Holiday Nerd

Often caricatured as all palm trees and movie stars, Los Angeles is one of America’s biggest and best-known cities — famous for Hollywood glamour, beach culture, and a global entertainment industry.

But LA is also vast, complex, creative, and sometimes contradictory. It can feel exhilarating and iconic in one moment — and sprawling or impersonal the next.

Los Angeles isn’t a compact, walkable city like New York City. It’s spread across dozens of neighbourhoods stitched together by freeways. That scale is part of its appeal — but it also makes it feel car-centric and occasionally soulless if you don’t plan carefully.

Get it right, and LA delivers beaches, mountains, world-class museums, major sport, and some of the most recognisable sights in the world.

Why Visit Los Angeles?

• One of America’s most famous cities
• Global centre of film, television, and music
• Iconic landmarks known worldwide
• Miles of Pacific coastline
• Year-round mild climate
• Major sports teams across all leagues
• A natural starting point for classic US road trips

It’s less about a single “city centre” and more about exploring distinct areas.

Getting There

By Air

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the world’s busiest airports.

• Extensive domestic US connections
• Direct flights from Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond
• Major hub for American and international carriers

From LAX:

• 30–60+ minutes to most central areas (traffic dependent)
• Uber/Lyft widely used
• Rental cars readily available
• Public transport improving, but still limited for visitors

By Road

Los Angeles is deeply connected by interstate highways:

• Interstate 5 runs north–south (toward San Diego and up to Northern California).
• Interstate 10 runs east–west across the country.
• Historic U.S. Route 66 traditionally ends in Santa Monica.

LA is a major starting (or finishing) point for West Coast road trips, including drives to San Diego, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and the Pacific Coast Highway.

It’s also one of the easiest US gateways to Hawaii, with frequent nonstop flights to all major Hawaiian islands.

Getting Around

Los Angeles is not a city designed for walking between major attractions. Distances are significant and neighbourhoods are widely spread, so having access to a car is usually essential. Choosing accommodation close to the areas you most want to explore can dramatically improve your experience and reduce time spent in traffic.

While Los Angeles does have public transport — including the Metro Rail (subway and light rail lines) and an extensive bus network — it remains a city built for the automobile. Wide boulevards, multi-lane freeways, and large parking facilities define much of its layout. Parking is generally available, though it can be expensive in popular areas, and fuel costs are high by American standards.

Traffic is a reality, particularly during weekday rush hours, when journeys can take considerably longer than expected. Outside peak times, however, driving is typically straightforward, and road infrastructure is well maintained and clearly signposted.

Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft are widely available and convenient for shorter trips, though the city’s scale can make them costly if used as your primary mode of transport. Walking is impractical in many districts due to distance and heat, especially in summer. That said, certain neighbourhoods — including areas like Santa Monica — are far more pedestrian-friendly and enjoyable to explore on foot.

Where to Stay

Los Angeles offers an enormous range of accommodation, from large luxury hotels and design-led boutique properties to budget chains and serviced apartments. Where you stay matters more here than in most cities, as distances and traffic can significantly shape your trip.

Popular areas include:

• Hollywood – Central for first-time visitors, close to the Walk of Fame, studio tours, and hiking trails. Convenient but busy and tourist-heavy.
• Santa Monica – Beachfront location with a relaxed, walkable feel. Ideal if you want ocean views, cycling paths, and sunset walks.
• Venice – More bohemian and eclectic, with a strong local character and easy access to the beach.
• Beverly Hills / West Hollywood – Upscale, stylish, and well positioned for dining and nightlife, with a more polished atmosphere.
• Downtown LA (DTLA) – Best for business travel, sports events, and a growing food and arts scene, though less central for beach-focused sightseeing.

Because Los Angeles is so spread out, it’s worth prioritising proximity to the areas you plan to explore rather than choosing solely based on price or star rating.

Hotel pricing varies widely. Luxury properties in Beverly Hills or along the coast can be expensive, while Hollywood and Downtown often offer more moderate options. Rates rise significantly during major events, awards season, conventions, and peak summer travel.

