Los Angeles, CA

Travel Guide
Griffith Observatory featuring a city, landscape views and night scenes

Los Angeles Travel Guide Video

Relax on the beaches, be thrilled at the theme parks and experience culture in the museums and art galleries of this sprawling Southern California city.

Relax on the beaches, be thrilled at the theme parks and experience culture in the museums and art galleries of this sprawling Southern California city.

Los Angeles offers amazingly varied casual and cultural appeal. Spend a week enjoying different theme parks or dress up for a Hollywood premiere. Hike in the Hollywood Hills and surf in Pacific waves.

Visit some of the world’s favorite theme parks, including Disneyland® Park, which originally opened its magical kingdom with kids’ rides and exciting roller coasters in Anaheim in 1955. Disney California Adventure® Park offers themed attractions tied to Pixar animated films. Universal Studios Hollywood is both a film studio and a theme park, with The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and other kid-friendly attractions. Find additional thrilling rides at Knott’s Berry Farm® and Six Flags® Magic Mountain.

Downtown Los Angeles has a unique attraction, La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, with reassembled remains from over 650 species and active excavation of Ice Age fossil deposits. Next door, explore the 150,000 works in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

The Getty Center, overlooking the city, displays medieval to contemporary art while the Getty Villa offers a sense of ancient Greece and Rome in a beautiful setting along the Pacific Ocean. For a more modern cultural treat, stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame to find your favorite actor’s star. Bend down to compare your hands to the handprints formed in the sidewalk.

The California Science Center features tours of the actual Endeavour space shuttle, a living kelp forest and a shake table for building and testing earthquake-resistant structures. Near the iconic hillside Hollywood sign is the Griffith Observatory. Study its exhibits and use its telescopes to scan the night skies.

Los Angeles is bordered to the west by an endless stretch of beach with separate named sections. Bodybuilders and skaters line the boardwalk of Venice Beach. Ride the waves at Manhattan Beach or Malibu’s Surfrider Beach. Enjoy the tranquility of Cabrillo Beach. Relax on the sands of Santa Monica Beach and stop at the nearby pier for shopping and refreshments.

Where to stay in Los Angeles

Hollywood featuring a sunset, a city and street scenes

Hollywood

3.5/5(3,891 area reviews)

Discover the heart of the U.S. film industry with nearby studios, stroll along the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, and visit landmarks like the Dolby Theatre and Hollywood sign. Shop at the Hollywood & Highland Center mall and easily navigate via the Metro Rail B Line.

Hollywood
Downtown Los Angeles showing a city

Downtown Los Angeles

4/5(6,555 area reviews)

DTLA's offers a wide variety of shopping options in its many neighborhoods, such as FIGat7th in the Financial District and Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo. Explore sights like Olvera Street and Grand Park, while easily accessing urban rail transit.

Downtown Los Angeles
Aquarium of the Pacific which includes marine life and interior views

Waterfront

While visiting Waterfront, you might make a stop by sights like Aquarium of the Pacific and Pike at Rainbow Harbor.

Waterfront
Beautiful campus of Loyola Marymount University.

Westchester

3.5/5(98 area reviews)

Westchester is a destination travelers like for its shopping, and you might hop aboard the metro at Westchester/Veterans Station or Aviation/Century Station to explore sights like Promenade at Howard Hughes Parkway Center.

Westchester
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Hollywood Hills

4.5/5(15 area reviews)

Nestled within the Santa Monica Mountains, this residential area boasts iconic attractions like the Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Bowl, and John Anson Ford Theater. Easily accessible via US 101, it's also home to the American Film Institute.

Hollywood Hills
Koreatown

Koreatown

Vibrant nightlife abounds in this commercially driven area, featuring Korean BBQ restaurants, karaoke bars, and a high concentration of nightclubs. Explore the Korean American National Museum, Korean Cultural Center, and enjoy convenient transport via B and D Line subways.

