Fun Things to do in Los Angeles
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Los Angeles, often referred to as the City of Angels, is a vibrant and diverse metropolis that offers a plethora of activities and attractions for visitors to explore. One of the must-do experiences in LA is to immerse yourself in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Take a stroll down the Walk of Fame, visit iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Sign, and maybe even catch a glimpse of a celebrity.
For a dose of sun, sand, and sea, head to Santa Monica Pier and Beach. This historic pier, dating back to 1909, offers a range of entertainment options for all ages, from amusement park rides to street performers. Nearby, the eclectic Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals provide a unique atmosphere for people-watching and exploring local art and culture.
For breathtaking panoramic views of the city, make your way to Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park. The observatory not only offers stunning vistas of the mountains, skyline, and ocean but also serves as a hub for astronomy enthusiasts.
Downtown LA is a thriving hub of culture and history. Explore the vibrant Grand Central Market, stroll through the historic Olvera Street, and relax in the green spaces of Grand Park. The area is also home to numerous museums and galleries, offering a rich tapestry of art and heritage.
To catch a live recording of a TV show or be part of a studio audience, consider attending a taping in one of the many studios across the city. For outdoor enthusiasts, LA's year-round pleasant weather makes it ideal for hiking in the scenic hills and canyons within the city limits.
For those looking to save on admission fees, LA boasts a range of free museums and attractions, including The Broad, LACMA, and the La Brea Tar Pits. Additionally, tourist attraction discount passes can help you access multiple sites at a discounted rate.
To stay updated on the latest events and activities in LA, consider following social media accounts such as:
- Instagram: @discoverLA
- Twitter: @VisitCA
- Facebook: @LosAngelesTourismandConventionBoard
For in-depth insights and recommendations on things to do in the city, check out publications like Time Out Los Angeles and LA Weekly.
Whether you're interested in exploring the city's cultural heritage, enjoying outdoor adventures, or simply soaking up the vibrant atmosphere, Los Angeles offers a diverse range of experiences for every visitor to enjoy.
Best time to go
The best times to visit Los Angeles are from March to May and between September and November, when the air is more breathable and the crowds are less oppressive.
What is the hottest month in Los Angeles?
The hottest month of the year in Los Angeles is August, with an average high of 84F and low of 66F. The cool season lasts for 3.9 months, from November 26 to March 23, with an average daily high temperature below 70F.
Fun city facts and activities
- 1. Explore Hollywood
Head to Tinseltown and explore the sights that youve always seen on the silver screen!
2. Visit Santa Monica Pier and Beach
Opened in 1909, the historic Santa Monica Pier has a lot to offer people of all ages! And the beach is always free to enjoy.
Taking a stroll down the pier will lead you through a number of souvenir kiosks, and past a number of restaurants, street performers & musicians on any given day.
3. Walk the Venice Beach Boardwalk and Canals
A short distance from Santa Monica, the Venice Beach Boardwalk provides one of the most eclectic atmospheres and people-watching spots in all of LA.
Peruse the many souvenir kiosks, check out the body-builders at the open-air gym, and see whos grinding the pavement at the skatepark.
4. Enjoy the Views from Griffith Observatory
For some of the absolute best views of the mountains, city skylines, and ocean (on a clear day!) head up to Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park.
5. Enjoy a Self-Guided Tour
Take your time exploring downtown LA with a free, self-guided walking tour.
Our tour will take you past a number of historic and cultural attractions downtown and provides detailed information on each location.
6. Explore Downtown LA
Downtown LA is booming and has so much to offer.
From the historic Grand Central Market to the cultural hub that is Olvera Street and the surrounds, to open green spaces at Grand Park and the teeming streets in the Fashion District, there is something for everyone!
7. Watch a Live Recording!
With so many shows filming in LA, there are a lot of opportunities to be a part of a studio audience - for free!
8. Go Hiking!
With beautiful weather nearly all year round, LA has some excellent hikes that you dont have to leave the city to experience.
