Los Angeles is a must see city with tons of shopping, restaurants, and tourist attractions including landmarks like the Hollywood sign and Griffith observatory. Major theme parks, tons of museums, and movie history await those who take the time to experience everything LA has to offer. Experimenting with the cities food and shopping culture will take a few days, but is well worth it. Explore the different neighborhoods, and enjoy your time, there is a lot to see.
Pre-Trip Guide
Why Choose Los Angeles
Los Angeles is one of the most popular destinations on the West Coast for very good reason. There is a combination of history, culture, and entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy. From the sandy beaches to the amusement parks, the city provides everything you need for a carefree escape. There are also many museums and attractions which are popular among tourists. In addition to all of this, Los Angeles has a great collection of modern trendy attractions.
When to Visit
Los Angeles is a great place to visit at any time of year because there are almost 300 days of sun every year. There are mild temperatures year-round with a Mediterranean climate. If you don’t like hot weather, you may want to avoid June, July, and August.
Getting Around
Driving: The best and most effective way to get around Los Angeles is to rent a car and drive yourself. The public transportation in LA does not go to every part of the city so having a car is the most practical.
Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, USA Ticket Prices, General Admission: US$109–US$129, Express Admission: US$179–US$259 Hours: 10:00–18:00 Daily hours may vary and may be longer or shorter due to special events. Check online for details. To get there: Take the Red Line to Universal City Station and hop on a free shuttle that will take you to Universal Studios in 2-3 minutes.
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Disneyland Resort California
Overview: Disneyland in Anaheim, the world's first Disney park, was also the only one built under the supervision of Disney founder Walt Disney. Disneyland offers a focus on an imaginative, polished, and genuinely enjoyable theme-park experience rather than on extreme thrills.
Address: Pacific Coast Hwy, Santa Monica, CA 90401 America
Tickets: Free
Hours: Open all day
How to get there: Buses 20, 33, or 534 to the Ocean / Colorado stop.
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The Getty Center
Overview: The Getty Center is a Los Angeles cultural landmark and one of the richest museums in the world (alongside California’s best). It is a serious destination for art lovers, with extensive collections of European paintings, sculpture, decorative arts, and photography. The architecture alone is worth visiting. Visitors are transported by tram to the top of the hill (where the view overlooks the valley). Beyond the galleries is the Getty Central Garden which is as visually stunning as the museum's collections. The garden has shaded areas, flowing water, a stream that leads into a pond, and an azalea maze at its center.
Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Tickets: Free
Hours: Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Closed on Monday
How to get there: Drive or take bus 234 to Sepulveda / Getty Center. Visitors park at the bottom of the hill and take the tram to and from the art center.
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OUE Skyspace Observation Deck
Overview: OUE Skyspace is California’s tallest open-air observation deck, located in Downtown LA’s U.S. Bank Tower. It is over 1,000 feet high and offers 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Visitors can watch the sunset indoors on a sofa by the window or can go to the outdoors and get a close view of the nearby skyline. The outdoor deck is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass and also has a popular photo spot — a glass slide from the 70th floor and photo Angel Wings. Address: 633 W 5th St #840, Los Angeles, CA 90071 Ticket prices: Admission for adults is $25; for children $19. Admission + slide: adults $33; children $27. Hours: 10:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m. How to get there: Take buses 16, 17, 18, 53, 55, 62, 316, or 355 to 5th & Grand. It is a 1 min walk from the bus stop to the location. Official website: Griffith Observatory Overview: Griffith Observatory is one of the most recognized buildings in Los Angeles. It sits upon a hillside located northwest of the city center and has panoramic views of Los Angeles. The Griffith Observatory is also a world-class observatory and has been featured in many Hollywood films. Visitors can explore the exhibits to learn about the planets and the universe. They can also watch a presentation about astronomy in the dome theater. There is a viewing terrace that overlooks Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027 Ticket prices: Free Hours: Tuesday - Friday 12:00 p.m - 10:00 p.m;
weekends 10:00 a.m - 10:00 p.m. Closed Mondays. How to get there: Take the DASH Weekend Observatory Shuttle from downtown and get off at Griffith Observatory. Official website: Six Flags Magic Mountain Overview: Los Angeles is more than just beaches and art shows. Six Flags Magic Mountain offers the most extreme thrill rides in all of Los Angeles. Six Flags Magic Mountain opened in 1971 and is located in Valencia, north of Los Angeles. The park has been awarded the world's largest themed collection of roller coasters. Magic Mountain's twenty coasters have received over forty world awards. These coasters are Goliath, regarded as one of the longest coasters in America; Green Lantern, touted as the world's first 4D coaster; Full Throttle, recognized as the nation's longest 360-degree coaster;
and one of the world’s second highest drop towers. This amusement park is most suited for thrill-seekers.\nAddress. 26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355.\nTicket Prices. Adult tickets are $72.99 while children tickets are $47.99.\nHours. Opens at 10:30 am, and generally closes between 8 pm and 9 pm.\nGetting There. If you are driving, that's great. If not, take the Red Line to North Hollywood Station, then TRANSFER to the North Hollywood 757 Rapid. After that, go to the Regional Transit (MRTC), then take Santa Clarita Rapid Bus 3 or 7 to Six Flags Magic Mountain.\nWebsite. \n____________________\nHollywood Walk of Fame \nThe Hollywood Walk of Fame was established in 1958 and has been one of the most recognized parts of LA culture since. It is located at the intersections of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. The walk has over 2000 stars that are all dedicated to entertainment industry icons. Along the path, you'll find attractions such as the Madame Tussauds Hollywood, TCL Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, and many others.\nAddress. 6901 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028, USA.\nTickets. Free. \nOpening Hours. Open all day. \nGetting There. Take the 212, 217, or 312 buses to Hollywood / Highland. \nWebsite. \n___________________________\nAccommodations.