34 of the best · Los Angeles, California
The Getty Center and Getty Villa, LACMA and Museum Row, The Broad, the Hollywood Bowl and Walt Disney Concert Hall, the theatres of The Music Center and Hollywood, and the city’s film schools.
Our 34 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Los Angeles.
Art and gardens on a hilltop
The J. Paul Getty Museum’s hilltop home: European art, photography, gardens and views from the ocean to downtown.
1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049Explore View on map
Summer home of the LA Phil
The famous outdoor amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068Explore View on map
The new David Geffen Galleries
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire Boulevard, whose David Geffen Galleries by Peter Zumthor opened in April 2026.
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036Explore View on map
In-depth stories behind the list.
The back story
Two museums, one collection: art from the Middle Ages to today on a hilltop in Brentwood, and Greek and Roman antiquities in a re-created Roman villa by the ocean.
From the Getty to Museum Row.
The museum of the Oscars
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ museum of film, on Wilshire Boulevard.
6067 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036Explore View on map
Art and gardens on a hilltop
The J. Paul Getty Museum’s hilltop home: European art, photography, gardens and views from the ocean to downtown.
1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049Explore View on map
A Roman villa by the sea
Greek and Roman antiquities in a re-created Roman country house on the coast, reopened in June 2025 after the Palisades Fire.
17985 Pacific Coast Hwy, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272Explore View on map
Music history at L.A. LIVE
A museum of music and the GRAMMY Awards at L.A. LIVE, next to Crypto.com Arena.
800 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015Explore View on map
UCLA’s art museum
UCLA’s art museum on Wilshire Boulevard in Westwood.
10899 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024Explore View on map
Ice Age fossils in the city
Bubbling asphalt pits and a museum of Ice Age fossils, in Hancock Park on Wilshire Boulevard.
5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036Explore View on map
The new David Geffen Galleries
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire Boulevard, whose David Geffen Galleries by Peter Zumthor opened in April 2026.
5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036Explore View on map
Opened 22 September 2026
George Lucas’ museum of storytelling art, from paintings to comics and film, opened in Exposition Park on 22 September 2026.
3800 S Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90037Explore View on map
The Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art on Grand Avenue, with a second site, the Geffen Contemporary, in Little Tokyo.
250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012Explore View on map
Dinosaurs in Exposition Park
Dinosaurs, gems and the story of Los Angeles, in Exposition Park.
900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007Explore View on map
Cars on Museum Row
A car museum behind a striking steel façade on Wilshire Boulevard.
6060 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036Explore View on map
Contemporary art on Grand Avenue
Eli and Edythe Broad’s contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue, next to Walt Disney Concert Hall.
221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012Explore View on map
In the old Max Factor building
A museum of Hollywood costumes and memorabilia on Highland Avenue.
1660 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028Explore View on map
Stages across the city.
Broadway-scale shows at The Music Center
Center Theatre Group’s large theatre at The Music Center, for touring and new productions.
135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012Explore View on map
Home of the Oscars
The theatre on Hollywood Boulevard where the Academy Awards are held.
6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028Explore View on map
Home of LA Opera
The Music Center’s grand theatre on Grand Avenue, home of LA Opera.
135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012Explore View on map
Westwood’s playhouse
A theatre in Westwood Village presenting plays and new work.
10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024Explore View on map
Concerts under the trees
An open-air concert venue in Griffith Park.
2700 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027Explore View on map
Summer home of the LA Phil
The famous outdoor amphitheatre in the Hollywood Hills, summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068Explore View on map
A Sunset Boulevard ballroom
A big concert hall on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
6215 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028Explore View on map
Broadway in Hollywood
The Art Deco theatre on Hollywood Boulevard that hosts touring Broadway musicals.
A thrust stage at The Music Center
Center Theatre Group’s round theatre at The Music Center, for new plays and revivals.
135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012Explore View on map
Comedy on the Strip
A comedy club on the Sunset Strip.
8433 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069Explore View on map
Stand-up on Sunset
A comedy club on Sunset Boulevard at Laurel Avenue.
8001 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046Explore View on map
Theatre, dance and music
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills.
9390 N Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210Explore View on map
An Art Deco theatre
An Art Deco theatre at Wilshire and Western, now a concert venue.
3790 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90010Explore View on map
Frank Gehry’s steel sails
Frank Gehry’s stainless-steel concert hall on Grand Avenue, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Where Hollywood trains.
The American Film Institute
The American Film Institute’s graduate film conservatory, on Western Avenue near Griffith Park.
2021 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027Explore View on map
The California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, with film, video and animation programmes.
24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355Explore View on map
The back story
USC, UCLA and AFI: the schools that train Hollywood, and the film culture you can visit as a fan.
Near LAX
Loyola Marymount University’s film school, near LAX.
1 LMU Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90045Explore View on map
On the UCLA campus
UCLA’s school of theater, film and television on the Westwood campus.
235 Charles E. Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095Explore View on map
At the University of Southern California
The film school of the University of Southern California, near Exposition Park.
900 W 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089Explore View on map
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