Awards & recognition
About this city
Also known as: The City of Angels, L.A.
Los Angeles is the commercial, financial, and cultural hub of Southern California and the second-most populous city in the United States. Sprawling across a vast basin bounded by the Pacific Ocean and towering mountain ranges, the city was officially incorporated in 1850. Globally celebrated as the epicenter of the international motion picture, television, and music entertainment industries, it features a diverse, multi-ethnic population and a dynamic global economy.
Location & Administrative
County
Los Angeles County
Time Zone
PST
State Code
CA
Transportation & Accessibility
Nearest Airports
LAXBURLGB
Rail Systems
Amtrak (Intercity Rail)Metra (Chicago Commuter Rail)
Train Stations
Los Angeles Union Station
Getting Around
Car RequiredRideshare-FriendlySubwayLight Rail / StreetcarBus
Weather & Timing
Best Months
MarAprMayJunSepOctNov
Average Temperature
Peak Season
Summer
Off Season
June Gloom
Economics & Local Vibe
Population
City proper 3.8M · Metro area 13.0M
Sales Tax
9.5%
Key Industries
Entertainment & Film ProductionInternational TradeTechnology & Aerospace
Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 3–7 days
Walk among stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and view the iconic Hollywood Sign. Explore world-class art collections at the Getty Center and Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Ride the Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier, experience the thrilling studio tours at Universal Studios Hollywood, and enjoy sunset panoramic city views from the Griffith Observatory.
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Must-See
Must-SeeThe Getty Center
Art Galleries★ 4.8Free
ArtFree
Must-SeeUniversal Studios Hollywood
Theme Parks★ 4.7$$
FamilyHollywoodThrilling
Must-SeeSanta Monica Pier
Beaches & Coast★ 4.7Free
Family
Must-SeeGriffith Observatory
Observation Decks & Towers★ 4.7Free
SciencePlanetariumHiking
Must-SeeVenice Beach
Beaches & Coast★ 4.6Free
Street ArtFree
Must-SeeHollywood Sign
Landmarks★ 4.5Free
HikingMust-SeeHollywood
Must-SeeHollywood Walk of Fame
Landmarks★ 4.4Free
HollywoodFree
🎨
Museums & Culture
27Museums15
The Nethercutt Collection
Museums★ 4.9Free
EducationalMotorsportHistory
Battleship USS Iowa Museum
Museums★ 4.8$25.95
WarshipMilitaryHistory
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Museums★ 4.8$18
NatureFossilsFamily
Petersen Automotive Museum
Museums★ 4.8$21
MotorsportFamily
The Getty Villa
Museums★ 4.8Free
ArtEducationalHistoric Building
Annenberg Space for Photography
Museums★ 4.7Free
Photographic ArtArtEducational
California Science Center
Museums★ 4.7Free
ScienceEducationalSpace & Aerospace
Skirball Cultural Center
Museums★ 4.7$20
Folk CultureEducationalArt
Autry Museum of the American West
Museums★ 4.6$20
Old WestCowboy CultureHistory
Heritage Square Museum
Museums★ 4.6$7
Historic BuildingHistoryEducational
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Museums★ 4.6$18
FossilsScienceEducational
Museum of Tolerance
Museums★ 4.6$16
Civil Rights HistoryHistoryEducational
Craft Contemporary
Museums★ 4.5$12
CraftArtEducational
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Museums★ 4.4$25
FilmHollywoodEducational
Grammy Museum L.A. Live
Museums★ 4.4$18
MusicEducationalInteractive
Art Galleries8
Museum of Neon Art (MONA)
Art Galleries★ 5.0$12
ArtArt InstallationStreet Art
Norton Simon Museum
Art Galleries★ 4.8$20
ArtEducationalSculpture
Must-SeeThe Getty Center
Art Galleries★ 4.8Free
ArtFree
The Broad
Art Galleries★ 4.7Free
ArtContemporary ArtEducational
Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles
Art Galleries★ 4.6Free
ArtContemporary ArtArt Installation
LACMA
Art Galleries★ 4.6$
ArtArt Installation
Hammer Museum
Art Galleries★ 4.5Free
ArtContemporary ArtEducational
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Art Galleries★ 4.4Free
ArtContemporary ArtEducational
Cultural Sites4
🏛️
History & Heritage
4Historic Sites3
⛪
Religion & Education
2
🏗️
Architecture & Landmarks
15Landmarks13
Abbot Kinney Boulevard
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
Street ArtDowntownCoffee
The Last Bookstore
Landmarks★ 4.7Free
LiteratureQuirkyIndoor
Universal CityWalk Hollywood
Landmarks★ 4.6Free
Local LifeDowntownFamily
Must-SeeHollywood Sign
Landmarks★ 4.5Free
HikingMust-SeeHollywood
The Bradbury Building
Landmarks★ 4.5Free
Historic BuildingFilmPhoto Spot
Watts Towers
Landmarks★ 4.5Free
SculptureFolk ArtPhoto Spot
Must-SeeHollywood Walk of Fame
Landmarks★ 4.4Free
HollywoodFree
Sunset Boulevard
Landmarks★ 4.4Free
History
720 South Hill Street
LandmarksFree
filming-location
Kerckhoff Hall
LandmarksFree
filming-locationhistoric
Panama Hotel
LandmarksFree
filming-locationhistoric
Second Street Tunnel
LandmarksFree
filming-location
The Ebell of Los Angeles
Landmarks
filming-locationhistoric
Architecture1
🌲
Parks & Nature
19State Parks3
Parks & Gardens11
Brand Park & Library
Parks & Gardens★ 4.8Free
OutdoorEducationalHistory
Exposition Park Rose Garden
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
Photo SpotRomanticOutdoor
Griffith Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
OutdoorHikingScenic Lookout
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
Parks & Gardens★ 4.7Free
HikingLakeScenic Lookout
Echo Park Lake
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
LakeOutdoorPhoto Spot
Greystone Mansion & Gardens
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
Historic BuildingPhoto SpotLuxury
Lake Hollywood Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.6Free
LakeScenic LookoutPhoto Spot
Barnsdall Art Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.5Free
ArtOutdoorHistoric Building
Runyon Canyon Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.5Free
HikingOutdoorSports
Exposition Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.4Free
OutdoorEducationalFamily
Elysian Park
Parks & Gardens★ 4.1Free
OutdoorHikingScenic Lookout
Botanical Gardens5
Japanese Garden (The Huntington)
Botanical Gardens★ 4.9$29
Exotic PlantsHealingPhoto Spot
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden
Botanical Gardens★ 4.8$18
Exotic PlantsPhoto SpotSlow-Paced
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens
Botanical Gardens★ 4.8$29
EducationalArtExotic Plants
Descanso Gardens
Botanical Gardens★ 4.7$18
ForestExotic PlantsPhoto Spot
South Coast Botanic Garden
Botanical Gardens★ 4.7$18
Exotic PlantsPhoto SpotFamily
⛰️
Natural Landscapes
4
🔭
Scenic Views
5Observation Decks & Towers2
Scenic Points2
🦁
Wildlife
1
🎡
Entertainment
8Sports Venues2
Theaters & Performance Venues3
🍽️
Food & Drink
4
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