Free things to do in Los Angeles

These are the free stops that actually fill a day in a city where everything is far apart. Group them by area: Griffith Park and Hollywood in one half-day, the Getty and the coast in another, downtown on a third.

Prices below are 2026 estimates. Admission is free at the places listed; parking, food and transport are not.

The free stops spread across four areas, and traffic decides your day more than distance does. Griffith Park and Hollywood sit north of downtown; the Getty is west, off the 405; Santa Monica and Venice are on the coast; downtown holds the Broad, Grand Central Market and the science museums near Exposition Park.

Plan one area per half-day. Crossing the city at 4–7pm can take an hour for 15 km, so do the far stop first and work back toward your base.

Parking is the hidden cost. Beach lots and museum garages charge by the hour, and street parking near Griffith and Runyon fills by mid-morning. Metro rail and buses are usually cheaper than a day of parking, and the E line reaches Santa Monica without a car.

Bring water, sunscreen and a layer. Coastal mornings in May and June can be cool and grey while inland areas are hot, and the temperature gap between the beach and the valley is often 8–10 °C.

Free timed tickets exist at some museums, including the Broad and the California Science Center. Book online the day they release if you have a fixed date. Food trucks and markets are the cheapest way to eat near these stops.

April to November is the driest stretch and the best window for the outdoor free picks. July and August are hot inland but comfortable at the coast. December to March brings the best chance of rain, which pushes you toward the free museums and markets instead.

Weekday mornings beat weekends at Griffith, Runyon and the Getty. Sunset at the observatory or the pier is free and worth timing, but parking is hardest then.