Things to do in Los Angeles: California icons to explore in 2026

This year, Los Angeles will bring together sports energy, coastal scenery, entertainment history, and big-city creativity in one unforgettable trip. From Hollywood landmarks and Pacific sunsets to theme parks, museums, and neighborhood food scenes, there are many things to do in Los Angeles before and after the city fills with soccer celebration excitement.

This is a destination where a single itinerary can move from a morning hike to an afternoon by the ocean and an evening under theater lights. Soccer flights can become the beginning of a wider California route, with time for classic studios, beach walks, skyline views, and family-friendly day trips that make the city feel bigger than one event.

Universal Studios Hollywood: film sets and theme park thrills

Universal Studios Hollywood combines a working studio atmosphere with rides, shows, shops, dining, and themed lands based on major films and characters. It is one of the easiest ways to connect the city’s entertainment industry with a full day of theme park fun.

The Studio Tour is one of its signature experiences because it takes visitors through backlot sets, soundstage areas, and scenes inspired by famous movies. Beyond that, travelers can add attractions based on action, animation, fantasy, and gaming worlds.

A few tips can help you make the day smoother:

• Arrival time: get there early if you want to cover the most popular rides.

• Studio Tour: prioritize it because it is one of the park’s most distinctive experiences.

• Timed planning: check showtimes and ride wait times before moving across the park.

• Family pace: plan breaks for food, shopping, and shaded areas.

• Evening option: stay later if park hours allow and you want a different atmosphere after dark.

  
  

For visitors deciding what to do in LA with limited time, Universal Studios Hollywood can be a full-day highlight rather than a quick stop.

Hollywood Boulevard: a classic LA starting point

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the most recognizable LA attractions, stretching along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street with thousands of stars honoring figures from film, television, music, radio, theater, and entertainment. It is busy, touristy, and full of movement, but that is also part of its energy.

What to see around Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Boulevard can feel crowded, so it helps to have a focused plan before you arrive. These stops make the area easier to explore without overloading your schedule:

• Walk of Fame: choose a specific stretch instead of trying to see every star.

• TCL Chinese Theatre: look for handprints and footprints from classic and modern stars.

• Dolby Theatre: stop by the venue known for major entertainment ceremonies.

• Hollywood & Highland area: use it for views, photos, shops, and quick food options.

• Hollywood Sign views: check nearby viewpoints instead of trying to reach the sign directly from the boulevard.

This area is a practical first stop if you want movie history, quick photos, and a sense of why Hollywood remains central to Los Angeles tourism.

Griffith Observatory: city views, science, and the Hollywood Hills

Griffith Observatory gives travelers one of the best views of Los Angeles. From its hilltop location in Griffith Park, you can see the city skyline, the Hollywood Sign, surrounding neighborhoods, and the wider basin on clear days.

Inside, the observatory offers exhibits about space, astronomy, telescopes, and the universe, making it a good stop for travelers who want more than a photo opportunity. The building itself is also part of the experience, with Art Deco design and a long connection to LA film culture.

Admission to the grounds and observatory building is free, though planetarium shows require tickets. If you enjoy walking, Griffith Park also has trails that can turn the visit into a longer outdoor plan. Sunset is especially popular, so arrive with extra time if you want parking, photos, and a slower walk around the viewpoint.

Beverly Hills, museums, and polished city stops

Beverly Hills adds a more polished side to the city, with palm-lined streets, luxury shopping, hotels, restaurants, and elegant residential areas. Rodeo Drive is the most famous stop, especially for window shopping and photos, but the surrounding streets also give travelers a sense of LA’s glamorous side.

If you want to balance glamour and culture, consider this mix:

• Rodeo Drive: walk the luxury shopping district and take photos.

• Beverly Gardens Park: add a short outdoor stop near the Beverly Hills sign.

• LACMA: visit for art, architecture, and the recognizable Urban Light installation.

• The Broad: choose it for contemporary art in downtown LA.

• The Getty Center: combines art collections, architecture, gardens, and elevated views of the city.

These stops are among the top Los Angeles activities for travelers who want a slower day between theme parks, beaches, and sports plans.

Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach: two coastal moods

Santa Monica and Venice show two different sides of the Los Angeles coast. Santa Monica feels classic and family-friendly, with a pier, beach paths, ocean views, restaurants, and Pacific Park rides. Venice Beach feels more bohemian, creative, and unpredictable, with street performers, murals, skate culture, local shops, and the famous boardwalk.

You can visit both areas on the same day if you enjoy walking, biking, or spending time by the ocean. The beach path connects the coast and gives travelers a relaxed way to move between viewpoints, cafes, and people-watching spots.

