15 things to do for free in Los Angeles
lights, camera, action! LA is not only the city of angels, but also the city of the rich and famous. So, it must be expensive to visit Los Angeles, right? Wrong! You don’t have to be rich to sample the glamorous Hollywood lifestyle. By avoiding the tourist traps, you can live like a local and enjoy the many free things to do in L.A. So save your wallet and show the world what a great time you can have even if you’re poor!
1. Be a star on a TV show
You don’t have to be famous to get your 30 seconds of fame. This is where the popular shows The Ellen Show or Jimmy Kimmel come from. Los Angeles is one of the best travel destinations if you want to catch a TV show. Most are free, and some even pay to be part of the audience! The best places to get these free passes are 1iota, On Camera Audiences, and Ticket Me Quick.
2. Become an Angel in the City of Angels
📷: @a_n_j_a_128
Colette Miller’s name may not ring a bell, but her angel wing artwork is well known and can be found all over the city (and now the world!) If you stroll through downtown LA’s Arts District to Melrose Avenue, you can find a variety of Miller’s colourful angel wings. Going in search of wings can be like a treasure hunt in Los Angeles, and this set won’t cost you a penny!
3. Find the instagrammed walls
Definitely Colette Miller’s famous angel wings would be among the most photographed walls, there are so many street art walls that your account will be the most envied! Some of the most well known are Made in LA (Beverly Grove) and Love Wall (Culver City), Lamps at LACMA and Paul Smith Pink Wall (Beverly Grove), Los Angeles has plenty of wall art that will make your poses pop with colour – one of the most fun things to do in LA is to do your own photoshoot as you walk around the city!
4. Rise to Fame: Hiking to the Hollywood sign
📷: @breezebee28
Whether it’s hiking through Runyon Canyon for absolutely beautiful views of the city, or a leisurely hike in Malibu to find a small waterfall in Solstice Canyon, Los Angeles has an endless amount of trails. If you’re pressed for time and want to take a hike and also a selfie in front of the Hollywood sign, one of the best places is at Lake Hollywood Park. If you also want a picture behind the Hollywood sign with a view of the city, try the Wonder View Trail. All trails are free, but be aware that you will have to pay the annoying parking fees.
5. Visit LA’s best beaches
📷: @momoko_323
We can’t stop you from overspending on a beach holiday by booking into a big resort, but we can warn you that in Los Angeles, you can book a hostel right on the beach without hurting your bank account. Sunbathing during the day or watching the sunsets at sunset, going to the beach is undoubtedly one of the most popular free activities to do in Los Angeles. Venice Beach is a trendy place where many tourists relax, swim and enjoy the sun. There are also miles of picturesque beaches from Malibu to the South Bay. In addition to Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach and Playa Vista, some of the other popular beaches for relaxing and sunbathing.
6. Get fit without paying a gym fee
📷: @luna_d
Staying fit while travelling can be difficult but there are ways to get physical exercise in a fun and inexpensive way. If you’re exploring Venice Beach, the Venice Boardwalk is ideal for finding places to skate, bike ride or join in a game of volleyball or basketball. There’s also free workout equipment at Muscle Beach, but don’t be intimidated by the muscle-bound crowds! Anyone fancy a protein shake? Another option is free or pay-as-you-donate yoga classes throughout Los Angeles.
7. Plan ahead for free museum visits
📷: @jlematt
Los Angeles offers art lovers plenty of options to visit museums for free. For example, admission to the Getty Center is always free, however, you will have to pay for parking. Parking in Los Angeles can be an expensive nightmare, however, a visit to the Getty Center can save you money if you park after certain hours. The Broad, LA’s newest contemporary art museum, is free as long as you make a reservation. The California Science Center has free general admission without a reservation, but booking a ticket for the museum’s real attraction, the space shuttle Endeavour, will cost you a few dollars. While not all museums are free, Los Angeles offers a wide range of free options for spending time indulging in art and culture.
8. Look for your favourite celebrities on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
📷: @eddy_dayan
The Hollywood Walk of Fame offers all visitors the opportunity to have their photo taken with their favourite celebrity…. or with their name in the ground at least! You can visit the Walk of Fame at any time of the day, but you might want to visit during a star ceremony – all star ceremonies are free with no need to book tickets, but it’s suggested to arrive early to get a good spot and see your favourite celebrities up close!
9. Free wifi and picnic
📷: @rewaculicz
Instead of spending a fortune at a coffee shop consuming avocado toast or other trendy LA health food, have a cheap picnic by buying the goods at a local shop and find a park! You can find plenty of parks around Los Angeles where you can enjoy a delicious lunch and free WiFi – just in case you have to upload a picture of your trendy brunch!
10. The best view in Los Angeles
📷: @serqiokruz
At the end of your day, when all you want to see is the city lit up, one of the best views of Los Angeles is at the Griffith Observatory. It’s free to enter the gardens, enjoy the view and also walk inside the beautiful building. But even if you’re on a budget, we recommend seeing the planetarium show inside the Griffith Observatory. It costs less than $10 and is truly remarkable…. treat yourself!
11. Celebrate your visit to L.A. with a parade
From Gay Pride to Christmas parades, there are plenty of parade options in Los Angeles! On the last Sunday in April, Downtown Los Angeles attracts more than half a million people for a free party celebrating Cinco de Mayo. On the other hand, the West Hollywood Costume Carnival attracts over 400,000 people during Halloween who enjoy DJ sets, costume contests, drag queen extravaganzas and much more… and it won’t cost you a penny! and it won’t cost you a penny!
12. Visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery and watch movies with the dead
It’s free to visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery and, although macabre, many find it a relaxing place to spend an hour or two. It is recommended that you consult the online map of the cemetery to identify the graves you wish to visit. The cemetery also has one of the most original events in the city, which is a movie screening. They usually cost between $15-20 and sell out very quickly due to the popularity of having a picnic dinner and watching a movie under the stars… or on them. #Spooky
13. Enjoy free tours and tastings
why pay for a tour, when there are free ones that will leave you just as (or more) satisfied? Most walking tours of Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles follow the “pay-what-you-want” rule, but there are also more fun and quirky tours, like a coffee tour that includes a complimentary drink. The Espresso Republic currently offers a free tour once a week where you can learn about the coffee process from farm to cup, as well as roasting styles.
14. Listen to free music at Hollywood Bowl
One of LA’s best kept secrets is the fact that you can see and hear a free show at the Hollywood Bowl with no crowds and no tickets. We’re not kidding! How is that possible? Well, rehearsals at the Hollywood Bowl usually take place early in the morning and anyone is free to sit and watch. Cool, right? Rehearsals begin promptly at 9:30 a.m. until approximately 12:30 p.m. This can vary depending on the performers, so it’s best to call ahead and ask about upcoming rehearsals that you can enjoy for free.
15. Food markets and festivals
Depending on when you visit Los Angeles, you’ll find a variety of food markets and festivals located throughout the city, usually with free admission. Smorgasburg LA is one of the best in the city. It is a large open-air food market that is open every Sunday with free admission and brings together a large group of vendors. We’re sorry to say that no, lunch is not free, and you will have to pay for your food, but vendors often offer free samples for you to try.
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About the author
Ryan writes about travel tips and inspiration for all travellers, as well as focusing on LGBT travel and encouraging his audience to visit popular and offbeat places. You can find him at @RyanThomasWoodsand on his travel blog www.outwithryan.com.
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