Things to Do in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has no real downtown—it sprawls like dozens of neighborhoods that accidentally bumped into each other. Hollywood glamour sits next to gritty street art, while clean beaches border urban canyons filled with excellent museums and strip mall treasures. The weather rocks. You'll notice the car dependency immediately, but that becomes part of LA's appeal once you accept it. The city rewards wandering—incredible Korean BBQ in Koreatown, excellent galleries in the Arts District, rooftop bars with views stretching from downtown to the Pacific. You might spot celebrities buying groceries or discover your new favorite taco truck outside some dive bar.

The food scene reflects incredible diversity. You'll find $2 tacos that change lives alongside Michelin-starred restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs—Koreatown offers some of the best Korean food outside Seoul. The San Gabriel Valley became a mecca for authentic Chinese cuisine, while many food trucks serve restaurant-quality food at a fraction of restaurant prices. Health-conscious options appear everywhere. Classic burger joints and old-school delis hold strong too.

Consistent weather year-round makes timing less critical than other destinations. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures and clearest skies for Hollywood Hills views—summer brings marine layer that keeps beaches cloudy until afternoon, though conditions turn perfect once it burns off. Winter stays mild with occasional rain. The rain clears air and makes mountains visible from downtown, while major holidays turn traffic from bad to nightmarish.