The 20 Best Attractions in Los Angeles

The Getty Center is a world-class art museum perched high above Los Angeles, featuring an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, and photography across beautifully landscaped grounds. You can spend hours exploring the galleries, gardens, and architecture—and admission is free, though parking costs extra. Note that Friday afternoons can get crowded with school groups, so weekends or off-peak times offer a more peaceful experience.

Griffith Park is a sprawling Los Angeles park centered around the famous Griffith Observatory, offering stunning views of the Hollywood Sign and city skyline, plus hiking trails, green space, and a museum with planetarium shows. The observatory's Mark IX projector is a rare attraction, and you can take a 50-cent bus ride up from free parking near the Greek Theatre. Note that the observatory parking lot charges $10/hour, and the bus only accepts cash.

The Hollywood Bowl is LA's legendary outdoor amphitheatre, its concentric-arch band shell tucked into the Hollywood Hills and hosting the LA Philharmonic and major touring acts each summer. Bring a picnic and wine to enjoy before the music under the stars. It is a seasonal venue, so outside concert dates you can only see it via the free on-site museum or occasional tours, and parking is notoriously tight, so use the shuttle.

A 120-acre stunner in San Marino — world-class botanical gardens (the Japanese and Chinese gardens alone justify the trip), rare books like a Gutenberg Bible, and a serious art collection. Easily a half-day. Two catches: it's pricey, and you need a car plus a timed reservation on weekends.

Walt Disney Concert Hall is a stunning architectural landmark in downtown LA hosting world-class orchestral performances and classical music events. The exceptional acoustics, striking minimalist design, and comfortable seating make it a must-visit for music lovers, with educational programs like Music 101 available. Parking is convenient and reasonably priced at $10, though it's a concert venue so check the performance schedule before visiting.

LA's free hilltop temple to the cosmos — real telescopes, a gorgeous Art Deco building, and the single best skyline-plus-Hollywood-Sign view in the city. Absolutely send a friend here. The only catch is parking: it's a maddening $10/hour and fills fast, so take the DASH bus or walk up.

The largest art museum in the western United States, LACMA houses over 150,000 works spanning 6,000 years across multiple pavilions. The iconic Urban Light installation — 202 restored antique streetlamps — is a beloved free outdoor landmark and one of LA's most photographed spots. The collection ranges from ancient artifacts to contemporary works, with particularly strong holdings in Latin American and Islamic art. The campus is mid-renovation so some pavilions may be closed; check the website before visiting.

Los Angeles Union Station is the grand 1939 rail terminal that blends Spanish Colonial, Mission and Art Deco styling into one of America's most beautiful stations. Even without a train to catch, the tiled waiting hall, towering windows and planted courtyards are worth a wander, and it is a hub for Metro and Amtrak. It is a functioning transit station, so it is busiest at rush hour.

A world-class natural history museum featuring life-sized dinosaur skeletons, an exceptional Gem and Mineral hall, taxidermy displays, and interactive exhibits for all ages. The dinosaur section and mineral collection are standout highlights, with knowledgeable docents available to enhance your visit. Arrive early or buy tickets in advance, as the museum gets very crowded after a few hours.

Grand Central Market is a sprawling indoor food hall in downtown LA with dozens of vendors serving everything from tacos and ramen to Italian and Thai cuisine. The energy is vibrant and chaotic—it genuinely feels like the heart of the city with an incredible mix of cultures and longtime vendors. Come hungry and ready to wander; there's something for every dietary preference and budget, with options like $5 tacos and the famous Eggslut, though the crowds and noise level aren't for everyone seeking a quiet meal.

The TCL Chinese Theatre (Grauman's) is Hollywood Boulevard's most iconic movie palace, a 1927 pagoda whose forecourt is set with the handprints and footprints of film legends. It is free to browse the forecourt prints, and you can still catch a first-run film on its huge IMAX screen. The surrounding stretch of Hollywood is crowded and touristy, with costumed characters angling for tips.

The Hollywood Sign is an iconic Los Angeles landmark best experienced through hiking in Griffith Park or viewing from nearby vantage points like Griffith Observatory or Lake Hollywood Park. The hike offers stunning views of the city skyline and is accessible for most fitness levels, though parking can be tricky and crowded—arrive early, check the weather for visibility, and wear comfortable shoes for dusty terrain.

The Broad is a striking contemporary art museum in downtown LA offering free admission (with required reservation) and beautifully curated galleries across multiple floors. The collection spans unique and thoughtfully presented exhibits, including rotating shows like the Yoko Ono installation, with architecture that's as impressive as the art inside. Note: backpacks must be worn on your front, the gift shop line moves slowly, and reservations are essential.

Watts Towers Arts Center showcases the iconic 100-year-old Towers—an extraordinary architectural masterpiece built by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia from salvaged materials like broken tiles, glass, and metal. Inside, you'll find galleries featuring local artists and community projects, plus events like the Day of the Drum Festival that celebrate the neighborhood's creative spirit. Parking on the grounds is limited and can be challenging to find.

One of the most singular and genuinely strange cultural institutions in America — a museum that deliberately blurs the line between fact and fiction, presenting elaborate, beautifully crafted exhibits on obscure subjects with complete deadpan sincerity. It's part art installation, part cabinet of curiosities, part philosophical provocation. The rooftop tea room with live doves is a surreal delight. Not for everyone, but discerning visitors who appreciate conceptual art and intellectual play consider it unmissable.

A stunning 130+ year-old landmark building in downtown LA featuring ornate iron railings, open elevators, and a soaring glass ceiling that floods the lobby with natural light. The building is famous for its appearances in Blade Runner and other films, and the architecture and details are genuinely impressive. The major caveat: public access is limited to the ground floor lobby only—you cannot explore the upper floors unless you work there, and photography is prohibited in some areas.

Frank Lloyd Wright's 1921 masterpiece on Hollywood Boulevard, featuring extraordinary geometric architecture with masterful interplay of light and shadow throughout the interior spaces. Tour the meticulously restored rooms with knowledgeable volunteers, or use self-guided materials to explore Wright's vision of integrating architecture with nature through framed views and terraces. Note: You must wear protective booties over your shoes inside the house to preserve the original floors.

A historic funicular railway in downtown LA that climbs a steep hillside between two streets in about a minute—it's charming, atmospheric, and famous as a La La Land filming location. The ride is short but memorable, with good views from the top, free souvenirs, and kind staff. Note: it's a very brief experience, so manage expectations about ride length.

The Old Los Angeles Zoo is a public park within Griffith Park featuring the atmospheric ruins of the original zoo—stone caves, rusted animal enclosures, and graffiti-covered structures from a bygone era. Walk the easy 10–15 minute trail to explore the historic cages, enjoy hiking trails up the mountain, picnic on the grass, or let kids play in the playground area. Parking fills up quickly on weekends (full by noon on Sundays), so arrive early.

Vista Hermosa is a 10.5-acre natural park in central LA offering rare downtown skyline views, grassy open spaces, and hillside trails. Come for picnicking, dog-walking, jogging, photography, or just quiet time among well-maintained lawns and shade trees—but know that parking is limited and can be tricky to find.