Los Angeles is a huge metropolis with several tourist attractions that are known all over the world. The city is a bustle of cultural activity, with a fantastic variety of restaurants, museums, trendy malls, and attractions to explore.
Take the kids to Universal or Disney World for a fun day out where everyone can bond over their shared love of roller coasters, snacks, and shows. Another one of Los Angeles’s one-of-a-kind tourist attractions is the Griffith Park and observatory, where you may gaze up at the stars with awe, or the Petersen Automotive Museum, where you can see a huge collection of vintage and modern autos.
The day will go well for everybody who appreciates nature and the great outdoors. It is difficult to find a location that satisfies the interests of everyone as well as this one does in terms of the variety of visual beauty and outdoor activities available. There’s always something fascinating to do in sunny Southern California, from sailing on the blue Pacific to whale viewing to spontaneous volleyball games on the beach.
1. Disneyland
Disneyland, Walt Disney’s original theme park, is located in Orange County, about an hour’s drive from Downtown Los Angeles. Since its opening, it has been Anaheim’s most popular tourist destination. The relatively new California Adventure park sits next to the original park and is filled with attractions and rides themed after the Golden State.
Park hopper tickets are valid for entry into both parks. The immaculately cared-for amusement parks feature a variety of themed sections, from Tomorrowland and Fantasyland to Hollywood Land and Cars Land. Wandering actors in costume meet and greet guests at the parks, giving kids a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to interact with their favorite Disney characters.
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a huge complex in the San Fernando Valley that is most well-known for its kid- and family-friendly theme park. Fans of films ranging from “King Kong” to “Waterworld” can have a fully immersive experience thanks to many park rides and attractions that are themed after popular blockbuster films.
Studio tours that take guests behind the scenes are also offered. In addition, the property consists of Universal CityWalk, an open-air shopping area where guests can watch movies, attend live events, or take photos with celebrities.
3. Petersen Automotive Museum
Take a look at more than 250 one-of-a-kind automobiles, motorcycles, and trucks collected worldwide. The collection includes some highly famous automobiles, motorcycles, and trucks. Collectively, these automobiles span more than 120 years’ worth of history in the automotive industry.
Your admission to the museum grants you access to view these priceless artifacts in their vaults and thematically organized collections. The museum has a masive collection of vehicles, some of which are racing cars, supercars, and even fantasy machines from Hollywood.
4. Hollywood Walk of Fame
Back in the 1950s, someone had the fantastic idea of permanently memorializing Hollywood’s A-list with stars set on the pavement. Since the first permanent installation at the crossroads of Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street in 1960, more than 2,560 stars have been added.
In quest of their favorite actor, singer, musician, director, or television celebrity, approximately ten million people travel the mile-long stretch of sidewalk per year. The iconic Chinese Theatre, which has hosted some of Hollywood’s most glamorous movie stars and premieres, is located just in front of a section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
5. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Just north of Los Angeles in nearby Burbank is the world-famous Warner Bros. Studio, which offers an up-close glimpse at the glamorous world of Hollywood. Tours of the enormous property feature displays of magnificent props, costumes, and other artifacts from countless television and film productions.
The studio is considered as one of the oldest in the world. It features soundstages for The Big Bang Theory and Pretty Little Liars, in addition to its extensive outdoor sets depicting settings like New York and a mid-western village. The park features recognized locations, such as Central Perk from Friends, as well as Batmobiles, broomstick rides, and interactive exhibits based on the DC Universe.
6. Venice Beach
The transformation of a marshy stretch of shoreline south of Santa Monica into the “Venice of America” is credited to the tobacco billionaire Abbot Kinney. In 1904, Kinney transformed several drainages drained into picturesque canals and built an arcade on the beach that was modeled after Venetian architecture.
Although the canals continue to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Los Angeles area, most tourists are drawn to the beach’s world-famous boardwalk. Here, oddball street performers vie for attention alongside shops, stalls, and food kiosks along the boardwalk. In addition to being popular with visitors, the beach’s volleyball courts, skate plaza, and Muscle Beach section all attract many people.
7. Walt Disney Concert Hall
The remarkable Walt Disney Concert Hall is another one of the city’s one-of-a-kind and magnificent music venues. It is the location of the Los Angeles Philharmonic as well as the Los Angeles Master Chorale. The architecture, acoustics, and performances at this venue are all top-notch, Consequently, if you find yourself in the neighbourhood, you shouldn’t miss out on any of the thrilling events that are planned.
