Free & Affordable Ideas in Los Angeles

1. Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is the world's most-visited public astronomical observatory, open to the public for free daily throughout the afternoon and late evening hours.

The observatory was originally constructed with funding from Griffith Park founder Griffith J. Griffith and opened to the public in 1935 as the first institution in America fully devoted to public science. Today, it is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles' Department of Recreation and Parks and has attracted more than 81 million visitors over the course of its operations.

Free public telescope use is permitted on clear evenings, with public exhibitions on display throughout the facility, including "The Big Picture," the largest astronomically-correct image ever constructed, which stretches 152 feet along one of the building's walls. The observatory is also considered to be the best place in Los Angeles to view the city's famed Hollywood sign.

2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027, Phone: 213-473-0800

2. Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive is one of the world's best-known high-end retail districts, spanning three blocks within Los Angeles' affluent Golden Triangle shopping district.

Though the road itself spans two miles throughout central Los Angeles between Beverwil Drive and Sunset Boulevard, its stretch between Wiltshire and Little Santa Monica Boulevards has been home to more than 100 internationally-renowned upscale boutiques and hotels since the mid-20th century, including the flagship stores of fine fashion and accessory retailers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier. In addition to browsing stores, visitors to the district can view the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style, which was implemented in 2003 and is modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring legendary fashion designers and entrepreneurs for their contributions to the fields of arts and culture.

3. Santa Monica Pier and Beach

Santa Monica Pier and Beach are one of Los Angeles' most iconic landmarks, spanning 3.5 miles along Los Angeles' Pacific Coast Highway.

The free-admission beach is a protected California State Park, with areas provided for swimming, surfing, paddleboarding, and beach volleyball. Its most well-known attraction is the Santa Monica Pier, which was originally opened in 1909 and became an amusement park area in 1916 following the addition of the Santa Monica Looff Hippodrome. Today, the park is home to the National Historic Landmark 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel, along with the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel. Other attractions at the pier include the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium and a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and nightlife spots. Visitors should note that while the pier is free to explore, many rides and attractions require an upcharge fee.

200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401, Phone: 310-458-8900

4. The Hollywood Bowl Museum and Tours

The Hollywood Bowl Museum commemorates the history and legacy of Los Angeles' legendary Hollywood Bowl amphitheater, originally opened to the public in 1922.

Since its opening, the theater has hosted an unparalleled slate of world-renowned classical and pop music acts and theatrical performances throughout the year. Its museum is located in a custom-built building on the edge of the amphitheater's grounds, showcasing exhibits related to the venue's history and seminal performances, including its permanent exhibit, Hollywood Bowl: Music for Everyone. Rotating temporary exhibits related to specific eras of the theater's history are showcased on the museum's second floor.

The museum is open to the public for free year-round, with limited weekly operations between September and June. Visitors can also take a self-guided Bowl Walk tour throughout the amphitheater's property, showcasing informational photographic displays at important locations.

2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068, Phone: 323-850-2058

5. Venice Beach

Venice Beach is one of Los Angeles' most bustling beachfront areas, known around the world for its famed Venice Beach Boardwalk.

The free-admission beach and boardwalk is known for its quirky, bohemian character, showcasing eclectic street performers and public art throughout its 1.5-mile boardwalk stretch. A diverse array of retail options are offered at the boardwalk, from souvenir stores and surf shops to medical marijuana dispensaries and tattoo parlors. Restaurants, cafes, and nightlife spots abound along the boardwalk area and nearby Abbott Kinney Boulevard. Other nearby attractions include an outdoor gym and skate park at Muscle Beach and a large number of public basketball courts.

6. The Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame honors the top arts and entertainment luminaries in the world, showcasing over 2,600 brass stars dedicated to seminal actors, directors, producers, and music and radio industry personalities through Hollywood's history.

The walk was originally constructed in 1960 after a citywide initiative to honor Hollywood's legacy, showcasing an initial 1,500 honorees. Today, the attraction receives more than 10 million annual visitors, making it one of Los Angeles' top public attractions. Visitors can walk along the Walk for free and see bronze stars and handprints dedicated to legendary entertainment figures, public service organizations, and animated fictional characters.

N Highland Ave & Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028, Phone: 323-469-8311

7. The Getty Center

The Getty Center is a free-admission art museum spanning a two-building campus in Los Angeles' Brentwood and Malibu neighborhoods, originally constructed in 1974 by industrialist J. Paul Getty in a building intended to replicate the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum.

Today, the museum attracts more than two million annual visitors, showcasing splendid collections of international artwork that have been acclaimed as one of the best fine art displays in the world. Its original Brentwood campus presents exhibits of Western artwork from the Middle Ages to present-day works, while its Malibu campus showcases collections of artifacts from Ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruria.

1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Phone: 310-440-7300

8. Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is one of Los Angeles' oldest cemeteries, originally founded in 1899 in Los Angeles' Hollywood neighborhood.

The cemetery, which is located along Santa Monica Boulevard, is located adjacent to the Paramount Pictures studio lot and was known as Hollywood Memorial Park up until 1998. Today, it inters some of Hollywood's most legendary celebrities, including Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Mel Blanc, and Bugsy Siegel. Visitors can view gravesites at the cemetery for free from dawn to dusk daily. Regular free public special events are also held at the cemetery, including a summer and holiday film series known as Cinespia, showcasing film screenings along the wall of the cemetery's Cathedral Mausoleum.

6000 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90038, Phone: 323-469-1181

9. The Museum of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art is Los Angeles' only artist-founded museum, originally opened to the public in 1979.

The museum strives to showcase and collect art created since 1940, displaying items from a collection of more than 7,000 works by major contemporary artists such as Kim Dingle, George Segal, Sam Durant, Robert Motherwell, and Kenneth Price. Exhibits are housed within a classically-designed museum building along downtown Los Angeles' Grand Avenue, originally designed in 1986 by architect Arata Isozaki. Rotating curated exhibits revolve around themes such as postwar art, feminism, and youth creativity and have been acclaimed as some of the most influential and significant art exhibits in the United States.

The museum is open to the public for free each Thursday between the hours of 5:00pm and 8:00pm.

250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Phone: 213-621-2766

10. Travel Town Museum

Travel Town Museum is a free-admission museum showcasing the railroading history of the American West Coast, located within Los Angeles' sprawling Griffith Park.

The museum was originally opened to the public in 1952 and showcases significant railroad artifacts and rolling stock from the 19th and 20th centuries, with a focus on railroading development between the 1880s and 1930s in Southern California. Over 40 railroad engines, cars, and other rolling stock are on display at the museum, housed within a mock train station and rail yard. Vintage railroad memorabilia is also showcased, along with a a gift store selling railroad-themed memorabilia. For an additional ticketed upcharge, visitors can ride in a restored train around the museum's perimeter.

5200 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, Phone: 323-662-5874