9. Visit a Free Museum
Its true that most major museums in LA charge admission but these museums typically have at least one day a month free of charge to all visitors!
Additionally, there are plenty of other museums and attractions that offer free admission every day of the week!
10. Get Free Tickets with a Tourist Attraction Discount Pass
Admittedly, these passes have a cost. However, if you plan well, you will essentially get several tickets to attractions or tours each day for free.
FREE MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS
In addition to all of the great free attractions we list in our top 10 section, there are loads of museums and other attractions you can visit for free at least once a month.
Museums
The Broad
(Free reserved tickets on the first of every month or a daily stand-by line)
The Broad art museum downtown LA features a vast collection of contemporary and pop art.
See pieces from the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Kara Walker among many others.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
(free admission second Tuesday of every month)
LACMA houses an incredible collection of classic and contemporary art that spans multiple millennia. View paintings, sculptures, bronze pieces, photography, and much more!
Museum of Contemporary Art
Grand Avenue & the Geffen Contemporary (free admission on Thursdays from 5 pm - 8 pm)
Focused mostly on American and European art created after 1940, MOCA is a great place for modern and contemporary art enthusiasts.
Within the museums near 6,000 pieces, youll find Roy Lichtenstein, Ellsworth Kelly, Franz Kline, and Elizabeth Murray, among many others.
La Brea Tar Pits
(free admission first Tuesday of every month except July and August; free ticket reservation is encouraged)
Step tens of thousands of years back in time as you explore the natural tar pits on the grounds of the museum (which are always free to see) and cruise through exhibits that feature mammoths, mastodons, and more.
Natural History Museum of LA County
(free admission first Tuesday of every month except July and August)
For anyone who likes to learn more about Natural History, this is an excellent museum.
Exhibits include a dinosaur hall, ancient mammals, gem & minerals, a butterfly pavillion, insect zoo, and a comprehensive exhibit on the history of LA.
Avila Adobe
Located on historic Olvera Street downtown, the Avila Adobe is the oldest existing residence in Los Angeles. Always free, visitors are welcome to walk through the adobe and enjoy its central courtyard.
Free tours of the adobe are offered Monday-Saturday.
Autry Museum of the American West
(free admission second Tuesday of every month)
Focused on the history of the American West, the Autry Museum is located centrally in Griffith Park. It features art, western artifacts, a cowboy gallery, and a variety of temporary exhibits.
Paul Getty Museum
With an art collection that dates back to the Middle Ages, the Getty is one of the best art museums in LA.
Enjoy artwork from classic artists like Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and others.
FREE ATTRACTIONS IN LA
Olvera Street
Located at the birthplace of LA downtown, Olvera Street takes you back to the Hispanic roots of the city and is packed with souvenir kiosks, restaurants, taco stands, and cultural sites.
LA Live
This lively spot next to the Staples Center downtown charges no admission fees and is loaded with restaurants, shops, a movie theatre, and often hosts special events.
Its a nice spot to hang out if you want to watch a sporting event without actually attending it. In the winter it also hosts an ice skating rink!
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
The forever resting place to Hollywood legends like Rudolph Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Jayne Mansfield, and Mel Blanc, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is more than just that.
It also hosts a number of cultural events like movies in the summer and a Day of the Dead celebration in the fall. Its free to enter.
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Another famous cemetery in Glendale that charges no admission fees.
Celebrities buried here include Debbie Reynolds & Carrie Fisher, Paul Walker, Clark Gable, Jean Harlow, and Humphrey Bogart.
Griffith Park
You could easily spend a day in Griffith Park and not see it all!
Enjoy a number of hiking trails, the Griffith Observatory, explore the old zoo, or simply relax in the sunshine. All of these things can be done for free!
FREE THINGS TO DO AT NIGHT IN LA
Below is just a small sampling of things that can be done at night in LA and everything thats listed here charges no admission.
