Los Angeles landmarks: 19 icons, 14 of them free to see

From the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame to the Getty, the Broad and a Gothic bridge most visitors never find, these are the Los Angeles landmarks worth your time, with current hours, booking rules and which ones cost nothing to see.

So, you’re visiting the City of Angels and trying to figure out what to do. How about hunting down the best landmarks in Los Angeles?

Apparently (according to some pretty extensive Googling) there are over 1,200 historical landmarks in Los Angeles. While I might not have visited them all (although I’m pretty sure I’ve come close), I’ve got the lowdown on the attractions you NEED to visit on your next trip.

Which means that you can spend less time searching and more time admiring the sights and soaking up the buzzing atmosphere.

The good news for your budget: 14 of the 19 places below are free to see. The Getty, the Broad, Griffith Observatory and the self-guided tour of the Walt Disney Concert Hall all cost nothing to get in, although some charge for parking or need a free timed ticket. I’ve flagged the cost, the opening days and any booking you need to do under each one, because several of the big hitters close on a Monday (or, in LACMA’s case, a Wednesday).

Whether you’re spending one or three days in Los Angeles (or more!), you won’t regret fitting some of these into your itinerary. Just remember that this is a city where the traffic, not the distance, decides how much you see in a day.

The most famous LA landmarks

Watch the sun set over the city from Griffith Observatory

Ok, first up is my favourite spot in all of LA: Griffith Observatory. You might recognise it from that iconic scene in La La Land.

This elegant building is a gateway to the universe, which you can explore for free. The observatory opened in 1935 on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood, and its Art Deco domes now hold the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, where shows take you from the farthest corners of the cosmos to the building blocks of life, plus the Zeiss telescope that has let more people peer through it than any other telescope on Earth.

Then geek out with the exhibits on the planets and the night sky, or wander through Griffith Park. At more than 4,000 acres it’s one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and it’s home to the iconic Hollywood Sign.

For me, though, the building is only half the draw. The real show is outside, on the terraces and viewpoints around it, as the sun drops behind the city and the lights of the basin flicker on below you. Take my advice and head here before sunset for the most epic views.

Free entry (planetarium shows $10). Open Tuesday to Friday, noon to 10pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 10pm; closed Mondays.

Hike to the Hollywood Sign

Yep, this one should also come as no surprise. Visiting Hollywood and not spotting the iconic Hollywood Sign is criminal.

While there are plenty of places you can see the sign throughout the city (it might be pretty small but it’s rather imposing), the famous Hollywood Sign hike is my favourite: it’s one of the best hikes in LA, after all. It’s a sweaty climb in the sun, but worth every step for the view across the basin to the ocean.

The sign went up in 1923 as an advert for a housing development called Hollywoodland; the last four letters came down in 1949, and the 45-foot letters you see today replaced the crumbling originals in 1978. You can’t touch it: the letters sit behind fencing on Mount Lee and the area around them is closed, so the aim is to get as close as the trails allow.

The most popular route climbs the Brush Canyon Trail from Canyon Drive in Bronson Canyon, past the Bronson Caves (the Batcave in the 1960s Batman series), to the summit of Mount Lee behind the sign: allow three hours or so for the round trip of about 6 miles. If you’d rather not hike, Lake Hollywood Park gives the closest roadside view, and the terraces at Griffith Observatory and Ovation Hollywood (the shopping centre beside the Chinese Theatre) both have clear sightlines.

Free. Trails in Griffith Park are open 5am to 10.30pm.

Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame

You saw this one coming, right? It’s obvious. Hear me out, though. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is probably the most iconic landmark in Los Angeles.

Whether you’re into celebrity culture or not, there’s bound to be an icon there that you admire. More than 2,800 stars are now set into 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street, honouring the biggest names in film, television, music, radio and live performance since the first were laid in 1960. New ones are still added at ceremonies through the year, and the Walk of Fame website lists the upcoming dates if you’d like to see one unveiled.

Apart from the fancy five-point stars, there’s more to do and see along this historic stretch. When you visit in the evening, you can pop into lively restaurants and clubs that stay open late.

If that’s not your scene, head to the Guinness World Records Museum or Madame Tussauds Hollywood. And wander a couple of blocks south of the boulevard for the quieter side of old Hollywood, like the white Art Deco post office on Wilcox Avenue, built in 1937.

Free. The stars are on the pavement, so you can visit any time.

