Los Angeles is a city that defies easy description. Spread across a vast basin surrounded by mountains and the Pacific Ocean, LA is actually a collection of dozens of distinct neighborhoods and communities, each with its own identity.
From the glamour of Hollywood to the laid-back beach towns, from world-class museums to incredible street food, Los Angeles offers an endless array of experiences. When I first visited, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of the city—it’s not a place you can see in a weekend.
But with some planning, you can experience the very best that the City of Angels has to offer. Here’s my complete guide to the best things to do in Los Angeles.
Experience Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame
Hollywood Boulevard is where movie magic comes to life, and even as a skeptic of tourist attractions, I found myself swept up in the excitement. The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 15 blocks along Hollywood Boulevard, with over 2,700 stars embedded in the sidewalk honoring everyone from classic film stars to modern musicians.
I spent a fun afternoon finding my favorite celebrities’ stars and taking photos. The TCL Chinese Theatre is another must-see, with its famous forecourt containing the handprints, footprints, and autographs of Hollywood legends. The Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are held annually, offers behind-the-scenes tours.
For the best view of the Hollywood Sign, head to Griffith Observatory or take the short hike from Lake Hollywood Park. The sign is more impressive in person than I expected, and seeing it up close felt like a genuine Hollywood moment.
Explore Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory is one of my favorite places in all of Los Angeles. Perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, this iconic art-deco building offers absolutely spectacular views of the Los Angeles Basin, the Pacific Ocean, and the Hollywood Sign.
The observatory itself is fascinating, with free public telescopes, engaging exhibits about astronomy and space science, and a planetarium that offers immersive shows throughout the day. I arrived just before sunset and watched as the city lights began to twinkle on below—it was a truly magical experience.
Griffith Park, which surrounds the observatory, is one of the largest urban parks in North America, with over 50 miles of hiking trails. I hiked to the Hollywood Sign from the park, which took about two hours round trip and offered incredible views along the way.
The park also houses the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the Greek Theatre, an outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts in summer.
Visit World-Famous Beaches
LA’s coastline stretches for 75 miles, offering a diverse range of beach experiences. Santa Monica Beach and Pier is the classic California beach experience—soft sand, a historic wooden pier with an amusement park, street musicians, and spectacular sunsets over the Pacific.
I rode the solar-powered Ferris wheel and enjoyed fish and chips at one of the pier restaurants. Venice Beach is a completely different experience—it’s eccentric, creative, and full of character.
The Venice Beach Boardwalk is a non-stop carnival of street performers, skate dancers, bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, and eclectic shops selling everything from crystals to vintage clothing. For a more peaceful beach day, head to Malibu, where you’ll find stunning coves like Zuma Beach and the dramatic sea caves at El Matador State Beach.
The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Monica and Malibu is one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world.
Tour Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is both a world-class theme park and a working movie studio, and it offers a uniquely immersive entertainment experience. The signature Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of famous movies and TV shows, with incredible sets, 3D simulations, and behind-the-scenes insights into filmmaking.
I was particularly impressed by the King Kong 360 3D and the Fast & Furious segments. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is spectacularly detailed, from the cobblestone streets of Hogsmeade to the incredibly realistic Hogwarts castle. The rides, including Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, are world-class.
I also enjoyed the Jurassic World ride and The Secret Life of Pets ride. The CityWalk entertainment complex outside the park has excellent restaurants, shops, and live music venues that are worth exploring even without park admission.
Discover Art and Culture at LACMA and The Getty
Los Angeles has an incredible arts and culture scene that rivals any city in the world. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on Wilshire Boulevard is the largest art museum in the western United States, with over 150,000 works spanning from ancient times to the present.
Its Urban Light installation, a forest of 202 restored cast-iron street lamps, has become one of Los Angeles’s most iconic and Instagrammed landmarks. Admission to LACMA is free after 3 PM for Los Angeles County residents. The Getty Center in Brentwood is equally impressive, featuring an incredible collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
The architecture of the campus itself, designed by Richard Meier, is stunning, with white travertine buildings set on a hilltop with panoramic views of the city. The gardens are beautiful, and the central garden with its azalea maze is a work of art in itself.
Admission to the Getty is completely free—you only pay for parking.
Explore Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles, known as DTLA, has undergone a remarkable revitalization in recent years. The Arts District is a vibrant neighborhood filled with colorful murals, contemporary art galleries, trendy coffee shops, and some of the city’s best restaurants.
Grand Central Market is a historic food hall that has been serving Angelenos since 1917, offering everything from traditional Mexican tacos to artisanal ice cream.
The Broad Museum is a stunning contemporary art museum with a distinctive honeycomb-like exterior and an impressive collection including works by Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, and Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room—one of the most popular photo spots in the city.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by the legendary architect Frank Gehry, is an architectural masterpiece with its sweeping stainless steel curves. I took a guided tour of the hall and learned about its innovative acoustic design.
The Last Bookstore is a quirky, multi-level bookstore with art installations and a tunnel made of books that has become an Instagram sensation.
Enjoy the Food Scene
Los Angeles is a food lover’s paradise, with culinary influences from around the world. The city’s diversity is reflected in its incredible restaurant scene. I explored Koreatown and enjoyed an amazing Korean BBQ experience with banchan (side dishes) that kept coming.
