30 Los Angeles attractions for tourists and natives alike

The vista from the Griffith Observatory is stunning, particularly at night when the whole of Los Angeles twinkles below you. Inside this hilltop landmark you’ll find a selection of exhibits, including a Foucault pendulum, a Tesla coil and planetarium shows. Give yourself plenty of time before the 10pm closing to line up and gaze through the 12-inch refracting telescope on the roof. Otherwise don’t worry: You can look through the far less crowded modern, reflecting telescopes often set up on the front lawn. Just a heads up that parking now costs about $10 per hour—though you can take a DASH bus up there for only 35 cents with a TAP card.

Timed reservations required on weekends, recommended on weekdays.

Bequeathed by railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington, this splendid library and art collection now makes for one of the most enjoyable attractions in the Los Angeles area. Between the library holdings, the art and the sublime outdoor spaces, there’s easily enough to see at this San Marino space to fill an entire afternoon—indeed, it’s definitely best taken at a leisurely pace rather than any sort of mad dash. From a Gutenberg Bible to an exquisitely landscaped rose garden, pretty much every inch of the estate’s grounds and collection is essential (including newer additions like the renovated tea room and a restored Japanese house).

Operating on the ground floor of the iconic Homer Laughlin Building since 1917, this European-style food hall is a true Los Angeles mainstay. Even if you’re not personally in the market for food, you should definitely still come; people from all corners of L.A. mingle and mix among rows of spices, produce and vintage neon signage. And if you are hungry, then boy have you come to right place: Get yourself some affordable pupusas, carnitas tacos and aguas frescas, or else food from trendy eateries like Sticky Rice, Broad Street Oyster Co., Shiku, Eggslut and Fat + Flour.

The focal point of the iconic Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier is bursting with fun (but crowded) things to do. It includes a very photogenic Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, an aquarium, fairground games, an arcade, restaurants and cotton candy stands. On weekends when the weather’s warm, the stretch is busy with families, beach bums and the gym bunnies who do their public workouts at the original Muscle Beach, just to the south of the pier.

Since first opening at its prime location in the Hollywood Hills way back in 1922, this stunning open-air amphitheatre has been regularly featured on both the big and small screen, and welcomed most major musical acts to its stage. When there isn’t a concert on, members of the public can visit at any time for free. But if you do want to see some live concert action—and really, why wouldn’t you?—we’d strongly advise you to take along a picnic (perhaps one with a bottle of wine or two) when you go to see the LA Philharmonic or one of the many stellar pop acts that drop by on tour.

Timed tickets recommended.

It feels like it’s taken no time at all for Chris Burden’s Urban Light (an outdoor art installation made up of 202 cast-iron street lamps that have been sourced from around L.A. and carefully repaired so they work again) to become one of the city’s most beloved landmarks. But it would be a shame if you only visited the Instagram-friendly installation; step inside and you’ll find LACMA’s collections boast modernist masterpieces, large-scale contemporary works and consistently terrific special exhibitions. Just note that the eastern half of the campus is currently under construction; the David Geffen Galleries are scheduled to open to the public in April 2026.

Originally created in 1923, the sign, which back then said “Hollywoodland,” was an advertisement that was only supposed to be up for a year and a half. Yet here it is, a century later. Actually getting up close and personal to the Hollywood Sign is not as easy as you might think: It’s often a contentious issue, thanks to the objections of local homeowners. On Beachwood Drive, you can catch a dead-on glimpse of the sign, or again farther up the hill close to Lake Hollywood Park. You want to get closer still? You could always go horseback riding at Sunset Ranch, or even lace up for a hike along the dirt road on Mt. Lee Drive—eventually you’ll find yourself standing directly above the Hollywood Sign, with a jaw-dropping 360-degree view of the city.

People the world over know Rodeo Drive from Julia Roberts’s famous shopping spree in the film Pretty Woman. And they’ll probably have learned from the movie not many people can afford to buy from its dazzling array of high-end designers. Window-shopping, then, is the order of the day on this famous Beverly Hills street. Along Two Rodeo—the $200-million faux cobbled walkway—browsing tourists mingle with serious spenders. Just a hop away is Anderton Court, which is the only shopping center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Venice Beach is actually a pretty good beach: The sand is soft, the beach big, with postcard views of the mountainous coastline. However, people-watching is unquestionably the raison d’être here. Expect attention-grabbing street performers along the sort-of-grimy Venice Boardwalk; skateboarders practicing tricks at the skatepark; and pumped-up gym obsessives working out at Muscle Beach. Street parking is usually jammed, but there are several beachside lots. For a completely different side of Venice, take a stroll through the idyllic Venice Canals. 

Book a Segway tour of the beach.

Free timed tickets required.

Three words: Infinity Mirror Rooms. Downtown’s persistently popular contemporary art museum has two of Yayoi Kusama’s immersive, mirror-laden rooms (and you can book a reservation for its most spectacular one in advance now). Elsewhere in the free museum, Eli and Edythe Broad’s collection of 2,000 post-war works includes artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Barbara Kruger, Jeff Koons and Kara Walker.

Reservations required.

