Vacation In La California
Are you seeking a dreamy trip to La California? You’ll find the most suitable hotel at Agoda.com. Plan your trip with the best online guide for La California accommodation, enjoy our affordable deals and once this is booked, get free room upgrades (as available).
If you have been looking for the best place to have your vacation then I recommend La California. This place is located in Mexico and it has a lot of attractions that can attract people from all over the world.
California is well-known as a travel destination par excellence. This state offers everything that can be desired to make your vacation a truly unforgettable experience. To discover California, you must first decide where to go and what you want to see. California can be divided into: northern, central and southern California. Each region has its own personality, with things to do and nature experiences.
Ever since I was a kid, I have dreamed of vacationing in California, mainly LA. LA is pretty famous all over the world, so there’s not much chance of me saying something new right? Well that’s exactly my point. No one tells you how awesome a vacation in LA can actually be, it’s time to give Cali some credit. So here we go!
Vacation In La California
There are 88 counties in California. The state is named after the Spanish queen Catherine of Braganza, who is also credited with introducing oranges to Florida. Most people visit LA, San Diego and San Francisco during their time here, but in actuality there are a lot of amazing towns within the state that you must see at some point in your lifetime. I’m going to dive into my 5 favorite cities you don’t hear about often.
Home » Travel Guides » United States Travel Guide » Los Angeles Travel Guide
LOS ANGELES TRAVEL GUIDE
Last Updated: August 4, 2022
NOTICE: The information here is updated as best we can in light of COVID-19. Please check attractions, activities, etc before you go as things can change quickly.
Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States and the largest city in California. It is a sprawling metropolis full of movie stars, aspiring actors, musicians, surfers, and lots and lots of traffic.
Los Angeles takes some getting used to. It’s a love/hate city for most people. When I first visited Los Angeles, I hated it. The city was too big, too vapid, and too expensive.
But the more I came here, I the more I saw that this isn’t a city for tourists — it’s a city for residents. With only a few tourist attractions, this is a city where you enjoy life: eat, drink, go to the beach, go for a run, and see a concert. It’s a city for living.
And, once you take the pressure of trying to fit Los Angeles into the tourist box, you see the magic of the city.
This travel guide to Los Angeles will help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this iconic destination!
Table of Contents
- Things to See and Do
- Typical Costs
- Suggested Budget
- Money-Saving Tips
- Where to Stay
- How to Get Around
- When to Go
- How to Stay Safe
- Best Places to Book Your Trip
- Gear and Packing List
- Related Blogs on Los Angeles
Zoom level changed to 1
Top 5 Things to See and Do in Los Angeles
1. Take a day trip to Disneyland
Visit the “Happiest Place on Earth” in nearby Anaheim. I love the rides — like Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain — and just feeling like a kid. Don’t miss the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, with its popular Rise of the Resistance ride (it’s worth the price). Other popular rides include the Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and Indiana Jone’s Adventure. A one-day/one-park ticket starts $104 USD.
2. See Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Boulevard has recently gone through some urban renewal and renovation. See the sidewalk street performers and enjoy the Walk of Fame (with over 2,700 celebrities’ handprints and footprints), Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (now known as TCL Chinese Theatre, which features one of the largest movie screens in the country), and much more.
3. Tour the Getty Museum
The Getty Museum is amazing for four reasons: its impressive art collection, its dramatic Richard Meier architecture, its ever-changing gardens, and the sweeping views of the city. Opened in 1997, the museum focuses on pre-20th-century European art as well as and 19th- and 20th-century American and European photographs. It features work by Van Gogh, Gauguin, and other masters. Visiting here was a highlight of my time in LA. It’s free to enter, however, you have to pay to park ($20 USD). It’s closed on Mondays.
