Los Angeles, often referred to as the “City of Angels,” is located in Southern California and is renowned as the center of the US television and film industry. The city is home to world-famous studios like Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures, and Universal Studios, all located near the iconic Hollywood sign. Los Angeles boasts numerous attractions, including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, and stunning beaches such as Zuma Beach, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica Pier Beach.

Here are ten must-visit attractions in Los Angeles:

1. Griffith Observatory and Park

Located on the south face of Mount Hollywood, the Griffith Observatory offers stunning views of Downtown Los Angeles, the Los Angeles basin, and the Pacific Ocean. The observatory features numerous science and space-related exhibits and provides a great view of the Hollywood sign.

Griffith Park, located near the Santa Monica Mountains, is a vast municipal park covering 4,310 acres. It is among the largest parks in North America, featuring attractions like Bronson Canyon, the Greek Theatre, and the Griffith Park Zoo.

2. Sunset Boulevard

Sunset Boulevard stretches almost 22 miles (35 kilometers) from Figueroa Street to the Pacific Highway in central Los Angeles. Known for its nightlife since the 1950s, the Sunset Strip area is famous for numerous guitar shops and music industry-related businesses, giving it the nickname Guitar Row. The boulevard features winding and curvaceous stretches that can be dangerous for first-time drivers.

3. Disneyland Park

A visit to Los Angeles is incomplete without visiting Disneyland Park. Built under Walt Disney’s supervision, it started as a single attraction called Disneyland and later expanded into Disneyland Park. Since its opening, approximately 650 million people have visited. In 2013, it was the third most visited park with over 16 million visitors.

4. Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is both a film and TV studio and a theme park located in the San Fernando Valley. It is one of the oldest and most famous film studios in the world. Initially offering studio sets, it later expanded into a theme park with rides and attractions based on famous TV and film characters.

5. Getty Center

Opened on December 16, 1997, at a cost of around $1.3 billion, the Getty Center is renowned for its gardens, views, and architecture. Designed by architect Richard Meier, it houses the Getty Museum and several programs run by the Getty Trust, including the Getty Research Institute, J. Paul Getty Trust, Getty Foundation, and Getty Conservation Institute.

6. Zuma Beach

Zuma Beach in Malibu is known for its beauty and cleanliness. Despite its reputation for exclusivity, it is open to the public. It is cleaner than Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach, making it ideal for swimming and sunbathing. The beach has numerous lifeguard stations, ensuring safety.

7. TCL Chinese Theatre

Formerly known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre is located on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame. It opened on May 18, 1927, with the first movie shown being King of Kings by Cecil B. DeMille.

The theater has a capacity of 932 people and features the third-largest commercial movie screen in North America. It also houses the world’s largest IMAX auditorium, created in partnership with IMAX Corporation.

8. Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches 1.3 miles from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, attracting nearly 10 million visitors each year. It features 2,500 five-pointed stars embedded in the sidewalks, honouring artists for their contributions in film, television, music, radio, and theatre.

9. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Located on Museum Row on Wilshire Boulevard, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is the largest art museum in the western United States. It holds over 150,000 works of art spanning from ancient times to the present and features concert and film series. LACMA attracts nearly a million tourists annually. Popular exhibits include the Treasures of Tutankhamun, which drew approximately 1.2 million visitors in four months, and exhibits devoted to Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton.

10. Madame Tussauds Hollywood

Owned by Merlin Entertainments, Madame Tussauds Hollywood is the ninth location for the Tussauds franchise, located on Hollywood Boulevard near the TCL Chinese Theatre. The first wax figures made for this location were of Beyoncé Knowles and Jamie Foxx. Each figure costs around $300,000, with matching props placed near them for photo opportunities. The largest figure is Shrek, made of plastic and placed outside daily to entice visitors. Figures of Marilyn Monroe, Johnny Depp, and Lucille Ball are also near the entrance.