15 Fabulous And Famous Free Things To Do In LA

Lights,​ ​Camera,​ ​Action!​ ​LA​ ​is​ ​not​ ​only​ ​the​ ​City​ ​of​ ​Angels,​ ​but​​ home to the​ ​rich​ ​and famous!​ ​So​ ​it​ ​must​ ​be​ ​expensive​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​Los​ ​Angeles,​ ​right?​ ​Wrong! You​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​have​ ​thousands​ ​of​ ​dollars​ ​to​ sample a taste of​ ​the​ ​glamorous​ ​Hollywood lifestyle.​ ​By​ ​avoiding​ ​the​ ​expensive​ ​tourist​ ​traps,​ ​you​ ​can​ live like a local on​ ​a​ ​budget​ ​thanks​ ​to​​ ​cool AF ​hostels and​ ​an insane​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​free​ ​things​ ​to​ ​do​ ​in​ ​LA. ​So, put away your wallet and prove to the world that you can still have a blast when you’re broke!

1. Be a star on a TV show

📷: @juleslobinger

You​ ​don’t​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​famous​ ​to​ ​have​ ​your​ ​30​ ​seconds​ ​of​ ​fame.​ ​From​ ​The​ ​Ellen​ ​Show​ ​to Jimmy​ ​Kimmel,​ ​LA offers​ ​various​ ​opportunities​ ​to​ ​be​ ​on​ ​a​ ​TV​ ​Show​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​live​ ​audience member.​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​travel​ ​destinations​ ​if​ ​you’re​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​get​ ​your hands​ ​on​ ​some​ ​TV​ ​show​ ​tickets.​ ​Most​ ​TV​ ​shows​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​attend​,​ ​and​ ​some shows​ ​may​ ​even​ ​pay​ ​you​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​live​ ​audience!​ ​The​ ​best​ ​resources​ ​to​ ​apply​ ​for​ ​free TV​ ​show​ ​tickets​ ​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​ ​might​ ​be​ ​a​ ​new​ ​name​ ​to​ ​you​, ​but​ ​her​ ​art​ ​work​ ​of​ ​the​ ​famous​ ​angel​ ​wings​ ​are very​ ​well​ ​known​ ​and​ ​located​ ​all​ ​around​ ​the​ ​city​ ​(and​ ​now​ ​the​ ​world!)​ ​From​ ​adventuring around​ ​Downtown​ ​LA’s​ ​Arts​ ​District​ ​all​ ​the​ ​way​ ​to​ ​Melrose​ ​Avenue,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​find​ ​a​ ​wide variety​ ​of​ ​Miller’s​ ​colorful​ ​angel​ ​wings​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​city.​ ​Discovering​ ​her​ ​angel​ ​wings make​ ​for​ ​a​ ​great​ ​scavenger​ ​hunt​ ​around​ ​LA, and won’t cost you a penny! An angelic snap with these iconic wings will make a heavenly addition to your Instagram.

3. Find LA’s most Instagrammed walls

📷: @rughead8

Although​ ​Colette​ ​Miller’s​ ​famous​ ​angel​ ​wings​ ​are definitely up there with LA’s ​Most Instagrammed​ ​Walls,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​so​ many edgy ​​street-art walls ​that will kill it on the ‘gram! ​From​ ​the​ ​Made​ ​in​ ​LA (Beverly​ ​Grove),​ ​and​ ​Love​ ​Wall​ ​(Culver​ ​City)​, ​to the​ ​Lamps​ ​at​ ​LACMA​, ​and​ ​Paul​ ​Smith​ ​Pink​ ​Wall​ ​(Beverly​ ​Grove),​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​has​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of wall​ ​art​ ​to​ ​make​ ​your​ ​social​ ​media​ ​feed​ ​pop​ ​with​ ​colour​.​​ ​One of the most charming free things to do in LA is ​​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​photo-shoot​ ​day​ ​and​ ​go​ on the hunt for the city’s​ ​most Instagrammable​ ​places​!

