Los Angeles Sightseeing Travel Guide

Los Angeles Travel Tips

The city of Los Angeles in southern California has many sightseeing attractions for a great USA holiday, from exciting theme parks like Universal Studios and Disneyland, to excellent beaches. Join us for a tour of some of Los Angeles' best sightseeing attractions.

Los Angeles is about 120 miles north of San Diego on I-5, I-405. Whilst, it's not everyone's idea of paradise, there are some great fun attractions and nice beaches. There's excellent shopping too at Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

Try a trip to Malibu beach, visit the 'Footprints of the stars' in Hollywood or work out at a famous California muscle beach - Venice Beach. We found the people in Los Angeles friendly and laid back and the legendary air quality improved over past years.

Long Beach

Long Beach is located about 15 miles south of Los Angeles. We recommend a sightseeing visit to the home of the Queen Mary cruise ship (now a hotel) and Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose, now located at Long Beach.

Santa Monica and Malibu

For a nice beach, with a shopping pier with seafront dining opportunities, we recommend Santa Monica. Parking is around $5 on the Pier or you can use the parking meters on the adjoining beachfront roads.

From Santa Monica take a sightseeing drive along the Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1) which takes you past many more excellent, often deserted beaches and then onto Malibu. Notice the multitude of multi-million dollar mansions in the hills overlooking Malibu!

Hollywood, California

Don't miss the famous Hollywood sign that sits atop Mount Lee, high in Los Angeles' Hollywood hills. Each letter is 45 feet tall and the whole word is some 450 feet long!

Universal Studios, Hollywood

Hollywood is the 'home of the stars' and Universal Studios. Universal Studios is one of Los Angeles' most popular tourist sightseeing attractions and a real-life movie studio. Whilst in Hollywood, for great views over Los Angeles try a trip to the Griffith Park Observatory on E. Observatory Road in the Hollywood Hills.

Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles

Sunset Boulevard is very famous and totally synonymous with Los Angeles wealth. At almost 20 miles long, it begins in downtown Los Angeles, heads through Beverly Hills and upmarket Bel-Air, through the Santa Monica Mountains and on to the Pacific Ocean at Malibu. Many famous Hollywood film stars live along Sunset Boulevard and in Bel-Air and the Malibu Hills. A drive down Sunset is a 'must' to see the impressive homes surrounded by high security fences!

Disneyland, Anaheim, California

Situated just off Interstate 5 freeway, south east of Los Angeles is Anaheim, home of Disneyland. If you have kids they'll love the exciting rides and enjoy meeting all their favourite Disney characters. Admission isn't cheap at $49 for adults and gifts, food, drinks and ice creams are all very expensive inside the park. It can also be hot in summer, so take plenty of water with you.

Newport Beach, Orange County, California

Newport Beach in Orange County is located 50 miles south of Los Angeles against the backdrop of the Saddleback Mountains. It's an elegant, upmarket town with fine dining. Newport Beach makes a great stop-off on your way to San Diego on the Pacific Coast Highway 1. Newport Beach sightseeing attractions include the attractive Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island.

Newport Beach is home to some of the best southern California Beaches. Take a ferry from here to Catalina Island. For great shopping try Fashion Island at Newport Beach. World class shops with more than a touch of class!

Southern California Hotels

Los Angeles Hotels

Budget hotels in Los Angeles can be very cheap and in contrast, those in Beverly Hills can require a substantial bank loan! By pre-booking Los Angeles Hotels we managed to stay at the four star Four Points Sheraton LAX for around £40 per night. LAX has a number of very cheap 4 star hotel choices and it's a convenient location for sightseeing. Even Anaheim (for Disneyland) is only an hour away from LAX, freeway traffic permitting.

Newport Beach Hotels

Newport Beach hotels can be expensive. There are, however, a number of quality, reasonable-priced all-suites hotels including the Marriott Suites Newport Beach. Visit our discount hotels page to get low price deals and the best rates on Newport Beach hotels.

Driving in Los Angeles

It has to be said that driving in Los Angeles is both stressful and unpleasant. The freeways are often congested. Even driving short distances can take an hour. High speed lane-swapping and overt aggression on Los Angeles freeways seems everywhere.

Crime in Los Angeles

Los Angeles unfortunately has a fairly high crime rate. You should avoid walking around at night and the beaches after dark. Stay in well lit areas and above all avoid an LA area known as "South Central". Seek advice at your Los Angeles hotel to ensure you know about all areas to avoid.

Los Angeles and Newport Beach Sightseeing Links

Select from other southern California sightseeing resources by using the pull-down menu below. To get your Los Angeles or Newport Beach sightseeing site added to this pull-down menu, please contact us.

Disclaimer

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our Los Angeles Sightseeing Guide. However, Travel Guides cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions on this page.