The most fascinating places in Los Angeles

Have you ever dreamed of going to California and exploring Los Angeles, the city of dreams? Then this blogpost about LA and it’s everlasting magic is right for you! You will learn more about the most fascinating places in Los Angeles and why they are totally worth visiting! This article will provide you with all the information you need to have if you want to spend between 3 and 5 days there and want to make the most of your visit.

How to get to the most fascinating places in Los Angeles? Rent a car!

So, first things first: You should definitely rent a car to get around easily! We had done that several months before going on the actual trip using our ADAC membership (hello discount!). Don’t rely on public transportation in LA, it can’t keep up with the usual standard of other bigger cities!

Your rental car will give you the possibilities to get around quickly and comfortably. Plus, it will separate you from the usual tourist crowd.

Aside from that, it is recommendable to figure out where in Los Angeles you would exactly like to stay and plan your days from there. I have made excellent experiences with the following choice:

1.) West Hollywood

If you want to reside in a glamorous neighborhood and truly experience the Hollywood vibe, West Hollywood is definitely the right choice for you. Staying there gives you the opportunity to have some quiet space for yourself. At the same time  it is close to the most fascinating places Los Angeles. After lots of research we had decided to stay at Chamberlain West Hollywood. It offers spacious rooms as well as valet service for your rental car. The hotel is quiet and allows you to end your day with a beautiful sunset view from its rooftop pool terrace.

Places to eat in West Hollywood

After arriving there and checking into our beautiful room, we went to have dinner at Katana. What an extremely delicious sushi restaurant with a magical atmosphere in the evening! The great density of celebrity customers is an extra bonus if you’re interested. The restaurant is definitely more pricey than others but offers tasty food and excellent service.

More fascinating places in Los Angeles are the following (often less expensive and equally tasty):

• Alfred Coffee, a stylish coffee place with healthy and fresh choices for warm LA weather. Alfred Tea Room is also a great alternative with the yummiest hot & cold teas I have ever tasted!
• Gracias Madre , a vegan and all organic Mexican restaurant for maintaining a healthy nutrition ;),
• Urth Caffe, my personal favorite place for lunch with a great choice of different beverages and dishes and
• Little Next Door, a lovely French restaurant with delicious food, great wine and a cozy patio outside.
• Hinoki and the bird is a little further away (Century City) but the restaurant was so beautiful and lovely that I just had to include it! A great recommendation for lunch with an outstanding menu and unique interior design!

Of course, the famous LA shopping places are also not far and easy to reach a (e.g. The Grove, Rodeo Drive etc.). Especially on Sundays it is also a beautiful idea to visit the nearby Farmers Market.

West Hollywood is therefore not only the best place to stay, eat and shop, it also makes it easier to reach one of the most fascinating and dreamy places in Los Angeles without driving a long distance:

2.) The Hollywood Hills 

Exploring the neighborhood of famous Hollywood stars and magnificent houses is definitely one of the most fun activities. Nevertheless, you should not rely on the crowded tour vehicles but drive up there yourself! You will be rewarded with  the ultimate LA views  (Follow Mulholland Drive and create your own tour from there).

Take the best pictures without waiting in line and discover hidden spots away from the usual tourist buzz! Of all the most fascinating places in Los Angeles, this was probably my favorite one.

Hollywood Hills city view

Hollywood Hills view – Hollywood sign

3.) Griffith Park & Observatory

After a fun afternoon in the Hollywood Hills your day is ended well with a hike in Griffith Park and a stunning sunset view from Griffith Observatory. The drive up there takes some minutes and is usually quite busy but the dreamy view is so worth it! Make sure to take your time to watch the sun disappear above LA’s skyline and take a walk around the observatory. There are telescopes for you to watch the stars and even a monthly star party to attend (check the dates at Griffith Observatory official website).

Griffith Oberservatory Los Angeles

Griffith Observatory at night

4.) Skyspace LA

The view from Griffith Observatory in the north of Los Angeles is stunning but it’s also worth the drive to go downtown and visit OUE Skyspace LA, California’s biggest outdoor observation deck. We went there at noon to test the Skyslide and it was definitely a fun experience with a great panoramic view of the city!

The views from Griffith Observatory and Skyspace LA are quite different but both breathtaking! That’s why I have included both of them in my list of fascinating places in Los Angeles. Let me know in the comments which one you prefer 🙂 !

Skyslide fun 🙂

5.) A Dodger’s Game

If you are into sports, visiting a baseball, basketball or football event in the United States absolutely is a big deal! We had already seen a Knicks basketball game in New York City, so we decided to opt for the baseball match this time and it was so much fun!

I highly recommend checking the rules before seeing the game to be able to enjoy it to the fullest. Check the game schedule for tickets! Go Dodgers!

Dodgers Game

6.) Venice Beach

Speaking of sports: Muscle Beach in Venice is also worth visiting if you want to get active instead of watching others perform! And even if you feel lazy and just want to enjoy the sunny Cali weather, Venice Beach will never bore you. Rent a bike, bring your inline skates or just stroll around, there is so much to explore!

In my opinion Venice Beach definitely qualifies to be the coolest place in and around Los Angeles. If you want to spend another fine sunset with a great view by the beach this time, Hotel Erwin and its beautiful rooftop bar is the best place for you. They do not offer a full dinner menu but their snacks and cocktails are amazing! My favorites were the street tacos and the Spicy Mango Tree cocktail. Thank me later ;).

7.) Santa Monica

Another fascinating place in Los Angeles that serves well for amusement is Santa Monica Pier. If you are into rollercoasters and vivid beach promenades, this is the right place for you.

There are fantastic cocktail bars in the area and lovely shopping places as well, so it’s a great place to enjoy a fun afternoon with amazing beach views!

Santa Monica Pier from city promenade

8.) Culver City

This area of LA is a great place to visit if you want to experience unique street art and take great pictures for your Instagram account or blog.

You will also find the Sony Pictures Studio if you want to see the movie sets of Spiderman, Breaking Bad and many others. But I definitely recommend taking cool pictures in this area!

If you are interested in finding out about other cool walls to take pictures of, this article provides helpful insight as well! Can’t wait to see your results!

9.) Malibu

Malibu is definitely located further outside the city than some other places but it’s one of the most beautiful areas in my opinion! The beaches are amazing and if you want to go surfing or perform other watersports, this is the place for you!

If you are looking to regain your strength at lunch, SunLife Organics is a delicious and absolutely healthy place to eat!

One of my best personal experiences was my birthday dinner at Nobu Malibu that had been arranged by my partner to surprise me. Early reservations are definitely recommended, otherwise you might miss this fascinating place in Los Angeles.

Nobu Malibu was honestly one of the best restaurants I have ever been to!

Eating by the beach and listening to the crashing waves in combination with excellent food really made for a perfect night. Let me know what your favorite restaurant is in the comments below if you have made a similar experience!

Here are the most fascinating places in Los Angeles again:

• West Hollywood
• Hollywood Hills
• Griffith Park & Observatory
• Skyspace LA
• Dodger’s game (or alternatively Lakers Game)
• Venice Beach
• Santa Monica
• Culver City
• Malibu

So if you are planning to visit Los Angeles and discover truly magnificent places, this guide has hopefully helped you to decide what to do.

If you have other great tipps or personal experiences or if there are any questions, feel free to comment below, I’m looking forward to hearing your opinion 🙂 !