Los Angeles, California, is a fantastic city with many great things to see and do.
The City of Angels is full of unique beaches, has a thriving arts culture, and is well known as a foodie city.
The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles
Discover the absolute best things to do in Los Angeles to make your visit to this spectacular city epic.
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Explore Beach Culture
Not all beaches are created equal, and the vast array of beaches in Los Angeles is proof of that. For serene beaches, head far North of the city towards Malibu. The celebrities and wealthy folks who live up there try to keep the beaches private, but there are still a few public access points.
Head south to the Orange County beaches like Seal Beach or Huntington Beach for a laid-back atmosphere. Huntington Beach has a dog beach area and fire pits for late-night parties.
Venice Beach in the central region is perhaps the most unique of them all. It features a skate park and an art walk where local artisans showcase their arts and crafts. Venice also has a gym area, and Santa Monica Beach (the beaches border each other) was popularized as Muscle Beach in the 1980s.
Whatever your vibe, hitting one of the beaches is one of the best things to do in LA.
Hang Out in Beach Cities
Even if you aren’t a fan of sandy beaches, you must explore the trendy beach cities.
The City of Huntington Beach, AKA “surf city” USA, features a variety of surf shops and fun beach bars. Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach in the central region boast a trendy vibe, while Long Beach hosts a variety of dive bars.
Art lovers should head to Venice Beach, and those looking for fine dining or upscale shopping must visit Santa Monica.
Whatever beach culture you prefer, there’s a beach city that embodies it.
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier, although technically a beach, deserves its own mention. Santa Monica Pier is a beach and a theme park rolled into one. The boardwalk features games, rides, shops, and all sorts of dining. When you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the pier’s activities, you can take a walk down to the ocean and enjoy the sights and sounds of the beach.
The Broad
If you are staying in Downtown LA (affectionately called DTLA) and want to check out some fantastic modern art, head to The Broad.
The Broad is a contemporary art museum showcasing works from important artists such as Jenny Saville and Andy Warhol. The collection, which includes sculpture, painting, and photography, is a must-see for any art lover.
The Getty Center
If you want to combine inspirational art with fantastic views, head to the Getty Center in the Northern part of the city. The museum houses an impressive gallery of past masters, including Van Gogh, Cézanne, and more.
The architecture of the building is impressive as well, and a climb to the top, although a little challenging, is well worth it for the spectacular panoramic views of the city.
There’s also the Getty Villa, a smaller museum featuring mostly Roman and Greek antiquities, which is perfect for art lovers, but didn’t quite make the list of the top things to do in Los Angeles for everyone.
Griffith Observatory
You need to head to the Griffith Observatory if you love hiking or space. This planetarium sits atop a hill in Griffith Park, surrounded by hiking trails. If you hike to the top of the observatory, you can even get a glimpse of the Hollywood sign (on a nice day).
The Observatory itself is a science center dedicated to outreach and education about space. Learn more about the sun, earth, moon, and surrounding cosmos, and use one of the pubic telescopes to get a close-up look at celestial bodies.
The observatory is only open Friday-Saturday, but it stays open until 10 PM so patrons can use the telescopes.
The Last Bookstore
One of the most awe-inspiring bookstores in the country, the Last Bookstore, has two floors of new and used books, a rare books room, a vault of horror and sci-fi, and the famous tunnel of books that everyone loves to walk through.
If you love books, you can get lost in this impressive labyrinth of unique books for hours.
Visit LACMA
LACMA, or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, is a massive complex featuring three buildings, each dedicated to different art styles.
But before heading inside, go to the front entrance to view the public artwork “Urban Light” outside the museum doors. This iconic display was installed in 2008 and has been a prominent museum feature ever since.
Next, let your tastes guide your journey. Visit the Modern Art Building for works by contemporary artists, the Asian Art Building to see inspirational works from the far east (mostly Japan), or the main building for a variety of works from influential artists.
La Brea Tar Pits
Adjacent to LACMA are the La Brea Tar Pits, and any visit to the complex should include both.
The tar pits are an active paleontological site dating to the ice age. Numerous fossils have been recovered from the excavations, including dire wolves and mammoths.
