Plan your trip to Los Angeles, California — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.
Top things to do in Los Angeles
Griffith Observatory. Perched on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, this Art Deco landmark offers free entry to its telescope, Foucault pendulum, and dazzling city views. On clear nights the terrace delivers one of the most cinematic vantage points in all of California.
LACMA David Geffen Galleries. Opened in May 2026, Peter Zumthor's 100,000-square-foot glass-and-concrete building stretches 900 feet across Wilshire Boulevard on the Miracle Mile, housing LACMA's encyclopedic permanent collection across 26 single-level galleries. Advance timed-entry tickets are strongly recommended as walk-up slots sell out…
Getty Center. Sitting atop a Brentwood hill, the Getty combines free-admission world-class art — from Rembrandt to Van Gogh — with Richard Meier's travertine architecture and Robert Irwin's spectacular Central Garden. Ride the tram up, linger over views of the city and the Pacific, then wander canyon-framed terraces lined with…
Venice Beach Boardwalk & Abbot Kinney Boulevard. The two-mile Ocean Front Walk draws tens of millions of visitors annually with its street performers, Muscle Beach weightlifters, skate park, and carnival energy. A short stroll inland, Abbot Kinney Boulevard trades boardwalk bustle for boutique restaurants, art galleries, and the kind of effortlessly cool Venice…
Walt Disney Concert Hall. Frank Gehry's undulating stainless-steel landmark in downtown's Grand Avenue Cultural District is both an acoustic masterpiece and a sculptural icon. Free self-guided audio tours narrated by John Lithgow let visitors roam the interior and roof garden even without concert tickets.
Grand Central Market. A downtown landmark since 1917, this 30,000-square-foot market on Broadway brings together more than 40 vendors spanning every corner of the globe — from Guatemalan pupusas and Michelin-starred Holbox tacos to craft oyster bars. It anchors a revitalized Historic Broadway corridor and is steps from the Metro.
Hollywood Walk of Fame & Hollywood Boulevard. More than 2,700 brass stars embedded in terrazzo sidewalks honor entertainment's legends along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The surrounding corridor packs in the TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre (home of the Oscars), and the iconic Hollywood Sign visible from multiple vantage points in the hills.
Universal Studios Hollywood. A working movie studio and theme park in one, Universal Hollywood is home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, behind-the-scenes Studio Tours, and the newly opened Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. It draws nearly 10 million visitors annually and rewards guests who arrive at rope drop.
Best time to visit Los Angeles
Spring (March–May) or early fall (September–October). Comfortable temperatures (~70–75°F highs), thinner crowds than peak summer, lower hotel rates, and minimal rain. March–May offers ideal beach and hiking weather; fall avoids peak-summer crowds while maintaining warm, dry conditions
Los Angeles weather by month
Month
High (°F)
Low (°F)
Notes
Jan
68
45
mild & mostly dry
Feb
68
46
mild & mostly dry
Mar
71
48
mild & mostly dry
Apr
75
51
warm & sunny
May
78
55
warm & sunny
Jun
83
60
warm & sunny
Jul
89
64
hot & sunny
Aug
90
65
hot & sunny
Sep
88
64
hot & sunny
Oct
82
58
warm & sunny
Nov
75
51
warm & sunny
Dec
66
46
mild & mostly dry
Getting to Los Angeles
Los Angeles is built around the car. Rent one unless you plan to stay within a single walkable neighborhood (Santa Monica or DTLA). Avoid all freeways — especially the 405 — during rush hours (7–10 AM and 4–8 PM weekdays). Use Waze or Google Maps for real-time routing. If driving, read all parking signs carefully: red curb = no stopping, green = time-limited, white/yellow = loading only. LA Metro operates six rail lines, 170+ bus routes, and on-demand shuttles on a single TAP card. As of May 2026 you can also tap any contactless bank card directly at validators. Fare capping means once you spend $5 in a day or $18 in a week, all additional rides are free. The E Line is the most tourist-usefu
LAX Los Angeles International Airport — 30 min drive
BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport — 25 min drive
LGB Long Beach Airport — 35 min drive
Where to stay in Los Angeles
Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.
Santa Monica. The premier beach base in LA: walkable, with its own police force, high-end dining, Third Street Promenade shopping, and direct access to the Santa Monica State Beach and pier. The Metro E Line connects Santa Monica to downtown in about 45 minutes, reducing… Good for: First-time visitors, beach lovers, couples, families, car-free travelers.
