Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles travel guide

Beaches, studios and year-round sunshine

Find flights to Los Angeles See fares from $82

Airports: LAX Los Angeles International Airport · BUR Hollywood Burbank Airport · LGB Long Beach Airport · SNA John Wayne Airport, Orange County · ONT Ontario International Airport
Region: US West
Best time to visit: March–May and September–November have warm, dry days and thinner crowds.
Shortest flight: 2h 40m from Seattle
Round trips from: $82 (live)
Time zone: America/Los Angeles

About Los Angeles

LA is best approached one region at a time. Santa Monica and Venice for beach days, Hollywood and Griffith Park for the classic sights, Downtown for the Arts District, Grand Central Market and the Broad museum, and the Westside for Getty Center views. Distances are long and traffic is real: plan two neighborhoods a day, not five.

Getting in: LAX opened the LAX/Metro Transit Center in 2025, linking the terminals by free shuttle to the K and C Metro lines; the automated people mover connecting terminals to the station is opening in phases. The FlyAway bus runs to Union Station ($12.75). Rideshares pick up from the LAX-it lot; expect $35–$60 to Santa Monica or Hollywood. Burbank (BUR) is a 10-minute walk from a Metrolink station and far easier than LAX for Hollywood and the Valley.

Most visitors rent a car; if you don't, stay in Santa Monica, Hollywood or Downtown where Metro rail and buses are useful. Budget $15–$20 for a taco-truck or food-hall lunch and $30–$50 per person for dinner. Tipping is 18–20% at restaurants.

Best time to visit

March–May and September–November have warm, dry days and thinner crowds. June can be gray at the coast ('June gloom'); fall is the warmest beach season.

Where to stay

Neighborhoods our travelers like: Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown / Arts District, Silver Lake, Venice.

Flights to Los Angeles: typical round-trip fares

What economy round trips to LAX usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.

From	Flight time	Typical fare	Lowest live fare	Actions
New York (JFK)	6h 5m	$218	$207 · Wed, Nov 11	Search dates →
Chicago (ORD)	4h 25m	$168	$150 · Tue, Oct 6	Search dates →
Dallas (DFW)	3h 25m	$128	$111 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Atlanta (ATL)	4h 50m	$178	$173 · Tue, Nov 10	Search dates →
Boston (BOS)	6h 25m	$236	$217 · Tue, Dec 1	Search dates →
Seattle (SEA)	2h 40m	$118	$82 · Wed, Oct 14	Search dates →

Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.

Airports in Los Angeles

What to do in Los Angeles

The places our editors send first-time visitors.

1
Griffith Observatory
Free admission, the best view of the Hollywood Sign and the city grid, and hiking trails out the back door. Go at sunset.
2
Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach
Rent a bike and ride the Marvin Braude bike path between the two — about 25 minutes of ocean views.
3
The Getty Center
Free museum (parking $25) with Richard Meier architecture, gardens and a view from the 405 to the Pacific.
4
Studio tours
Warner Bros. and Universal both run behind-the-scenes tours; book weeks ahead in summer.
5
Grand Central Market and the Arts District
Downtown's food hall since 1917, a few blocks from the Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the murals of the Arts District.

Los Angeles weather by season

Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.

Winter

68° / 49°

Mild and mostly sunny; the rainy months are January–February.

Spring

72° / 54°

Warm inland, cool and foggy mornings at the coast.

Summer

84° / 64°

Hot inland, pleasant at the beach; almost no rain.

Fall

79° / 58°

Warmest ocean temperatures; occasional Santa Ana winds.

Travel tips for Los Angeles

Check fares to Burbank, Long Beach and Orange County — they're often cheaper than LAX and much easier to get in and out of.
Use the LAX-it lot for rideshares; at busy times the Metro or FlyAway bus is faster than waiting for a car.
Never plan a cross-town drive between 3pm and 7pm on a weekday.
Beach parking lots fill by 10am in summer; arrive early or take Metro to Santa Monica.
Tap your credit card on Metro instead of buying a TAP card if you're only riding a few times.

Los Angeles flights: frequently asked questions

Which airport is best for Los Angeles?

LAX has the most flights and lowest fares from the East Coast. Burbank is best for Hollywood, Universal Studios and the Valley; Long Beach and Orange County (SNA) suit the South Bay and Disneyland; Ontario serves the Inland Empire.

Do I need a car in Los Angeles?

For beach-and-Hollywood trips based in Santa Monica or Downtown, Metro rail, buses and rideshares work. If you want to see the Getty, Malibu and Pasadena in one trip, rent a car.

How far is LAX from Disneyland?

About 35 miles — 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by car depending on traffic. Orange County's John Wayne Airport (SNA) is 15 miles from the park.