United States of America > California > Los Angeles
Overview
Millions of visitors arrive each year in Los Angeles, eager to experience first-hand the famed land of modern mythology, wondrous optimism and immense creativity. The fantasy worlds of Disneyland and Hollywood, the extravagance of Beverley Hills and Malibu, and the sun-soaked beach culture are just some of the attractions within the 'City of Angels'.
Los Angeles is not really a city but rather a sprawling metropolis constituting more than 80 smaller city areas woven together by a daunting network of traffic-congested freeways without a clearly defined centre. LA is just one of these cities with Downtown at its heart, and lying outside the city limits is the surrounding conglomeration of cities that comprise LA County.
Los Angeles offers a dazzling variety of attractions and world-famous amusements. Downtown is a mixture of cultures and local communities: the traditional herbalists of Chinatown's Bamboo Lane; Little Tokyo with its sushi bars and Japanese gardens; and the narrow Latino-influenced Olvera Street. Los Angeles County is endowed with a rich diversity of backgrounds and a mix of people from 140 countries speaking 96 different languages.
West Hollywood: the focal point of gay and lesbian culture, the posh beachside resort of Santa Monica, body-builders at Muscle Beach and the childhood fantasy of Disneyland all add to LA's diversity. There are exciting museums, cinemas featuring every conceivable production, fashionable boutiques, comedy clubs, poetry readings and coffee house recitals, and music of every kind played in various venues throughout the city.
Underneath the huge 'Hollywood' sign on the crest of the Hollywood Hills, the high energy and pleasure-seeking atmosphere, bold billboards, beautiful sun-bronzed people, bright lights and fancy cars are images of a city that everyone loves to hate; but whether one likes what one finds or not, Los Angeles must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
The city where people travel to realise their dreams, Los Angeles is brimming with possibility and sunshine. This is where the beautiful and talented pound the pavements, and the sights are familiar to all. Los Angeles neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Malibu, Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Bel Air are legendary and draw hordes of tourists to the sites of their favourite series. This star-struck city is a fabulous place for shopping, surfing and partying the night away, and if all the showbiz excitement and beach fun is not enough, endless entertainment is available in the many famous theme parks in and around the city.
Best time to visit Los Angeles
High season for travel to Los Angeles is during the hot, sunny months of July and August, but those who prefer to avoid crowds and high prices are better advised to choose the months either side of peak season to holiday in Los Angeles. Winter can be wet but temperatures are generally fairly mild.
What to see in Los Angeles
-Explore the LA beach communities of Venice Beach, Malibu and Santa Monica.
-Pay tribute to bygone stars at the many celebrity gravesites in Los Angeles.
-See long-extinct animals at the La Brea Tar Pits.
-Marvel at the Getty Center art collection, one of the most visited museums in the US.
What to do in Los Angeles
-Take the kids to Disneyland Resort.
-Trawl Hollywood Boulevard, visiting the many museums and landmarks.
-Mingle with the rich and famous in the upmarket neighbourhoods of West LA.
-Picnic, stroll or cycle in the lovely Griffith Park.
Beyond Los Angeles
Many tourist attractions await visitors just beyond city limits, including the many theme parks clumped nearby in Anaheim. A number of glorious state parks are also within reach for daytrips from Los Angeles; even Death Valley National Park is less than five-hours drive away.
Getting there
Los Angeles International Airport is one of the busiest in the US, and indeed the world. Flights are available to LAX from major cities on all continents. The airport is situated 16 miles (26km) southwest of central Los Angeles.
Did you know?
-The iconic Hollywood sign originally read 'Hollywoodland' and was constructed as a real estate advertisement.
-On any given day more than 100 movie and television crews are shooting on location in LA.
-Los Angeles boasts more stage theatres and more museums than any other American city.
