Things to do in Los Angeles
From the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory to a whale-watching cruise off the coast, a food tour through Downtown, and day trips out to the desert or Santa Barbara, Los Angeles is really a collection of separate destinations linked by freeways rather than one walkable center.
Signature experiences
The categories that define a first trip to LA — Hollywood sightseeing, studio tours, theme park tickets, helicopter flights over the coastline, and the boat tours and whale watching that get you out on the water.
Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory Tours
Guided hikes and shuttle tours to the best Hollywood Sign viewpoints in Griffith Park, often paired with a stop at Griffith Observatory for the skyline view. Trails get crowded and hot by midday, so an early morning start is worth planning around.
2 guides
Celebrity Homes Tours
Bus and van tours through Beverly Hills and Bel Air pointing out celebrity residences, usually narrated by a local guide with the current addresses. Most star-spotting is from the sidewalk or the bus window, not inside any property.
3 guides
Studio Tours
Behind-the-scenes tours of working film and TV studios such as Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, distinct from the theme-park rides at Universal Studios Hollywood. These book out days ahead in summer and usually require closed-toe shoes.
2 guides
Hollywood Boulevard Tours and Tickets
Walking tours and combo tickets covering the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt and the Dolby Theatre along Hollywood Boulevard. A compact, walkable stretch that works well on foot without a car.
2 guides
Theme Park Tickets
Admission tickets for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain, with single-day and multi-park options. Buying online in advance is standard and often required for entry-date reservations.
2 guides
Helicopter Flights
Helicopter tours over the Hollywood Sign, Downtown LA and the coastline from Malibu to Long Beach, running from short city loops to longer sunset routes. Weight limits and weather cancellations are common, so operators build in flexible rebooking.
6 guides
Whale Watching
Boat trips out of Long Beach, San Pedro, Marina del Rey and Newport Beach to see gray whales in winter and blue whales in summer, often spotting dolphins along the way. Sightings aren't guaranteed, and most operators offer a free rebooking if none appear.
4 guides
Boat Cruises
Harbor cruises and sunset sails out of Marina del Rey, Long Beach and Newport Beach, plus the ferry crossing to Catalina Island. A calm way to see the coastline that doesn't depend on beach parking.
7 guides
Water Sports
Surf lessons, stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and jet ski rentals along Santa Monica, Venice, Malibu and the South Bay. Best booked for morning sessions, when the ocean is typically calmer.
9 guides
Wine and Drinks Tours
Tasting tours through Temecula wine country and the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara, plus craft brewery and cocktail tours around LA itself. Temecula and the Santa Ynez Valley are both over an hour's drive, so these work best as a full-day trip.
7 guides
Food Tours
Guided food walks through neighborhoods like Downtown's Grand Central Market, Koreatown and the Original Farmers Market, sampling multiple stops in a few hours. A good way to cover a lot of LA's food scene without a car between stops.
6 guides
Ghost and True Crime Tours
Walking and van tours covering Hollywood's haunted hotels and true-crime history, from old studio scandals to infamous addresses. Evening departures are typical, and most are intended as entertainment rather than serious paranormal investigation.
7 guides
Museums and Landmarks
Tickets and guided visits to LA's museums and landmarks, including the Getty Center, LACMA and the Griffith Observatory. Several major museums offer free or pay-what-you-wish entry on set days, worth checking before booking a paid ticket.
4 guides
Desert Adventures
Jeep tours, jaunts to rock formations and stargazing trips around Joshua Tree, Palm Springs and Death Valley. Summer heat in Death Valley is extreme, so spring and fall are the better windows for anything on foot.
6 guides
Hiking and Nature Tours
Guided hikes in Griffith Park, Malibu Canyon, the San Bernardino Mountains around Big Bear, and the desert trails of Joshua Tree. Water and sun protection matter even on short trails, given the dry climate for most of the year.
4 guides
Adventure Sports
Ziplining, off-road tours and canyoneering around Big Bear, the Inland Empire and the desert outside Palm Springs, for travelers wanting something beyond sightseeing. Most operators run seasonally and require advance booking.
3 guides
Bike and Scooter Tours
Guided bike routes along the beach bike path from Santa Monica to Venice, plus e-scooter rentals for covering Downtown or Hollywood quickly. A practical way to cover the beach cities without needing a car for short hops.
6 guides
Professional Photo Sessions
Booked photographers who meet you at spots like the Griffith Observatory overlook, Venice Beach or Downtown's murals for a private session, delivering edited shots afterward. Popular for couples, proposals and family trips.
3 guides
Games, Shows and Workshops
Escape rooms, comedy and improv shows, cooking classes and scavenger hunt games across LA, built for groups and families wanting an interactive night out. A change of pace from standard sightseeing.
6 guides
Spa and Wellness
Day spa access and wellness retreats in Los Angeles and out toward Palm Springs, suited to a rest day between sightseeing. Advance booking is recommended at the more popular desert resorts.
3 guides
Airport Transfers and Transport
Private and shared transfers to and from LAX, plus Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne and Ontario airports as alternatives, bookable ahead to avoid waiting for a rideshare. Given how spread out LA is, a booked transfer or a rental car is usually more reliable than counting on public transit.
5 guides
City Passes and Combined Tickets
Multi-attraction passes bundling entry to museums and landmarks, plus combined tickets pairing a studio tour with theme park admission. Suited to visitors who want to cover several sights without booking each separately.
3 guides
Shopping Tours
Guided outings to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, the Grove and Downtown's Fashion District, often paired with a stop for lunch. Most run a few hours and are easiest to reach by car or rideshare from most LA neighborhoods.