Put your hands in the prints at the TCL Chinese Theatre

The pagoda-roofed cinema at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard has been the beating heart of the Walk of Fame since showman Sid Grauman opened it in 1927. Its forecourt holds the handprints, footprints and signatures of around 200 stars pressed into the concrete, from Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell to the cast of Harry Potter, and finding your favourite is half the fun.

You can look round the forecourt for free. To see the auditorium, either book one of the short guided tours or, better still, watch a film: it’s one of the largest IMAX screens in the country, and seeing a premiere-week blockbuster in a 1920s movie palace is a very Hollywood way to spend an evening.

Forecourt free; tours and film tickets extra.

Pay a visit to the Broad

Another iconic LA location, the Broad is a showcase of postwar and contemporary art from the 1950s to the present day, in a white, honeycomb-skinned building on Grand Avenue that opened in 2015.

Guys, I highly recommend spending a couple of hours of your day wandering through its galleries and exhibitions at no cost: it’s my fave gallery in LA.

The Broad houses nearly 2,000 works by around 200 artists, collected by philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad. Look out for Roy Lichtenstein’s Femme d’Alger (1963), Jeff Koons’s Balloon Dog (Blue), Jean-Michel Basquiat and Cindy Sherman, and the museum’s big draw, Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room: The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, a dark room of mirrors and hanging LED lights that seems to go on forever. Get there early, it gets hella busy throughout the day.

Free general admission (some exhibitions charged). Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 11am to 5pm; Thursday, 11am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm; closed Mondays.

Admire the genius architecture of the Walt Disney Concert Hall

Love it or hate it, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most mesmerising architectural landmarks in Los Angeles.

And, once you see it up close, you’ll likely agree. Designed by Frank Gehry and opened in 2003, it’s a sail-like sweep of brushed stainless steel that looks straight out of a sci-fi novel, and the home of the LA Phil, just across the street from the Broad.

Inside, the main auditorium is wrapped in Douglas fir and is known as one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. You can wander the public spaces on a free self-guided audio tour, which takes about an hour, then climb the stairs to the hidden rooftop garden with its rose-shaped fountain made from broken Delft china. Concert tickets vary by season, day and show.

Free self-guided audio tours daily, 10am to 3pm (last start 2pm), subject to performances; no booking needed for individuals.

Step into the golden age of rail at Union Station

Built in 1939, Union Station is often called the last of America’s great railway stations, and it’s still the city’s main rail hub. Father-and-son architects John and Donald Parkinson blended Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco into a style often called Mission Moderne, and the result is a cathedral-like waiting room of leather armchairs, tiled floors and a painted beamed ceiling, framed by two leafy courtyards.

You’ll recognise it from dozens of films, from Blade Runner to The Dark Knight Rises. It’s free to walk around, and LA Metro runs free guided art and architecture tours on selected dates. Afterwards, cross Alameda Street to Olvera Street and El Pueblo, the historic plaza where the city began in 1781.

Free. Open daily.

Examine the massive art collection of the Getty Center

The Getty Center hosts a conglomerate of sculptures, photographs, drawings, decorative arts, and pre-20th-century European paintings. The museum also draws crowds for its impressive architecture, charming gardens, and breathtaking views overlooking the city.

Named after J. Paul Getty, founder of the Getty Oil Company, the hilltop campus was designed by Richard Meier and opened in 1997: you leave the car at the bottom and ride a driverless tram up to the travertine pavilions. Entry is free, and it’s a feast for the eyes, making it a top landmark in Los Angeles. Leave time for Robert Irwin’s Central Garden, which spirals down to a maze of azaleas.

You can call yourself a true connoisseur after viewing renowned works such as Pontormo’s Portrait of a Halberdier, Van Gogh’s Irises, and Turner’s Modern Rome: Campo Vaccino.

Free entry with a timed reservation; parking $25 per car ($15 after 3pm, $10 after 6pm, free on Saturdays after 6pm). Open Tuesday to Friday and Sunday, 10am to 6.30pm; Saturday, 10am to 9pm; closed Mondays.

Wander through the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Props to you if you’re still reading this article, because this next spot is a gem.

Located on Wilshire Boulevard, this intriguing museum showcases splendid works of art and history spanning thousands of years.