4. Explore Griffith Park
This place is great for hiking, picnics, and hanging around with friends. The hiking trails lead up to Mulholland Drive and provide great views of the city. Griffith Park has many activities, including the LA Zoo, the Autry Western Museum, pony rides, a golf course, a driving range, and an observatory. Think of it like Central Park in New York City but much larger (it spans 4,310 acres versus Central Park’s 843 acres) and much more rugged. There’s also plenty of wildlife here, including mountain lions, rattlesnakes, and coyotes.
5. Relax at Venice Beach
Besides the sand and waves, Venice Beach has street performers, surfers, skaters, and intense basketball games (some of the best streetball players in the world can be found here). Wander around, take in the street art, and eat and drink at many of the restaurants that line the beach. Avoid the weekends if you’re heading to the beach as it gets crowded.
Other Things to See and Do in Los Angeles
1. Tour Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is the only working movie studio and theme park in the world. Their Studio Tour lasts one hour and gives you a behind-the-scenes look at Hollywood, including a visit to the plane crash scene from War of the Worlds, Peter Jackson’s King Kong, the Bates Hotel from Psycho, and cars from Fast & Furious (the tour is hosted by Jimmy Fallon on video). The theme park is home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Jurassic World, The Simpsons ride, special effects shows, and more. A one-day ticket costs $109 USD while a two-day pass starts at $149 USD. If you don’t want to pay to go into the parks, you can also enjoy shops, restaurants, and atmosphere at Universal’s City Walk (though with so much to do in LA, I’m not sure going here just for this is worth it).
2. Party on Sunset Boulevard
Perhaps one of the world’s most famous streets in the world, Sunset Blvd began as a route between the stars’ posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the “Sunset Strip” with its beaches and movie studios on its way. Spend some time cruising the street and see if you can spot any celebs!
3. Explore Old Town Pasadena
Historic downtown Pasadena is located just ten minutes from Los Angeles. Its pedestrian-friendly zone is designated as a National Register Historic District and stretches for twenty-two blocks. It’s filled with boutique shops and restaurants and is also a popular nightspot for all of you party animals out there. It’s an eclectic area where people of all ages come to hang out.
4. Shop at the Farmers Market & The Grove
There’s a great farmer’s market here with loads of fresh bread, fruit, veggies, and a delicious food court. Nearby is an outdoor shopping area featuring all the major brands as well as a movie theater. It’s a nice place to spend an afternoon. You can also learn the history of the farmers market while sampling some of its food with Melting Pot Tours (tours are $85 USD).
5. Take a walk on the beach
Los Angeles beaches are a great place to go for a walk, people-watch, or just lounge in the sun. Venice Beach and Santa Monica are two of the most famous beaches. The Santa Monica Pier, built in 1909, is also a fun way to spend an afternoon thanks to its carnival-like atmosphere right on the beach (it has several rides, greasy food stalls, and carnival games). Huntington Beach, Redondo Beach, and Playa del Rey are some of the other popular beaches around the city as well.
6. Visit the Huntington Library
This beautifully-designed library in nearby Pasadena includes a Chinese and Japanese garden. Additionally, the library has some incredibly rare and valuable books, including a copy of The Canterbury Tales from the 15th century and a 14th-century Gutenberg Bible (which you can see on display in the Main Exhibition Hall). It’s open 10am-5pm Wednesday-Monday (closed Tuesdays) and tickets are $25 USD during the week and $29 USD on weekends.
7. Explore the California Science Center
This kid-friendly attraction has a variety of educational exhibits on topics ranging from ecosystems (complete with forest, river, and island habitats) to space and aviation. The biggest highlight is the American space shuttle, Endeavor, which ran 25 space missions between 1992-2011 for NASA. It’s free to visit but parking costs $15-18 USD and you have to pay extra for special exhibits and IMAX movies (usually $10-20 USD).
8. Go for a hike
Los Angeles has a lot of wonderful hiking and running trails, the most famous being Runyon Canyon. There are some well-marked routes, including a 1.9-mile (3-kilometer) loop and a 2.6-mile (4-kilometer) loop (with higher elevation gain). There’s also a more strenuous 3.3-mile (5-kilometer) hike to the top of the park too. Caballero Canyon (3.4 miles), Fryman Canyon Park (2.5 miles), and Los Liones Trail (3.5 miles) are three other easy trails around the city you can hike too.
