Tall palm trees against a warm Los Angeles sky

Guides

Everything about LA, explained

Practical guides on getting around, money, visas, housing and more. For international visitors and newcomers, with official sources.

📷 Don Ramey Logan, Diosthenese, User:CactusWriter · curated

Laguna Beach

Walk from Main Beach to Heisler Park for coastal views, then visit local galleries. Swim only when conditions and advisories permit.

📷 OMCV

Point Dume: coast and lookouts

Short coastal trails above the ocean, overlooking Malibu Bay. Stay behind barriers and away from cliff edges; beach access may be restricted.

📷 BigBearCabins

Big Bear Lake

A mountain day around the lake and The Village. Check weather, roads and possible chain controls; driving time and access vary greatly by season.

📷 Milan Cobanov

Santa Monica Pier

Ferris wheel, end of Route 66 and a bike path to Venice.

Venice sign over the boardwalk at Venice Beach

📷 Raja Patel

Venice Beach & Abbot Kinney

Boardwalk, skate park and the hippest coffee on Abbot Kinney.

📷 Don Ramey Logan

Catalina Island

Take the ferry to Avalon. Explore the waterfront, choose a beach stop and reserve outbound and return sailings together before booking activities.

Aerial view of LAX airport with the ocean behind

📷 Sean Pierce · curated

ESTA and entry: the checklist

Everything you arrange before departure and what to expect at the border. The only checklist you need for a holiday up to 90 days.

Freeway traffic heading toward the downtown Los Angeles skyline

📷 kaleb tapp

Getting around LA: car, Uber or Metro?

LA is 80 towns stitched together. This guide helps you pick how to move around, and decodes HOV lanes, FasTrak and the infamous parking signs.

Three street tacos with lime on a wooden plate

📷 Frankie Lopez

Money, cards and tipping

Tax is always added, tipping isn't optional and your debit card behaves differently. Here's how to avoid surprises at checkout.

Palm trees lining a Los Angeles street at sunset

📷 Jake Blucker

Phone and eSIM: connected on arrival

A US number and enough data are the first two things you need in LA. Here's how to set it up smartly, for a week or for years.

📷 Carol M. Highsmith

Ventura

Combine the coastal promenade with downtown Ventura and Ventura Harbor Village. A Channel Islands trip is a separate day with a prebooked boat.

📷 Aditya Vyas

Universal Studios Hollywood

Studio Tour, Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World. Arrive before 9 am.

Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel reflected in the water at Disney California Adventure

📷 Brandi Alexandra

Disneyland Resort

Two parks in Anaheim. Reserve your park day in the app first.

📷 Tom Briskey

Malibu

Zuma Beach, El Matador and the Malibu Pier. Drive the coast on the Pacific Coast Highway.

📷 john ko

Joshua Tree

Desert, boulders and stars. Leave early, bring lots of water.

📷 Leo_Visions

Griffith Observatory

Best view of the Hollywood Sign and the city. Free entry, parking is the challenge.

📷 ?LiAnG?

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

Real sets and the Friends couch. Smaller and calmer than Universal.

📷 Leo_Visions

Sign up for official emergency alerts

NotifyLA provides alerts for the City of Los Angeles. Find the local warning system for other municipalities.

📷 Tom Briskey

Check the beach before swimming

Water quality can vary by beach section and day. Consult the county for current advisories.

Halloween Horror Nights - The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare Bar

Archive photo · Halloween Horror Nights📷 Jeremy Thompson

Halloween: plan an evening that suits you

From a family outing to a scary park night: choose your atmosphere, compare calendars and plan the trip back.

📷 Andres Garcia

San Diego

La Jolla, Balboa Park and the zoo. Also easy by Amtrak.

📷 David Vives

Las Vegas

Stay at least one night. Don't leave on a Friday afternoon.

📷 Edwardrhodes06

Hollywood Bowl

Open-air concerts under the stars. Bring a picnic.

📷 Patrick Pelletier

Ojai

Combine the historic Arcade with Libbey Park and independent book and art shops. Check trail conditions separately before a mountain hike.

📷 mana5280

Pasadena

Old Pasadena, City Hall and art make a day close to LA. Combine two neighbourhoods or venues so you spend less time travelling.

📷 Benoît Prieur

Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Wax figures next to the Chinese Theatre. Fun with kids, quick to do.

