Things to do · Hub guide
Los Angeles Attractions: The Complete Things-to-Do Hub
From the Hollywood Sign to the Getty Center, this hub covers the Los Angeles attractions most visitors ask about, grouped by area so you can plan realistic days. You will find what each place is like, what needs a reservation and which ones are free.
Los Angeles attractions at a glance
- Most visited areas Hollywood, Santa Monica, Downtown and Museum Row
- Free favorites Getty Center, Griffith Observatory grounds, The Broad, beaches and trails
- Book ahead Getty Center and Getty Villa, The Broad, theme parks
- Closed Mondays Getty Center, Griffith Observatory and The Broad
- Getting there Metro B, D and E Lines reach many top sights
- Plan by Area, since crossing town at rush hour takes a long time
In this guide
- Hollywood and Griffith Park
- Museums and art
- The coast
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Studios, sports and shows
- Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley
- Gardens and green spaces
- Shopping and people watching
- Theme parks
- Free things to do in Los Angeles
- How to plan your days
- Tips for visiting Los Angeles attractions
- Frequently asked questions
- More guides
Los Angeles has more attractions than one trip can hold, so this page groups them by area. Pick two or three areas, then plan your days around them. For trip basics, start with our Los Angeles visitors guide, and check the Los Angeles events calendar for what is on during your dates.
Opening days, reservation rules and fees change, so confirm with each attraction’s official site before you go. We link to those sites throughout this guide.
Hollywood and Griffith Park
This is where most first trips start, and the B Line subway makes it easy to reach without a car.
Griffith Observatory
Free entry to the building, grounds and public telescopes, with planetarium shows and parking extra. Closed Mondays. Come before sunset for the view over the basin.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The stars run along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Hollywood/Highland station puts you right on the boulevard.
TCL Chinese Theatre
Famous for the handprints and footprints in the forecourt. Seeing a movie here is a fun way to go inside.
The Hollywood Sign
You can see it from the observatory, Hollywood and Highland and several park viewpoints. Hiking near the sign means following posted rules, since some approaches cross residential streets.
Griffith Park itself is one of the largest city parks in the country, with trails, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Greek Theatre and the Autry Museum. Check our outdoor activities in Los Angeles guide for hikes, including Runyon Canyon, which is open sunrise to sunset with the West Trail closed after the Sunset Fire.
Museums and art
Los Angeles has a strong museum scene, and several of the biggest names are free or partly free.
The Getty Center
Art, architecture, gardens and big views from a hilltop in Brentwood. Admission is free with a timed reservation, parking is paid and cashless, and the museum is closed Mondays. Reserve through the Getty.
The Getty Villa
The Villa in Pacific Palisades focuses on ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan art. It reopened in June 2025 after the Palisades Fire. Entry is free with a timed reservation, and it is closed Tuesdays.
The Broad
Contemporary art in Downtown with free general admission. Reservations are recommended, and it is closed Mondays. Some special exhibitions and the popular Infinity Mirror Rooms can have separate rules, so read The Broad site before you go.
LACMA and Museum Row
LACMA opened the David Geffen Galleries in May 2026, included with general admission. Next door are the La Brea Tar Pits, where you can see fossils dug from the asphalt seeps, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. The new Wilshire/Fairfax station on the D Line is a short walk away.
Natural History Museum and California Science Center
Both are in Exposition Park near USC. The Natural History Museum has a big dinosaur hall, and LA County residents get free entry on weekdays from 3 to 5pm. The California Science Center is home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The E Line stops at Expo Park/USC.
The coast
The beach towns are their own day out. See our Los Angeles beaches guide for swimming, parking and water quality.
Santa Monica Pier
Pacific Park rides, the aquarium under the pier and the end of Route 66. The E Line ends a few blocks away at Downtown Santa Monica.
Venice Boardwalk and canals
Street performers, the skate park and Muscle Beach on the boardwalk, then quiet walking paths along the canals a few blocks inland.
Malibu
El Matador, Zuma and Point Dume are favorites. Pacific Coast Highway is open with work zones, and Caltrans repaving in western Malibu began in October 2026.
Long Beach
The Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary and a walkable waterfront at the end of the A Line.
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown packs a lot into a small area that you can explore on foot and by Metro.
- Grand Central Market: food stalls under one roof since 1917, a good lunch stop.
- Walt Disney Concert Hall: the stainless-steel building is worth seeing even without a ticket, and the rooftop garden is open to walk.
- Union Station and Olvera Street: the 1939 station sits across the street from El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the city’s historic core. See El Pueblo for events.
