Neighborhoods · Hub guide
Los Angeles Neighborhood Guide: Where to Explore, Eat and Stay
Los Angeles is best understood as a set of neighborhoods and separate cities, each with its own look and pace. This guide introduces the areas visitors ask about most, what they are known for and how to reach them.
Los Angeles neighborhoods at a glance
- Best for first-timers Hollywood, Santa Monica and Downtown
- Best for food Koreatown, the San Gabriel Valley and the Eastside
- Best for beaches Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu and the South Bay
- Best for history El Pueblo, Little Tokyo and Chinatown
- Separate cities inside LA County Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Long Beach and more
- Getting between them Metro rail for many central areas; a car for Malibu and the canyons
In this guide
Many places that visitors think of as Los Angeles are separate cities. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and Long Beach each have their own city governments, parking rules and police. Others, like Hollywood, Venice and Silver Lake, are neighborhoods inside the City of Los Angeles. For a trip, the difference mostly shows up in parking signs and local rules.
Use this page to choose areas to explore, then see where to stay in Los Angeles for hotel advice and getting around Los Angeles for transit.
Central and Hollywood area
Hollywood
The Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre and views of the Hollywood Sign. Busy and touristy, with a lot of nightlife and the B Line subway.
West Hollywood
A small city known for the Sunset Strip, LGBTQ+ nightlife, design shops and restaurants.
Los Feliz
Leafy streets below Griffith Park, with cafes, bookstores and quick access to the observatory.
Koreatown
Dense and lively, with Korean barbecue, karaoke and late-night food. Served by the D Line.
Fairfax and Mid-Wilshire
The Original Farmers Market, The Grove and Museum Row with LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits.
Beverly Hills
Rodeo Drive, upscale hotels and well-kept residential streets.
Downtown and the historic core
Downtown Los Angeles covers several districts. El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Olvera Street mark where the city began, across from Union Station. Little Tokyo has Japanese American history and food. Chinatown, a short walk north, has restaurants, galleries and the annual Golden Dragon Parade. The Arts District has murals, breweries and converted warehouses, and Bunker Hill has The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Eastside
Silver Lake and Echo Park are known for independent shops, coffee, bars and hillside streets. Echo Park Lake, with its lotus beds and paddle boats, is a nice place for a walk. Farther northeast, Highland Park has a busy strip along York Boulevard and Figueroa Street, and Boyle Heights, east of the river, has a long Mexican American history and excellent food.
The Westside and the coast
Santa Monica
The pier, the Third Street Promenade, a walkable downtown and the end of the E Line.
Venice
The boardwalk, Muscle Beach, the canals and Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Culver City
Restaurants, studios and an E Line stop, with the Culver Steps and Ballona Creek bike path nearby.
Malibu
Long stretch of coastline with beaches like Zuma, El Matador and Point Dume. Pacific Coast Highway is open with work zones.
Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beach
The South Bay beach cities, with piers, a long beach path and a more local feel.
Brentwood and Pacific Palisades
Home to the Getty Center and Getty Villa. Parts of the Palisades are still rebuilding after the January 2025 fire.
North and east of the city
Pasadena has Old Pasadena’s walkable streets, the Rose Bowl and the Norton Simon Museum. The Huntington is in neighboring San Marino. The San Gabriel Valley is known for Chinese food. Glendale and Burbank in the San Fernando Valley foothills are close to the studios, and Universal City is home to Universal Studios Hollywood.
Long Beach and the harbor
Long Beach is a separate city at the south end of the A Line. Visit the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary and the shops and restaurants on Second Street in Belmont Shore. San Pedro, to the west, has the port and views of the harbor.
Neighborhoods by interest
| Interest | Where to go |
|---|---|
| Classic sights | Hollywood, Griffith Park, Santa Monica |
| Museums | Downtown, Museum Row, Exposition Park, Brentwood |
| Food | Koreatown, San Gabriel Valley, Boyle Heights, Thai Town |
| Shopping | Beverly Hills, Melrose Ave., Abbot Kinney, Old Pasadena |
| Beaches | Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu, South Bay, Long Beach |
| Nightlife | West Hollywood, Hollywood, Downtown, Silver Lake |
Day trips from Los Angeles
Several popular escapes are within driving distance. Catalina Island is a ferry ride away from Long Beach or San Pedro. Santa Barbara and Ojai are up the coast, and Palm Springs and Joshua Tree are in the desert to the east. Big Bear is a mountain getaway in the San Bernardino Mountains. To the south, Laguna Beach and San Diego make good add-ons; see our sister site San Diego Updates.
Tips for exploring neighborhoods
Exploring tips
- Read the parking signs. Street cleaning, permit zones and time limits differ by city and by block.
- Combine nearby areas. Pair Los Feliz with Griffith Park, or Venice with Santa Monica, to cut down on driving.
- Walk the main streets. Most neighborhoods have one or two walkable strips where shops and restaurants cluster.
- Respect residents. Keep noise down on residential streets and do not block driveways, especially near popular viewpoints.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best neighborhood to visit in Los Angeles?
For a first trip, Hollywood, Santa Monica and Downtown cover the best-known sights. Silver Lake and Koreatown are good for food and local life.
Is Santa Monica part of Los Angeles?
No. Santa Monica is its own city in Los Angeles County, though it borders the City of Los Angeles.
Which Los Angeles neighborhoods are walkable?
Santa Monica, Venice, Old Pasadena, Downtown and parts of Hollywood, Koreatown and Silver Lake are among the most walkable.
What are good day trips from Los Angeles?
Catalina Island, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree, Big Bear, Laguna Beach and San Diego are popular choices.
Where is the historic center of Los Angeles?
El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Olvera Street, across from Union Station in Downtown.
More guides
- Visitors guide
- Attractions and things to do
- Events calendar
- Where to stay
- Restaurants and food
- Nightlife
- Getting around
- Weather by month
- Outdoor activities
- Beaches
- Theme parks
- Family vacation
- Living in Los Angeles
- All Neighborhoods & Day Trips posts
Photo credits
Featured image: Alaiben / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0