Things to Do in Los Angeles
Prices, opening hours, best times to visit and the stuff nobody tells you, everything you need for a first trip to Los Angeles, California, plus one pigeon's opinions on all of it.
Right, Los Angeles. Sprawling, sunny, everyone's apparently in the industry, a genuinely enormous, car-dependent city built directly on top of an active seismic fault line, and somehow still the entertainment capital of the world. This is the proper, no-nonsense guide to things to do in Los Angeles: what things actually cost, when to go, what to skip, and which bits are worth the drive. Five main stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site to see if you were paying attention.
The Hollywood Sign
Los Angeles is home to Hollywood film and television, the entertainment industry centred in a district that gave its name to the industry itself, the famous hillside sign spelling out the district's name is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world, visible from various points around the city, though getting a proper close-up view requires a specific hike.
Griffith Observatory offers one of the best views of the sign alongside sweeping views over the whole city, worth combining a sign-viewing trip with the observatory itself, which is free and includes excellent astronomy exhibits.
Hours Griffith Observatory Tue–Sun, roughly 12pm–10pm
Best time Late afternoon into sunset for the best light and views
The San Andreas Fault
Los Angeles sits along a major seismic fault line responsible for the region's earthquake risk, known as the San Andreas Fault, a famously active fault line running much of the length of California, actively shaping building codes and public awareness throughout the region, earthquake preparedness is a real, ongoing part of life here.
This isn't a specific tourist attraction as such, more useful context for understanding a real, ongoing aspect of the region's geography and daily life, even if the odds of experiencing anything significant during a short trip remain quite low.
Understanding LA's Traffic
Los Angeles is known for chronic traffic congestion partly due to its heavy reliance on private cars, a sprawling, car-dependent layout that has become something of a citywide punchline, worth planning around, distances that look short on a map can take considerably longer stretches of time depending on the hour, particularly during rush periods.
Worth building considerably more travel time than distance alone would suggest into any itinerary, and consider timing longer cross-city trips outside peak commuting hours if your schedule allows any flexibility.
Griffith Observatory
Beyond the Hollywood Sign views, Griffith Observatory itself is well worth the visit, free astronomy exhibits, a planetarium (separate ticket), and sweeping views over the whole Los Angeles basin, particularly striking at sunset and after dark when the city lights spread out below.
It's a good, free activity regardless of your interest in astronomy specifically, allow a proper couple of hours, particularly if the planetarium show timing works with your schedule.
Hours Tue–Sun, roughly 12pm–10pm, closed Mondays
Address 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles
Santa Monica & Venice Beach
Los Angeles holds excellent beaches right within the wider city, Santa Monica's pier and Venice Beach's boardwalk both offer a completely different, more relaxed side of LA from the Hollywood glamour elsewhere on this list, street performers, muscle beach, and a proper laid-back Southern California beach culture.
It's a good full day, worth combining both beaches given how close they sit together, a scenic bike path connects them directly along the coastline.
Best time Any time; sunset for the classic Santa Monica Pier photo
Best time to visit Los Angeles
March through May and September through November give the most comfortable weather for the amount of walking and driving this list involves, mild and generally sunny without summer's peak heat and crowds. For the full month-by-month breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit Los Angeles guide.
Los Angeles's climate stays generally mild and dry year-round, worth targeting the shoulder seasons specifically to avoid both summer's heat and the biggest tourist crowds at major attractions.
Getting around Los Angeles
A rental car is the practical way to get around Los Angeles given the sprawl, though ride-hailing apps work well too, particularly if you'd rather not deal with the city's notorious traffic yourself. The Metro rail system covers some routes but doesn't reach every neighbourhood conveniently. If you're mapping out exactly how to spend your time, our 24 Hours in Los Angeles and 2 Day Los Angeles Itinerary guides lay out an hour-by-hour and day-by-day plan.
Keeping an eye on costs? Los Angeles on a Budget covers what's free and where the tourist markup actually is. Travelling as a couple? Los Angeles for Couples covers Griffith Observatory at sunset and El Matador Beach. And once your dates are set, Where to Stay & Eat in Los Angeles breaks down the neighbourhoods.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Los Angeles worth visiting?
- Yes, particularly for the entertainment industry history around Hollywood, Griffith Observatory's free views, and excellent beaches, though the city rewards planning around its scale and traffic.
- How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
- Four days covers the Hollywood Sign area, Griffith Observatory, and a beach day comfortably.
- Is Los Angeles expensive?
- Moderate to expensive for accommodation and dining, though Griffith Observatory and the beaches remain reliably free.
- What is Los Angeles famous for?
- Being the centre of the Hollywood film and television industry, the Hollywood Sign, one of the most recognisable landmarks anywhere, and its notorious car-dependent traffic congestion.
That's everything I've got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
