Los Angeles sprawls across nearly 500 square miles, and that scale is exactly what trips up first-time visitors. You pull up a map, see Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills scattered far apart, and suddenly your three-day trip feels like it needs a logistics degree. Searching things to do in Los Angeles CA usually means you want a shortlist you can trust, not fifty tabs open with conflicting advice.
This guide gives you exactly that: ten experiences worth your limited time, chosen for variety rather than repetition. You’ll find iconic landmarks alongside spots most tourists walk right past, plus a mix of free activities and splurge-worthy ones so your itinerary fits your budget and pace.
We’ve guided over a million visitors through this city at Another Side Tours, and the same pattern shows up every time: people who plan a rough route beforehand see more and stress less than those winging it. Whether you’re chasing celebrity history, beach days, or genuine local culture, this list gives you a solid starting point for building a trip that actually feels like Los Angeles, not a rushed checklist of clichés.
1. Take a guided sightseeing tour of LA’s icons
Starting your trip with a guided sightseeing tour of LA’s landmarks solves the exact problem most visitors run into: LA’s landmarks are far apart, traffic is unpredictable, and figuring out parking at each stop eats hours you don’t have. A tour handles the driving, the routing, and the storytelling, so you spend your first day actually seeing the city instead of decoding it. This is why it tops our list of things to do in Los Angeles CA, it sets the foundation for everything else on this itinerary.
What to expect
A typical route hits Hollywood Boulevard, Beverly Hills, and often a scenic overlook or two, all narrated by a local guide who fills in the history behind what you’re looking at. At Another Side Tours, we run these in private vehicles, on Segways, on guided e-bike tours of Los Angeles, or in a limousine, with durations from 90 minutes to a full 7-hour day depending on how much ground you want to cover. You get pickup from your hotel on most options, which cuts out the logistics headache entirely.
A good guided tour turns LA’s sprawl from a problem into a plan.
Who it’s best for
This option suits first-time visitors, families with limited days, and anyone who’d rather listen to context than research it themselves later. It also works well for corporate group outings in Los Angeles and team outings looking for something more memorable than a conference room. If you’re the type who wants curated stops instead of guessing which neighborhoods are worth the drive, a guided experience removes that guesswork.
Cost and tips
Pricing ranges widely based on format and group size, roughly $75 per person for shared walking-style experiences up to $1,996 for private limousine tours. Group discounts kick in for parties of three or more, which makes this a smart pick for families or friend groups splitting the cost. Consider these tips before booking:
- Book morning tours to beat traffic and afternoon heat
- Ask about combination tours pairing Hollywood with studio lots if you want more than sightseeing
- Choose e-bike or Segway tours in Los Angeles if you want an active, photo-friendly pace
- Confirm pickup location and timing the night before your tour
Think of this as your orientation day. Everything else on this list gets easier once you understand how the neighborhoods connect.
2. Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre
Once your orientation tour ends, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the natural next stop, and it’s one of the most popular things to do in Los Angeles California for a reason. More than 2,700 brass stars stretch along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, each one marking an actor, musician, or director who left a mark on entertainment history, and the story behind the Walk of Fame’s stars adds context to every block.
What to expect
Expect crowds, street performers dressed as superheroes, and a sidewalk that demands you look down as much as up. The TCL Chinese Theatre, with its forecourt of celebrity handprints and footprints, sits right in the middle of the strip and remains the single best photo stop on the boulevard.
The Walk of Fame rewards patience, not speed, since half the fun is spotting names you didn’t expect.
Who it’s best for
First-time visitors and film buffs get the most out of this stop, especially anyone chasing a specific star tied to a favorite actor or band, and there are more sights within walking distance of the stars worth adding. Families traveling with kids also do well here since the whole experience is free, outdoor, and doesn’t require advance planning.
