Los Angeles · USA
Things to Do in Los Angeles: Tours, Tickets & Day Trips
The best things to do in Los Angeles, ranked by real traveller reviews: the Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame, a Beverly Hills celebrity-homes drive, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Warner Bros. studio tour, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach, and the ferry to Catalina Island. Compare 1,100+ tours, tickets and day trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
1,149 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Los Angeles
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Los Angeles
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Typical tour price in Los Angeles: €66 per person, 10% above the global medianHow much do tours cost in Los Angeles? →
Los Angeles
Los Angeles Hollywood Sign Hike: Front, Behind, and Expert Guide
from$29/ person
via Viator
Los Angeles
Tour of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Beach with Hotel Pickup
from$95/ person
via Viator
Los Angeles
Joshua Tree National Park Small Group Day Tour from Los Angeles
from$219/ person
via Viator
Browse
Explore Los Angeles by interest
Whatever brings you to Los Angeles — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Hollywood
Sign & Walk of Fame.
ExploreUniversal Studios
Rides & studio.
ExploreStudio tours
Warner Bros.
ExploreCity sightseeing
Griffith & more.
ExploreBeaches
Santa Monica.
ExploreCatalina Island
Island getaway.
ExploreFood & night
Flavours & lights.
ExploreDay trips
Catalina, Santa Barbara, Joshua Tree.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Los Angeles
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Hollywood Sign
The icon.
300+ toursView tours
Beverly Hills
Celebrity homes.
200 toursView tours
Universal Studios
Rides & studio.
90 toursView tours
Griffith Observatory
City views.
120 toursView tours
Santa Monica
Pier & beach.
150 toursView tours
Walk of Fame
Hollywood stars.
180 toursView tours
Warner Bros.
Studio tour.
60 toursView tours
Helicopter Tour
Aerial LA.
40 toursView tours
1 day
Los Angeles in 1 day
- 1Hollywood Sign
- 2Walk of Fame
- 3Beverly Hills
- 4Santa Monica sunset
2 days
Los Angeles in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Hollywood & city
- 2Day 2: Universal Studios
- 3Beaches
- 4Griffith at night
3 days
Los Angeles in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Hollywood & city
- 2Day 2: Universal
- 3Day 3: Catalina or Disneyland
- 4Beaches & food
With kids
Los Angeles with kids
- 1Universal Studios
- 2Santa Monica Pier
- 3Hollywood Sign
- 4Disneyland
Theme day
Hollywood day in Los Angeles
- 1Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre
- 2Celebrity homes by open-air bus
- 3Griffith Observatory & Hollywood Sign hike
- 4Sunset Strip after dark
Full day
Beaches & coast in Los Angeles
- 1Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach
- 2Bike the ocean path
- 3Malibu coast & vineyards
- 4Sunset on the sand
1 hr ferry awayCatalina Island
Ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro to Avalon: golf-cart tours, the semi-submarine, snorkelling and the Mount Ada scenic drive.
from $41View trips
2 hrs awaySanta Barbara & Solvang
The American Riviera: the mission, the harbour and the Danish village of Solvang, with Santa Ynez wine tasting on most tours.
from $83View trips
2.5 hrs awayJoshua Tree
Boulder fields, Joshua trees and Mojave light; small-group day tours with pickup or a self-drive audio guide.
from $13View trips
45 min awayMalibu & Pacific Coast Highway
Drive Highway 1 past Malibu’s beaches, El Matador and the Getty Villa with a self-guided audio tour.
from $11View trips
2 hrs awayPalm Springs
Mid-century modern architecture, the aerial tramway and desert resorts, often paired with Joshua Tree.
from $22View trips
40 min awayLong Beach Whale Watching
Two- to three-hour cruises from Long Beach and San Pedro: grey whales December to April, blue whales in summer, dolphins year-round.
from $33View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Los Angeles visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
March–May and September–November bring warm, sunny days and thinner crowds, ideal for sightseeing.
Spring (Mar–May)
Pleasant and green with comfortable temperatures and blooming hillsides.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot, sunny and busiest, perfect for the beaches; June can bring coastal “June Gloom” morning cloud.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Warm, clear and less crowded — one of the best times to visit.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Mild and sunny by day with cooler evenings and occasional rain — a great winter-sun escape.
Whale season
Grey whales pass the coast from December to April, and blue whales appear in summer.
One day
Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the beach.
Two days
Add Universal Studios and Griffith.
Three days
Add Catalina Island or Disneyland.
Theme-park fans
Add days for Universal and Disneyland.
Beach lovers
Add coastal days and Catalina.
With kids
Mix theme parks and the pier.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours and hop-on-hop-off buses are the easiest way to link the far-flung sights without a car.
Car & ride apps
A rental car gives the most freedom; Uber and Lyft are widely used for getting around.
