Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles: Your Ultimate 2025 Guide to the City of Angels

Looking for fun things to do in Los Angeles? Trust me, this city is packed with way more than just Hollywood glitz and traffic jams. From gorgeous beaches where you can actually relax to hiking trails with insane views, the fun things to do in LA go on forever. My family has been exploring this city for years, hitting up everything from the famous tourist spots to those hidden gems locals actually care about, and I’m pumped to share what we’ve learned along the way.

What are the best outdoor activities in Los Angeles?

Hike to the Hollywood Sign at Griffith Park

Griffith Park is absolutely massive at over 4,300 acres, which basically means you’ve got tons of trails to choose from when you want that perfect Hollywood Sign photo. The views from up there are ridiculous on a clear day. You’ll see downtown LA, the valleys spreading out forever, and sometimes even the ocean if you’re lucky. We always start around 7 AM because, honestly, hiking in the afternoon sun is brutal, and you’ll be fighting crowds the whole way up. This ranks among the top fun things to do in Los Angeles for outdoor enthusiasts.

Here’s what you need to know before heading out:

• The Griffith Observatory parking lot is your best bet, it’s free until noon on weekdays, plus you can hit the observatory after your hike, which is a smart move
• Bring way more water than you think you need, like two liters per person minimum, because there’s nowhere to refill once you’re on the trail and the sun is no joke
• Dress in layers because mornings can be chilly, but by 10 AM you’ll be sweating, so tie that jacket around your waist and you’re ready
• Your phone’s GPS gets wonky in some areas, so download an offline map before you go or you might end up on the wrong trail like we did once

Explore the Beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu

LA has 75 miles of coastline, which means you’ve got options for days for beach hopping. Santa Monica Beach is the classic choice with that famous pier, the Ferris wheel that lights up at night, and all the carnival vibes you’d expect. Venice Beach is a totally different scene with street performers doing their thing, bodybuilders at Muscle Beach pumping iron for the crowds, and the boardwalk that feels like a street fair every single day. The energy there is wild, sometimes a bit much, but that’s Venice for you. Beach hopping easily makes the list of fun things to do in LA year-round.

Quick tips for beach days:

• Skip the tourist beaches and head to Manhattan or Hermosa Beach instead, the vibe is way more chill, locals actually hang out there, and you won’t feel you’re at Disneyland
• Hit the beach on weekday mornings between 8 and 11 if you want parking that doesn’t make you want to scream, plus the marine layer usually burns off by then
• Just bring your own beach stuff, umbrellas, chairs, coolers, whatever — because renting at the beach costs an arm and a leg and limits when you can leave
• Check the tide schedule before going to rocky beaches because low tide opens up way more space and you can actually explore the tide pools safely

Bike the Marvin Braude Bike Trail

This 22-mile bike path hugs the coast from Pacific Palisades down to Torrance Beach, and it’s honestly one of the best ways to see the beach communities. You can rent bikes by Santa Monica Pier for like 15 to 25 bucks a day, then just cruise with the ocean on one side and beach culture on the other. The Santa Monica to Venice stretch is only about 3 miles, takes maybe 30 to 45 minutes if you’re not in a rush, and you can stop for tacos or smoothies whenever you want.

Things to remember:

• Rental shops usually open at 9 AM and close when the sun goes down, so plan accordingly or you’ll get hit with late fees that add up fast
• The trail turns into a zoo between noon and 4 PM on weekends, so go early morning or late afternoon when it’s not packed and the temperature is actually comfortable
• Definitely bring a bike lock if you’re planning to stop anywhere, bike theft is real, and you don’t want to deal with that headache on your vacation
• Sunscreen is mandatory, and throw a small backpack with water and snacks in there because you’ll be out longer than you think once you start exploring

Where can you experience Hollywood magic?

Visit the Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory is one of those best places that looks cool from the outside and somehow manages to be even better once you’re inside. Built back in 1935, this art déco beauty has been in a million movies, so you’ll definitely recognize it. Admission is totally free, which is amazing for a place this outstanding. The planetarium shows are only 7 bucks for adults, and they’re actually worth it, not just some boring lecture you’d sleep through. On clear nights, you can look through the telescopes for free and see planets, stars, the moon, all that space stuff up close. When people ask about fun things to do in Los Angeles at night, this always tops my list.

