Holidays to Los Angeles

Los Angeles travel guide

• When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?

  Los Angeles enjoys a moderate climate for most of the year, with warm and hot summers. The infamous smog has reduced in recent years. Autumn and winter bring clear weather and beautiful sights and so are considered a great time to visit Los Angeles, with the possibility of spending a day on the beach in January, while spring brings a mix of sunny and wet days. Temperatures can fluctuate from area to area. The coastal areas of LA tend to be cooler, particularly in the evening.
  
  Take a look at our climate a chart below.

• Los Angeles attractions

  With iconic landmarks everywhere you turn, sightseeing in Los Angeles is as easy as walking down the street. Here are just a few of LA’s must see attractions:

  The renowned Venice Beach is a sandy three-mile hub of activity, with a variety of captivating street entertainment from singers to fortune tellers, tree-lined canals, and Abbot Kinney's hipster hangouts. For another spectacle, check out the infamous Muscle Beach and watch the bodybuilders show off their brawn. You can join in the activities on the basketball, handball, shuffleboard and paddle tennis courts, head to the funky shops or simply grab a coffee and watch the show at this paradise of over-the-top exhibitionism.

  Universal Studios Hollywood combines a working movie studio with a theme park, and offers a one stop shop for fun packed entertainment, with theme park rides, shows, shops, restaurants and cinemas vying for your attention.

  Up there with the world’s most famous streets, Sunset Boulevard runs from Downtown LA to the ocean, passing through Sunset Strip. Get your camera at the ready for such well known sights as The Viper Room and Sunset Plaza or simply relax in the cool sidewalk cafes.

  Hurray for Hollywood! No holiday to Los Angeles is complete until you’ve had a good gawk at that iconic sign. Located in North Hollywood, you can visit the Griffith Park Observatory where you’ll find a path that leads you on a long hike to the Hollywood Sign, though there is a fence twenty feet around to stop excited tourists scribbling ‘I woz ‘ere.’ For a less strenuous glimpse, drop into the shopping complex Hollywood & Highland where a viewing area gives a great view of those white block letters that have inspired so many dreams.

  The Queen Mary is one of the largest ships afloat and sailed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. Now permanently docked in Long Beach, the Queen Mary is a museum ship and hotel, offering a trip into the past with her sumptuous Art Deco interior.

  The Huntington Library in San Marino is an amazing gem to visit while in LA. As well as the stunning library featuring rare books and manuscripts and the library's distinguished art collection, Huntington boasts 120 acres and more than a dozen specialized gardens, a great place to relax and take a breath from the fast pace of LA life.

• Los Angeles shopping

  As you might expect for a city that has to cater for the sartorial demands of some of the world’s best known stars, Los Angeles has a vast offering of shops that come together to form the most impressive, eclectic wardrobe on the planet. Whether you’re looking for iconic designer names or unique boutique fashion, you’ll find the shops of Los Angeles are a treasure trove of high style and originality.

  For big shops, famous brand names and an iconic shopping experience then saunter into the Golden Triangle. There you’ll find Rodeo Drive – site of the Pretty Woman shopping spree and home to such delights as Tiffany's and Gucci. Want to shop where the hipsters hang out? Then head for Melrose, running from Santa Monica Boulevard to Lucille Avenue. A popular new wave underground shopping district in the 1980s, Melrose Avenue still offers an edgy experience, with the flea markets and quirky outlets now joined by the high end stores. A popular spot with celebrities, this is also great place to browse and spot the stars.

  For a Mecca of retail, visit the 128 acre South Coast Plaza, where you’ll find 280 boutiques to worship fashion in all its forms while at Hollywood & Highland and The Beverley Centre you’ll find greats like Hugo Boss and Dior as well a traditional US shopping experience in stores like Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s.

  Abbot Kinney Boulevard provides a more underground experience. The street runs through Venice and features a smattering of home décor shops, handmade furniture stores, vintage clothing sellers, surf shops, perfume shops and bookstores. A great boho hangout with plenty of cafes and restaurants, well placed for a spot of people watching.

  La Brea Avenue is the place to visit for unusual gifts, with boutiques of every variety, from vintage clothes to cool stationary. Root out some antiques on the relaxed Third Street, where you’ll find home accessories, unique gifts and a small but delightful Travel Bookstore. NoHo is the heart of the LA art district so look no further for paintings, ceramics, or just an inspiring browse around this vibrant artist’s community.

• Los Angeles food and drink

  From upscale restaurants to the raw food movement, Los Angeles has some of the most exciting dining opportunities in the world.

  You’ll find the famous farmers market at Third and Fairfax, where you can pick up gorgeous fresh produce or dine in the open air patio on tasty dishes from one of the tempting stalls.

