Los Angeles
Hollywood, Santa Monica's beach, major art museums and food from many immigrant communities, spread across a city that is best seen one area at a time.
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Los Angeles is the largest city in California and the second-largest in the United States after New York City, on the Pacific coast of Southern California. It is less a single downtown than a set of neighborhoods linked by freeways, from the film industry's Hollywood to the Venice canals and the boardwalk, through Downtown's museums and concert hall. The city is also the county seat of Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the country.
Most trips here center on film history, art, beaches and food from immigrant communities, from taquerias to Little Tokyo and Koreatown. Distances are long and traffic is heavy, so pick one or two home bases and group sights by area. Winter and spring suit most visitors for mild days, while early autumn can bring heat waves. Plan at least three or four days, more if you want time at the coast and the museums.
Los Angeles in five
- Plan by area, not by sightGroup each day around one area, such as the beach cities, Hollywood or downtown. Crossing town at rush hour can take over an hour.
- Leave LAX by shuttle or FlyAwayFree buses link the terminals with the LAX/Metro Transit Center for Metro rail, and the FlyAway bus runs to Union Station. Check LAX's ground transportation page for current routes.
- Rent a car or ride Metro railMost trips need a car, but Metro rail with a TAP card reaches downtown, Hollywood and Santa Monica.
- Go early to Griffith ObservatoryEntry to the building and grounds is free, but parking fills on weekends. The DASH Observatory bus runs up from Vermont/Sunset.
- Time the beach for afternoons in early summerMay and June mornings are often grey along the coast. Save beach days for the afternoon, or for late summer and fall.
Things to do in Los Angeles
See all attractions in Los Angeles
Need to know
- Airport
- LAX; Burbank (BUR) and Long Beach (LGB) are easier
- Getting there
- Amtrak Pacific Surfliner from San Diego and Santa Barbara
- Getting around
- Car for most trips; Metro rail with a TAP card
- Best base
- Santa Monica for the beach, Hollywood or downtown for the city
- Time needed
- 4–5 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear6 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Mild, rainJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
- FebruaryClear5 rainy daysHigh20°Low9°Rain possibleFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain possible
- MarchClear7 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Mild, greenMarchClear
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- AprilClear2 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Warm, clearAprilClear
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 18 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, clear
- MayClear2 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°May grayMayClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 8 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
May gray
- JuneClear0 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°June gloomJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
June gloom
- JulyClear0 rainy daysHigh29°Low19°Hot, dryJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- AugustClear1 rainy dayHigh30°Low20°HottestAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hottest
- SeptemberClear1 rainy dayHigh29°Low19°Hot, fire riskSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 9 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, fire risk
- OctoberClear1 rainy dayHigh27°Low16°Warm, Santa AnasOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 11 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, Santa Anas
- NovemberClear3 rainy daysHigh23°Low12°Mild, dryNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, dry
- DecemberClear5 rainy daysHigh19°Low10°Mild, rainDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, rain
Average daily high and low in Los Angeles, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Los Angeles
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
17
- Feels like
- 15°
- Humidity
- 40%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Los Angeles
12:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today24°11°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue24°12°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed24°13°0%Wednesday: Clear. High 24°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu26°19°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 26°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri27°19°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 27°, Low 19°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat29°20°0%Saturday: Clear. High 29°, Low 20°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun29°21°0%Sunday: Clear. High 29°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 08:23 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
- Intuit Dome · concertOlivia Rodrigo The Unraveled TourJan 12 – 29, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Los AngelesSuper BowlFeb 14, 2027 · Read the event guide
- Honda Center · concertNickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027Apr 18, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Rose Bowl Stadium · concertHarry Styles Together, Together 2027Apr 23 – May 1, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
- Hollywood Bowl · concertDef Leppard 2027 North American tourMay 1, 2027 · Rooms near the venue
Day trips by train
- Joshua Treeabout 2.5 hours by carDesert boulders and Joshua trees; go early outside summer.Read the guide
- Malibuabout 45 min by carBeaches and coast drives along the Pacific Coast Highway.
- Anaheimabout 45–60 min by carTheme parks; traffic decides the drive time.
Before you go to Los Angeles
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Los Angeles, checked
- Most visitors need an ESTA or a visa before arriving in the US; check eligibility and apply only on the official CBP ESTA site (esta.cbp.dhs.gov).
- Cannabis is legal for adults in California but not for use in public places; check the rules on the California Department of Cannabis Control website.
- Carrying an open container of alcohol in a car or drinking in public is an offence in Los Angeles; keep bottles sealed while driving or walking.
- Tipping is expected in restaurants and bars, usually 15 to 20 percent, and for drivers, hotel staff and tour guides.
Plan around Los Angeles
Coastal city up the coast by train or car
Read the guideSan DiegoSouth along the coast by train or car
Read the guideAll of USAEntry rules, money and getting around
Read the guideGreater Palm SpringsDesert resorts east of the city
Read the guideJoshua Tree National ParkBoulders and desert light past Palm Springs
Read the guideLas VegasA 4 to 5 hour drive across the Mojave
Read the guideGetting around the USARental cars, Amtrak and long drives
Read the guideESTA explainedSort entry before booking flights
Read the guideLos Angeles FAQ
Do I need a car in Los Angeles?
For most trips, yes. You can manage without one if you base in Santa Monica, Hollywood or downtown and use Metro rail and ride-hailing.
Where should I stay in Los Angeles for a first trip?
Santa Monica for the beach, or Hollywood for a central base near the sights. Downtown works if you want the museums and rail hub.
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
April and May, or October and November, for warm, clear days. Summer is hot inland, and May and June mornings are often grey at the coast.
How many days do you need in Los Angeles?
Four to five days let you cover the beach cities, Hollywood and downtown without crossing town twice a day. Add a day for a desert or coast trip.
Which airport is best for Los Angeles?
LAX has the most flights, but Burbank and Long Beach are smaller and quicker to leave. Pick the one nearest your base, then compare the ground transport before you book.