Cost and tips
Walking the boulevard costs nothing, though the theater’s interior tours run a separate ticket price if you want to go inside. Keep these points in mind:
- Visit early morning to avoid peak crowds and harsh midday sun
- Watch your footing since some blocks get worn or uneven
- Skip the costumed characters unless you plan to tip them for photos
3. Explore Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Griffith Park sits above Hollywood like the city’s green lungs, and Griffith Observatory perched at its summit gives you the best skyline view in Los Angeles without paying for a rooftop bar. This stop belongs near the top of any list of fun things to do in the greater Los Angeles area because it delivers scenery, science, and a break from pavement all in one visit.
What to expect
Inside the observatory, free exhibits cover astronomy and space exploration, while the lawn outside frames postcard shots of the Hollywood Sign and downtown skyline. Beyond the building, Griffith Park itself sprawls across more than 4,000 acres with hiking trails, the LA Zoo, and the Autry Museum of the American West tucked into its edges.
Griffith Observatory proves the best views in LA don’t require a ticket, just a short climb.
Who it’s best for
Hikers, photographers, and anyone traveling with kids will find plenty to do here, since the grounds mix easy walking paths with more serious trail options up toward the Hollywood Sign, an easy pairing if you’re planning a Hollywood Sign and observatory outing. Stargazers should time a visit around a public telescope night, when volunteers set up free viewing sessions on the observatory lawn.
Cost and tips
Entry to the observatory is free, and parking, while limited, costs nothing either if you manage to find a spot. Keep these tips in mind:
- Arrive near sunset for the best skyline photos before the crowds peak
- Book a same-day timed ticket for the Griffith Observatory planetarium show, since it sells out fast
- Wear real shoes if you plan to hike toward the Hollywood Sign viewpoint
- Skip weekends if you can, since the parking lot fills before noon
4. Visit the Getty Center and Getty Villa
The Getty Center sits on a hilltop in Brentwood, reachable only by a free tram that glides up from the parking garage, and that entrance alone makes it feel like an event before you’ve seen a single painting. Its sister site, the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, recreates a Roman country house and focuses on Greek and Roman antiquities instead of European masters. Both count among the more rewarding things to do in LA Los Angeles for travelers who want culture without a downtown museum crowd.
What to expect
Gardens, architecture, and sweeping city views compete with the art for your attention at the Getty Center, where Richard Meier’s white travertine buildings frame everything from Van Gogh to rotating photography exhibits. The Villa trades that modern design for recreated Roman gardens and mosaic floors, with ancient sculpture galleries that feel more intimate than sprawling.
The Getty proves world-class art in Los Angeles comes with a view, not just a ticket line.
Who it’s best for
Art lovers, architecture fans, and travelers who want a slower, contemplative day fit this stop well. Families do fine here too, since both locations have outdoor space where restless kids can burn energy between galleries.
Cost and tips
Admission to both sites is free, like several other Los Angeles museums with no entry fee, but parking costs $25 per car (less after 3pm), and the Villa requires a timed reservation even though entry itself is free.
- Reserve Villa tickets at least a week ahead
- Bring layers, since hilltop breezes at the Center get cool
- Allow at least three hours per site
5. Stroll Santa Monica Pier and the beach boardwalk
Santa Monica Pier marks the western edge of Route 66 and gives you the classic LA beach postcard: a Ferris wheel spinning against the Pacific, an arcade humming below it, and sand stretching in both directions. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Los Angeles because it delivers ocean, entertainment, and people-watching in one compact stretch you can walk in under an hour.
What to expect
Expect a working amusement park built right onto the pier, complete with a solar-powered Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and plenty of pier rides, food, and viewpoints alongside the fishing deck locals still use daily. Below the pier, the beach boardwalk stretches for miles, packed with cyclists, skaters, and joggers moving between Santa Monica and neighboring beach towns.
Santa Monica Pier works because it never tries to be just one thing, it’s a beach, a fairground, and a landmark all at once.
Who it’s best for
Families with kids get the most mileage here, since the rides and games fill an afternoon without much planning. Couples and photographers also do well at sunset, when the Ferris wheel lights up against the fading sky.
