Things to do in Los Angeles for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appTop sights in Los Angeles
All self-guided activities
Learn more about the natural wonders of California at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHM). Marvel at the mammoth Dinosaur Hall, home to an impressive collection of over 300 fossils and 20 towering mounted skeletons. Embark on a global safari in the African and North American Mammal Halls, brimming with strikingly lifelike wildlife habitat dioramas – like stepping straight into your favorite wildlife documentary. For lovers of all things glittery, the Gem and Mineral Hall, with its 150,000 specimens, sparkles with gold, diamonds, and other radiant treasures. It's a treasure trove begging to be explored!
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is the world’s premier institution devoted to exploring the art and science of movies and moviemaking. Visitors to the museum experience the magic of cinema through the lens of those who participate in the creative, collaborative process of filmmaking.
Explore the highlights of one of the world's leading contemporary art museums and walk through downtown Los Angeles with your own in-app audio tour! Keep in mind that the Broad has a free (!) admission. By buying this audio tour, you don’t pay for your entry. However, you get an opportunity to explore the beauty of the museum at your own pace, following the carefully planned route and listening to amazing stories. The tour will start with an explanation of Broad's one-of-a-kind architecture, which will leave no one indifferent. Then, you will be guided through the highlights of the permanent collection such as works by Jeff Koons, Roy Lichtenstein, and J.M. Basquiat. No contemporary art exhibition can be complete without Andy Warhol, whose works and life will be interpreted on the tour. Next, you will walk through LA downtown with its magnificent skyline and architectural gems like Walt Disney Concert Hall. Chill out in the Grand Park and refocus on history and classical sculptures. Take a ride on Angel's Flight, the shortest railway in the world. Finish the tour at the Grand Central Market, a perfect place for a gastronomy adventure! Take this audio tour to discover the artists whose names are on everyone's lips and the vibrant downtown Los Angeles! This audio tour is not affiliated with the Broad Museum but is submitted by an individual creator. Free timed-entry ticket required by the Broad is included in the tour for customers' convenience.
Welcome to Ripley's Hollywood, and explore interactive games, historical relics, and pop-culture treasures for a memorable adventure. Step into a world of records at the Guinness World Records Museum on Hollywood Boulevard, where extraordinary feats are celebrated. Discover bizarre artifacts and hands-on displays that captivate both kids and adults at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Be amazed by peculiarities, unique art, and unbelievable stories that challenge your imagination.
Discover a different side of the second-largest city in the United States guided through its vibrant streets by this in-app audio tour! Mostly known for the entertainment it produces, Los Angeles has a rich and diverse history, too. The tour starts in the oldest part of downtown – the Village of Our Lady Queen of The Angels, where you will learn about the Mexican rule in the city's early days. You will walk past many places so familiar from dozens of movies filmed on the streets of this city. One of such spots is the Union Station, the city's central railway station and the largest railroad passenger terminal in the western United States. You’ll immediately acknowledge it from such movies as "The Dark Knight Rises," "Blade Runner," "Pearl Harbor," and others. If you feel like chilling a bit, stop by the Grand Park, an urban oasis and a cozy area for cultural events, festivals, and holiday celebrations. During the tour, you will learn about the most memorable Academy Award presentations in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and stroll in the Broadway Theater District, which was once home to the world’s highest concentration of cinemas. To finish your journey on a high note, get into the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, an architectural and historic landmark, and be inspired by its luxury and glamour. Enjoy your tour and the charm of Los Angeles!
Take this in-app audio tour to see what else Hollywood has to offer apart from the most popular tourist spots. This tour will show you some lesser-known stops and give a different perspective on Hollywood and its charm. The tour starts at the Magic Castle, a fairytale-like chateau, which houses a secret magic club. Then you will make your way to another neighborhood's best-kept secret — a place to enjoy one of the best views of Hollywood Sign. You will pass by the Highland Gardens Hotel, located in the area with multiple recording studios, and will hear what famous singers and musicians used to stay here while recording their new albums. You will see the Second City comedy theater, which has given Hollywood its funniest characters, and the Cinerama Dome, which still projects 70 mm films making it an apple of discord between celebrities. Finally, you will be fascinated by the installation of the Four Ladies of Hollywood, which features four women who made their mark on Hollywood by not just their accomplishments but because of the barriers they broke to succeed. Get ready for an exciting walk-through in Hollywood!
Experience full-on thrills with a 1 or 2-Day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, California. This ticket provides general admission access to the World-Famous Studio Tour, and other rides, shows and attractions within the park. Unleash your imagination at the one place where your favorite entertainment, movies and television shows become real.
Welcome to Los Angeles's Fairfax District to enjoy the incredible variety of food like a typical Angelino does! This in-app audio tour will guide you through the city's sprawling culinary mecca. The tour begins at the Clock Tower to surprise you that the local Farmers Market began in 1870. From there, you will get to the Farmer's Market itself, with its maze of stalls and food courts to catch up with its aspiring history. When done there, you will arrive at the local Willy Wonka’s aka Dylan's Candy Bar to get your sweet tooth on to the full. Next, you will take a chance to dine in or out of the Mercado restaurant and explore Mexican cuisine and a hundred kinds of tequila there. After the tacos and corns, you will learn what the enlightened donut is and try the signature donut-shaped fonuts at the creative Fonuts bakery, if you like. The tour then invites you to the Open Table listed Little Door Restaurant to relish its romantic garden setting and the aromas of French bistro cuisine. Get prepared to see a movie star grabbing a bite, as you approach the iconic deli-style Joan's on Third restaurant. The bustling Toast Bakery Café nearby is yet another place to stumble upon one and sample unassuming yet great comfort food. At the end of the tour, you will take cozy La Jolla Avenue to stroll a typical, leafy LA neighbourhood of Spanish-style houses. Join this tour to discover the staples of Los Angeles lunch spots and glimpse celebrities off the screens!
