Bucket list destination:
Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)
It may be home to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, but the City of Angels is more than just a la-la land of celebrities and Real Housewives.
This vibrant metropolis manages to check all the cosmopolitan capital boxes, from a buzzy art scene to top-notch dining.
Of course, it’s not all metro-fabulous here, and LA’s near-perfect natural setting between ocean, mountains and desert is a dream for outdoor adventurers – and who couldn’t love the weather?
But at the heart of it all is Hollywood, the economic wheel that keeps this celebrity drop-top rolling on.
Most people’s definition of LA stretches from southern seaside communities such as Redondo Beach up along Southern California’s coastline to Malibu, and from the Pacific east to Downtown and beyond.
Along the way, the 500-plus mile stretch encompasses some 30 beaches, fashionable districts such as Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Bel-Air, and the Santa Monica Mountains. In fact, LA is the only city in the US to be bisected by a mountain range.
Key hubs:
Up until recently Downtown LA was strictly for business travellers, but these days you’ll find LA’s most talked-about new restaurants and contemporary art galleries in this bustling, skyscraper-filled neighbourhood.
It’s one of the only truly walkable areas in LA, but be warned that the vibe here is distinctly grittier than Beverly Hills.
While it’s common knowledge that LA has no centre, if you had to pick one, you’d probably go for West Hollywood, which is well-placed for getting anywhere in the city.
It’s also one of LA’s most fashionable spots, filled with cool concept stores and buzzy rooftop bars.
This beachside neighbourhood showcases the best of sunny So-Cal life, with its miles of sandy coastline and beach promenades.
Come to watch the surfers zip through the waves before taking a walk along the delightfully gaudy pier, where you can ride on the world’s only solar-powered ferris wheel.
LA’s swankiest neighbourhood is known all over the world, and with good reason – nowhere does high-octane glamour quite like it.
Cruise the designer shops on Rodeo Drive, keeping one eye on the souped-up supercars whizzing past, before going celeb-spotting at one of the area’s many upmarket restaurants.
Our selection of the best Viator tours of this destination, plus helpful tickets and transfers
Los Angeles
Price: $38
Min age: 0
Rating 4.90 / 5 [138 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $40
Min age: 0
Rating 4.23 / 5 [252 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $49
Min age: 0
Rating 4.85 / 5 [1159 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $69
Min age: 1
Rating 4.95 / 5 [112 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $84
Min age: 0
Rating 4.86 / 5 [330 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $89
Min age: 0
Rating 4.87 / 5 [439 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $95
Min age: 0
Rating 4.77 / 5 [668 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $95
Min age: 0
Rating 4.77 / 5 [134 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $99
Min age: 0
Rating 4.84 / 5 [3732 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $175
Min age: 1
Rating 4.92 / 5 [382 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $179
Min age: 0
Rating 4.97 / 5 [130 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $290
Min age: 3
Rating 4.92 / 5 [85 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $800
Min age: 0
Rating 5 / 5 [93 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $899
Min age: 0
Rating 4.99 / 5 [103 ratings]
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Los Angeles
Price: $1,000
Min age: 0
Rating 4.41 / 5 [55 ratings]
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Despite what you may have heard, LA isn’t always sunny – though it’s pretty damn close to being. June Gloom, when the fog rolls in, can make the sky grey during the early part of the summer.
But LA’s high desert setting keeps things generally warm, from the high fifties (15°C) during the winter to the eighties (26°-32°C) and up into triple digits (38°C+), depending on how far inland you are in the summer.
July and August see the city at its most crowded.
LAX Airport is just ten minutes south of Santa Monica and 30 minutes from Beverly Hills, traffic permitting – which means you’re pretty much in the middle of things as soon as you arrive. Grab your car at the airport and take off. Alternatively, there are plenty of taxis available at the airport.
Los Angeles is a driving town and renting a car is a must. Unfortunately, this auto obsession means traffic can be horrendous.
You’ll frequently hear references to the ‘four-o-five’ and the ‘one-o-one’. These refer to two major LA freeways. I-405 runs south to north from Orange County through the San Fernando Valley (known as ‘The Valley’), passing LA Airport along the way.
The Los Angeles portion of US Route 101 travels from west to east through the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, and into downtown. Know where you are in relation to these two freeways, and you’ll have a generally good idea of how to get around.
Wherever possible avoid driving during rush hour, from 7am-10am in the morning, and from 4pm-7pm at night. The stop-and-go traffic that plagues literally every LA street will make you want to bang your head against the wheel repeatedly.
Thanks to its proximity to the beach, as well as great dining, shopping and nightlife, most LA visitors base themselves on the Westside.
Santa Monica is perfect for those who prefer to stay beachside while still having access to good restaurants and shops.
West Hollywood is a favourite for its vibrant nightlife and hip vibe; Beverly Hills and Bel-Air are for those who prefer their holiday on the luxury setting.
A little further east is Hollywood. The studios might have left the area, but iconic attractions such as the Kodak Theatre still remain.
Ground zero for the laidback look, style in LA is all about the breezy and easy. Think maxi dresses, organic cotton tees, designer denim and big shades. Head to the myriad independent boutiques lining Westside shopping streets such as Abbot Kinney, Melrose and Robertson to tap into this brand of California cool.
But LA also knows how to do chichi – flashy Rodeo Drive may draw hordes of tourists rather than Hollywood starlets these days, but it’s still the place to come for the big designer names, from Dior to Dolce & Gabbana.
