Los Angeles Travel Guide
Facts and practical information
Los Angeles, the sprawling metropolis in the state of California, United States, is a vibrant city that is as diverse as it is expansive. Known for its Mediterranean climate, ethnic diversity, and the entertainment industry, Los Angeles is a city that never fails to captivate its visitors.
The city's most iconic landmark is undoubtedly the Hollywood Sign, symbolizing the dream factory that has produced countless movies and television shows. Tourists flock to the Walk of Fame to find the stars of their favorite celebrities, and the TCL Chinese Theatre is a must-visit for movie buffs interested in Hollywood's Golden Age.
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) offers a contrasting mix of historic buildings and sleek skyscrapers. The area's revitalization has brought a surge of new restaurants, bars, and cultural attractions, such as The Broad, a contemporary art museum, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, known for its striking architecture and acoustics.
For those interested in science and history, the California Science Center and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County offer fascinating exhibits, including the Space Shuttle Endeavour and an extensive collection of dinosaur fossils.
The city's beaches are another major draw, with Santa Monica and Venice Beach providing a quintessential Southern California experience. The Santa Monica Pier offers amusement park attractions and stunning ocean views, while the Venice Boardwalk is famous for its eclectic street performers and vibrant atmosphere.
Los Angeles is also a food lover's paradise, offering a diverse culinary landscape. From the taco trucks of East LA to the upscale eateries in Beverly Hills, there is something to satisfy every palate. The city's multicultural makeup contributes to a rich variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Korean, and Japanese, to name a few.
For shopping enthusiasts, Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is synonymous with luxury and fashion, while The Grove and the Los Angeles Farmers Market provide a more casual shopping and dining experience.
Los Angeles is not without its natural wonders, too. Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, offering hiking trails, the Griffith Observatory, and panoramic views of the city below. Meanwhile, the Santa Monica Mountains provide a scenic backdrop and outdoor recreation opportunities.
Metro & Regional RailLos Angeles Attractions - What to See and Explore
Los Angeles offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Rodeo Drive, Griffith Park, J Paul Getty Museum, Griffith Observatory. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.
Things to See and Do in Los Angeles by Category
Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Los Angeles.
Culture
Staples Center
Central Los AngelesArena for LA sports and big-name music
Sport venue Sport Downtown Los Angeles 
Norton Simon Museum
West Pasadena, Los AngelesNoted collection of European and Asian art
Museum Art museum Monk Hill 
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles 
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Central Los AngelesLandmark cinema and celebrity footprints
Concerts and shows Theater Hollywood Hills West 
Hollywood Bowl
Central Los AngelesLegendary outdoor venue for live music
Museum Specialty museum Hollywood Hills West
Shopping
Rodeo Drive
West Los AngelesStreet Shopping Shopping district Beverly Hills 
The Americana at Brand
Glendale, Los AngelesShopping Shopping centre City Center 
The Grove
Central Los AngelesShopping Shopping centre Entertainment Fairfax District 
Beverly Center
Central Los AngelesShopping Shopping centre Beverly Grove 
Hollywood and Highland Center
Central Los AngelesShopping Shopping centre Hollywood Hills West
Entertainment
Universal Studios Hollywood
South Valley, Los AngelesBig movie-themed amusement park
Amusement park Universal City 
Santa Anita Park
Los AngelesSports venue for live horse-racing
Sport venue Sport Arcadia 
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
South Valley, Los AngelesPark Theme park Universal City 
Commerce Casino
Southeast Los AngelesNightlife Gambling Casino Commerce 
Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum
Central Los AngelesMuseum Scenic railroads Tours
Active
Dodger Stadium
Central Los AngelesHome to baseball's Dodgers since 1962
Sport venue Sport Staples Center
Central Los AngelesArena for LA sports and big-name music
Sport venue Sport Downtown Los Angeles 
Rose Bowl Stadium
Northwest Pasadena, Los AngelesSport venue Sport Brookside Park 
Riviera Country Club
West Los AngelesGolf Pacific Palisades 
The Forum
Inglewood, Los AngelesSport venue Sport Morningside Park
Museum
J Paul Getty Museum
West Los AngelesMuseum Brentwood 
Griffith Observatory
Central Los AngelesMuseum Science museum 
Getty Center
West Los AngelesCelebrated free venue for art exhibits
Museum Brentwood 
Museum of Tolerance
West Los AngelesDisplays on the Holocaust and modern times
Museum Specialty museum South Robertson Norton Simon Museum
West Pasadena, Los AngelesNoted collection of European and Asian art
Museum Art museum Monk Hill
Park
Griffith Park
Central Los AngelesPark 
Page Museum
Central Los AngelesPrehistoric-fossil excavation site
