28 Best things to see & do in Los Angeles

It’s smaller than Disney World, but Disneyland is no less magical. Located south of LA in Anaheim, it was the first of the Disney-branded theme parks to be built (the design was directed by Walt himself).

Nowadays, the vast complex includes Disneyland Park, the Disney California Adventure Park, the Downtown Disney dining and shopping district, and three hotels.

A must for any young LA visitor – and it’s pretty fun for adults too.

This iconic entertainment capital of the world is synonymous with the global film industry, known for producing blockbuster movies, captivating television shows, and groundbreaking cinematic experiences.

From the glamour of the red carpet to the bustling studios and soundstages, it’s still a vibrant and ever-evolving hub of creativity. The studios may have (mostly) decamped to more spacious surroundings, but much of the film industry’s history and iconography remain located in this iconic LA neighbourhood.

And yes, folks, dreams are still made (and broken) in Hollywood.

As the world centre of the film and TV industry, no trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a deeper look into this high profile and often fantastical world.

The big three film studios in town – Warner Bros, Paramount and Sony – all offer behind-the-scenes guided tours of the studios, where you’ll get a fascinating insight into how the films are made.

Another option is to join the audience for a taping of a popular sitcom or chat show. You can often turn up and queue on the day to get in.

Stunningly designed by Richard Meir, this marble-clad modernist complex tucked into the Santa Monica Mountains houses the late billionaire oil tycoon J. Paul Getty’s impressive art collection. Highlights on show include works by Titian and Van Gogh, illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages, Louis XIV-era furniture and decorative arts.

Strolling through the 110 acres of galleries, gardens and modern buildings perched overlooking the LA sprawl is a must for any visiting art fan.

The Western US’s pre-eminent art museum is a 20-acre compound of galleries and pavilions housing more than 100,000 works, from ancient Mayan bowls inscribed with bat heads and Japanese sculptures dating from 3000 BC to paintings by Rubens, Cezanne and Degas.

The museum also has a strong contemporary art offering, with works by Lichtenstein, Pollock and Jasper Johns. There’s also a space for lectures, performances and other events.

This fantasy film wonderland combines a studio tour and movie-themed amusement park.

Whereas other Universal Studios are built more around the theme park side of the equation, this Hollywood outpost is still firmly grounded in, well, Hollywood, thanks to features such as the one-hour studio tram tour that takes guests through a real working studio (with a few thrills along the way).

It’s essential viewing for any film fanatic or future movie mogul.

While the city is a melting pot of cultures, with cuisines from all over the world, first-rate sushi and Mexican food dominate – and you’re just as likely to have an out-of-this-world dining experience at a strip mall sushi joint or taco truck as you are at a Michelin-starred restaurant or omakase bar.

Korean food is also excellent – be sure to try ox bone soup, seafood pancakes and first-rate bulgogi and bibimbap. Naturally, there are also plenty of great spots to grab a burger or hot dog, and tons of joints operate a mean grill.

The farm-to-table movement is also huge, with LA chefs having access to fresh fish straight from the Pacific Ocean and vegetables plucked from California’s rich earth.

Wine lists are dominated by Californian vintages – Napa, Santa Barbara and even Malibu. Napa’s Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinot Noirs are famed the world over.

The Hollywood Sign has long been a powerful symbol for the global entertainment industry. At 14m high and 110m long, you can’t miss it.

Installed back in 1923 as part of an advertising campaign for a suburban housing development called ‘Hollywoodland’, the sign initially fell into disrepair until a group of celebrities funded its restoration in 1978, minus the ‘land’.

Getting to the foot of the sign itself is no longer possible, thanks to tight security. The best option is therefore to hike the picturesque but little-known Hollyridge Trail up to the summit of Mount Lee, from where you can look down on the sign, just 100ft below where you stand.

You’re rewarded with exceptional views of Hollywood and the LA basin to the south, and the San Fernando Valley to the north.

This old-school amusement park features a rollercoaster, an old-fashioned 1922 carousel, carnival games, an aquarium, a trapeze school and that famous 85ft ferris wheel. Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but this Santa Monica icon is a must-do if you’ve got kids in tow.

The bustling, charismatic Santa Monica Beach has diversions for all ages, from surf shacks to beach volleyball courts, along a two-mile stretch of golden sand backed by shops, restaurants and bars. With mild surf, it’s a great place to swim – and to try some surfing.

Situated next door to LACMA, the visually striking Renzo Piano-designed museum has been years in the making and finally opened to much fanfare in September 2021, making it the largest in the world solely dedicated to the art of movie-making.

Spread across four floors of gallery space, including a 1,000-seat theatre space in its famous glassy dome, it’s filled with cinematic treasures, from Dorothy’s ruby red slippers and the Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane to the sole surviving shark from Jaws. There’s also an experience dedicated to the Oscars, where you get the chance to hold one of the coveted golden statuettes.

Head to LA’s most vibrant neighbourhood for a glimpse of the crazy in all its glory: overly muscled men at Muscle Beach; an outdoor gym right on the sand; thong-wearing skaters on the boardwalk that runs the length of the Pacific; and overly-vocal grifters, musicians, activists and the like wandering in between it all.

