Gathering the gems worth your time…
Destination guide
Los Angeles
United States
Frank Lloyd Wright is said to have quipped, "Tip the world over on its side and everything loose will land in Los Angeles," a quote that has since been repeated both by those who love and hate L.A.
Introduction quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
At a glance
- Best time to go
- November–May
- Getting around
- Rail · Bus · Taxi/rideshare
- Vetted picks
- 30 places to see, do, eat, and stay
- Real coverage
- 9 vetted creator sources
AI insights
Computed from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and YouTube view counts on this page
The most-viewed guide here is "the TRUTH about living in los angeles. pros & cons" by Michael Martello (197K views) — a solid first watch.
Michael Martello and The New Travel are creators from here, not a visiting channel — worth watching for what the guidebooks skip.
Getting around: by rail, by bus, by taxi/rideshare and 2 more — the section below has the details straight from Wikivoyage.
10 of the places below list a real price from their own source — worth a scan before you budget the trip.
How these 30 picks are sourced
8 of 30 are named by a second, independent source — Island Hopper TV, Eater and Lonely Planet, and 2 others — and each card names its own. The remaining 22 rest on the reference article alone: we list them because Wikivoyage or Wikipedia documents them, not because anyone else vouched for them. We also watched 9 creator videos, 3 of them from local channels rather than visiting ones. 21 of the 30 descriptions are quoted word for word from Wikivoyage under CC BY-SA rather than written by us, as is the introduction above — each of those cards says so. What we add is the checking, the corroboration above, and the choice of which places are worth your time at all.What we can't promise is that it's still true. Venues close, hours and prices change, and we don't re-check them — a place here closed for good and sat on this page for a year before anyone noticed. The insights are AI-written from these sources and can be wrong too. Confirm anything you'd be sorry to be wrong about before you set out. Terms.
Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
the TRUTH about living in los angeles. pros & cons
Michael Martello · 197K viewsLocal
Los Angeles Hidden Gems Worth The Drive
BuzzFeedVideo · 1.4M views
What It's Really Like Living in Los Angeles
The New Travel · 126K viewsLocal
Best Things To Do in Los Angeles 2026 4K
Island Hopper TV · 189K views
LA vlog: what life is like in Los Angeles, Koreatown food, before SoCal fires 💔🔥
Maya Lee · 25K viewsLocal
TOP 21 Things To Do In Los Angeles 🇺🇸 Travel Guide
Anna & Karl Travel · 128K views
Ultimate LA Food Tour - 51 iconic restaurants
Brian E Morton · 37K views
Los Angeles Travel Vlog | Top Things To Do In LA part 1
Fitwaffle · 10K views
The Best of Los Angeles: A Travel Guide
See You Leda · 8K views
Best time to go
Best window: November–May
Kind weather all year — there is no month to avoid.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
IdealGoodOkayOff-season
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
By rail
The Los Angeles area's Metro Rail subway/light rail system opened its first line in the 1990s and has been expanding since. Most prominent neighborhoods and sightseeing destinations can be reached using Metro Rail, including Downtown L.A., Koreatown,…
By bus
The main bus system in Los Angeles is operated by Metro (+1-800-COMMUTE, or +1-800-266-6883). Many Angelenos without a car use the bus as their primary mode of transportation.
By taxi/rideshare
Taxis can be expensive. Save for a very small number of locations, you cannot flag one down on the street, but have to call one of the taxi companies to send a cab to pick you up.
By motorcycle
An often overlooked alternative which deals well with Los Angeles' lackluster public transportation and frustrating traffic conditions is to travel by motorcycle.
By bike
Metro introduced a bike share program in 2016. Thus far it only covers Downtown Los Angeles, Venice Beach, Hollywood, Koreatown, Culver City, North Hollywood, and Westwood, but there are plans to expand into other communities in the near future.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check. Single source means the opposite, said plainly: the reference article lists it and nothing else we checked does.
Getty Center
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 1 other
Richard Meier's hilltop museum campus with tram access and free admission.
Vetted sources
Griffith Observatory
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 1 other
Stopped here on camera: Island Hopper TV
Free public observatory with panoramic views of the Hollywood Sign and city skyline.