Its shining stainless steel frame and flowing exterior were designed by the world-famous architect Frank Gehry, and they contrast wonderfully with the drab structures that are found downtown. The beautiful auditorium of the concert hall is just as fascinating, as it offers a great arrangement with its seats arranged in a “vineyard-style” configuration, which ensures that attendees have excellent views of the stage and even more extraordinary acoustics.
8. Paramount Pictures Studio
Paramount Pictures is the only one of the “Big Five” film studios in Hollywood that is still in operation, and seeing the studio with all of its iconic stages, costumes, and memorabilia is an unforgettable experience. You will get the opportunity to view and explore classic sets from television series and blockbuster movies once you have passed through its well-known double-arched gate.
You will be taken on a golf cart tour of the expansive studio while being escorted by an experienced guide. You will make stops along the way to view sets from movies like Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and you may even have a chance to see a scene being filmed. It is highly recommended that visitors take the Paramount Pictures Studio Tour while in town because it provides a fascinating peek into the world of Hollywood and how movies and television series are produced.
9. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Art enthusiasts cannot pass up the opportunity to go to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), which houses an extraordinary collection of works of art. It is the largest museum in the western United States, and its enormous location encompasses a huge part of the Miracle Mile district in Los Angeles. On display, there are photographs and paintings, carvings and sculptures, as well as ceramics and ceramic carvings.
Its exciting collection has grown to include more than 150,000 objects sice its establishment. Some sections of the collection are dedicated to ancient Greek and Egyptian artifacts, while others are devoted to Islamic art, Renaissance paintings, and contemporary Latin American pieces. Visitors can anticipate seeing works by various artists, including Degas, Magritte, and Rembrandt, among countless others, while strolling the museum’s limitless halls.
10. The Broad Museum
In contrast to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which exhibits works across thousands of years of art history, The Broad Museum primarily concerns postwar and contemporary works of art. The ‘honeycomb-like’ exterior of this more modern building in Downtown Los Angeles, completed in 2015, makes for a remarkable sight. This building is another new addition to the area.
In addition to taking in the lovely architecture, visitors may enjoy the thousands of fascinating artworks and installations spread around the space. You can find impressive works by Andy Warhol, Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons, and other artists among its fabulous photographs, paintings, and sculptures. Other artists are represented as well. On the ground level of the foyer, there are frequently rotating displays of temporary exhibits that highlight up-and-coming artists.
11. Battleship USS Iowa Museum
The great Battleship USS Iowa, a former warship, is now preserved as part of the USS Iowa Museum and rests safely at anchor in San Pedro Bay.
Visitors can explore the gigantic ship’s decks, bridges, and cabins and gain insight into its great history while learning everything there is to know about life at sea.
The Iowa, launched in 1943, was a veteran of the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Cold War, and she earned an incredible eleven battle stars for her efforts.
The ship was finally decommissioned in 1990, and now visitors can explore its engine rooms, boiler rooms, and officers’ quarters, in addition to the fascinating Combat Engagement Center.
Battleship of Presidents is yet another name for the USS Enterprise, which has also been called the “Mighty I” and “Big Stick” over the years due to its association with Roosevelt, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.
12. Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood sign was initially constructed as an advertisement for real estate in the Hollywood Hills; yet, through time, it has come to symbolize the glitz and excitement of the film industry. Taking a picture of the famous Hollywood sign is something that almost every tourist who comes to Los Angeles wants to do, but getting a good close-up shot of the sign can be difficult.
These days, access to the 45-foot-tall (14-meter-high) letters perched atop Mount Lee is restricted by walls and safeguarded by a security system. Even though the sign is visible from just about anywhere in Tinseltown, the Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Park, and the Hollywood and Highland Center retail mall are the three greatest sites to park and take pictures of the sign.
13. Runyon Canyon Park
Runyon Canyon Park may seem like a world apart from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Boulevard due to its beautiful scenery. Still, in reality, it is only a couple of blocks away from the city’s main roadway. Since it is close to Hollywood Hills, sightings of famous people are relatively common, and magnificent historic mansions and estates may be found scattered around its picturesque limits.
In addition to wandering around its hills, tourists can stop by Rock Mandala, a stunning work of public art or head to Inspiration Point or Clouds Rest for magnificent panoramas over Los Angeles. Both of these locations are accessible via hiking. The park’s natural appearance and atmosphere make it well worth the effort to hike through it, despite its hot and dry environment, which can make it difficult. Additionally, it is possible to see lizards, snakes, and even deer and coyotes in this area.