4. Hiking towards fame: hike to the Hollywood sign

📷: @breezebee28

Whether​ ​it’s​ ​hiking​ ​​Runyon​ ​Canyon​​ ​for​ ​an​ ​absolutely​ ​gorgeous​ ​view​ ​of​ ​the​ ​city,​ ​or​ ​a​ ​leisurely hike​ ​in​ ​Malibu​ ​to​ ​find​ ​a​ ​small​ ​waterfall​ ​in​ ​​Solstice​ ​Canyon​,​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​has​ ​an​ ​endless amount​ ​of​ ​free hiking​ ​trails.​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​on​ ​a​ ​time​ ​crunch ​and​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​fit​ ​in​ ​a​ ​hike​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​a selfie​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Sign,​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​spots​ ​is​ ​in​ ​​Lake Hollywood​ ​Park​.​ If​ ​you also​ ​want​ ​the​ ​option​ ​of​ ​a​ ​photo​ ​from​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Sign​ ​overlooking​ ​the​ ​city,​ ​try​ ​the Wonder​ ​View​ ​Trail​.​ ​All​ ​trails​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​walk,​ ​however,​ ​always​ ​be​ ​mindful​ ​of​ ​those pesky car​ ​parking​ ​fees!

5. Visit the best beaches in LA

 📷: @momoko_323

So​ ​many​ ​travelers​ ​pay​ ​a​ ​heavy​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​money​ ​on​ ​beach​ ​vacation​ ​getaways​ ​via​ ​resorts, but​ ​in​ ​Los​ ​Angeles,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​​book​ ​a​ ​hostel​ ​right​ ​on the beach without upsetting your bank balance! ​From​ ​sun tanning​ ​to​ ​sunsets,​ ​going​ ​to​ ​the​ ​beach​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​most​ ​popular​ free things to do in LA.​ ​​Venice​ ​Beach​​ ​is​ ​a​ ​hot​ ​spot​ ​for​ ​many​ ​tourists​ ​to​ ​relax,​ ​swim​ ​and​ ​enjoy​ ​the​ ​sunshine. There’s​ ​also​ ​miles​ ​of​ ​picturesque​ ​beaches​ ​from​ ​Malibu​ ​to​ ​the​ ​South​ ​Bay,​ ​showcasing​ ​the best​ ​beaches​ ​in​ ​L.A.​ ​Besides​ ​Venice​ ​Beach,​ ​Santa​ ​Monica,​ ​Manhattan​ ​Beach​ ​and​ ​Playa Vista​ ​are​ ​just​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​few​ ​other​ ​popular​ ​beaches​ ​to​ ​relax​ ​and​ ​sunbathe.

6. Get fit for free

 📷: @luna_d

Staying​ ​fit​ ​while​ ​traveling​ ​can​ ​be​ ​hard​ ​and​ ​travellers​ ​are​ ​now​ ​finding​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​get​ ​in​ ​their physical​ ​exercise​ ​in​ ​fun​ ​and​ ​cheap​ ​ways!​ ​If​ ​you’re​ ​exploring​ ​​Venice​ ​Beach​,​ ​take​ ​the​ ​Venice Boardwalk​ ​to​ ​find​ ​spots​ ​along​ ​the​ ​way​ ​to​ ​skate,​ ​cycle​ ​or​ ​join​ ​in​ ​on​ ​a​ ​game​ ​of​ ​volleyball​ ​or basketball!​ ​There’s​ ​also​ ​free​ ​workout​ ​equipment​ ​at​ ​Muscle​ ​Beach,​ ​but​ ​beware​ ​of​ ​the intimidating​ ​pumped-up​ ​gym​ ​goers! Protein shake, anyone?​ ​There’s​ ​also​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​​free​ ​or​ ​pay-by-donation​ ​yoga classes​​ ​all​ ​around​ ​the​ ​city​ ​of​ ​Los​ ​Angeles.

7. Plan ahead to visit free museums

 📷: @jlematt

Whether​ ​it’s​ ​free​ ​museum​ ​days​ ​or​ ​free​ ​admission​ ​with​ ​paid​ ​parking,​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​offers​ ​any museum-goer​ ​an​ ​abundance​ ​of​ ​choices​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​museums​ ​for​ ​free.​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​admission​ ​to the​ ​Getty​ ​Center​ ​is​ ​always​ ​free,​ ​however​ ​car​ ​parking​ ​will​ ​cost​ ​you.​ ​Parking​ ​in​ ​Los​ ​Angeles can​ ​be​ ​a​ ​costly​ ​nightmare,​ ​however,​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Getty​ ​Center,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​​save​ ​on​ ​money​ ​by​ ​visiting and​ ​parking​ ​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​ ​having​ ​to​ ​make​ ​ticket​ ​reservations,​ ​but​ ​the​ ​real​ ​attraction​ ​of​ ​the​ ​museum, the​ ​Space​ ​Shuttle​ ​Endeavour,​ ​may​ ​cost​ ​you​ ​​a​ ​few​ ​bucks​ ​to​ ​reserve​ ​a​ ​ticket​.​ ​While​ ​not​ ​all places​ ​are​ ​free,​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​still​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​wide​ ​range​ ​of​ ​free​ ​museum​ ​options​ ​to​ ​spend​ ​your time​ ​indulging​ ​in​ ​art​ ​and​ ​culture.

