Travel tips for Los Angeles
Everything you need to know before visiting Los Angeles and its surroundings — money, transport, getting in and when to go.
Planning essentials
Visas, budgets, packing, eSIMs and the cultural etiquette worth knowing before you land.
Getting around
Weighing a rental car against rideshare and the Metro rail and bus network, which covers Downtown, Hollywood and the beach cities but not all of the sprawl in between, plus the realities of LA freeway traffic at rush hour and the practicalities of driving the Pacific Coast Highway.
When to go
Mild, mostly dry winters good for museums and Downtown, a foggy late-spring stretch known locally as "June gloom," warm dry summers with crowded beaches and hot desert day trips, and a pleasant, less crowded fall. Month-by-month guides to what to expect.
Good to know about travel tips for Los Angeles
The United States is outside the visa-free travel most Europeans expect without paperwork: most Western European, UK and many other visitors travel under the Visa Waiver Program using an ESTA, an online authorization applied for in advance, not a visa itself, while travellers who don't qualify need a B-2 tourist visa from a US embassy or consulate beforehand. 25% depending on the specific city. Tipping is expected on top of that already tax-exclusive total — roughly 18-20%+ at sit-down restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per drink, and roughly 15-20% for taxis and rideshare — the near-opposite of many visitors' home habits.
LAX is the main airport, but Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne in Orange County and Ontario are smaller alternatives that can save real driving time depending on where you're staying. A rental car is the practical default for most itineraries; LA Metro rail and bus cover parts of the basin — Downtown, Hollywood, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Long Beach — reasonably well, and ride-hailing fills the rest, but neither replaces a car for a wider trip. Freeways are known by number, traffic peaks on weekday mornings and evenings, and the same drive can take twice as long at rush hour.
The time zone is Pacific Time, and the climate is mediterranean, with a coastal "May Gray" and "June Gloom" that can keep mornings overcast in late spring even when it's sunny inland.
Frequently asked questions about travel tips for Los Angeles
What currency is used in Los Angeles?
The US dollar. Prices are shown before sales tax, which is added at the till.
Do I need a visa to visit Los Angeles?
Most Western European, UK and many other visitors travel visa-free under the Visa Waiver Program using an ESTA, an online authorization applied for in advance; those who don't qualify need a B-2 tourist visa instead.
How do I get from LAX into the city?
LA Metro's rail line connects to LAX via a shuttle to a nearby station, and taxis, rideshare and rental cars all serve the airport directly, though traffic timing matters more than distance.
Is tipping really expected everywhere?
At sit-down restaurants and bars, yes, generally 18-20%+ on top of the bill; counter service and takeout generally don't require one, though a prompt may still appear on the card reader.
Which airport should I fly into?
LAX is the main gateway, but Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne or Ontario can save significant driving time depending on where you're staying — picking the right one matters more in LA than in most cities.
Tours to help plan your Los Angeles trip
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