Greater Los Angeles
Around Greater Los Angeles
Photo: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Greater area · California · 18.5M people
Greater Los Angeles
Locals say LA · “City of Angels”, “La La Land”, “The Southland”
Sun, surf, and a thousand stories.
Lakers GoldLakers PurpleDodger Blue
Welcome to LA, where the sun meets the city and every corner has a story. From the beaches to the hills, there's always something to discover. Get ready for amazing food, diverse culture, and endless adventures.
Clubs for Greater Los Angeles
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The room
Greater Los Angeles is big: its rooms are its areas'. This is Los Angeles's; the others are below.
One room for everyone around Los Angeles. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Greater Los Angeles. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Griffith Observatory Iconic hilltop observatory with city views.
- Hollywood Walk of Fame Sidewalk stars honoring entertainment icons.
- Santa Monica Pier Historic pier with amusement park and ocean views.
- Disneyland Resort The original Disney theme park in Anaheim.
- Universal Studios Hollywood Movie studio and theme park with rides.
- Getty Center Art museum on a hill with gardens and architecture.
- Outdoors Hike Runyon Canyon
- Outdoors Bike the Marvin Braude Bike Trail
- With kids Disneyland
- With kids California Science Center
- Evenings Sunset Strip
- Evenings DTLA rooftop bars
- Locals love Beach boardwalks
- Locals love Taco stands and food trucks
Through the year
- Rose Parade January Floral floats and marching bands in Pasadena.
- LA Marathon March Race from Dodger Stadium to Santa Monica.
- Long Beach Grand Prix April Street racing through downtown Long Beach.
- LA County Fair May Carnival rides, food, and concerts in Pomona.
- OC Fair July-August Summer fair with rides, exhibits, and food.
LA enjoys a Mediterranean climate with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers. The best time to be out is spring and fall, when temperatures are pleasant and the hills are green. Best: Spring and fall are the best times to be out, with pleasant temperatures and green hills.
Talk like a local
- “The 405”
- The 405 freeway, often congested.
- “DTLA”
- Downtown Los Angeles.
- “The Valley”
- San Fernando Valley.
- “The OC”
- Orange County.
Getaways
- Catalina Island A quick ferry ride to a Mediterranean-like island.
- Palm Springs Desert resort town with mid-century architecture.
- Big Bear Lake Mountain getaway for hiking and skiing.
- Santa Barbara Coastal city with Spanish-style buildings and wine country.
Local flavour
Teams
- Los Angeles Rams NFL
- Los Angeles Chargers NFL
- Los Angeles Lakers NBA
- Los Angeles Clippers NBA
- Los Angeles Dodgers MLB
- Los Angeles Angels MLB
- Los Angeles Kings NHL
- Anaheim Ducks NHL
- LA Galaxy MLS
- Los Angeles FC MLS
- Los Angeles Sparks WNBA
- Angel City FC NWSL
- UCLA Bruins NCAA
- USC Trojans NCAA
Eat and drink
- Street tacos Al pastor, carne asada, and fish tacos from countless taquerias
- In-N-Out Burger Iconic California chain with a secret menu
- Korean BBQ K-town is a mecca for all-you-can-eat and premium spots
- Mexican street corn (elote) Cart-served elote with chili, lime, and cotija
- Acai bowls Health-conscious favorite at beachside cafes
Where people go
- Beach boardwalks Venice, Santa Monica, and Huntington Beach with their eclectic energy
- Taco stands and food trucks Corner taquerias and late-night trucks that define the street food scene
- Hiking trails in the hills Runyon Canyon, Griffith Park, and the San Gabriel Mountains
- Movie studios Hollywood's soundstages and backlots that fuel the entertainment industry
- Farmers markets The Original Farmers Market and local weekend markets
- Theme parks Disneyland in Anaheim and Universal Studios Hollywood
- Canyon roads Mulholland Drive and winding roads with sweeping city views
Heritage and traditions
Los Angeles is proud of its role as a global cultural capital, a place where diverse communities, the entertainment industry, and endless sunshine come together.
This time of year in Greater Los Angeles
- Halloween at West Hollywood October The WeHo Halloween Carnaval on Santa Monica Boulevard is a massive street party with costumes.
- Festival of Masks October A Hollywood celebration of world theater and dance, with free performances and mask-making.
Say it like a local: “dude” — A casual term for friend or person, used widely.
Festivals
- LA Pride June One of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the country, with a parade and music festival.