Make the most of your visit:

• Get there before 2 PM or after 8 PM because the middle of the day is absolute chaos with tour buses and everyone trying to park in a lot that’s way too small
• Sunset is the magic hour when you get to watch the entire city light up as it gets dark, it’s honestly pretty spectacular and worth timing your visit around
• The place is open until 10 PM most nights, so you’ve got plenty of time to see everything, catch a show, and still enjoy the nighttime views without rushing
• Just take an Uber or Lyft if you’re visiting during peak hours, fighting for parking will ruin your whole vibe and isn’t worth the stress

Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame and

Yeah, the Walk of Fame is super touristy and kind of cheesy, but you’ve gotta see it once, right? There are over 2,700 stars embedded in the sidewalk honoring everyone from old Hollywood legends to modern celebrities. The TCL Chinese Theatre is where you’ll find all those famous hand and footprints in cement, including the Harry Potter cast’s wand prints and various Marvel characters. The tradition started back in the 1920s, and it’s pretty cool to see how Hollywood has developed over the decades.

Here’s the deal:

• Taking photos with the stars is free, so don’t waste money on those people dressed up as characters who get super aggressive about tips after the photo
• Early morning, around 8 to 10, is when the sidewalks are actually clean and you can see the stars without stepping over trash or dodging crowds
• The theater does tours that last about 30 minutes, and you get some really interesting stories about movie premieres and Hollywood history that you wouldn’t know otherwise
• Honestly, spend an hour here max and then move on, there’s way better stuff to see in LA than standing on a crowded sidewalk

Explore

Universal Studios is both a real working studio and a theme park, which makes it pretty unique compared to other amusement parks. The Studio Tour takes you through actual movie sets like the Jaws lake, that creepy Psycho house, and the War of the Worlds crash site. The Harry Potter section is incredibly detailed, like they really went all out with Hogsmeade village, and the butterbur is actually pretty good even though it’s basically fancy cream soda. Theme parks definitely rank among popular fun things to do in LA for families.

Save some cash with these tips:

• Always book online ahead of time, you’ll save at least 20 bucks per ticket compared to buying at the gate like a rookie
• Go on a random Tuesday or Wednesday during the school year when the crowds are way smaller and you won’t spend half your day waiting in lines
• Show up right when they open at 9 AM and hit the Harry Potter rides first because those lines get insane by 11
• Download their app for wait times and mobile food ordering, it’ll save you from standing in those awful lunch rush lines

What are the top cultural attractions?

The Getty Center

The Getty Center sits on top of this hill in Brentwood with crazy good architecture and amazing art from Europe. The best part? It’s free to get in, you only pay 20 bucks for parking, which is a steal for a museum this good. They’ve got Van Gogh’s “Irises,” which looks even better in person, a bunch of Rembrandts, some Monets, basically all the heavy hitters. The Central Garden outside is a whole thing by itself with like 500 different plants that change with the seasons. Art lovers searching for cultural fun things to do in Los Angeles shouldn’t miss this spot.

What you should know:

• You’ve gotta book a timed ticket online because they limit how many people can be there at once, and weekends fill up days in advance
• They’re open until 8 PM on Saturdays, which is a clutch for sunset visits when the views get even more dramatic
• Bring a jacket because the weather up there changes fast, you’ll go from hot to cold in like an hour depending on the fog and wind
• Give yourself at least three hours minimum or you’ll feel rushed, there’s just too much to see if you’re actually paying attention

The Broad Contemporary Art Museum

The Broad is all about contemporary art, with pieces by Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Basquiat that you’ve probably seen on Instagram a million times. Those Infinity Mirror Rooms by Yayoi Kusama are the chief attraction, and yeah, they’re as cool as the photos make them look. Admission is free, which is pretty outstanding, but you need to snag tickets online in advance because they go fast.

Getting in tips:

• Book your tickets exactly at midnight on the first of each month for the best dates, set an alarm because serious people are ready to pounce
• The standby line can get you in same day, but you might wait one to three hours depending on when you show up, so bring snacks
• Tuesday through Friday is way less crowded than weekends, when everyone and their cousin is trying to get those Instagram shots
• Budget about 90 minutes to two hours to see everything without rushing, including time for the Infinity Rooms and browsing the gift shop

LACMA and the Urban Light Installation

LACMA is the biggest art museum out west with stuff from literally everywhere, spanning thousands of years of history. The Urban Light installation outside with all those old street lamps is probably LA’s most Instagram med spot at this point. General admission is 25 bucks, but if you’re an LA County resident, you get in free after 3 PM on weekdays, which is a sweet deal.

