Discover the 11 best things to do in Los Angeles. This beautiful Californian city has many incredible attractions for you to explore and delight in.
1. Walk along the Walk of Fame and its surroundings
Hollywood is an unmissable area that defines a large part of Los Angeles. It’s there that you’ll find one of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Walk of Fame, which is nothing more than a huge sidewalk with several stars and the names of icons who have made their mark on cinema. There you’ll also find the Dolby Theater, where the Oscar ceremony takes place.
- Extra tip: TCL Chinese Theatre – magnificent, grandiose and luxurious. This cinema/theatre in Los Angeles has a beautiful interior that preserves features from its launch in 1927. It was one of the main cinemas of the Golden Age in Hollywood, and today it is a visitable space (with a guide), with autographs and handprints of famous people on its sidewalk.
2. Enjoy the beaches of Los Angeles
L.A.’s beaches are super famous, and it’s well worth spending a whole day there. The most famous and lively is Venice Beach, which has a promenade with lots of interesting shops and restaurants.
There’s also Santa Monica, which is a little quieter and has residential houses, as well as its famous pier (perfect for taking lots of photos); and Malibu, which has a beautiful waterfront, great for practicing sports activities.
3. Take a photo with the Hollywood sign
Located in Griffith Park, which we’ll talk about below, the Hollywood sign has existed for over 100 years and is a huge structure, 13 meters high and 100 meters wide. It’s an iconic tourist attraction that many people visit to take pictures and get a great view of the city – but you have to take one of the 3 trails available to get close to the sign.
The Mount Hollywood trail is the most popular because it’s the easiest: it’s a 4.8 km route, leaving from the Griffith Observatory parking lot, and takes about 1.5 hours to complete. Take good closed shoes and plenty of water (2L per person) for this hike.
4. Having fun at the amusement parks
Did you know that Los Angeles also has its own amusement parks? The three most famous parks that are really worth a visit are Universal Studios Hollywood Park, Disneyland Park and Six Flags Magic Mountain.
They are super colorful, beautiful and especially fun for travelers. The last of them, Six Flags, is especially extreme and full of rollercoasters – so it can be the best or the worst of the three, depending on your preference.
5. Visit the museums of Los Angeles
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum: for those who like to see the personalities of film, television and the world, it’s worth visiting the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, which recreates celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in life-size (and in perfect detail).
LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art): famous for having an outdoor area full of streetlights, LACMA is one of the main and largest art centers in the entire American region. There are dozens of works from years ago, as well as more modern ones, by some of the most important artists in the United States. If you like art, it’s worth a visit.
Griffith Park: simply the largest park in Los Angeles. Griffith Park sits between some mountains and is perfect for visiting on a sunny day, as well as having a very nice (and high) view of the city. This is where the Griffith Observatory is located, with an extensive exhibition on astronomy and science.
Getty Center: a museum with super interesting architecture and varied works of art, which make it an obligatory stop on your trip. It is located in the Brentwood area and was opened in 1997 with a rich collection of European paintings (including famous artists such as Paul Cezanne, Rembrandt and Van Gogh), photographs and sculptures and a BEAUTIFUL garden.
6. Warner Bros. Studios
Are you a fan of famous series and movies? Don’t miss a visit to the Warner Bros studios in Los Angeles, with several movie sets that have marked generations. You’ll be able to visit the filming locations of productions such as The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Man, as well as a store with original items of Warner Bros. characters. They offer several different types of tours, with varying lengths and passages.
7. Explore Beverly Hills
A city in Los Angeles County, very beautiful and with some attractions, such as the Farmer’s Market, a super interesting street market where you can try typical street food and take home unique items.
Strolling through the streets of Beverly Hills is pleasant enough, but you can also visit iconic landmarks such as the hotel where the movie Pretty Woman was filmed.
- Important tip: as you can see, Los Angeles is a city with many tourist attractions, such as museums and tours. That’s why our tip is to always buy your tickets in advance. We buy everything on this website that has the best price.
8. Explore downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is also a special place for tourists. In this neighborhood, you can visit Union Station, which is L.A.’s train station; the Los Angeles Library, with its many beautiful sculptures; and the Little Tokyo area, which is reminiscent of Japanese neighborhoods, with lots of typical shops as well.
9. Watch a basketball game
You may already know that Americans love to watch NFL or NBA games. And there’s a reason for that: the games have a unique atmosphere and energy. If you can, it’s worth seeing a game of the Los Angeles teams (Lakers and Clippers) or the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco.
And the best way to buy your tickets is online, in advance, so you pay less and don’t run the risk of them selling out. Our tip: the cheapest and most reliable website we’ve found so far is this one, which has all the games and the best prices.
10. Shopping in Los Angeles
Los Angeles can also be a great city for shopping. There are brand stores, department stores, cheap stores… There are some good places to shop there:
- Rodeo Drive: this is a more luxurious street with designer stores such as Prada, Gucci, Chanel and Versace.
- Venice Beachfront: this is the promenade we mentioned at the beginning of the article, with lots of craft shops.
- Saks Fifth Avenue and Barney’s New York: also located in the Beverly Hills area, these are great stores for buying items at a good price and picking up great deals.
- Important tip: to make the most of your trip to Los Angeles, staying in the best areas is essential. So, if you want, check out our article explaining the main areas, the hotels and how you can save a lot on accommodation.
11. Enjoy the local nightlife
The city is a hive of activity, and you can get to know a lot at night too. If you want to go out, it’s worth visiting the Universal CityWalk and Downtown Disney areas. These are two centers with stores, restaurants, bars and cafés with a California vibe, as well as nightclubs. You can spend hours wandering around these places.
If you want to continue the night with even more excitement, it’s worth going to the Sunset Boulevard area, which also has lots of parties.
Save money on your trip to Los Angeles:
Tickets: find out where to buy your Los Angeles tickets in the cheapest and safest way. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Los Angeles. You will find out the best areas, as well as tips on how to find the best hotels.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
