Things to Do in Los Angeles
By Kayte Deioma, About.com Guide
For festivals, holiday attractions and special events, click over to the LA Events tab above.
- Best of Los Angeles
- Los Angeles Sightseeing Tours
- Things to Do in LA by Location
- LA for TV and Movie Fans
- Romantic Los Angeles
- Things to Do in LA with Kids
- Los Angeles Theme Parks and Attractions
- Los Angeles Landmarks
- LA Museums and Visual Arts
- Los Angeles Performing Arts
- Nightlife
- Shopping
- Outdoor Activities
- Learning Vacations in Los Angeles
Best of Los Angeles
If you have time, browse to the bottom of the page to discover some interesting and unusual things you might not have thought of doing in LA, but if you're in a hurry, start here, with the best of the best.
- Top Los Angeles Attractions
- The BIG Guide to What to Do in LA
- Top Free Things to Do in Los Angeles
- Top Things to Do in Hollywood
- Most Photographed LA Landmarks
- Most Romantic Things to Do in LA
- Best Things to Do in LA with Kids
- Top Things to Do at the Beach
- Best Los Angeles Museums
- Best Los Angeles Theme Parks
- Most Beautiful Los Angeles Gardens
- Top Los Angeles Comedy Clubs
- Top Los Angeles Jazz Clubs
- 2012 Readers Choice Winners for Best LA Restaurants
- 2012 Readers Choice Winners for Best LA Night Spots
Los Angeles Sightseeing Tours
Whether you want to tour a building, a neighborhood or multiple cities, there's a tour company willing to show you around by land, sea or air, by limo, trolley, bus or on foot, or you can take a self-guided walking or driving tour.
- Los Angeles Tours Overview
- Los Angeles Bus, Van and Trolley Tours
- LA Boat Tours
- Los Angeles Special Interest Tours
- Air Tours of Los Angeles
- Walking Tours of Los Angeles
- TV and Movie Studio Tours in Los Angeles
- Ghost and Crime Tours in LA
- Warner Bros Studio Tour
- Beverly Hills Trolley Tours
- Disney Concert Hall Tour
- Esotouric Crime Scene and History Tours
- Dolby (formely Kodak) Theatre Tours
- One Day Self-Driving Tour of LA
- Quick Culture Customized Art Tours
- Whale Watching in Southern California
- Cruises from Los Angeles
Things to Do in LA by Location
In order to better plan your visit to Los Angeles, it helps to know which attractions are close to each other. These location guides will help you figure out which things you might be able to do in the same trip or same day based on location.
- Top Los Angeles Attractions
- Top 15 Things to Do in Hollywood
- Things to Do in West Hollywood
- Things to Do in Anaheim
- Things to Do in Downtown LA
- Things to Do in Pasadena
- Things to Do in Long Beach
- Things to Do in Santa Monica
- Things to Do in San Pedro
- Things to Do in Venice Beach
- Things You Can Do at the Beach
LA for TV and Movie Fans
Some people come to LA for the chance to be close to their favorite TV, movie and music stars, and maybe walk in their shoes just a little. Here are some ways to immerse yourself in Hollywood glitz and maybe see a celebrity or two.
- Star-Struck in LA: Celebrity Experiences
- Attend A TV Show Taping
- TV and Movie Studio Tours in Los Angeles
- Universal Studios Hollywood
Romantic Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a very romantic destination, whether you find romance in the beauty of nature or getting all dolled up for a night on the town.
- Most Romantic Things to Do in LA
- Most Romantic Things to Do - Part 2
- Los Angeles Romantic Restaurants with a View
- Most Romantic Gardens in Los Angeles
- Best Places to Kiss at Disneyland
- Top LA Dance Clubs
- Gondola Rides in Los Angeles
- Best Couples Spas in Los Angeles
- Best Places to Propose in Los Angeles
- Valentine's Day in Los Angeles
Things to Do in LA with Kids
Los Angeles is a great place to visit with children. Whether you can afford a deluxe week at Disneyland or are looking for some budget alternatives to keep the kids entertained, there are plenty of attractions for every budget.
- Top Things to Do with Kids in LA
- Disneyland Guide
- LA Area Theme Parks
- California Science Center
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Children's TV Show Tickets
- LA County Museum of Art with Kids
- Olvera Street - El Pueblo de Los Angeles
- Kidspace Museum
- American Girl Place
- Griffith Observatory
- Quick Culture Art Appreciation Tours for Kids
- Bob Baker's Marionette Theater
- Madame Tussauds Hollywood
- El Capitan Theatre
- Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store
Los Angeles Theme Parks and Attractions
One of the top reasons people come to Los Angeles is to visit Disneyland and other major theme parks. These resources will help you make the most of some of the Southland's most popular amusement attractions.
- Top Los Angeles Theme Parks
- Disneyland Visitors Guide
- Disney California Adventure Visitors Guide
- Universal Studios Hollywood Visitors Guide
- Visiting Six Flags Magic Mountain
- LA Area Water Parks
- Queen Mary Visitors Guide
- Aquarium of the Pacific Visitors Guide
Los Angeles Landmarks
From the Hollywood Sign to the Santa Monica Pier, sometimes just laying eyes on a landmark you've seen over and over in the movies is enough of a goal in itself.
