So it’s your first time in Los Angeles and you want to see, feel and experience the best this sunny city has to offer.
You can get direct flights to LA from anywhere in Australia which makes it a popular place to spend a week or two and is often our first sample of what USA is all about.
From some of the best theme parks in the world to renowned artists being showcased in museums to movie premieres and red carpet events, you will find a wide variety of things to do and see.
“The second largest city in the United States”
Being the second largest city in the US, Los Angeles boasts a diverse culture that isn’t just TV and movies, it is often at the forefront of creativity with fashion, architecture, theatre, literature and music.
It has a multi metropolitan feel, but also has pockets where you can go to relax on the beach, take a walk amongst nature in their many parks or ride your bike along the 35km South Bay bike path.
With so much to see and do here, we have put together a guide of the top 10 of things to do in LA to help get you started.
#1 Universal Studios
A visit to Universal Studios is a MUST see even if you’re not a film buff. It is the oldest and most famous film studio that is still in use today, the studio back lot tour is one of the highlights here where they used you around in a proper backlot golf buggy while taking you to the actual sets from TV shows that are currently airing on TV.
You will also be shows movie sets from past and present movies and enjoy a few thrills and spills that will make you feel like you are in a live action scene.
The rides at Universal Studios are also not to be missed, remember you are visiting THE place for entertainment and they certainly don’t skimp on the good stuff. With their rides constantly being changed and upgraded to keep up with what’s on our screen, you will always find something new here even if you’ve visited before.
Ticket wise you have 3 options, you can just get a general admission ticket which will get you into everything in the park, then there is the front of the line ticket which will cost you about $50 extra but it is WORTH IT! You literally have your own line and bypass so many people, it will save you hours of time lining up for rides.
Lastly is the VIP ticket which includes the front of the line pass and also gets you your own personal tour of the park with VIP seating at shows and an extended backlot tour, it is expensive but again, if you love your movies and TV it is worth the extra money.
#2 Venice Beach Boardwalk & Santa Monica Pier
About 40 minutes from the centre of Los Angeles you will find the circus that is the Venice Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Monica Pier.
Stretching out alongside Venice Beach is the 2.5km boardwalk where you will find a plethora of culture from street performers and artists showcasing their work, to fortune tellers, sculptures and temporary tattoos, there is something for everyone.
The boardwalk is at its busiest during weekends and throughout most days in the summer with street performers on nearly every corner, so make sure you bring along a lot of $1 bills to tip with if you like what they are putting out there.
The beach itself was one of the locations for the iconic TV show Baywatch where you can still see the lifeguard towers. Another must see if the famous Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym that Arnold Schwarzenegger used to frequent where you can sit back and watch the many fitness fanatics working out in the hot Californian sun, or even join in.
If working out isn’t your style you can simply relax and go for a swim, hire a set of rollerblades and cruise along the boardwalk, eat at one of the many cafes and restaurants nearby or hit up the shops in true LA style.
The Santa Monica Pier is one of our favourites, this 100 year old landmark is enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It features a carnival area called Pacific Park where you will find all sorts of rides, video arcades restaurants and even a trapeze school.
It also plays host to a variety of concerts and movies in Summer and all sorts of other activities, so before you go check their calendar of events for some very unique entertainment.
#3 Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame
What’s a visit to Los Angeles without going to Hollywood where you will be transported into a different world of red carpets, stars, lights and cameras? The Walk of Fame is a great way to explore the main streets of Hollywood with over 2500 stars stretching out across 15 city blocks.
There are tours that will pick you up from your hotel and take your directly to all the best spots along Hollywood Boulevard like the Roosevelt Hotel which was home to the very first Oscars ceremony, Graumans Chinese Theatre where you can match your hand prints to your favourite star or the Dolby Theater, home of the Academy Awards.
If your timing is right you can actually watch a star being entered into the walk of fame at a star ceremony, its free to watch but it is first in best dressed so you have to be early. Check out this website for upcoming ceremonies.
#4 The Getty Centre
The Getty is a sight to behold and earns it spot at #4 on our list. You can start your visit in style by ascending up to the museum in a cable pulled hovertrain all the way to the top while taking in the magnificent views across Los Angeles.
Not only famous for its paintings, tourists love to come and admire the modern architecture of The Getty as well the sprawling gardens which you could spend hours wandering through.
Once inside you will see a vast collection of American and European art from early middle ages to present day as well as sculptures and a very extensive photograph collection. The museum is free to enter but be wary of parking lot which will sting you for $15.
