Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles for Young Adults: 10 Ideas

Los Angeles is spread out, so pick two or three ideas for each day and keep them close together. If you want to see the big sights first, a Los Angeles bus tour is one easy way, but every idea below works without one. Hours, prices and rules come from each place's own website, read on 22 October 2026.

Los Angeles is not cheap, but a young traveler can keep it low. Many picks cost nothing to enter, Metro never costs more than $5 a day, and the paid tours here start at €30.27 per person. The tourism board adds that sales tax is 9.75% and that 15 to 20% is a customary tip for restaurants and taxis.

Key Takeaway The Hollywood Sign trails and Griffith Observatory are free, and LA Metro never charges more than $5 a day when you tap. A good first weekend can cost less than one surf lesson.

1. Surf lesson in Santa Monica or Venice: the classic LA day

A group surf lesson is the easiest way to try surfing in Los Angeles, because the board and wetsuit come with it. The group surf lesson with all gear is from €66.76 per person. Cali-Adventures.com runs it. The lesson runs 2 hours, takes up to 12 people and meets at 20 Bicknell Ave in Santa Monica.

The price covers the lesson, an instructor, 8 and 9 foot boards, wetsuits and storage. Tips are not included. Children under 12 are listed as not suitable. It has a 4.8 rating from 530 reviews on GetYourGuide, which does not say how it checks reviews, and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

Coming alone? The Venice Beach group surf lesson is from €58.75 per person. GW Surf School runs it with up to 6 people, for 2 hours, and the group meets at 10 Washington Blvd in Venice. The page promises a group lesson where you can make new friends. It has a 4.9 rating from only 19 reviews, so the score rests on a small sample. It showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

Is a lesson worth it, or can you surf on your own? A lesson is worth it if you have never surfed, because the board, wetsuit and instructor are in one price. Go on your own only if you already surf, since the instructor is the main thing the price buys. We found no board rental prices, so we cannot compare the cost.

Food, drinks and hotel pick-up are not included in the Venice lesson. You can compare more schools among the surf lesson options.

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

2. Hollywood Sign hike: free on your own, or with a guide

You can hike to the Hollywood Sign for free, and the sign's official site names three trails. The Hollywood Sign Trust lists Mount Hollywood at 5.3 miles (easy, about 2 hours 28 minutes), Brush Canyon at 6 miles (easy, about 2 hours 45 minutes) and Cahuenga Peak at 3 miles (hard, about 1 hour 45 minutes). The trails are open from sunrise to sunset every day.

Plan on seeing the sign from a distance. The Trust says getting close to or touching the sign is prohibited, and the sign is fenced and watched by cameras. Runyon Canyon is a popular walk nearby, but it is not one of the three official sign trails.

If you want company and stories on the way, the Hollywood Sign hike with front and back access is from €30.27 per person. Bikes And Hikes LA Tours runs it. The hike takes 2.5 hours, a private option is offered and water is included. The group meets at 6298 Innsdale Trl in the Hollywood Hills.

People with mobility impairments, heart problems or breathing problems are listed as not suitable. On GetYourGuide it has a 4.7 rating from 516 reviews and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

Pro Tip The Trust gives about 2 hours 28 minutes for the Mount Hollywood trail, so start at least three hours before sunset.

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

3. Horseback ride in the hills above Hollywood

A horseback ride is a fun way to see the Hollywood Sign and the skyline from the hills, and it needs no riding skills. The Mulholland trail horseback ride is from €66.76 per person. Sunset Ranch Hollywood runs it, and it lasts 1 hour for up to 15 people. The ride meets at the ranch, so no transfer comes with it.

The group meets at the ranch, 3400 N Beachwood Dr. A guide, a horse and a helmet are included. Pick-up, drop-off, tips, food and drinks are not included, and water and Gatorade are for sale. It mentions views of the sign, the observatory and the city skyline. The ranch's own site says it has been family owned since 1929 and offers evening sunset rides, but it is the place to check ride times and prices, because we did not confirm them.

Pregnant women, people with mobility impairments and people with recent surgeries are listed as not suitable. On GetYourGuide it has a 4.7 rating from 906 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. Beach bike ride from Santa Monica to Venice

The beach bike path is the cheapest way to cover several beaches in one afternoon. The county says the path runs 22 miles, from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance, and it passes Venice.

Start at the Santa Monica Pier, where bike rental and bike share are listed on the pier's FAQ page. Then ride south and stop where you like. The pier page gives no rental prices, so ask at the shop.

For a guide, the Santa Monica and Venice Beach bike or e-bike tour is from €67.56 per person. Unlimited Biking Los Angeles runs it. The ride takes 3 hours, holds up to 15 people and meets at 1431 Ocean Ave in Santa Monica. Helmet and bike or e-bike hire come with the option you book, and tips, food and drinks do not. It holds a 4.4 rating from 33 reviews and showed free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance on 22 October 2026, so read its own terms before you book.

More rides are listed under bike tours in Los Angeles.

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

5. Venice Beach boardwalk and skate park

Venice Beach is the best place to people-watch, because the boardwalk, Muscle Beach and the skate park sit side by side. The city's Venice Beach Recreation Center page lists the boardwalk as Ocean Front Walk, with Muscle Beach and the skate park at 1800 Ocean Front Walk.

