135 Best Sights in Los Angeles, California

Wander through a re-created tropical forest, a South African landscape, or the Australian outback at this family-friendly arboretum. One highlight is the tropical greenhouse, with carnivorous-looking orchids and a pond full of brilliantly colored goldfish. The house and stables of the eccentric real-estate pioneer Lucky Baldwin are well-preserved and worth a visit, along with the fairy-tale Queen Anne Cottage built for his 16-year-old fourth wife, which has been painstakingly renovated and is now open for docent-led tours. (It's best known as Ricardo Montalbán's Fantasy Island house.) Kids will love the many peacocks and waterfowl that roam the property, and an abandoned 1890 train station built using Baldwin's own brick yard. The most recent additions include a new forest pathway and the Garden of Quiet Reflection, filled with contemplative quotes, a sundial, and East Asian flora.

Built in 1931, the 2,200-seat Los Angeles Theatre opened with the premiere of Charlie Chaplin's classic City Lights. Full of glorious French baroque–inspired details, the six-story lobby is awe-inspiring with its dramatic staircase, enormous fountain, grandiose chandeliers, and ornate gold detailing. You can occasionally witness the old Hollywood glamour by catching a special movie screening.

The sweeping grounds of the Los Angeles Zoo are a terrific place to introduce young minds to threatened species of animals from all over the world and to encourage conservation advocacy. The zoo is home to more than 2,100 mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles representing more than 270 different species, of which more than 58 are endangered. While coordinating with different organizations around the world, the zoo also has its own in-house conservation programs, including innovative breeding strategies for reptiles and a successful Masai giraffe breeding program, and it participates in efforts to restore the pronghorn species population. The care of the adorable residents of this 133-acre zoo is priority number one, and every effort is made to allow animals plenty of space and the agency to roam in their enclosures, to create environments that mimic their wild habitats, and to make enrichment toys available for play. The sprawling, 6.56-acre Elephants of Asia habitat boasts more than 3 acres of outdoor space, deep bathing pools, a waterfall, sandy hills, enrichment opportunities, and care facilities for elephants of all sizes and ages. In summer, the Zoo Friday Nights program allows visitors an opportunity to witness the more nocturnal residents. The sustainable wine and dinner series (21+) features gourmet farm-to-table menus, expert wine pairings, and conversations with a curator or keeper. 

You'll need at least three hours to explore this zoo, but a full day is even better. Amenities include several restaurants, free solar-powered charging stations, water-refilling stations, and electric shuttles that can take you around the zoo for a small fee. Passionate and knowledgeable docents are also available to tell you more about the animals.

Charles Fletcher Lummis was an American journalist and civil rights activist who advocated for indigenous people’s rights and historic preservation. After dropping out of Harvard, he set out to walk from Ohio to Los Angeles, where he ultimately resettled after spending several decades throughout California and the Southwest as a journalist. The Lummis House, or El Alisal, was hand-built by Lummis over the course of 14 years. Visitors come in awe of the exterior of the house, which is built of river rock, concrete flooring, and shelving that was set into the walls so that the entirety of the house could be cleaned with a garden hose. Today El Alisal is a state historical monument owned by the Los Angeles City Parks and Recreation Department.

This thoroughfare is a great spot for star sightings or for strolling among the laid-back California crowd. Streets are lined with old-fashioned, colorful, and cozy boutiques that stock everything from high-end garments to bohemian favorites. There's also a standard crop of shopping mall outposts plus a good selection of casual restaurants and cafés. If you're in town on the last Saturday of the month, check out the sidewalk sale.

Bird-watchers, take note: in this 5-acre marshy area near Malibu Beach Inn you can spot egrets, blue herons, avocets, and gulls. (You need to stay on the boardwalks so as not to disturb their habitats.) The path leads out to a rocky stretch of Surfrider Beach and makes for a pleasant stroll. The sand is soft, clean, and white, and you're also likely to spot a variety of marine life. The lagoon is particularly enjoyable in the early morning and at sunset—and even more so now, thanks to a restoration effort that improved the lagoon's scent. The parking lot has limited hours, but street-side parking is usually available at off-peak times. The on-site Malibu Lagoon Museum reveals local history. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; walking.