- The Most Photographed LA Landmarks
- Top Free Things to Do in LA
- Hollywood Sign
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Hollywood Photo Tour
- TCL (Grauman's/Mann's) Chinese Theatre
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Santa Monica Pier
- The Hollywood Bowl
- Hollywood & Highland
- The Farmers Market
- Griffith Observatory
- The Getty Center
- Exposition Park
- Disney Concert Hall
- Olvera Street - El Pueblo de Los Angeles
- Pacific Design Center
- The La Brea Tar Pits
- Pantages Theatre
- The Queen Mary
LA Museums and Visual Arts
There are over 100 museums in Greater Los Angeles including world-class museums offering the best of the visual arts, sciences, history and culture. Choose a category below to dig deeper into LA's rich museum and visual arts offerings.
- Los Angeles Museums Overview
- Best Los Angeles Museums
- Museum Free Days in LA
- Top Los Angeles Art Museums
- History Museums in LA
- Most Unusual Los Angeles Museums
- Museum Row on the Miracle Mile
- Exposition Park Museums
- Entertainment Museums in LA
- Ethnic and Cultural Museums in LA
- LA Auto Museums and Attractions
- LA Air and Space Museums and Attractions
- Train Museums in LA
- Museum Ships and Maritime Museums in LA
- LA's Pop Culture and Kitsch Museums
- Unexpected Art in Los Angeles
- LA Art Walks and Studio Tours
- LA County Museum of Art Visitors Guide
- California Science Center
- Getty Center Visitors Guide
Los Angeles Performing Arts
Los Angeles has a thriving performing arts scene with amazing live music, theatre and dance events from free community events to high end opera and ballet.
- Shows in LA
- Attend A TV Show Taping
- Performing Arts
- Live Theatre in LA
- Top Comedy Clubs in LA
- Top Jazz Clubs in Los Angeles
- Live Music Venues on the Sunset Strip
- Magic Shows in LA
- Annual Music Festivals in the LA Area
- Los Angeles Film Festivals
- Performing Arts Workshops
- Summer Music Series in Los Angeles
- Summer Theatre Festivals
- Hollywood Bowl Summer Concerts
- Los Angeles Music Center Guide
- Pantages Theatre
- Live Radio Theatre at LA Theatre Works
- Disney Concert Hall
- Point Break LIVE! in Hollywood
Nightlife
In Los Angeles, the hot clubs can change from month to month and from night to night. Some clubs have been hot for decades, while others get a makeover every six months. All information in the nightlife section was accurate at the time of publication. Please check directly with the venues to make sure they are still operating as reported. Feel free to let me know if you find things have changed.
- See a Show in LA
- Top A-List Nightclubs
- Top LA Dance Clubs
- Coolest Downtown LA Clubs and Bars
- Top Comedy Clubs in LA
- 2012 Readers' Choice Winners for Best LA Night Spots
- 2012 Readers' Choice Winners for Best LA Restaurants
- Tips for Getting on the Guest List
- Top Jazz Clubs in Los Angeles
- Where to Go After the Show - Downtown LA Bars
- Nightlife on the Sunset Strip
- L.A. Live Entertainment Complex
- Nightlife at Hollywood & Highland
- Irish Pubs & Bars in LA
- Irish Pubs & Bars in Long Beach
- Top Downtown Long Beach Nightclubs and Bars
- Dive-Bar Hopping on 4th Street in Long Beach
- Nightlife on the Queen Mary
Shopping
Los Angeles has every kind of shopping experience you can imagine, from flea markets to outlet malls, from the downtown Fashion District to Long Beach Retro Row to the glitzy designer shops on Rodeo Drive.
- LA Shopping Guide
- Top Indoor Shopping Malls in Greater LA
- The LA Farmers Market
- The Grove at the LA Farmers Market
- Hollywood & Highland Center
- Universal CityWalk Guide
- Pacific Design Center
- Long Beach Shopping Guide
- Retro Row Photo Tour
- Long Beach Antique Market Photo Tour
- Best Gifts for Los Angeles Travelers
- Best LA Experiences to Give as Gifts
- Long Beach Outdoor Antique & Collectibles Market Visitors Guide
- Where to Buy Celebrity Art in LA
Outdoor Activities
Los Angeles offers abundant opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, from lazy days at the beach to a wide array of water sports, bike paths and hiking trails, skate parks, golf courses and tennis courts. Here are some resources and directories to help with your search for the perfect outdoor activities for you.
- Things to Do at the Beach
- Los Angeles Sports Venues and Teams
- Best Los Angeles Gardens
- Adventure Learning Vacations in LA
- Beaches
- Renting Bikes at the Beach
- Surfing
Learning Vacations in Los Angeles
More and more people are becoming interested in doing more than just sightseeing on vacation. Here are some ways you can enrich your LA visit by learning something new.