101 Things To Do in Los Angeles That’ll Make Your Instagram Friends Jealous

Los Angeles isn’t just a city – it’s an experience. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time local, here’s your definitive guide to the best attractions, hidden gems, and must-do activities in LA.

Beach Life/Water

1. Spend a day at the Marina: kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding/stand-up paddle boarding yoga, rent a Duffy boat and relax and unwind with your friends)
2. Explore the Santa Monica Pier
3. Have fun in Venice: People-watch at Venice Beach Boardwalk and discover the Venice Canals
4. Take a surfing and yoga lesson with Happy Yoga Beach Sessions
5. Host a bonfire at Dockweiler Beach
6. Watch pro volleyball at Hermosa Beach
7. Explore tide pools at Point Dume

Outdoor Adventures & Hiking

1. Find the secret Pasadena waterfall at Eaton Canyon
2. Explore the serene trails of Fryman Canyon
3. Hike Griffith Park
4. Trek to the Hollywood Sign via via the Brush Canyon Trail, the Mt. Hollywood Trail, or the Cahuenga Peak Trail
5. Challenge yourself at the Jefferson Stairs and/or Santa Monica Stairs
6. Catch sunrise at Runyon Canyon (celebrity sightings included!)

Theme Parks & Entertainment Tours

1. Bring out your inner child at Disneyland and California Adventure
2. Taste boysenberry everything at Knott’s Berry Farm
3. Face your fears at Six Flags Magic Mountain
4. Explore movie magic at the Fox Studio Tour
5. Tour Paramount Pictures Studios
6. Go behind the scenes and scream on the rides at Universal Studios Hollywood then stay and dine at Universal City Walk
7. Take the Warner Bros. Studio Tour (this is my favorite studio tour)
8. Experience a live TV show taping (Jimmy Kimmel, Let’s Make a Deal, Price is Right)

Live Music/Musical Theatre

1. Experience live jazz at Catalina Bar & Grill
2. Catch a concert at the famous Greek Theatre or Kia Forum
3. Attend a concert at the iconic Hollywood Bowl
4. Check out a show at these famous venues: The Echo/The Roxy/Troubador/Viper Room
5. Listen to the LA philharmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
6. See Broadway’s finest at Broadway in Hollywood (The Dolby or The Pantages)
7. Watch a play at DTLA’s The Ahmanson

Sports & Entertainment Venues

1. Catch a Lakers game at Crypto.com Arena
2. Take the Crypto.com Arena behind-the-scenes tour
3. Watch The Clippers play at the new Intuit Dome
4. Experience the LA Rams or LA Chargers NFL action at SoFi Stadium
5. Take the VIP Tour of SoFi Stadium
6. Visit the Rose Bowl (you can run/walk the track)
7. Watch a live sporting event at the immersive Cosm Los Angeles
8. Play/Eat/Mingle at Top Golf

Shopping & Fashion

1. Explore the famous Fashion District in DTLA AND Hunt for deals in Santee Alley
2. Score vintage finds in the Melrose Arts District
3. Browse luxury brands on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
4. Discover vintage treasures at the Rose Bowl Flea Market

Hollywood History

1. Spot Grammy Walk of Fame stars in DTLA
2. Put your hands/feet in your fav celeb markings at TCL Chinese Theatre
3. Find your favorite star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
4. Tour Celebrity Homes in Hollywood/Beverly Hills

Food Scene & Dining

1. Experience food truck heaven at Smorgasburg LA
2. Eat your way through the Original Farmers Market
3. Try every taco at Grand Central Market
4. Attend a food and wine festival (they tend to be in Spring – Summer)
5. Indulge at Porto’s Bakery (get there early!)
6. Feast at Korean BBQ in Koreatown (Parks, Sun Ha Jang, 8. ABSteak to name a few)
7. Dine at the historic Musso & Frank Grill (as seen in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood and Swingers)
8. Score a hot dog at Pink’s
9. Experience fine dining at places like: n/naka, Nobu Malibu, Osteria Mozza, Palma Ristorante, and/or Spago of Beverly Hills
10. Get your grub on at the famous Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles

Cultural Experiences/Museums

1. Visit the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
2. Tour the California African American Museum, Japanese American National Museum, and/or Museum of Latin American Art
3. Marvel at contemporary art at The Broad
4. Experience the California Science Center
5. Explore both the Getty Center and Getty Villa (stay for the summer concert series at the Getty Center)
6. Stargaze at Griffith Observatory
7. Visit the GRAMMY Museum
8. Explore the Hammer Museum
9. Tour Hollyhock House
10. Visit the Hollywood Museum
11. Go back in time with a visit to the La Brea Tar Pits
12. Visit Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA – stay for the summer jazz nights)
13. Wander around Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Hollywood
14. Tour the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
15. Discover the Petersen Automotive Museum
16. Visit the Watts Towers

Explore Local Neighborhoods

1. Experience Abbott Kinney in Venice
2. Explore Arts District murals
3. Discover Echo Park Lake (have fun in a pedal boat, have a picnic, go for a run)
4. Explore Highland Park’s vintage shops
5. Walk the streets and explore the coffees shops of Los Feliz
6. Visit historic Olvera Street
7. Shop and dine in Silver Lake

Best Nightlife

1. Have a drink at Chateau Marmont’s famous Bar Marmont
2. Drink and mingle at The Roosevelt
3. Ride the bull at Saddle Ranch (Sunset Strip)
4. Check out some of LA’s best speakeasies(Adults Only, Blind Barber, No Vacancy, Lock & Key, The Obscure Distillery)

Nature & Gardens

1. Visit Descanso Gardens
2. Tour Greystone Mansion & Gardens
3. Explore Huntington Library & Gardens
4. Walk through South Coast Botanic Garden
5. Visit Arlington Garden
6. Explore Lake Shrine Temple & Gardens

Unique Experiences

1. Take an Art Deco architecture tour of DTLA
2. Hunt the paranormal on a ghost tour of the Queen Mary
3. Explore the dark side of the City of Angels with a true crime tour
4. Attend a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony (I saw my favorite soap opera actor get his star, and it was EPIC)
5. Laugh till you belly hurts at a comedy show at one of LA’s famous comedy clubs (Laugh Factory, Comedy Store, The Improv)
6. Have a blast at Hamburger Mary’s Drag Brunch
7. Experience the magic of The Magic Castle (you will need to be invited by a magician, so do your homework)
8. Take a hip hop dance class at one of LA’s famous studios (Millennium Dance Complex or Playground LA)

Seasonal Events

1. Visit the LA Auto Show
2. Dust off your costume and head to L.A. Comic Con
3. Visit the LA County Fair
4. Experience LA/West Hollywood Pride
5. Experience the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival
6. Watch the New Year’s Rose Bowl Parade

BONUS: Family Activities

1. Visit Kidspace Children’s Museum
2. Explore Travel Town Museum
3. Visit Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific or the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
4. Experience Discovery Cube LA
5. Visit Noah’s Ark at Skirball Cultural Center

Pro Tips:

• Save up to 50% on Los Angeles attractions with a Go Los Angeles Card
• Use Metro to avoid parking hassles
• Visit museums on FREE admission days
• Always confirm hiking trails are open prior to embarking on your trek
• Follow food bloggers for current restaurant trends
• Check event calendars for seasonal activities
• Consider timing for traffic and crowds
• Join local Facebook groups for insider tips
• Follow venue social media for special events

Remember, LA is constantly evolving with new attractions, restaurants, and experiences popping up regularly. This list captures the essential experiences while including both tourist favorites and local secrets. What makes LA special is that even after checking off all 101 items, there’s always something new to discover!