This rustically chic, 780-foot fishing dock is a great place to drink in the sunset, take in some coastal views, or watch local fishermen reel up a catch. A pier has jutted out on this spot since the early 1900s; storms destroyed the last one in 1995, and it was rebuilt in 2001. Today, it's officially a state park. Over the years, private developers have worked with the state to refurbish the pier, which now yields offerings like a gift shop, water-sport and beach rentals, and a wonderful farm-to-table restaurant with stunning views and locations at both ends of the pier. Seasonal sightseeing and whale-watching excursions are offered from a 50-foot tour boat, the Malibu Waverider.

Steady 3- to 5-foot waves make this beach, just west of Malibu Pier, a surfing paradise. (So much so that it's been declared the world's first surfing reserve.) Water runoff from Malibu Canyon forms a natural lagoon that's a sanctuary for 250 species of birds. Bird-watch, play volleyball, or take a walk on one of the nature trails, which are perfect for romantic sunset strolls. Guided tours of the surrounding wetlands are available seasonally. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; windsurfing.

A wide, sandy strip with good swimming and rows of volleyball courts, Manhattan Beach is the preferred destination of fit, tanned young professionals. There are also such amenities as a bike path, a playground, a bait shop, fishing equipment for rent, and a sizable fishing pier with a free aquarium at the end. It's the perfect place to unwind during a long layover at LAX. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking.

This condo-laden, chain restaurant–lined development is a good place to grab brunch, walk, or ride bikes along the waterfront. A number of places, such as Hornblower Cruises and Events in Fisherman's Village, rent boats for romantic dinner or party cruises around the marina. There are a few man-made beaches, but you're better off hitting the larger (and cleaner) beaches up the coast.

Melrose Avenue is a tale of two streets. West of Fairfax Avenue is vibrant with boutique shops, international restaurants, and avant-garde galleries. East of Fairfax is more eclectic with street art and murals, sneaker stores, and thrift and vintage shops. The open-air Melrose Trading Post Artisan Market is every Sunday at Fairfax High School starting at 10 am. There are rows of antiques, vintage clothing, art, furniture, and collectibles.

The Million Dollar Theater opened in 1918 as part of Sid Grauman's famed chain of movie theaters. This Spanish baroque–style venue had the special feature of having its own organ. Film stars such as Gloria Swanson, Rudolph Valentino, and a young Judy Garland frequently made appearances. In the '40s, the venue swung with jazz and big band performers including Billie Holiday. The theater is open for special events and is worth a stop if you're walking past to inspect the lavish exterior with entertainment figures carved into the molding.

Established in 1771 as the fourth of 21 missions founded in California, this massive adobe complex was dedicated by Father Junípero Serra to St. Gabriel. Within the next 50 years, San Gabriel Arcángel became the wealthiest of all California missions. In 1833 the Mexican government confiscated the mission, allowing it to decline. The U.S. government returned the mission to the church in 1855, but by this time the Franciscans had departed. In 1908 the Claretian Missionaries took charge and poured much care into preserving the rich history, albeit without a focus on the indigenous people who built the mission. A devastating arson fire in 2020 has resulted in a grand reopening with newly reimagined museum exhibitions centering the thousands of Native Americans who built and were baptized on the site. The cemetery here, the first in L.A. County, is said to contain approximately 6,000 Gabrieleños. Tranquil grounds are lushly planted and filled with remnants of what life was like two centuries ago. Public mass is held at the mission Sunday morning at 7 and 10, but check ahead as times are subject to change. If you're lucky, you'll hear the six bells that ring out during special services—a truly arresting experience. You can take a self-guided tour of the grounds here by purchasing a map in the gift shop.

The main branch of the Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Arata Isozaki, contains underground galleries and presents elegant exhibitions. A huge Nancy Rubins sculpture fashioned from used airplane parts graces the museum's front plaza. The museum gift shop offers apothecary items, modernist ceramics, and even toys and games for children to appease any art lover.

Take advantage of the free audio tour.