📷 Frankie Lopez

Discover food by neighborhood

Choose a neighborhood and combine your restaurant with activities in the same area.

Hollywood Walk of Fame — Walk of Fame, Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

📷 Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy

Hollywood Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre

Stars on the sidewalk, handprints and the Dolby Theatre. An hour is plenty.

📷 Jelson25

The Getty Center

Art, gardens and views. Free, you only pay for parking.

📷 Robert Ruggiero

Palm Springs

Mid-century architecture, pools and the Aerial Tramway.

Close-up of the Hollywood Sign on the hillside

📷 De'Andre Bush

Hollywood Sign hike & tour

Hike up to the sign via Lake Hollywood or book a guided tour.

📷 Jeremy Thompson

Six Flags Magic Mountain

The coaster capital of the world, 20 of them. Not one for small kids.

📷 Sean Pierce

From LAX to your accommodation

Compare official shuttle, Metro, taxi and rental-car options. Check your terminal and luggage before choosing.

📷 Jengod

Aquarium of the Pacific

Sharks, jellyfish and sea lions in Long Beach. Pair it with the Battleship Iowa.

📷 kaleb tapp

Metro, TAP and your travel budget

Check fares, transfer rules and fare caps with Metro. Include parking and fuel when comparing car rentals.

📷 De'Andre Bush

Safety and emergencies in LA

911, urgent care versus the ER, earthquakes, wildfires and the scams aimed at tourists and newcomers alike. Read it calmly, then you'll know what to do.

📷 Jonathan Williams

Battleship USS Iowa

Walk the decks of a real battleship in San Pedro harbor.

📷 METRO96

Knott's Berry Farm

Coasters and Camp Snoopy, cheaper and calmer than Disney. Try the boysenberry pie.

📷 Raja Patel

Etiquette: how to do it like a local

The Dutch are direct, Angelenos are friendly-vague. A short culture guide so you don't come across as rude or overstay your welcome.

📷 Leo_Visions

Griffith: West Observatory Trail

From Fern Dell, climb the West Observatory Trail to the observatory. Return along the same route; total distance depends on parking.

Franklin Canyon Park — Franklin Canyon Pond, California

📷 National Park Service

Franklin Canyon: around the reservoir

A quieter walk around the reservoir and Heavenly Pond. Stay on official paths and respect wildlife and temporary closures.

Runyon Canyon Park — Runyon Canyon, Los Angeles, CA. Paved path between Vista Street & Mulholland Trailhead

📷 Alain Demour/Original uploader was Scewing at en.wikipedia

Runyon Canyon: the loop

A popular loop overlooking Hollywood. There is little shade and some steep terrain; choose the marked route that suits your ability.

📷 Allie_Caulfield

Solvang

Bakeries, half-timbered buildings and small museums in a walkable centre. Allow a full day or combine it with an overnight stay.

baldwin hills — Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook 2024 April

📷 Jengod

Baldwin Hills: views and stairs

A short climb to panoramic views. The famous stairs are strenuous; the switchback trail is an alternative but still an uphill walk.

Malibu Creek State Park — Photographed and uploaded by user:Geographer.
Malibu Creek, with a sole valley oak against the backdrop of the conejo volcanic peaks, known as the Goat Buttes, in Santa Monica Mountains.

📷 The original uploader was Geographer at English Wikipedia.

Malibu Creek: to Rock Pool

Walk from the main entrance towards Rock Pool on official trails. Check park alerts first: heat, fire recovery and water can change access.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art — Los Angeles County Museum of Art, William Pereira-designed pavilions (1965)

📷 Gunnar Klack

LACMA & Urban Light

The Urban Light lamps are free and prettiest after dark. La Brea Tar Pits next door.

📷 The original uploader was Geographer at English Wikipedia.

Los Angeles Zoo

Spacious, in Griffith Park. Go early: the animals are active in the morning.

📷 Pierre André

Santa Barbara

Start at the waterfront and Stearns Wharf, walk along State Street into town, then explore the Funk Zone.

📷 Los Angeles

Natural History Museum

Dinosaurs and the Butterfly Pavilion in Exposition Park, next to the Science Center's Space Shuttle.

📷 Spatms

Dodger Stadium

Baseball with a skyline view, April to October. The Dodger Dog is mandatory.

📷 David Zaitz

Petersen Automotive Museum

Movie cars and supercars on Museum Row. The Vault tour is worth it.