6 Best things to do in Los Angeles + useful travel tips
Los Angeles, often simply called L.A., is the largest city in California and the second-largest city in the United States. With around 3.8 million residents and an enormous metropolitan area, there's plenty to see and do.
We had high expectations for Los Angeles. The city lived up to some of them, although we quickly discovered that your experience can vary quite a bit depending on which part of the city you're visiting. Los Angeles has neighbourhoods that feel very different from one another, and some areas have visible homelessness and drug use. We therefore recommend doing a little research before deciding where to stay and which areas you want to visit.
That being said, Los Angeles is an incredibly diverse city and a fun place to spend a few days. From Hollywood and beautiful viewpoints to beaches and theme parks, there's a huge variety of things to do.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is an incredibly spread-out city, and many of its main attractions are quite far apart. We therefore recommend spending at least three to four days in Los Angeles. This gives you enough time to visit places such as Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and Santa Monica without having to spend your entire trip rushing from one side of the city to the other.
If you also want to spend a full day at Disneyland or Universal Studios, we'd recommend staying for four to five days instead.
What is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is a great destination to visit throughout most of the year. Summers are generally warm and dry, while temperatures remain relatively mild during winter.
For a city trip, we particularly like spring and autumn, when temperatures are usually comfortable enough to spend plenty of time outside exploring. July and August can get quite hot, especially if you're planning outdoor activities such as hiking to the Hollywood Sign. If you're visiting during the warmer months, try to plan hikes for earlier in the morning and bring plenty of water. Also keep in mind that temperatures can vary considerably depending on where you are in Los Angeles. Areas along the coast, such as Santa Monica, can be noticeably cooler than places further inland.
Where to stay in Los Angeles
Choosing where to stay in Los Angeles depends largely on what you want to do during your visit. The city is so spread out that there isn't really one perfect central location for every attraction. If you want to stay near the beach, Santa Monica is a great option. This was one of our favourite parts of Los Angeles, thanks to its relaxed atmosphere, restaurants, shops and, of course, the beach. West Hollywood can be another convenient base if you want to explore several different parts of the city.
When choosing your hotel, don't just look at the price. Location can make a huge difference in Los Angeles. Saving money on a hotel on the other side of the city might mean spending much more time sitting in traffic every day.
Do you need a car in Los Angeles?
Although Los Angeles does have public transport, we found renting a car by far the easiest way to explore the city. Attractions such as Santa Monica, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood and Anaheim are spread across a large area, so having your own car gives you much more freedom. The downside is LA's famous traffic. During the morning and evening rush hours in particular, journey times can increase considerably. It's also worth checking parking costs before booking your accommodation. Hotels in popular areas of Los Angeles can charge quite a lot for parking, which can quickly add to the cost of your trip.
What are the best things to do in Los Angeles?
There are countless attractions in and around Los Angeles, but these were our six favourite things to do during our visit.
Visit Griffith Observatory
One of our favourite places in Los Angeles was Griffith Observatory. This famous observatory and planetarium is located in Griffith Park, high above the city. Even if you're not particularly interested in astronomy, it's worth visiting for the views alone. From outside the observatory, you'll have an incredible view over the Los Angeles skyline as well as the famous Hollywood Sign.
The building itself is beautiful too, and the surrounding area is perfect for walking around and taking photos.
There's even more to discover inside. General admission to the observatory building and grounds is free, and you'll find exhibitions about stars, planets and the universe. It's both interesting and educational — and a great place to escape the heat on a warm day. It can get busy, so we'd recommend arriving relatively early. Parking near the observatory is limited, and if the closest spaces are full, you may have to park further down and walk uphill.
Hike to the Hollywood Sign
You've probably already spotted the famous Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory, but you can also hike towards it for a closer look. The hike itself isn't necessarily the most exciting trail in Los Angeles, but you'll gain quite a bit of elevation along the way. This can make it challenging on hot days, so make sure you're prepared and bring plenty of water. Starting early in the morning is also a good idea during the warmer months.
There are several hiking routes in the Griffith Park area offering views of the Hollywood Sign, so check which trail best suits the distance and difficulty you're looking for. Since both attractions are located around Griffith Park, you can easily combine your Hollywood Sign hike with a visit to Griffith Observatory.
Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
You don't need to set aside a huge amount of time for the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The famous stars stretch along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, and after you've seen quite a few of them, they admittedly start to look pretty similar. 😉
If you're looking for the stars of specific celebrities, however, you may want to spend a little more time here.
We enjoyed seeing the Walk of Fame because it's such an iconic Los Angeles attraction, but we didn't stay very long. It was extremely busy when we visited, and there was quite a lot of visible homelessness in the surrounding area, which made the atmosphere less enjoyable for us than we had expected. Still, if it's your first time in Los Angeles, it's one of those famous Hollywood sights that's fun to have seen at least once.
Go to a sports game
If you're travelling in the United States, we'd definitely recommend going to a sports game at least once. Depending on the season, you could watch basketball, baseball, American football, ice hockey or soccer.
We went to a soccer match ourselves, and even though soccer isn't traditionally the first sport you associate with the United States, the atmosphere still felt very American. Think halftime entertainment, kiss cams and a stadium full of enthusiastic fans. It's much more than just watching a game and feels like a complete evening out, which is exactly what makes attending a sporting event in the US so much fun.
Visit Santa Monica & Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica was one of our favourite places in Los Angeles. The atmosphere here is much more relaxed, and you'll find plenty of shops, restaurants and bars to explore. Santa Monica Beach is wide and perfect for spending a few hours relaxing in the sun. You'll see lots of people exercising along the beachfront, but it's just as nice to find a spot on the sand and enjoy the ocean.
Of course, you should also visit the famous Santa Monica Pier. You can walk onto the pier for free, where you'll find food stalls, street performers and restaurants. At the end of the pier is Pacific Park, a small amusement park with several rides, including its famous Ferris wheel overlooking the Pacific Ocean. You don't need a general admission ticket for Pacific Park; instead, you can pay for individual rides.
Visit Disneyland in Anaheim
Disneyland in Anaheim, just outside Los Angeles, is the original Disney theme park and first opened in 1955. If you're a Disney fan or simply love theme parks, it's definitely worth setting aside a full day for Disneyland. The Disneyland Resort actually consists of two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland Park is the original park and home to many of the classic Disney attractions.
It's easy to spend an entire day here, so arrive early if you want to make the most of your visit. And if there's an evening fireworks show scheduled during your visit, don't leave too early. It's a magical way to finish the day.
Disneyland isn't the only theme park in the Los Angeles area either. You can also visit Universal Studios Hollywood, while Six Flags Magic Mountain is another option for anyone looking for bigger roller coasters and thrill rides.
