Couple Things to Do in Los Angeles: 10 Date Ideas

The best dates in Los Angeles use the light, not a long plan. If you want to see the main sights by day first, a Los Angeles big bus tour is one easy way, but every idea below works without one.

Is a tour worth it? Do it on your own if you want a free date: Griffith, the Getty, the pier and Angels Flight cost little or nothing, and you set your own time. A tour is worth it for the water and the air. A boat or a helicopter needs a captain or a pilot, and the four picks here run from €89.79 to €177.15 per person, so two people pay about double. Hours, prices and rules below are from each place's own website, read on 22 October 2026.

Key Takeaway Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center are free to enter and open late: Griffith until 10 pm Tuesday to Sunday, the Getty until 9 pm on Saturday. For a no-cost date, start with one of them.

1. Sunset sail from Marina del Rey: the classic splurge

A sunset sail is the most romantic paid date in Los Angeles, because the light and the water do the work for you. The Los Angeles sunset sailing trip is from €133.53 per person. Sailmind runs it. It lasts 2 hours and takes a small group of up to 6 people. The boat leaves from Marina Lot 77, at 13560 Mindanao Way in Marina del Rey.

On board you hear classic blues, and you can try the sailing basics under supervision. Food and drinks are allowed but not provided, so bring a snack and a bottle of water. The listing has a 4.9 rating from 38 reviews. It showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

People with motion sickness, mobility impairments or a low level of fitness are listed as not suitable. Seasick? Pick the observatory instead.

The four tours at a glance, as the listings showed them on 22 October 2026:

All four showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The brunch cruise listing gives no group size, and the wine cruise listing says the meeting point depends on the option you choose, so look at the option page before you book. The brunch listing names no group size, so ask the operator if that matters to you. Ratings are the listings' own, not our checks.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026.

2. Wine and sea lion cruise: a quieter evening on the water

A wine and sea lion cruise suits couples who want the marina and a drink without a long sail. The Los Angeles luxury boat cruise with wine, charcuterie and sea lions is from €97.03 per person. Marina Cruisers runs it, and it lasts 1 to 2 hours, depending on the option you choose.

The price includes a captain, life jackets, music over Bluetooth and 2 glasses of wine, soft drinks or water. Sunset viewing and sea lion sightings are mentioned, but neither is promised. Extra food and tips are not included, and the listing says a minimum tip of 20% applies. The meeting point can vary by option, so check it on the booking page. The listing says a small-group option is available, gives no fixed group size and names no one as unsuitable. Parking validation is also not included. The listing has a 4.9 rating from 78 reviews and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

More cruises are collected under boat tours in Los Angeles.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026.

3. Champagne brunch cruise: a birthday morning on the harbor

A champagne brunch cruise is a good birthday date, because it gives you a table, a buffet and no driving plan. The City Cruises champagne brunch cruise is from €89.79 per person. City Cruises California runs it. It lasts 2 hours and leaves from Fisherman's Village at 13755 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey.

You get a brunch buffet, unlimited champagne and sparkling cider, and live entertainment. A cash bar sells other drinks. You sit at a reserved table. The highlights name Newport Beach landmarks even though the cruise leaves from Marina del Rey, so check the route on the page before you book. It has a 4.6 rating from 170 reviews and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026.

4. Griffith Observatory at dusk: the best free view

Griffith Observatory is the best free date in Los Angeles, because it adds a city view and a night sky to a walk. Entry to the building is free, according to the observatory's visit page. Doors are open noon to 10 pm Tuesday to Friday and 10 am to 10 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Monday is closed.

Arrive about an hour before sunset, then stay for the lights. The observatory lists telescope observing in its daily programs and a public star party each month. A planetarium show costs $12 for an adult, so two tickets are $24, according to the planetarium page.

Parking next to the building is paid, and free parking is listed farther downhill. Without a car, the DASH Observatory bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station daily from 10 am to 10 pm. It costs 50 cents, or 35 cents with a TAP card.

Discover Los Angeles says the sunset here is "always gorgeous", with views of downtown, the Pacific Ocean and the Hollywood Sign. The Hollywood Sign Trust names Griffith Observatory as an official viewpoint, along with Ovation Hollywood at Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The Trust's page gives no sunset details for either one. The observatory's visit page listed sunset at 6:12 pm on 22 October 2026, so Griffith is the only viewpoint here with a published sunset time. We found no official list that ranks sunset spots for couples.

A good date needs a view, a little time and no rush to leave.

5. Getty Center on a Saturday evening: art, gardens and a late close

The Getty Center is a calm, free date, and Saturday is the best day for it. The Getty's visit page lists free admission with a timed-entry reservation. It is open 10 am to 9 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 6:30 pm Tuesday to Friday and Sunday. It is closed on Monday.

Parking is $25 per car, $15 after 3 pm and $10 after 6 pm, and it is free after 6 pm on Saturdays, says the Getty's parking page. There is no street parking nearby. Metro bus 761 stops at the entrance if you would rather not drive.