Bronzed young men bench-pressing five girls at once, weightlifters doing tricks on the sand—the Muscle Beach facility fired up the country's imagination from the get-go. The original Muscle Beach, just south of the Santa Monica Pier, is where bodybuilders Jack LaLanne and Vic and Armand Tanny used to work out in the 1950s. When it was closed in 1959, the bodybuilders moved south along the beach to Venice, to a city-run facility known as "the Pen," and the Venice Beach spot inherited the Muscle Beach moniker. The spot is probably best known now as a place where a young Arnold Schwarzenegger first came to flex his muscles in the late '60s and began his rise to fame. The area now hosts a variety of sports and gymnastics events, along with occasional "beach babe" beauty contests that always draw a crowd. But stop by any time during daylight for an eye-popping array of beefcakes.

This museum unflinchingly confronts bigotry and racism. One of its most affecting sections covers the Holocaust, with film footage of deportations and concentration camps. Upon entering, you are issued a "passport" bearing the name of a child whose life was dramatically changed by the Nazis; as you go through the exhibit, you learn the fate of that child. Another exhibit called Anne: The Life and Legacy of Anne Frank brings her story to life through immersive environments, multimedia presentations, and interesting artifacts, while Simon Wiesenthal's Vienna office is set exactly as the famous "Nazi hunter" had it while conducting his research that brought more than 1,000 war criminals to justice.

Interactive exhibits include The Forum where visitors can examine and debate solutions to controversial topics facing our nation today such as immigration, policing, homelessness, the pandemic, and bigotry; We the People, which looks at U.S. history from the 1600s up to the attack on the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, with an immense interactive wall; and the Point of View Experience, a four-sided glass cube that presents a different individual's perspective on a particular situation facing society. Plan to spend at least three hours touring the museum; making a reservation is especially recommended for Sunday and holiday visits.

Sandier and less private than most of the rocky beaches surrounding it, this little beach is great for picnics. You can sit at a picnic table high up on a bluff overlooking the ocean or cast out a fishing line. Surfers call it Zero Beach because the waves take the shape of a hollow tube when winter swells peel off the reef. Peak weather attracts local food trucks. This site also hosts a 4-acre traditional Chumash village, which replicates a day in the life of the indigenous Chumash people, including their homes, canoes, handicrafts, and ceremonies. Request a guided tour in advance. Amenities: parking (fee); lifeguards; toilets; showers. Best for: solitude; surfing; walking; windsurfing.

Built in 1816 as a gristmill for the San Gabriel Mission, the mill is the state's oldest commercial building and one of the last remaining examples in Southern California of Spanish Mission architecture. The thick adobe walls and textured ceiling rafters give the interior a sense of quiet strength. Outside, a chipped section of the mill's exterior reveals the layers of brick, ground seashell paste, and ox blood used to hold the structure together. The surrounding gardens, an accredited arboretum, are reason enough to visit, with a flower-decked arbor and old sycamores and oaks. In summer, the Capitol Ensemble performs in the garden.

This 22-block historic district contains a vibrant mix of restored 19th-century brick buildings interspersed with contemporary architecture. Chain stores have muscled in, but there are still some homegrown shops, plenty of tempting cafés and restaurants, and a bustling beer scene. In recent years, a vibrant Asian food scene has popped up in the vicinity as well. In the evening and on weekends, the streets are packed with people. Old Town's main action takes place on Colorado Boulevard between Pasadena Avenue and Arroyo Parkway.

The city's cultures come together in one of its oldest parks, named in honor of World War I general John J. Pershing. Opened in 1866, the park was renovated in the 1990s by architect Ricardo Legorreta and landscape architect Laurie Olin with faded pastel-color walls, fountains, and towers. However, most Downtown residents and architecture lovers are not fans of the design and have long lobbied for a makeover, which is perennially rumored to be unveiled. From mid-November to mid-January, an outdoor ice-skating rink attracts ice-skaters and families. Every Wednesday 10--2 is the Pershing Square Farmers' Market.  The park will undergo a significant overhaul for much of 2023 and into 2024.

The who’s who of the dearly departed can all be found at this peaceful, though unremarkable, cemetery. Notable residents include Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio; authors Truman Capote, Ray Bradbury, and Jackie Collins; publisher Hugh Hefner; actors Natalie Wood, Kirk Douglas, Rodney Dangerfield, Farrah Fawcett, Jack Lemmon, and Dean Martin; and directors Billy Wilder and John Cassavetes.

Sustainability and community have always been core values behind this L.A. brewery’s mission, but Golden Road Brewing is equally passionate about making great food and excellent beer. With several core brands, as well as a few specialty and seasonal brands, this is a must-stop for any craft beer lover vacationing in the City of Angels. Try the Mango Cart wheat ale on draft.