The complex includes an outdoor park you can walk around for free, and a museum featuring educational programs about the prehistoric creatures that once roamed the area.
Grand Central Market
If you find yourself in downtown LA and aren’t sure where to eat, stop by Grand Central Market for a smorgasbord of opportunity. You can find curry wurst, bento boxes, breakfast sandwiches, and nearly any type of food your heart may desire.
Grand Central Market also has a variety of craft vendors, so if you aren’t hungry or just want to grab a coffee, it’s still a great place to explore.
Eat Asian Food
If you love Asian food, LA is the city to visit.
Head down to Garden Grove in Orange County for authentic Vietnamese fare (or try Lee’s Sandwiches!), check out Gen for fantastic Korean BBQ, or head to Chinatown, Koreatown, or Little Tokyo to sample cuisines from around the massive continent. There’s even a Little Cambodia in Long Beach!
Whatever your favorite flavor, there’s likely a restaurant somewhere in Los Angeles that has it. If you want to bring the flavor home, head to one of the Asian markets, like Marukai in Torrance or the Indian market in Cerritos.
The Queen Mary
Located just south of Los Angeles in a city that’s iconic in its own right, the Queen Mary is well worth the visit. The sister ship to the Titanic, the Queen Mary, now calls the port of Long Beach home. Although she no longer sails across the ocean, she’s still an active hotel and event center.
The Queen Mary offers a variety of daily tours with programs on the sailing industry, the history of the Queen Mary, and even nightly ghost tours!
Whether you’re interested in history or the paranormal, the Queen Mary is a great activity to add to your LA bucket list.
Try Street Tacos
The best tacos in LA are street tacos. Check out El Chato, parked in La Brea, if you’re visiting the tar pits. If you’re hanging out downtown when the taco truck urge hits, check out Tacos el Vanado.
You’ll find a variety of taco trucks and small Mexican eateries throughout the city and surrounding area, so you’ll likely find a local flavor nearby wherever you find yourself in the city.
Visit an Art Gallery
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The arts district downtown is home to a wide range of art galleries featuring up-and-coming artists. The best time to visit is the first Thursday of each month when the city hosts its monthly art walks.
The monthly walks feature open galleries and a variety of smaller vendors showcasing their arts and crafts. It’s a perfect time to explore the current happenings of the art scene.
Many local bars and restaurants have great deals in honor of these art walks as well.
The Oldest Street in Los Angeles
The oldest street in Los Angeles is Olvera Street, located downtown near LA’s Union Station. This street dates back to a time when Los Angeles was a part of Mexico and honors the city’s Mexican heritage.
Olvera Street is a pedestrian-only walkway filled with vendors and restaurants celebrating Mexican Culture. You will also find historic buildings with Spanish-style architecture, including the Sepulveda house, Pico House, and old Spanish churches.
Visiting Olvera Street is a great way to pay homage to the city’s Mexican origins.
Berth 55 in San Pedro
Just to the south of Los Angeles lies the unassuming town of San Pedro. San Pedro sits right on the coast and is a thriving port and fishing community. As such, it hosts one of the best places to get freshly caught seafood in the city.
Enter Berth 55, a fish market and seafood restaurant. Order a tray and get piles of fries, fish, and chicken for reasonable prices, or take fresh cuts home to prepare later.
Although not a typical tourist destination, it’s a great place to get fantastic food and immerse yourself in local culture.
Visit a Theme Park
Los Angeles boasts a wide array of theme parks. Most people plan to visit at least one during their trip to this eclectic city.
The most well-known and frequently visited is Disney Land, located in Anaheim, a city in Orange County to the Southwest of LA. However, the greater LA area is also home to Knotts Berry Farm, a small, family-friendly tourist attraction in Buena Park, and Universal Studios in Hollywood.
Note: Six Flags Magic Mountain used to top the list, but it closed in November of 2025.
Deep-Sea Fishing
If you’re looking for a more natural thrill, consider taking a deep-sea fishing trip off the coast of Los Angeles. Tours head out from both the Long Beach and Los Angeles seaports, and many companies offer chartered tours for large groups.
