Outdoors · Los Angeles · United States
6 best outdoor things to do in Los Angeles
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Visitor7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals, Hollywood Sign trails and La Brea Tar Pits. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 14–20 hours across 6 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 14–20 hours
- Areas
- Venice, Griffith Park and Miracle Mile
Outdoors in Los Angeles
Neighbourhood · Venice
1.Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals
Walk the boardwalk in the late morning, then cut inland to the canals and Abbot Kinney Boulevard for lunch.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Food
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Nature · Griffith Park
2.Hollywood Sign trails
Hike early in the morning, carry plenty of water and stay on marked trails; there is little shade and rattlesnakes live in the park.
- Time needed
- 2–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Outdoors
- Active
- Views
- Free
- Iconic
Museum · Miracle Mile
3.La Brea Tar Pits
Walk the park first: the Lake Pit and the outdoor excavation areas are free to see before you decide on a museum ticket.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Nature
- Rainy day
Museum · Exposition Park
4.Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Pair it with the California Science Center and the rose garden between them; the Metro E Line stops right outside.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
- Nature
Garden · San Marino
5.The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
Plan a full morning; the Desert Garden and the Chinese Garden of Flowing Fragrance are the highlights for most visitors.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
- Nature
Aquarium · Long Beach
6.Aquarium of the Pacific
Take the Metro A Line from Downtown LA to its southern end in Long Beach, then walk about 15 minutes to the waterfront.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Venice | Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals | Half a day |
| Griffith Park | Hollywood Sign trails | 2–4 hours |
| Miracle Mile | La Brea Tar Pits | 2 hours |
| Exposition Park | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County | 2–3 hours |
| San Marino | The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens | 3–4 hours |
| Long Beach | Aquarium of the Pacific | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 2 low cost, 2 mid-priced. Book ahead for The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. The longest visit is Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens: Weekend visits may need an advance timed ticket; check the official site before going.
How to fit them into 5 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Venice): Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Griffith Park): Hollywood Sign trails, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Miracle Mile and Exposition Park): La Brea Tar Pits → Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 4 (San Marino): The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Long Beach): Aquarium of the Pacific, at least 2 hours.
The best months to be outside
- May: highs of 24°C (75°F), about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds. Warm inland but often grey at the beach in the mornings ('May Gray'), usually clearing by afternoon.
- June: highs of 26°C (79°F), about 0 rainy days, busy crowds. June Gloom keeps the coast cool and overcast in the mornings while inland areas heat up; summer crowds and theme-park queues build.
- April: highs of 23°C (73°F), about 3 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild, mostly dry and clear; spring-break weeks bring families to the theme parks.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Venice — Boardwalk performers, quiet canals and Abbot Kinney's boutiques
More of Los Angeles
All things to do in Los Angeles · Where to stay · When to go.
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Los Angeles?
Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals. Ocean Front Walk is LA at its most theatrical: street performers, murals, the outdoor gym at Muscle Beach and a skate park on the sand.
+Which of these are free in Los Angeles?
Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals and Hollywood Sign trails.