What to See & Do

Hollywood & Film Culture

Hollywood remains central to Los Angeles’ identity — even if the modern film industry now stretches far beyond the neighbourhood itself. The symbolism, however, is powerful. This is where the mythology of American cinema was built.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame runs along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, with more than 2,700 brass stars set into the pavement. It’s busy, commercial, and at times chaotic — but still oddly compelling. Recognising names from decades of film, television, and music offers a tangible link to entertainment history.

Just off the boulevard sits the Dolby Theatre, the permanent home of the Academy Awards. While the Oscars ceremony is closed to the public, guided tours are available and give a glimpse inside one of the most recognisable venues in global cinema.

For a deeper look at how Hollywood actually works, studio tours are far more immersive than simply walking the boulevard.

Universal Studios Hollywood combines a full-scale theme park with a working studio lot. The studio tram tour takes visitors through backlots, sound stages, and famous set pieces, blending real production spaces with cinematic spectacle. It’s entertainment-focused but still informative.

The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood in nearby Burbank offers a more traditional behind-the-scenes experience. Smaller group tours visit active sound stages, backlot streets, and production facilities, often with a stronger focus on film and television history rather than rides.

Together, these experiences reveal the contrast at the heart of Los Angeles: the polished illusion presented on screen, and the vast industrial machine operating quietly behind it.

Theme Parks

For many visitors, theme parks are a major draw in Los Angeles — although they are not on the same vast, multi-park scale as those in Orlando.

The original Disneyland Park, located in nearby Anaheim, remains one of the most famous theme parks in the world. As the first Disney park, it has a certain historic charm alongside modern rides and attractions. It’s typically a full-day visit rather than a multi-day resort-style holiday as you might plan in Florida, but if you enjoy classic theme park experiences, it’s well worth including.

Closer to central Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood combines thrill rides with something uniquely LA — a working studio lot. The Studio Tour takes you behind the scenes of active production areas, passing sound stages and outdoor sets still used for film and television. It blends theme park entertainment with genuine industry insight, making it both fun and distinctly connected to the city’s identity.

Neither destination typically requires the extended planning of Florida’s mega-resorts, but both make excellent additions to a wider Los Angeles itinerary — particularly for film fans or anyone who enjoys high-quality rides.

Beaches: Santa Monica & Venice

Los Angeles’ coastal neighbourhoods offer a completely different atmosphere from Hollywood’s urban intensity. Here, the pace slows, the horizon opens, and daily life revolves around the Pacific Ocean.

The Santa Monica Pier is one of Southern California’s most recognisable landmarks. With its small amusement park, vintage carousel, and sweeping ocean views, it delivers classic California imagery. It also marks the traditional western end of historic U.S. Route 66, making it a symbolic finishing point for one of America’s most famous road trips. Watching the sun set over the Pacific from the pier is one of LA’s simplest but most memorable experiences.

Santa Monica itself is relatively walkable by Los Angeles standards. The beachfront path stretches for miles and is popular with cyclists, runners, and rollerbladers, while the wide sandy beach provides space to relax away from the city’s traffic. The area feels polished, safe, and family-friendly.

Just to the south, Venice Beach offers a sharper, more eccentric contrast. The boardwalk is animated by street performers, tattoo parlours, market stalls, and bold murals. It has long been associated with counterculture and creative communities, and that bohemian energy still lingers.

Near the beachfront sits Muscle Beach Venice, the famous outdoor gym where bodybuilders train in full public view — a nod to California’s long-standing fitness culture.

A short walk inland reveals the quieter Venice Canal Historic District, a network of picturesque canals lined with footbridges and elegant homes. Inspired by Venice, Italy, the canals provide a surprisingly tranquil contrast to the lively boardwalk just minutes away.

Together, Santa Monica and Venice showcase the diversity of Los Angeles’ coastal identity — from relaxed and scenic to artistic and unconventional — and are essential stops on any first visit.

The Hollywood Sign & Griffith Park

Few landmarks are as instantly recognisable as the Hollywood Sign. Originally erected in 1923 as a real estate advertisement reading “Hollywoodland,” it has become one of the defining symbols of Los Angeles — shorthand for the global film industry and the city’s mythology.

You cannot walk right up to the sign itself. It is fenced off and monitored, and access directly behind the letters is restricted. However, there are several excellent vantage points that provide iconic photo opportunities.