Climate
Los Angeles' Mediterranean climate is generally warm and pleasant all year round. Protected from extremes of temperature and humidity by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, and influenced by the warm, moist air from the Pacific, its summers are dry and sunny, and winters cool and wet with winter temperatures averaging between 48ºF (9ºC) and 68ºF (20ºC). Offshore breezes cool the beach communities during the hot summer months when coastal highs reach 74ºF (23ºC), but inland temperatures can rise to well over 90ºF (32ºC), especially in the numerous canyons and valleys of the area. Smog often gathers in low-lying areas and sometimes the hot, dusty Santa Ana winds blow in strongly from the surrounding mountains.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain (cm) | 88 | 91 | 76 | 23 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 37 | 53 |
| Rain (inches) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3 | 1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.15 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 2.1 |
| Average Temperature (°C) | 13.9 | 14.8 | 14.9 | 16.5 | 18.1 | 20.5 | 23 | 23.6 | 22.6 | 20.2 | 16.5 | 14.1 |
| Min Temperature (°C) | 8.1 | 9 | 9.4 | 10.8 | 13 | 15.1 | 17.1 | 17.7 | 16.8 | 14.2 | 10.5 | 8.2 |
| Max Temperature (°C) | 19.8 | 20.7 | 20.5 | 22.3 | 23.3 | 25.9 | 29 | 29.5 | 28.5 | 26.3 | 22.6 | 20 |
| Average Temperature (°F) | 57 | 58.6 | 58.8 | 61.7 | 64.6 | 68.9 | 73.4 | 74.5 | 72.7 | 88.4 | 61.7 | 57.4 |
| Min Temperature (°F) | 46.6 | 48.2 | 48.9 | 51.4 | 55.4 | 59.2 | 62.8 | 63.9 | 62.2 | 57.6 | 50.9 | 46.8 |
| Max Temperature (°F) | 67.6 | 69.3 | 68.9 | 72.1 | 73.9 | 78.6 | 84.2 | 85.1 | 83.3 | 79.3 | 72.7 | 68 |
Getting Around
The city of LA sprawls over such a large area that getting around without a car can be frustrating and time consuming. The complex network of freeways connecting the sprawl can be intimidating, especially for those not used to driving in big cities, but with a map or good directions, hiring a car is the best and most popular way to see LA. If possible, visitors should avoid rush hour traffic, which is heaviest from 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm, when freeways often come to a standstill.
It's also possible to get around by bus, but frequent transfers and long distances can make this slow and impractical, and it's not recommended for late-night travel. The Metro rail system has three lines, which cover only a small area of LA, but it's frequent and efficient. Taxis are also available, but they can be expensive due to the long distances. Ride-hailing taxi services, such as Uber, are a good option.
Restaurants & Nightlife
Restaurants
Dining in LA is as exciting and varied as the rest of the city's offerings. LA's restaurants cater to every cuisine and budget imaginable, from 12-course feasts with celebrities on the side to delicious Mexican burritos from a sidewalk cafe. Apart from the wonderful variety of ethnic food, there's a strong emphasis on organic and health foods, and many eateries now cater to this market. Another distinctive LA trend is eclectic and experimental food, making this city the proud progenitor of the Thai Chicken Pizza as well as its own distinctive style of fusion sushi.
Many top restaurants and their celebrity chefs are clustered on the Westside, while the vintage restaurants are located downtown and in Hollywood. With its year-round mild climate, outdoor dining is popular, helping to make power lunches the stuff of ritual among locals.
Tips of 15 to 20 percent are expected; smoking is banned in all restaurants and transgressors may be fined.
Nightlife
Home of all things cool and the birthplace of pop culture, the nightlife in Los Angeles is second to none as some of the edgiest bars and clubs in the world are found here. Whether watching world-class shows, dining alongside some of Tinsel Town's hottest stars, or drinking at the hippest clubs in the world, a night out in LA is never dull.
On any given night there will be band performing somewhere. Whether it's a local and upcoming outfit or the hottest international act, the choices are endless. Getting tickets might be tricky, so it's wise to plan ahead if the plan is to catch a concert. The club scene is absolutely overflowing with variety and those looking for anything from a trendy evening sipping on mojitos to dancing the night away will have no problem finding something to suit their tastes.