After getting a feel for the kitsch, tap into the cool along Abbott Kinney Boulevard, a stretch of boho-chic bistros, boutiques and bars a few blocks inland.

There are many reasons to go to Griffith Park, and one of the main ones is to visit the magnificent Art Deco observatory, which sits high above the city near the Hollywood sign.

You don’t even need to go inside to make the visit worthwhile – taking in the view over LA’s skyline and admiring the building’s impressive architecture (which you’ll recognise from films such as La La Land and Rebel Without a Cause) is more than enough.

That being said, don’t leave without going inside, where you’ll find permanent exhibits exploring the cosmos, free public telescopes and an excellent planetarium.

The Pacific Coast Highway – or PCH as locals lovingly refer to it – is a stunning stretch of coastal highway that runs along the ocean from Santa Monica right up to Malibu. To the left, you’ll see surfers riding the waves; to the right are multimillion-dollar homes precariously perched on the cliffs.

Once you get to Malibu, take a stroll to the end of Malibu pier, where you’ll find the Ranch at the Pier boutique. Run by local resident Alice Bamford (the daughter of British JCB billionaire Antony Bamford), this is the place to come to pick up surf gear and stylish knick-knacks. Also on the pier is Malibu Farm, a great spot for organic Cali-inspired dishes, or tuck into baskets of fried shrimp with the local bikers at Neptune’s Net.

To avoid the crowds, head to some of the lesser-known, slightly more inaccessible beaches – Point Dume and Leo Carillo are some of the loveliest in the area and are both great spots for watching surfers and the sunset.

Also uncrowded and pristine, Malibu Lagoon State Beach is one of LA’s best stretches of sand – watch for whales and dolphins off-shore. It’s also an estuary with a wetlands area, great for bird-watching with tide pools ripe for exploration. There’s excellent surfing here, including Surfrider Beach, one of LA’s most famous breaks.

The most popular of Downtown LA’s contemporary art museums, the Broad houses the collection of Edythe Broad as well as notable pieces by the likes of Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha and Basquiat. It’s always packed, so book in advance.

You know you’ve really made it in Tinseltown when you get your own star. Spread across both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Walt Disney to Jennifer Aniston and John Travolta is immortalised here.

This massive complex captivates kids with its interactive exhibits demonstrating how the world works.

Ride a bike across a cable 43ft up in the air to learn about the laws of gravity; visit Tess, a 50ft animatronic woman, to understand more about the body’s organs; and participate in a solar slot car race. It’s even more fun than it sounds.

A 22-mile bike path called the Strand runs from Southern LA’s Manhattan Beach up to Pacific Palisades, just north of Santa Monica. It’s a fun ride if you’re feeling fit. Hire bikes from Hermosa Cyclery – there’s a detailed map of the Strand on their website.

John Paul Getty’s homage to ancient Rome and Greece is a Malibu gem, filled with ancient art, beautifully landscaped gardens offering up sparkling ocean views and a 500-seat amphitheatre that hosts some of the city’s finest outdoor classical productions.

This LA institution in West Hollywood first opened in 1934 and is home to over 100 food stalls and grocers, who specialise in everything from doughnuts and ice cream to beef jerky and gourmet pickles.

Head to Santa Monica’s farmers market on a Wednesday or Saturday morning and you’re bound to bump into one or two of the city’s top chefs, who all head here to pick up the freshest organic local fruits and vegetables.

This ever-popular food hall feels like a little slice of NYC in Downtown LA, with its neon signs and seemingly never-ending queues. Go hungry and try everything from wood-fired pizzas and fried chicken to spicy Filipino rice bowls.

It doesn’t get more Hollywood than the home of the actual Oscars. It was custom designed for the Academy Awards themselves and features 3,400 seats, three balcony levels and 20 opera boxes. Formerly known as the Kodak Theatre.

On Wilshire Boulevard, during the last Ice Age, asphalt bubbled from the ground, trapping sabre-toothed tigers, mammoths and giant sloths. Excavations continue to unearth new plants and animals and visitors can come to watch, or explore one of the world’s largest collections of fossils, on display in the museum.

Set amidst the glitz, glamour and occasional grime of Hollywood Boulevard, the former Grauman’s Chinese Theater is often billed as the world’s most ornate and opulent cinema complex, home to some of film’s biggest movie premieres over the years. It’s still the place where the biggest premieres still go down. 30-minute walking tours available.

Held on the second Sunday of every month, this flea market has become a mecca for vintage lovers, who come to trawl its sprawling rabbit warren of stalls for everything from second-hand clothes and furniture to wonderfully weird collectibles.

If this Tudor Revival mansion in Beverly Hills looks more than a little familiar it’s due to its stellar Hollywood lineage, having appeared in films including The Big Lebowski and X-Men. Come to explore its formal English gardens and elegant grounds.

This botanical garden and museum offers a tranquil respite from the city’s hectic hustle and bustle, with 16 themed gardens spread over 120 acres, including fragrant displays of roses, camellias and orchids as well a popular children’s garden.

For a fascinating insider look at a period mansion and estate in Beverley Hills, call ahead to reserve a tour of the Virginia Robinson Gardens. The Beaux Arts mansion from 1911 is surrounded by stunning botanical gardens in a range of styles.