Museum Natural history museum Mid - Wilshire 
Exposition Park Rose Garden
South Los AngelesPark Garden Exposition Park 
Greystone Mansion
West Los AngelesMuseum History museum Vernacular architecture Beverly Hills 
Runyon Canyon Park
Central Los AngelesPark Hollywood Hills West
Theater
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Central Los AngelesLandmark cinema and celebrity footprints
Concerts and shows Theater Hollywood Hills West 
Dolby Theatre
Central Los AngelesHigh-tech home of the Academy Awards
Theater Concerts and shows Hollywood Hills West 
El Capitan Theatre
Central Los AngelesDisney-owned historic movie theater
Concerts and shows Theater Hollywood 
Largo at the Coronet
Central Los AngelesTheater Concerts and shows Music venue Beverly Grove
Art gallery
Norton Simon Museum
West Pasadena, Los AngelesNoted collection of European and Asian art
Museum Art museum Monk Hill 
Museum of Contemporary Art
Central Los AngelesMuseum Art museum Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles 
Japanese American National Museum
Central Los AngelesMuseum Art museum History museum Historic Cultural 
Judson Studios
Northeast Los AngelesMuseum Art gallery Highland Park 
Barnsdall Art Park
Central Los AngelesPark Art gallery Museum East Hollywood
Art museum
Norton Simon Museum
West Pasadena, Los AngelesNoted collection of European and Asian art
Museum Art museum Monk Hill 
Huntington Library
Los AngelesCultural center with galleries and gardens
Museum Art museum San Marino 
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Central Los AngelesFrom pre-Columbian to contemporary works
Museum Art museum Mid - Wilshire 
Skirball Cultural Center
Central Los AngelesMuseum Art museum Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art
Central Los AngelesMuseum Art museum Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles
Specialty museum
Museum of Tolerance
West Los AngelesDisplays on the Holocaust and modern times
Museum Specialty museum South Robertson Page Museum
Central Los AngelesPrehistoric-fossil excavation site
Museum Natural history museum Mid - Wilshire Hollywood Bowl
Central Los AngelesLegendary outdoor venue for live music
Museum Specialty museum Hollywood Hills West 
Hollyhock House
Central Los AngelesMuseum History museum Vernacular architecture East Hollywood 
Hollywood Wax Museum
Central Los AngelesMuseum Specialty museum Tourist information Hollywood Hills West
Historical place
Hollywood Sign
Central Los AngelesIconic letters atop Mount Lee since 1923
Historical place Monuments and statues Hollywood Hills Page Museum
Central Los AngelesPrehistoric-fossil excavation site
Museum Natural history museum Mid - Wilshire 
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
South Los AngelesMajor concert venue for big shows
Sport venue Sport Exposition Park Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Central Los AngelesLandmark cinema and celebrity footprints
Concerts and shows Theater Hollywood Hills West Hollyhock House
Central Los AngelesMuseum History museum Vernacular architecture East Hollywood
Music venue
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
South Los AngelesMajor concert venue for big shows
Sport venue Sport Exposition Park Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
Central Los AngelesLegendary outdoor venue for live music
Museum Specialty museum Hollywood Hills West Dolby Theatre
Central Los AngelesHigh-tech home of the Academy Awards
Theater Concerts and shows Hollywood Hills West 
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles
Street
Rodeo Drive
West Los AngelesStreet Shopping Shopping district Beverly Hills 
Olvera Street
Central Los AngelesHistoric district with a Mexican market
Street Historic walking areas Historic Cultural 
1st Street
Central Los AngelesStreet Historic Cultural 
Hollywood Boulevard
Central Los AngelesFamous street with glitzy attractions
Street Hollywood 
Los Angeles Street
Central Los AngelesStreet Historic Cultural
Nightlife
The Echo
Central Los AngelesNightlife Dancing 
The Black Cat
Central Los AngelesDancing Nightlife Silver Lake Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles 
The Smell
Central Los AngelesNightlife Dancing Downtown Los Angeles Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles
Concert hall
Staples Center
Central Los AngelesArena for LA sports and big-name music
Sport venue Sport Downtown Los Angeles Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles 
Microsoft Theater
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles 
The Wiltern
Central Los AngelesTheater Architecture Concerts and shows 
Shrine Auditorium
South Los AngelesConcerts and shows Theater Concert hall University Park
Natural attraction
Eaton Canyon
Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Canyon 
Bronson Caves
Central Los AngelesMan-made caves featured in iconic films
Natural attraction Canyon Hollywood Hills 
Mount Lee
Central Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Mountain Hollywood Hills 
Turnbull Canyon
Whittier, Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Canyon 
Chemosphere
Central Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Hill Hollywood Hills West
Performing arts
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles Hollywood Bowl