Los Angeles' chaotic layout means there's no central nightlife district. Instead, there's a variety of different options scattered around the city. The streets of Hollywood offer a dizzying choice of clubs and bars. Travellers can swing down to Westwood for cocktail and dive bars, or head to the Valley for rooftop lounges. Los Angeles' nightlife scene is always changing so travellers are always bound to find something new and hip.
Visitors can head down to Largo and catch one of America's hottest new acts performing. The world famous Orpheum Theatre hosts a multitude of theatrical productions, concerts and film festivals while, across town, the Geffen Playhouse is the place to see dramatic and comedic shows. The Dolby Theatre hosts not only the Academy Awards, but also big name headliners.
Shopping
For sheer variety and scale, LA shopping is hard to beat. This is a fashion-conscious, trend-setting consumer paradise with the shopping options to match. The best buys are fashion items, sporting goods and gear, locally produced wine from the Napa Valley, movie paraphernalia and collectables.
If travellers are looking for both designer wear and celebrity sightings, they should head for Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, where big name jewellery and haute couture stores are in abundance. For more unusual and eccentric items, they should try Venice Boardwalk or Melrose Avenue. Nearby Main Street is good for trendy but affordable attire, as well as antiques and collectables.
Certainly the best-value LA shopping can be found at the discount outlet complexes on the edge of town. Here visitors can find all the big name brands at substantial discounts (up to 70 percent off the list price). Travellers should check out Ontario Mills and Desert Hills Premium Outlets for some great bargains. The Grove is an attractive outdoor mall with a host of high-end and reasonably priced brands; its sister centre The Americana, situated in Glendale, is bigger and equally pleasant.
Of course LA, like every big American city, has its share of mega-malls. The best of these is the Beverly Center, which has nine floors of stores and restaurants. Due in part to its almost year-round sunny weather, LA embraces markets as an integral part of the local shopping experience; weekend shoppers can take their pick from a range of eclectic flea markets, curated vintage pop-ups, farmers' markets, swap meets and markets specialising in delectable food and drink.
A Sales Tax of 9.5 percent is built into the purchase price. However, as such sales taxes are set at state level, there's no way to obtain a refund from the federal government for non-US visitors.
Sightseeing & Attractions
Sightseeing
Sightseeing in LA presents certain challenges. For one, the city is immense, stretching out in every direction, and its various attractions are often miles apart. Also, since it's an agglomeration of small and previously separate towns, LA lacks a definite focal point, making it hard to get to grips with the city's character.
The best way to go about sightseeing is to use the various tour buses that connect the attractions, hail a taxicab or an Uber. LA is a year-round destination, although it can get pretty hot during the summer months of July to September. Key sights are the tours of the great movie production houses of Universal Studios and Warner Brothers, experiencing the glamour of Hollywood, the original Disneyland, and the vibrant beach communities of Venice Beach and Santa Monica. Walking tours focused on downtown LA's art deco architecture and historic theatres are also worthwhile.
If travellers are in town for a few days, it might be worth purchasing the Go Los Angeles Card, which gives free entry to over 35 attractions, as well as shopping and dining discounts, free tours and a guidebook.
Kids Attractions
The City of Angels is surely the entertainment capital of the world, and as such has a wealth of interesting attractions for children. There's no end to the abundance and variety of fun to be had by kids on holiday in Los Angeles.
If parents manage to drag their children away from the wonders of Disneyland, or the theme park at Universal Studios, there are also a number of beaches, parks, museums and shows to enjoy. There are also various tour buses offering a comprehensive Los Angeles sightseeing experience.
The weather in LA is generally sunny and warm, which is perfect for a holiday, but summers do get a little too warm and and there's more rain in winter. The best time to holiday with kids in LA is spring or autumn, when the weather's at its most pleasant and the holiday crowds haven't inundated the destination.