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Free Things to Do in Los Angeles
All Ages / Arcade Games / Casual
Info The Santa Monica Pier is a 100-year-old SoCal landmark and popular destination for tourists, locals, and beach-goers of all ages. The pier is located on Colorado Avenue in Santa Monica and is comprised of two separate bridges: the Municipal Pier and Pleasure Pier. The Santa Monica Pier offers attractions for both daytime ... more
200 Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica, 90401
Free / Art / Artsy / Intellectuals
Info The Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture Center, known simply as the Hammer Museum, is a unique art institution that aims to connect the past with the present. Positioned in Westwood, the three-story building is one of three public art units located within the School of Arts and Architecture at the University of California ... more
10899 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90024
All Ages / All Types / Beach / Free
Info Located in Malibu, CA, Zuma Beach is one of the best surf spots in Los Angeles. The alcove is known for its wide sands and is annually recognized for having some of the cleanest water conditions in Los Angeles County. Since it can be accessed directly by the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), Zuma Beach is as much a tourist ... more
30050 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90265
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20s / 30s / 40s / Actors / Affluent
Party Earth Review Nearly as exclusive as Rodeo Drive but with a younger and hipper vibe, Robertson Boulevard features a two-block stretch of exclusive boutiques and restaurants that has become a shopping mecca for young Hollywood and reality star wannabes. Visitors are almost certain to catch a starlet or two flitting in and out of uber ... more
Robertson Boulevard (between Beverly Boulevard and Third Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90048
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All Ages / Casual / Great View
Reviewed by Heather P.
"Hermosa Beach really does have it all. Lets start with the people, at Hermosa Beach you'll be surrounded by tanned, gorgeous locals and surfers. Hermo ..." more
1 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
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All Ages / All Types / Bars / Cafés
1 Pier Avenue
Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
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All Ages / All Types / Bars / Cafés
Party Earth Review The vibrant seaside community of Santa Monica is also home to the Third Street Promenade, a lively three-block stretch of boulevard that is one of LA’s most popular outdoor malls. Dedicated to pedestrian traffic only, the Promenade sees a diverse mix of people during the day, from camera-toting tourists to suited professionals ... more
Third Street between Broadway and Wilshire Boulevard
Santa Monica, CA 90403
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All Ages / All Types / Artists
Party Earth Review A carnivalesque 1.4-mile pedestrian walkway bursting with frenetic weirdness, the Venice Boardwalk is one of LA’s prime gawker destinations. A whirlwind of activity keeps shutterbugs busy, while tourists crowd around storefronts to peruse the cheap knickknacks, postcards, handicrafts, t-shirts, and knock-off sunglasses ... more
Ocean Front Walk, between Navy Street to the north and Washington Boulevard to the south
Venice, CA 90291
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All Ages / All Types / Beach / Free
Party Earth Review A nearly seamless continuation of the famed Venice Beach to the south, Santa Monica Beach offers a bevy of waterfront fun to suit almost any visitor’s tastes, from intense recreation to avid shopping to burning away the day on 245 acres of sand. The hundred-year-old Santa Monica Pier marks the beach’s southern edge, where ... more
Bordered by the Santa Monica Pier to the south and Will Rogers State Beach to the north
Santa Monica, CA 90291
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All Ages / All Types / Chill / Free
Reviewed by Heather P.
"A day at Malibu Creek State Park is going to be filled with activity, gorgeous views, and plenty of nature. I personally went to Malibu Creek for a ..." more
1925 Las Virgenes Road
Agoura, CA 91376
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All Ages / All Types / Bars / Free
Party Earth Review Arguably LA’s most popular tourist attraction, Hollywood Boulevard’s one-mile main stretch is packed with souvenir shops, museums, a mall, restaurants, and bars. Tourists from all over the world crowd the Walk of Fame to click photos of the brass celebrity stars embedded in the sidewalk that celebrate everyone from Charlie ... more
Hollywood Boulevard between La Brea Avenue and Vine Street
Hollywood, CA 90028
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Affluent / All Ages / All Types
Party Earth Review Featured in films like Pretty Woman and known for its uber-exclusive designer labels and haute couture fashions, the world-renowned Rodeo Drive is LA’s most famous high-end shopping district. A short three-block stretch of exclusive boutiques, Rodeo has become a mecca for wealthy female shoppers and celebrities, as well ... more
Rodeo Drive between Wilshire Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
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LA Free Things to Do Overview
Los Angeles is an expansive metropolis that stretches from the sandy beaches of the Pacific to the gritty streets of Downtown. From one end to the other and everywhere in between, there are plenty of free things to do in L.A.
From the South Bay to Malibu, Los Angeles beaches offer a slice of sun-kissed paradise that draws locals and tourists on any day with a clear sky and warm temps. While in-the-know Angelenos and surfers head to Zuma or Manhattan Beach, out-of-towners flock to the touristy shores of Santa Monica and Venice. Those who do choose Venice have an added treat in the Boardwalk, where street performers, hard bodies, oddballs, and the homeless are some of the interesting characters who wander on this shop-laden strip.
Of course, a visit to Hollywood Boulevard is one of the most popular free things to do in Los Angeles. Whether checking out the iconic cinema stars whose names grace the Walk of Fame, or eyeing the handprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's Chinese Theatre), there’s always a gaggle of sightseers crowding the sidewalks in this neighborhood.
Anyone looking for a free educational experience in Los Angeles should check out the astronomy museum at the Griffith Observatory, the art collection at the Getty Center, or the California Science Center, which is home to Space Shuttle Endeavour. Admission to all these spots won’t cost a penny, though they make up for it with pricy parking.
Then there’s the outdoor Mexican marketplace at Olvera Street. The historical site features shops and authentic Mexican food in the oldest part of Los Angeles. Visitors can enjoy a free walking tour Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10am to noon.