- Nisei Week August A Japanese American festival in Little Tokyo featuring a parade, taiko drumming, and cultural exhibits.
- Día de los Muertos November Mexican tradition honoring ancestors with altars, marigolds, and processions, especially in East LA and Olvera Street.
- LA Times Festival of Books April The largest book festival in the US, held on the USC campus with author panels and signings.
- Chinese New Year Festival February Chinatown's celebration with lion dances, firecrackers, and a parade.
- Korean Festival September Korea Times Festival in Seoul International Park, with K-pop performances and food booths.
Landmarks with a story
- San Gabriel Mission Founded in 1771, the fourth of the California missions, known for its distinctive capped bell tower.
- San Juan Capistrano Mission A historic mission in Orange County, famous for its swallows and beautiful stone church ruins.
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels The modern mother church of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, designed by Rafael Moneo.
- Wilshire Boulevard Temple A historic Jewish congregation founded in 1862, with a stunning Byzantine-style sanctuary.
- Hsi Lai Temple A grand Buddhist monastery in Hacienda Heights, the largest in the Western Hemisphere.
- Watts Towers A visionary art installation of 17 interconnected steel towers, built by Simon Rodia over 33 years.
Food traditions
- Tamale-making at Christmas Mexican families gather to make tamales in large batches, a holiday ritual passed down for generations.
- Sunday dim sum In the San Gabriel Valley, families enjoy pushcart dim sum at bustling Chinese restaurants, a weekend tradition.
- Persian New Year (Nowruz) feasts In Westwood, Iranian families celebrate spring with a table of symbolic foods like sabzi and fish.
- Jewish deli breakfasts Lox, bagels, and schmear at classic delis like Langer's, a Sunday morning staple in the Jewish community.
- Thai boat noodles In Thai Town, slurping rich, peppery boat noodle soup is a beloved comfort food tradition.
Music and arts
- Surf rock The Beach Boys and Dick Dale defined the surf sound, rooted in the South Bay and Orange County.
- West Coast hip hop N.W.A and G-funk originated in Compton and Long Beach, shaping rap globally.
- Punk rock Bands like Black Flag and X emerged from the LA punk scene in the late 1970s.
- Chicano muralism East LA's murals, like those in Estrada Courts, are a powerful expression of Chicano identity.
A little history
- 1781 Founding of El Pueblo de Los Angeles
- 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo cedes California to the US
- 1910s Hollywood becomes the center of the American film industry
- 1940s Aerospace boom with companies like Lockheed and Northrop
- 1984 Los Angeles hosts the Summer Olympics
Rivalries
- Dodgers vs Giants Historic MLB rivalry with Northern California.
- Lakers vs Clippers Crosstown NBA battle for LA supremacy.
- USC vs UCLA College football rivalry between two LA universities.
- Ducks vs Kings NHL rivalry between Anaheim and LA.
- Game day Dodger Dogs
- Game day Lakers celebrity courtside
- Outdoors Whale watching in Long Beach
- Outdoors Paddleboarding in Newport Beach
- With kids Natural History Museum
- With kids La Brea Tar Pits
Angelenos speak with a relaxed, informal tone, often blending Spanish and English (Spanglish) and using surfer slang. They refer to freeways with 'the' (the 405) and use 'dude' liberally.
Only here
- The Hollywood Sign, visible from many parts of the city, is a universal symbol of stardom.
- Movie premieres with red carpets and celebrity arrivals are a regular occurrence.
- Palm trees line streets and boulevards, creating a quintessential LA skyline.
- Earthquake drills in schools and offices are a routine part of life.
New here? A few tips
- Always carry a light sweater or jacket—even summer evenings can get cool near the coast.
- Use 'the' before freeway numbers (the 405, the 101) to sound like a local.
- Expect traffic; plan trips around rush hours and use apps like Waze.
- Embrace the diversity—try a different cuisine every week, from Persian to Salvadoran.
- A car is almost essential; public transit is improving but limited.
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Areas in Greater Los Angeles
Nearby
Every areaBakersfieldCaliforniaCountry roots, valley sun.San DiegoCaliforniaWhere the desert meets the seaSanta Barbara–Santa MariaCaliforniaWhere the mountains tumble into the seaSan Luis ObispoCaliforniaWhere the Pacific meets the vines.El CentroCaliforniaSun-soaked fields and border-town spirit.VisaliaCaliforniaRooted in the valley, reaching for the pines.HanfordCaliforniaGolden fields, warm hearts.
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA CSA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.