What to See
8 highlights📍 Tap the pin for directions
Hollywood Sign & Griffith Observatory
Skip the crowded tourist-trap viewpoints and hike up to Griffith Observatory instead — free admission, telescope viewing at night, and one of the best views of both the Hollywood Sign and the downtown skyline. The Hollywood Sign itself is best photographed from the observatory or the Lake Hollywood Park trail, not up close (there's no public access to the sign itself).
Hollywood Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre
Worth a walk-through for the novelty, but manage expectations — much of Hollywood Boulevard is run-down and touristy, with costumed characters aggressively soliciting tips for photos (same as Times Square — ask the price first or decline).
Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach Boardwalk
Santa Monica Pier has the classic amusement park and Pacific Park ferris wheel. Walk or bike a couple miles south along the beach path to Venice Beach for the muscle beach gym, skate park, and boardwalk street vendors — a completely different energy from Santa Monica's cleaner, more upscale feel.
The Getty Center
Free admission (you only pay for parking, around $25 USD), a stunning hilltop campus reached by a free tram, and a world-class art collection. Budget half a day — the gardens and architecture are as much the draw as the art.
Downtown LA (DTLA) & the Arts District
Grand Central Market for food, the historic Bradbury Building, and the Arts District's mural-covered warehouses turned into breweries and coffee shops. A different, more urban side of LA that surprises people who only picture Hollywood and the beach.
Silver Lake & Los Feliz
Hip, walkable-ish neighborhoods with independent coffee shops, vintage stores, and the Silver Lake Reservoir loop for a scenic walk. A good antidote to the more touristy parts of the city.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Combines a working studio backlot tram tour with theme park rides (Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World). Buy tickets online in advance and consider the Front of Line pass if visiting in summer — regular lines can hit 60-90 minutes.
Runyon Canyon or Griffith Park Hiking
Runyon Canyon is the famous (and crowded) hike with celebrity-sighting potential and city views. For a quieter version of the same idea, Griffith Park has miles of less-trafficked trails with equally good views of the Observatory and Hollywood Sign.