Founded in 1961, LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States, with a collection of around 150,000 objects. It has been transformed in the last few years: Peter Zumthor’s David Geffen Galleries, a long, low concrete building that bridges Wilshire Boulevard, opened in April 2026 and now houses much of the permanent collection. Outside, Chris Burden’s Urban Light, a grid of 202 restored cast-iron street lamps, is free to see at any hour and one of the most photographed spots in the city.

Again, this is another place that you’ll want to visit early to avoid huge queues.

Adults $30 ($25 for LA County residents); free for under-17s who live in LA County; free for everyone on the second Tuesday of the month. Open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 11am to 6pm; Friday, 11am to 8pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 7pm; closed Wednesdays.

Stop by the Santa Monica Pier

Ready to live your California dream? Well, the Santa Monica Pier pairs a calm, dreamy shore and ethereal sunsets with an electrifying amusement park.

Enjoy the views from the solar-powered Pacific Wheel, feed your competitive streak with arcade games, or take on the West Coaster in Pacific Park. You’ll feel like a kid again.

But if you want to take it easy, then simply stroll through the madness or have your pick at scrumptious eateries. The pier first opened in 1909, and the “End of the Trail” sign near its entrance marks the symbolic finish of Route 66, which celebrated its centenary in 2026.

Free to walk the pier; Pacific Park rides are pay-per-ride or an unlimited wristband.

Wander the boardwalk and canals of Venice

A few miles south of the pier, Venice Beach is LA at its most gloriously eccentric: street performers, skaters, Muscle Beach’s open-air gym and a boardwalk lined with murals and souvenir stalls.

Then walk a few blocks inland to find the opposite. Developer Abbot Kinney dug the Venice Canals in 1905 as part of his “Venice of America”, and the six that survive are lined with flower-filled gardens, little arched footbridges and some seriously covetable houses. It’s one of the most peaceful half-hours you can spend in the city.

Free.

Release your inner child at Universal Studios Hollywood

Ready to relive your favourite childhood memories at the Universal Studios Hollywood film studio and theme park? Let’s be honest, not all of us have grown out of our Harry Potter phase (I’m guilty AF), so this place is a dream come true.

Make your way to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Enjoy a boatload of thrills, pulse-pounding rides, and all sorts of Harry Potter-themed activities, such as the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

But aside from nerding out over wand-wielding wizards, Universal Studios has a range of action-packed adventures and entertainment ready for you to enjoy, including Super Nintendo World.

How about a behind-the-scenes peek at the film sets responsible for epic blockbusters on the Studio Tour? Or if it’s an adrenaline boost you want, that’s what you’ll get on Jurassic World: The Ride or the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a launched roller coaster that hits 72mph and opened in 2026.

Prices vary by date.

Catch a summer concert at the Hollywood Bowl

Since 1922, the Hollywood Bowl has been staging concerts in a natural amphitheatre in the hills, under its famous concentric white shell. It’s one of the largest outdoor venues in the United States, and a summer evening here, with a picnic and a bottle of wine at your seat, is a Los Angeles ritual.

The summer season runs from early summer into September, mixing the LA Phil and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra with big-name rock and pop acts. Outside the season, the grounds are quieter, and the free Hollywood Bowl Museum tells the story of the venue.

Ticket prices vary by concert.

Peer into the mysterious Greystone Mansion and Park

Ready to explore an eerie mansion with a Gothic exterior and distinct English gardens? Thought so. The poised Greystone Mansion and Park offers much to look at and admire. Its opulent architecture and lush gardens make for a wonderful stroll and, better yet, the grounds are completely free.

Visit this historic building in Beverly Hills, at 905 Loma Vista Drive. Completed in 1928 for the son of oil tycoon Edward L. Doheny, this mansion became the set for the Oscar-winning film There Will Be Blood (2007), as well as countless other films and TV shows.

Grounds free, open daily 10am to 6pm. The mansion’s first floor opens for self-guided “Inside the Mansion” visits on one weekend day a month from January to November; book ahead.

Watch a movie at the Vista Theatre

You’re in the film capital of the world, so it only makes sense to see a movie at the Vista Theatre. Opened in 1923 as Bard’s Hollywood, this historic single-screen cinema where Sunset Drive meets Hollywood Boulevard now calls the director Quentin Tarantino its owner.

Nostalgia hits hard here: it’s one of the city’s oldest working cinemas, with a Spanish-style exterior and Egyptian Revival decor inside, inspired by the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Since Tarantino reopened it in November 2023 after a lengthy restoration, it shows films only on film, from 35mm to 70mm. And the Vista has ample legroom that puts modern cinemas to shame.

