Los AngelesCalifornia

Visit Los Angeles: Land of Hollywood glamour, surfer vibes and cultural icons

One of the world's most diverse cities, Los Angeles is home to countless global cultures and distinctive neighborhoods, each offering something exciting. The city has so much going on that you'll want to give yourself plenty of time to explore. If you're after glamour, bustle and excitement, Los Angeles is the place for you.

Pop Culture in Los Angeles

Start with the storied attractions of Hollywood, such as the Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, before strolling the section of Sunset Boulevard known as The Strip with its vibrant billboards, restaurants and famous nightclubs.

Music lovers will feel right at home in Downtown's L.A. LIVE complex, home to the GRAMMY Museum, which features exhibits and memorabilia tracing the history of popular music. Keep the vibes going at Crypto.com Arena, which hosts high-octane concerts. It's also where you'll go to watch professional sports teams like the National Basketball Association's Lakers, the Women's National Basketball Association's Sparks, and the National Hockey League's Kings.

Families won’t want to miss Universal Studios Hollywood for theme-park thrills, movie attractions such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ and Jurassic World, mind-blowing Super Nintendo World™ and the famed Studio Tour.

Beach Towns

Everyone in Los Angeles has a favorite beach, and each beach has its own vibe, from the famed Malibu to lively Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach.

Santa Monica’s 5.6-kilometer stretch of sand is marked by the world-famous pier. The pier – with its amusement park, arcade and aquarium – is a short walk from Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade, an outdoor mall offering shopping in a festive environment.

Neighboring Venice Beach is equally enchanting, but at the same time, a world apart. The beach is spacious and the bustling Boardwalk boasts an eclectic mix of locals, Muscle Beach, a skate park and famous outdoor basketball courts.

Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive

Synonymous with high-fashion shopping and high-end dining, Beverly Hills is an ideal locale for window-shopping single-name stores, such as Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Lanvin, Tiffany’s and Valentino.

This is also a place to people-watch: Sip a latte outside one of the cafes on the palm tree-lined sidewalks and watch the luxury cars roll by, or see if you can spot one of the many celebrity residents disguised as everyday people.

Cultural Institutions

Another fantastic place to see stars – and panoramic views of the city – is the Griffith Observatory atop a hill in Griffith Park northwest of Downtown.

Exposition park is home to several world-class museums. Check out theCalifornia African American Museum, California Science Center, Natural History Museum and the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Do some more museum hopping in Mid-City's Museum Row. Visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, which houses more than 13 million cinematic objects; the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, home to more than 120,000 works representing ancient and modern culture; the Craft Contemporary, with its unique exhibits of handmade art; the Page Museum, home to the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Petersen Automotive Museum, a can't-miss for car enthusiasts.

On the Westside, there's the Getty Center with its soaring architecture and cozy museum rooms full of sought-after permanent and traveling art exhibits. Stop by the Skirball Cultural Center, one of the world's most dynamic Jewish cultural institutions; and the Hammer Museum, renowned as a showcase for emerging artists.