There are several attractions and activities to do all year long in Southern California’s huge city of Los Angeles. It has a long history of being well-known abroad in the film and entertainment industries, especially for Hollywood, which for more than a century has attracted aspiring actors and actresses from all over the nation.
Today, LA is known as the creative hub of America and is a metropolis with a diversified cultural population. Some of the greatest things to do in California include the vibrant culinary scene, incredible shopping, outstanding museums, and enjoyable family attractions. A suitcase usually contains shorts and T-shirts for practically any trip due to the year-round moderate to hot temperature and plentiful sunshine.
Visitors who are travelling to the area to enjoy the beaches and warm weather will have enough to do and intriguing areas to explore. Getting around and taking in the sights has never been simpler thanks to recent improvements to the public transportation system and the arrival of a Metro Bike Share in downtown Los Angeles.
Families frequently return to the adjacent Universal Studios and Disneyland, which are important tourist destinations.
Check out our list of the best tourist attractions in Los Angeles to help you organise your sightseeing schedule.
Universal Studios Hollywood, first
The mind-blowing coasters at Universal Studios Theme Park, which is both a functional movie studio and a popular attraction for everyone, are known for being inspired by blockbuster movies. The ever-changing array of rides, which includes everything from roller coasters to simulators, is the main attraction for most people. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Transformers, Jurassic World – The Ride, and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem are some of the most popular attractions and sets based on movies and television shows.
Consider getting a Skip the Line: Front of Line Pass at Universal Studios Hollywood to avoid waiting in lengthy queues. This convenient ticket grants you a single, quick entry to all of the park’s rides, attractions, and shows as well as access to certain attractions’ backstage areas.
When you’ve had your fill of thrills, head over to CityWalk, a three-block entertainment complex featuring shops, restaurants, and theatres. Another choice is to take a studio tour with a guide to see some of Universal’s most well-known movie sets up close. With the VIP Experience, you can see places and sets that aren’t accessible to the general public.
In Universal City, California, at 100 Universal City Plaza
Website of the organisation: www.universalstudioshollywood.com
2. Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
The largest city park in Los Angeles is Griffith Park, which has a total area of 4,210 acres and is located in the eastern portion of the Santa Monica Mountains. It is the location of the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, a Greek theatre, and a planetarium. Additionally, it has hiking paths, tennis facilities, golf courses, and a riding facility built for the 1984 Olympic Games. Additionally, mountain hiking paths and picturesque drives provide vistas of the city and beyond.
One of the most intriguing experience-based attractions in the city is the Griffith Observatory, which is open to everyone and is completely free. There are displays and telescopes on the property. A glance through the Zeiss telescope, which is used to see the moon and planets, is the main attraction. Every evening the facility is open, you can use the telescopes without charge. Solar telescopes for viewing the sun are also on-site.
Griffith J. Griffith, who gave the city the majority of the parkland in 1896 and left money in his will for the construction of the observatory, is honoured with the namesake of both the park and the observatory.
Official website: griffith.htm (www.laparks.org/dos/parks).
Disney World Resort 3.
Disneyland, located just outside of Los Angeles, has been a popular family holiday spot in California since the 1950s. The majority of people envision Disneyland as Disneyland Park, which contains attractions housed in intricately designed theme sets. With seven lands themed after movies, the Disneyland California Adventure Park, which was built during one of the expansions, offers even more action and adventure.
Several rides with a Star Wars theme are relatively new to the scene. The Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars Rise of the Resistance are two of them. The rides are located in the brand-new Star Wars Galaxy Edge neighbourhood, which is brimming with stores and eateries designed to resemble the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu.
The resort provides a broad range of amenities and services for a complete holiday, in addition to the rides and Disney characters that may be seen strolling the streets. The Disneyland Resort offers lodging, dining, shopping, and a variety of entertainment opportunities.
A weekend vacation to Anaheim, home of the Disneyland Resort, is equally worthwhile. From the park, a number of outdoor dining and shopping destinations spread out around the city, including Central City, Anaheim’s famed Central Business District.
The official website is located at Disneyland.Disney.com.
Read more: Anaheim, California, Attractions
Hollywood, 4.