Deep-Sea Fishing is a great way to become one with nature and get an opportunity to catch some of the tasty fish living off the coast on your own!
Whale Watching
Although deep-sea fishing is fun, many prefer a less invasive ocean adventure. If this describes you, try taking a whale watching tour instead. Take a boat out to the open waters to watch these majestic creatures surface for air.
Winter and spring are the best times to see grey whales, and summer is the best time to get a glimpse of the elusive blue whale. Dolphins and sea lions are also very common in these waters, so you’ll likely see a variety of other sea mammals as well.
The Aquarium of the Pacific
For a closer look at the creatures living in the ocean next door, visit the Aquarium of the Pacific in downtown Long Beach. The Aquarium hosts a shark lagoon, sea otter habitat, coral reefs, and ample opportunity to learn about life in the tidal pools right off the coast.
Behind the scenes, the aquarium is involved in research and breeding programs to save and protect native species and habitats.
Visiting not only gets you up close and personal with these spectacular creatures of the deep, but it helps preserve them as well.
Take a Ghost Tour
I love ghost tours, so I embark upon one in every city I visit. LA might not be known for its paranormal activity like New Orleans or Savannah, but it has its share of creepy incidents.
Book a tour with Ghost Adventures to learn about Black Dahlia and other weird events that happened around the city.
Honorable Mentions – Iconic Things To Do in LA
A few things are nearly synonymous with Los Angeles that it would be practically criminal not to mention, even though they aren’t the top things to do in LA.
Here are some things that the city is well known for that you may want to check out.
Hollywood Boulevard
Nearly everyone who visits Los Angeles wants to check out the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame, but I think it’s overrated. It’s mostly a dirty sidewalk with stars in it.
Hollywood itself isn’t as iconic as the movies make it seem, but it’s worth a visit if you’ve never been there before.
Check it out to knock it off your bucket list, but don’t plan to spend more than a few minutes there. It’s not worth it.
The Rose Bowl
Pasadena, just east of Los Angeles, is famous for the Rose Bowl. Even if you aren’t visiting in January for the actual bowl and the accompanying Rose Parade, Pasadena is worth a trip.
The Rose Bowl Complex often hosts special events such as craft fairs, concerts, and other festivals.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is the iconic street that connects Los Angeles to Beverly Hills. It’s known for its high-end shops featuring luxury shopping, including Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, and more.
The street also features a variety of upscale boutiques and restaurants. If you’re visiting Los Angeles with money to spare, this is a great place to spend it.
The Sunset Strip
Those looking for a livelier road may want to check out the Sunset Strip, which runs from Los Angeles to West Hollywood.
This stretch of road is filled with restaurants, bars, and trendy nightclubs, and it’s a perfect place to experience LA’s vibrant nightlife.
Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood sign is one of La’s most iconic sites. But you don’t really need to do anything special to see it.
You can glimpse the sign from many areas in the north part of the city, and that’s usually good enough for tourists. Ambitious hikers may want to hike the Hollywood Sign Trail, and while that offers wonderful views of the city, you don’t need to do it to see the sign.
Visiting Los Angeles
The easiest way to visit LA is to fly into LAX, located in El Segundo.
It’s close to the downtown area, and since it’s the main airport of the region, you can find direct flights from most major cities.
However, it’s not the only choice.
If you prefer smaller airports or are visiting the outer reaches of the city, consider flying into John Wayne Airport in Orange County, Ontario Airport in the Inland Valley, or Hollywood Burbank Airport to the North of the city. Even Long Beach has its own small airport.
Flights at these smaller airports are generally more expensive and harder to find, but might be worthwhile to avoid the worst of LA traffic.
Unless you plan to stick to the downtown area, you should rent a car on your visit to Los Angeles. Public transportation is lacking, especially to the beaches and surrounding cities. Numerous freeways surround the town, and it’s easy to drive to most places you will want to visit.
Enjoy Los Angeles!
Although some things (like Hollywood) don’t live up to the hype, LA is a fantastic city and should be on everyone’s bucket list.
There’s something for everyone in this iconic metropolis, so plan your visit and make it a good one!