Los Angeles walking tour & city guide
Hollywood glamour, palm-lined boulevards and Pacific beaches.
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Los Angeles is famous as a city built for cars, yet some of its most memorable moments happen on foot: strolling the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, window-shopping on Rodeo Drive or wandering the boardwalk at Venice Beach as the sun sets over the Pacific.
Hollywood and the Walk of Fame
Hollywood Boulevard is where most visitors begin. The Walk of Fame stretches for about 2 kilometers along the boulevard and Vine Street, with more than 2,700 brass-and-terrazzo stars honoring actors, musicians and other entertainers. At its heart stands the TCL Chinese Theatre, opened in 1927, whose forecourt holds the handprints and footprints of movie legends set in concrete.
Look up the hill and you will see the Hollywood Sign, first erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a housing development. The best views come from Griffith Observatory, a free art deco observatory with sweeping panoramas over the city that is especially magical at sunset.
Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice
Beverly Hills is synonymous with luxury. Rodeo Drive, lined with designer boutiques, is surprisingly pleasant to walk, and the surrounding residential streets show off grand mansions and perfectly manicured palms. Nearby, Melrose Avenue and West Hollywood offer a more eclectic mix of street art, vintage shops and nightlife.
On the coast, Santa Monica Pier, with its Ferris wheel and amusement park, marks the traditional end of Route 66. A short walk or bike ride south along the beach path brings you to Venice Beach, where the boardwalk is a carnival of street performers, skaters, Muscle Beach weightlifters and murals, and the quieter Venice Canals hide charming homes and footbridges.
Downtown LA and practical tips
Downtown Los Angeles has been transformed in recent decades. The Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry, sits beside The Broad contemporary art museum, and the historic Grand Central Market has been feeding Angelenos since 1917. Olvera Street, the oldest part of the city, celebrates LA's Mexican roots.
Distances in LA are large, so plan your days by area and combine walking with the Metro, rideshares or a rental car. Traffic is heavy at rush hour. The weather is mild and sunny most of the year, though late spring can bring a coastal haze locals call 'June Gloom'.
Top sights in Los Angeles
- 1
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Thousands of stars along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.
- 2
Griffith Observatory
A free observatory with the best views of the city and the Hollywood Sign.
- 3
Santa Monica Pier
A classic seaside pier with a Ferris wheel and the end of Route 66.
- 4
Venice Beach Boardwalk
A lively oceanfront promenade full of street performers and murals.
- 5
Getty Center
A hilltop art museum with gardens and views, free to enter.
- 6
Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills' famous luxury shopping street.
Food markets & where to eat in Los Angeles
Grand Central Market
A historic downtown food hall open since 1917, with stalls from around the world.
The Original Farmers Market
A market at Fairfax and 3rd, open since 1934, full of food stalls.
Downtown LA Arts District
Breweries, cafés and restaurants in former warehouses.
Koreatown
One of the best places in the US for Korean barbecue, open late.
Taco trucks and stands
Street tacos across the city, from East LA to Boyle Heights.
Food to try in Los Angeles
Street tacos
Al pastor, carne asada and more, best from a truck or stand.
Korean barbecue
Grill-at-your-table feasts in Koreatown.
French dip sandwich
Roast beef on a roll dipped in its juices.
Korean tacos
A Korean-Mexican fusion born from LA's food truck scene.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Los Angeles
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