Hollywood, a Los Angeles suburb, is a destination in and of itself, with its own distinctive history and famous locations. Hollywood’s tourist attractions are strongly linked to the movie business and the glitz of the big screen.
Some of the top locations to visit are Hollywood Boulevard, the Chinese Theatre, and the Hollywood sign on the hill. If you’re lucky, you could even run into a few celebrities on Rodeo Drive while they’re out shopping. Finding the stars of all your favourite performers among the more than 2,500 on the Walk of Fame is a fun family activity in Hollywood.
Accommodations: Best Hotels & Areas to Stay in Hollywood
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The Getty Center, no. 5
Richard Meier created the enormous structure known as the Getty Center, which is perched on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains and spans 110 acres and 0.75 square miles. The distinctive structure and the lovely gardens make the ideal backdrop for this magnificent museum. European paintings, drawings, sculptures, decorative arts, and 19th- and 20th-century photography are all included in the collections.
The grounds of the museum offer stunning views of Los Angeles. Reserve a table at The Restaurant to take in the view while eating a light meal.
The J. Paul Getty Museum, founded by the late oil tycoon J. Paul Getty, has two venues, including the Getty Center. Art from the Stone Age through the end of the Roman Empire is covered at the Getty Villa, which is housed in a replica Roman country home.
In Los Angeles, California, at 1200 Getty Center Drive
Website of the organisation: www.getty.edu
Petersen Automotive Museum, number six
The Petersen Automotive Museum has an amazing collection of vehicles that car enthusiasts won’t want to miss. Over 300 vehicles and motorcycles, ranging from wonderfully preserved examples from 1886 to concepts for the twenty-first century, are displayed in a variety of permanent and temporary shows that are spread across four levels.
The museum underwent significant updates and is currently one of the most cutting-edge establishments of its kind. The building’s front façade is an impressive architectural masterpiece. You may join up for a 90- or 120-minute guided Vault tour, which costs extra and offers more information on rare and unique cars.
Additionally, the museum hosts a regular lineup of special exhibitions that include current automobiles as well as potential future models that are both innovative and uncommon. For the most recent information, visit their website.
Location: Los Angeles, California, 6060 Wilshire Boulevard
Website of the organisation: www.petersen.org
Santa Monica, no. 7
With a population that includes everyone from techies and business professionals to surfers, skateboarders, and yoga enthusiasts, Santa Monica is a distinctive location that is both stylish and laid-back. The famed Santa Monica Pier with its iconic Ferris wheel and the lovely stretch of golden sand along the coast are what most visitors come to enjoy, but there are many other things to do in this beachside city near to Los Angeles.
Santa Monica’s downtown area is bustling both during the day and at night. Shoppers have a variety of choices, from unique vintage shops to upscale boutiques. For shopping and people-watching, as well as to see the numerous street entertainers, visit the Third Street Promenade.
Check out the 26-mile bike path along the shoreline for a little exercise. Nearly the whole Santa Monica Bay shoreline is covered by this extensive concrete road that connects all the top beaches in the area. Venice Beach in the south and Will Rogers State Beach in the north are a few of tourist favourites.
The new Expo Metro line, which connects downtown LA to Santa Monica, has made it considerably simpler to go to Santa Monica.
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Top-Rated Attractions & Activities in Santa Monica, California
Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, number eight
The Natural History Museum is well renowned for its collection of dinosaurs, while having a large permanent collection that spans a variety of topics and various galleries. The Tyrannosaurus rex fossil series, known as the growth series, contains three entire skeletons that range in age from a baby to an adult. It is part of the impressive exhibition of dinosaur bones in the 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall. A Stegosaurus and a Triceratops are also on show.
The museum studies the natural history of places worldwide, including California. Another must-see exhibit is Becoming Los Angeles, which examines Southern California’s history over the previous 500 years. Younger visitors will find the Discovery Center and Insect Zoo to be especially engaging because it offers interactive experiences.