9. See the iconic Hollywood Sign
You can hike up to the famous Hollywood sign using trails that are open from sunrise until sunset in Griffith Park. From the sign, you get a sweeping view of Hollywood (which is especially beautiful at sunset with the city lights spread out in front of you). The three trails to get here (from easiest to hardest) are the Mt Hollywood Trail, the Brush Canyon Trail, and the Cahuenga Peak Trail. Expect to spend at least a couple of hours hiking. If you’d rather go with a group, guided hikes from Get Your Guide last 2.5 hours and cost $25 USD.
10. Visit the Grammy Museum
With exhibits, interactive experiences, artifacts and costumes, and numerous films, this museum walks you through the entire music industry and its history as well as the careers of previous Grammy winners. It’s not a highlight of the city, but if you’re a music aficionado, it’s one of the best things to do. Admission is $18 USD.
11. Browse The Last Bookstore
This is one of my favorite bookstores in the country (and one of the few remaining big independent ones). They sell books and music records, have art displays, and there’s a cool upstairs area too with books for as little as $1 USD. Located downtown, this space is huge, and you can get lost browsing the shelves for hours. Come here, get a coffee, and buy some books!
12. Visit LACMA
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest museum in the western United States. It boasts a massive collection of artwork including works by Rembrandt, Cézanne, Ansel Adams, and Magritte. There’s also ancient artwork from around the world, including Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sculptures. There’s modern art here too, including Michael Heizer’s 340-ton boulder which is wedged over a narrow walkway. Tickets are $25 USD.
13. See La Brea Tar Pits
These natural tar pits are in Hancock Park, where the tar has been trapping and fossilizing animals since the Ice Age. More than 3.5 million fossils have been found here, ranging from small honeybees to giant mammoths. This includes thousands of dire wolves! And scientists are still uncovering fossils here nearly every day of the year. It’s right next to LACMA too so you can do both together. Admission is $15 USD (closed Tuesdays).
14. Explore downtown
Downtown has experienced a complete revitalization in recent years, including a brand-new pedestrian center with museums, concert halls, theaters, and dining options. If you do just one thing here, visit the Grand Central Market. It’s home to 40+ of downtown’s best food vendors, including the original Eggslut. You can find literally any type of food here. I love it.
15. Walk Abbot Kinney Blvd.
Near Venice Beach, this boulevard is chock full of diverse shops, galleries, restaurants, and bars. There are all kinds of quirky businesses to pop into and on First Friday (the first Friday of each month), the street gets taken over by live music and food trucks.
16. Visit the Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center
This center is one of the most successful literary arts incubators in the country, with alumni like Tom Waits and Wanda Coleman. There’s regular programming here like readings, workshops, and musical performances, as well as a bookstore and archive with over 40,000 books. If you’re a book nerd like me, you’ll love this place!
17. Hang out in Palisades Park
Palisades Park in Santa Monica is a eucalyptus-filled park between the beach area and Ocean Avenue, where you get scenic views over the ocean and of the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s a chill spot to relax and explore. Make sure you stop by the Camera Obscura, an antiquated camera that offers a unique view of the world outside. It’s free to visit and closed on Sundays. (Camera currently closed for COVID).
For more information on other cities in the United States, check out these guides:
Los Angeles Travel Costs
Hostel prices – Prices here vary widely depending on where you stay in the city, though the prices are fairly consistent year-round. Unfortunately, prices aren’t cheap. Dorm rooms start around $30-50 USD per night and go as high as $80 USD. A basic private room with an ensuite bathroom costs around $80-100 USD per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels also have self-catering facilities. Only a couple hostels offer free breakfast.
Budget hotel prices Budget two-star hotels cost around $100 USD per night. Expect basic amenities like Wi-Fi, AC, TV, a tea/coffee maker.
