Best Los Angeles tourist attractions In 2024

Hollywood

One of the most celebrated Los Angeles tourist attractions for travelers of all types including families is to visit Hollywood. Located northeast of downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood is a fascinating place to learn about the film industry, perhaps spot a celebrity or just have fun. Hollywood boasts numerous activities and most of them are within a one mile area along Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Vine Street. Here you will find places like the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, El Capitan Theatre and the Egyptian Theatre which have been beautifully restored. The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 18-blocks and the black sidewalk features more than 2,600 bronze stars dedicating to celebrities of the entertainment industry. There is shopping at the Hollywood and Highland Center as well as the Dolby Theatre where the Academy Awards are presented. The Hollywood Museum is packed with entertainment industry exhibits and other attractions like the Madame Tussaunds Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the Guinness World of Records Museum are family friendly. As you walk the streets of this iconic Los Angeles attraction you can view the Hollywood Sign sitting proudly on the Hollywood Hills.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

If you are searching to get close to a specific celebrity and just have not been lucky then the best Los Angeles attraction for you to go to is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is situated between La Brea Avenue and Gower Street as well as between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for an incredible 18 city blocks in these two areas and features well over 2,600 bronze star plaques which are cemented into the black colored sidewalk. You will be delighted to see stars for celebrities from all eras and parts of the show business from radio to music to films to television. Celebrities such as James Caan, John Wayne, Shirley Temple, Muhammed Ali, Louis Armstrong and the Beetles are all represented on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. If you have a favorite celebrity whether they are living or have been dead for years they are probably located somewhere on the Hollywood Walk of Fame where for you give tribute to them for their great achievements 24-hours and 7-days a week.

Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood

If you are a music buff or just want to have a great time while viewing one-of-a-kind memorabilia from the music industry then a superb Los Angeles attraction for you is the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood. Located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood is situated in a 20,000 square feet facility within the Hollywood and Highland Center adjacent to the TCL Chinese Theatre. The Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood is an amazing place with distinct food in the restaurant and hardy libations form the bar. Inside the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood you will find a live stage for music performances and their famous retail store of Hard Rock Cafe merchandise. The most interesting thing about the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood is the tremendous amount of quality music memorabilia from all genres of music. You can view memorabilia such as a silk jacket worn by Ray Charles, a sweater from the Go Go's, a Gibson bass guitar used by the late Jack Bruce of Cream, the lyrics sheet from the Door's LA Woman song as well as drums played by Lars Ulrich of Metallica.

Beverly Hills

When you want to see all of the glamour and maybe catch a glimpse of a celebrity then an ideal Los Angeles attraction for you is to go to Beverly Hills. Located northeast of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills is a must see when visiting area and contains numerous unique experiences from shopping to dining to manicured gardens as well as hundreds of lavish homes of the rich and famous. You can enjoy a walk down Rodeo Drive where you will find hundreds of unique shopping boutiques as well as high-end retailers such as Christian Dior, Valentino, Lanvin and Gucci. When you travel down Sunset Strip you will be thrilled with locations such as the Roxy, Whiskey A Go Go, the Laugh Factory and the Viper Room. Other interesting sites within Beverly Hills include the Greystone Mansion and Gardens, Coldwater Canyon Park and the Beverly Gardens Park. If you like museums then you should visit the Paley Center for Media which houses an incredible amount of archived television and radio broadcasts.

Universal Studios Hollywood

One of the best Los Angeles tourist attractions for families to enjoy is to visit the Universal Studios Hollywood. Located in Universal City just west of Burbank, Universal Studios Hollywood boasts 19 distinct attractions that are movie-themed thrilled rides and adventurous live shows. At Universal Studios Hollywood your family will enjoy such rides as Transformers: The Ride 3D, Jurassic Park-The Ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey as well as Flight of the Hippogriff. Other exciting attractions include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Revenge of the Mummy-The Ride and WaterWorld. Children will be pleased with the Shrek 360 4D, Super Silly Fun Land and the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. As you stroll through the Universal Studios Hollywood you will have several character experiences such as meeting the Simpsons, watching Universal's Animal Actors and you can be assured of seeing a raptor. You will be delighted when taking a tour of the Universal Studios production areas and the Special Effects Show is mind boggling. There are several arcade areas as well as live shows such as Frog Choir and in the evening you must see the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle.

