When we see or hear about Los Angeles, we often think about the glitz and glam of celebrities and Hollywood. The incredibly popular City of Angels is a bucket list item for those planning a holiday in America.
But there’s more to the sunny city than the allure of La La Land. So if you’re flying to Uncle Sam for a much-needed trip, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about Los Angeles: things to do, how to get around, and other important tidbits!
- Getting a car is essential
- LA has a subway with famous attractions en route
- The easiest way to visit attractions is through an LA travel pass
- Los Angeles: city or county?
- LA is very spread out with no city centre
- It’s not just Hollywood—there’s West and North Hollywood, too!
- Spanish names are pronounced a little differently
1. Getting a car is essential
Most locals rely on cars to get around the beautiful city of Los Angeles. Credits: @fredbaby13 on Instagram
You might have already heard it from locals, but cars are essential for going from place to place in LA Many of the best scenic spots in the city are only accessible by car, such as Angeles Crest Highway, Mulholland Drive or the Pacific Coast Highway. With the sunny weather, road trips are always a treat and one of the best things to do in Los Angeles!
Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Los Angeles is the perfect place for it! Credits: Richard Jaimes on Unsplash
Fortunately, renting a car in LA is easy. All you have to do is pre-book on Klook, and you can pick up and drop off the car you want at Los Angeles International Airport! You’ll also have an assortment of vehicles to choose from to suit your needs. Need a simple sedan for smaller groups? Or a roomy SUV for the family? There’s something for everyone!
Driving tips:
- Remember to your parking tickets in LA.
- Take advantage of free navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze to avoid getting lost and ending up where you shouldn’t.
Want the 411 on all the best scenic road trips in California? Check this out:
2. LA has a subway with famous attractions en route
The LA subway system transports thousands of people a day. Credits: @lifeasrecess on Instagram
You might be wondering why a car is essential when there’s a subway available—allow us to explain. The city’s subway system can take you to Downtown LA, Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Universal Studios, and a couple of other top attractions in the city. However, your range of destinations won’t be as expansive as on a car. Still, if your itinerary includes these destinations, the subway is an easy and budget-friendly option.
3. The easiest way to visit attractions is through an LA travel pass
The world-famous Hollywood sign—need we say more? Credits: @jennyyb__ on Instagram
Packed with heaps of notable attractions, there are many things to do in Los Angeles. Do you want to cover as much ground as possible? Then getting the Klook-exclusive Los Angeles Travel Pass is the key! You can visit Magic Mountain, Six Flags, Madame Tussauds Hollywood, and more with this pass.
Six Flags has some of the craziest assortment of roller coasters in the world! Credits: @sixflagsmagicmountain on Instagram
All you have to do is select the appropriate pass for the desired number of days that you’ll explore LA and you’ll be able to go to up to 30 attractions in the city! The best part? You can take charge of where you’ll go and when you’ll go there.
For the lowdown on all the places that you can go to with your pass, check out our LA travel pass guide!
4. Los Angeles: city or county?
Beverly Hills is a neighbourhood in LA you’ve definitely heard of! Credits: @cleotoms on Instagram
You’ve probably heard of Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles, and you might wonder, which is it? Is it a county or a city? The answer is both!
The City of Los Angeles is part of the larger Los Angeles County. The city is so expansive that it’s split into the Valley on the North and the Basin on the South. Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills are famous neighbourhoods in the middle of the city.
5. LA is very spread out with no city centre
Downtown LA is filled with bars and restos you can try out! Credits: @lifeaspablo_ on Instagram
Unlike some other cities in the world where sights and stops are so packed that they’re walkable from one another, LA’s top attractions are spread out that you’ll need to drive from place to place.
If you’re fond of walking and you don’t mind the sunny Los Angeles weather, Downtown LA is a great option for hopping through bars, restos, museums, and more. The stops here are also accessible through public transportation. Other than that, driving or riding a taxi, Uber, or Lyft is the way to go. Either way, exploring Downtown is one of the best things to do in Los Angeles!
Want to go around LA easily? Here are 8 ways to get around LA for first-timers:
6. It’s not just Hollywood—there’s West and North Hollywood, too!
There’s no shortage of entertainment centres and theatres in Hollywood, the Movie Capital of the World! Credits: Oxana Melis on Unsplash
Touring Hollywood is a special thing to do in Los Angeles. However, keep in mind the existence of West and North Hollywood, especially if you’re inputting an address on your navigation app. First of all, West Hollywood is not a part of the City of LA Here you’ll find luxurious mansions, the occasional celeb, and the Sunset Strip, the nightlife capital of the area.
Hollywood is what we know to be the glamorous Tinseltown and Movie Capital of the World. Here, you’ll find the famous Hollywood Sign, Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theatre, etc. Past the hills and mountain range north of Hollywood is—you guessed it—North Hollywood. This more residential and artsy area is much more laidback than its counterpart in the South.
Feel inspired by the glam of Hollywood? Check out the best places to shop in the US:
7. Spanish names are pronounced a little differently
Los Angeles itself is Spanish for “the angels.” Credits: Mick Haupt on Unsplash
A native Spanish speaker might pronounce Los Feliz, San Pedro, and even Los Angeles differently. LA locals, however, put a Midwestern twist. For example, Los Feliz is “Los FEH-Liz”, and San Pedro is “San PAY-dro” to others, but for Angelenos, it’s “Los FEE-Lisz” and “San PEE-dro.” You might hear “Loce AHN-heh-less” from Spanish speakers, but from locals, you’ll hear “Loss ANN-ju-less.”
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