Cost and tips
Walking the pier costs nothing, but individual rides run separate tickets, and rentals for bikes or skates along the boardwalk add up fast if you’re not careful.
- Rent a bike for an hour to cover more boardwalk than walking allows
- Visit at sunset for the best light and cooler temperatures
- Skip weekends if you want fewer crowds on the pier itself
6. Wander Venice Beach and its canals
Venice Beach sits just south of Santa Monica, and the two couldn’t feel more different despite sharing a coastline. Where Santa Monica leans polished, Venice leans eccentric, with a boardwalk full of muscle gyms, tarot readers, and street art that changes by the week. It’s one of those fun things to do in Los Angeles that rewards wandering without a fixed plan.
What to expect
Expect the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym, skate park, and a boardwalk lined with vendors selling everything from sunglasses to hand-carved wood art. A few blocks inland, the Venice Canals offer a quieter contrast, a network of walkable waterways lined with houseboats and small footbridges that most tourists never find, one of several stops worth making at Venice Beach.
Venice Beach gives you the boardwalk crowd and a peaceful canal walk within fifteen minutes of each other.
Who it’s best for
This stop suits travelers who want people-watching over polish, plus photographers drawn to street art and architecture. Couples looking for a calmer escape should skip straight to the canals, since they feel almost residential compared to the boardwalk’s energy.
Cost and tips
Walking both areas costs nothing, though street parking near the beach fills up fast on weekends and holidays.
- Park inland and walk toward the beach to skip pricier lots
- Visit the canals in late afternoon for the best light
- Watch your belongings closely on the boardwalk during busy hours
7. Discover downtown LA’s markets and museums
Downtown Los Angeles gets skipped by visitors chasing beaches and celebrity culture, but it’s where the city’s food scene and art world actually live. Grand Central Market anchors this stop, a century-old food hall packed with vendors slinging everything from birria tacos to fresh oysters. Anyone still compiling fun things to do in California Los Angeles should put this neighborhood on the list before booking another beach day.
What to expect
Expect a dense pocket of walkable attractions: Grand Central Market for lunch, the Broad Museum for contemporary art (including Yayoi Kusama’s infinity rooms), and Walt Disney Concert Hall’s curved steel exterior a few blocks over. The Arts District rounds things out with murals, warehouse breweries, and galleries tucked into converted industrial buildings, plus more downtown Los Angeles stops worth a detour.
Downtown LA rewards visitors willing to trade the coastline for a few hours of food, art, and architecture.
Who it’s best for
Foodies, architecture fans, and museum-goers get the most from this stop, especially travelers tired of the same tourist things to do in Los Angeles everyone else lists. It also works well as a rainy-day backup since most attractions sit indoors or under cover.
Cost and tips
The Broad’s general admission is free with advance reservations, while Grand Central Market charges nothing to enter, only for what you eat.
- Reserve Broad Museum tickets online weeks ahead, since same-day slots vanish fast
- Eat at Grand Central Market before noon to beat the lunch rush
- Use rideshare or the Metro instead of driving, since downtown parking runs expensive
8. Spend a day at Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood sits in the hills above the Valley, and it’s the one theme park stop that actually belongs on a Los Angeles trip rather than a generic California vacation. Rides based on Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and Super Nintendo World share the lot with a working studio backlot, so you get movie magic and genuine film history in the same ticket. For anyone hunting fun things to do in Los Angeles California that go beyond sightseeing, this is the closest thing to a full day of entertainment in one location.
What to expect
Expect long lines balanced by real production value, since the Studio Tour tram ride takes you past actual soundstages and outdoor sets used in current films and shows, though it’s worth comparing the best studio tours in Los Angeles first. Rides skew toward thrill-seekers, though Super Nintendo World and the animated attractions keep younger kids entertained without the drops.
Universal works because it sells the illusion of Hollywood filmmaking, not just another set of roller coasters.