  Downtown a whole host of bars offer the LA experience at its brightest, with every kind of bar from traditional pine-panelled watering holes to rubbing shoulders with the trend setters and drinking rooftop cocktails.

  Experience a traditional American Diner in West Hollywood, which is also a great place to find wonderful coffee shops in a city where coffee is a crucial element of the LA lifestyle.

  For a taste of something a bit different, visit the district of Silverlake for diverse and innovative restaurants, a whole range of cuisine from around the world and a hip and inviting atmosphere.

  Venice Beach's waterfront lounges, restaurants and grill-bars attract the young and stylish - and the permanently-dieting, drawn to the low fat, high-taste seafood, barbecues and salads. Or, for that matter, the juicy burgers and Italian-American specials!

  Or get right on trend and dine at one of LA’s newest innovations; the gourmet food truck, selling everything from gourmet burgers to Korean-inspired tacos and burritos. There's trucks plying the main routes in town, and parked up in most tourist hotspots - trust us, greasy roadside caffs these are definitely not! Los Angeles is also great for vegetarians and vegans, with creative fresh food without meat available everywhere.

• Los Angeles nightlife

  Los Angeles doesn’t do partying by halves. Let LA entertain you and a memorable night out in the City of Angels is guaranteed.

  The world’s hottest DJs and most cutting edge clubs can be found in LA. Try dance clubs like LAX, Las Vegas Boulevard, with its stunning rooftop terrace bar, the Zen-style Mood, Hollywood Boulevard, or its sister venue, the lush Garden of Eden. Elevate Lounge, Wilshire Boulevard, is a jaw-dropping 21st floor venue, where you’ll throw shapes amongst the city’s skyscrapers or The Kress, with its spectacular view of the Hollywood Hills. For some world flavours, visit The Mayan, South Hill Street, to dance Salsa or the Merengue amongst other Latin styles.

  At venues such as LA Live, live entertainment is always on the bill. Try Microsoft Theater and Grammy Museum for memorable concerts. At the Knitting Factory you can discover the hottest alternative bands while you can catch more familiar names at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip.

  Comedy abounds in LA – visit the renowned Laugh Factory where many famous comedians began their careers, or The Improv on Melrose for bigger comedy talent.

• Los Angeles lifestyle and culture

  When it comes to culture, Los Angeles might suffer from comparison to the super-cool New York, but Los Angeles has a rich cultural life of its own and the movie industry means it remains a beacon for artists of all kinds.

  For a taste of some homegrown LA culture, experience the Downtown Art Walk. Taking place every second Thursday from 12pm-9pm, galleries open their doors, music is played and crowds gather to enjoy the electric atmosphere. A must for art lovers.

  Take a tram up to The Getty Museum, where you will find stunning architecture, wonderful gardens and fantastic views over LA. Then pop in to check out the artworks including Van Gogh. Best of all, it’s free.

• Los Angeles events - what's on when?

  From the designer stores on Rodeo Drive and the extravagant residences of Beverley Hills to the beaches of Malibu and Santa Monica, the sprawling 'City of Angels' is alive with spectacle and excitement. Check out our Events Guide below for what on when.

  January - LA Art Show

  15000 works, from masterpieces to new art, on display at the LA Convention Centre.

  February - Vintage Fashion Expo

  Get access to the red carpet bleachers and see the stars at the Kodak Theatre.

  March - LA Marathon

  A 26.2 mile course from Echo Park to the coast with entertainment along the route.

  April - LA Times Festival of Books

  130000 people attend for book signings, readings and entertainment at UCLA.

  May - Fiesta Broadway

  Half a million people attend this colourful May 5th party in downtown LA.

  June - Playboy Jazz Festival

  Free festival at the Hollywood Bowl with jazz bands and Bill Cosby on MC duties.

  July - AmericaFest

  Big celebration of Independence Day with 25-30000 people at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

  August - Beverley Hills International Music Festival

  10 day festival of classical music held at the Beverley Hills Presbyterian Church.

  September - LA County Fair

  A month of rides, horse races, live shows and more at Fairplex, Pomona.

  October - Halloween Horror Nights

  Scary rides and attractions (some with a movie theme) at Universal Studios Hollywood.

  November - Hollywood Christmas Parade

  Bands, floats, giant balloons, Santa and celebrities parade down the boulevards.

  December - Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony in Altadena

  135 trees, around 10,000 lights and a Winter arts & crafts festival that begin in 1920.

• Los Angeles travel advice

  Do you need a visa for Los Angeles?

  Everyone travelling into America must have completed the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation, or ESTA for short, a US Customs & Passport Control entry requirement. US Immigration may well refuse you entry at border control if you do not complete the online form.