Disneyland Resort

One of the most popular Los Angeles tourist attractions for families and all travelers who want to meet Mickey Mouse is to plan a trip to Disneyland Resort. Located in the Anaheim Resort area, the Disneyland Resort is composed of two distinct theme parks which are Disneyland Park and the Disney California Adventure. Disneyland Park features over 45 attractions and more than 30 are available for people of all heights which are ideal for family fun. You will be delighted with rides such as Alice in Wonderland, Pirates of the Caribbean and Tarzan's Treehouse. The California Adventure Park has over 30 distinct attractions which include more than 15 for children of all heights. Rides like Radiator Springs Racers, Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters and Mickey's Fun Wheel are great for families. Other activities include numerous arcade areas and interactive attractions such as Princess Dot Puddle Park as well as Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. As you stroll through both parks you will be pleased with the assortment of entertainment that includes specialty shows, arcades, character experiences and shaking the hand of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck as well as Pluto is always a treat.

Griffith Park

When you want to combine outdoor activities with numerous interesting indoor activities then the perfect Los Angeles attraction is to take the family to Griffith Park. Located in the Los Feliz area between Universal City and Glendale, Griffith Park is situated within over 4,000-acres and is home to numerous attractions that range from recreational outdoor activities to museums to the performing arts. Griffith Park is where you will find the Los Angeles Zoo which houses more than 1,100 animals and the Griffith Observatory is the ideal place to view the stars as well as the Hollywood Sign. Griffith Park contains stellar museums like Travel Town and the Autry Museum of the American West. There are recreational opportunities such as tennis, golf, horseback riding and several miles of nature trails as well as numerous manicured garden areas that offer relaxation. Other interesting Los Angeles tourist attractions of Griffith Park are the Bronson Caves where Batman and Star Trek were once filmed as well as the Greek Theatre which is a great place to spend the evening watching Shakespeare. There is a historic carousel and three miniature train rides within the park which offer great family fun.

Warner Brothers Studios

One of the more popular Los Attractions for families, movie buffs and television junkies is the Warner Brothers Studios. Located in Burbank only minutes from Universal City, the Warner Brothers Studios is a fascinating behind the scenes look at the production of numerous block buster movies, television series and the famous Looney Tune comic shorts. Starting by for sons from Polish Jewish immigrants the Warner Brothers Studios were created in 1923 on Sunset Boulevard and quickly moved to their current location in 1928. Warner Brothers Studios has a vast portfolio of accomplishments that range from film to comic books to radio to television to music as well as video games. Over the years the Warner Brothers Studios have created such block busters as the Looney Tunes, the Jazz Singer, Casablanca, DC Comics and the Harry Potter Series of movies. When you visit the studios you will be delighted with props and exhibits that you will see that range from the Bat Mobile to Harry Potter costumes to viewing soundstages and backlots. There are a variety of tours available that will please everyone in the family from young to old.

Downtown Historic District

If you want to walk and learn about the history of Los Angeles while viewing incredible historic buildings then the best Los Angeles attraction for you to visit is the Downtown Historic District. Located in downtown, the Downtown Historic District encompasses many facets and neighborhoods including the Theatre District, Bunker Hill and the Old Spring Street Financial District. Within these areas you will be delighted with intricate architecture which includes numerous styles such as Art Deco, Beaux Arts, Moderne, Neo Classical as well as Egyptian Revival. You can visit the Los Angeles Central Library, Pershing Square, the Bradbury Building, the Los Angeles Times, the Biltmore Hotel and even the Grand Central Market which still reigns as the oldest food market in the city. Other exciting Los Angeles attraction within the Downtown Historic District are the Museum of Contemporary Art, the MacGuire Gardens and the funicular Angels Flight Railway which offers spectacular views of the Bunker Hill area. Dining in the Downtown Historic District is ideal at the Nickel Diner as well as the Edison and nightlife is vibrant at the Exchange LA nightclub.

Universal CityWalk

One of the more entertaining Los Angeles tourist attractions for families and all types of travelers is to take a trip to the Universal CityWalk. Located in Universal City, the Universal CityWalk is an outdoor entertainment venue with numerous restaurants, nightclubs, shopping venues and a cinema complex. The Universal CityWalk boasts 93,000 square feet of space with an outdoor concert area known as the 5 Towers for live performances. The Universal CityWalk sports 28 shopping venues that cater to all walks of life and range from Guess to the Dodger Clubhouse Store to the Los Angeles Sock Market to Billabong. Dining includes over 33 eateries that serve everything from quick bites to gourmet cuisine with restaurants such as SmashBurger, Wolfgang Puck Bistro, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville and Buca di Beppo. Nightly entertainment can be found at Howl at the Moon, the Hard Rock Cafe as well as the Saddle Ranch Chop House and there is indoor skydiving at iFLY. You will find more than 3,000 luxury seats as well as an upscale bar within the 18 movie screens and one IMAX located at Universal Cinema.