Walk the boardwalk, watch the skaters and then ride or walk north to the pier. The city's page is the place to check hours and rules before you go. Our cover photo shows a skater in the air at this park.

The Santa Monica and Venice Beach page covers the whole area.

6. Griffith Observatory at night: the best free view

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

The observatory lists telescope observing in its daily programs and a public star party each month. A planetarium show costs $12 for an adult and $10 for students, according to the planetarium page. Bring a student ID if you have one.

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, and the observatory's getting here page lists exact change. Looking for more evenings? Read Los Angeles at night.

The best nights out in a big city are the ones that cost almost nothing and end with a view.

7. Grand Central Market and Angels Flight: cheap food downtown

Grand Central Market is the easiest cheap meal downtown, because dozens of stands share one hall. The market's site says it 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.

Angels Flight is a short railway on Bunker Hill. It costs $1.50 each way and stops running at 10 pm. The lower entrance is across from the market at 351 S Hill St. The Broad is on Grand Avenue too, and its visit page lists free general admission and says it is closed on Mondays.

The Metro B and D Lines stop at Pershing Square, close to Angels Flight. After dark, stay on well-lit streets. More ideas are in the Downtown Los Angeles guide, and you can compare guided tastings under food tours in Los Angeles.

8. Santa Monica Pier: sunset, rides and a free walk

Santa Monica Pier is a free walk with an ocean view, and it works best at sunset. The pier's FAQ page says it is open daily from 6 am to 10 pm. The historic merry-go-round is closed on some weekdays, so check the days. Pacific Park's rides have their own prices, which are on the park's site.

The Third Street Promenade is about a 10-minute walk from the pier. The Metro E Line ends at Downtown Santa Monica, and you walk west on Colorado Avenue to the pier. A Metro 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.

9. SoFi Stadium tour: for sports fans and big groups

The SoFi Stadium tour is a good pick for sports fans, because it takes you through places fans never see. The stadium's tours page says the tour lasts about 2 hours with field access and 60 to 75 minutes without it. It covers premium suites, locker rooms and the player tunnel.

Parking is complimentary, and you should arrive early to register. The tours page lists no price, so check it and the dates before you plan the day. More details are on the SoFi Stadium tour page.

10. Cosm LA: a big night out near SoFi

Cosm LA is a night out in Inglewood, in the Hollywood Park district near SoFi Stadium, and entry is ticketed only during event hours. The Cosm help pages give the address as 1252 District Drive. They also say a nearby lot validates four hours of parking with any purchase, and that outside food is not allowed.

The Cosm help pages list no ticket prices, so check its site before you go.

Which areas are good for going out with friends? No official source publishes a ranking of nightlife areas or a list of bars or clubs, so we name none. The tourism board also says alcohol is for ages 21 and up, ID may be asked, and bars may not serve between 2 am and 6 am. These are the late options we confirmed: Griffith Observatory until 10 pm Tuesday to Sunday, Santa Monica Pier until 10 pm, Angels Flight downtown until 10 pm and Grand Central Market until 9 pm. Cosm opens for ticketed events only, and its pages list no other going-out areas. For something spookier, Universal runs Halloween Horror Nights on select nights, and its event page lists it through 1 November 2026 as a separately ticketed event. Universal sells its own tickets.

How to choose fun things to do in Los Angeles for young adults

Choose by budget first, then by how active and social you want the day to be. The table shows each idea, who it suits and what it costs to start.

Things to Do in Los Angeles' count of GetYourGuide listings on 22 October 2026 found 12 surf lessons, hikes and horseback rides, from €30.27 to €120.18 per person.

For a rough budget, the next table shows what two friends pay for the paid, bookable picks. Tips, food and parking come on top.

Yes, Los Angeles can work for a young person alone, if you plan around its size and use the busy, well-lit places. The tourism board publishes no advice just for solo travelers, only general safety tips, and it also says to use licensed rides and check rideshare details before you get in. Pick the small group lessons and guided hikes, because you meet people without planning it. The Venice surf listing says up to 6 people, and the Santa Monica lesson says up to 12. The tourism board's advice for any visitor is to stay alert, keep valuables out of sight and walk in well-traveled, well-lit places, especially at night. Read the tourism board's travel tips before a late night.

On a budget, the free picks carry the trip. Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign trails, the Santa Monica Pier walk and The Broad cost nothing to enter, and Metro stops at $5 a day. Book one paid highlight, such as the €30.27 hike or the €58.75 surf lesson, and keep the rest free.

A few picks are the wrong choice for some people. Skip the hike and the horseback ride if you are pregnant or have a mobility limit, because the listings name both as not suitable. Skip the surf lesson if you are under 12. And if you have no car, stay near one Metro line, because the city is spread out. LA Metro charges $1.75 a ride with a $5 daily cap, and the page on getting around Los Angeles covers the rest.

To try surfing first, compare the surf lessons in Los Angeles and book a few days ahead. For more no-cost ideas, see free things to do in Los Angeles.