14. Sunset Strip
The Sunset Strip, with its many bars, clubs, and restaurants, is the undisputed center of Los Angeles’s nightlife. The most well-known section of Sunset Boulevard, a major road in the city, is framed by chic shops and flashy billboards, with towering palm palms in the background.
Throughout the years, the region has attracted everyone from mobsters and Marilyn Monroe to megastars of rock and glam metal. Sunset Strip has been featured in several movies, TV shows, and video games over the years, thanks to its legendary architecture and storied nightlife.
15. Santa Monica Pier
The famed Santa Monica Pier has comprised of two separate piers joined together. The more significant segment constructed in 1909 is typical of piers in Southern California; it includes few restaurants at the end of the pier and a bait shop. The shorter nearby pier that was built in 1916 is the one that most attracts visitors to the area.
An old-fashioned amusement park can be found on the elevated plaza that connects the two piers. It features a wooden carousel, a vintage roller coaster, and a solar-powered Ferris Wheel that dazzles with an ever-changing LED light show every night. The Ferris Wheel is among the most recognizable landmarks in Los Angeles. In addition, the pier is home to a compact aquarium, a trapeze school, and a wide variety of delectable dining establishments.
16. Getty Center
When the J. Paul Getty Trust was created in 1953, oil magnate Jean Paul Getty was already widely regarded as among the wealthiest people in the planet. Today, the most prosperous art institution in the world provides funding for other institutions, one of which is the breathtaking one billion dollar Getty Center located atop the Brentwood Hills in Los Angeles.
Visitors are whisked up to the museum on a futuristic hover-train funicular, where they are greeted by an extraordinary collection of artwork from the Middle Ages to the present day. Some of the highlights of this collection include masterpieces such as “Irises” by van Gogh, “Wheatstack” by Monet, and “The Abduction of Europa” by Rembrandt. Outside, in the sculpture-decorated gardens, visitors can take in breathtaking vistas of the Los Angeles Basin.
17. Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Madame Tussauds Hollywood is home to a vast collection of wax figures depicting renowned people from various periods and eras. It is located along Hollywood Boulevard and is considered one of the city’s most popular tourist destinations. It features thrilling virtual reality experiences in addition to rooms that are decorated with movie stars and pop culture icons.
Even though it didn’t open until 2009, it already has over a hundred wax models that are surprisingly accurate representations of real people and things. Some models include reproductions of famous people like Barack Obama and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Taylor Swift, Snoop Dogg, and Spider-Man. After getting your picture taken with all of your favorite celebrities, you may then proceed to the venue’s cinema and experience an exciting 4D Marvel Universe film there.
18. Zuma Beach
The amazing Zuma Beach is the place to go if you want to take part in activities such as swimming in the water and playing in the sand. The sun-kissed sands of this beach, which can be found in Malibu, approximately an hour’s drive west of Los Angeles, bend gently along the ocean while overshadowing the spectacular Santa Monica Mountains.
It is pretty well known among the locals and the tourists because it provides a wide variety of enjoyable outdoor activities, including superb fishing and beach volleyball, sunbathing, swimming, and surfing. The magnificent beach has been featured in a wide variety of movies, television series, and commercials throughout the years. In addition to its pristine seas, tourists may take a relaxing stroll along the beach’s expansive sands.
19. Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl, which can be found tucked away in the folds of the Hollywood Hills, is widely considered among the most illustrious and renowned live music venues in the United States. It is carved into the hillside, and the world-famous Hollywood Sign can be seen in the distance. It plays host to many concerts each year, as well as operas, orchestras, and musicals on its hallowed stage.
Built-in 1922, the massive outdoor amphitheater is undoubtedly a one-of-a-kind venue to take in a show. It has hosted performances by illustrious artists such as Cher, Queen, and The Beatles, who have all performed beneath its recognizable pair of concentric arches. The Hollywood Bowl is among the most unforgettable places you could ever go to watch a show because of the incredible sound quality, clear sight lines, and charming atmosphere of the venue.
20. Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles’ most famous shopping street, may be found tucked away in a 16-square-block section of Beverly Hills known as the Golden Triangle. This region is located in the wealthy neighborhood of Rodeo Drive. Rodeo Drive is a popular destination for tourists, even though few people go there intending to purchase the expensive designer clothing and accessories available at the high-end boutiques.
On this boulevard of luxury fashion, window shopping is irresistible, and there is always the potential of spotting a celebrity shopping for the newest styles. At Two Rodeo Drive, there is a small shopping center that consistently draws a lot of customers. It appears to be more of a theme park than a shopping center due to its “faux-European” design and its boulevard paved with cobblestones.