Tinseltown isn’t just about the movies (though there’s plenty to delight film buffs here) – LA is a buzzy cultural hotspot filled with thriving art galleries, first-class museums, and sporting institutions, not to mention some of the finest beaches in America.
While the City of Angels may be best known for its Hollywood history – and a visit to the Hollywood Sign and a stroll along the Walk of Fame remain LA must-sees – there are plenty of other attractions and experiences that have put it on the map. Culture aficionados are well catered for with the city’s many world-class art galleries and museums, while outdoorsy types can make the most of the SoCal sunshine on one of LA’s golden sand beaches or numerous hikes. Together, it’s all part of what makes this one of the most glorious cities in America.
Head to the roof terrace at the very top of the museum, under its famous glassy dome, for spellbinding views over the city.
The striking Renzo Piano-designed museum, which opened in 2021 after years in the making, is the largest in the world to be solely dedicated to the art of making movies. Spread across four floors, it’s filled with cinematic gems, like Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, the painted Mount Rushmore backdrop from the climax of Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, and the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane. Tickets cost around $25, but for an extra $15, you can get your hands on a coveted golden statuette as part of the museum’s fun Oscars Experience simulation.
If you’ve worked up an appetite looking at all that art, stop for lunch at LACMA’s excellent restaurant, Ray’s, where you can dine on fresh salads and French fries on the sun-drenched outdoor patio.
It’s not for nothing that the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is known as the pre-eminent art museum on the West Coast. The sprawling 20-acre compound houses over 100,000 works, ranging from ancient Mayan bowls and Japanese sculptures dating from 3,000 BC to paintings by the likes of Rubens, Cézanne, and Degas. But it’s the contemporary artworks here that you’ll find popping up on everyone’s Instagram feeds, like Jeff Koons’ Balloon Monkey and Chris Burden’s ever-popular installation of restored vintage street lamps, Urban Light. Walk-up tickets are available for around $20, but time slots do sell out so it’s best to book in advance.
A must for visiting families, the kids won’t believe their eyes when they arrive at the Disney castle. The first of the Disney-branded theme parks to be built (the design was led by Walt Disney himself), it may be smaller than its Florida counterpart but it’s just as magical. Located in Anaheim, around an hour’s drive from LA (depending on the city’s infamous traffic), there are two theme parks to explore – Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park – where you’ll get to meet your favorite characters, go on countless rides, and enjoy spectacular parades and firework displays. Standard day passes cost around $100 and it’s best to go on a weekday if you can, to try to avoid the worst of the crowds.
There’s nowhere quite like Venice Beach. Just a short walk along the beachfront promenade from sophisticated Santa Monica and it feels like you’re in a whole new world, one filled with hippy hawkers selling their wares on the side of the road, cool street art, and a distinctly bohemian vibe. Join in with the bodybuilders pumping iron at Muscle Beach and marvel at the kids pulling off daring tricks in the picturesque skate park, which is situated right next to the ocean.
This marble-clad architectural marvel, designed by Richard Meier, looms high above the hills in Brentwood and was built to house oil tycoon J. Paul Getty’s impressive art collection. Highlights include paintings by Gauguin, Titian, and Van Gogh, while there’s also an extensive photography collection, dating back to the 1830s and drawn from all over the world. Once you’ve had your fill of art, spend some time strolling around the sprawling 110-acre site, admiring the beautifully manicured gardens, outdoor sculptures, and fountains. Tickets are free and can be booked either online or at the center itself.
Learning to surf is a quintessential LA experience, and with good reason. The city is home to some of the best surfer spots in the country, and the top of that list has to be Surfrider Beach in Malibu. Thanks to its particularly slow waves, it’s the ideal place to book up lessons and learn how to master your board. There are plenty of local surf schools to choose from, where a two-hour lesson – which costs around $150 – will teach you the basics while providing you with all the equipment you could need.
