Unlocking the City of Angels: A Comprehensive Los Angeles Travel Guide
After hearing the name Los Angeles, you will probably remember Hollywood and this city's always sunny beaches. But this city is much more than this, from special restaurants and street food to sunny beaches! To have a memorable and dreamy When traveling to LA, you need an LA travel guide, from sightseeing to public transportation and the city's best beaches, which we have explained to you here.
You will read:
Here is a Los Angeles tourist guide that you will need if you are visiting Los Angeles for the first time.
Obtaining a US Visa
If you are looking to visit Los Angeles, California, for tourist purposes or to visit your family, check if your country is part of the visa waiver program. If it is, getting the visa is like a walk in the park—super simple! But if your country isn't on the list, no stress. Just be ready to put in a bit more time and effort to grab that US travel visa.
Things to Do in Los Angeles Airport
If you have a layover flight at LAX Airport, we suggest these things to do at Los Angeles Airport.
- Go to one of the Los Angeles airport restaurants and eat
- Head to luxury shops and duty-free shops and if you find something good, buy it
- Go to the LAX Art Program in Los Angeles Airport. You can have fun exploring the terminals by checking out different art installations.
- If you need a massage or to do your nails, go to the spa, which is located at Los Angeles Airport.
- connect to LAX airport WIFI
Transport to and from the Airport
At Los Angeles International Airport, the cheapest way to get to the city center is to use the bus. To board these buses, you can wait for the bus in front of each terminal next to the FlyAway blue sign. In addition, you can use local or private taxis and internet taxis and share rides for transport to and from Los Angeles International Airport. Traveling to Los Angeles with flight is one of your options, but if you are living on the USA, you have other options such as car, bus, etc
Prices in Los Angeles
Unfortunately, Los Angeles cannot be considered an economical choice for a tourist trip. However, you can minimize these costs. But in general, the cost of a one-week trip to Los Angeles solo is, on average, 2,000 to 3,500 dollars. It should also be noted that you can have the cheapest trip to this city full of attractions at January 15th to March 18th or August 13th to December 9th (except the week of November 26th)
You will see below the prices for visiting Los Angeles:
| Name | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 25 $ |
| Water (0.33-liter bottle) | 2.23 $ |
| One-way Ticket | 1.75 $ |
| Hotel room 3 star | 172 $ - 253 $ |
Los Angeles Food
Los Angeles for foodies is a paradise, with yummy options available everywhere, from food trucks to fancy restaurants. It should be noted that some of your favorite foods were invented right here in LA. If you are going to LA, we recommend you eat these foods in Los Angeles.
These foods are:
- The French Dip Sandwich
- The Oyster Cocktail
- The Oyster Cocktail
- Los Angeles Food
- The Chili Burger
- The Cheeseburger
- The Orange Julius
- The Cobb Salad
- The Chinese Chicken Salad
If you want our opinion about restaurants in the city of Los Angeles, we must say that this city is like a food festival where you can try special dishes that you have not tried before. From sweet foods to foods that are trending in this city every day, eating them will make you have a new and memorable experience on your trip.
Weather in Los Angeles
The West Hollywood weather is sunny most of the time, but it is better to take a jacket with you. Also, carrying an umbrella is a smart choice whenever you travel to this city. But in general, the climate of this city is favorable, which makes this city a good choice for traveling in all seasons. It should be noted that in the table below, you can see the weather for all months in this city.
| Month | AVERAGE HIGH | AVERAGE LOW |
|---|---|---|
| March to May | 20.5 °C | 10 °C |
| June to August | 26 °C | 15 °C |
| September to November | 24 °C | 11 °C |
| December to February | 17.7 °C | 7.77 °C |
Time in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, is located in what is called the Pacific time zone. There are two types of times at this location. One is called Pacific Standard Time (PST), from November to March. The other is Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), from April to October.
Hotel in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is not an affordable city, and because of that, hotels are also not very cheap. You can see the chart of hotel prices below.
| Star | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 stars | $85 to $123 | ||
| 3 stars | $172 - $253 | ||
| 4-5 stars | $162 to $609 |
Shopping and Tax Refunds in Los Angeles
In the United States, there is no refund tax policy for visitors; you can't get back the "sales tax" you paid on things you bought. That means the extra money you spent on sales tax during your shopping stay won't be given back to you. You need to know about this rule because it affects how much things cost when you buy them in the United States. Just keep this in mind to plan your spending while you're here! So one of our travel tips to Los Angeles is to be aware of the no-tax refund law in Los Angeles, California.
