Things to Do in Los Angeles
Ten stops running from an observatory with a properly free public telescope to a beach boardwalk where the muscle-building culture predates the modern gym by decades.
Los Angeles runs on scale and spectacle, this list heads past what the quiz already covers toward a free observatory with sweeping city views, a significant art museum that costs nothing to enter, and a food truck scene that's become as central to the city's identity as anything on a studio lot. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Griffith Observatory
Perched in the hills above the city, Griffith Observatory offers sweeping views over LA and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean, entry is completely free, a properly rare thing for an attraction with views this good. The Zeiss telescope inside has reportedly been viewed through by more people than any other telescope in the world, free public viewing sessions run most clear evenings.
This location also offers the closest public vantage point to the Hollywood Sign without a longer hike, time a visit for sunset when the whole city lights up below.
Best time Sunset for the best city views
Address 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre
Over 2,700 stars embedded in the pavement along Hollywood Boulevard, honouring figures across film, television, music, and radio, new stars are still added regularly during public ceremonies most tourists can attend. The TCL Chinese Theatre, with its distinctive pagoda-style architecture, holds handprints and footprints from hundreds of celebrities set in concrete outside the entrance, a tradition running since the theatre opened in 1927.
This stretch is busy and touristy, considerably more so than most other stops on this list, manage expectations rather than expecting a quiet, contemplative visit.
Address Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The Getty Center
A world-class art museum, free to enter, holding significant works including Van Gogh's Irises, set within striking modern architecture and gardens overlooking the city from a hillside campus. A tram carries visitors up from the parking area to the museum itself, part of the experience rather than a mere shuttle, sweeping views unfold gradually as you ascend.
The gardens alone earn a proper visit, the Central Garden's design changes with the seasons, a considered piece of landscape art rather than a standard museum courtyard.
Hours Tue-Sun, roughly 10am-5.30pm
Address 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA
Santa Monica Pier
A classic beach pier running since 1909, home to Pacific Park, an amusement park built directly on the pier itself, including a solar-powered Ferris wheel offering ocean views from the top of its rotation. The pier marks the official western end of Route 66, a small sign noting this historical detail for anyone who's driven the whole route or simply appreciates the trivia.
Street performers and buskers run throughout the pier most days, a proper, lively atmosphere that shifts noticeably depending on the time of day you visit.
Best time Sunset for the best light over the ocean
Address 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
Universal Studios Hollywood
The original Universal Studios theme park, built around a still-functioning working studio backlot, tram tours pass directly through real film and television sets, including a recreation of the Bates Motel and the actual bridge collapse set piece from various disaster films. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter section runs alongside newer rides based on more current franchises, a mix of classic studio history and modern attractions.
This works well as a full day out, check current express pass options if you're short on time given how quickly the most popular rides build long waits.
Hours Daily, hours vary seasonally
Address 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA
The Broad
A contemporary art museum, free to enter, its distinctive honeycomb-patterned exterior housing works by Jeff Koons, Yayoi Kusama, and other significant contemporary artists. Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms, immersive installations using mirrors and lights to create the illusion of endless space, remain the museum's most popular single draw, requiring a separate timed ticket due to demand.
Book general admission ahead even though it's free, this operates on a reservation system given consistently high demand, walk-up availability isn't guaranteed.
Hours Tue-Sun, roughly 11am-5pm
Address 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Venice Beach Boardwalk
A properly eclectic beach boardwalk, street performers, muscle builders working out at the famous outdoor Muscle Beach gym, and vendor stalls all run alongside each other in a chaotic, entertaining mix. Muscle Beach itself predates the modern commercial gym industry by decades, a real piece of fitness culture history that still operates as an actual public workout space today.
This is one of the more people-watching-focused stops on this whole list, a slow walk beats a rushed pass-through given how much of the appeal comes from simply observing the scene.
Best time Afternoon for the liveliest atmosphere
Address Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice, CA
LA's Food Truck & Taco Scene
Los Angeles runs one of the most developed food truck scenes in the country, a mix of traditional taco trucks and considerably more upscale, chef-driven operations, several eventually expanding into full brick-and-mortar restaurants after building a loyal following on the street. Kogi BBQ, widely credited with pioneering the Korean-Mexican fusion taco truck concept, remains one of the most influential single operations in the wider food truck movement nationally.
This works well as a proper grazing meal, try two or three different trucks rather than committing to just one given how varied the offerings run across the city.
Address Food trucks citywide, locations vary by day
California Science Center
Free to enter, home to Endeavour, a real retired Space Shuttle, one of only four remaining anywhere in the world, displayed in a dedicated pavilion alongside exhibits covering its full 25-flight career. This works particularly well for kids, hands-on science exhibits throughout the wider museum hold attention considerably longer than a standard static display.
The IMAX theatre on site runs regular films, a good add-on if the science exhibits alone don't fill your visit, check the current schedule.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA
Griffith Park's Hollywood Sign Trail
The Hollywood Sign, originally built in 1923 as a real estate advertisement reading 'Hollywoodland,' has stood in its current, shortened form since 1978, each letter standing 45 feet tall. The Hollyridge Trail, a moderate roughly 3.5-mile round trip through Griffith Park, leads to one of the closest public vantage points, considerably closer than the view from the observatory below.
This is an active alternative to simply photographing the sign from a distance, the hike pays off specifically if a closer look and some real exercise both appeal.
Best time Early morning to avoid midday heat
Address Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA
Best time to visit Los Angeles
March through May and September through November cover the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, mild enough for the outdoor stops without summer's peak heat and crowds. For the full month-by-month breakdown, see our Best Time to Visit Los Angeles guide.
Afternoon and evening work particularly well for Venice Beach and the food truck scene, both run at their liveliest once the day's heat starts to ease.
Getting around Los Angeles
A car works best for this list, Los Angeles sprawls considerably further than most cities on this trip and public transit doesn't cover every stop conveniently, ride-share fills the gaps well if you'd rather not drive yourself. 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 beyond the Walk of Fame?
- Yes, easily, the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, and the city's food truck scene all offer a considerably deeper experience than the more touristy Hollywood stretch alone.
- How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace to cover Hollywood, the beaches, and either a major museum or Universal Studios.
- Is Los Angeles expensive to visit?
- Moderate, several major attractions on this list are free, though accommodation and dining both cost above the national average across most neighbourhoods.
- What's the best Los Angeles trip for kids?
- The California Science Center and Universal Studios Hollywood both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a city that runs on considerably more than just the studio lots.
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.
