Things to Do in Los Angeles, United States

1. Griffith Observatory

Free telescopes and a view that takes your breath away. Here you literally touch the sky and see the play of Hollywood lights at your feet.

Quick facts: Telescopes are free for all visitors to use, weather permitting. It houses the Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope, which has been available for free public use since 1935.

Highlights: Here you can stand in the same spot where James Dean looked up at the sky in his final film "Rebel Without a Cause." As the sun sets and the Hollywood lights come on, a view opens up that stretches from the Pacific coast to the San Gabriel Mountains.

2. Getty Center

Free admission art center that preserves irises from 1889 and van Gogh's dreamlike landscapes. Take a train to the top of the hill and discover courtyards where art and nature intertwine.

Quick facts: The art center buildings are made of travertine, which glows warmly like honey in the setting sun. The center sits on a 130-acre hill with a view of all of Los Angeles stretching to the Pacific Ocean.

Highlights: What is most special is the garden: a collection of 134 varieties of cacti and succulents forming a living sculpture garden with a view of the city. The artworks are arranged so that every window opens onto a new perspective, as if the painting itself is searching for light.

3. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Here you literally stand in the footsteps of your favorite stars. See pink terrazzo tiles with thousands of names, the gilded history of fame at your feet.

Quick facts: A paved stretch of over 2,700 named plaques extends 15 blocks and two miles along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. About 20 new stars are added each year, selected by a committee based on fame, achievements, and contributions to the entertainment industry.

Highlights: Beneath the stars lie pink terrazzo and brass-edged plaques embedded in concrete, each of which now costs about 55,000 dollars to install. The most exciting detail: walking between the stars, you literally tread the same paths as Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, and half of Hollywood's legends.

4. Santa Monica Pier

Here you can ride a skateboard 42 meters above the sea and eat the world's best ice cream. The scents, sounds and views create an experience that stays with you forever.

Quick facts: Nearly 8 million people visit this pier each year, all coming here to breathe in that special Pacific Ocean air. It is home to the world's first and only adventure trail made from a printing press powered by ink.

Highlights: Locals know the best time to come is at sunset, when the sky turns orange-blue and the old wooden roulette wheel makes its daily 3,000 spins. This pier, opened in 1909, is the only place in the world where you can eat ice cream, ride a 1920s-style carousel, and watch fishermen haul in their evening catch all at the same time.

5. Universal Studios Hollywood

A life-sized film world awaits where you can become part of your favorite scenes. Ride a tram through historic backlots, battle sticker-wielding riders and come under attack from Jurassic World's dinosaurs.

Quick facts: It is both a working film studio and a theme park where visitors can observe real film shoots. The park sees over 9 million people each year, all hoping to be part of the Hollywood magic.

Highlights: During the studio tour, you ride a tram through real film sets where "Back to the Future" and "King Kong" were shot. The most thrilling part is the 3.2 km King Kong 3D adventure, where the tram itself starts to shake and bounce against the ground as if you were truly in the monster's grasp.

6. The Broad

A treasure chest of contemporary art, all for free. Step inside and find yourself in Yayoi Kusama's endless universe of mirrors and lights.

Quick facts: Admission is completely free, but you need to book a time slot in advance because demand is high. It holds about 2,000 works ranging from the 1950s to the present day, including Jeff Koons' giant balloon dog, which weighs over 1,000 kilos.

Highlights: The building itself is like a giant sculpture: the porous concrete facade lets in daylight but keeps out street noise. The "roof" on the top floor is actually a 3D-modeled concrete grid through which the sky is visible, creating ever-changing patterns of light.

7. Venice Beach Boardwalk

Sun, surf, street art and a parade of roller skating characters: this is where the free spirit of the West Coast lives most authentically. Walk along the oceanfront promenade, watch acrobats and buy local crafts.

Quick facts: A boardwalk over 2.5 kilometers long attracts more than 10 million visitors each year. Here you will find rollerbladers, street performer acts, and a craft market selling everything from leather bags to exotic souvenirs.

Highlights: The local rollerbladers have created a unique culture here, where music and movement merge into a single spectacle. Every weekend, hundreds of rollerbladers gather, dancing and performing tricks together, creating an unmatched mosaic of rhythms and colors.

8. Runyon Canyon Park

LA's best free view awaits those willing to get a little out of breath. Climb the slope and see the entire city spread out before you.

Quick facts: This nearly 53-hectare protected area sits on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains and is open for free every day. The trail runs 4.8 kilometers and offers views of both the Pacific Ocean and the Downtown LA skyline at once.

Highlights: Locals know that this peak offers the best free viewpoint in Los Angeles, where the city lights up at sunset. True friends bring their dogs and a bottle of wine to stay on the mountaintop and enjoy this nightly light show.

9. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

LACMA

The largest art museum on the West Coast offers 150,000 works with a single ticket. Step inside, walk through a light sculpture of 202 lanterns and enter another world.

Quick facts: LACMA holds over 150,000 works ranging from antiquity to the present day. It is also home to the world-famous Urban Light installation, where 202 restored street lamps create a photographer's favorite view.

Highlights: At dusk, the sea of Urban Light lamps lights up as if by themselves, turning the entire plaza into a magical island of outdoor lights. It is a place where locals come for a picnic, photographers wait for the golden hour, and no one is in a hurry to move on.

10. Griffith Park

Here you walk among pine forests and forget that a giant city sprawls below. Look down from the city's highest point or find the silence hidden in the old zoo ruins.

Quick facts: Spanning more than 17 square kilometers, the park is one of the largest urban parks in North America. It is also home to the Los Angeles Zoo and the Hollywood sign itself, which can be seen without entering the park.

Highlights: Driving through the park by car, you might encounter wild coyotes crossing the road late in the evening. In the old zoo, empty concrete cages stand, now taken over by street artists and photographers.