Who it’s best for
Families with older kids, movie fans, and thrill-ride lovers get the most value here. Younger children do better sticking to the Nintendo and Illumination-themed zones instead of the bigger coasters.
Cost and tips
Single-day tickets run roughly $109 to $174 depending on season, with Express Pass upgrades costing significantly more.
- Buy tickets online to skip the gate line entirely
- Arrive at opening to hit top rides before wait times climb
- Download the app for real-time wait tracking
9. See Beverly Hills and celebrity homes
Beverly Hills sits just west of Hollywood, and pairing the two neighborhoods in one afternoon is one of the smarter things to do in Los Angeles and Hollywood if celebrity culture drew you here in the first place. Rodeo Drive anchors the shopping side, while the residential streets north of Sunset Boulevard hide the mansions that make this stop worth the drive.
What to expect
Expect palm-lined streets, manicured hedges, and gated driveways that hint at the celebrity homes behind them, from classic Beverly Hills estates to newer builds in the Bird Streets. Another Side Tours runs a dedicated tour of celebrity mansions in Beverly Hills that points out which stars owned which properties, since spotting them on your own without local knowledge is nearly impossible.
Beverly Hills rewards visitors who know which gate belongs to whom, not just anyone who drives past it.
Who it’s best for
This stop suits pop culture fans, first-time visitors, and anyone traveling with a group that wants a lighter, gossip-filled afternoon after a museum-heavy day. Shoppers should budget extra time for Rodeo Drive regardless of whether they plan to buy anything.
Cost and tips
Driving through Beverly Hills costs nothing, though a guided celebrity homes tour runs a set price per person and includes the local knowledge you can’t get from a map app alone.
- Compare Beverly Hills tour options for Rodeo Drive and celebrity homes if star-spotting matters to you, since addresses change and rumors circulate
- Respect private property and stay on public sidewalks
- Visit Rodeo Drive in the morning before tour buses arrive
10. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu
The Pacific Coast Highway, known locally as PCH, runs north from Santa Monica along cliffs and coastline all the way to Malibu, and the drive itself counts as one of the genuinely fun things to do in Los Angeles rather than just a way to reach somewhere else. You don’t need a full day trip to appreciate it either, since even an hour behind the wheel delivers ocean views most cities can’t match.
What to expect
Expect winding two-lane stretches with the ocean on one side and dramatic bluffs on the other, plus small pullouts where you can stop for photos without committing to a full beach visit. Malibu itself offers Zuma Beach for wide open sand, the Malibu Pier for a shorter walk over water, and El Matador Beach for dramatic rock formations that photograph better than almost anywhere else on this list.
The PCH turns a simple drive into the kind of scenery you’d otherwise pay for on a helicopter tour.
Who it’s best for
Road trip lovers, photographers, and couples looking for a slower afternoon fit this stop naturally. Anyone renting a car for their trip should build in at least half a day here, since rushing the drive defeats the point of taking it.
Cost and tips
Driving the highway costs nothing beyond gas, though some beach parking lots in Malibu charge a daily fee.
- Fill your tank before leaving, since gas stations thin out past Malibu
- Time your drive for late afternoon light
- Bring cash for smaller parking lots that don’t take cards
Bringing your LA itinerary together
Ten stops, one sprawling city, and no requirement to hit every single one. Pick a handful that match your pace: pair the Walk of Fame with Griffith Observatory for a Hollywood-heavy day, or combine Santa Monica and Venice for a beach-focused afternoon. The neighborhoods sit far enough apart that grouping nearby stops saves you real hours you’d otherwise lose to traffic.
Remember why this list started with a guided tour. Once you understand how Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the coast connect geographically, every other stop on this list gets easier to slot into your days. That single orientation day pays for itself in saved time and fewer wrong turns.
You don’t have to figure out the logistics alone. If you’d rather spend your first day getting oriented by someone who knows these streets, compare our daily LA sightseeing tours and let a local guide handle the driving while you handle the sightseeing.
