10 Best Free Things to Do in Los Angeles

The Hollywood Walk of Fame commemorates notable actors and filmmakers by memorialising their handprints, signatures, and nameplates with a large golden star. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, this area is often packed with camera-toting tourists looking to spot their favourites along the sidewalk. Another popular landmark here is the TCL Chinese Theatre, which has been showcasing the latest Hollywood films since 1927.

Griffith Park, located 2.5 miles east of the Hollywood Bowl, is one of the largest municipal parks in the USA. It offers a variety of activities for all visitors, including hiking, golfing, cycling, and horseback riding. There are over 50 miles of trails, many of which are set close to waterfalls and lagoons within the park. You can also see rare wildlife at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, catch a concert at the Greek Theatre, and enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles at the Griffith Observatory.

The California Science Center is an interactive museum dedicated to space travel, the environment, and inventions from different time periods. Its air and space exhibits feature many impressive artefacts, including an Apollo 16 mission spacesuit, a Gemini 11 capsule, and Space Shuttle Endeavour, which travelled into orbit between 1992 and 2011. You can enjoy an immersive movie experience at the onsite IMAX theatre, conduct fun experiments at the science lab, and observe rare marine life at the aquarium.

The iconic Hollywood Sign, with its 44-foot-tall letters, can be spotted from just about anywhere in downtown Los Angeles. Erected on Mount Lee in 1923, there are 3 hiking trails leading to the sign, with the shortest one spanning 3 miles and starting at the Griffith Observatory parking lot. If hiking to the summit sounds too strenuous, make your way to Lake Hollywood Park, which has a great viewpoint of the landmark.

Runyon Canyon Park attracts hiking enthusiasts with its challenging trails and hilltop views of downtown Los Angeles. The 160-acre park has several roundtrip routes ranging between 1 and 3.5 miles. It’s also a popular spot for dog owners as there are off-leash areas (complete with water bowls) throughout the park. Depending on your fitness level, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top of Runyon Canyon Park, where you can rest your legs on benches overlooking the city.

The Annenberg Space for Photography displays permanent and travelling exhibitions of digital and print works. Founded in 2009, the museum occupies a 930 sq m building divided into traditional print and digital projection galleries. Photography subjects that are frequently featured at the gallery include sports, travel, current issues, and wildlife. Some exhibits incorporate music and short films to enhance your viewing experience. The Annenberg Space for Photography also hosts workshops, portfolio reviews, and talks by prominent photographers all year round.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place of many celebrities, writers, directors, and studio owners. Take a stroll through the 63-acre property to see intricate mausoleums, crypts, and niches for icons such as Johnny Ramone, Jayne Mansfield, Rudolph Valentino, and Cecil B. DeMille. During the summer, Hollywood Forever Cemetery hosts “Cinespia”, a weekend event where you can watch classic films projected on Valentino’s mausoleum.

Greystone Mansion is frequently featured in Hollywood films and TV shows, thanks to its grand, Tudor-style architecture and surrounding gardens. You may recognised it from blockbusters such as the Spiderman and X-Men series, The Big Lebowski, and Eraserhead. One of the largest homes in Beverly Hills, the mansion is closed to the public, but you get to explore the park grounds for free.

The Broad is a modern art museum that displays over 2,000 post-war and contemporary masterpieces. Located in downtown Los Angeles, you get to visit all of the museum’s exhibits for free all year round. One of its most impressive displays is the Infinity Mirror Rooms by Yayoi Kusama, an immersive installation that you enter to see colourful LED lights bouncing off the mirrored room for 45 seconds. Note that queues can get rather long, so get there early to avoid a long wait.

The Venice Canals, located between Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Venice Beach Boardwalk, offer idyllic views of pastel mansions and pedestrian bridges. Built in 1905 by millionaire Abbot Kinney, the walkways are popular spots for those looking to enjoy a quiet stroll away from the often-crowded boardwalk. If you’re looking to enjoy some fun in the sun, Venice Beach and Muscle Beach Gym are just a short walk away from the Venice Canals.