Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive. Santa Monica. Orange County… the list to visit Los Angeles could be nothing short of endless. An impressive series of iconic places, often immortalized by directors and screenwriters.

Visiting Los Angeles is, for many, the right occasion to put your feet in the places that have marked the history of cinema. For the little ones, instead, it represents the extraordinary opportunity for a fun-filled vacation. In fact, the city offers a wide choice of theme parks of international importance.

VISIT LOS ANGELES

HUNTING … STARS TO HOLLYWOOD!

Hollywood is the place of world fame, which perfectly embodies the American dream, these hills have been cuddling and protecting the World Star System for years.

Anyone who is passionate about cinema, will want to visit Hollywood, and take an unforgettable selfie under the most famous writing in the world. It is located on Mount Lee, and overlooks the Hollywood neighborhood; initially the writing was built for promotional purposes. Today, it’s the symbol of Los Angeles in the world!

Artists. Directors. Manufacturers. Actors. Singers. Stewards. Finance tycoons. Almost all of them reside in the quiet of these hills. The city hosts the most important American film studios; as well as recording studios like CBS, which produces many successful TV series.

HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD

Like in a movie… Hollywood Boulevard is the most visited street in Los Angeles.

The most important stretch of road measures just over 1 km, with neon lights, hordes of tourists, street artists and lots of shops.

The TCL Chinese Theater, one of the main attractions, opened in 1927. Inside, you can see the concrete blocks on which many world-famous stars have left their hand and footprints.

Hollywood Boulevard is also home to the famous Dolby Theater. Here, every year, the ceremony of the Oscar of the Cinema takes place, an event followed all over the world and that attracts tourists from all sides.

The Walk of Fame, along the Boulevard, is the most famous sidewalk in the world, studded with stars with the names of celebrities of the Entertainment and Cinema.

The drive to Hollywood Boulevard takes around 30 minutes by car from Santa Monica. Later, to get to Hollywood Sign, follow the road to Hollywood Boulevard, then start the climb to the Griffith observatory.

Griffith Park is the immense Los Angeles city park. It has about 80 kilometers of trails, surrounded by greenery, where you can admire the typical California vegetation from a truly unique point of view.

Impossible to visit Los Angeles, without admiring the wonderful skyline from the top of this hill. The view is really fantastic.

In the splendid Park there is the homonymous Observatory, with the splendid art deco style structure, dominated by three large copper domes. In the three permanent exhibition rooms, you can discover the secrets of space, thanks to the powerful refraction telescope.

Keep in mind that the rows for the observatory close in the evening, upon reaching a reasonable number of visitors. It is preferable to arrive early in the afternoon to visit the park and stand in line at the entrance. The visit of Griffith Park is free.

Staying in Hollywood, Amoeba is one of the cult places not to be missed on a vacation in Los Angeles. A real temple of music, with endless shelves of vinyl. Suitable for enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts, it is located at 6400 Sunset Boulevard. More info from here.

DOWNTOWN

The Downtown area is the financial center of Los Angeles, where there are shops and restaurants. El Pueblo, is a small and picturesque neighborhood of Mexican influences. In the tourist market, there are discreet souvenirs but, above all, of the excellent Tacos.

In the downtown area, lovers of contemporary arts will appreciate a visit to the MOCA. This is a rather interesting museum, with an essential permanent collection. It often offers good traveling exhibits. At the moment, admission is free upon booking the ticket on the official website. Accesses may be limited in number due to the covid-19 pandemic. Open Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm. Closed from Monday to Wednesday.

THE GROVE MALL & FARMERS MARKET

Photo ©, Prayitno

The Grove Mall is not only a shopping center but also one of the most popular places in Los Angeles, where you can spend a day full of shopping, relaxation and fun.

Built at the beginning of the new millennium, the complex immediately began to attract visitors and onlookers from all over California.

The central square is occupied by a beautiful Dancing fountain. It is activated every hour, accompanied by the music that resounds from the speakers of The Grove. An unmissable event.

A stone’s throw from The Grove, you can visit the Farmers Market, a symbol of Los Angeles that opened in 1934.

Among the market stalls you can find fruits, vegetables and other fresh local produce. Every day, it is stormed by tourists, inhabitants and the curious. More info from this link.

The Grove and Farmers Market are connected by the Grove Trolley, a characteristic two-story electric train.

The Grove is open every day from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00. Friday-Saturday: 10:00-22:00 Sunday: 10:00 to 20:00.

GETTY CENTER

The Getty Center is located on a hill in the western part of the city, built by the famous architect Richard Meier, using stone, glass and metal. It was commissioned to the tune of billions of dollars by the oil magnate J. Paul Getty.

The building houses a permanent museum, inside 4 Pavilions. On display are works from Europe and North America, from the Middle Ages to the present. On the walls you can admire masterpieces by famous painters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne, Rembrandt and Renoir. There are also special programs dedicated to families, workshops and interesting workshops.

The museum is free, in addition to this, what makes it very attractive to travelers is the spectacular observation point on which the Getty Museum is built; moreover the buildings are among the most beautiful in the world, one afternoon we recommend it to everyone, those who love art and more.

It is preferable to reach the Getty Center by car: public transport generally takes about an hour. The Museum is located at N Sepulveda Blvd & Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049. Upon your arrival, park your car under the Getty, and take the dedicated Tram, which will take you directly inside the museum, for free.

Open all year, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:30. CLOSED every Monday.
Getty Villa Museum, observes the same hours, Wednesday through Monday. The closing day, in this case, is Tuesday.

Admission is FREE but booking on the official website is required to access. Availability is limited due to the pandemic.