8. Walk into your celebrity crush on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

📷: @eddy_dayan

From​ ​star​ ​ceremonies​ ​to​ ​casually​ ​strutting​ ​past​ ​your​ ​celebrity​ ​crush,​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Walk​ ​of Fame​ ​offers​ ​every​ ​tourist an ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​take​ ​photos​ ​with​ ​their​ ​favourite​ ​celebrity​… or their name on the floor at least!​ ​It’s one of the timeless free things to do in LA. You​ ​can​ ​visit​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Walk​ ​of​ ​Fame​ ​at​ ​any​ ​time of day, but​ ​you​ ​might​ ​want​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​during​ ​a​ ​star’s​ ​ceremony.​ ​All​ ​star​ ​ceremonies​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​attend​ ​without​ ​booking​ ​tickets​ ​but​ ​arriving​ ​early is​ ​suggested​ ​to​ ​get​​ ​up​ ​close and personal​ ​to​ ​your​ ​favourite​ ​celebrity​ ​stars!

9. Have an avocado toast picnic (with free wifi)

 📷: @rewaculicz

Instead​ ​of​ ​spending​ ​a​ ​fortune​ ​on​ ​avocado​ ​toast​ ​or​ ​other​ ​trendy​ ​healthy​ ​foods​ ​in​ ​Los​ ​Angeles, ​just​ ​pack​ ​a​ ​cheap​ ​lunch​ ​picnic​ ​from​ ​a​ ​local​ ​store​ ​and find​ ​a​ ​park!​ ​You​ ​can​ ​find​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​parks​ ​around​ ​Los​ ​Angeles​ ​where​ ​you​ ​can​ ​enjoy​ ​a​ ​delicious lunch​ ​with the company of free WiFi. So no worries, you can still Insta that trendy avo lunch ;).

10. Experience the best view of Los Angeles

 📷: @serqiokruz

This is by far one of the best free things to do in LA. After a long day of exploring,​ ​you’ll want to check out the view of Los​ ​Angeles​ from the​ ​​Griffith​ ​Observatory, which is arguably one of the best views in the city​.​ ​It’s​ ​free​ ​to​ ​enter​ ​the​ ​grounds,​ ​take​ ​in​ ​the​ ​view,​ ​and also​ ​walk​ ​inside​ ​the​ ​beautiful​ ​building.​ ​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… go on, treat yo’self! 

11. Celebrate​ ​your​ ​visit​ ​to​ ​L.A.​ ​with​ ​a​ ​parade

📷: @kamprelations

From​ ​​Pride​ ​Parades​​ ​to​ ​​Hollywood​ ​Christmas​ ​Parades​,​ ​there’s​ ​many​ ​free​ LA​ ​marches​ ​for anyone wanting to get their stomp on! ​On​ ​the​ ​last​ ​Sunday​ ​of​ ​April,​ ​Downtown​ ​LA​ ​draws​ ​crowds​ ​that​ ​top half​ ​a​ ​million​ ​people​ ​for​ ​a​ ​free​ ​fiesta​ ​that​ ​celebrates​ ​​Cinco​ ​de​ ​Mayo​.​ ​Meanwhile,​ ​the​ ​​West Hollywood​ ​Costume​ ​Carnaval​​ ​brings​ ​in​ ​more​ ​than​ ​400,000​ ​people​ ​around​ ​Halloween​ ​to​ ​be entertained​ ​by​ ​DJs,​ ​costume​ ​contests,​ ​drag​ ​queen​ ​extravaganzas​ ​and​ ​so​ ​much​ ​more… and it won’t cost you a penny!

12. Visit​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Forever​ ​Cemetery​ ​and watch​ ​movies​ ​with​ ​the​ ​dead