There are also lots of Airbnb options in Los Angeles. A private room starts around $85 USD per night (but averages double that) while entire homes/apartments start around $150 USD per night (if you don’t book early you should expect to pay double or even triple that price).
Food – Los Angeles has lots of street and fast food options for under $10-15 USD. It’s the city of food trucks and anything and everything can be found here. You can get a hearty crepe or sandwich for around $10-12 USD while tacos go for about $3-5 USD each.
At casual restaurants, most main dishes cost around $15-18 USD. If you want to splash out on a three-course meal, expect to pay at least $50-60 USD.
For fast food (think McDonald’s), a combo meal is around $9 USD. A large pizza is $10-15 USD while Chinese food is $11-13 USD for a main dish.
Beer is around $8 USD while a latte/cappuccino costs around $4.75 USD. Bottled water is $2 USD.
If you cook your own food, expect to pay $50-75 USD per week for groceries. This gets you basic staples like pasta, rice, vegetables, and some meat.
Two of my favorite places to eat are Jitlada and Meals by Genet. For drinks, check out No Vacancy, Hotel Cafe, Roosterfish, and Good Times at Davey Wayne’s.
Backpacking Los Angeles Suggested Budgets
If you’re backpacking Los Angeles, expect to spend around $75 USD per day. This budget covers a hostel dorm, using public transportation, cooking your own meals, and free attractions like the beaches and hiking. If you plan on drinking, add $10-20 USD more per day.
On a mid-range budget of $190 USD per day, you can stay in a private hostel room or Airbnb, eat out for most of your meals, enjoy a couple drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting some museums or going to Disneyland for a day.
On a “luxury” budget of $390 USD or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink as much as you’d like, rent a car to get around or take more taxis, and do as many tours and activities as you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!
You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages – some days you spend more, some days you spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in USD.
Accommodation
Food
Transportation
Attractions
Average Daily Cost
Backpacker
$35
$20
$10
$10
$75
Mid-Range
$100
$45
$20
$25
$190
Luxury
$185
$115
$40
$50
$390
Los Angeles Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips
Los Angeles can be super expensive. After all, some of the country’s wealthiest people live here! But, thanks to all the food trucks and starving artists, you don’t have to be rich to visit. If you want to lower your costs, here are some ways to save money in Los Angeles:
- Purchase a Go Los Angeles Card – If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, this card provides discounts to 40 museums, tours, and attractions. It’s priced to save you money when compared to buying separate tickets. A one-day unlimited pass is $99 USD while the two-day unlimited pass is $149 USD. You can also build your own pass, with one-day/two-attraction passes starting at $83 USD.
- Avoid celebrity hangouts – Hollywood and Beverly Hills are the two areas you can see the most celebrities but also the two areas where you can spend the most money. While they’re fun to explore, avoid shopping and eating there!
- Redeem hotel points – Be sure to sign up for hotel credit cards before you go and use those points when you travel. This is especially helpful in big cities like LA, where accommodation is expensive. If you have lots of points, use them here and get free rooms! Be aware that most hotels charge parking fees if you have a car. This post has more information on how to get started travel hacking.
- Stay with a local – There are plenty of Couchsurfing hosts throughout the city who can show you around and let you stay for free. In an expensive and ever-changing city like LA, having a local guide can be extremely helpful! Just make sure to send your requests early since it’s a popular destination.
- Take a free walking tour – This is a great way to learn the history behind the places you are seeing and to avoid missing any must-see stops. Free Tours By Foot has a few interesting walking tours that can show you what the city has to offer. Just make sure to tip your guide!
- Save money on rideshares – Uber and Lyft are cheaper than taxis and are the best way to get around a city if you don’t want to take a bus or pay for a taxi. The shared/pool option (where you share a ride with other people) offers the best savings.
- Bring a reusable water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your single-use plastic consumption. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter that ensures your water is always safe and clean.