2 guides
Sightseeing Tours
Hop-on hop-off bus routes and guided van tours linking Hollywood, Downtown, Beverly Hills and the beach cities in a single day. A practical option for visitors without a rental car who still want to cover more than one area.
9 guides
Self-Guided Audio Tours
Smartphone-app walking tours of Hollywood Boulevard, Downtown and Venice Beach, paced on your own schedule without a live guide. Works well for visitors who want structure without committing to a fixed tour time.
2 guides
Day Trips
Bookable day trips out of LA to San Diego, Santa Barbara, Temecula wine country and Joshua Tree, most run with round-trip transport included. Worth comparing against renting a car for a day, which gives more flexibility on stops.
3 guides
Luxury and VIP Experiences
Private guides, VIP studio access and after-hours museum visits priced above the standard group tours. Usually require booking well in advance, especially around awards season and summer weekends.
2 guides
Private Tours
One-on-one or small-group versions of LA's most popular tours, from Hollywood sightseeing to studio visits, with a dedicated guide and a flexible pace. Costs more per person than a group tour but suits families or travelers with specific interests.
6 guides
Los Angeles Walking Tours
Guided walks through Hollywood, Downtown's historic core and Venice, covering history, architecture and local stories, from short introductions to in-depth small-group tours led by local guides.
4 guidesMore ways to experience the region
Specialist interests and practical planning — wine tasting, food tours, desert adventures, hiking, museums, day trips beyond the city, transfers and passes, and the comparisons every first-time visitor searches for.
Planning Your Los Angeles Visit
An editorial guide to deciding between a Hollywood-focused day and a beach day, or a trip that adds a theme park and a desert excursion, depending on how many days you have. Aimed at visitors mapping out an itinerary before booking anything.
2 guides
Day Trips vs Guided Tours
An editorial side-by-side of what a guided LA tour covers compared with renting a car and doing a day trip independently, including typical duration and flexibility. Useful for deciding which suits your schedule and budget, not a page for booking a specific activity.
2 guides
Los Angeles by Season
An editorial look at how sightseeing changes through the year, from summer beach crowds and desert heat to quieter, milder winter visits better suited to museums and Downtown. Helpful for timing a trip around weather and crowds rather than for booking anything specific.
2 guides
Getting To and Around Los Angeles
An editorial guide covering LAX and its alternatives at Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne and Ontario, plus why a rental car is the practical default once you're visiting more than one part of this spread-out, coastal region. Useful for visitors deciding whether to rely on rideshare, transit or a car.
2 guides
Family Activities in Los Angeles
Suggestions for child-friendly options including the theme parks, tide-pool walks at the beach, and gentler stops like the Griffith Observatory. Aimed at families balancing sightseeing with activities that keep younger children engaged.
2 guides
Accessible Ways to See Los Angeles
An editorial comparison of standard walking tours against lower-effort alternatives like hop-on hop-off buses and private transfers for covering the same ground. Useful for visitors with limited mobility or who prefer not to walk long distances between spread-out sights.
2 guidesBrowse by destination
Tours and activities organised by where you're headed — the best of each city and region.
Good to know about things to do in Los Angeles
This hub arranges activities around Los Angeles into more than a dozen categories, because a beach region, a film-industry backdrop and a desert day-trip radius don't fit under one label. Studio tours and film industry experiences cover working studio lots with soundstages still in production use, distinct from theme-park-style studio attractions with rides. Theme park tickets and passes cover Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Universal Studios Hollywood, and Knott's Berry Farm, all requiring dated tickets bought in advance rather than at the gate.
Museum visits group the Getty Center and the Getty Villa in Malibu, both free to enter but requiring paid parking, LACMA, The Broad, and Downtown LA's landmarks. Hiking and outdoor activities reach the marked viewpoints for the Hollywood Sign in Griffith Park and the trails around Griffith Observatory, itself free but limited by parking. Beach activities and bike and scooter tours cover Santa Monica, Venice Beach and the Venice Canals, Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway, and the South Bay. Whale watching, mostly from Dana Point and the South Bay, is seasonal and the species seen shifts through the year.
Desert excursions reach Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley and Palm Springs, each a US National Park or desert resort with limited services inside its boundaries. Wine tours cover the Santa Ynez Valley around Solvang and the Temecula wine country. Catalina Island activities center on Avalon, reached by ferry. Food tours, walking tours, photo sessions, games and workshops, and airport transfers round out the rest, since a rental car or a Metro day pass can reshape what's realistic on a given day.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Los Angeles
What are the main categories on this hub?
Studio tours and the film industry, theme park tickets, museum visits, hiking and outdoor activities, beach activities, whale watching, desert excursions, wine tours, Catalina Island activities, food tours, walking tours, photo sessions, games and workshops, and airport transfers.
Is a studio tour the same as a theme park visit?
No — a working-studio tour of an active film or TV lot is a different product from a theme-park-style studio experience with rides and attractions.
Can I visit the Getty Center without a car?
Yes — arriving by bus, taxi or rideshare avoids the parking charge, but everyone still rides the free tram up the hill from the entrance to the museum buildings.
When is the best time to see whales from the coast?
It depends on the species — gray whales, blue whales and others each have their own migration window, so the best months shift through the year.
Do I need to book theme park tickets in advance?
Yes — Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios Hollywood and Knott's Berry Farm all use dated tickets tied to a specific calendar day, generally bought ahead rather than at the gate.
Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory
Verified deep-linked GetYourGuide tours. Book through these links and we earn a small commission at no cost to you.
GetYourGuide does not provide a product photo for this activity — the image shows the meeting point, photographed by us.
