopping malls, strolling beachfront paths, or exploring museums. You’ll also find some of the most amazing boutique and one-of-a-kind hotels here. Since “LA” is a huge area, you’ll probably end up exploring beyond Los Angeles city since it’s centrally located. Southeast of LA, you can head to Disneyland or Huntington Beach. Malibu is off to the west, but you can also find things to do in Pasadena, Studio City, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, and many more suburbs.

You can explore the Getty Museum, Griffiths Observatory, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Hollywood Walk of Fame, La Brea Tar Pits, and on and on. There’s an infinite number of things to do in LA, which makes it hard to narrow down our list. Check out this starter list of fun and unusual things to do in LA.

14. Get Lost In The Original Farmers Market

On the west side of LA near the swanky Grove Mall, you’ll find a permanent farmers market. It’s full of restaurants, grocery stores, gifts, jewelry, clothing, specialty stores, and much more. Don’t go home with a cheap trinket from a souvenir shop when you can look for a special or custom treasure in this amazing farmers market.

Fill your belly with barbecue, sushi, churros, gumbo, or tacos to keep your strength up as you meander through row after row of shops.

Address: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA

13. Delight Your Taste Buds At Wax Paper Chinatown

You won’t regret trying one of these unique, masterpiece sandwiches at Wax Paper. It’s a culinary experience in carefully paired flavor explosions to surprise your palette. Try the Ira Glass as a starter or jump right into the Garth Trinidad paired with a Dole Whip float or cold brew coffee.

As a bonus, this fresh cafe is located in Chinatown, so you can grab lunch and explore the sights and sounds of a unique cultural area in LA.

Address: 736 N Broadway STE 106, Los Angeles, CA

12. Go Back In Time At The Madcap Motel

Travel “Elsewhere” at the Madcap Motel. It’s not a motel but an experience of other dimensions. Part alien, part 50s diner, part bizarre and weird. But totally magical and surprising. The best way to experience this inter-dimensional interactive exhibit is to leave all expectations at the door—but not your phone! You’ll want pics of all the weird and wonderful things you’ll find here.

Most of all, make sure to interact with the hosts and characters you meet along the way. They’ll make your exploration of this time capsule all the more fun as they spin the story line of the art around you.

Address: 940 East 4th St, Los Angeles, CA

11. Chill At Santa Monica Beach

A trip to LA isn’t complete without a stop at the beach. Santa Monica State Beach remains one of the most popular beaches close to Los Angeles since it has long stretches of wide, sandy beaches. Dip your toes into the Pacific Ocean, collect seashells, and watch for roving pods of dolphins in the distance.

When you’re ready for a little action, head over to the Santa Monica Pier. You’ll find the iconic Ferris wheel waiting to take you for a sunset ride, carnival games to impress your partner with your skills, and food options to satisfy your cravings. To get to the beach, make your way towards Santa Monica and get onto the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). You’ll find $10, all-day parking lots all along the beachfront.

Address: Santa Monica Beach

10. Watch A Concert At The Hollywood Bowl

There’s just no place like this historic amphitheater. Since 1922, big names like the Beatles and Yo-Yo Ma to John Williams and Radiohead have performed here. It seats 17,500 people, and you can even bring your own wine and snacks for the evening—an unusual and welcome option!

The shell has been redesigned a few times to offer listeners the best acoustics possible. Check the upcoming performance list to catch a live singalong or concert by your favorite artist.

Address: 2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA

9. Stay At An Inspiring, Art-Filled Hotel

As part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hotel Figueroa captures the ambiance and luxury of a high-end hotel that delights in sharing the wonders of art and architecture with its guests. Every corner you turn in this richly decorated hotel will keep you inspired and wowed. Each item is tastefully selected to compliment the energy of the room and hearkens back to its original Spanish design—but with a modern upgrade.

We also love the tranquil outdoor pool and the amazing restaurants and bars located in this luxurious hote l. As a bonus, it’s centrally located downtown just three minutes from the Staples Center, seven minutes from the Fashion District, and across the street from the LA Live Entertainment Complex.

Location, photos, and booking

8. Try The Burrito Challenge At El Tepeyac Cafe

Mexican food is a staple diet of Californians. Some of the best Mexican restaurants keep their recipes simple and pure without all the extra fluff of micro greens and fusion flavors. That’s why we love El Tepeyac Cafe. It’s rich, hearty, food with huge portions.