📷: @krystle_pletcher

It’s​ ​free​ ​to​ ​visit​ ​the​ ​​Hollywood​ ​Forever​ ​Cemetery​​ ​and​, albeit macabre, many find it a​ ​relaxing​ ​place​ ​to​ ​spend an​ ​hour​ ​or​ ​two.​ ​It’s​ ​recommended​ ​that​ ​you​ ​check​ ​out​ ​the​ ​cemetery​ ​map​ ​online​ ​to​ ​pinpoint any​ ​grave​ ​sites​ ​you​ ​may​ ​or​ want​ ​to​ ​visit.​ ​The​ ​Cemetery​ ​also​ ​holds​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the coolest​ ​events​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city​ ​which​ ​involves​ ​​watching​ ​movies​ ​in​ ​a​ ​cemetery​.​ ​It ​usually costs​ ​between​ ​$15-20​ ​and​ ​sells​ ​out​ ​extremely​ ​fast​ ​due​ ​to​ ​the​ ​popularity​ ​of​ ​packing​ ​a picnic​ ​dinner​ ​and​ ​watching​ ​a​ ​movie​ ​under​ ​the​ ​stars​ that dwell ​above…​ ​and​ ​below.​ ​#Spooky

13. Enjoy​ ​free​ ​tours​ ​and​ tastings

📷: @espressorepublic

Why​ ​spend​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​money​ ​on​ ​a​ ​tour,​ ​when​ ​there are​ ​so​ ​many​ ​free​ ​tours​ ​to​ ​satisfy​ ​your​ ​wallet! Most​ ​​free​ ​tours​​ ​are​ ​pay-what-you-want​ ​walking​ ​tours​ ​of​ ​Hollywood​ ​and​ ​Downtown​ ​Los Angeles,​ ​but​ ​there’s​ ​also​ ​cooler, quirkier​ ​tours​ ​like​ ​a​ ​coffee​ ​roastery​ ​tour​ ​that​ ​comes​ ​with​ ​a complimentary​ ​drink​. The​ ​Espresso​ ​Republic​ ​roasting​ ​facility​​ ​currently​ ​offers​ ​a​ ​free tour​ ​once​ ​a​ ​week​ ​where​ ​you​ ​can​ ​learn​ about their ​coffee​ ​from​ ​farm​ ​to​ ​cup​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as roasting​ ​styles​ ​with​ ​no​ ​ticket​ ​necessary!

14. Listen​ ​to​ ​free​ ​music​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Bowl

📷: @hollywoodbowl

One​ ​of​ LA’s ​best​ ​kept​ ​secrets​ ​is​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​you​ ​can ​​watch​ ​and​ ​listen​ ​to​ ​a​ ​free​ ​show​ ​at​ ​the Hollywood​ ​Bowl​ ​with​ ​no​ ​crowds​ ​and​ ​no​ ​tickets​.​ ​We’re not kidding! How​ ​is​ ​this​ ​possible​ ​you​ ​ask?​ ​Well,​ ​the inside​ ​scoop​ ​at​ ​the​ ​Hollywood​ ​Bowl​ ​is​ ​that​ ​rehearsals​ ​for​ ​shows​ ​usually​ ​take​ ​place​ ​early​ ​in the​ ​mornings​ ​and​ ​are​ ​free​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​down​ ​and​ ​watch.​ ​Cool,​ ​right?​ ​Rehearsals​ ​start​ ​promptly​ ​at 9:30​am​ ​and​ ​go​ ​to​ ​about​ ​12:30pm​. This​ ​can​ ​change​ ​depending​ ​on​ ​performers​ ​so​ ​it’s​ ​best to​ ​call​ ​ahead​ ​and​ ​ask​ ​about​ ​any​ ​upcoming​ ​rehearsals​ ​you​ ​could​ ​possibly​ ​enjoy​ ​for​ ​free.

15. Gorge at food​ ​markets​ ​and​ ​festivals

📷: @smorgasburgla

Depending​ ​on​ ​when​ ​you​ ​visit​ ​Los​ ​Angeles,​ ​you​ ​will​ ​find​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​food​ ​markets​ ​and festivals​ ​located​ ​all​ ​around​ ​the​ ​city​ ​usually​ ​with​ ​free​ ​entry.​ ​​Smorgasburg​ ​LA​​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the best​ ​food​ ​markets​ ​in​ ​the​ ​city.​ ​It’s​ ​a​ ​large​ ​outdoor​ ​market​ ​that​ ​opens​ ​every​ ​Sunday​ ​with​ ​free entry​ ​and​ ​brings​ ​together​ ​a​ ​massive​ ​group​ ​of​ ​food​ ​vendors.​ ​We all know that there’s​ ​no​ ​such​ ​thing​ ​as​ a free lunch,​ ​so​ ​you​ ​will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​for​ ​food but often vendors will offer free samples to tempt you in!

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About The Author

Ryan writes about travel tips and inspiration for all travellers as well as focus on LGBT travel and encouraging his audience to visit popular and off-the-beaten-path places. You can find him online @RyanThomasWoods and on his travel blog www.outwithryan.com.