The venerable resort is actually comprised of two main parks: the 68-year-old Disneyland Park and the much newer Disney California Adventure, which opened its doors in 2001. Semantics aside, this themed resort is a winner with tourists and locals alike. You’ll find all your favorite characters here—including the recent arrival of the Star Wars-themed Galaxy’s Edge and the Marvel-themed Avengers Campus—along with a clutch of super fun rides and pricey food and drinks. There’s not really a good time to go to avoid the crowds—it’s always busy, especially around Christmas—so you might need a bit of patience to appreciate the magic.

Timed tickets required.

The history of moviemaking finally has a home in Los Angeles with the arrival of the Academy Museum. The collection includes the sorts of cinematic treasures you’d expect from the people who put on the Oscars (and yes, you can hold one of the statuettes yourself): Marlon Brando’s prosthetic jaw from The Godfather, C-3PO and the sole surviving shark from Jaws, among many others. Check out our full guide to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.

The $274-million crown jewel of the Music Center, Disney Hall opened back in 2003 to wild acclaim. Now 20 years on, the novelty hasn’t worn off: Inside and out, this is a terrific venue. Designed by Frank Gehry, the hall is the home of the LA Philharmonic and the LA Master Chorale, but the schedule is surprisingly varied throughout the year. The complex also includes the 250-seat Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater, a restaurant and a rooftop garden.

Putting in the extra miles for your beach trip is well worth it: You’ll be rewarded with a clean, wide patch of sand and surf at Zuma. This Malibu beach can hold crowds, with plenty of on-site parking (pay at the lot or for free along PCH) and lifeguards on duty. It’s a popular spot on weekends and holidays for both locals and destination beach-goers. Visiting surfers can catch some waves at this sandy beach break, however the waves tend to close out, making this a perfect spot for boogie boarders and body surfers. While you’re out here, head over to nearby Point Dume for idyllic hiking and repelling on its iconic rock face.

Although the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood’s hillside theme park don’t have Disneyland’s old-time charm or the sheer terror inspired by Six Flags Magic Mountain’s coasters, the resort nonetheless offers some very respectable thrills and spills and an illusion of Hollywood glamour as it brings various blockbusters to life. And there are definitely some real standouts: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter remains a magical experience, and in the lower lot, Jurassic World: The Ride breathes some new life into a dinosaur-filled classic, and recent addition Super Nintendo World is an immersive, colorful delight. 

Yes, you have to fight through massive crowds, suspect superheroes and never-ending gift shops, tattoo parlors and lingerie stores to actually get to it. But there’s genuinely a lot of old Hollywood history and glamour to discover along the Walk of Fame. The veritable constellation of names immortalized on those famous five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars run from the Walk’s western end at the Hollywood and La Brea Gateway right up the Pantages Theatre at Gower, and additionally on Vine from the Capitol Records Building down to Sunset, near where the original movie studios sprang up a century ago. While you’re here, you probably owe yourself a pilgrimage to the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. Or why not give yourself a break from the commotion and duck inside an actual movie palace, like the newly renovated Egyptian Theatre, or grab a drink at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt.

It’s very easy to forget you’re in Los Angeles when venturing through Griffith Park. Where else could you encounter canyons, caves and coyotes in the middle of a city, as you get lost in the mix of native chaparral and landscaped paths? The formidable Griffith is a point of pride for L.A. natives, a park to rival all others. Its 4,310 rugged acres feature hikes and trails, museums, a zoo, a carousel, picnic areas, the Greek Theatre…and even a bit of haunted history.

Originally built in 1909 for David B. Gamble, one of the heirs of the Procter & Gamble fortune, this elegant house remains one of the best examples of both the Arts and Crafts movement and Charles and Henry Greene’s masterful handiwork. Now open to the public as a National Historic Landmark, the Gamble House offers exceptional programming, with tours that focus on things like the art of glass or the details and joinery in the house.

Site of both past and future Olympic Games (in 2028, the Memorial Coliseum will become the first venue to host the opening ceremony and track and field events in three Olympics), Exposition Park still stands as one of L.A.’s most significant institutions. You’ll find green spaces scattered around the USC-adjacent property, but the most charming section resides in the fragrant Rose Garden. If you’re up for the museum shuffle, scope out the California African American Museum and kid-friendly California Science Center (both free), as well as the excellent Natural History Museum. (The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will join the array of institutions in 2026.)

The very term “L.A. mall” might seem synonymous with bland, air-conditioned structures that you probably have no real desire to seek out as a shopping destination. But this upscale open-air center is no ordinary mall. There are only around 50 retailers, but the selection is strong (Apple, Nordstrom, lululemon, Ray-Ban), and there’s also a decent movie theater, a dancing fountain and restaurants including a new location of steakhouse American Beauty. Do make sure to head next door to the Original Farmers Market, which has hosted mom-and-pop eateries and vendors since the ’30s.

Oil heiress and philanthropist Aline Barnsdall purchased this charming little hill shortly after the First World War, and—as wealthy people did back then—engaged Frank Lloyd Wright to build her some buildings at its summit. The though full intended complex was never actually completed, the handsome Hollyhock House was. A century later, the site still hosts exhibitions in a variety of different gallery spaces, as well as tours of Wright’s structure (now the city’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site). In the summer, the park typically hosts a variety of alfresco cinema nights, wine tastings and cultural events.

