Must-see & hidden gems
Things To Do in LA
From the Hollywood Sign to secret sunset spots — the experiences that make a perfect LA day.
From the Hollywood Sign to secret sunset spots — the experiences that make a perfect LA day.
LandmarksPerched on the south slope of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, the Hollywood Sign is the world's most recognizable symbol of the entertainment industry. You can't walk up to the letters themselves, but several trails and viewpoints deliver unforgettable photos of the giant white letters against the hillside.
LandmarksGriffith Observatory is a free public observatory on the slopes of Mount Hollywood, offering telescopes, science exhibits, and some of the best views in Los Angeles. Its Art Deco architecture and sweeping vistas of the city, the Hollywood Sign, and the Pacific make it a must-see for first-time visitors.
LandmarksThe Santa Monica Pier is a historic wooden pier jutting into the Pacific, crowned by the small Pacific Park amusement park and its solar-powered Ferris wheel. It marks the symbolic western end of Route 66 and is one of LA's most festive seaside gathering spots.
LandmarksThe Hollywood Walk of Fame is a stretch of sidewalk embedded with thousands of terrazzo-and-brass stars honoring entertainment legends. Free and always open, it runs through the heart of Hollywood past landmarks like the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre.
LandmarksThe TCL Chinese Theatre is Hollywood's most famous movie palace, instantly recognizable for its towering pagoda facade and the forecourt of cement handprints and footprints left by film legends. It remains a working theater hosting premieres and first-run films, including a giant IMAX auditorium.
LandmarksThe Hollywood Bowl is a legendary outdoor amphitheater set in a natural canyon, famous for its concentric-arched band shell and starlit summer concerts. As the summer home of the LA Philharmonic, it hosts everything from classical and jazz to pop, film scores, and fireworks nights.
LandmarksThe Venice Canals are a tranquil network of waterways lined with footbridges, gardens, and charming homes, just blocks from the boardwalk chaos. This walkable historic district offers one of the most peaceful and photogenic strolls on the Westside.
LandmarksOlvera Street is a vibrant Mexican marketplace in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, often called the birthplace of the city. This narrow, brick-paved alley is lined with craft stalls, taquerias, and historic adobe buildings.
LandmarksThe Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood takes you behind the scenes of a working film and television studio in Burbank. Guided and self-guided experiences reveal real sound stages, backlot sets, props, and costumes from beloved movies and shows.
LandmarksThe Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner permanently docked in Long Beach, now serving as a hotel, museum, and event venue. Its Art Deco interiors and storied past make it one of Southern California's most distinctive landmarks.
LandmarksA soaring set of hand-built sculptural spires created from steel, mortar, and found objects over decades by one self-taught artist. The Watts Towers are a National Historic Landmark and one of LA's most extraordinary works of folk art.
LandmarksA beloved orange funicular dubbed 'the shortest railway in the world,' climbing Bunker Hill in downtown LA. Two vintage cars, Sinai and Olivet, carry riders up and down a steep incline for a quick, nostalgic trip.
LandmarksHollywood Forever is a historic cemetery and active cultural venue where many of early Hollywood's legends are laid to rest. Beyond its memorials and gardens, it is famous for summer movie screenings, concerts, and the city's largest Day of the Dead celebration.
LandmarksPerched at roughly 5,700 feet in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena, Mount Wilson Observatory is a historic astronomical site where some of the 20th century's most important discoveries were made. Visitors come for the telescope domes, sweeping views over the Los Angeles Basin, and a cool pine-scented escape from the city.
LandmarksThe Korean Bell of Friendship is a massive ornate bronze bell housed in a colorful stone pavilion at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro. Set on a bluff overlooking the Pacific, it's a striking landmark with sweeping ocean views and a peaceful, open setting.
LandmarksPoint Vicente Lighthouse is a gleaming white 1926 lighthouse perched on the dramatic cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The surrounding bluff is one of the region's premier whale-watching and sunset spots, with sweeping Pacific views.