Los Angeles is spread out, and the best plan is to group things by area. This list covers the sights we send friends to first: the free museums, the views, the beaches, the food and the big theme parks. We checked hours and prices against each official site in October 2026, and we note where things change often so you can confirm before you go.
In this guide
For the full hub, see our Los Angeles attractions guide. If you only have a few days, our 3-day Los Angeles itinerary turns this list into a route, and our list of free things to do in Los Angeles covers the no-cost picks in more detail.
Los Angeles sights at a glance
- Free big-name stops Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, The Broad, the Hammer Museum, Venice Boardwalk
- Closed Mondays Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, The Broad and the Hammer
- Metro fare $1.75 per ride, capped at $5 a day on TAP or a contactless card
- Busiest times Weekends, summer, school holidays and sunset at viewpoints
- Plan by area Westside and beaches, Hollywood and Griffith Park, Downtown, then Long Beach or Anaheim
Views and landmarks
Griffith Observatory
The observatory sits on Mount Hollywood with views of the Hollywood Sign, Downtown and, on clear days, the ocean. The building and its telescopes are free. It is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 10pm and on weekends from 10am to 10pm, and it is closed Mondays. Parking near the building is paid by credit card, and it fills fast on weekends and at sunset. The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus runs up the hill from the Vermont/Sunset B Line station. Our Griffith Observatory guide has parking and planetarium details.
The Hollywood Sign
You cannot walk up to the letters. The sign is fenced and watched by cameras, and trespassing is illegal. The easy views are from the Hollywood & Highland area and Griffith Observatory. Hikers can get closer on the Mt. Hollywood, Brush Canyon or Cahuenga Peak trails. See our Hollywood Sign guide for each viewpoint.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
More than 2,800 stars line Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Walking it is free. If you want to see a star unveiled, ceremonies are free to watch and are usually announced about 10 days ahead on the official Walk of Fame site. Our Walk of Fame guide covers which blocks to walk and what is nearby.
Museums
The Getty Center
The Getty Center in Brentwood has art, gardens and one of the best views in the city. Entry is free with a timed reservation, and it is closed Mondays. Parking is $25 per car, dropping to $15 after 3pm. A tram carries you from the parking area up the hill. Metro bus 761 stops at the entrance on Sepulveda. Read our Getty Center guide before you book.
The Broad and Downtown’s Grand Avenue
The Broad has free general admission, with timed tickets recommended and walk-up entry available. The Infinity Mirror Room needs its own advance reservation. MOCA on Grand Avenue is also free, and Walt Disney Concert Hall is across the street. Take the A or E Line to Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill.
Museum Row on Wilshire
LACMA, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Petersen Automotive Museum sit within a few blocks of each other on Wilshire Boulevard. LACMA opened its David Geffen Galleries in May 2026. Note that the Wilshire/Fairfax D Line station is closed from October 23 to November 1, 2026. Our best museums in Los Angeles list compares them.
Beaches and the coast
Santa Monica Pier
The pier has been on Ocean Avenue at Colorado since 1909. Walking it is free, and Pacific Park on the pier has a roller coaster and a Ferris wheel. Check the Pacific Park calendar before you go, because the rides do not run every day. The E Line ends at Downtown Santa Monica, about a 10-minute walk away. Our Santa Monica Pier guide covers parking and the bridge construction now under way.
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice is south of the pier, and you can walk or bike there on the beach path. The boardwalk has street performers, the skate park and Muscle Beach, and the canals are a few blocks inland. Read our Venice guide for where to park and when to go.
Malibu
Malibu runs for miles up the coast along Pacific Coast Highway, northwest of Santa Monica. Zuma is wide and sandy, and El Matador has sea stacks and coves reached by stairs. Caltrans is repaving parts of PCH from October 2026, so expect work zones. See our Malibu beaches guide and the full best beaches in Los Angeles list.
Food to plan a day around
Grand Central Market in Downtown has been open since 1917 and is an easy lunch stop near The Broad. Tacos are the city’s everyday food, from trucks to sit-down taquerias, and our best tacos in Los Angeles list has where to start. For dinner, Koreatown has dozens of grill-at-your-table restaurants; see our Korean BBQ guide. On Sundays, Smorgasburg runs from 10am to 4pm at ROW DTLA, and the Hollywood Farmers Market runs from 8am to 1pm.
Theme parks and studios
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are in Anaheim, in Orange County, southeast of Downtown. You need a dated ticket and park reservation. Lightning Lane Multi Pass starts at $35 per ticket per day and varies by date. Our Disneyland guide helps you choose dates.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal is in the hills above Studio City and is the theme park closest to Hollywood. Its new coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, opened on September 16, 2026. Take the B Line to Universal City/Studio City, then the free shuttle or walk up. See our Universal Studios Hollywood guide.
Outdoors
Griffith Park covers more than 4,200 acres and holds the observatory, the LA Zoo, Travel Town and miles of trails. The park is open from 5am to 10:30pm, and trails close at dusk. For other walks, see our best hikes in Los Angeles list. Some trails in the Santa Monica Mountains and around Altadena are still closed after the January 2025 fires, and parks close some areas during red flag warnings, so check before you drive out.
Day trips
Catalina Island is about an hour by boat from San Pedro or Long Beach, with up to 30 Catalina Express departures a day. Avalon is walkable, so you can do it without a car. Our Catalina day trip guide covers ferries and what to do once you land. Long Beach also has the Aquarium of the Pacific, which needs a reservation on weekends and holidays.
Practical tips
Before you go
- Check Monday closures. Several big museums and the observatory close on Mondays.
- Book timed tickets for the Getty, The Broad and the Infinity Mirror Room.
- Use TAP or a contactless card on Metro so the $5 daily cap applies.
- Leave early for the beach on summer weekends. Parking lots fill by late morning.
- Carry a layer. Evenings near the ocean are cool even in summer.
For getting between areas, read our LA Metro guide and our hub on getting around Los Angeles. For weather by season, see the best time to visit Los Angeles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the number one thing to do in Los Angeles?
For a first visit, Griffith Observatory is hard to beat. It is free, it has views of the Hollywood Sign and Downtown, and the exhibits are good. Go on a weekday to avoid the worst of the parking.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
Three days covers Hollywood, a museum or two and a beach. Five or six days lets you add a theme park, Malibu or Catalina without rushing.
Can you see Los Angeles without a car?
Yes, if you plan around the rail lines. The B Line reaches Hollywood and Universal, the E Line reaches Santa Monica and the A Line reaches Long Beach and Pasadena. Malibu and many trailheads are much easier by car.
What is free to do in Los Angeles?
Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, The Broad, the Hammer, MOCA’s Grand Avenue building, the Walk of Fame and every public beach are free to enter. Parking is often the main cost.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
Spring and fall are warm with smaller crowds than summer. August and September are the warmest months for the beach.
Official sources: Griffith Observatory; Getty; The Broad; Santa Monica Pier; Hollywood Walk of Fame; LA Metro; Catalina Express.
Photo credits
Featured image: dconvertini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0