Looking for the best things to do in Los Angeles? Locals point visitors to the Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center, the beaches and piers at Santa Monica and Venice, The Broad and Grand Central Market downtown, and Hollywood. LA is huge — here’s how Angelenos actually spend their time, by area, by night, by budget, and by who you’re with.
Things to do in Los Angeles, by area
Griffith Park & Hollywood
The Griffith Observatory (free, with the best Hollywood Sign and skyline views), the Walk of Fame, and the TCL Chinese Theatre.
The Westside: Santa Monica, Venice & the Getty
The Santa Monica Pier, the Venice Boardwalk and canals, and the hilltop Getty Center with gardens and ocean views.
Downtown LA
The Broad and MOCA, Grand Central Market, the Arts District, Little Tokyo, and Olvera Street.
Mid-City & the Miracle Mile
LACMA and its Urban Light, the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Petersen Automotive Museum.
Silver Lake & Echo Park
LA’s indie east side — coffee, vintage, murals, and the Echo Park Lake paddle boats.
Things to do in Los Angeles at night
Hollywood and the Sunset Strip for music and bars, the Arts District downtown, Silver Lake and Echo Park for indie spots, and Koreatown for late-night eats.
Indoor & rainy-day things to do in Los Angeles
The Getty, LACMA, The Broad, the Natural History Museum, and the California Science Center. Grand Central Market covers indoor food.
Free things to do in Los Angeles
- The Griffith Observatory
- The Getty Center (free admission)
- The Broad (free)
- The Venice Boardwalk and the beaches
- The Hollywood Walk of Fame and Urban Light at LACMA
Things to do in Los Angeles for couples
Sunset at Griffith Observatory, a Malibu drive, the Getty’s gardens, a Santa Monica pier evening, and dinner in Silver Lake or the Arts District.
Things to do in Los Angeles with kids
Family wins: the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum, the Santa Monica Pier, the LA Zoo, Universal Studios, and the beaches.
What Los Angeles locals actually recommend
Which neighborhoods are worth the drive, where to eat off the tourist track, how to beat the traffic — that comes from people who live here. On Neighborhood Nurturers’ Los Angeles community, real LA neighbors answer “what should I actually do this weekend?” Join your LA neighbors free →
Where this fits in Los Angeles
The best days here mix the well-known spots with the places only locals frequent. The picks in this guide make the most sense once you know how Los Angeles is laid out. the free Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park sit at the center of where locals actually spend their time, so planning a full day out around one of them rarely goes wrong. When you want something calmer, the Venice Boardwalk pulls you away from the busiest blocks, and the free Getty Center is the kind of spot regulars mention but visitors miss. Anchor your plan to one of those and the rest of the day in Los Angeles tends to fall into place.
More Los Angeles guides
Los Angeles rewards people who dig a little deeper. These related guides map the same neighborhoods from different starting points: Free things to do in Los Angeles, Best restaurants in Los Angeles, undefined Los Angeles — enough to plan a whole day or two.
Ask a Los Angeles neighbor
The best tips never make the guidebooks — they come from neighbors who know which spot is worth it this week. That is what the Los Angeles community on Neighborhood Nurturers is for. Ask Los Angeles locals what they would do, or join free and get honest answers from people who actually know Los Angeles.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top things to do in Los Angeles?
Locals send visitors to the Griffith Observatory (and the Hollywood Sign views), the Getty Center, the beaches and pier at Santa Monica and Venice, the Broad and Grand Central Market downtown, and Hollywood Boulevard. Spread them across a few days — LA is big and traffic is real.
What is there to do in Los Angeles at night?
LA nights spread out: Hollywood and the Sunset Strip for bars and music, Downtown’s Arts District, Silver Lake and Echo Park for indie spots, Koreatown for late-night eats, and rooftop bars with skyline or ocean views.
What can you do in Los Angeles when it rains?
Rare, but great museum weather: the Getty Center, LACMA, the Broad, the Natural History Museum, and the California Science Center. Grand Central Market and the malls cover indoor food and shopping.
What are free things to do in Los Angeles?
The Griffith Observatory, the Getty Center (free admission), the Broad (free), the Venice Boardwalk, the beaches, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Urban Light at LACMA are all free.
What are the best things to do in Los Angeles for couples?
Sunset at Griffith Observatory, a Malibu beach drive, the Getty’s gardens and views, a Santa Monica pier evening, and dinner in Silver Lake or Downtown’s Arts District.
What are fun things to do in Los Angeles with kids?
Family favorites: the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum, the Santa Monica Pier, the LA Zoo, Universal Studios, and the beaches.