Top 10 Things to Do in Los Angeles

Designed by Richard Meier and perched on a hilltop above Brentwood, the Getty Center is both a world-class art museum and an architectural landmark in its own right. The permanent collection spans medieval manuscripts to Impressionist paintings, and the Central Garden is a living sculpture that changes with the seasons. Admission is free; only parking ($25) costs money. The tram ride up from the base station is itself a moment of anticipation.

Venice Beach is the city's most theatrical stretch of coastline — part surf spot, part outdoor gym, part carnival sideshow. The famous boardwalk buzzes with bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, street performers, skateboarders at the skate park, and vendors selling everything from crystals to custom T-shirts. The adjacent Venice Canals, built in 1905, are a quiet surprise just a few blocks inland. Best visited on a weekend morning before the afternoon crowds arrive.

Santa Monica Pier is the western terminus of Route 66 and the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast, jutting out over the Pacific since 1909. Pacific Park amusement park sits on the end, with a solar-powered Ferris wheel and rollercoaster. The pier is free to walk; rides cost extra. Stroll down to the beach, rent a bike, and pedal the path to Venice — it's one of the world's great urban cycling experiences along the ocean.

LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of over 150,000 objects spanning 6,000 years across multiple pavilions. The outdoor Urban Light installation — 202 restored cast-iron street lamps — is one of LA's most photographed sights and free to visit any time. Inside, highlights include Chris Burden's Metropolis II, an Islamic art wing, and the Broad Contemporary Art Museum with Koons and Basquiat. Admission is $25 for adults.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 1.7 km along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, embedding over 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo stars honouring film, TV, music, theatre, and radio personalities. It's free to walk and the street is lined with iconic buildings including the TCL Chinese Theatre, where you can see celebrity handprints in cement. Go early morning to take photos without the crowds; the area gets very busy by midday.

Universal Studios Hollywood is both a working film studio and a major theme park, offering behind-the-scenes tram tours through active backlots alongside rides based on Jurassic World, Transformers, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Studio Tour is the undisputed highlight — a 45-minute narrated ride past iconic sets with live special effects. Tickets start from around $109; buy online in advance and arrive at opening to beat queues.

The Broad is a contemporary art museum in downtown LA housing the Broad Collection — one of the most significant collections of postwar and contemporary art in the world, with deep holdings in Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Roy Lichtenstein. Admission is free (timed entry tickets required), and the infinity mirrored room by Yayoi Kusama is a must-see, though it books out weeks in advance. The building's honeycomb façade is itself a landmark.

Runyon Canyon is a 65-hectare urban wilderness in the heart of Hollywood, crisscrossed by hiking trails that reward walkers with panoramic views of the city, the Hollywood Sign, and the San Gabriel Mountains. The canyon is dog-friendly and very popular with locals — you'll meet an extraordinary cross-section of LA life on the trails. The main trail from the Fuller Avenue entrance takes about 45 minutes to complete. Arrive early morning on weekends to avoid the crowds and enjoy the best light.

Grand Central Market is a historic downtown LA food hall that has been feeding the city since 1917. Today it hosts over 30 stalls ranging from Eggslut's legendary breakfast sandwiches to Tacos Tumbras a Tomas and McConnell's Fine Ice Creams. The neon-lit interior is beautiful and the energy is always buzzing. It opens at 8am daily and is conveniently located across from the Angels Flight funicular railway, making it easy to combine with a downtown exploration.

Designed by Richard Meier and perched on a hilltop above Brentwood, the Getty Center is both a world-class art museum and an architectural landmark in its own right. The permanent collection spans medieval manuscripts to Impressionist paintings, and the Central Garden is a living sculpture that changes with the seasons. Admission is free; only parking ($25) costs money. The tram ride up from the base station is itself a moment of anticipation.

Venice Beach is the city's most theatrical stretch of coastline — part surf spot, part outdoor gym, part carnival sideshow. The famous boardwalk buzzes with bodybuilders at Muscle Beach, street performers, skateboarders at the skate park, and vendors selling everything from crystals to custom T-shirts. The adjacent Venice Canals, built in 1905, are a quiet surprise just a few blocks inland. Best visited on a weekend morning before the afternoon crowds arrive.

Santa Monica Pier is the western terminus of Route 66 and the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast, jutting out over the Pacific since 1909. Pacific Park amusement park sits on the end, with a solar-powered Ferris wheel and rollercoaster. The pier is free to walk; rides cost extra. Stroll down to the beach, rent a bike, and pedal the path to Venice — it's one of the world's great urban cycling experiences along the ocean.

LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of over 150,000 objects spanning 6,000 years across multiple pavilions. The outdoor Urban Light installation — 202 restored cast-iron street lamps — is one of LA's most photographed sights and free to visit any time. Inside, highlights include Chris Burden's Metropolis II, an Islamic art wing, and the Broad Contemporary Art Museum with Koons and Basquiat. Admission is $25 for adults.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for 1.7 km along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, embedding over 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo stars honouring film, TV, music, theatre, and radio personalities. It's free to walk and the street is lined with iconic buildings including the TCL Chinese Theatre, where you can see celebrity handprints in cement. Go early morning to take photos without the crowds; the area gets very busy by midday.

Universal Studios Hollywood is both a working film studio and a major theme park, offering behind-the-scenes tram tours through active backlots alongside rides based on Jurassic World, Transformers, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The Studio Tour is the undisputed highlight — a 45-minute narrated ride past iconic sets with live special effects. Tickets start from around $109; buy online in advance and arrive at opening to beat queues.

The Broad is a contemporary art museum in downtown LA housing the Broad Collection — one of the most significant collections of postwar and contemporary art in the world, with deep holdings in Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Roy Lichtenstein. Admission is free (timed entry tickets required), and the infinity mirrored room by Yayoi Kusama is a must-see, though it books out weeks in advance. The building's honeycomb façade is itself a landmark.

Runyon Canyon is a 65-hectare urban wilderness in the heart of Hollywood, crisscrossed by hiking trails that reward walkers with panoramic views of the city, the Hollywood Sign, and the San Gabriel Mountains. The canyon is dog-friendly and very popular with locals — you'll meet an extraordinary cross-section of LA life on the trails. The main trail from the Fuller Avenue entrance takes about 45 minutes to complete. Arrive early morning on weekends to avoid the crowds and enjoy the best light.

Grand Central Market is a historic downtown LA food hall that has been feeding the city since 1917. Today it hosts over 30 stalls ranging from Eggslut's legendary breakfast sandwiches to Tacos Tumbras a Tomas and McConnell's Fine Ice Creams. The neon-lit interior is beautiful and the energy is always buzzing. It opens at 8am daily and is conveniently located across from the Angels Flight funicular railway, making it easy to combine with a downtown exploration.