Los Angeles or the City of Angels is everyone’s dream destination. But it can be a little pricey, especially for those who are travelling with a tight budget. So, here is a list of 12 free things to do in Los Angeles when you are there! Fly into LA and get ready to explore the beautiful beaches, stroll in the public parks, visit museums among many other activities.
Spend time at a beach
One of the best free things to do is spending time at a beach in Los Angeles. The weather is really good all year round and the waves are perfect for those who want to do water sports like surfing, jet skiing, windsurfing etc. Some of the nicest beaches you should visit in Los Angeles are Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Long Beach and Malibu Beach.
Walk in the Santa Monica Pier
Walking in the Santa Monica Pier is something loved by both locals and tourists alike. If you are here, you can easily access Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach. This place is popular for sunset and ocean photography. There is an amusement park on the pier- the Pacific Park for those who want to enjoy thrilling rides and its Ferris wheel.
Visit the MOCA
The MOCA or the Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the most popular museums in Los Angeles displaying contemporary art. It was established in 1979 and today, it has more than 6000 artworks on display.
There is a permanent collection that exhibits artwork from the 1940s to the present day, which includes work from Richard Artschwager, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Larry Bell, Hanne Darboven, Agnes Martin, Rodney McMillian and many more!
Be an astronomer at the Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory, which is located in Griffith Park, is a great place to enjoy the night sky. It is located close to the Hollywood sign and therefore, you can even take a glimpse of that if you are here. The most popular thing to do in the Griffith Observatory is to observe the sky from its 12-inch Zeiss telescope.
Strolling in Venice Beach Boardwalk
Venice Beach Boardwalk is a must-do free thing in Los Angeles, especially for a first timer in the city. It goes on for two miles and therefore, you can find many things to do starting from shopping in the street stalls, savouring the street food and watching the street performers as you stroll.
Be amazed at the Getty Center
This is the go-to place in Los Angeles if you want to see all of one city’s architectural pieces, art and nice views of the city. All of these things come free of charge, so it is one of the best free things to do in Los Angeles.
The Getty Center was designed by the renowned architect Richard Meier, the building itself white with concrete and steel will impress you. A suggestion would be to go for the guided tour. In this way, you can explore the gardens as well as the artworks in the museum of Getty Center.
Drive along Sunset Boulevard
As one of the most famous thoroughfares in the United States, Sunset Boulevard prides in attracting visitors from all over the world! It was used as a setting for many classical movies including the classic of the same name, “Sunset Boulevard” You can drive through this road which connects downtown LA to Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the Pacific Coast Highway and
enjoy the scenery as you go.
Walk in the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Walk of Fame is a 1.3-mile walk with public monuments; more than 2600 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalk along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and 3 blocks of Vine Street to honour the achievements of the entertainment industry. You can see the name and the achievement of many actors, musicians, comedians, directors etc. here.
Be curious at the California Science Center
The California Science Center is the largest hands-on museum in the world, located in Exposition Park, downtown Los Angeles. It was established in 1951 but was reconstructed with its present name in 1998. The highlight of the museum is undoubtedly the Space Shuttle Endeavour, you can see the inner controlling activities of the shuttle and of course, the shuttle
itself sitting ideally after its 25 the mission in 2011.
Visit the Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market, is one of the best free things to do in LA for all those foodie lovers out there! Located in downtown Los Angeles, the food stalls here have cuisine from different parts of LA and other countries as well. The Grand Central Market was established in 1917 and even after 100 years it hasn’t lost its vibe, the food comes in for low prices but is delicious.
Pay respects at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles and as the name suggests it serves as the final resting place for the entertainment industry’s once-famous stars, including actors, musicians, producers, performers and even people who shaped the city of LA to what you see now.
Dating back to 1899, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery includes tombs of notable people like Griffith J. Griffith, Mel Blanc, Rudolph Valentino, Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Fay Wray, Bugsy Siegel, George Harrison.
Have a picnic at one of the public gardens
There are many beautiful public gardens in Los Angeles that you can explore free of charge. One such garden is the Rose Garden at Exposition Park, located near Downtown LA. It was established in 1928 and since then, attracts many visitors annually for the exquisite collection of roses that comes in different colours.
There are about 200 varieties of roses and the rose bushes are nicely arranged to centre the fountain. It is the perfect place for an evening walk with your loved one or you can have a half-day picnic here while enjoying the lovely views.