Universal CityWalk
Bursting with entertainment for people of all ages, Universal CityWalk at Universal Studios doesnt charge any admission to enter!
There youll find loads of restaurants and shops, a dueling piano bar, movie theatre, much more!
DTLA Art Walk
Taking place once a month in the historic core of downtown LA, the DTLA Art Walk welcomes visitors to a number of art galleries, studios, and cultural establishments that keep their doors open late.
Sunset Strip
Taking a cruise down the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood at night is an exciting adventure.
This stroll will take you past larger than life billboards and a large assortment of legendary music venues, comedy houses, bars, restaurants, and other institutions that have made their mark on Hollywood.
Hollywood & Highland
This centrally located shopping and dining center in the middle of Hollywood Boulevard offers a number of stores and restaurants as well as frequent special events and an excellent view of the Hollywood Sign from the upper breezeways.
Its a great place to relax with a bite after a day in Hollywood or before seeing a show at one of the nearby theatres!
Tip: For even more ideas on what to do in LA at night, check out our guide here.
Family-Friendly
Los Angeles has a number of free family-friendly activities and attractions to take advantage of!
Some of the items weve listed above, like exploring the Santa Monica Pier, or spending some time at Universal CityWalk, are great for families.
Here are a few more free things to do that are kid-friendly.
Grand Park
Located across from City Hall in DTLA, Grand Park offers families a great place for a respite in between activities.
Look for a childrens playground, Starbucks Coffee Shop, open grassy areas, and water installations.
On the weekends, the park often hosts special events or free entertainment.
KidSpace Museum
(free first Tuesday of each month from 4 pm - 8 pm)
If youre in the Pasadena area, swing over to the KidSpace Museum where you can spend hours letting your childs imagination take the lead!
The museum features a number of outdoor and indoor playing and learning zones and caters to kids up to ten years old.
Tip: For more ideas on how to spend your time in Pasadena, check out our Things to do in Pasadena post.
Hit the Beach
Its not a trip to California without a stop at the beach!
While there are loads of different beaches to choose from in the LA area, some of the most family-friendly beaches include Zuma Beach, Seal Beach, and Marina Beach aka Mothers Beach for its roped off swimming area.
ALMOST FREE THINGS TO DO
Most of the items below charge no admission fee but its hard to enter a food hall or go shopping without purchasing anything!
The below food options are great for people who are on a budget so if youre visiting LA and are conscious of your spending, you might want to consider one of these.
Stroll the Food Stalls at Original Farmers Market
Located adjacent to The Grove shopping complex, the Original Farmers Market offers a large variety of food stalls and small shops to visit.
Enjoy plates that include tacos, empanadas, French crepes, breakfast all day, ice cream. and much more!
Grand Central Market
In the heart of downtown, the historic Grand Central Market has evolved from its many produce stands.
Today, visitors can try ramen, artisan peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, a variety of ethnic cuisines, or sample craft beers and gourmet coffee.
Go Window Shopping (or more!)
There are countless places to shop till you drop in Los Angeles, from high end to flea market finds.
Some of our favorite places to window shop (and make purchases!) include Rodeo Drive, The Grove, Westfield Century City (where LAs Eataly is located), and the wholesaler's heaven that makes up the fashion district in DTLA.
Angels Flight
This historic funicular has been taking commuters up Bunker Hill in downtown LA since 1901.
Now more of a photo opportunity and fun ride, the railway costs just $1.00 per ride or $.50 if you have a Metro card!
Neighborhoods to explore
- Downtown LA
Hollywood
North Hollywood
Wilshire Center - Koreatown
Woodland Hills - Warner Center
Marina Del Rey
Beverly Hills
Culver City
Restaurants
Food Specialties
- After weathering two years of strict dining regulations, L.A. is still host to one of the most innovative, exciting and diverse food scenes in the country. Brick-and-mortar restaurants, Instagram pop-ups, street vendors and food trucks: No matter the form, you can find amazing food in a city whose reputation is built as much on off-the-beaten-path tacos and pop-ups as it is on fine dining-trained chefs making quick work of farmers market produce and mainline access to the top-notch Pacific seafood.