Does it get any better than cosying up to a box of butter-flavoured popcorn in a vintage cinema? I don’t think so.

Ticket prices vary by screening; check the programme online.

Enjoy a romantic stroll across Shakespeare Bridge

I promise you’ll love the picturesque Shakespeare Bridge if you’re a Shakespeare fanatic (or even if you’re not, to be honest: it’s that beautiful).

Built in 1926 to carry Franklin Avenue across a ravine in the Franklin Hills, just east of Los Feliz, it’s a slender concrete arch with Gothic turrets at each end. The city made it a Historic-Cultural Monument in 1974, and after the 1994 Northridge earthquake it was rebuilt to look exactly as it did, so it celebrated its centenary in 2026 looking as good as ever.

If you were looking for a hidden gem without the crowds, look no further. It’s ideal for a quiet morning stroll or a spark of inspiration if you’re dealing with writer’s block. Now, I’m not sure about you, but I can’t think of a better place to release your creativity than at a Gothic-style bridge named after Shakespeare.

Free.

Pose in front of the iconic L.A. River

The L.A. River is one of those iconic places in Los Angeles that you’ve seen in tons of movies and music videos. Its concrete channel has starred in the drag race in Grease, the truck chase in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and the chases in Transformers and Drive.

And trust me when I say it’s very Instagrammable. So if that’s your thing, visit during sunset to catch that perfect golden hour glow. Apart from banging selfies, this famous river has a rich history: the city was founded beside it in 1781, and it was only encased in concrete after the devastating floods of 1938.

Today, parts of it are coming back to life. In summer (usually Memorial Day to the end of September), two stretches open as recreation zones, the Elysian Valley and the Sepulveda Basin, where you can kayak, fish and walk for free from sunrise to sunset, and local outfitters rent kayaks and run guided paddles.

Free.

Explore the Lincoln Theatre

Visit one of the most fascinating Black landmarks in Los Angeles, the Lincoln Theatre at 2300 South Central Avenue.

This historic theatre opened in 1927 and was known as the “West Coast Apollo”, because it put on many of the same acts as Harlem’s Apollo Theater for the African American community of Central Avenue, at a time when segregation kept those performers and audiences out of many of the city’s venues.

The Lincoln Theatre hosted greats like Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, BB King and more. So you can see why this Moorish Revival building holds such a significant space in Black history. It has been a church since the 1960s, so you’ll see it from the street rather than inside, but it’s listed as a city Historic-Cultural Monument and on the National Register of Historic Places, and the stretch of Central Avenue around it was the heart of LA’s jazz scene.

Free to view from outside.

Marvel at the Watts Towers

Italian immigrant Simon Rodia spent more than 30 years, from 1921 to 1954, building these 17 interconnected spires in his back yard in Watts, by hand and without scaffolding. He used steel rebar, wire mesh and mortar, then studded them with broken bottles, tiles, seashells and pottery; the tallest reaches nearly 100 feet.

They’re a National Historic Landmark and one of the great works of folk art in the United States. You can see them through the fence at any time, but to walk among the towers you need to join a 30-minute tour from the Watts Towers Arts Center next door.

Tours $12 (cash or cheque only), Thursday to Saturday, from 11am; no tours on rainy days or federal holidays.

How to beat the queues, closures and traffic

• Wear comfortable trainers when exploring Los Angeles’ historical landmarks, trust me. Just do it.
• Plan around closing days: Griffith Observatory, the Getty and the Broad all close on Mondays, LACMA on Wednesdays and the Watts Towers tours run Thursday to Saturday only. Free timed tickets for the Getty and the Broad are worth booking a few days ahead.
• Group the sights by area to beat the traffic: Hollywood (the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Bowl and the sign viewpoints), Downtown (the Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Union Station, all linked by Metro), and the Westside (the Getty, Santa Monica and Venice).
• Wondering when to go? Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) bring warm days and thinner crowds than the school summer holidays.
• Where to stay: Hollywood and West Hollywood put you closest to the most landmarks. I’ve stayed at both The Peninsula Beverly Hills, for full-on pampering, and the Mondrian on the Sunset Strip, which Hilton rebranded as The Valorian Los Angeles in April 2026. For more areas and hotels, see my Los Angeles travel guide.

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