- Little Tokyo and the Arts District: Japanese American history, shops and food, then murals, breweries and galleries a short walk east.
- Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live: for Lakers, Sparks and Kings games and concerts.
Studios, sports and shows
Studio tours are a classic Los Angeles activity. Universal Studios Hollywood combines a working studio tour with a theme park; Warner Bros. and Paramount run tours on their lots too. Book ahead in busy seasons.
For sports, catch the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium from spring through fall. In summer, a night at the Hollywood Bowl is hard to beat; the season runs June through September.
Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley
Pasadena is a good half day away from the beach crowds. The Huntington in San Marino has a library, art collections and botanical gardens, and it is free on the first Thursday of the month with an advance reservation. Old Pasadena has walkable streets for lunch, and the Rose Bowl hosts a large flea market on its monthly market day. The A Line runs from Union Station through Pasadena and now continues east to Pomona.
Nearby, Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge is known for camellias in late winter and its Enchanted Forest of Light, which runs from November 22, 2026 to January 9, 2027.
Gardens and green spaces
Beyond Griffith Park, Los Angeles has plenty of places to slow down. Echo Park Lake has paddle boats and lotus beds with the skyline behind them. The Getty Center’s Central Garden changes with the seasons. Exposition Park has a large rose garden next to the museums, and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Baldwin Hills has trails with views back toward Downtown.
Shopping and people watching
The Grove and the Original Farmers Market sit side by side in Fairfax. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is for window shopping. Melrose Avenue has vintage stores and street art, and Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice has independent shops and cafes.
Theme parks
Universal Studios Hollywood is the theme park closest to central Los Angeles. Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm are in Orange County, and Six Flags Magic Mountain is in Valencia. Our theme parks near Los Angeles guide covers tickets, timing and getting there.
Free things to do in Los Angeles
Free and low-cost ideas
- Free museums: the Getty Center, Getty Villa and The Broad have free general admission with reservations.
- Free views: Griffith Observatory’s grounds, terraces and public telescopes cost nothing to visit.
- Free days: The Huntington is free on the first Thursday of each month with an advance reservation.
- Beaches and trails: walking the sand from Santa Monica to Venice or hiking in Griffith Park costs nothing beyond parking.
- Markets: Smorgasburg LA on Sundays has free entry, and so does the Hollywood Farmers Market.
How to plan your days
| Area | Top sights | Nearest Metro |
|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre | B Line, Hollywood/Highland |
| Griffith Park | Observatory, zoo, trails | DASH Observatory bus from Vermont/Sunset |
| Museum Row | LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits, Academy Museum | D Line, Wilshire/Fairfax |
| Downtown | The Broad, Grand Central Market, Union Station | A, B, D and E Lines |
| Exposition Park | Natural History Museum, Science Center | E Line, Expo Park/USC |
| Santa Monica | Pier, beach, Third Street Promenade | E Line, Downtown Santa Monica |
Tips for visiting Los Angeles attractions
Before you go
- Check closure days. Several big museums close on Mondays, and the Getty Villa closes on Tuesdays.
- Reserve early for weekends. Free timed tickets still run out.
- Arrive early or late. Griffith Observatory and the beaches are calmer on weekday mornings.
- Use transit for Hollywood and Downtown. Parking is limited and can be expensive.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one attraction in Los Angeles?
There is no single answer, but Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Getty Center and Santa Monica Pier are on most first-time lists.
What can I do in Los Angeles for free?
Visit the Getty Center, the Getty Villa or The Broad with a free reservation, walk the Griffith Observatory grounds, spend a day at the beach or hike in Griffith Park.
Can you visit the Hollywood Sign?
You can see it from Griffith Observatory, Hollywood and Highland and several trails. You cannot touch the sign, and access near it is restricted.
Which Los Angeles museums are closed on Mondays?
The Getty Center, Griffith Observatory and The Broad are closed on Mondays. The Getty Villa closes on Tuesdays.
How do I get to Griffith Observatory without a car?
Take the B Line to Vermont/Sunset and transfer to the DASH Observatory bus, or walk up from the Greek Theatre area if you like a climb.
Is LACMA free?
LACMA charges general admission, which now includes the new David Geffen Galleries. Check the LACMA site for any free days or discounts.
More guides
- Visitors guide
- Events calendar
- Where to stay
- Restaurants and food
- Nightlife
- Neighborhoods
- Getting around
- Weather by month
- Outdoor activities
- Beaches
- Theme parks
- Family vacation
- Living in Los Angeles
- All Things to Do posts
Photo credits
Featured image: Thomas Wolf / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0