Overview

There is plenty to see and do in Los Angeles and although a massive city, getting about the main sights isn't tough. Iconic sights in Los Angeles include the beaches of Santa Monica and nearby Venice, the massive RMS Queen Mary, and the must-see Hollywood Walk of Fame. Disneyland and Universal Studios are must-dos if you have kids.

Disneyland

Los Angeles has the original Disneyland, which was opened in 1955 and has inspired many a theme park. It is located in nearby Anaheim and is renowned for being Disney's only theme park that was designed, built, opened, and operated by Mr Walt Disney. There are rides and shows galore here as well as a number of high quality hotels, shops and restaurants.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios is another of Los Angeles' main attractions for families and where many blockbuster movies such as Jaws and Back to the Future have been made. Visitors can tour the sets and see how they do it. Universal Studios is also a theme park with some excellent rides and thrills, such as the Jurassic Park ride and a Star Trek set with crowd participation.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Any movie buff should check out this most famous of stretches of the Hollywood neighbourhood. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is lined with plaques in the pavement along Hollywood Boulevard where famous actors, singers, and directors, such as Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable, have left their hand and foot prints in the concrete. The Chinese Theater is the main focus.

Queen Mary

Built in the UK, the RMS Queen Mary used to be a luxury cruise liner of the Cunard Line until it was bought by Los Angeles city and permanently anchored as a floating attraction. It can be found at Long Beach to the south of the city. A guided tour is a must, with the propeller exhibit being the highlight. Next to the Queen Mary is a Russian submarine.

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is one of the best beach resorts in Los Angeles and is the oldest and largest to boot. Apart from the beach itself are games arcades and great shopping options. Third Street Promenade lies nearby and is ideal for shoppers with its many chain stores, street vendors, and terrace cafés.

Venice

Venice Beach is the most fun stretch of sand in the confines of Los Angeles. It is here where you'll find the bulk of the bronzed bodies, surfing and winding paths, along with buskers and other street performers. The best thing about Venice is the people watching and there are many places to sit and have a drink.

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is the high-end enclave of Los Angeles and is somewhat of a shopping paradise along Rodeo Drive. It is home to the rich and famous, with its impossibly ornate and opulent mansions and tree-lined streets. Rodeo Drive and nearby Two Rodeo are great for window shopping and celebrity spotting. Other sights in Beverly Hills include the Museum of Radio and Television, Greystone Mansion and the huge Fig Tree. Bel Air is nearby and even more exclusive.

Overview

The beaches of Los Angeles are your best bet for getting active, with the bulk of the activities available in the city revolving around the water. Surfing and water sorts are enjoyed to excess, while the people watching and rollerblading along the path between Santa Monica and Venice beaches is superb.

Water sports

Los Angeles has plenty of beaches to choose from, including the iconic Santa Monica and Venice beaches, and the likes of Long Beach and swanky Malibu Beach farther afield. Every beach has some type of activity available, with Santa Monica, Venice and Long beaches being the busiest and having the most options, including jet-skiing. Rollerblading and volleyball are also eternally popular activities at the beaches while Venice also has Muscle Beach with its weightlifters.

Walking and cycling

Los Angeles has several parks offering miles of walking. Venice and Santa Monica beaches are linked by a winding footpath great for rollerblading and people-watching. For hiking and cycling, the city is surrounded by mountains and state parks, including Malibu State Park and Topanga State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Cheviot Hills Recreation Area and the huge Elysian Park are better for those with kids.

Surfing

Surfing is all the rage in California and has been since the 1950s. Winter swells bring in good breaks along the entire west coast, with Malibu arguably seeing the best of them. Malibu is a little tough for beginners, however, and first-timers are better off sticking to Venice or Hermosa beaches. Along with Malibu, Huntingdon, Manhattan, and Zuma also have good surf, while Mavericks to the south of San Francisco boasts the biggest waves in coastal US.

Skiing

If you are in Los Angeles in the wintertime and fancy a spot of skiing, the nearby San Bernardino National Forest has the Bear Lake resort where reasonable pistes offer good sliding. The season here goes from December to March, with the morning being the best time for skiing, and you can stay out here to boot.

Spectator sports

American football, basketball and baseball are all popular, with the latter receiving the most coverage in Los Angeles. The LA Dodgers baseball team has won the National League and World Series several times and can be seen playing regularly in the summer at their home ground, Dodger Stadium, at Elysian Park not far from Sunset Boulevard. The LA Lakers are one of the main basketball teams here.

Dining and shopping

Los Angeles is big into the American diner culture as well as being home to some of the most posh restaurants in the Western world. It is also home to numerous organic cafés and a slew of fast food joints, and prices are generally very good. The shopping is also good, with several noted districts to choose from including the swank of Beverly Hills to standard shopping downtown and tourist places at the beaches.

Los Angeles is loaded with inexpensive eating options in most areas of the city although if you are after charm and élan, you will need to have a good look around to avoid the standard diner. Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills in particular have excellent dining options with the prices to match.