Sunset Strip

One of the most iconic Los Angeles tourist attractions for all travelers to witness is the Sunset Strip. Located along Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, the Sunset Strip runs 1.5-miles from Hollywood to Beverly Hills and is lined with an amazing amount of colorful billboards, hotels, shopping boutiques music venues and comedy clubs. The Sunset Strip was created during the 1920s as a safe place for bars and casinos throughout Prohibition. In subsequent years the Sunset Strip became known as the place for celebrities, musicians, comedians and fashion designers. Several interesting things have happened along the Sunset Strip such as the antics by rock groups like Led Zeppelin at the Rock 'n' Roll Hyatt, Jim Morrison crashed his beloved Shelby Mustang while driving on Sunset Strip and John Belushi as well as River Phoenix died of narcotic overdoses while partying along Sunset Strip. The Sunset Strip is home to several iconic nightclubs such as the Whiskey A Go Go, The Roxy, House of Blues and the Key Club. Patrons can have fun at the Laugh Factory or the Comedy Store and the L.A. bar scene of celebrities can be found at the Bar Marmont as well as the Skybar.

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive is one of the best Los Angeles tourist attractions for people who are looking for panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood Sign and the Los Angeles Basin. Located on Hollywood Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains eastern ridgeline, Mulholland Drive stretches for over 21-miles and offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. The main portion of Mulholland Drive opened in 1924 and runs from Cahuenga Pass in Hollywood all the way to Leo Carrillo State Park situated at the Pacific Ocean coastline. The 21-mile road delivers spectacular views of Beverly Hills, Bel-Air, Universal City, Burbank, downtown Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Mountains within the San Fernando Valley. You will be delighted with the views during the day or night as you travel on Mulholland Drive. There are several significant turnouts along the road around Runyon Canyon as well as between Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon which are ideal Los Angeles tourist attractions for photographing the beautiful area. When your drive is completed you will understand why Mulholland Drive has played a significant role in many television series, movies, books and music.

Venice Canals and Walkways

The Venice Canals and Walkways are one of the most beautiful Los Angeles tourist attractions that will transport travelers to a far off land in Europe. Located in Venice at Washington Boulevard and Strong Drive, the Venice Canals and Walkways were conceived by Abbot Kinney over 100 years ago and are now listed on the Register of Historic Places. The Venice Canals and Walkaways were originally created to emulate the town of Venice, Italy complete with canals, gondolas and Italian gondoliers. The area soon became flush with an amusement pier, faux Venetian buildings lined the canals and there was a miniature railroad. Today the Venice Canal and Walkways are a tranquil place for people to stroll and for families to enjoy. As you walk, kayak or boat you will be thrilled with the numerous gardens that line the canal and you will find a great children's playground at the Linnie Canal Park. There are several pedestrian bridges that cross over the canal which boast great photograph opportunities of the surrounding area. You will be amazed at the wildlife especially the variety of birds that are attracted to the canals.

26-Mile Bike Path

If you are looking for a perfect place to exercise whether you are riding a bike, jogging, roller skating or just walking then the best Los Angeles attraction for you is the 26-Mile Bike Path formerly known as the Marvin Braude Bike Path. Known locally as the Strand, this beautiful 26-mile path runs entirely adjacent to the shoreline and stretches from the Will Rogers State Beach on the southern edge to Torrance County Beach on the northern end. Along the way you will encounter mostly a flat service with little to no incline making the 26-Mile Bike Path perfect for all types of recreational exercise. The bike path can be accessed from many different places along the route which include the Santa Monica Pier, Playa del Rey, Venice, Redondo Beach as well as Manhattan. As you cruise the 26-Mile Bike Path you will pass by such iconic Los Angeles tourist attractions such as Muscle Beach, Venice Beach, El Porto Beach and Hermosa Beach. The 26-Mile Bike Path has many locations along the route for rest stops including restrooms at many of the beach areas that you will pass.

Fashion District

If you like to find out about the latest fashion trends that will hit the streets around the world, then an ideal Los Angeles attraction for you is the Fashion District. Located in downtown, the Fashion District spans some 100 blocks between 6th Street to the Santa Monica Freeway and from Broadway Street to Stanford Street. The Fashion District caters primarily to clothing distributors and very few of the shops are open to the general public but there are a few retail locations where you can find tremendous bargains or the latest clothing, accessories as well as new fabrics. The Fashion District has clusters of stores that specialize in items such as fabric venues, shoes, dresses, jewelry and both men's as well as women's clothing. There are also two areas within the district that are very popular with tourists which are the Flower District where you will find hundreds of wholesale flower shops filled with eye and nose candy as well as Santee Alley where you can find numerous bargains. The Fashion District is a perfect Los Angeles attraction to go on the last Friday of each month when many of stores open to public offering their wares for sale.