Which brings us to their claim to fame: the Manuel Special. It’s a gut-busting burrito that brings grown men to their knees trying to finish the massive, tasty, burrito filled with flavor and calories. Since it’s a menu favorite, we won’t judge if you want to order it and share with friends. You won’t regret it.

Address: 812 N Evergreen Ave, Los Angeles, CA

7. Stop In At The New Museum-Like Apple Store

The original 1927 Tower Theatre lives on as a new flagship Apple Store in downtown LA. This stunning architectural masterpiece has been thoughtfully redesigned to house an Apple Store while keeping the original structures, architecture, and gallery seats. It just opened this summer and is already making waves.

You can test drive Apple iPods, iPhones, and other tech at their immersive learning centers. If you’re an Apple fan, or you just love stunning old buildings, make sure to stop in and see how they’ve renovated this beautiful old soul.

Address: 802 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

6. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth At Wanderlust Creamery

Here at Wanderlust, they encourage trying as many flavors as possible to enjoy the delightful options they create. You can combine half scoops of ice creams to pack more flavors into your cup or cone. We definitely recommend the ube cone though. What sets Wanderlust apart from other ice cream shops is their recipes inspired by international cuisines. With a scoop of each flavor, you’re transported from Britain to Thailand, the Philippines, or Brazil.

These flavors have a lighter sweetness than traditional rich American ice cream, and you may notice it tastes more subtle, but both are also odes to how many other countries create their sweet treats. The sticky rice and mango creation is a top favorite, however, don’t be afraid to try their limited seasonal flavors too!

Address: 609 Lincoln Blvd suite b, Venice, CA ; or near Beverly Hills 7920 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA

5. Book A Haunted Ghost Tour Of The Queen Mary Ship

Have you heard of the huge ocean liner docked at Long Beach? The Queen Mary is a functioning hotel complete with state rooms and dining services that transport you back to life in the early 1900s. What’s even more fun is that you can book a haunted ghost tour to explore the paranormal events on this mysterious ship.

Time Magazine calls it one of the top ten most haunted destinations, so if you book this tour, you’ll be led by a paranormal expert to areas that are off limits to other ship guests to find where these spirits lurk. Or you can book a fun interactive dinner with the spirits. There are half a dozen kinds of tours available on this cool ship, which is why it’s a top thing to do in LA.

Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach, CA

4. Wander The CityWalk At Universal Studios

Just north of LA in Universal City, you’ll find the one and only Universal Studios. After you spend the day enjoying the theme parks of Harry Potter , Despicable Me , or Fast and Furious , head over to the CityWalk. It’s a small outdoor walking mall filled with shops, restaurants, live concert stages, and a movie theater. (Of course, since it’s Universal.) We like heading here in the evenings when bands set up on the stages to entertain shoppers.

Grab dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and check out the unbelievable collection of memorabilia they have. Alternatively, you can eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp for a good old-fashioned fish fry. Then be sure to stop at IT’SUGAR where you can stock up on bulk candy of every kind.

Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA

4. Join The Venice Electric Light Parade

If you’re in LA over the weekend, we highly recommend joining in the fun with Marcus, the founder of the Venice Electric Light Parade. The cool summer evenings of coastal southern California are the perfect way to spend an evening on a bike, which is what inspired Marcus to start this Sunday evening tradition. Anyone can join in the parade with their bike or scooter—lights not required.

But if you want to go all in, then click here to reserve one of his totally rad bikes and rent a bike and get some extra swag. It’s a fun, family-friendly way to enjoy a sunset ride along the Venice and Santa Monica biking path, complete with throwback 80s and 90s music and LED lights.

If you bring your own bike, you can meet them at the Windward Plaza near the flag poles (double check the most up-to-date info on their Facebook page ), otherwise you’ll receive instructions of where to pick up your bike when you rent it.

Address: 1 Windward Ave, Venice, CA

2. Wander The Trails At Griffith Park

High above the city, you’ll find miles of hiking, running, and equestrian trails in Griffith Park. As one of the largest urban parks in the U.S., it’s the perfect place to get some exercise and enjoy a sunrise or sunset over the LA basin. But that’s not all.

This area is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Greek Theatre, the Autry National Center, the Travel Town museum, and the infamous Hollywood Sign. Oh, not to mention the incredible Griffith Observatory. Locals also take advantage of the tennis courts, soccer fields, golf courses, and other activities. Basically, you’ll find plenty of things to do in this amazing urban park. The trick will be deciding what to do first.

Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA

1. Explore The Warner Brothers Studios

Warner Brothers Studio is home to some of the most iconic street backgrounds of all time. Their backlot sets have been used in countless movies and shows, such as Bewitched, Lethal Weapon, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, WandaVision, and many, many more. Beyond that, the studio tour takes you through interactive exhibits, iconic sets like The Big Bang Theory , and several walk-through exhibits featuring DC superheroes, Harry Potter, and others.

Be sure to check out the more deluxe tours where you can explore their prop shop and the stunning Edith Head costume shop. It’s worth every extra penny.

Address: 461 S California St, Burbank, CA

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

With Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica nearby, there are no shortage of great places to stay in the Los Angeles area. Use our guide to help you decide which hotel to book on your trip to LA.

About Brie Greenhalgh

Writer, editor, teacher, hiker, traveler, dreamer. With a book or pen in hand and a majestic sunset on the horizon, life is never short of fulfilling moments for Brie. She has a background in history and writing, and enjoys writing and editing for BobVila.com, The Tour Guy, and her own business.

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King Charles III is ‘very good’ amid cancer treatment, won’t see Harry during prince’s U.K. visit

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Two weeks after his return to the public eye, King Charles III is said to be “very good” amid his cancer battle.

British politician Penny Mordaunt, a minister in Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government, said during a Tuesday appearance on GB News that the 75-year-old monarch is happy to get back to work.

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“He’s very good. And I know that he would have been so pleased to get back to public duties. He would have missed it tremendously,” the speaker of the House of Commons said, sharing details from her weekly meetings with Charles in her role as Privy Council Lord President.

“I think everyone is really pleased to see him back and I know that he wants to do more, so it’s been a good week,” Mourdant added. “I think people won’t be surprised to know that he’s completely charming and always calm. And he’s also got a really good sense of humor as well.

“But he’s always asking about how things are going, particularly issues that we’re dealing with in Parliament or about particular groups who he knows that are having a rough time,” she said. “He’s always asking after those people, so he cares a great deal and he’s a delight to work with.”

As his daughter-in-law Catherine was admitted for abdominal surgery in January , Charles announced that he would be having a procedure on an enlarged prostate, which resulted in a three-month break from public-facing duties so he could focus on his treatment and recuperation. In February, he was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer .

Buckingham Palace announced in late April that the king would return to work amid treatment. The monarch, who just marked the one-year anniversary of his coronation, visited a cancer charity with Queen Camilla on April 30, his first day back to work, and confirmed that he had treatment scheduled for later that day.

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On Friday, he attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show despite rain and is scheduled to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. He’s also due to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.

The king’s busy schedule is being cited as the reason he and Prince Harry, fourth in line to the British throne, won’t connect during his youngest son’s visit to London this week — one that comes after the fallout from Harry’s stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and the bombshell 2023 memoir “Spare.” The duke of Sussex, who primarily lives in California with his wife Meghan and two children, is back in the U.K. this week to celebrate a decade of the Invictus Games, a tournament for wounded veterans that Harry founded in 2014 .

In response to speculation on whether the prince will see his father during the visit, a spokesman for Harry cited the king’s “full programme.” Harry was last in the U.K. in February to visit his father shortly after the king was diagnosed with cancer. The prince told “Good Morning America” at the time that he “jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could,” adding that he loves his family.

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“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon,” Prince Harry’s spokesman told the BBC on Tuesday.

His brother William, Prince of Wales, also won’t attend the service for the Invictus Games, which will be held Wednesday at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. GB News reported that no senior member of the Royal Family is expected to attend the event.

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Daniel Trotta is a U.S. National Affairs correspondent, covering water/fire/drought, race, guns, LGBTQ+ issues and breaking news in America. Previously based in New York, and now in California, Trotta has covered major U.S. news stories such as the killing of Trayvon Martin, the mass shooting of 20 first-graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, and natural disasters including Superstorm Sandy. In 2017 he was awarded the NLGJA award for excellence in transgender coverage. He was previously posted in Cuba, Spain, Mexico and Nicaragua, covering top world stories such as the normalization of Cuban-U.S. relations and the Madrid train bombing by Islamist radicals.