\nLos Angeles has a massive area and the public transportation network is not well serviced in particular districts. It is important to select the correct area as your \"base\" for this reason. If you want a hotel close to the ocean, you could book Santa Monica. If you like trendy area with shopping, and novelty hotels, you may want to book in Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills Beaverly Hills is one of the most visited neighborhoods in L.A. due to its dense areas of attractions, restaraunts, and shopping. Additionally, it has great transport accessibility. This is the area of the famous Oscars. Although Beverly Hills is known for being one of the more affluent areas in Los Angeles, there are hotels in the surrounding area that are more practical and economical. Signature Hotel: The Beverly Hills Hotel Also known as the Pink Palace, this hotel is one of the most photographed hotels in Los Angeles, and is instantly recognizable to social media users. The hotel is located on a 12-acre property and is surrounded with beautiful landscaping present the striped lounge chairs and beautiful cafes. There are also palm trees that have been planted along the outside of the building. The hotel was also the home of Marilyn Monroe for 3 months. In addition to its photogenic appearance, the hotel offers complimentary driver services to guests within a 3-mile radius of the hotel. Koreatown Overvview: Koreatown is in the Center of LA, and while it has fewer attractions, it has hotels with more affordable prices. Located to the west of Koreatown are Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. To the east is Downtown LA, and to the north is Hollywood. This is also one of the most popular areas for food in the city with a lot of options to eat late at night. Signature Hotel: The LINE Hotel This hotel, created by a Korean-American designer, has an industrial and minimalist aesthetic that is paired with a well photographed onsite coffee shop. This makes it a perfect hotel for social media. Located on a tranquil street directly across from the Santa Monica Metro station. Santa Monica Overview: Travelers looking for a true vacation experience by the beach will appreciate the lively beach districts of Santa Monica. Signature Hotel: Shore Hotel Directly facing Santa Monica Beach and Pacific Park is where this hotel can be found. Restaurants are adjacent to the property on either side, and shopping is easily accessible. Each room features a personal balcony, with the ocean view rooms being able to span the entire Pacific. Local Food Recommendations American Fast Food In-N-Out Burger One of the most successful burger franchises on the West Coast is In-N-Out Burger. The beef is fresh and not frozen, and their menu is simple with three regular burgers. The secret menu adds more options like a burger with lettuce instead of a bun for those looking for a lighter choice. Also, the fries and milkshakes are considered some of the best. Shake Shack Shake Shack is known to be the East Coast equivalent of In-N-Out as far as burgers go. Some people jokingly say that New York's three greatest icons are the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and Shake Shack burgers. Los Angeles visitors can enjoy this burger chain from New York as all the items on the menu including the burgers, milkshakes, and fries are worth ordering. Chick-fil-A Unlike the other two names above, this fast food chain is less known internationally, but it is extremely popular domestically with revenue exceeding McDonald's. Its menu centers around chicken burgers, so it's a must-visit for anyone who loves fried chicken sandwiches. It was number one for two years in a row on Fast Food Restaurant magazine’s list of Best Fast Food Restaurants in America.
Seafood Restaurants
The Boiling Crab
As one of the only California-based seafood chains, The Boiling Crab offers a reliable option for good seafood at reasonable prices.
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Bubba Gump Shrimp
This shrimp restaurant shows up on Santa Monica Beach and opened with the release of Forrest Gump. It offers a unique, local, tourist trap meal that is worth the visit.
Address: 301 Santa Monica Pier Building 9, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Korean Restaurants
Sun Nong Dan
As a 24/7 restaurant, it is popular for its beef soups and usually has a line forming. The beef short-rib soup is the best option of the soup as it contains tender rib meat and a very good broth.
Address: 3470 W 6th St #7, Los Angeles, CA 90020
BCD Tofu House
Besides soup beef, Los Angeles is also strong in Korean tofu soup, and this chain excels in genuine Korean style tofu stew. Most locations are open 24/7 and the service is quick.
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Kang Ho-Dong Baekjeong
The chain Korean barbecue restaurant owned by famous Korean TV host Kang Ho-dong has almost 100 branches globally. It is a fine choice for authentic Korean barbecue with traditional flavors, but you can expect a long wait during mealtimes.
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Japanese Restaurants
Men Oh
“Noodle King” is the name of this ramen shop, which is a branch of a famous ramen shop in Tokushima, Japan. You can find lots of Japanese food options at Honda-Ya Izakaya, located at 333 South Alameda Street Suite 314, Los Angeles, CA 90013. They are one of Little Tokyo's best Japanese Izakayas, and their extensive menu features grilled skewers, Japanese snacks, and other dishes. In Little Tokyo, you can also find a great portion and value restaurant. They are located at 456 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA. When it comes to shopping, there are some amazing spots in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. Beverly Hills' Rodeo Drive is known as one of the best shopping destinations in the world. They have lots of high-end shops and jewelry stores. The prices are extremely high, and they have a lot of celebrity shops. The storefronts are magnificent as well. Head to Santa Monica for Third Street, which is an outdoor shopping area. It has nice stores and restaurants, and it is very close to the beach. If you are into streetwear, Melrose Avenue is the place to be. There are walls for taking pictures, and the entire street is covered in street art. Desert Hills Premium Outlets is a must visit especially for young travelers who have a keen sense for fashion. The premium outlet describes itself as the largest outlet center in both Los Angeles and the whole of California. With 180 designer stores, it is a destination for desert shoppers. Moving on to the conclusion, departing from Los Angeles feels as though it is too soon. The city has an exceptional culture and draws people in again and again. If your itinerary permits, don't hurry through, take your time, enjoy California's unique spirit, and explore a City of Angels that is more artistic and more interesting.