West Hollywood (WeHo). Central, walkable, and buzzing with nightlife, restaurants, boutiques, and cultural energy along the Sunset Strip and Santa Monica Boulevard. WeHo sits equidistant from Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and the Westside, making it one of the most strategically… Good for: Nightlife seekers, food-focused travelers, LGBTQ+ visitors, repeat visitors who want central access.
Koreatown (K-Town). A densely packed, 24-hour neighborhood west of Downtown that punches far above its weight in dining, late-night Korean BBQ, jjimjilbang spas, and karaoke. Centrally located between Hollywood and Downtown with Metro B/D Line access at Wilshire/Western and… Good for: Food travelers, budget-conscious visitors, night owls, anyone wanting central location with great transit access.
Venice / Marina del Rey. For visitors who want the full LA beach lifestyle — boardwalk mornings, Abbot Kinney boutique afternoons, and canal walks at sunset — Venice delivers it all in one neighborhood. Marina del Rey next door is quieter, safer, and only 15-20 minutes from LAX,… Good for: Beach vacationers, cyclists, romantic getaways, early-departure travelers near LAX.
Los Feliz / Silver Lake. LA's most authentically local neighborhoods for the visitor who wants to live like an Angeleno rather than a tourist. Los Feliz gates Griffith Park and the Observatory; Silver Lake's hillside staircases, reservoir views, and densely indie Sunset Boulevard… Good for: Repeat visitors, culture seekers, hikers, travelers who want a neighborhood feel over a resort vibe.
Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA). A revitalized urban core anchored by the Grand Avenue Cultural District, Grand Central Market, ROW DTLA Arts District, Little Tokyo, and Chinatown. Home to two-Michelin-starred Kato, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Union Station. The Metro hub of the city… Good for: Culture seekers, foodies, transit-dependent travelers, business visitors, architecture enthusiasts.
Where to eat in Los Angeles
A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.
Local favorites & classics
Gjelina. Venice / Abbot Kinney Boulevard · Californian / Wood-fired — A Venice institution since 2008, Gjelina fills its vine-covered patio morning through midnight with wood-roasted vegetable plates, puffy…
JOEY DTLA. 700 W 7th St Ste S430 · 4.8★ (5,842 reviews)
Bottega Louie. 700 S Grand Ave · 4.5★ (7,795 reviews)
Perch. 448 S Hill St · 4.4★ (7,683 reviews)
Eggslut. 317 S Broadway · 4.4★ (4,741 reviews)
Maccheroni Republic. 332 S Broadway · 4.6★ (3,149 reviews)
République. Miracle Mile / Hancock Park · French / Californian — Chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke converted Charlie Chaplin's 1929 building into an airy all-day brasserie. Margarita's James Beard Award-winning…
Gjusta. Venice · Bakery / Deli — The daytime sibling of Gjelina at 320 Sunset Avenue has been one of LA's most beloved morning destinations since opening — a cavernous, light-filled bakery and deli slinging…
Porto's Bakery and Cafe. 19467 Nordhoff St · 4.7★ (4,647 reviews)
Pitchoun!. 545 S Olive St · 4.5★ (1,894 reviews)
Bliss Bakery. 333 S Alameda St #100 · 4.9★ (940 reviews)
Cafe Dulce (Little Tokyo). 134 Japanese Village Plaza Mall · 4.5★ (1,141 reviews)
Artelice Pâtisserie. 11301 W Olympic Blvd Unit 123 · 4.8★ (690 reviews)
Bread Lounge. 700 S Santa Fe Ave · 4.6★ (785 reviews)
Fine dining & Michelin
Somni. West Hollywood · Spanish / Contemporary Tasting Menu — One of only two three-Michelin-star restaurants in Los Angeles (retained 2026), Chef Aitor Zabala seats just 14 guests for a meticulously…
Providence. Hollywood · Seafood / Contemporary American — Chef Michael Cimarusti's flagship holds three Michelin stars (2025–2026) and a Green Star for sustainability. The tasting menu blends wild-caught…
Holbox. South Los Angeles (Mercado La Paloma) · Coastal Mexican Seafood — A casual Michelin-starred counter inside a community food hall. Chef Gilbert Cetina's aguachiles, ceviches, and…
Kato. Downtown Arts District (ROW DTLA) · Taiwanese-Californian — Elevated to two Michelin stars in 2026, Chef Jonathan Yao's intimate counter explores Taiwanese-American identity through a multi-course…
n/naka. Palms · Japanese / Kaiseki — Chef Niki Nakayama's kaiseki restaurant in a reimagined tea-garden setting is one of the hardest reservations in the country. The multicourse omakase weaves California…
Park's BBQ. Koreatown · Korean Barbecue — Widely regarded as the gold standard of Korean barbecue in the US, Park's has been anchoring Vermont Avenue since 2003 with USDA Prime and Wagyu-style beef grilled…
