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Los Angeles travel guide

A favourite destination for Australian travellers, Los Angeles is super easy to get to and jam-packed with famous places and things to do. Map out your days well and you can see so much, from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Universal Studios to Disneyland and the Hollywood Sign in the Hollywood Hills. Don’t underestimate the little pleasures either, such as the mouthwatering eats you’ll find all over town (In-N-Out Burger, we’re coming for you), the shopping streets, the cool rooftop bars and so much more. Every precinct has a story, and here you’ll find the lowdown on LA. If you’re planning to visit, check out our Los Angeles travel guide. We’ve collected the best tips from our travel experts and have top suggestions for things to do, when to travel, where to stay, getting around and more. We even have a handy guide to navigating your way through LAX.

Where to stay

The topic of where to stay in Los Angeles is, as you may expect, entirely dependent on what you plan to be doing when you’re not in your hotel room. Heading to Disneyland for a day or two? It’s a good idea to stay in Anaheim. Planning to scour Hollywood? Find a place on Hollywood Boulevard. Basing yourself near the landmarks that interest you most is a great way to cut down on time spent in transit, allowing you to see much more of this incredible, vibrant city.

Things to do

When thinking about things to do in Los Angeles, it’s easy to be blown away by the sheer amount of options you have. Los Angeles is a huge city packed with places to see, things to do and experiences to enjoy, so you may want to do your research and prepare a list of musts before you arrive. In Los Angeles good time management is easily your greatest ally.

Travel tips

When you’re preparing for a trip so far from home, it’s best to know exactly what you’ll need well ahead of your departure date – so below are a few important Los Angeles travel tips to help get you started.  Travelling to the United States can feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you’ve never been before. Don’t worry – the things you need to enter the country as an Australian citizen are actually very simple and easy to obtain.

Getting Around

Los Angeles transport can be a tough nut to crack. Time management is the key to a great Los Angeles holiday because, as the second-most populous city in the country, Los Angeles has a lot of traffic. What looks like a simple 15-minute journey on Google Maps may actually take you 40 minutes or more depending on the time of day and your mode of transport. As such, getting around Los Angeles is all in the planning. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get from A to B.

Where to eat

Los Angeles food and drink is some of the finest the United States has to offer. The city is home to a thriving culinary scene, attracting some of the biggest names in food but also offering an assortment of classic American fast food.  With so many different city areas that specialise in distinct cuisines, there’ll be something new and exciting to try every single night of your holiday. Make sure to check your hotel lobby for a must-eat places guide – from the finest seafood to simple French toast served at a family-owned greasy spoon, you’ll find the best of it in Los Angeles.

Shopping

Los Angeles shopping is much more than a way to collect a memento of your time in the United States. Beyond being a great way to support local businesses, it’s also a fantastic chance to discover items that you might never have been able to procure at home.  From high-quality designer clothes to obscure American chocolate bars, every suburb of Los Angeles reveals brand new opportunities for you, the savvy bargain hunter, to take home something really special. Also, if you find yourself frequenting Los Angeles markets, don’t be afraid to haggle!

Best time to travel

Here’s the great thing about planning a trip to Southern California: you never really have to worry about the Los Angeles weather.  Known for its perennially warm, sunny climate, Los Angeles is gifted with near-perfect weather conditions year-round. This makes putting together a tour itinerary extremely easy, especially if you’re the sort of person who wants get out there and explore the great American outdoors. There are wonderful things to be seen and done any time of year in Los Angeles.

Beaches

Southern California is known for two things: movies and beaches, and you’ve probably seen most of these beaches in a movie. With so many beautiful seaside locations, Los Angeles beaches rank among the most well-known in the state.  There’s a spot by the water for everyone, from surfing beaches to craggy inlets perfect for a picnic. The perfect holiday destination if you’re the sort of traveller who loves fun in the sun, California’s gorgeous beaches await. Grab your sunscreen and prepare to explain to the locals what you mean when you say ‘togs’.