Overview
Los Angeles is No. 13 in Euromonitor International's Top 100 City Destinations Index 2025. The second-largest city in the United States sprawls across a basin between the Pacific Ocean and the San Gabriel Mountains. It is the heart of the American film and television industry and will host the Summer Olympic Games in 2028.
LA is really a collection of neighbourhoods and separate cities: Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Pasadena and more. Choose a base and plan your days by area to cut down on travel time.
Best time to go
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant seasons. May and June often start with overcast mornings, known locally as "May Gray" and "June Gloom". Summer is hot inland but milder near the coast.
Winter is mild, with most of the year's rain. Wildfires can affect the region, especially in dry, windy periods; check local conditions and official alerts before and during your trip.
Top sights
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1
Griffith Observatory
The Art Deco observatory, opened in 1935, sits on Mount Hollywood with views of the Hollywood Sign and the city. Admission to the building is free, and there are free public telescopes on clear evenings.
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2
Hollywood Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre
Stars honouring entertainers line Hollywood Boulevard. Film stars' handprints and footprints are set in the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre.
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3
Getty Center In our Top 100 Museums
Richard Meier's hilltop campus in Brentwood holds European art, photographs and gardens, with views to the ocean. General admission is free; there is a charge for parking.
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4
Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach
The historic pier has an amusement park on the ocean. A beach bike path runs south to the boardwalk, skate park and canals of Venice.
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5
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) In our Top 100 Museums
The largest art museum in the western United States, on Wilshire Boulevard, known for Chris Burden's Urban Light installation of old street lamps.
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6
The Huntington In our Top 100 Museums
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, near Pasadena, combines rare books, European and American art and themed gardens.
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7
Downtown LA
Frank Gehry's Walt Disney Concert Hall, The Broad contemporary art museum, Grand Central Market and the historic Union Station are close together.
Getting there
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main gateway. The FlyAway bus runs to Union Station, and ride-hail pick-ups are from the LAX-it area. The airport's transport links are being rebuilt, so check flylax.com for the latest options. Hollywood Burbank (BUR) and Long Beach (LGB) are smaller, often quicker alternatives.
Amtrak trains, including the Pacific Surfliner and the Coast Starlight, arrive at Union Station.
Getting around
LA is car-oriented and traffic can be heavy, so many visitors hire a car. Metro Rail and buses do reach Hollywood, Downtown, Pasadena and Santa Monica; pay with a TAP card or the TAP app.
Ride-hailing apps are widely used. Allow plenty of time between areas, as distances are large.
Practical tips
- Currency
- US dollar (USD). Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere. Tipping is customary: around 18–20% in sit-down restaurants and a dollar or two per drink in bars.
- Language
- English. Spanish is also widely spoken.
- Safety
- Use normal big-city care. Keep valuables out of sight in parked cars. The emergency number is 911.
- Visa & entry
- Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries (including the UK, most EU countries, Australia and Japan) need an approved ESTA before they travel; most other visitors need a visa. Canadian citizens generally need neither for a short visit. Apply only on the official site esta.cbp.dhs.gov and check travel.state.gov for the current rules.
- Power
- 120 V, 60 Hz; plug types A and B.
Official information: Discover Los Angeles (official visitor guide). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.
Map
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