Sights and landmarks in Los Angeles
1,117 sights worth seeing in Los Angeles: landmarks, galleries, monuments and viewpoints.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 1,117.
Sights and landmarks in Los Angeles
SeeMuseumWilshirePage Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
An excellent museum that displays fossils of animals – including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mammoths – that got stuck in tar pits during the Ice Age 10,000 to 40,000 years ago. Visitors can watch fossils being prepared and learn about the natural and human history of the tar pits. However, the real highlight is just outside the museum in Hancock Park, where you'll find a Pleistocene Garden and the tar pits themselves, with life-size replicas of extinct mammals and where you can witness the ongoing excavation of the pits.
Closed · opens 9:30 amAdults $12, youth (13-17)/seniors (62+)/college students (w/ ID) $9, children (3-12) $5, children under 3 free. Free general admission for everyone 1st Tu of the month, except July and August · Wheelchair accessible
SeeObservatoryNorthwestGriffith Observatory
A popular tourist attraction, this Art Deco landmark was built in the 1930s and has since appeared in many films, most notably Rebel Without a Cause, which is honored at the observatory with a statue of James Dean on the grounds. The outside offers a beautiful panorama of the city of Los Angeles, which is especially stunning at night, as well as some of the best views of the Hollywood Sign. Inside is an extensive array of space- and science-related displays, including a Foucault pendulum and a Tesla coil. The planetarium shows are entertaining, with a live narrator.
Closed · opens 10 amAdmission to grounds and building is free; planetarium shows $7 adults, $5 seniors/students, $3 children · Wheelchair accessible
SeeModern art museumWilshireLos Angeles County Museum of Art
LACMA
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. You'll want to devote the better part of a day to seeing this place, as the museum is spread out across several buildings. The collection is incredibly varied: iconic pieces of modern art sit a floor removed from artifacts of ancient Greece and Rome. Among the many highlights you'll find are a marvelous pavilion devoted to Japanese art, a remarkable collection of pre-Columbian art from Latin America, and the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) with its many large-scale and innovative installations. On the grounds (and viewable to all for free) are several massive installation pieces, including Chris Burden's photogenic Urban Light, a veritable forest of working street lamps arranged in front of the Wilshire Blvd entrance, and Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass, a huge boulder perched over a walkway behind the museum. LACMA also hosts many special exhibitions, the subjects of which are often just as varied as the museum's permanent collection.
Closed · opens 10 amAdults $15, students and seniors $10, children under 18 free. Free general admission for everyone on the second Tu of each month. Special exhibitions require extra fee · Built 1910
SeeHollywoodDolby Theatre
formerly the Kodak Theatre
Located at the Hollywood & Highland Center (see "Buy" below). Hosts a wide range of live performances, including the annual Academy Awards. Half hour guided tours of the theater are available.
Check schedule for events; tours daily every half hour 10:30AM-4PMTours $19 adults, $15 seniors/youth 17 and under
SeeHollywoodGrauman's Chinese Theatre
The most famous movie theater in the world, Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in 1927 and is home to the cement footprints, handprints, and (in some cases) otherprints of many of history's most famous movie stars. The theater is also a former home of the Oscars, and today hosts many movie premieres. The forecourt that showcases the star's prints is free to all visitors. Half-hour guided tours of the theater are available.
Screenings $12-$16; tours $13.50 adults, $11.50 seniors, $6.50 children · Limited wheelchair access · Built 1926
SeeHistoric siteHollywoodHollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of a series of stars embedded in the sidewalk to commemorate famous movie, radio, recording, theatre, and TV personalities. Since 1960, over two thousand stars have been immortalized; the schedule for upcoming star ceremonies is listed on the Walk of Fame's website.
SeeMuseumWilshirePetersen Automotive Museum
Has a great display of more than 150 rare and classic cars, trucks and motorcycles amidst its four floors and. The first floor traces the history of the automobile, the second floor has five rotating exhibits of cars, the third floor is a hands-on Discovery Center, and the top floor is an all-glass penthouse conference center that is used primarily for special events. The intersection outside is the site of the Biggie Smalls murder. The exterior of the building sports a striking array of steel ribbons that wrap around the structure.
Closed · opens 10 amAdults $15, seniors and students $12, children $7, children under 3, active duty military, personal care and educators free
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SeeHollywoodEl Capitan Theatre
A lavish movie palace dating from 1926, which hosted the Hollywood premieres of many films, most notably Citizen Kane. These days it's owned by Disney, and hosts the premieres of many Disney feature films.