The taco trucks in Boyle Heights serve some of the best tacos I’ve ever had—simple, authentic, and incredibly flavorful. Little Tokyo offers outstanding sushi and Japanese comfort food. For a classic LA experience, I ordered In-N-Out Burger Animal Style (the secret menu items are a must-try) and a Pastrami Sandwich from the legendary Langer’s Delicatessen.
The city’s farmers markets, particularly the Santa Monica Farmers Market and the Original Farmers Market at Third and Fairfax, offer incredible fresh produce and prepared foods. For fine dining, LA has numerous Michelin-starred restaurants including Bestia, Bavel, and Providence.
Explore Beyond the Basics
Beyond the famous attractions, LA has countless hidden gems worth discovering. The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino offers 130 acres of stunning themed gardens, a world-class art collection, and rare books including a Gutenberg Bible.
The Bradbury Building in DTLA is one of the city’s most beautiful architectural interiors, famous for its stunning atrium with wrought-iron railings and open-cage elevators. Runyon Canyon offers a popular hiking trail with incredible views of the Hollywood Hills and downtown skyline.
The Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, a beautifully restored 1920s carousel, is a charming throwback to a simpler time. For a unique experience, visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology, a quirky and fascinating museum that defies easy description.
The more time you spend in LA, the more you realize that its best experiences are often off the beaten path.
One of the best things about Los Angeles is its incredible diversity of experiences. In one day, you can hike in the mountains, relax on the beach, explore a world-class museum, and enjoy dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
The weather is another huge plus—Los Angeles enjoys sunshine more than 300 days a year, making outdoor activities possible year-round. LA has an amazing live music scene, from intimate clubs on Sunset Boulevard to the Hollywood Bowl, a stunning outdoor amphitheater nestled in the Hollywood Hills.
For families, Disneyland in nearby Anaheim and Universal Studios Hollywood are world-class destinations. For a unique shopping experience, browse the stalls at the Rose Bowl Flea Market, held on the second Sunday of each month and one of the largest flea markets in the world.
The city’s diversity is its greatest strength, offering a window into countless cultures through its food, art, and communities. From the fashionable boutiques of Beverly Hills to the eclectic shops of Silver Lake, from the historic theaters of downtown to the beachfront cafes of Venice, Los Angeles is a city of endless discovery.
It may be sprawling and sometimes frustrating, but it’s endlessly fascinating and full of surprises that reward those who take the time to explore beyond the obvious attractions.
One of the most underrated aspects of Los Angeles is its proximity to incredible natural wonders. Within a two-hour drive, you can reach the stunning Channel Islands National Park, the mountains of the Angeles National Forest, the desert landscapes of Joshua Tree National Park, and the beautiful beaches of Orange County.
The drive along the Pacific Coast Highway from LA to San Diego is one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world. Closer to the city, Topanga State Park offers beautiful hiking trails through Santa Monica Mountains with views of both the ocean and the city.
Runyon Canyon is the most popular hiking spot, where locals go to exercise and enjoy spectacular views. For a unique experience, visit the Gamble House in Pasadena, a masterpiece of American Arts and Crafts architecture. The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino offers 130 acres of themed gardens that transport you around the world.
The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena has an impressive collection of European art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Los Angeles rewards those who look beyond the Hollywood clichés and discover the authentic, creative, and surprisingly natural city that lies beneath the surface.
For sports fans, Los Angeles is home to some of the most iconic venues in the world. Dodger Stadium is a classic baseball experience with incredible views of the downtown skyline from the upper decks. The newly built SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is a technological marvel hosting the NFL’s Rams and Chargers.
Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) is home to the Lakers and Clippers. For a truly unique LA experience, attend a screening at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, where many movies have had their world premieres.
The Hollywood Bowl hosts the LA Philharmonic during summer months, offering outdoor concerts under the stars that range from classical to jazz to pop. For film buffs, studio tours at Warner Bros., Paramount, and Sony Pictures offer behind-the-scenes looks at movie and television production.
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which opened in 2021, is a comprehensive celebration of film history and craft. And for a taste of old Hollywood glamour, the restaurants and bars of Beverly Hills, including the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, offer a glimpse into a more elegant era of celebrity culture.
Los Angeles is a city that invites you to create your own adventure. Whether you are seeking Hollywood glamour, artistic inspiration, outdoor adventure, culinary excellence, or simply a beautiful place to relax in the sun, you will find it here.
The city sprawls across a vast basin, but within that sprawl lies an incredible diversity of experiences waiting to be discovered.
From the star-studded sidewalks of Hollywood to the peaceful gardens of the Huntington, from the pounding surf of Malibu to the quiet trails of Griffith Park, Los Angeles offers something for every type of traveler.
The key to enjoying LA is to embrace its decentralized nature—instead of trying to see everything, pick two or three neighborhoods or attractions each day and explore them thoroughly. This approach allows you to experience the city more authentically and reduces the stress of traffic and navigation.
LA may not be the easiest city to visit, but it is one of the most rewarding for those who take the time to understand its rhythms and discover its hidden treasures.