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Russia's Putin proposes Mishustin as prime minister

Russia's President Vladimir Putin proposed that Mikhail Mishustin, the former prime minister, continues chairing the Russian government in Putin's new presidential term, the speaker of the country's lower house of parliament said on Friday.

In Los Angeles, First Partner Siebel Newsom, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Highlight California Child Nutrition Programs During Visit to Sotomayor Academies

Published: May 08, 2024

LOS ANGELES – Today, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited Sotomayor Academies in Los Angeles to spotlight the California Farm to School and universal school meals initiatives and efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure all children have access to healthy, nutritious meals while at school.

The visit highlighted farm-to-school efforts underway in California and the role school meals can play in supporting local and regional food systems, mitigating climate change impacts, and providing healthy food to students. It comes just weeks after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rolled out  new nutritional standards for school meals  based the latest science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visit Sotomayor Academies in Los Angeles

“Together, California Farm to School and Universal School Meals provide students with two free nutritious, delicious, and locally sourced school meals daily,”  said First Partner Siebel Newsom . “This nation-leading strategic focus on childhood nutrition puts the well-being of California’s children first as it lays the foundation for healthier bodies and sharper minds, fueled by nourishing, wholesome, real food.”

First Partner Siebel Newsom tours farm to school programs with students at Sotomayor Academies in Los Angeles

“USDA is proud to have a strong partner in the state of California in enhancing child nutrition programs so that they continue to serve as one of the most powerful tools in a child’s future,”  said Secretary Vilsack . “Ensuring children have consistent access to nutritious food is not only good for their education, but for the future of our nation. I applaud the state of California for their efforts to expand access to healthy meals for all students while supporting local farmers and businesses.”

First Partner Siebel Newsom and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack visit Sotomayor Academies in Los Angeles

First Partner Siebel Newsom and Secretary Vilsack were joined at Sotomayor Academies by California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) Secretary Karen Ross, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles United School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho and Kat Taylor, a social impact investor. During the visit, they met with child nutrition experts and saw firsthand the positive impact California’s leadership on school meals has meant for students.

California has taken significant actions to strengthen their school meal programs, including:

• In 2022, California became one of the first states to implement universal meals for children at school. Through their  Universal Meals Program , the state is building on USDA’s National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, which provide meals to 30 million school children. As of May 2024, eight states have instituted policies to provide healthy school meals at no cost to all students. Expanding those policies nationwide is a key goal of the Biden-Harris Administration’s  National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health , which committed to ending hunger, improving nutrition, and ending diet-related disease by 2030.
• Launched in 2019,  California Farm to School  connects school districts with local farms, so they can procure fresh and delicious produce for school meals. To date, the initiative is benefiting over 1.5 million public school students in California at over 163 educational entities.
• USDA’s  Patrick Leahy Farm to School Program  helps school meal operators incorporate local foods into meal programs. Spearheaded by First Partner Siebel Newsom, California Farm to School has committed to expanding the use of locally grown commodities in school meals and hands-on food education to up to 80% of California students by 2030. The commitment was made by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) as part of the  White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities . In pursuit of this expansion, CDFA has partnered with school administrators and built partnerships with local producers and growers to maximize the quantity of locally-sourced produce in California schools.
• USDA has also partnered with the California Department of Education (CDE) under the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Program. In 2022, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service signed a  $23 million cooperative agreement  with CDE to purchase and distribute local and regional foods and beverages for schools while strengthening partnerships with local producers and agricultural operations.
• Additionally, California has signed on to participate in the inaugural year of USDA’s  Summer EBT program , which provides qualifying students $120 in grocery benefits to families to purchase food during the summer months when child food insecurity is at its highest.

USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit  www.usda.gov .

Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Darius Morris dies at 33

Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Darius Morris has died at age 33.

“We are heartbroken by the passing of Darius Morris,” the team said in a post on X Saturday accompanied by a picture of the former player.

Morris' family announced his death in a statement shared with TMZ on Saturday.

"With great sadness we announce the passing of our dearly beloved son, Darius Aaron Morris. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace," the statement read.

His body was found in the Los Angeles area, according to TMZ. The Lakers and his family did not provide a cause of death.

Morris was a standout player at the University of Michigan before going on to be a second-round pick for the Lakers in the 2011 draft. He went on to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, the Brooklyn Nets, the Philadelphia 76ers and other teams.

Morris then played professionally in China and France and last played in 2019-20, according to ESPN .

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