Central Los AngelesLegendary outdoor venue for live music
Museum Specialty museum Hollywood Hills West 
MacArthur Park
Central Los AngelesPark Performing arts Macarthur Park The Wiltern
Central Los AngelesTheater Architecture Concerts and shows 
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
West Los AngelesTheater Concerts and shows Performing arts Beverly Hills
Music and shows
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Postmodern architecture Downtown Los Angeles Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles 
Los Angeles Music Center
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles Microsoft Theater
Central Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Downtown Los Angeles 
Royce Hall
West Los AngelesMusic and shows Nightlife Music venue Westwood
Hill
Hollywood Sign
Central Los AngelesIconic letters atop Mount Lee since 1923
Historical place Monuments and statues Hollywood Hills Chemosphere
Central Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Hill Hollywood Hills West 
Stahl House
West Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Hill Baldwin Hills Dam disaster
South Los AngelesHill Ladera Heights 
Bailey House
West Los AngelesNatural attraction Nature Hill Beverly Crest
Monuments and statues
Hollywood Sign
Central Los AngelesIconic letters atop Mount Lee since 1923
Historical place Monuments and statues Hollywood Hills 
Watts Towers
South Los AngelesSteel towers with decorative elements
Museum Art museum Watts 
Korean Bell of Friendship
Harbor, Los AngelesMonuments and statues Coastal San Pedro 
Triforium
Central Los AngelesMonuments and statues Downtown Los Angeles 
Tommy Trojan
South Los AngelesMonuments and statues Sculpture University Park
Other categories
ChurchConcerts and showsHistory museumAreaNeighbourhoodCityLibraryMemorialCemeteryNatureBridgeSkyscraperSynagogueSacred and religious sitesGardenLos Angeles – popular in the area (distance from the center)
In the vicinity of Los Angeles, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Whisky a Go Go, Troubadour, The Viper Room.
Best Time To Visit Los Angeles
Learn when is the best time to travel to Los Angeles weather-wise and what to expect in each season.
Best Ways to Experience Los Angeles
Food & drink
CuisineA guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.
Lox
Lox is a type of brined salmon typically enjoyed on a bagel with cream cheese. It is often accompanied by toppings such as tomato, sliced onion, cucumbers, and capers. The word "lox" originates from the Yiddish "laks" which itself comes from the Germanic word for...
Cornbread
Cornbread is a cherished quick bread made from cornmeal, typically leavened with baking powder. It has deep roots in Native American cuisine, where corn has been a staple for millennia. When European settlers arrived in the New World, they learned to prepare corn-based...
Poutine
Poutine, a cherished Canadian dish, is a delightful amalgamation of crispy french fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich brown gravy. It emerged in Quebec in the late 1950s and, despite initial ridicule, has grown into a celebrated emblem of Quebecois cultural pride.
Dish
Cupcake
A cupcake is a delightful, single-serving cake typically baked in a small, thin paper or aluminum cup. These tasty treats have a rich history dating back to the late 18th century, with the term "cupcake" first appearing in the early 19th century.
Slider
A slider is a small, steam-grilled American sandwich, typically about 2 inches in diameter and served on a bun. The term "slider" originated from White Castle restaurants, where these miniature burgers were steamed with onions.
Art works & crafts
ArtFamous works of special cultural and artistic value related to this location.
The Treachery of Images
"The Treachery of Images" is a renowned 1929 painting by the surrealist artist René Magritte. It is also known as "This is Not a Pipe" famously subtitled "The Wind and the Song." Magritte created this piece at the age of 30, and today, it is housed at the Los Angeles...
Painting by René Magritte
Bird in Space
"Bird in Space" is an acclaimed series of sculptures by Romanian artist Constantin Brâncuși, first created in 1923. These sculptures are celebrated for capturing the essence of a bird in flight, emphasizing movement and simplicity over physical details like wings...
Art series
Levitated Mass
"Levitated Mass" is a monumental public art sculpture by Michael Heizer, unveiled in 2012 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). This striking installation features a 340-ton boulder suspended above a 456-foot-long pathway, allowing visitors to experience it...
Sculpture by Michael Heizer
Urban Light
"Urban Light" a magnificent sculpture by Chris Burden, greets visitors at the entrance of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on Wilshire Boulevard. Completed in 2008, this arresting installation comprises 202 vintage street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s that...
Sculpture by Chris Burden
The Raising of Lazarus (Rembrandt)
"The Raising of Lazarus" is a mesmerizing oil-on-panel painting by the acclaimed Dutch artist Rembrandt. Created between 1630 and 1632, this artwork vividly depicts the biblical story from the Gospel of John, in which Jesus brings Lazarus back to life.
Painting by Rembrandt
California