Los Angeles is spread across a huge basin between the mountains and the Pacific, and every part of it has a different character. Here's where to start.
1. For film lovers
Studio tours. Several working studios offer tours of their backlots and soundstages. At Universal Studios Hollywood, the Studio Tour runs alongside rides and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Hollywood. The Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre are the classic stops, and the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Wilshire Boulevard covers the history of film in depth.
Beverly Hills. Technically its own city, surrounded by Los Angeles, it's home to Rodeo Drive and some of the area's best-known hotels.
2. The beaches
Each stretch of coast feels different. Santa Monica has its pier, beach bike path and Third Street Promenade. Venice is known for its boardwalk and canals. Malibu has quieter beaches and coastal drives along Pacific Coast Highway, and the South Bay beach towns (Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo) are popular for surfing and volleyball.
3. Museums
- The Getty Center: European art, architecture and gardens on a hilltop in Brentwood, with views across the city. Admission is free; parking is paid.
- The Getty Villa: Greek, Roman and Etruscan antiquities in Pacific Palisades.
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA): the largest art museum in the western United States.
- California Science Center: in Exposition Park, home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
- Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: next door, with its dinosaur hall and gardens.
4. Shopping and the outdoors
Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Hills Golden Triangle cover high-end fashion, while neighborhoods like Melrose and Silver Lake are better for vintage and independent shops. For hiking, Griffith Park has trails to the Griffith Observatory, and Runyon Canyon and the Santa Monica Mountains are close to the city.
Flying privately to Los Angeles
Private flights into the Los Angeles area commonly use:
- Van Nuys (VNY): one of the busiest business aviation airports in the country, in the San Fernando Valley
- Hollywood Burbank (BUR): convenient for Burbank, Hollywood and Pasadena
- Los Angeles International (LAX): closest for the Westside and South Bay, with private terminals
- Santa Monica (SMO): close to the Westside, with a shorter runway that limits larger jets. The city plans to close it permanently on December 31, 2028.
Los Angeles traffic matters more than distance, so your advisor will match the airport to where you're staying. From Las Vegas or the Bay Area, a light jet usually suits the trip; from the East Coast, a super midsize or heavy jet. Our advisors can also arrange ground transportation. Learn how on-demand charter works, or contact our team to plan a trip.
