Los Angeles: know before you go

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the main gateway, about 16 miles southwest of downtown. The FlyAway bus runs nonstop to Union Station in roughly 45 minutes. Metro's C and K lines now reach the LAX/Metro Transit Center, where a free shuttle connects to every terminal. The smaller airports (Hollywood Burbank, Long Beach, and John Wayne in Orange County) are useful alternatives for domestic flights and sit closer to specific parts of the city. Union Station downtown is the hub for Amtrak, Metrolink commuter trains, and the FlyAway bus.

LA's Metro rail and bus system covers the basin from downtown to Santa Monica, Long Beach, and the San Fernando Valley. Tap a TAP card or any contactless credit card at the validator and you get two hours of free transfers. Buses take cash but require exact change and do not come with transfers or fare caps. The rail network is not as dense as New York or London, so check whether your destination is close to a station. Rideshare is everywhere and often the fastest way between neighborhoods. Walking is the best way to see the compact, walkable pockets this site's tours are built on: downtown, Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills.

Los Angeles charges a 14% Transient Occupancy Tax on hotel stays and short-term rentals of 30 days or fewer. The LA Tourism Marketing District adds roughly another 1.5%, so the total tax on your room will be around 15.5% to 17.5% depending on the property. Several major museums offer free general admission, including The Broad downtown and the Getty Center, though timed tickets are often required.

Los Angeles is a big city and the safety picture changes block by block. In the walkable centres covered by the tours on this site (downtown, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, and Silver Lake), you will be fine during daylight and early evening with normal city awareness. Skid Row, immediately east of downtown, is not a place to walk through. On Metro, uniformed Transit Ambassadors and 24/7 camera monitoring are now standard. Keep your phone out of sight near station exits and bus doors, the same as you would in any large transit system.

LA tap water is safe and the Department of Water and Power tests it daily. The bigger health note is air quality. Smog can be noticeable on hot summer days, especially inland. If you have asthma or respiratory issues, check the Air Quality Index in the morning. Sunscreen is non-negotiable year-round; the UV index is high even when the marine layer makes it feel cool.

Cell coverage is strong across the city. Free WiFi is standard in coffee shops, hotel lobbies, and public libraries. Metro stations are being wired for underground cellular service; by 2026 all 100 underground stations should have it. If you are arriving from outside the US, a prepaid eSIM or a T-Mobile/AT&T prepaid SIM from any drugstore will get you online in minutes.

English is the primary language. Spanish is the city's second language, spoken widely across neighbourhoods and on transit. Most signage is English-only. Road signs follow standard US conventions. If you speak some Spanish, you will find plenty of chances to use it, from taquerias to museum galleries.

All Metro Rail stations and vehicles are ADA accessible, with elevators and level boarding for wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. The LAX shuttle from the Metro Transit Center is wheelchair accessible. Major museums (The Broad, LACMA, the Academy Museum) are fully accessible. The walking tours on this site follow public sidewalks and crosswalks; note that some routes include stairs, such as the Music Box Steps on the Silver Lake walk, and curbs in older neighbourhoods may lack ramps.

Los Angeles has a few days when the city rearranges itself around an event. On Academy Awards Sunday (usually early March), a large section of Hollywood Boulevard around the Dolby Theatre closes to traffic. The LA Marathon, also in March, shuts down streets from Dodger Stadium to Century City. On Independence Day, beach parking fills before noon and the coastal routes clog. Check dates before you book. Most museums and attractions stay open on federal holidays, though hours may shorten.

Book a timed ticket for The Broad, even though general admission is free; walk-up lines can be long, especially on weekends. The Academy Museum, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, and Universal Studios Hollywood all sell out days in advance during peak seasons. For the Getty Center, parking reservations are essential if you are driving. Popular restaurants, especially in Silver Lake, the Arts District, and on Abbot Kinney, book up two to three weeks out for dinner.