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Los Angeles travel guide

The best things to do in Los Angeles

Universal and the Warner Bros. lot, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood and the beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu: here are the sights and tours worth your time, with honest advice on value for money, crowded sights and hot, cramped tour buses.

See the best things to do
Griffith Observatory at sunset with the downtown Los Angeles towers behind it

Short answer The best things to do in Los Angeles, CA are a studio day at Universal or Warner Bros., sunset at Griffith Observatory, a tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, and a beach day in Santa Monica, Venice or Malibu. Griffith Observatory is free to enter. For a first trip, our most-booked pick is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, from €70.

Our top 10

Top 10 things to do in Los Angeles

Ranked by what most visitors come for, with the tour or ticket we would book for each and a guide that compares the options.

  1. A spinning swing ride lit up in yellow and pink at night in a theme park

    Universal Studios Hollywood

    A theme park inside a working film studio. The day ticket includes the Studio Tour, a tram ride of about an hour through the backlot.

    Our pick: Universal one-day ticket, from €89 per person

  2. A film-set street of painted shop fronts with studio lights and equipment cases

    Warner Bros. Studio Tour

    A guided tour of a real TV and film lot in Burbank. It ends on Stage 48, with the real Central Perk set from Friends.

    Our pick: Warner Bros. Studio Tour, from €70 per person

  3. The white building and domes of Griffith Observatory under a blue sky

    Griffith Observatory

    The domed observatory above the city is free to enter and open late, except on Mondays. Come for the views and the sunset.

    Our pick: Griffith Observatory guided hike, from €30 per person

  4. White shop buildings and palm trees on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills

    Hollywood and Beverly Hills tours

    An open-air bus takes you past the Walk of Fame, the Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive. It also drives by celebrity homes in the hills.

    Our pick: Hollywood and celebrity homes open-air bus, from €29 per person

  5. Santa Monica Pier and its Ferris wheel lit up in purple at dusk

    Santa Monica and Venice Beach

    Two famous beach towns side by side on the coast. A bike tour is the easy way to see both in one morning.

    Our pick: Santa Monica and Venice bike tour, from €68 per person

  6. Pink stars set into the dark sidewalk of the Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Hollywood Walk of Fame

    The stars in the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard. Pair the walk with a guided tour of the Dolby Theatre.

    Our pick: Dolby Theatre guided tour, from €24 per person

  7. Waves and rocky cliffs on a Malibu beach in low evening sun

    Malibu beaches

    Beaches and rocky coves along the coast. A tour from Santa Monica adds a look at celebrity homes on the way.

    Our pick: Malibu celebrity homes and beaches tour, from €35 per person

  8. Downtown Los Angeles office towers above a tree-lined street

    Downtown Los Angeles

    Grand Central Market, street art in the Arts District and Little Tokyo. A guided walk explains the history behind the towers.

    Our pick: Downtown history and architecture walk, from €44 per person

  9. Boats in the bay of Avalon on Catalina Island, below green hills

    Catalina Island

    An island off the coast, reached by ferry. It makes a full, relaxed day away from the traffic.

    Our pick: Catalina Island ferry from Newport Beach, from €42 per person

  10. The tail of a whale rising out of a calm blue sea

    Whale watching

    Boat trips leave from Long Beach and Newport Beach to look for whales and dolphins. Our pick has over 1,000 reviews.

    Our pick: Long Beach whale and dolphin cruise, from €43 per person

Our 6 top-rated Los Angeles tours

The two big studio tickets, then four ways to see Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the coast without a car. All are on GetYourGuide.

Los Angeles tours compared

Los Angeles tours compared
Tour From Duration Group size Pickup Free cancellation Who it suits Why we picked it
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood 4.6 (8,833) €70
per person		 3 hours Standard group: Up to 14 people Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance TV and film fans aged 5 and up The most booked of our picks the day we checked, with 4.6 from 8,833 reviews.
Universal Studios Hollywood one-day ticket 4.6 (9,993) €89
per person		 Not stated Not stated Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Families and theme-park fans The most reviewed of our picks: 4.6 from 9,993 reviews.
Hollywood and celebrity homes open-air bus 4.5 (2,901) €29
per person		 2 - 5.5 hours Private option available Pickup available (option) Yes, up to 24 hours in advance First-timers who want the classic sights fast A low price from €29 with 4.5 from 2,901 reviews, and options from 2 to 5.5 hours.
Best of LA city tour with stops 4.6 (2,507) €52
per person		 5.5 hours Private option available Pickup available (option) Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Visitors who want to get out and walk Real stops instead of a drive-past, with 4.6 from 2,507 reviews.
Full-day LA tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beaches 4.8 (1,435) €82
per person		 7.5 - 9 hours Private option available Pickup available (option) Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Short stays: all of LA in one day The best-rated tour here (4.8 from 1,435 reviews), with air-conditioned transport and water.
Two-hour Hollywood open-air bus tour 4.1 (1,690) €28
per person		 2 hours Not stated Meet on site Yes, up to 24 hours in advance Visitors with only two hours The cheapest pick, from €28, but its rating is lower (4.1 from 1,690 reviews).

