We love our city of Los Angeles for so many reasons, its diversity, beautiful weather, delicious food and lots of iconic activities and locations for everyone to enjoy.
Some of those well known activities, of course, come at a high cost but we also have plenty of famous things to do that are completely free!
Yet another reason to love our beautiful city is that we get to see some of these well known places people fly from all over the world to checkout any time we want and many are completely gratis.
Here is our list of some famous tourist stops in LA that have fun and free entertainment options for you to enjoy!
1 – Griffith Park Observatory
Description:
The gorgeous Griffith Park Observatory is one of the most visited places in Los Angeles by tourists and locals, as we have mentioned many times before.
Entrance to the observatory is free, as is all of the exhibitions and using the telescopes is also free. You only have to pay if you want to access the planetarium which has a very low fee.
Enjoy the magnificent views from the Observatory as its one of the best places to get a good look at and take amazing pictures of the Hollywood Sign!
The Observatory itself also has a roof and terraces with stunning views of the city and the mountains.
Location:2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Pic Credit:@therebelkoda
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You can go enjoy the Observatory and all those incredible views anytime they are open. But they also have special events that only happen at certain times and most of those have no cost as well.
They include the popular ‘All Space Considered’, ‘Public Star Party’, ‘Sunset Walk & Talk’ and more. Check their schedule for a full list of events.
2 – Universal City Walk Hollywood
Description:
Pedestrian only CityWalk Universal is free to walk around, take lots of pictures and enjoy free concerts throughout the year! CityWalk is full of color, fun and vibes that immediately put you in a good mood without a cost of entry.
The dancing water fountain is great even for the young ones, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the hosts of the TV show Extra. Going there is free and parking is reduced to $10 after 6 pm.
However with all the great shops and restaurants around, we can’t promise you won’t leave without spending some dough!
Location:100 universal city plaza
PIC Credit:@unistudios
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Parking at CityWalk is expensive. Besides going after 6PM for the reduced rate here are some other hacks. During the day you can park way at the bottom (not at Universal parking) and take the free Universal tram up the steep hill.
Also if you watch a movie at Universal you can get a validation anytime and parking will only be $5 at the Universal lots.
3 – Greystone Mansion
Description:
In the mood for a venue filled with the luxury, mystery and intrigue of the 1% percent from the early 19th century? The Greystone Mansion is a historic mansion that was built for the oil rich Doheny family that made quite a mark on Los Angeles.
The beautiful mansion, vast gardens and grounds are now a public park owned by the city of Beverly Hills that you are free to roam and take pictures at during regular hours.
Although there is a fee to tour the house, the self guided tour of the gardens is completely free and totally worth a visit.
Also you can park in the upper level for free.
Location:905 Loma Vista Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
PIC Credit:@tiffin_unboxed
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The GreyStone Mansion has a fascinating history from the oil tycoon Doheny family. The mansion was built for Edward Doheny who the movie “There Will Be Blood” was based on.
The house was gifted from the elder Doheny to his son Ned who would end up in a double murder mystery in the mansion just 4 months after moving in.
We talk a bit about in this episode of the LifeHacksLA podcast
4 – Santa Monica Pier
Description:
A historic pier with a carousel, a trapeze school, a Ferris wheel and a roller coaster! Although these activities on the Pier are not free visiting there is!
And there is lots of free entertainment to be found with some of the most talented street performers in the world showcasing a variety of skills, from musicians to magicians and sometimes dancers.
You will also love the Ocean breeze, the views, the amazing people watching and the nice walk!
Location:200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
PIC Credit@santamonicapier
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What time of year you go to the Santa Monica Pier can make a big difference. If you want the full spectacle, with the most people and the top street performers you need to go during the Summer months when its on fire!
If you would like to see all these things but at a calmer time try going in the Fall or Winter when its less warm and way less people.
5 – The Grove & Farmers Market
Description:
This popular outdoor mall masterpiece is located in one of the best spots in Los Angeles with major T.V. studios, museums and plenty of other attractions nearby for tourists and locals alike to enjoy.
It’s free to walk around the beautiful grounds, enjoy the majestic water fountain and soak up the atmosphere of the LA good life.
You can also take the trolley for free, which travels along First Street between The Grove and The Original Farmers Market. The amazing market displays tons of fresh products, delicious restaurants and unique shops.
Both The Grove and The Farmers Market offer free events and concerts throughout the year. Parking is not free at the Grove but you can find nearby street or meter parking and walk over if you are really counting your pennies.
Location:189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
PIC Credit:@thegrovela
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The Grove is amazing any time of year but our favorite time to visit is during the Holiday season when its truly magical!
The entire shopping plaza turns into a Winter Wonderland and somehow transforms to be even more beautiful than it normally is.
Do you agree with our list or did we miss an obvious one? Let us know by commenting below!