Check website for screening times
SeeHistoric siteDowntownBradbury Building
Built in 1893, the Bradbury Building is one of Southern California's most remarkable architectural achievements. Behind its modest exterior lies a light-filled Victorian court that rises with open cage elevators, marble stairs and ornate iron railings. The building has been a set for many movies, perhaps most notably the conclusion of Blade Runner. Visitors without business in the building are allowed into the lobby and up to the first landing of the staircase.
Heritage listed · Built 1893
SeeHistoric siteDowntownLittle Tokyo
Los Angeles' Japanese district features numerous attractions, restaurants, and shops geared towards the local Japanese-American population or those who take an interest in Japanese culture. The district is centered along 1st and 2nd Streets between Los Angeles and Alameda Streets.
SeeWestGetty Center
The Getty Center, in Los Angeles, California, US, is a campus of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The $1.3 billion center opened to the public on December 16, 1997, and is well known for its architecture, gardens, and views overlooking Los Angeles. The center sits atop a hill connected to a visitors' parking garage at the bottom of the hill by a three-car, cable-pulled hovertrain people mover.
Tue-Sun 10AM-5:30PM (Sat till 9PM), closed MondaysFree; parking $15
SeeHistoric siteHollywoodHollywood Museum
Countless pieces of memorabilia from films and Hollywood stars of old, housed in a beautiful Art Deco building that was the home of the business of Max Factor, "the Make-up King" of Hollywood.
Closed · opens 10 am$15 adults, $12 seniors/students, $5 children ages 5 and under · Built 1916 · Built 1913
SeeSouthLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
A historic stadium that opened in 1923 and is the home of the USC Trojans football team. It served as home to the NFL's Los Angeles Rams at two different times—first from their arrival in L.A. in 1946 until 1979, after which they moved to Anaheim, and then from their 2016 return from St. Louis until their current SoFi Stadium in Inglewood opened in 2020. Over the Coliseum's history, it has hosted the opening ceremonies of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first four years in L.A., the UCLA Bruins football team before their move to the Rose Bowl, and many of L.A.'s other previous football franchises, as well as several other pro football teams and a number of soccer teams. It will also host the track and field events and opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Olympics alongside SoFi Stadium. The east side of the stadium holds the Olympic cauldron (which is still lit for special occasions) overlooking a "Court of Honor" outside the stadium with plaques commemorating memorial events in the history of the Coliseum.
Tours Wed-Sun 10AM-4PMSelf-guided tours $10/person
SeeWestWestwood Village Memorial Park
See the final resting places of some of Hollywood's most famous celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, and Don Knotts, in a compact 2 acre cemetery.
8AM-Dusk
SeeHollywoodHollywood Sign
Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in nearby Griffith Park. You can drive part way up for a closer look, but you can't hike all the way to the sign. The best viewpoints of the sign are from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, on Mulholland Drive above the Hollywood Bowl, and from the Hollywood and Highland Center. For a rare view of the Hollywood sign with lines of palms trees on the side, go to 650 S Windsor Blvd, or further north.
SeeNorthwestMacArthur Park
(Metro: Westlake) This park has been famous for a long time, starting with Charlie Chaplin, who made several films at the lake here. Since the 1970s, it's also known for being a location where people ritualistically leave cakes out in the rain. In the 90s its reputation was tainted by violence and drug use, but the park has been cleaned up over the last few years, and is once again a decent place to visit. Take a paddle boat out on the small lake or watch one of the ever-present soccer matches.
SeeHollywoodHollywood Forever Cemetery
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. Johnny Ramone, Cecil B. DeMille, Mel Blanc, Peter Lorre, Mickey Rooney, Bugsy Siegel and Judy Garland are but a few of the famous names you'll see here. Interactive kiosks located throughout the cemetery play short documentaries about those interned here, making it a great place to learn about Hollywood's early history. The cemetery also often holds events, including regular movie screenings (see below under Do) in the summer.
Grounds open daily 8AM-5PMFree
SeeHistory museumDowntownJapanese American National Museum
A museum devoted to the Japanese-American experience, with a particular emphasis on the Japanese internment camps of World War II, including numerous artifacts and historic photographs. Besides the permanent collection, the museum also holds changing exhibits on Japanese-American art and history.
Closed · opens 11 am$12 adults, $6 students/seniors/youth 6-17, free for children 5 and under; free admission Th evenings 5-8PM
SeeHollywoodGrauman's Egyptian Theatre
An ancient Egyptian-themed theater that was built in 1922 and operated by Sid Grauman, of Grauman's Chinese Theatre fame, this was one of the first lavish movie palaces and was the venue for the first-ever Hollywood premiere. Today it screens many classic films and documentaries.