Old Town Pasadena

One of the more interesting Los Angeles tourist attractions for all types of visitors including families is to plan a trip to Old town Pasadena. Located northeast of Los Angeles near the San Gabriel Mountains, Old Town Pasadena is home to a collection of museums, fine restaurants, shopping venues as well as historic architecture and is listed as a National Historic District. Founded in 1874 as a cooperative for orange growers, Old Town Pasadena was eventually built by the wealthy railroad barons to be a tourist destination for eastern travelers. Old Town Pasadena is chockfull of excellent examples of Art Deco buildings that line the streets of Fair Oaks and Orange Grove Boulevards. These gorgeous buildings were restored in the 1980s as a mixed use area and today house numerous unique businesses, boutiques as well as eateries. Old Town Pasadena is a perfect place to spend some time while visiting other major Los Angeles tourist attractions in Pasadena such as the Pasadena Playhouse, the Norton Simon Museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art and if you there during New Year's there is nothing better than watching the Tournament of Roses Parade.

The Queen Mary

When you want to relive the past of grand sea voyages of the northern Atlantic Ocean as well as perhaps spend the night in a rich cultural setting then the best Los Angeles attraction to visit is the Queen Mary. Located in Queensway Bay in Long Beach, the Queen Mary ocean liner has been restored to her original grandeur and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Queen Mary has a fascinating history behind her sailing career that started 1936 and ended in 1967 when she sailed to her present location in Long Beach. The Queen Mary boasts exquisite accommodations for guests with 346 staterooms and suites where you can relive the opulence of ocean liner travel. Even if you don't spend the night there are plenty of entertaining tours that travel throughout this luxury ship. You will enjoy walking through looking at excellent craftsmanship in the details of woodwork, stained glass and tapestries. You can visit the Princess Diana Museum, view hundreds of historic photographs of former passengers or indulge in a libation or a meal at the Chelsea Chowder House and Bar or at Sir Winston's Restaurant and Lounge.

Theater National Historic District

One of the most impressive Los Angeles tourist attractions for people that like historic architecture as well as the performing arts is to travel through the Theater District. Located along Broadway Street between 3rd Street and 9th Street, the Theater National Historic District is the largest as well as the first historic theater district in the United States and consists of twelve incredible theaters. The twelve theaters within the Theater National Historic District represent the largest concentration of movie palaces in the entire United States. As you gaze at these sites that were constructed between 1910 and 1931 you will be delighted with the different architectural designs that are represented such as Art Deco, Beaux Arts as well as Neo Classical styles. Some of the theaters within the historic district were originally constructed for vaudeville shows such as the Palace, Orpheum and Arcade. Other theaters like the Rialto offered the first stadium style seating and the Globe was constructed for live theater performances. Movie palaces such as the Cameo Theater and the Los Angeles Theater are superb examples of yester year's lavish entertainment scene that thrived in Los Angeles.

Auto Club Speedway

If you have ever dreamed of racing on the NASCAR circuit or driving a fast car on a fascinating oval track then the only Los Angeles attraction for you is the Auto Club Speedway. Located in Fontana 40-minutes east of Los Angeles, the Auto Club Speedway is home to several NASCAR and IndyCar events throughout the year. The 91,200 seat grandstand is ideal for watching car races with excellent sight views from almost every seat. During down time at the Auto Club Speedway you can become a racing legend on this 1.5-mile race track which features a long straight away for high speed and low banked turns for excitement. You will have a choice to drive some fascinating pieces of machinery that range from Audi's to Mercedes-Benz's to Aston Martin's. When you want to go really fast you can get behind the wheel of a Porsche, Lamborghini, a Corvette Z06, a Nissan GT-R or even a Ferrari. You will feel your adrenaline raise to new levels as you put your foot on the gas pedal to reach speeds of over 120 miles per hour as your family views you from the grandstand.

