Things to do in LA – Activities, Experiences & Tours

​​​​​​You're travelling to Los Angeles for a few days or weeks? Whether it's with friends, family or for a romantic getaway, we've listed for you the most important things you need to know about the City of Angels. 

Key Takeaways

• The Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame and LA's beaches such as Santa Monica are the most popular activities in LA.
• Los Angeles is an expensive city, with an average price of $1,807 for a week as a tourist. 
• To travel to LA on a budget, search for ticket discounts or free events and take advantage of the happy hour.
• You can enjoy LA without a car by using LA's public transport. 
• LA is a safe tourist destination, but you beware of pickpockets. 

What is Los Angeles famous for?

The City of Angels is a unique city of the United States and considered as the second-most populous city in the country, after New York. It’s known mostly for its TV & Cinema Industry, Hollywood Stars and its gorgeous beaches. 

The Hollywood sign, which has been built in 1923 to advertise a new housing development, became permanent due to its popularity. Reaching the sign is a great hike and would take around 2-3 hours.  

If you’re coming to Los Angeles, you must know about the famous Walk of Fame. It is known for its pavements decorated with stars paying tribute to various artists from the entertainment industry who have graduated from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. With an average of two new stars added every month, the street now boasts over 2,700! 

LA is also known for its beautiful beaches such as Santa Monica with its pier full of restaurants, shops and the famous Pacific Park. You can also visit Malibu to see the magnificent homes of the celebrities who live there.  

  Is LA an expensive destination to visit? 

Los Angeles isn’t known to be a cheap destination. It is actually famous for being one of the most expensive cities in the US.  In average, tourists visiting LA are spending $1,807 in one week, including transports, food, hotels and activities.  

  How to visit LA on a budget? 

Planning carefully your trip can help you save a good amount of money. Going to LA outside of peak season is a great way to visit La-La Land on a budget. If you can, try to book your trip to the city from September to early November. 

You can also enjoy many free music events throughout the year everywhere in the city. You can find a list of all 2024 free concerts on laartparty.com. 

Don’t forget also to take advantage of the happy hours! Usually happening from 5 PM to 7 PM, you can enjoy cheap drinks and food in many places.   

Tipping is part of the American culture, and you will need cash to do it. Exchanging your AUD to USD before travelling to Los Angeles is a great way to avoid high exchange rates. Book your travel money on our website and enjoy 0% commission and the best exchange rate online. 

  Can you enjoy LA without a car? 

While it's impossible to get around Los Angeles exclusively on foot, the city has several metro, bus and tram lines, making it easy and affordable to explore the city. Public transports are actually the cheapest way to explore the city, with tickets around £1.75 per ride. You can also choose to get day-ticket or week-ticket depending on the length of your stay. 

You can also download Uber and Lyft apps if you need a quick ride. You would save a lot of money by skipping a car rental, which are usually very expensive. 

  Is Los Angeles a safe destination? 

Yes, Los Angeles is a safe destination for tourists. If you keep following the main streets and famous areas, you can be sure that you’ll have a safe experience in the City of Angels. However, like any other city, visitors need to be vigilant for pickpockets in crowded areas. We recommend not carry valuables around with you and checking your bags if you are bumped by people in the street.