The Getty suggests 15 to 20 minutes for the tram, and 30 to 45 minutes each for the exhibitions and the Central Garden. Together that is two to three hours, so arrive around 4 pm and watch the light change. Some galleries are closed for renovation, so look at the Getty's page before you go.

Pro Tip Book your Getty time slot for Saturday afternoon. You pay the $15 parking rate on the way in, and you leave after 6 pm when parking is free.

6. Helicopter over Hollywood: for a big birthday or a proposal

A helicopter flight is the splurge that fits a big birthday, because it is short, loud and full of views. The Hollywood and Beverly Hills celebrity helicopter tour is from €177.15 per person. Lite Flight Helicopter runs it, and it lasts 20 minutes. The flight meets at 10750 Sherman Way in Burbank, and pick-up is not included.

You fly over Beverly Hills and Hollywood mansions, Universal Studios, the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory and the Walk of Fame. You get noise-cancelling headphones and live commentary from the pilot. Private and small-group options are offered, so check which one you book. Pilot tips are encouraged but not included. People over 300 lbs (136 kg) are listed as not suitable.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 932 reviews and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book. To see the sights from the ground first, look at Hollywood and Beverly Hills tours.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026.

7. Santa Monica Pier and the beach path: a free evening walk

A walk on Santa Monica Pier is one of the easiest free dates in Los Angeles. The pier's FAQ page says it is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm. Walking on is free, and the historic merry-go-round is closed on some weekdays, so check the days.

The Metro E Line ends at Downtown Santa Monica. From there you walk west on Colorado Avenue to the pier. A ride costs $1.75, and a day never costs more than $5 when you tap. Parking at the pier is paid, and posted rates apply.

For a longer date, rent bikes on the pier and ride the beach path. The county says the path runs 22 miles, from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, and it passes Venice. The county page names only those two end points and says the path is open year-round. No official page calls any beach romantic, so we name none. The closest published facts are the pier, open until 10 pm, and the 22-mile path, open year-round. More on the area is on the Santa Monica and Venice Beach page.

To stay the night, Shutters On The Beach is a luxury resort right on Santa Monica beach, with an outdoor pool and a spa. The where to stay guide covers other areas.

8. Angels Flight and Grand Central Market: a cheap downtown date

Angels Flight and Grand Central Market make the cheapest downtown date, and you can do both in an hour. Angels Flight is a short railway on Bunker Hill. It costs $1.50 each way, opened in 1901 and stops running at 10 pm. The lower entrance is across from the market at 351 S Hill St.

Grand Central Market is open daily from 8 am to 9 pm, though hours vary by stand. It lists vendors such as Ramen Hood, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas and Go Get Em Tiger. For a sit-down dinner, no official source picks a romantic restaurant, so we name none. Check a restaurant's own page for hours and booking. Griffith Observatory's visit page lists the Café at the End of the Universe, and says café seating is for café patrons. We did not read its menu or hours. The market page states no parking rate, so check the garage sign at 308 South Hill Street.

The Metro B and D Lines stop at Pershing Square, close to Angels Flight. After dark, walk in well-lit streets and keep valuables out of sight, as the tourism board advises. More ideas are in the Downtown Los Angeles guide.

9. Sunset horseback ride in Hollywood: a different kind of evening

A sunset horseback ride is a fun date for couples who want something more active than a dinner. Sunset Ranch Hollywood, at 3400 N Beachwood Dr, has run since 1929 and offers evening rides. The ranch's website is the place to check ride times, prices and rider rules, because we did not confirm them.

Dress for the weather, wear closed shoes and ask about weight and age limits when you book. Beginners should say so up front.

10. Catalina Island for a night away: the long-weekend date

Catalina Island is the easiest way to turn a date into a long weekend. Catalina Express sails to Avalon from Long Beach, San Pedro and Dana Point. A round trip from Long Beach costs $103 per adult, including the wharfage fee and tax, and takes about 1 hour each way.

The ferry runs up to 30 departures a day, all year. Check the dates for your day, because some Long Beach departures run only on set days. Many couples stay overnight, so the island is a better fit for two nights than for a rushed day trip.

How to choose couple things to do in Los Angeles

Choose by budget first, then by the time of day. The table shows each pick, when it works best and what it costs.

Things to Do in Los Angeles' count of GetYourGuide listings on 22 October 2026 found 10 sunset, wine, brunch and dinner cruises around Los Angeles, from €22.25 to €149.83 per person.

For a rough budget, the next table doubles the base price for two people. Tips, food and parking come on top.

The boat and helicopter trips are the wrong choice if either of you gets motion sick or you are on a tight budget. In that case, pick Griffith Observatory or the Getty Center, which cost nothing to enter. For more free ideas, see free things to do in Los Angeles. For more evening ideas, read Los Angeles at night.

To go out on the water, compare the options under boat tour Los Angeles and book a few days ahead.