Metro
LA’s expanding Metro rail reaches Hollywood, Downtown and the coast, handy on some routes.
Neighbourhood by neighbourhood
Areas like Hollywood, Santa Monica and Downtown are walkable in themselves, even if far apart.
Allow for traffic
LA traffic is legendary — build in extra time and avoid rush hours between sights.
Getting there
LAX is the main airport, with Burbank, Long Beach and others handy for some areas.
US dollars & cards
The US uses the dollar; cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, and tipping is customary.
Skip-the-line theme parks
Buy Universal and Disneyland tickets and express passes ahead to save time and money.
Tours beat the traffic
Guided tours and hop-on buses save the stress of LA traffic and parking.
See the Hollywood Sign free
Griffith Park and the observatory offer great free views of the Hollywood Sign.
Layer up
Sunny days can turn cool by the coast and at night — bring a light layer.
Book Catalina ahead
Ferry and island tours fill up in summer — reserve in advance.
Universal & Disneyland
Theme-park tickets and express passes sell out — book ahead.
Warner Bros. tour
Studio tours have limited daily places — reserve early.
Catalina trips
Ferry and island tours fill up in summer — book ahead.
Celebrity homes tours
Popular open-top bus tours sell out — reserve early.
Helicopter flights
Sunset helicopter tours have few seats — book ahead.
Summer & holidays
Peak season is very busy — plan early.
Hollywood city tour
Around $25–70 for a guided Hollywood and Beverly Hills tour.
Universal Studios
About $100–140 for general admission, more with an express pass.
Warner Bros. tour
Roughly $60–90 for a behind-the-scenes studio tour.
Catalina day trip
Around $70–130 for a ferry and island tour.
Disneyland day trip
About $120–200 with transport and a park ticket.
How to save
Bundle a city tour with hop-on-hop-off and pre-book theme-park tickets.
When to visit
Los Angeles through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Warm, green, comfy.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great all-round.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Beaches, theme parks.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot & busy.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
Sep–Nov
- Best for
- Clear, warm, calmer.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal weather.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Winter sun, whales.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Mild; some rain.
People also ask
Los Angeles travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Los Angeles?
The Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory, the Walk of Fame, a Beverly Hills celebrity-homes tour, Universal Studios Hollywood, the Warner Bros. studio tour, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, The Getty Center, a Downtown food tour and a Catalina Island day trip. The first three fit in one day on a guided Hollywood tour from about $25.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
Three days for the essentials — Hollywood, a studio or theme park, and the beaches — and four if you want a day trip to Catalina, Santa Barbara or Joshua Tree. Because the city is so spread out, plan each day around one area rather than criss-crossing.
What can you do in Los Angeles for free?
Griffith Observatory, The Getty Center and Getty Villa, the Broad, Venice Beach boardwalk, Santa Monica beach, the Walk of Fame, the Original Farmers Market and the murals of the Arts District. Even the Hollywood Sign viewpoints on Mulholland Drive and Lake Hollywood Park cost nothing.
What are the best day trips from Los Angeles?
Catalina Island by ferry (1 hour, tours from $41), Santa Barbara and Solvang (2 hours, from $83), Joshua Tree (2.5 hours, from $13 self-guided), Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway (45 minutes) and Palm Springs (2 hours). Most guided tours pick up from Hollywood and Downtown hotels.
What is there to do in Los Angeles at night?
Griffith Observatory stays open until 10 pm with free telescope viewing, Hollywood Boulevard and the TCL Chinese Theatre are lit up, Santa Monica Pier’s Ferris wheel glows, Downtown has rooftop bars and Grand Central Market, and evening food and Hollywood-by-night tours run year-round.
What can you do in Los Angeles in winter?
Winter is mild (15–20°C) and one of the best times: no crowds at Universal Studios, clear views from Griffith after rain, grey-whale watching cruises from Long Beach (December to April), and Joshua Tree and Palm Springs at their most comfortable. Bring a jacket for the evenings.
What are the best things to do in Los Angeles with kids?
Universal Studios Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier’s Pacific Park, the California Science Center (free, with the Space Shuttle Endeavour), the La Brea Tar Pits, Griffith Observatory, a whale-watching cruise and a Catalina Island day with the semi-submarine. Disneyland in Anaheim is an hour away.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
March to May and September to November: warm, sunny and less crowded than summer. June brings coastal “June Gloom” morning cloud; July and August are hot, busy and pricier. Winter is mild and quiet, with whale season as a bonus.
Is Los Angeles worth visiting?
Yes, if you plan it by neighbourhood. The Hollywood Sign, a working film studio, world-class free museums, the beach at Santa Monica and Venice, and day trips to Catalina and Joshua Tree add up to a trip no other US city offers. Book a guided tour for your first day to get your bearings without fighting the traffic.
1,149 Los Angeles experiencesfrom $25 · free cancellation
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