One for adrenaline junkies and movie lovers, Universal Studios is a heart-thumping theme park and film studio tour all in one. Spend some time getting your thrills on the rides, from Revenge of the Mummy to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Potter fans will love exploring The Wizarding World, which features many of the sets and locations from the films). Then it’s time for the studio tour, where you’ll hop on a trolley and see the Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, as well as having a close encounter with the shark from Jaws. Day tickets will set you back around $100 and it’s best to book them in advance.
Make sure to book a free ticket in advance when you want to visit this contemporary art gallery, or you’ll end up joining the long queue that always snakes around the block to get in. But if you haven’t managed to nab a ticket in time (they can book out weeks in advance), it’s more than worth the wait to explore their extensive collection of works, where featured installations have included Andy Warhol retrospectives, Roy Lichtenstein presentations, and Yayoi Kusama’s immersive Infinity Mirrored Room installation.
The best way to explore the rest of Santa Monica and beyond is by hiring a bike and cycling along the 22-mile South Bay Bicycle Trail, a picturesque coastal path that winds all the way down to Torrance Beach via Venice, Marina del Rey and LA’s Beach Cities of Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo.
Big kids and little kids alike love the charmingly gaudy Santa Monica Pier, which is lined with arcade games, fairground rides, and sweet treats galore. Make sure to take a ride on the Pacific Wheel, which is the world’s first and only solar-powered Ferris wheel. Soaring 185 ft above the Pier, from the top you’re rewarded with stunning panoramic views over the LA coastline and mountains.
While Malibu may be best known for its beaches and surfer lifestyle, it’s also home to one of LA’s most attractive museums. Founded by billionaire industrialist J. Paul Getty, due to his love of ancient history, the Getty Villa is a faithful recreation of a 1st century Roman villa, complete with an impressive collection of treasures from Ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria. It’s also home to a 500-seat open-air amphitheater, where you can watch classical productions brought to life. Tickets are free and you need to book a timed slot in advance, but there’s a fee of around $20 for parking.
As the birthplace of Hollywood, you can’t leave LA without visiting at least one of the big film studios in town. While Paramount and Sony also offer behind-the-scenes tours, our top pick is Warner Bros in Burbank. Here you’ll spend two to three hours exploring one of the busiest working studios in LA, strolling around backlots that you’ll recognize from Back to the Future and Gilmore Girls and stepping into the real-life sets from Friends and The Big Bang Theory. Tickets cost around $60 and it’s worth booking in advance to avoid queues on the day.
A trip to a ball game is always a fun day out, and as the third oldest baseball stadium in America, a visit to the Dodgers Stadium also includes a healthy dose of history. Come to cheer on the LA Dodgers and take in the picturesque surroundings, with the stadium overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains on one side and Downtown’s soaring skyscrapers on the other. If it’s a hot day, make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen as most of the seats are in the sun – the shadiest ones can be found under the roof of the top deck.
While those visiting the iconic Hollywood Boulevard for the first time may be a little surprised by its slightly gritty, grimy appearance, it’s still worth a visit to soak up that inexplicable Hollywood atmosphere. The epicenter of the experience is the Walk of Fame, where anyone who’s anyone in Tinseltown has their own star. Spread across both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, you’ll have fun looking out for your favorite movie legends along the strip, where everyone from Marilyn Monroe and James Dean to Elvis Presley and Kermit the Frog have been immortalized.
This vast municipal park in the east of the city – spread over 4,000 acres of urban wilderness – is one of the largest in the United States. There are numerous nature spots and activities to keep the whole family occupied here, from the excellent Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Griffith Observatory to horseback riding and hiking trails. If you’re not a fan of the heat, it’s best to come early in the morning, before the sun has had a chance to warm up and the crowds have descended.
If you happen to be in LA during the summer months, an open-air concert at the Hollywood Bowl is a must. Since opening in 1922, it’s made a name for itself as the best spot in Southern California for live music and has played host to everyone from Billie Holliday and The Beatles to Adele. With its iconic arched silhouette and spine-tingling atmosphere, a night here is always a magical event. The main season runs from June to September, but there are events outside of those months too, so it’s worth checking the website to see what’s on.