The USS _IOWA_ has a proud and eventful history. _The Big Stick_, as it's been known, served on and off for 64 years. Take a self-guided tour of the giant Battleship IOWA Museum and learn about its service during WWII, the Korean War, and the Cold War, along with the disasters the world-famous ship faced before retiring at the Pacific Battleship Center in 2011. Guests can use a free app, loaded with augmented reality features, fascinating factoids, and special tours. Little sailors can also follow Victory the mascot dog on a fun scavenger hunt!
Experience a full-day of thrills with admission to Universal Studios Hollywood, CA and receive one time priority access to each ride, show and attraction during your visit. Save time by not waiting in line and do more on your visit. Universal Express provides reservation-free entry into Super Nintendo World (when required) BUT Mario Kart Bowsers Challenge does NOT offer priority access for Universal Express ticket holders.
About Los Angeles
The best walking tours to do in Los Angeles are:
The best tours to do in Los Angeles with kids are:
The best indoor tours in Los Angeles for rainy days are:
The must-see attractions in Los Angeles for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Los Angeles
Alexandra Sam is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2022 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Los Angeles on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Los Angeles.
When friends ask me where to base themselves in Los Angeles, I usually recommend Los Feliz or Santa Monica, depending on the trip. In my travel guide Los Angeles, Los Feliz is my favorite for a first stay: you can walk to Griffith Park at sunrise, grab coffee on Hillhurst, and ease into the city without spending half the day in traffic. If you want beach mornings, Santa Monica works well, but I stay a few blocks off Ocean Avenue so nights are quieter. When I visit Los Angeles, I choose neighborhoods with real local rhythm—good sidewalks, late dinners, and easy access to the best things to do in Los Angeles without constantly driving.
On a first trip, I recommend mixing classic Los Angeles with the city’s everyday rhythm. I usually start with an early hike at Griffith Observatory—locals know the light over Los Angeles is best before 9 a.m.—then head to Los Feliz for breakfast instead of lingering in the crowded park. For the best things to do in Los Angeles, I’d pair one big museum, like The Getty, with a slower afternoon in Malibu or Manhattan Beach. If you’re sorting through attractions in Los Angeles, skip packing too much into one day. When friends ask me what to see in Los Angeles, I tell them neighborhoods matter as much as landmarks, and even the best tours in Los Angeles won’t show that unless you leave time to wander.
I always tell people Los Angeles makes the most sense by neighborhood, not by checklist. When I’m showing friends around Los Angeles, I like starting in Los Feliz for Griffith Park access, old movie-house charm, and easy cafés on Vermont and Hillhurst. For the best attractions in Los Angeles with a local feel, I also love Arts District—go for galleries, coffee, and the warehouse streets at golden hour. Venice is worth it if you stay east of the boardwalk and wander Abbot Kinney side streets. When people ask me what to see in Los Angeles, I say pick three areas max. Even good tours in Los Angeles can feel rushed if you bounce all over the city.
When I visit Los Angeles, I tell people the city’s real signature is its mix: late-night tacos from a sidewalk stand, excellent Korean barbecue, Armenian bakeries in East Hollywood and Glendale, and farmers market fruit that actually tastes like California. In my travel guide Los Angeles notes, I always mention breakfast burritos on the Westside and sushi in Little Tokyo or Sawtelle rather than expensive celebrity spots. If you visit Los Angeles and only book flashy restaurants, you’ll miss the point. Some of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles are food-driven: grabbing tacos after a concert, stopping for Thai curry in Hollywood, or building a whole afternoon around snacks in the Original Farmers Market.
In my travel guide Los Angeles, I usually suggest at least four full days, and five is better. Los Angeles looks manageable on a map, but crossing from Santa Monica to Griffith Park to Downtown can eat up hours if you overplan. When I visit Los Angeles, I like to give each day a zone: one for the beach, one for central neighborhoods like Los Feliz or Hollywood, one for museums, and one for Downtown or the Eastside. That pace leaves room for the small things that make Los Angeles memorable—sunset at Griffith, tacos after a show, a long coffee stop in Silver Lake. If you want the best things to do in Los Angeles without rushing, don’t try to squeeze it into a weekend.
When I have visitors in Los Angeles, I tell them to think in clusters, not miles. Some of my favorite attractions in Los Angeles are Griffith Observatory at golden hour, The Getty on a clear afternoon, and the Arts District for a slower evening of galleries, coffee, and warehouse-street wandering. If you’re figuring out what to see in Los Angeles, I’d also add Malibu for a coastal drive and a seafood stop, or Pasadena for architecture and quieter streets. Los Angeles rewards pacing yourself. Even well-planned tours in Los Angeles can underestimate traffic, so I usually pick one coast day, one hills day, and one neighborhood day instead of trying to crisscross the whole city.
When I visit Los Angeles for food, I usually send people to Koreatown, Sawtelle, Thai Town, and the Arts District, because each area has its own rhythm and cravings. Koreatown is one of my essentials in any travel guide Los Angeles list: late-night barbecue, excellent soups, and dessert cafés that stay lively after dinner. If you visit Los Angeles and want something more casual, Thai Town and East Hollywood are where I go for spicy noodles and old-school markets. On the Westside, Sawtelle is great for ramen and Japanese comfort food. Honestly, some of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles are just choosing one neighborhood, parking once, and eating my way down the block.