Check schedule for tours and film screeningsScreenings $11; tours $9 · Built 1922
SeeHistoric siteNorthwestEnnis House
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. The building is notable for its use as a filming location, appearing in numerous films and television shows including the 1959 House on Haunted Hill, the mansion in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and most notably in Blade Runner, as well as numerous commercials, fashion shoots, and music videos. Unfortunately, the house is only open for tours a handful of days each year, but both sides of its impressive exterior can easily be viewed from the street.
SeeNorthwestLos Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
A classic zoo at the northern end of Griffith Park. Popular exhibits include a chimpanzee complex, a gorilla area, a large elephant complex, a newly built rainforest exhibit, a reptile house, and a children's zoo. There's also a few animal shows, including a bird show, elephant training, and a rhino feeding; check the website for times.
Closed · opens 10 am$20 adults/teens, $17 seniors, $15 children, children under 2 free
_edit1.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Brion VIBBER, CC BY-SA 3.0")
SeeDowntownLos Angeles City Hall
Completed in 1928, this towering Art Deco building is the center of the city's government, housing the mayor's office and the city council meeting chambers, and was the city's tallest building for nearly forty years after it was built. An observation desk on the 27th floor offers a marvelous view of Downtown; you'll have to check in at the security desk at the entrance, and they'll give you directions to the observation desk. On the way up admire the spacious rotunda on the 3rd floor and the "Hall of Mayors" on the 26th floor.
Closed · opens 9 am MondayFree
SeeArt museumHollywoodMadame Tussauds Hollywood
The Hollywood location of the popular chain of wax figure museums, with numerous wax replicas of Hollywood celebrities.
Opens daily at 10AM; closing times vary by season, check website$29.95 adults, $22.95 children (discount if purchased online)
SeeMuseumHollywoodHollywood Wax Museum
The Hollywood Wax Museum is the longest running wax museum in the United States, with more than 45 years of continuous operation by the same owners since 1965 and featuring over 180 figures of celebrities.
Closed · opens 10 am$16.99 adults, $14.99 seniors 55+, $9.99 children 5-12, children 5 and under free; discount if purchased online
.jpg?width=240 "Photo: Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0")
SeeSouthBMO Stadium
A stadium that opened in April 2018 as Banc of California Stadium and was renamed as BMO Stadium in 2023. It has hosted the Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC since that team began play in 2018, and became the home of Angel City FC in the National Women's Soccer League in 2022. It will also be one of several soccer venues for the 2028 Olympics.
SeeWestHammer Museum
A UCLA-affiliated institution which houses changing exhibitions of contemporary, modern, and classical art, with a particular focus on Los Angeles-based work. The basis of the museum's collection is a set of significant European works collected by the institution's founder, Armand Hammer. The museum also holds many free public programs, including lunchtime "Art Talks" every Wednesday at 12:30PM.
Closed · opens 11 amFree
SeeHistoric siteHollywoodCharlie Chaplin Studios
An interesting historical landmark, this complex was built in 1917 as the studios for Charlie Chaplin's film company. Constructed in Tudor-style architecture, it has the appearance of a small English village from the outside and was where many of Chaplin's most iconic films were shot, including The Gold Rush, City Lights, Modern Times, and The Great Dictator. In 2000, the studio was bought by the Jim Henson Company, which marked their presence with a statue of Kermit the Frog above the main gate. The studio is not open for tours, but you can admire the architecture from the outside.
SeeHistoric siteHollywoodCapitol Records Building
Capitol Studios
One of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles. The circular tower—which contrary to popular belief was not intentionally designed to resemble a stack of records—is home to Capitol Records' west coast operations. Contained inside the building are the renowned Capitol Studios. Unfortunately, tours of the inside are no longer offered to the general public.
SeeSouthNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County
A crown jewel of Los Angeles' museums and a national leader in exhibitions, education and research, this museum dates back to 1913 and was L.A.'s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public. It's the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States, safeguarding more than 35 million spectacular, diverse specimens and artifacts. Exhibits on display include lots of dinosaur and ancient mammal skeletons, taxidermy figures, a gallery on the history of Los Angeles, a gem and mineral hall, interactive exhibits for children, and an outdoor nature garden.
Closed · opens 9:30 am$18 adults, $14 teens (13-17)/college students/seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 3; special exhibitions require extra fee
SeeSouthWatts Towers of Simon Rodia
A notable example of non-traditional vernacular architecture and naïve art, the Watts Towers are a series of 17 interconnected structures, two of which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). All of the structures were built using salvaged materials and embedded with found objects, such as glass, ceramic tiles, and seashells, often arranged in elaborate displays. Next to the towers is a small museum and a cultural center. Guided tours are available for a fee and at limited hours, but you can always view the towers from the outside for free.