One of the most accessible and rewarding viewpoints is from Griffith Observatory, located within Griffith Park. The observatory offers sweeping panoramas across the Los Angeles basin, from downtown skyscrapers to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. You can drive up to the Observatory and entry to the building is free. Visiting near sunset is particularly memorable as the sky changes colour and the city gradually lights up below.

For a closer perspective of the sign, hiking trails within Griffith Park lead up into the hills behind it. Be prepared: many of these trails are steep, exposed, and dusty, especially in summer heat. Good footwear and water are essential. The reward is a dramatic elevated view over the city and a perspective of the sign that feels far more immersive than roadside stops.

Another popular photo location is Lake Hollywood Park, which offers a clear, relatively close frontal view without the climb. Along Mulholland Drive, certain residential streets — including areas near the last house at the end of Mulholland Highway — also provide striking framed views of the letters against the hillside.

Museums & Culture

Los Angeles has exceptional cultural institutions. The Getty Center combines striking architecture, gardens, and art collections high above the city, while the nearby Getty Villa focuses on classical antiquities in a setting inspired by a Roman villa. Both are free to enter (although charge for parking) with advance reservations.

The Hollywood Bowl, an outdoor amphitheatre nestled in the hills, hosts concerts throughout the year and is one of America’s most atmospheric music venues.

Downtown Los Angeles

Despite being the geographic centre, downtown is not the primary tourist focus. While areas such as Grand Avenue and the Arts District are improving, most visitors spend more time in coastal or Hollywood neighbourhoods.

Sports

Los Angeles is one of the few cities in the United States with teams across every major professional league. Basketball fans can watch the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers, baseball belongs to the Los Angeles Dodgers, while American football is represented by both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Ice hockey fans can see the Los Angeles Kings.

Ticket prices vary significantly depending on the opponent, the day of the week, and the team’s form. Basketball and NFL games, particularly involving the Lakers or Rams, can be expensive, especially for premium seating. Baseball generally offers more affordable entry-level tickets, making a Dodgers game one of the easier and more cost-effective ways to experience live US sport.

It is advisable to book tickets in advance via official team websites or reputable resale platforms, particularly for high-profile fixtures or weekend games. Last-minute tickets are often available, but prices can fluctuate sharply. Seating in American stadiums is clearly tiered, so even upper-level seats usually provide good views and a lively atmosphere.

American professional sports events are typically very family-friendly — especially compared to European football — with a relaxed atmosphere and a strong emphasis on inclusivity and spectacle. Even if you do not closely follow the sport or fully understand the rules, the scale, presentation and crowd engagement make it an enjoyable and memorable experience. For many visitors, it becomes a highlight of a trip to Los Angeles rather than simply a sporting fixture.

Practical Information

• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Language: English
• Payment: A car is generally essential due to the city’s size and spread. Public transport exists but is limited for most visitor itineraries.
• Getting around: A car is generally essential due to the city’s size and spread. Public transport exists but is limited for most visitor itineraries.
• Safety:  Los Angeles combines great wealth with visible social challenges. Homelessness is significant in some areas, including parts of Downtown and near certain tourist districts. Petty crime, particularly car break-ins, is an issue, so never leave valuables visible in vehicles. Most visits are trouble-free with sensible precautions.
• Tipping: Expected (15–20% in restaurants and bars)
• Weather: Hot, dry summers; mild winters. Coastal areas are cooler, and most rainfall occurs between December and March.

Best Time to Visit Los Angeles

Spring and autumn generally offer the best balance of comfortable temperatures and manageable crowds. Summer is lively but busy, while winter remains mild compared to much of the United States, making LA an appealing year-round destination.

Final Thoughts

Los Angeles is not a traditional sightseeing city with a single historic core. It is sprawling, traffic-heavy, and occasionally chaotic — yet also iconic, creative, and uniquely influential.

Seen as a collection of neighbourhoods rather than one unified centre, LA reveals its strengths: beaches at sunset, hillside views, film history, major sport, and a lifestyle shaped by sunshine and scale. Whether beginning a West Coast road trip, visiting theme parks, or simply experiencing one of the world’s cultural capitals, Los Angeles rewards travellers willing to embrace its size and contradictions.