With so many world-famous sites and attractions to visit, deciding on the best things to do in Los Angeles can be a bewildering task. If you’re only in town for a short time, you could spend all your trip wandering around L.A.’s essential museums without even making it to Hollywood.
This city is
big—and stuffed with so many worthwhile experiences that you’ll never be asking
yourself what to do—so expect to put in the miles taking in everything it has
to offer, from the beaches of Santa Monica to the
vibrant historic streets of the Arts District and super-hip Silver Lake. There are so many
great places to visit and things to see, it can be hard knowing where to start
and what to fit in. This list should help you decide and get the most from your
L.A. getaway.
Get active on Venice Beach
Venice Beach has long been known as the bohemian epicenter of California, and while the area gets plenty of mainstream tourists, it still boldly embraces its eccentric spirit. Abbot Kinney has transformed into a high-end ’hood over recent years, but the boardwalk is still a, let’s say, unique place for people watching, with radical pamphleteers, skateboarders and body builders all making their presence known. Grab lunch at the local Figtree’s Café before browsing the shelves at Small World Books. This vibrant district is welcoming to all walks of life.
Stroll along the stars in Hollywood
You’re never far from a Hollywood celebrity or two in L.A. For a glimpse of the stardust on which the city’s built, stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where more than 2,600 of the entertainment world’s most illustrious names are immortalized in pink terrazzo and gold lettering. For film fanatics, the famous hand and footprints at the Chinese Theatre are a requisite stop—though the tourist-choked area leaves much to be desired. Countless galas, premieres and award ceremonies have passed through over the decades and although it may not all be quite as glitzy as you imagined, Hollywood still has its charms.
Bow down to the masters at the Getty
The Getty Center is packed full of artistic masterpieces and enjoys on an awe-inspiring hilltop location with incredible views of L.A. and a stunning central garden. Sure, it might not have the rich collections of Old World galleries, but the Getty’s impressive exhibits cover a broad sweep of history. Among the highlights hanging here are works by Rubens and Impressionists such as Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh and Cézanne. The French decorative arts get plenty of love and the growing photography collection is also well worth a look.
Shop in style on Rodeo Drive
We’ve all dreamed of being Julia Roberts shopping on Rodeo Drive, but very few of us could actually afford to shop in the designer boutiques and flagship stores seen in the film Pretty Woman. Which means window-shopping is the order of the day. Along the $200-million ersatz European cobbled walkway Two Rodeo, browsing tourists mingle with serious spenders. A short journey away is Anderson Court, which is the only shopping mall designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
Get curious with a Jurassic experience
Despite the name, this pseudo-scientific nook has nothing to do with Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park or any of its sequels (you’ll want to head to Universal Studios for that). The Museum of Jurassic Technology is home to a repository of curiosities: from scientific wonders such as a bat that can fly through walls to impossibly tiny sculptures and other artistic marvels. The institute is an intriguing combination of fact and fiction, and much more exciting than chasing—or being chased by—CGI dinosaurs.
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