Travel bucket list idea:

Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles, California, United States of America (USA)

Last updated: 22 April, 2024

There are many reasons to go to Griffith Park, and one of the main ones is to visit the magnificent Art Deco observatory, which sits high above the city near the Hollywood sign.

You don’t even need to go inside to make the visit worthwhile – taking in the view over LA’s skyline and admiring the building’s impressive architecture (which you’ll recognise from films such as La La Land and Rebel Without a Cause) is more than enough.

That being said, don’t leave without going inside, where you’ll find permanent exhibits exploring the cosmos, free public telescopes and an excellent planetarium.

Don’t miss

Don’t miss the hypnotic swaying of the Foucault Pendulum in the vaulted lobby – a 240-pound bronze ball suspended by a 40-foot cable from the rotunda ceiling, it demonstrates the earth’s rotation.

Logistics

Price from: £6

Minimum age: 0

Age suitable: 4+

When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

The observatory is high up in the hills in sprawling Griffith Park, to the east of the city, about a 20-minute drive from Hollywood Boulevard.

There aren’t usually queues to get in and the main exhibits are free, including daily talks led by the knowledgeable staff and Tesla Coil demonstrations (timings for these can be found online).

You do, though, need to book tickets for the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. Annoyingly you can’t pre-book these online or over the phone and can only buy tickets in-person at the observatory’s box office for that day’s shows. The show schedules can be found on the observatory’s website.

When to do it

The observatory is open all year round, Friday to Sunday. Closed Monday to Thursday.

You won’t usually have to battle queues, but if you fancy hiking up to the observatory it’s best to come early in the morning or later in the afternoon, before it gets too hot.

One Saturday a month the observatory hosts a free public star party, with various telescopes dotted around the front lawn and astronomers on hand for questions.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Griffith Observatory Tour and Optional Planetarium Ticket

Los Angeles

Viator

Tour the 67,000-square-foot Griffith Observatory with this curated itinerary developed by former observatory employees. Travel through space and time as your guide covers everything from science to Los Angeles history to movie magic. The observatory is also a great place to enjoy panoramic views of LA including the Hollywood Sign. After your tour, you can enjoy a show in the world-famous planetarium theater. Bring money for tickets, and your guide can help you purchase these on-site. This 40-minute immersive show includes live narration and out-of-this-world projections. Shows are open to ages 5 and older. NOTE: We are an independent tour company and are not affiliated with the City of LA or their employees.

Price $42

Min age 5

Rating 4.69 / 5 [239 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Private Tour of Griffith Observatory

Los Angeles

Viator

Tour the 67,000-square-foot Griffith Observatory with this curated itinerary developed by former observatory employees. Travel through space and time as your private guide covers everything from science to Los Angeles history to movie magic. The observatory is also a great place to enjoy panoramic views of LA including the Hollywood Sign. After your tour, enjoy a show in the world-famous planetarium theater. This 40-minute immersive show includes live narration and out-of-this-world projections. Shows are open to ages 5 and older. Note: We are an independent tour company and are not affiliated with the City of LA.

Price $349

Min age 5

Rating 4.59 / 5 [47 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

Website >