True to the nature of eating to excess in the States, Los Angeles is loaded with shopping malls that feature an array of food courts where you can eat well for a few bucks, as well as dine in impressive surroundings. The Beverly Center food court is particularly recommended. For seafood, be sure to head for Santa Monica where you can enjoy the trappings of numerous quality cafés, restaurants and bars.

You will find everything from the all-American diner to a glut of international restaurants in authentic, mainly Asian hubs. Bamboo Lane in Chinatown is excellent, while Little Tokyo, Korea Town and the Italian eateries on Olvera Street are all good. Melrose Avenue, Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Strip are all popular eating areas where you will find all types of cuisines.

To eat like a true American, go for a stodgy breakfast at a street or roadside diner and dine on pancakes, beans, bacon, and eggs. Although not quite as hearty as a full-English breakfast, this will easily see you through to a fast-food lunch at a McDonalds, or snack on a relish-infused hotdog on Hollywood Boulevard. The shopping malls have the typical all-you-can-eat American specials where the quality versus price is bewildering.

Los Angeles has some of the best shopping on the Pacific coast, with shopping malls and bustling shopping streets galore. The most popular shopping areas in Los Angeles are Third Street Promenade, Melrose Avenue, Olvera Street, Hollywood Farmers' Market, and Rodeo Drive, the latter being strictly for those with deep pockets.

Rodeo Drive primarily serves the rich residents of Beverly Hills and is the epitome of boutique shopping. It is one of the most expensive thoroughfares in the world, not just for the real estate, but also for the high quality merchandise. Household names like Chanel, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana can be found here and unless you're buying, some places will not even let you through the door without prior arrangement.

For designer clothes in stores that are a little more down to earth, the nearby Beverly Center has the likes of Guess and Louis Vuitton as well as more reasonably priced places. For tourist tack and souvenirs, head for the promenades of Santa Monica and Venice beaches, as well as Wilshire Boulevard. Downtown Los Angeles lacks in attractiveness but has much better prices.

Los Angeles does really well in the eating stakes, boasting some of the very best eateries on the west coast. The top restaurants are multinational, ranging from good old American fare to superb Italian, Mexican and Hawaiian foods. There are several world class steakhouses here and the top places usually have great ocean views to boot.

Overview

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main gateway to Los Angeles; a huge facility with flights from just about everywhere. Facilities and transport to downtown and hotels are good, while Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses also serve Los Angeles. Getting about town can be tough due to its huge dimensions, but a regular bus service, limited metro and numerous taxis do their best.

Airports

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the most important world airports, receiving flights from all four corners of the globe. International and domestic flights come in left, right and centre, with around 60 million passengers coming and going throughout the year. American, United, and Southwest airlines are the main carriers serving LAX.

The airport sports a large dome and a gigantic LAX sign outside and comes with comprehensive facilities throughout its nine terminals. Facilities include banks, ATMs and currency exchange, as well as comprehensive shops, cafés, restaurants and bars. The duty-free here is excellent, while medical services, post offices, baggage storage, business suites and a whole lot of other facilities are onsite.

Regular public buses run to the city and various Los Angeles districts throughout the day and night, although shuttle buses and shared taxis are the most common form of airport transfer options. Shuttle buses also run direct to a nearby metro station every 10 minutes where services run direct to downtown. Getting a shuttle or a taxi direct to your hotel is the most convenient option and taxis can be had from the Central Terminal Area. Those hiring cars need to take Highway 405 or I-105.

Public transportation

Amtrak trains come into Los Angeles at Union Station in downtown, which is near El Pueblo. Services come in regularly from all over the US, including from Seattle and San Francisco aboard the Coast Starlight. Trains also come in from the east from the likes of Phoenix and New Orleans, and from San Diego in the south.

Greyhound Bus Company is the cheapest option for getting to Los Angeles from elsewhere in the United States. The main terminal is on East 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles and there are also stations in Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach and Anaheim. Try and avoid arriving in Los Angeles after dark by bus or train.

Metro Rail runs a subway and light rail covering mainly city suburbs for commuters, although some popular tourist attractions are reachable by metro. Metro service runs from 04:00 to 01:00 and tickets can be had from machines. The main station is Union Station in downtown Los Angeles and if you are going out to San Bernardino, Ventura, Lancaster or Oceanside you're in luck.

Los Angeles' bus system is the best bet for getting around and you can go from the likes of Wilshire Boulevard all the way out to Santa Monica for just a few dollars. Services are frequent but can be slow due to traffic. You can buy tickets onboard with the right change or from metro stations.

Taxis can be hailed from the curb or pre-booked by telephone. Taxi ranks and major hotels and shopping centres also have taxis waiting or you can pre-book by calling in advance. You will also find taxis cruising the beach areas and out at LAX. Going to the likes of Disneyland in Anaheim is best done by taxi or on a tour.