LA Live

When you are visiting an event at the Staples Center or just looking for an entertaining place to hang out then a superb Los Angeles attraction for you is LA Live. Located in the South Park District of downtown and adjacent to the Staples Centers, LA Live is a 27-acre entertainment complex that includes a concert theater, museum, cinemas, restaurants, bars and a 54 story hotel as well as condominium building. LA Live is home to Microsoft Square which is 40,000 square feet outside entertainment venue complete with big screens and the Microsoft Theater which holds 7,100 guests for concerts and theater productions. The Grammy Museum is packed with interesting memorabilia from Song of the Year to Best New Artist to Album of the Year. There is an ESPN Zone and broadcasting studios onsite as well as a movie complex that consists of 14 screens with seating for more than 3,700 patrons within a 140,000 square feet facility. Also within LA Live are over 20 restaurants and bars from the Yard House to Rosa Mexicano to the Boca at the Conga Room as well as places such as SmashBurger, Tom's Urban and Katsuya.

Paramount Studios

When you want to take a glimpse at the longest operating major studio still in existence in Hollywood, then a must see Los Angeles attraction for you is the Paramount Studios. Located along Melrose Avenue within Hollywood, the Paramount Studios is situated on 65-acres and contains 30 different stages that have been used for filming major productions and television shows for more than 100 years. Paramount Studios is the only major production studio left in Hollywood from the original Big Six studios that called Hollywood home. When you tour Paramount Studios you will be delighted with viewing such filming locations as the New York Backlot, the Bronson Gate and numerous soundstages. The Paramount Studios will unveil to you the hidden passageways, original film vaults, mysterious alleys and historic theaters that exist within the complex. The Paramount Studios have produced hundreds of block buster films such as Saving Private Ryan, The Godfather Trilogy, Saturday Night Fever and the Iron Man Series. You will feel privileged to few the many stage props as well as costumes used during production by such stars as Rudolph Valentino, John Wayne, Meryl Streep and Harrison Ford.

Newport Beach

When you are searching for a nice community that has a great stretch of beach and offers numerous watersport activities then a perfect Los Angeles attraction for you to visit is Newport Beach. Located along the Pacific Ocean coastline in the center of Orange County, Newport Beach is a vibrant place which boasts an 8-mile stretch of beach as well as a 21 square mile harbor that houses over 9,000 boats of all types of shapes and forms. The Newport Harbor is the largest recreational harbor on the entire West Coast of the United States and offers excellent opportunities for watersport activities from swimming to fishing. The beach areas are fantastic within the area and include popular places like Corona del Mar State Beach, the Balboa Peninsula beaches and there is plenty of sand at Crystal Cove State Park. Surfers especially enjoy the Wedge off of the Balboa Peninsula as well as near the Santa Ana River and Newport Pier. Fishing is great at one of two piers the Balboa or Newport and there is a 3-mile boardwalk that runs adjacent to the shoreline between these two piers.

Little Tokyo

One of the best Los Angeles tourist attractions to visit to learn about the rich culture of Japan in the United States is Little Tokyo. Located just north of downtown and the Arts District, Little Tokyo is situated along First Street between Los Angeles Street and Central Street and is listed as a National Historic Landmark District. Little Tokyo was formed in 1905 and serves as the center piece of Japanese-American culture in Southern California. Within Little Tokyo you will find more than 70 shops featuring primarily merchandise for Japanese-Americans that range from thrift shops to fashion boutiques to jewelry to souvenirs. Dining within Little Tokyo consists of more than 80 restaurants serving everything from Korean to American to Chinese to Japanese cuisine. Cultural Los Angeles attraction in Little Tokyo are abundant with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the Japanese American National Museum, the Geffen Contemporary Art Museum and the East West Players perform in the David Henry Hwang Theater. You can view several sculptures of prominent Japanese-Americans such as astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, Chiune Sugihara and the Go for Broke Monument which celebrates the Japanese Americans who served in the U.S. Armed Services during WWII.

Melrose Avenue

Melrose Avenue is one of the premier art, dining as well as shopping districts and is a must see Los Angeles attraction when you want to view the latest in trendy styles. Located near West Hollywood, Melrose Avenue is situated between Santa Monica Boulevard and Lucille Avenue and boasts 22-blocks of dining, shopping, street art as well as various entertainment venues. You will be delighted with the more than 140 eclectic shopping boutiques that feature items from women and men fashions to home furnishings to antiques to jewelry as well as numerous health and beauty venues. Dining is a must on Melrose Avenue with more than 60 eateries serving everything from quick bites to casual dining to gourmet restaurants in a variety of flavors from Italian to Thai to Mexican to Vegetarian. Many of the restaurants and bars feature live music in the evening making Melrose Avenue a vibrant place anytime you visit. One of the most incredible things about Melrose Avenue is the amazing street art you will view from outstanding street artists like Sebastien Walker, Jules Muck, Annie Preece and Ivan Preciado.