Travel tips · Los Angeles · United States
Los Angeles travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Gnaphron, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
LA is casual, car-centred and diverse, with large Mexican, Korean, Armenian, Thai, Filipino and Japanese communities shaping its neighbourhoods. The entertainment industry is a major employer, so you may well see street filming. People are friendly but busy; distances and traffic dominate local conversation, and plans are made around them.
Key facts
- Language
- English and Spanish
- Currency
- USD
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink; many people prefer filtered or bottled water for…
- Emergency
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
Things to know
- Tip about 18–22% at restaurants and a dollar or two per drink at bars; tips are a large part of service workers' pay.
- Do not step past filming barriers or block crews; productions have permits and will ask you to wait.
- Swim near staffed lifeguard towers and follow posted warnings on the beaches.
- Smoking is banned on beaches, piers and in many parks and outdoor dining areas.
- Give hikers and cyclists room on narrow trails and paths, and keep to the right.
- Book Universal Studios Hollywood ahead: Buy dated tickets online in advance; express passes are worth considering on summer and holiday weekends.
- Book Hollywood Bowl ahead: Popular summer concerts sell out; book on the official site soon after the season is announced.
- Book The Broad ahead: Free timed-entry reservations are released in advance and go fast for weekends; a standby line is available but can be long.
- The Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, The Broad's collection, the California Science Center and the beaches are free; at the Getty you pay only for parking.
Tipping
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, a few dollars for valets, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The 405, the 10 | Locals name freeways with 'the' |
| The Westside | Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills and nearby areas |
| DTLA | Downtown Los Angeles |
| June Gloom | Overcast early-summer mornings at the coast |
| Gracias | Thank you (Spanish is widely spoken) |
What to wear
Casual is the norm, even in good restaurants. Bring layers: coastal mornings and evenings are cool even when the inland valleys are hot.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink; many people prefer filtered or bottled water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Phone and internet
- US SIM cards and eSIMs are widely sold; free Wi-Fi is common in cafés, hotels, libraries and malls.
- Time zone
- America/Los Angeles
Car break-ins are common, so never leave bags or valuables visible in a parked car. Some Downtown blocks and parts of Hollywood and Venice can feel unsettled at night, so use rideshare after dark. Respect lifeguard warnings at the beaches, and follow official alerts during wildfires or extreme heat.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check United States's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Los Angeles?
Tipping is expected: about 18–22% of the pre-tax bill at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and rideshares, a few dollars for valets, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
+Can you drink the tap water in Los Angeles?
Tap water is safe to drink; many people prefer filtered or bottled water for taste.
+What plugs are used in Los Angeles?
Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
+What language is spoken in Los Angeles?
English and Spanish.