California, United States

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is famous for cars, but its trails to the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory, its historic downtown and its beach towns all reward exploring on foot.

Los Angeles: The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles
Featured walk: The History and Architecture of Downtown Los Angeles · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the United States and the home of the film industry. It sprawls across a wide basin between the mountains and the Pacific.

It is not a walking city as a whole, but its best areas are: the hiking trails of Griffith Park, the old theatres and buildings of downtown, and the beachfronts of Santa Monica and Venice.

What makes Los Angeles distinctive

  • The Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee
  • Griffith Observatory and its city views
  • Downtown's historic theatres and architecture
  • Venice Beach and the Santa Monica pier

Walking tours in Los Angeles

Hand-picked guided walks in Los Angeles, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.

Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 28 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Los Angeles · History walks in Los Angeles · Night and ghost tours in Los Angeles

Compare with other cities: Food tours · History walks · Night and ghost tours

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide sells many of the same walks and some that Viator doesn't. Their list for Los Angeles is chosen and ranked by GetYourGuide, not by us.

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Main sights

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Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Hollywood

    The Walk of Fame, theatres and the trails up to the sign.

  • Downtown

    The historic core, Broadway's old theatres and the arts district.

  • Venice

    The beach boardwalk and the canals.

  • Santa Monica

    The pier, the beach and a walkable town centre.

Free self-guided walk

Historic downtown, from Grand Central Market to Disney Hall

A free self-guided walk through downtown Los Angeles, from the Bradbury Building and Grand Central Market up Angels Flight and Bunker Hill to Walt Disney Concert Hall.

2.5 km · 6 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Griffith Park trails

    From the Greek Theatre or Griffith Observatory towards the Hollywood Sign.

  2. Historic downtown

    From Grand Central Market along Broadway and up Bunker Hill.

  3. Venice to Santa Monica

    The beachfront path between the two piers, about 4 km.

Practical walking notes

  • Distances

    Neighbourhoods are far apart. Walk within each and use the metro, bus or a car between them.

  • Hiking

    The hills have little shade. Take water, sun protection and proper shoes.

  • Weather

    Dry and sunny most of the year; summer can be very hot inland.

When to visit

  • Spring

    Mild weather and green hills.

  • Autumn

    Warm and dry, though there can be heat waves and wildfire smoke.

  • Mornings

    Coastal mornings are often grey in May and June, clearing by midday.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is near the coast, about 30 to 60 minutes from Hollywood or downtown by road.

Local transport

  • Metro

    The metro links downtown, Hollywood and Santa Monica; most visitors also use taxis or a car.

Questions travellers ask about Los Angeles

Can you walk to the Hollywood Sign?

You can hike to viewpoints near it and behind it on trails in Griffith Park; the sign itself is fenced off.

Is Los Angeles walkable?

Not as a whole, but neighbourhoods like downtown, Hollywood, Santa Monica and Venice are good for walking.

How many days do I need in Los Angeles?

Three or four days, because of the distances between areas.

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Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-28. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.