The outdoor pits are free to visit. Advance tickets for the indoor museum recommended.

Back in 1875, a group of amateur paleontologists discovered animal remains in the tar pits at Rancho La Brea, which bubbled with asphalt from a petroleum lake under what is now Hancock Park. And they never really left: A century and a half later, paleontologists (professionals now) are still working away here, having extracted many millions of fossils from the mire in the intervening years. A lot of these specimens can still be seen: They’re on display in the delightfully old-fashioned La Brea Museum. Outside, the pits still bubble with black goo—and it is absolutely free to watch paleontologists work in the excavation of Pit 91, toiling away at the fossils waiting to be found as part of Project 23.

Visit more Los Angeles attractions.

While it’s very much still a fine place to see a film, that’s not why most people come to the Chinese Theatre. The throngs are out for the hand and/or foot imprints of around 200 major Hollywood stars. If you actually are seeing a movie there, then just barge through the crowds: The courtyard tends to be choked with snap-happy tourists measuring their own extremities against the likes of John Wayne and Judy Garland. It really is worth catching a flick inside, though, since the auditorium is as stunning as the IMAX screen’s projection quality.

Italian-born tilesetter Simon Rodia lived in Watts for three decades, moving to the neighborhood when it was already ethnically mixed. By the time he left, it had become predominantly Black and Latino, widely seen as the heart of L.A.’s African American community. He left behind a remarkable legacy, having constructed Watts’ one truly iconic building: an extraordinary piece of folk art that Rodia made from nothing but found objects (salvaged metal rods, cast-off pipe structures, broken bed frames) and, as it grew upward, steel and cement to prevent interference from both neighbors and the authorities.

Running down Third Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado Avenue, the four-block pedestrianized stretch that makes up Third Street Promenade is a pleasant (but sort of bland) parade of mostly familiar brand names (with more noticeably vacant storefronts in recent years). So why are we recommending it? Well, while the restaurants are ordinary, the Wednesday-morning farmers’ market is legendary—well worth a visit if you can possibly make it. At the Promenade’s southern end is the Santa Monica Place shopping center (which is set to welcome its own Din Tai Fung location).

Speak the secret phrase to the owl sculpture in the lobby of this private club (we’re serious here), and the rest—well, we don’t want to ruin the surprises in store for visitors at this magical institution. The mansion that houses the Magic Castle is over a century old, but since 1963 it’s been the home of the Academy of Magical Arts, an exclusive organization made up of roughly 2,500 American magicians. Sorry to be cryptic, but if you can bag yourself an invite, you’re guaranteed to have a night you’ll never forget. If you can’t find a member of the Academy to tag along with, you can stay at the adjacent Magic Castle Hotel for access.

If you like to have some laughs on the town, then boy is L.A. the right place for you. On any given night, you can see a great show in one of the city’s many superlative comedy clubs. Even better, on most nights you’ll be able to track down at least one famous face testing out some new material. Whatever your taste, there’s a club for it: big-name stand-ups at the Laugh Factory, TV comics at the Comedy Store, future SNL stars at the Groundlings Theatre, unexpected drop-ins at the Improv, and thriving alt comedy at Largo, Dynasty Typewriter, the Elysian and Permanent Records Roadhouse.

Get an up-close glimpse at the industry that made this town’s name with a peek into the sets and soundstages of L.A.’s many movie studios. Take a walk through cinema history at Sony Pictures Studios—the former MGM backlot—that’s housed productions from The Wizard of Oz to Breaking Bad. Or, if you’d prefer a more leisurely look, take a tram ride through the expansive faux city streets and soundstages of the Warner Bros. and Paramount studio lots.

Temporarily closed; reopens January 28. Free timed tickets required.

What we now call the Getty Villa (which is also worth a visit, once it reopens after the Palisades Fire) was the decades-long Pacific Palisades home for the J. Paul Getty Trust’s huge art collection. But that all changed in 1997, when the Getty Center opened in Brentwood. It’s a truly distinctive building, a remarkable complex of travertine and white metal-clad pavilions. Inside you’ll find ornate French furniture, famous Impressionist pieces and a series of rotating exhibitions. It’s not exactly the most accessible of locations, but when you get there it’s more than compensated for by the astonishing views, which run from the hills and ocean in the west all the way across to Downtown in the east.

Note: Runyon Canyon is closed until further notice due to damage caused by the Sunset Fire.

Buff trainers, sweaty locals and the odd celebrity can be spotted at Runyon Canyon, the only L.A. hike that can truly be said to have its own scene going. The main loop of the bevy of hiking trails in this 160-acre park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains can get pretty crowded during peak hours (that is to say mornings and weekends). But brave the workout traffic—or simply come at a quieter time of day—and you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views of the city. If you’re after the panoramic vista but are absolutely determined to avoid exercise, skip the main entrance on Fuller Avenue in Hollywood and instead try the higher-elevation northern gate off the 7300 block of Mulholland Drive.