While you’re in the neighborhood, make sure to pay a visit to the Dolby Theater just around the corner, where the Academy Awards are held each year.
Now known as the TLC Chinese Theater, its 1927 opening was one of the most spectacular in motion picture history thanks to the thousands of people that lined Hollywood Boulevard, hoping to catch a glimpse of the movie stars as they arrived. To this day it remains one of the world’s most opulent and ornate cinemas. From its iconic façade – where many of the temple bells, pagodas, and stone statues were imported directly from China – to its lavish red and gold interiors, this is without a doubt one of the most impressive places to catch a movie.
Be warned, if you’re looking to be alone with nature, this isn’t the place for you – due to its popularity, Runyon is usually pretty busy no matter what time of day you come, but weekends get particularly crowded.
Angelenos have hiking down to a fine art, and one of the city’s most popular spots for this beloved outdoor pursuit is Runyon Canyon. Situated in Hollywood on the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains, the 130-acre park offers up a variety of trails to suit every level of exertion, whether you’re looking for a gentle stroll or a steep climb. If you can manage to make it to the top of the park, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views over the cityscape below.
You can drive up to the observatory but it’s much lovelier to arrive by foot, hiking through Griffith Park and taking in the Hollywood Sign on the way.
You don’t have to be a fan of astronomy to enjoy a trip to the Griffith Observatory, an architectural marvel in its own right. You’ll likely recognize the Art Deco gem from the movies, where it’s appeared as a backdrop for numerous Hollywood films. Take a stroll around the exterior of the impressive building, stopping to take in the glorious views over LA’s skyline, before heading inside where you’ll find a wonderful planetarium, free public telescopes, and exhibits that reveal the wonders of the cosmos.
The main draw at this multi-purpose indoor arena in Downtown is the chance to watch the LA Lakers play, particularly while LeBron James remains the star of the basketball team. But it’s also home to the LA Clippers and the LA Sparks, as well as the LA Kings ice hockey team. Coming here where the Kings are playing and the chill is wafting over from the sparkling rink is quite an experience.
There are Free Days held on the first Thursday of every month, where members of the public can access the gardens for free. Tickets are released on the last Thursday of every month at 9am, but you have to be quick as they book up fast.
Situated near Pasadena, to the northeast of the city, this beautiful botanical garden and museum is a great place to go if you’re looking for a peaceful escape from the hectic hustle and bustle of LA. Spread across 130 acres, there are 16 themed gardens to explore. In the Desert Garden, you’ll find 100-year-old cacti and other succulents, while the Jungle Garden is home to tropical orchids, palms, and ferns. Families won’t want to miss the Children’s Garden, where kids can frolic among topiary animals and dance under rainbows. Tickets cost around $25, and reservations are strongly recommended.
Designed by architect C. Howard Crane, the Ace Theater is a true marvel of Spanish Gothic style in Downtown LA, modeled on the Segovia Cathedral in Spain. Stepping inside feels like walking into an ornate grotto, while the ceiling is decorated with an enormous sunburst and an oval dome tiled with mirrors and hung with glittering crystal drops. Such a dazzling setting seems only fitting for the former United Artists Theater, which was once the flagship for Charlie Chaplin’s film studio, United Artists. Today, it’s one of the city’s most popular places to come for concerts, movie premieres, and stand-up comedy.
This historic landmark in Beverly Hills was originally built in 1928 for the son of a prominent oil baron, Edward L. Doheny, and has since become a popular filming location for Hollywood blockbusters. You may well recognize the Tudor Revival mansion from the backdrop of films such as The Big Lebowski and X-Men. While there are no longer site tours on offer inside the house itself, the venue is worth a visit to take a stroll around the lovely ground and gardens, which are free to visit and open every day from around 10 am–6 pm. Meander around the formal English gardens, making sure to stop off to admire the striking centerpiece fountain, before exploring the pool and inner courtyard area.
