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As you fly into LAX over the vast city of Los Angeles, the prospect of attempting to see it all can be daunting.
And with a string of golden beaches, a hugely exciting culinary scene, dynamic cultural attractions, dizzying shopping opportunities, a downtown area that’s on the rise as a destination in its own right, easy access to some memorable day trip destinations, and the hoopla of Hollywood to revel in — you’ll have your work cut out for you!
Located close to the Mexican border and with a significant Latino influence (Spanish is spoken here as widely as it is in Mexico), the USA’s second most populous city reaps all the benefits of its sunny southern coastal possie. Plan to spend plenty of time in the great outdoors during your stay, because as the song goes: ‘it never rains in Southern California’. Well, almost never.
Here’s a checklist of our top ten things to do in Los Angeles on a first visit.
1. Trace the history of Hollywood
LA has a history dating back to the late 1700s, but it was the early 1900s when the city’s star as a movie making mecca began to rise. The historical Hollywood Walk of Fame lacks the glitz and glamour you may be expecting (unless of course there’s a star ceremony happening!), but it’s worth seeing all the same. More than 2,700 stars — dedicated to the who’s who of Hollywood over the decades — grace the sidewalk between Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
Nearby, Hollywood Museum houses a century’s worth of memorabilia in the heritage Max Factor building, while further down Hollywood Boulevard iconic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre has hosted film premieres and red carpet events for decades. Film lovers should also visit the newly opened Academy Museum of Motion Pictures — the largest facility of its kind in the country.
2. Admire classical art at The Getty…
There’s no shortage of attractions in Los Angeles that will enthral culture lovers. Vincent Van Gogh’s Irises is on display at The Getty Center — where the permanent collection sits alongside visiting exhibitions. The Center is surrounded by stunning gardens created by artist Robert Irwin. Entry is free, but parking isn’t! If you plan to also visit The Getty Villa in Malibu (a separate venue), grab a coupon to avoid paying for parking again. Modelled on a first century AD Roman noble’s home, the Villa houses a fascinating assemblage of antiquities.
3. …and modern art at The Broad
Over in Downtown, The Broad contemporary art museum opened back in 2015 and exhibits 2,000+ works by post-WWII artists (including pop-art maestro Roy Lichtenstein). So popular has The Broad been, that it’s about to undergo a major expansion. Book your timed entry online, or try and snaffle one of the limited tickets reserved for walk-ups. Refuel afterwards at nearby Grand Central Market, which hosts a plethora of cafes and casual eateries.
4. Travel back in time at the La Brea Tar Pits
Immersed in the hubbub of this modern metropolis, it’s easy to forget that the region has a much older story. And constant discoveries at the La Brea Tar Pits in the heart of LA are helping piece it together. Mammoths once reigned supreme here; in fact, the natural tar pits have provided evidence of many different animals that perished in their sticky embrace over the past 50,000 years. Book your tickets to this fascinating attraction well in advance.
5. Take a break in Joshua Tree National Park
After a few days of dealing with the hectic pace of life in Los Angeles, you may find yourself yearning to spend some time in the company of Mother Nature. You’re in luck! One of America’s most incredible natural landscapes lies 2.5 hours’ drive west of the city. Joshua Tree National Park covers an area of 3,000 square kilometres and defines the meeting point of two major deserts — the Mojave and Colorado.
Despite the arid environment, this park supports an incredible array of plant and animal species — including its distinctive twisted namesake. There are endless hiking and biking opportunities, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets will book-end your days. Look for an accommodation option that offers mountain views of Joshua Tree National Park. You’ll be very glad you did!
6. Ride a bike along the beachfront
Los Angeles has amazing beaches on its doorstep and is home to a vibrant surfing culture. Hire a bike from Jay’s Rentals at Venice Beach and explore the bustling beachfront between Santa Monica and Marina Del Rey (there are paved bike paths right along the foreshore). You’ll pedal past the bold-and-the-beautiful strutting their stuff and street performers entertaining crowds of onlookers. Stop for a refreshing dip as needed.
Once you reach Santa Monica, head out onto the Pier to take a spin on the ferris wheel and roller coaster — tame by LA theme park standards!
7. Go to Disneyland
Speaking of which, no visit to Los Angeles would be complete without visiting at least one of the region’s world-famous theme parks. Disneyland in Anaheim needs no introduction and attracts upwards of 16 million visitors a year. The original (and some might argue, the best) Disney franchise is absolutely enchanting and you can pair your visit with entry to neighbouring Disney California Adventure Park. They’re best done over two days and staying in the Disneyland Resort precinct (which has three hotels) complements the whole experience.
8. Eat great seafood in Malibu
As you would expect, Los Angeles has a phenomenal dining scene — and seafood is always a good menu choice. For a casual but memorable meal, pop the top and cruise up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu Seafood. It serves the catch of the day straight from the ocean to your table. Sit on the patio dipping freshly cooked fish-and-chips into homemade tartare sauce or slurping down what is undoubtedly one of the finest clam chowders in the land.
9. Shop up a storm
Those who love to shop will adore LA — no question about it. Start with a foray into the Fashion District, which covers one hundred blocks and is home to over a thousand stores. Those who happen to be in town on the last Friday of the month should check out the sample sales (when wholesalers open their doors to the general public and offer heavily discounted ‘cash only’ prices).
If you miss that melee, don’t despair; most retail chains have sales throughout the year for one reason or another. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to have to pay full price for an item — unless of course you decide to hit up the luxury boutiques along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. In that instance, be prepared to give your credit card a serious workout!
10. See the Hollywood sign
And finally — to clock a superb view of LA’s iconic Hollywood sign, schedule a visit to Griffith Park — one of the largest urban green spaces in North America. On a clear day, Griffith Observatory offers an epic view of Downtown, the beaches beyond, and the famous sign straddling the Santa Monica mountains.
This post was published thanks to Fieldtrip.
For more travel inspiration, visit www.discoverlosangeles.com.
Browse our range of Los Angeles tours and experiences here.
Do you have any tips to add to our list of the top ten things to do in Los Angeles on a first visit? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Additional images: Depositphotos, Bigstock, and Envato
About the writer
As a travel blogger and photographer, Neil Brook travels the world looking to meet interesting people, taste great food, and find different angles from which to write about his adventures. He is privileged to have lived in Australia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. More a traveller than a tourist, Neil prefers to mix with the locals, learn their history and culture, and walk the backstreets to uncover hidden gems worthy of praise in words or quiet moments of private reflection.
About the writer
Adam Ford is editor of Top Oz Tours & Travel Ideas, and a travel TV presenter, writer, blogger, and photographer. He has travelled extensively through Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Adam worked as a travel consultant for a number of years with Flight Centre before taking up the opportunity to travel the world himself as host of the TV series Tour the World on Network Ten. He loves to experience everything a new destination has to offer and is equally at home in a five-star Palazzo in Pisa or a home-stay in Hanoi.