At its core, L.A.s restaurant scene thrives on diversity, resulting in genre-bending formats and cuisines that have given rise to some of the countrys best omakase restaurants, fine dining institutions and strip mall hidden gems. Our experts scour the city for great eats and great insider info. We value fun, flavor, freshnessand value at every price point. We update our list regularly to reflect changes in menu offerings, style of service, new locations and the ever-changing pulse of the citys food scene. If its on the list, we think its awesome and worth the hype, wait and money and we bet you will, too.
Los Angeles Offbeat activities
Free or cheap things to do
1. Take a graffiti tour of the Arts District
2. Explore the hidden tunnels of the Los Angeles River
3. Take a unique food tour of the city
4. Visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology
5. Explore the Old Zoo in Griffith Park
6. Visit the Museum of Death
7. Visit the Museum of Neon Art
8. Take a Hollywood magic show tour
9. Go underground to the Bradbury Building
10. Visit the Museum of Selfies
Fun things to do in with kids
Free or cheap things to do
1. Wildlife Learning Center
Walk around the leafy grounds of this suburban Sylmar sanctuary to see everything from monkeys to foxesand school trips and birthday parties. For hands-on photo ops, request a close encounter with a porcupine, an armadillo, a two-toed sloth or even a giraffe. Make sure to say hi to Zeus, the starry-eyed blind owl in the gift shop.
2. Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Nothing says childhood entertainment quite like a puppet show, and the longest-running marionette theater company in the nation delivers, big-time. Tykes truly delight in watching the marionettes come to life in the darkened theater spaceand afterwards being treated to free ice cream and a backstage tour.
3. Marine Mammal Care Center
This San Pedro rehabilitation center scoops up distressed marine mammals along the coast between Long Beach and Malibu in hopes of reintroducing them to the ocean. Though these stories can be sadsudden blindness, a shark bitethe mood stays light thanks to a cordial crew of volunteers and a comical chorus of sea lion barks. Viewing is restricted to a sidewalk outside the fencesclose enough to see the sweet faces of belly-flopping baby elephant seals.
4. Moonlight Rollerway
This kitschy Glendale rink (its been open since 1950) holds a variety of events, including classes for both kids and adults who are totally new to skating. Regular roller skater? Buy a pair for you or your child at the rinks pro shop.
5. Los Angeles Zoo
The L.A. Zoos greatest asset is its location, a lush oasis tucked into the hills of Griffith Park. Its a pretty popular place, but the zoos size133 acres, plus a huge parking lotmeans that it rarely feels crowded. Kids will love to see the elephants and repitles, as well as to take a ride on the beautifully painted Tom Mankiewicz Conservation Carousel.
6. Shanes Inspiration
As the first universally accessible playground in the Western U.S. and the largest in the nation, this popular playground is a gem. Kids can make like astronauts inside a spaceship, man the controls in an airplane cockpit, access their inner pirates and safely land on the soft, rubberized surface beneath the many slides, swings, monkey bars, zip lines and much, much more.
7. Aquarium of the Pacific
Dedicated as much to education as entertainment, this aquarium more than justifies the drive down to Long Beach. Inevitably, the shark lagoon and its touchable habitat is a standout for kids. Other highlights include the adorable sea otter habitat as well as a low-key exhibition about whales. Much of the rest of the aquarium is divided geographically: loveable sea lions in the Southern California section, all kinds of garish fish in the tropical Pacific area and a variety of exotic creatures in the Gulf of California exhibit.
8. Kidspace Childrens Museum
This popular interactive childrens museum holds a wide variety of exhibits and entertainment, including the kaleidoscope entrance and educational gardens. Pasadenas young uns are lucky to have it on their doorsteps.
9. California Science Center
Permanent exhibit galleries at this kid-friendly Exposition Park museum explore life s