#5 Disneyland Los Angeles
A trip to America wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the happiest place on earth, Disneyland.
Situated about 30 minutes from the Hollywood in Anaheim, the park features 8 different themed ‘lands’ Adventureland, Fantasyland, New Orleans Square, Frontierland, The Main Street, Mickeys Toon Town and Tomorrowland which all sit on approximately 85 acres, so don’t forget to bring some comfy walking shoes!
You can generally see all that the park has to offer in one day, but some people, especially people with children would be best to spread their time over 2 days.
The lines for rides can be long, but they have introduced a fastpass system where you swipe your entry ticket at the ride entrance and you will get given a receipt which will have a time on it for you to come back and pretty much go straight to the front. This way you can go enjoy the rest of the park without having to stand in a line for hours on end.
#6 The Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive
Situated between Hollywood and Beverly Hills is the Sunset Strip which is a 2.4km stretch of road along Sunset Boulevard that delivers the true feeling of show business in Los Angeles. Rich in history and present day glamour you will see places like The Laugh Factory where many comedic actors got their big break like Adam Sandler and Tim Allen.
Then there is the Chateau Marmont and the Sunset Tower Hotel, both very prestigious Hollywood hotels that are steeped in showbiz history.
Further along you will see Tower Records and The House of Blues where all the big name rock bands got their first break like Guns N’ Roses. There is The Viper Room nightclub which is owned by Johnny Depp, the Sky Bar where a lot of celebrities frequent as well as restaurants and small cafes.
Past the Sunset Strip is Rodeo Drive, if you’re pockets aren’t lined with money, only come here to window shop as this is where the rich and famous come to spend up big on clothes, bags and anything with a label. It is well worth the trip, even if it is just to see how the other half live.
#7 Griffith Park
Griffith Park is the 10th largest metropolitan park in the United states spanning a whopping 4300 acres of land and is a must see if you are visiting Los Angeles. With so much to see and do within the park you could easily spend the whole day immersed in pathways, gardens all while taking in some of the best views of LA.
Our favourite is the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanic Gardens, which houses over 1100 animals including elephants, gorillas as well as a new rainforest exhibit where you can get up close and personal with tamarins and toucans! The gardens are home to a whopping 7400 different plants where you can spend hours meandering and just taking it all in.
The Griffith Observatory takes pride of place on the top of the Mt. Hollywood, here you can go inside and see the planetarium, look through the Zeiss Telescope or head outside for views across the Pacific Ocean and downtown LA. The Observatory has been the location of many different films and is definitely worth a look.
Also in the park is a place to hire a bike or even saddle up on a horse, you can check out the Travel Time Museum, take in a show at the outdoor theatre or take a stroll to the world famous Hollywood sign.
#8 La Brea Tar Pits
A quick 15 minute walk from Hollywood and you will find the La Brea Tar Pits. A natural wonder, the tar pits are millions of years old and is touted as one of the most famous ice age fossil excavation sites in the world.
Here you will see as the name suggests pits of tar bubbling away with woolly mammoths from the ice age depicting how they would have fallen victim to the tar and become the fossils that we can see today.
Attached to the tar pits is a museum which educates you how the tar pits come about, they also have a 3D theatre, a fossil lab and exhibits with vast collections of fossils that have been excavated from the site over the years.
#9 Dodger stadium
Only a 15 minute drive from the centre of Los Angeles you will find Dodger Stadium, home to the LA Dodgers baseball team.
Baseball is like a religion in Los Angeles and one of the best places to see it all happen is Dodger Stadium. The season runs from April through to October and tickets are very reasonably priced with seats starting from just $10.
The best place to sit is in the foul ball area to the left of the batter, you will have a great chance of catching a game ball and as a bonus, if you catch it, you keep it!
Oh, and don’t forget to sample the stadium food like kettle corn, hot dogs and nachos or whistle out to the walking food vendor and they will throw you a pack of nuts from right where they’re standing, better make sure you stretch out that catching arm before the game!
#10 Runyon Canyon
So you’ve seen Los Angeles in all its glory and now just want a place to escape and take in some fresh air and even do a bit of star spotting, then a hike up Runyon Canyon should definitely be on your list.
Only 2 blocks from Hollywood Boulevard you will find multiple treks and trails up into Runyon Canyon, if coming by car, just be wary that parking can be a nightmare so it is best to come early, not only to beat the traffic but also to beat the heat as it can get quite warm by the afternoon.
You can find a map of all the trails at at the Runyon Canyon website. Don’t forget to bring water and of course your camera, just in case you bump into someone you recognise!