Koreatown
Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport
Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport
3.5 out of 5
9750 Airport Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is $121 per night from Jul 31 to Aug 1
$121
includes taxes & fees
$104 per night
Jul 31 - Aug 1
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, a free airport shuttle, and a 24-hour fitness center. Our guests praise the comfy rooms ...
6/10 (6,666 reviews)
"Room was hot. Water pressure low. Bed was ok. Shower was ok."

Reviewed on Jul 23, 2024

Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport
Loews Hollywood Hotel
Loews Hollywood Hotel
4 out of 5
1755 North Highland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
The price is $309 per night from Jul 28 to Jul 29
$309
includes taxes & fees
$266 per night
Jul 28 - Jul 29
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the bar and the comfy ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,465 reviews)
"I enjoyed my stay. Staff was very nice . Rooms cleaned"

Reviewed on Jul 24, 2024

Loews Hollywood Hotel
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
4 out of 5
6101 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is $161 per night from Aug 18 to Aug 19
$161
includes taxes & fees
$139 per night
Aug 18 - Aug 19
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy breakfast (surcharge), a free airport shuttle, and a health club. Our guests praise the comfy rooms ...
8/10 Very Good! (5,761 reviews)
"This property was amazing staff was very helpful and friendly. Our room was cleaned everyday and house keeping staff was very nice and considering. The hotel has a beautiful restaurant and bar area. Many people seemed to enjoy the social atmosphere in the restaurant. I love that they have free water ..."

Reviewed on Jul 25, 2024

Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
3 out of 5
219 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and daily housekeeping. Popular attractions L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (395 reviews)
"I arrived a little earlier and I had to check in and I was super well attended by the morning employee and the employee who changed the shift with him, and they were super kind I don't know their name but I appreciate all the attention and reception and the other super clean room all perfect thank ..."

Reviewed on Jul 22, 2024

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
2 out of 5
5825 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and air conditioning. Popular attractions Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (44 reviews)
"We enjoyed everything. The views from our room was amazing. We will definitely be returning"

Reviewed on Jul 18, 2024

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
Venice Breeze Suites
Venice Breeze Suites
3.5 out of 5
2 Breeze Avenue, Venice, CA
Stay at this 3.5-star beach aparthotel in Venice. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the property condition in our ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (1,518 reviews)
"We loved the location, our room, the roof top terrace and friendly staff."

Reviewed on Jul 16, 2024

Venice Breeze Suites
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Getting around Los Angeles

The best way to see Los Angeles is to rent a car. The streets are generally long and wide, with large distances between attractions. Walking won’t get you far. However, there are various public transportation options available. You can get to the majority of popular attractions using a combination of the subway, Metro buses, DASH buses and Metro Rail Trains. Look for a taxi to get somewhere fast. Visit the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority website. Browse Los Angeles rental cars.

Best time to visit

With year-round sun, any time of year is a great time to visit Los Angeles. However, the periods between March and May and September to November are far less busy. Pack for pleasant temperatures that are unlikely to dip below 50 F (10 C) or rise much above 85 F (29 C). The summer months get far hotter. Visit in October to participate in all the Halloween fun with a Hollywood twist that runs throughout the month.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Los Angeles

4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
4282
" "5 - Excellent 33.44267416432365%
4 - Good
5445
" "4 - Good 42.52577319587629%
3 - Okay
2426
" "3 - Okay 18.94720399875039%
2 - Disappointing
404
" "2 - Disappointing 3.155263980006248%
1 - Terrible
247
" "1 - Terrible 1.929084661043424%

3/5 - Okay

Taz

Los Angeles is extremely filthy, but I enjoyed the restaurants in the city.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

It was nice but the price they are charging for the small room wasn't. Door to balcony was extremely hard to open room 703 i believe.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler

Only because of the riots in the city.

1/5 - Terrible

Verified traveler

everyone was looting and rioting

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Nice

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

The scenery was beautiful

Cities near Los Angeles