Los Angeles · Things to do
Things to do in Los Angeles: art, observatory views and the coast
Los Angeles offers Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, The Broad, alongside the other places below. Choose by neighborhood and interest: this guide combines cultural stops, outdoor space, and places to explore at a slower pace, with admission notes and official sources for planning an outing.
The useful LA question is how much travel you want between activities. The Broad makes a Downtown art anchor, Griffith Observatory supplies a hilltop science-and-view outing, and Santa Monica Pier and Venice belong to a coastal day. Getty Center is a substantial museum visit in its own right. The Huntington sits in San Marino, so treat it as a dedicated garden-and-collection trip rather than a quick add-on to the beach.
01 · Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory
An observatory with astronomy exhibits and views over Los Angeles from Griffith Park.
Make the observatory the anchor of a Griffith Park outing and allow for the final uphill connection. A sunset visit is popular, so leave enough time to arrive rather than counting only the time inside.
- Budget
- Building and grounds free; planetarium and parking extra
- Visit time
- 1.5–2.5 hours
- Location
- 2800 E Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Check building days, local transport, and separate planetarium tickets.
02 · Brentwood
Getty Center
A hilltop art museum complex with galleries, architecture, and garden areas.
Give the museum enough time for both art and the outdoor spaces. Keep the journey to the hilltop site separate from the visit allowance, then choose a nearby meal rather than a coast-to-Downtown transfer afterward.
- Budget
- Admission free; check entry arrangements and paid parking
- Visit time
- 2–3 hours
- Location
- 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Check current reservations, access arrangements, and parking before travelling.
03 · Downtown
The Broad
A contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue with collection displays and changing exhibitions.
Use the museum as a Downtown anchor and leave room to explore the surrounding Grand Avenue area. A general-admission ticket does not automatically include every special exhibition or timed artwork experience.
- Budget
- General admission free; some exhibitions and experiences separate
- Visit time
- 1.5–2 hours
- Location
- 221 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Reserve the appropriate ticket and check special experience access separately.
04 · Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier
A coastal pier with public walking space, amusement attractions, and ocean views.
Start a coastal day here, then decide whether you want a beach walk toward Venice. Choose a paid ride deliberately rather than letting every game and attraction become an unplanned expense.
- Budget
- Pier access free; rides, games and food extra
- Visit time
- 1–1.5 hours
- Location
- 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA
Before you go: Check individual attraction hours and coastal conditions.
05 · Venice
Venice Beach public spaces
A beach-side public promenade and recreation setting with room for walking and people-watching.
Choose a manageable section of the promenade and watch rather than assuming every recreation area is available for casual use. Leave time to return to your transport, especially if you have walked from Santa Monica.
- Budget
- Public beach and promenade access free; activities extra
- Visit time
- 1–2 hours
- Location
- Ocean Front Walk, Venice, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Check beach notices and recreation-area rules; respect other people’s space when filming.
06 · San Marino
The Huntington
A library, art, and botanical garden destination in San Marino with extensive outdoor collections.
Choose this as a substantial outing rather than a stop between Downtown and the coast. Pick garden areas that suit your energy and leave time for shade and water instead of trying to cover the entire site.
- Budget
- Paid admission; advance entry arrangements may apply
- Visit time
- 3–4 hours
- Location
- 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA
Before you go: Confirm tickets and required reservations for your visit date; allow a dedicated trip from LA.
07 · Fairfax
The Original Farmers Market
A long-running market of food stalls, merchants, and dining choices in the Fairfax area.
Use this as a food break on a central LA outing. Agree on how much to spend and choose seating after buying food, while remembering that the onward Griffith or coastal journey is a separate leg.
- Budget
- Free to enter; meals and shopping extra
- Visit time
- 45–90 minutes
- Location
- 6333 W Third Street, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Check merchant hours and parking rules, particularly if relying on validation.
08 · Venice
Venice Canals
A residential canal district with pedestrian paths and small bridges near Venice’s coastal area.
Keep this as a short, quieter continuation of a Venice outing. Stay on public walkways and avoid treating residential bridges and gardens as photo sets that require entering private property.
- Budget
- Public-path walk free
- Visit time
- 30–60 minutes
- Location
- Canal district near Dell Avenue, Venice, Los Angeles, CA
Before you go: Use public paths and respect residents, private entrances, and noise.
How to plan this Los Angeles outing
Choose the side of Los Angeles you want to explore before selecting venues. Metro rail and buses serve some clusters, but Griffith Observatory and the Getty need a final local connection. Check the full door-to-door journey and traffic before combining Downtown, the coast, or San Marino.
Carry sun protection and water for exposed coastal walks and Griffith Park. Heat, smoke, wind, or trail restrictions can affect outdoor plans, so check official notices. Coastal evenings may be cooler than Downtown; a light layer helps if a daytime outing extends toward sunset.
Choose one neighborhood before choosing more stops
Use this list as a menu, not a checklist to complete in one day. Choose one indoor anchor and one nearby outdoor stop, then leave time for lunch and the journey back. If a venue needs a timed ticket, build the day around that slot. A second distant attraction is usually less useful than time to enjoy the first one.
Before making the plan final
Visit times are planning allowances. Confirm current hours, admission, access, and availability using each place’s official link.
Questions, answered
Should I visit all these Los Angeles places in one day?
No. Los Angeles is easier to explore by grouping nearby stops and leaving breaks. The listed visit times are planning allowances, not guaranteed queue times or travel estimates. Pick the places that fit your available time, then check their current opening hours and your starting location.
Can NextMove personalize these Los Angeles ideas?
Yes. Enter Los Angeles, your available time, interests, budget, group size, and transportation in NextMove for iPhone to generate an outing. These website guides are free to read. App features require NextMove Pro, and generated stops still need their own hours, access, and availability checks.
Sources for this guide
- Griffith Observatory: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Getty Center: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- The Broad: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Santa Monica Pier: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Venice Beach public spaces: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- The Huntington: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- The Original Farmers Market: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Venice Canals: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
Found a change? Tell us so we can update the guide.