Osteria Mozza. Hancock Park / Larchmont · Italian — Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali's landmark mozzarella bar and trattoria holds a Michelin star in 2026. The burrata counter and house-made pastas remain…
Grand Central Market — Holbox + Chichen Itza. Downtown · Mexican / Yucatecan — Beyond Michelin-starred Holbox at Mercado La Paloma, Grand Central Market's own Chichen Itza is celebrated for slow-cooked Yucatecan cochinita pibil and poc chuc.…
A 7-Day Los Angeles Plan
Day 1 — Hollywood Icons & History. Start on the Hollywood Walk of Fame along Hollywood Boulevard, taking in the star-studded sidewalks and iconic TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt. Grab breakfast at a nearby café before exploring the Egyptian Theatre. Head to the nearby Griffith Observatory for sweeping views over the…
Day 2 — Downtown Arts & Market Culture. Begin the day at Grand Central Market on Broadway, a landmark 1917 food hall where you can sample breakfast bites from vendors like Eggslut or sticky rice from Sticky Rice. Explore the adjacent Bradbury Building, a stunning Victorian atrium open for public viewing. Walk or…
Day 3 — Venice Vibes & Abbot Kinney Cool. Spend the morning at Venice Beach Boardwalk, watching street performers, skaters at the famous skate park, and bodybuilders at Muscle Beach. Rent a bike and cruise the beachfront path southward toward Santa Monica Pier. Walk a few blocks inland to Abbot Kinney Boulevard,…
Day 4 — World-Class Art on the Hill. Take the tram up to the Getty Center, arriving early to enjoy the galleries before crowds arrive. Spend the morning with the permanent collection — European paintings, decorative arts, and photography — plus the stunning Central Garden. After a leisurely lunch at the Getty's…
Day 5 — Space, Science & Expo Park. Head to Exposition Park and the California Science Center to see Space Shuttle Endeavour up close — one of only four remaining orbiters on public display in the country. Arrive early as timed tickets for Endeavour fill quickly. Explore the adjacent Natural History Museum of Los…
Day 6 — Malibu Coastline & Ocean Glamour. Drive or rideshare up the Pacific Coast Highway to El Matador State Beach in Malibu — arrive early to claim a spot and enjoy the dramatic sea stacks and sea caves at low tide. This is one of Southern California's most photogenic stretches of coast. Continue up PCH to Malibu…
Day 7 — Universal Thrills & Studio Magic. Spend a full day at Universal Studios Hollywood — arrive at opening for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Studio Tour tram ride before lines build. The tram tour alone is an unmissable behind-the-scenes look at active Hollywood sets. Continue through Universal's…
Events & festivals in Los Angeles
Tournament of Roses Parade (Rose Parade) (January 1 (or January 2 if Jan 1 falls on Sunday)). Annual parade along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, CA, featuring flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units. Founded 1890; followed by the Rose Bowl college football game.
Academy Awards (Oscars) (Late February or March (annually)). Held at Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, through 2028; moving to Peacock Theater at LA Live for 2029 onward. 2027 ceremony: March 14; 2028 ceremony: March 5.
Grammy Awards (First Sunday of February (annually)). Held at Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center) in downtown Los Angeles since 2000. The 68th Grammy Awards were held February 1, 2026.
ASICS Los Angeles Marathon (March (annually; 2026 date was March 8)). Annual 26.2-mile race; 2026 edition was the 41st. Route runs from Dodger Stadium to Century City. Adjusted from March 15 to March 8 in 2026 to avoid conflict with the Academy Awards.
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (Two consecutive weekends in April). Held at Empire Polo Club in Indio, CA (Coachella Valley, ~130 miles from LA). Annual since 2001; features rock, pop, indie, hip-hop, EDM, and large-scale art installations.
Los Angeles travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
Spring (March–May) or early fall (September–October).
What are the top things to do in Los Angeles?
Top experiences include Griffith Observatory, LACMA David Geffen Galleries, Getty Center, Venice Beach Boardwalk & Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Which airport is closest to Los Angeles?
Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) is the nearest, about 25 minutes away.
Where should I stay in Los Angeles?
Popular areas to base yourself include Santa Monica, West Hollywood (WeHo), Koreatown (K-Town), Venice / Marina del Rey.