Museum visit planning:

• They’re closed Wednesdays, so check before you go or you’ll show up to locked doors like we did once
• Free parking in their lot but it fills up crazy fast on weekends, so get there before 11 AM if you want any chance at a spot
• Urban Light is accessible 24/7 even when the museum is closed, so late at night photos with nobody around are totally doable
• If you think you’ll go more than three times, just get the 75 dollar membership because it pays for itself, and you get other perks too

Where should families with kids go?

Natural History Museum and La Brea Tar Pits

The Natural History Museum has all the dinosaur stuff kids go crazy for, with a full T-Rex skeleton that’s honestly impressive even for adults. Across the street at the La Brea Tar Pits, you can watch actual scientists pulling Ice Age fossils out of tar that’s been trapping animals for 40,000 years. My kids were fascinated watching them work in the Fossil Lab, carefully cleaning bones from mammoths and saber-toothed cats. Educational yet entertaining fun things to do in LA with kids are abundant here.

Family planning essentials:

• Get the combo ticket for both places because it’s cheaper than separate admission, and you can do them both in one day
• Plan on four to five hours total if you want to actually see everything without your kids melting down from exhaustion
• Hit the museum first in the morning when everyone still has energy, then the tar pits in the afternoon for more outdoor exploring
• Bring your own snacks and water because museum food is expensive, and keeping kids fed prevents those inevitable hunger meltdowns

California Science Center

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is here, like an actual spaceship that went to space, and it’s mind-blowing to see up close. The kelp forest aquarium is huge at 188,000 gallons with all kinds of fish, and they have this animatronic T-Rex that moves super realistically. Everything’s free to get in except for special exhibits and the IMAX, which is pretty incredible for a science museum this good.

Visiting strategies:

• Show up right at 10 AM when they open to see the Endeavour before it gets mobbed, seriously the crowds get bad by noon
• Reserve Endeavour tickets at least two weeks out during summer or you’re not getting in, they release limited numbers and they disappear fast
• Pack lunch because the cafe is tiny with basic options that cost more than they should and add up quickly for a family
• Download their app before you go for maps and activity suggestions, it actually helps you navigate the place efficiently

Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park

Look, Santa Monica Pier is touristy as hell and kind of overpriced, but it’s still that classic LA beach experience everyone should see once. The Ferris wheel is solar powered, which is cool, and the views from the top are actually really good on clear days. Pacific Park has rides for all ages, from little kid stuff to the West Coaster that’s legitimately thrilling if you’re into that.

Pier survival guide:

• Parking costs anywhere from 3 to 15 bucks depending on when you go, early mornings are cheaper before the 10 AM rush hits
• Take the Expo Line to Downtown Santa Monica station and walk 15 minutes to skip parking drama completely
• Weekday afternoons from 1 to 4 PM are the sweet spot with decent crowds, nice weather, and everything actually open
• Bring hand sanitizer and just accept that carnival food and games are going to be overpriced  — that’s peer life

What unique experiences define LA?

Downtown Arts District and Street Art

The Arts District went from sketchy warehouses to LA’s cool art neighborhood in like a decade. Giant murals cover entire buildings, some by famous street artists from around the world. The angel wings mural gets swarmed with people taking photos, but there are tons of other incredible pieces if you just wander around exploring. Free street art exploration is among the most budget-friendly fun things to do in Los Angeles for creative souls.

Exploring tips:

• Early morning has the best light for photos and way fewer people blocking your shots, plus shadows are softer, so colors really pop
• Murals get painted over constantly, so what you see today might be gone in six months, which actually makes every visit unique
• Parking is a pain, look for metered spots on side streets or just get there early before 10 AM when spaces are still available
• You can walk the whole area in about two to three hours, it’s roughly 10 blocks centered on 4th and Alameda

The Last Bookstore

This bookstore is in an old bank building with these insanely high ceilings and marble everywhere. Upstairs they have “The Labyrinth,” where books are used as architecture to create tunnels and sculptures. It’s really creative and makes for great photos. They host live music sometimes and art shows, so it’s more than just a bookstore, it’s become a whole community spot.