Los Angeles address: 900 Exposition Boulevard
Website of official interest: nhm.org
California Science Center, 9.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour and other noteworthy exhibits are housed at the California Science Center, which is free to the public. While the new Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center is being constructed, Mission 26: The Big Endeavour is on exhibit at the Samuel Oschin Pavilion. You may learn all about the space shuttle and the people engaged in the programme, as well as examine relics from space missions.
The Science Center also has other displays on ecosystems, technology, and the natural environment. Live plants, animals, and fish are included in the spectacular 188,000-gallon kelp tank of the Ecosystems display. The California Science Center offers unique exhibits in addition to its ever-changing collection of permanent displays for a wide range of things to view.
In Los Angeles, California, at 700 Exposition Park Drive
California Science Center’s official website is located at
The Broad 10.
The Broad launched in late 2015 to enormous popularity and has remained well-liked ever since. The museum features several massive and striking installations and focuses on contemporary and postwar art. In this unusual structure with a “veil-and-vault” design, there are more than 2,000 works of art on show.
General admission tickets are free, but they are frequently sold out in advance. On the day of entrance, standby tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis, however there will typically be a line to wait in, especially on weekends. Some exceptional exhibitions do charge a price for admission.
Eli and Edythe Broad, longtime collectors of modern and contemporary art, created the museum.
Location: 221 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Website of official interest: www.thebroad.org
The Original Farmers Market, number 11.
The Los Angeles Farmers Market began as a very small venture in 1934 as a result of the hardships brought on by the Great Depression. In order to sell their food directly to customers at the height of the Great Depression, 18 farmers banded together and put up stalls on a piece of vacant land close to Wilshire Boulevard.
The market kept growing as a result of this experiment’s success. It was initially just a fruit and vegetable market, but as time went on, the market expanded to include an increasing number of sellers. Vegetable and other food vendors, restaurants, and speciality businesses can all be found at the market today. From toys and cookware to jewellery and candles, everything is available.
The market offers a range of entertainment, including free summer Friday night concerts, if you’re seeking for things to do at night in Los Angeles.
Location: Los Angeles, California, 6333 West 3rd Street
Website of the organisation: www.farmersmarketla.com
Los Angeles County Museum of Art 12. (LACMA)
With about 130,000 works from from antiquity to the modern era, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art claims to be the largest art museum in the western United States. The exceptional collections of Islamic, Asian, and Latin American art deserve special mention.
The enormous complex is made up of a variety of standalone structures that have been bought and refurbished throughout time. Renzo Piano Building Workshop-designed new structures were added to the western portion of the site as part of the Transformation, the most recent extension. On museum row, the LACMA is next to the La Brea Tar Pits.
In Los Angeles, California, at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard
Visit the official website at www.lacma.org.
Venice Beach 13.
Although the region undoubtedly has its own distinct ambiance, Venice Beach merits its reputation as a destination to see and be seen, making it ideal for people watching. This section of glistening beach and the Venice Beach Boardwalk are constantly crowded with people jogging, rollerblading, walking, and cycling.
Along the sidewalk are eclectic stores and various types of street entertainers. Some of the greatest skateboarders in the area frequent the Skatepark, which is situated right off the beach. There are also several imaginative art projects close by. Members of the gym pump iron at the aptly named Muscle Beach under the sweltering California sun.
You get the impression that you’re walking through a fairground when you see food stands selling everything from funnel cakes and kettle corn to shaved ice. There are also some excellent restaurants in this area. Although not your average family beach, this one is nevertheless worth a trip.
Beverly Hills, 14.
Beverly Hills, which is 5.7 square miles in size and concealed beneath the Santa Monica Mountains, has a boundary with Los Angeles to the west. The world-famous Rodeo Drive is among the upscale streets that may be found inside this constrained area.
The “Golden Triangle” of premium shopping and restaurants is formed in Beverly Hills by the intersection of Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Boulevard, and Wilshire Boulevard. Even without purchasing anything, a trip to this upscale thoroughfare is worthwhile because of the celebrity sightings and opulent cars that line the pavements.
And Beverly Hills offers a lot more activities besides dining and shopping. The city has many gardens, old buildings, and public art all over, making it incredibly walkable. Take a look at some of these elite public places by spending some time in Beverly Gardens Park.