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.

Must-see things to do in Los Angeles

The must-see things to do in Los Angeles are the studios, Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and the beaches. Most first-time visitors want a mix of film history and the coast. Our top 10 above ranks them, with one tour or ticket each.

  • A studio: Universal for a theme-park day, Warner Bros. for a guided look at a working lot.
  • Hollywood: the Walk of Fame and the views of the Hollywood Sign.
  • Griffith Observatory: free entry and a wide view over the city at sunset.
  • The coast: Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu.

Fun things to do in Los Angeles, CA

The most fun things to do in Los Angeles are the ones that get you moving. Try a bike tour along the beach, a whale-watching boat or a night tour with Griffith Observatory. Universal is the top pick for thrill rides.

Cool things to do in Los Angeles

For something less obvious, go behind the scenes. You can tour SoFi Stadium, see a working film lot, or take the ferry to Catalina Island for the day.

Tourist things to do in Los Angeles: tour or on your own?

Do the free and easy sights on your own, and book a tour where it saves real effort. Griffith Observatory is free to enter. A tour helps most where you have no car, for celebrity homes and for the studios.

Los Angeles is spread out, so travel time is the hidden cost. A one-day city tour links sights that are far apart, such as Hollywood and Santa Monica.

Things to do and see in Los Angeles, CA by area

Plan your days by area, because sights far apart eat up time. These groups work well together.

  • Hollywood and Griffith Park: the Walk of Fame, the Dolby Theatre and Griffith Observatory.
  • The studios: Universal City and the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank.
  • The coast: Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu.
  • Downtown: Grand Central Market, the Arts District and Little Tokyo.

Things to do in Japantown, Los Angeles

Los Angeles has two Japanese neighborhoods: Little Tokyo downtown and Sawtelle Japantown on the Westside. Little Tokyo is home to the Japanese American National Museum. Its Little Tokyo/Arts District Metro station is right across the street.

Sawtelle is the city's officially named Japantown since 2015. Its shops and restaurants line Sawtelle Boulevard between Pico and Santa Monica boulevards.

Things to do in Inglewood, Los Angeles

Inglewood is the place for sports fans, with SoFi Stadium and the Intuit Dome. SoFi Stadium is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, and it runs behind-the-scenes tours. The Intuit Dome, home of the LA Clippers, has its own one-hour tour.

Tips for a better Los Angeles trip

  1. Check what the price includes

    Compare what each tour includes, not only its price. Entry tickets, parking and food are often extra.

  2. Beat the crowds

    Go early to the big sights. Griffith Observatory opens at noon from Tuesday to Friday and at 10 am on weekends. It is closed on Mondays.

  3. Pick the right bus

    Open-air buses have no roof, so the midday sun can be hot. For a long day, an air-conditioned tour such as our Best of LA pick is more comfortable.

  4. Read the cancellation line

    Most of our picks show free cancellation on their booking page. Check the exact cut-off there before you pay.

Questions people ask about Los Angeles

What are the best things to do in los angeles?
A studio day at Universal or Warner Bros., sunset at Griffith Observatory, a Hollywood and Beverly Hills tour, and a day at the beach in Santa Monica, Venice or Malibu.

What things to do in los angeles?
Start with the studios, Hollywood, Griffith Observatory and the coast. Then add a day trip, such as Catalina Island or a whale-watching boat.

What are some fun things to do in los angeles?
Thrill rides at Universal, a bike tour from Santa Monica to Venice, whale watching from Long Beach, or a SoFi Stadium tour.

What are things to do in los angeles?
The top 10 on this page is the short list. Each one links to a guide that compares the tours and tickets for it.

Where to stay in los angeles tourist?
Hollywood suits a first trip built around the classic sights, and Santa Monica suits a beach trip. Our where to stay in Los Angeles guide compares six areas with hotels rated 8 or higher on Booking.com.

More Los Angeles experiences, live

More Los Angeles experiences with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.

Live prices and availability from GetYourGuide load here.

Every Los Angeles guide

Facts checked on 22 October 2026 against: Griffith Observatory: Visit · Universal Studios Hollywood: The World-Famous Studio Tour · Japanese American National Museum: Visit · Rafu Shimpo: Sawtelle gets official Japantown designation · SoFi Stadium: Tours.

Written by the Things to Do in Los Angeles editorial team.