How to enjoy the coast

A beach day in LA works best when you choose a rhythm instead of trying to do everything at once. Build the day around sun, food, photos, and a little flexibility.

• Santa Monica Pier: ride the Ferris wheel, walk the pier, or stay for sunset.

• Pacific Park: add rides and games if you are traveling with family or friends.

• Beach path: rent a bike or walk part of the oceanfront route.

• Venice Boardwalk: explore street art, performers, shops, and casual food.

• Venice Canals: take a quieter walk away from the main boardwalk crowds.

For LA sightseeing of California with an oceanfront feel, this coastal route is one of the most memorable ways to spend a day.

Disneyland day trip from Los Angeles

Disneyland is located in Anaheim, outside central Los Angeles, but it remains one of the most popular day trips for visitors building a Southern California itinerary. The park offers classic attractions, themed lands, parades, characters, and a nostalgic connection to Walt Disney’s original vision.

Because the trip from Los Angeles to Anaheim can vary depending on traffic, it is best to treat Disneyland as a full-day plan. Leave early, check park hours, and avoid scheduling too many other activities that same day. Travelers with children, Disney fans, or first-time visitors to California may find that the extra planning is worth it.

If you are deciding between Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland, think about the experience you want. Universal is closer to Hollywood and tied closely to film production, while Disneyland is a bigger theme-park day that works best when you want classic rides, character experiences, and a more immersive resort atmosphere.

Volaris flights to Los Angeles and tips for arriving at LAX

Volaris offers flights to Los Angeles through Los Angeles International Airport, known as LAX. The airport is one of the main gateways to Southern California and a practical arrival point for travelers heading to Hollywood, Santa Monica, downtown LA, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Inglewood, or other parts of the region.

LAX is a large and busy airport, so your arrival strategy matters. Before choosing transportation, think about where you are staying: Hollywood, Santa Monica, downtown LA, Anaheim, and the beach cities can all involve very different transfer times. Rideshare, taxis, rental cars, hotel shuttles, public transit, and FlyAway buses are common options, and the FlyAway service connects LAX with Union Station and Van Nuys.

Keep these tips in mind:

• Compare travel windows: check a few departure and return dates before deciding.

• Look at nearby days: shifting your trip by one or two days may improve availability.

• Choose add-ons carefully: select baggage, seats, and extras based on your actual itinerary.

• Arrive with a plan: know your LAX terminal, hotel area, and first transfer before landing.

• Consider trip zones: group Hollywood, beaches, Anaheim, and downtown plans separately to avoid unnecessary backtracking.

  
  

How to plan your Los Angeles itinerary

Los Angeles is large, spread out, and easier to enjoy when you group attractions by area. Instead of crossing the city several times in one day, plan each day around one main zone and one or two nearby experiences.

A first-time itinerary could look like this:

• Day 1: arrive at LAX, check in, and visit Santa Monica Pier for sunset.

• Day 2: explore Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, and nearby dining.

• Day 3: spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood.

• Day 4: visit Beverly Hills, LACMA, The Broad, or The Getty Center.

• Day 5: choose Venice Beach, downtown LA, or a Disneyland day trip.

If you only have a weekend, focus on Hollywood, the coast, and one major attraction. With more time, add museums, Beverly Hills, a theme park, or a day trip to Anaheim.

FAQs about visiting Los Angeles

Is Los Angeles easy to visit without renting a car?

It depends on your itinerary. You can visit some areas using rideshare, Metro, buses, shuttles, and walking once you are inside specific neighborhoods. However, LA is spread out, and a car can be useful if you plan to visit beaches, theme parks, Beverly Hills, downtown, and Anaheim in the same trip. Another option is to choose a hotel near your top priorities and use rideshare only for longer transfers.

Are June and July 2026 good months to book flights into LAX?

For June and July 2026, start watching routes and fares early, especially if your plans include sports events, theme parks, beach days, or a longer California itinerary. 

What is the best area to stay in Los Angeles for a first visit?

The best area depends on your plans. Hollywood works well for Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory, and classic entertainment stops. Santa Monica is a good choice for beach time and a more relaxed stay. Downtown LA is practical for museums, concerts, sports venues, and transit connections. For Disneyland, staying closer to Anaheim can save significant travel time.

Start planning your Los Angeles trip with Volaris

Los Angeles is a city of contrasts: red carpets and beach paths, studio tours and street art, luxury boulevards and neighborhood taco spots, museum galleries and mountain-view hikes. With a thoughtful itinerary, you can experience its entertainment legacy, coastal lifestyle, cultural institutions, and family-friendly excursions without turning every day into a race across town.

Whether you are traveling for the 2026 soccer celebration, a California vacation, or a longer West Coast route, there are many things to do in Los Angeles to shape the trip.