Vetted sources
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Worth itAlso recommended by Island Hopper TV
5905 Wilshire Blvd· Moderate
This huge museum features a vast array of works on display from around the globe, with particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American and American art.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
California Science Center
Worth itAlso recommended by Island Hopper TV
Stopped here on camera: Island Hopper TV
700 Exposition Park Dr· Free
A huge science museum with lots of interactive science exhibits and a rather impressive air and spacecraft collection.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Single source3911 S Figueroa St· Moderate
A historic stadium that opened in 1923 and is the home of the USC Trojans football team.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Single source6000 Santa Monica Blvd· Free
Dating back to 1899, this beautiful cemetery is one of Los Angeles' oldest and is the final resting place for hundreds of film stars, directors, writers, and other influential figures from the entertainment industry.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Bronson Cave
Single source3200 Canyon Dr
A popular spot for film buffs, this former rock quarry consists of a short man-made tunnel through the hillside that was quickly embraced as a filming location once the quarry ceased operations in the…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Ennis House
Single source2607 Glendower Ave
Perched in the foothills of Los Feliz beneath Griffith Park on a winding residential street is this massive Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, constructed using textile blocks reminiscent of an ancient Mayan temple.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to do
CBS Television City
Single source7800 Beverly Blvd
This historic broadcasting complex was built in 1952 and continues to be the home of many of American TV's most popular shows, such as American Idol, The Price is Right, and The Young and…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Los Angeles River
Single sourceWhile it's in the process of a long restoration, the section of the Los Angeles River past Northwest L.A. is actually already open as a recreation zone, with a soft-bottomed bed that supports trees…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Cemetery Movie Screenings
Single sourceHollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd
The Cinespia film society screens creepy older movies every Saturday during the summer on the Fairbanks Lawn in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Philosophical Research Society
Single source3910 Los Feliz Blvd.
Founded by occultist Manly P. Hall, PRS describes itself as "a repository of multicultural wisdom sources and a center of learning." The organization operates a bookstore, event space, and Hall's collection also formed the…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Dodger Stadium
Single source1000 Elysian Park Ave· Moderate
Who wouldn't want to grab a Dodger Dog and enjoy watching a game of baseball?
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Saroyan Stairs
Single sourcewalk from Beachwood Cafe
The most impressive of Hollywood's public stairs, connecting streets at different elevations for pedestrians.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
What to eat
Republique
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide and 1 other
California-French bistro cooking inside a historic Charlie Chaplin-era building.
Vetted sources
Guelaguetza
Worth itAlso recommended by James Beard Foundation and 1 other
Oaxacan moles and mezcal from a family-run restaurant that's a pillar of LA's Mexican food scene.
Vetted sources
Grand Central Market
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet and 1 other
A historic downtown food hall with stalls spanning LA's immigrant food cultures.
Vetted sources
n/naka
Worth itAlso recommended by Michelin Guide
Chef Niki Nakayama's kaiseki tasting menu in Palms.
Vetted sources
Philippe's
Single sourceChinatown, one block from Union Station
An LA landmark a couple of blocks north of Olvera Street and Union Station is a nostalgic shop with hay and sawdust covered floors. Famous for their 'French Dip' sandwiches dipped in au jus, but the real reason to go is the atmosphere and…
Vetted sources
The Corner Place
Single sourceeast of Vermont
Good Korean BBQ at a really great price ( is enough to stuff two people). The decor isn't as fancy as more expensive places, but it has charm. The menu is family style, so one order is enough to feed two people.
Vetted sources
BCD Tofu House
Single sourcesee below
The menu includes various types of soon tofu stews and combination meals including other traditional Korean entrées (Korean BBQ, bibimbap, etc.) along with a small bowl of soon tofu stew.
Vetted sources
Sushi House Unico (Shu Restaurant)
Single sourceat Beverly Glen
Right off Beverly Glen Blvd, tucked away in a small, though fashionable strip mall in the canyons of Bel Air, is Sushi House Unico (shu), a restaurant that boasts an eclectic menu best described…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Vibrato
Single sourceat Beverly Glen
Dynamic fusion of steakhouse and jazz club from music legend Herb Alpert makes for a night of great cuisine and musical entertainment.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Lax-C Supermarket
Single sourceDogtown
This independently owned Thai grocery store has to be seen to be believed.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Where to stay
The Roosevelt Hotel
Single source7000 Hollywood Blvd· Expensive
A boutique hotel right in the center of the action offering spacious, well-appointed rooms and suites with luxury bed and bath linens, bath products and state-of-the-art in-room technologies.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Kimpton Everly Hollywood
Single sourceAt the NE corner of Argyle and Yucca· Expensive
The bones of an old hotel, a couple of blocks back from the heart of Hollywood, and right next to the busy 101 freeway, has been given the characteristic Kimpton glossy makeover, and equipped…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Villa Carlotta
Single source5959 Franklin Ave
A historical landmark dating back to the Golden Age of Hollywood that has been lovingly restored, Villa Carlotta offers residential hotel living in furnished studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments, welcoming stays of 30…
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Figueroa Hotel
Single source939 S Figueroa St
For those looking for something unusual, Figueroa Hotel provides Moroccan styled luxury. Mystic and beautiful, this is where Cirque Du Soleil hosted their premiere party of Varekai.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Ritz Carlton
Single source900 W Olympic Blvd· Expensive
This high-rise hotel is one of the newest in downtown, with stunning views from the upper floors. It's across the street from LA Live, the Convention Center, and the Staples Center.
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Ace Hotel DTLA
Single source929 S Broadway· Expensive
Opened early 2014 in the historic United Artists building that was built in 1927 for what was then a maverick film studio. Includes free Wi-Fi and air-con. Terrace Suites are squarefoot 633
Description quoted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA
Vetted sources
Build your day
Pick the places you want in Los Angeles, United States and we will put them on a map in an order that does not cross the city twice.
Where to next
Nearby cities in United States we’ve vetted too.
Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.