Don’t have the time or money to book one of our guided tours? No problem! We still want you to have a great time here, so we’ve prepared these free self-guided tours that you can do on your own. That way you’ll still get to see the real Los Angeles even if you’re not able to join us.
All of these self-guided tours are designed to be easy to do using the Los Angeles Metro (for more information on navigating this sprawling city read our article How to Use Public Transport in Los Angeles). If you’re looking for ideas on how you could spend your time here read our helpful guide Things to Do in L.A. Where to Stay in Los Angeles is also particularly helpful, if you’re still planning your trip, as it gives advice on which areas you could base yourself during your stay and be sure to check out Where to Eat in Los Angeles after you’ve arrived. It will give you the inside scoop on the best local spots to grab a bite, either before or after (or during) your self-guided tours.
Want to feel like a movie star and walk down the most famous high-end shopping district in the world? Start this self-guided tour at the storied Beverly Wilshire Hotel and stroll past the designer boutiques of the famous shopping district, then check out some high culture, before ending the tour at another famous hotel – the Beverly Hilton.
Want to experience the spiritual home of the American entertainment industry, where the Academy Awards ceremony is held every year? Start this self-guided tour in the beating heart of Hollywood – at Hollywood and Highland. Movie history is everywhere in the blocks surrounding the famous intersection.
Want to go back in time to the 1920’s and 30’s and the Golden Age of Hollywood? Start this self-guided tour at the stunning Pantages Theater, before taking a stroll back through Hollywood history (via the Amoeba Music Store) to some of the oldest studios in Los Angeles, where film making began here.
Want to know how Los Angeles was founded and what it was like back in those days when it was in the middle of nowhere? Start this self-guided tour at the beautiful 1930’s Union Station and go back in time to the earliest years of Los Angeles, when it was a tiny farming town in the Wild West.
Want to see the civic heart of Los Angeles and some iconic architecture, both new and old? Start this self-guided tour at Los Angeles’ famous City Hall, do a loop through the Historic Core and then end the tour at the stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Want to visit the hippest part of Los Angeles and see some great historic buildings? Start this self-guided tour at Pershing Square and take a walk through the heart of Los Angeles’ downtown (including the historic Broadway Theater District) before finishing at the beautiful Central Library.
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