Bookstore visit advice:

• Weekday afternoons are quieter, so you can actually browse without people constantly in your way, reading book spines
• Bring cash if you’re buying books, they discount cash purchases to avoid credit card fees, which is nice
• Check their event calendar online first because catching an author reading or live music adds something special to the visit
• Grand Central Market is two blocks away with about 30 food vendors, perfect for lunch after browsing books for an hour

Sunset at Griffith Observatory or El Matador Beach

LA sunsets are legitimately spectacular with all these vibrant colors painting the sky. Griffith Observatory gives you elevated views over the whole basin, watching the sun drop while the city lights start twinkling below. El Matador Beach in Malibu has dramatic rock formations and sea caves that look amazing silhouetted against the sunset sky, totally different vibe but equally beautiful. Catching sunset at either location represents quintessential fun things to do in LA that captures the city’s magic.

Sunset viewing essentials:

• Check exact sunset times online because it varies from 5 PM in winter to 8 PM in summer, showing up late means you missed the wonderful colors
• Bring a jacket because once the sun disappears, it gets cold fast, especially on hilltops where the wind picks up
• Sunset photography apps can predict the best colors based on weather and clouds, worth downloading if you care about getting good shots
• Stick around 30 minutes after sunset because the twilight period often has the most dramatic colors when the sun’s below the horizon

Planning Your LA Adventure

How many days do you need?

You need at least 3 to 4 days to hit the major highlights without completely exhausting yourself. A week is better if you’ve got the time because then you can explore different neighborhoods, maybe hit a theme park, and not feel you’re constantly rushing around. The variety of fun things to do in Los Angeles honestly never ends, you could spend two weeks here and still find new stuff to check out every day.

Budget and timing stuff to know:

• Free activities include Griffith Observatory, all the beaches, hiking trails everywhere, Getty Center if you ignore parking, Walk of Fame, and tons of street art
• Cheap eats are food trucks at 10 to 15 bucks per person, Grand Central Market has great options, and In-N-Out for that California burger experience
• Book stuff online for discounts, visit in spring or fall when hotels are cheaper, use regular parking lots not valet, and picnic at beaches to save money
• LA is pretty safe for tourists, but use common sense, don’t leave valuables visible in your car, and keep your stuff close in crowded tourist spots

Getting Around Los Angeles

LA is basically a bunch of different neighborhoods that each have their own personality, not one big downtown like most cities. West Hollywood has the nightlife scene, Silver Lake and Echo Park are hipster central with vintage shops and coffee, Pasadena has the Rose Bowl and cute shopping areas. Understanding this helps you plan better, pick one neighborhood per day instead of driving all over, creating fighting traffic. Exploring diverse neighborhoods remains one of the more authentic fun things to do in LA beyond typical tourist traps.

Transportation reality check:

• Rent a car for real flexibility because everything is spread out, expect 30 to 60 minutes between major spots depending on traffic
• Metro trains connect some tourist areas, and they’re cheap, Expo Line goes from downtown to Santa Monica, Red Line hits Hollywood
• Rush hour from 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 7 PM on weekdays is absolutely brutal, plan walking activities during those times
• Summer is peak season with crowds and high prices but perfect beach weather, spring and fall have better weather with fewer tourists

Conclusion

Los Angeles has this incredible mix of famous beaches, cultural spots, and endless activities that create memories you’ll actually remember years later. Whether you’re into Hollywood stuff, outdoor adventures, or just eating your way through different neighborhoods, this city delivers. The trick is treating LA like multiple cities in one instead of trying to see everything from one central location.

Take it slow, don’t overschedule, and accept that you won’t see everything in one trip because LA deserves multiple visits anyway. For more travel guides and planning help to maximize your California trip, check out Touristaguru for detailed destination info that actually helps you discover the best spots without all the tourist trap nonsense.

FAQs

1: What is the best time of year to visit Los Angeles? 

Spring, from March to May, or fall, from September to November, gives you glorious weather without summer crowds. Summer has perfect beach days, but everything costs more, and tourist spots are packed.

2: How many days do you need to see Los Angeles properly? 

Minimum 4 to 5 days to see the fundamental stuff without rushing. A full week lets you explore neighborhoods, maybe hit a theme park, and maintain a comfortable pace instead of sprinting everywhere.

3: Is Los Angeles suitable for families with young children? 

Yeah, absolutely, tons of family stuff like the Science Center, calm beaches, Griffith Park trails, and museums built specifically for kids of different ages.

4: Do you need a car to get around Los Angeles? 

A car makes life way easier because LA is so spread out. Metro connects some spots but having your own wheels gives you freedom to explore without waiting for trains.

5: What are the must-see attractions for first-time visitors? 

Hit Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Beach, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Getty Center, and one good museum. Add a hike for views and catch sunset at the beach for the full LA experience.