Tours available Thu-Fri 11AM-3PM, Sat 10:30AM-3PM, Sun noon-3PMGuided tours $7 adults, $3 seniors/teens (13-17), free for children 12 and under
SeeHistory museumHollywoodHollywood Heritage Museum
Housed in the Lasky-DeMille Barn, which was built in 1901 and served as one of Hollywood's first film studios (Cecil B. DeMille had an office in this building) before being moved to its current site, this museum has a collection of photographs and memorabilia from old Hollywood.
Closed · opens noon$7 adults, free for children under 12
SeeMuseumHollywoodMuseum of Death
A museum that was founded, according to its website, to "fill the void in death education in the USA." The collection includes such items as serial killer artwork, crime scene photos, replicas of execution devices, and a coffin collection. The self-guided tour lasts approximately an hour, "but those who can stomach it may stay as long as they'd like." There is no age limit but the museum is recommended for mature audiences.
Closed · opens 11 am$20 (+$1 for credit cards)
SeeNorthwestBarnsdall Art Park
Metro: Vermont/Sunset
A small hill in East Hollywood with sweeping views of the neighborhood as well as an arts complex on top that serves the local community, with an art center that offers classes to adults and children, a community theater, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, which holds changing exhibits of art from local artists, and Hollyhock House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is open to the public. Hollyhock House is one of eight buildings by Wright to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Daily 5AM-10PM; Municipal Art Gallery Thu-Sun noon-5PM; Hollyhock House Thu-Sun 11AM-4PMFree; Hollyhock House tours $7 adults, $3 students/seniors (tickets sold online only)
SeeNorthwestEcho Park
A nice lakeside park with views of the Downtown skyline. There's a major fountain at the center of the lake and paddle boats are available for a ride on the lake. The park is very popular and good for picnics, though often crowded. It has also been featured in various media: film buffs may recognize the lake from a scene in Chinatown, while OK Go fans might recognize the park as the setting for their time-lapse music video for the song End Love. The surrounding area is a hub for underground/indie culture and houses a number of venues.
SeeWestMuseum of Tolerance
Focusing on the history of the Holocaust, this museum contains many interactive exhibits designed to challenge visitors to assess their own levels of tolerance. Many of the exhibits are meant to engage kids (about 10 and older), and you may find your kids asking you about things such as racial and economic tensions. A highlight of the museum is live testimonies by Holocaust survivors who serve as museum volunteers.
Sun-Fri 10AM-5PM (closes at 3:30PM Fri in winter), Thu 10AM-9:30PM; last ticket sold an hour and a half before closingAdults $15:50, seniors $12.50, students/youth (ages 5-18) $11.50
.JPG?width=240 "Photo: Los Angeles, CC BY-SA 3.0")
SeeHistory museumHollywoodLos Angeles Fire Department Hollywood Museum
This museum is in the old Los Angeles City Fire Station 27, opened in 1930. It is fully restored to how it appeared in 1930 and contains a historic fire apparatus.
Closed · opens 10 amFree · Heritage listed
SeeWestFox Plaza
In the middle of Century City is this otherwise nondescript postmodern skyscraper that's notable for being the headquarters of 20th Century Studios and will be instantly recognizable to Die Hard fans as the fictional Nakatomi Plaza.
SeeNorthwestAngelino Heights
A historic neighborhood between Echo Park and Downtown which contains many Victorian residences that are nationally or locally registered as historic places.
SeeSouthCalifornia Science Center
A huge science museum with lots of interactive science exhibits and a rather impressive air and spacecraft collection. The museum's large exhibit galleries cover technology and biology, with highlights including a high wire bicycle, a surgery simulator, an aquarium with a kelp forest and a touch tank, and fighter jets and other aircraft on display. The highlight of the museum's spacecraft collection is the Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of only three remaining craft from the retired American space shuttle fleet (free timed reservations are required). The museum also holds an IMAX theater and travelling exhibitions. Best times to visit are weekdays after 1:30PM or weekends, since weekdays before 1:30PM are often busy with school groups.
Closed · opens 10 amPermanent exhibition galleries free; separate fee for IMAX theater
SeeNorthwestAutry Museum of the American West
A combination art/history museum, with continuing and changing exhibitions of art from the American West, a major collection of Native American art, and historical artifacts of the West, including a permanent firearms gallery. A unique highlight of the museum is an exhibit on cowboys in popular culture, with many costumes and film props from popular Westerns and their Hollywood stars.
Closed · opens 10 am$10 adults, $6 seniors/students, $4 children, free for active military personnel, veterans, peace officers and park rangers
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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Los Angeles (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).