The pier here marks the starting point of this wide, busy beach along a heavily developed shoreline community. Restaurants and shops flourish along the pier; excursion boats and privately owned crafts depart from launching ramps; and a reef formed by a sunken ship creates prime fishing and snorkeling conditions. If you're adventurous, you might try to kayak out to the buoys and hobnob with pelicans and sea lions. A series of free rock and jazz concerts takes place at the pier every summer. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming; walking.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, located in Simi Valley north of Malibu, offers visitors a glimpse into the life and presidency of America's 40th president. History buffs, Reagan admirers, and those curious about American politics will all find something for them. Perched atop a hill with stunning views of the surrounding terrain, the library houses an impressive collection of interactive exhibits as well as original artifacts and documents that chronicle Reagan's journey from small-town Illinois to the Hollywood A-list and ultimately the White House. Highlights include a full-scale replica of the Oval Office, the actual Air Force One aircraft used during Reagan's presidency, and a piece of the Berlin Wall. The museum does a comprehensive (though somewhat partisan) job of contextualizing Reagan's era, covering major events like the end of the Cold War and the economic policies of the 1980s. The library's beautiful grounds, including Reagan's final resting place, offer a peaceful space for reflection. The cafeteria-style Gipper's Bar and Bistro serves up a variety of meal options and drinks, while another location in the Air Force One pavilion has quick-serve offerings. And naturally, a fully stocked museum store offers everything a fan could ever want.

Located in the heart of the famed Griffith Observatory, the 290-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium may be on the modest side as far as planetariums are concerned, but the shows held here are no less epic and electrifying. This state-of-the-art theater has an aluminum dome and a Zeiss star projector that plays awe-inspiring multimedia exhibitions that address the mystery of the cosmos. There are typically three 30-minute ticketed shows in rotation, so be sure to allow time to catch one while spending a day at the park.  Sit in the back for the best experience.

Santa Monica Boulevard is part of the historic Route 66. As American songwriter Bobby Troup sang, "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," along this lively commercial core of West Hollywood. It's filled with trendy restaurants and cafés, shops and galleries, and LGBTQIA+-friendly bars and clubs. Park your car and walk from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive. The fashionable West Hollywood Design District runs between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive. 

A quintessential (and free) L.A. experience, the nondenominational Lake Shrine temple and meditation garden was founded by guru Paramahansa Yogananda's Self-Realization Fellowship, a nonprofit spiritual organization headquartered in Los Angeles that promotes traditional yoga and meditation. The gardens, lakes, trails, windmill, and other structures are enjoyed by practitioners, locals, celebrities, and office workers alike as a place to step out of the rat race and into tranquility for a few minutes. Its miraculous survival in the Palisades fire has inspired new visitors. Free reservations are mandatory and can be made online.

Take advantage of SoCal's legendary weather by spending a day in L.A.'s second biggest city park, which includes a Japanese Garden, soccer and baseball fields, a wildlife reserve, three golf courses, a model airplane fly zone, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and bike/running paths. Swan boats and bikes can be rented to paddle or circumnavigate Lake Balboa, especially pretty when the plum trees are in bloom. In summer, there are kayak excursions along the re-wilded section of the L.A. River that cuts through it. The recreation area will host skateboarding, archery, and BMX racing and freestyle (basically invented in The Valley) events at the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The mission of this Jewish cultural institution in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains is to explore the connections "between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and the vitality of American democratic ideals." The extraordinary museum, featuring exhibits like Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America, has a massive collection of Judaica—the third largest in the world. A big family draw is the Noah's Ark interactive exhibition, where children are invited to re-create the famous tale using their own imagination.

Opened in 2020, SoFi Stadium serves as the home field for the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Chargers. This architectural marvel, the most expensive stadium ever built at more than $5 billion, boasts a capacity of up to 100,000 and features a unique indoor-outdoor design with a transparent roof and the largest video board in sports. Along with that, you'll enjoy premium amenities without a bad seat in the house. Parking is abundant (though expensive) and major events offer public transit shuttles. For those not attending events, an hour-long tour is frequently offered (though pricey). SoFi will be a centerpiece venue housing events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.