Visiting Los Angeles Tourist Spots
Of course, when you hear the name of Los Angeles, you remember the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood sign, but there are a lot of tourist spots you should see. But these 8 places you should see in Los Angeles are below:
Universal Studios Hollywood: If this is your first journey in Los Angeles and you wonder what to see in Los Angeles, definitely check out the studio! You'll see cool stuff like sound stages, the back lot, and spots from War of the Worlds and Jurassic Park. Get ready for excitement—facing Star Kong, surviving a flood, shark attack, and more—with fun commentary from Jimmy Fallon and live guides.
Sunset Strip: The Sunset Strip is a Hollywood and Los Angeles must-see spot. You can easily access it through the Los Angeles buses or guided day trips from Las Vegas or Long Beach. One of the things to see in Los Angeles is the Sunset Strip.
Griffith Park: Need a break from busy Los Angeles? Visit Griffith Park! Rent a bike, go on guided hikes, or ride horses to the Hollywood sign. Explore museums, golf courses, and hiking trails. Don't forget the Los Angeles Zoo, a hit with kids! When you travel to LA, we recommend you see this place.
TCL Chinese Theatre: Check out the TCL Chinese Theatre, once Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It has prints from stars like Marilyn Monroe. Join a tour that includes the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign. Choose a walking or hop-on-hop-off bus tour for a great time, passing by celebrity homes.
Hollywood Sign: Want the best view of the Hollywood Sign? At the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Bronson Street, you will have the best view of this magical sign from below. If you want to have a more exciting memory of this sign, you can ride a helicopter and look at it from above or walk on the Hollywood Hills.
Venice Beach: What's interesting about this beach is that its name comes from Venice, Italy! As a Los Angeles tourist, you'll love strolling along Venice Beach! It's got a cool boardwalk, vibrant murals, quirky shops, and street performers, like the Sunday afternoon drum circle.
Hollywood Walk of Fame: This is a free activity in Los Angeles to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. You do not need any tickets to walk to see this tourist spot; you just need comfortable shoes and water to stay hydrated. For a memory of Los Angeles, California, travel, we suggest you walk in the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
Santa Monica Beach and Pier: one of the landmarks of Los Angeles is Santa Monica Beach and Pier. You can enjoy an amusement park, an aquarium, food stalls, and beyond-belief views of the coast. The distance from Lax to Santa Monica by car is 18 minutes.
How to Get Around LA
You are well aware that Los Angeles is a large city on the western coast of southern California. If you travel to LA and ask yourself how to get around LA, read the content below to find the best solution for your situation.
1. Public Transportation: Los Angeles's transit system is now better, letting riders move by buses, trains, and bikes all over the county. Besides, you can ride the metro in LA through traffic times while at the same time escaping traffic.
2. Bicycles and e-scooters: Los Angeles, California, is fun to discover by bike. You can either use bike trails or rent bikes from local shops. Renting e-scooters, including Bird and Lyft, is also popular and obtainable through apps.
3. Rideshares, Taxis, and Rental Cars: Renting a car is convenient, yet traffic and parking can be stressful. The Lyft, Uber, or taxi ride-sharing apps can get you from place to place without all the trouble. Our Los Angeles tip to you is not to use this vehicle in downtown LA traffic
4. Walking:LA has areas that are friendly to walking, but walking long distances may not always be comfortable given the city's setup.
Areas to Avoid in Los Angeles
If this is your first time to Los Angeles, we suggest you avoid the below areas in LA:
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Downtown LA: The crime rate is 530% higher than the national average, impacted by homelessness and various crimes. Downtwown is one of areas to avoid in Los Angeles
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West Adams: Historic neighborhood in South LA with a 1 in 15 chance of falling victim to crimes like gun violence and robbery.
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Wholesale District/Skid Row: Large homeless encampment, frequent crimes every 2 hours, and 300% higher likelihood of home robbery.
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Hollywood: Total crime is 147% higher than the national average, contrasting with its image as a tourist hot spot.
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South Los Angeles: Despite hidden gems, overall crime rate remains higher than the national average (4,268 per 100,000 people).
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Compton: Known for gun violence, drug activity, poverty, and violent crime, located 30 miles south of downtown LA. one of places to avoid LA is Compton.
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Watts: Chances of becoming a crime victim are 1 in 29. Caution is advised especially during the night with valuables.
Koreatown: Densely populated with common issues like gang and drug activity, and prostitution.
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Fashion District: Once the Garment District, now with a 1 in 35 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.
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North Hollywood: Mixed safety, with some areas considered safe while others are known for gang and drug activity.