How to Explore Los Angeles Without Spending a Cent

In Downtown LA, The Broad’s free permanent collection includes works by contemporary art heavyweights such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jeff Koons. The most popular artwork on display is Yayoi Kusama’s signature Infinity Mirror Room - The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away (2013). You’ll need to reserve a time slot to enter the dazzling, LED-lit chamber – tickets are released monthly. Missed out? Her piece Longing for Eternity (2017) can be viewed from outside through porthole-like windows, no booking needed.

If people-watching is your sport, Runyon Canyon in the Hollywood Hills is the place to be. You might even see a celebrity or two in this 52-hectare park frequented by fitness buffs, dog walkers and locals craving fresh air. While the park was impacted by fires in early 2025, all parts – barring the West Trail Area – are accessible. Start with the leisurely stretch that begins at the Fuller Gate entry down Runyon Canyon Road or tackle the signature 3-kilometre Runyon Canyon Loop, which offers spectacular views of the Hollywood sign, LA Basin, Sunset Strip and, on a clear day, even Santa Catalina Island.

Every Friday evening from April to November, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) hosts a free jazz concert in its Smidt Welcome Plaza. Some of music’s biggest legends have performed throughout the event’s three-decade run: Billy Childs, Wayne Shorter and Arturo Sandoval to name a few. Pack a picnic, find a spot on the grass and enjoy a topnotch jam session. Between sets, wander through the photogenic rows of street lamps in the museum’s Urban Light installation.

California is famous for its fresh produce, and the best way to see LA’s dedication to farm-to-table dining is visiting the Santa Monica Farmers Markets. While the Downtown market (held on Wednesday and Saturday) is the largest and sprawls over four blocks, Main Street (on Sunday) features live music and stalls hosted by local artists and Pico Boulevard (also on Saturday) is popular for its family-friendly vibe. Vendors from across the state converge to sell seasonal fruits and vegetables, artisan bread, honey, fresh-cut flowers, cheese and much more. There’s also live music and kids' dance performances. 

High up in the Hollywood Hills, the Griffith Observatory delivers stellar views of both the city below and the cosmos above. Built in 1935, the beautiful Art Deco landmark welcomes more than 1.6 million visitors annually. While the daily shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium require tickets, it doesn’t cost a thing to enter the building and free public telescopes are available every evening. Depending on the timing of your trip, swing by to join the monthly stargazing party held on the lawn.

With works ranging from medieval to modern (including Van Gogh's Irises) and one of the world’s largest art libraries, you could easily spend hours exploring the Getty Center. But the palatial grounds that surround it are equally impressive: set in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the sculptural travertine buildings were designed by architect Richard Meier and sit among more than 34 hectares of landscaped gardens. Admission is free but you’ll need to book a timed ticket online. 

A Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra performance at the Walt Disney Concert Hall at The Music Center can cost hundreds but a self-guided audio tour of the building is free. Narrated by actor John Lithgow, the tour shares the story behind architect Frank Gehry’s striking steel-clad design and features highlights from past performances that have taken place at this storied venue. Tours run daily from 10am to 3pm, departing from the Grand Lobby. Don’t miss soaking up the sun at the quiet rooftop garden – ideal for a break from the city’s buzz.

Ask any local and they’ll agree: Angeles National Forest is the city’s best escape for a day of hiking, biking, boating or even skiing in winter. Less than an hour’s drive from LAX, it covers more than 260,000 hectares with 900 kilometres of trails. Follow the 1.6-kilometre section of the Gabrielino National Recreation Trail starting at the Switzer Picnic Area and wind along sycamore-shaded paths past babbling brooks to scenic Switzer Falls.

Founded in 1977 and located in Exposition Park (where you’ll also find the L.A. Memorial Coliseum sporting arena and California Science Center), the California African American Museum (CAAM) is home to 5000 works spanning photography and film, landscape painting and portraiture, with a majority created by African American artists. Admission is free, as is the busy calendar of events. Join a guided tour, listen to an artist panel, unwind with yoga and sound baths on the lawn or sign up for a family-friendly zine-making workshop. 

Los Angeles is famed for its sun-soaked beaches and buzzy neighbourhoods – and you’ll find both in Venice. Start off by strolling the boardwalk, which is bustling with street performers, bodybuilders and skaters, before taking a dip in the sea. Afterwards, head a few blocks inland to the man-made canals built in 1905 to resemble the Italian city and cross quaint bridges while spotting swans. Keep walking another 10 minutes to Abbot Kinney Boulevard, an area packed with chic boutiques, cafes and eateries. Salt & Straw’s Cinnamon Snickerdoodle ice-cream is a crowd favourite. 

At the California Science Center in Exposition Park, interactive fun is the name of the game. Entry is free and little ones will love the hands-on exhibits: they can touch sea anemones in the marine tank, feel the chill of an Arctic ice wall or hop on a surfboard simulator at Game On! Sports, Science & Play. The Endeavour Space Shuttle is temporarily closed while a new exhibition space is built but the Air & Space section is still open. You’ll need to buy tickets to IMAX screenings.

From Glenoaks Boulevard to Arleta Avenue, Van Nuys Boulevard in Pacoima is alive with colour. The more than 50 murals that adorn the strip’s walls represent a diversity of perspectives and artistic styles, from a 7.3-metre portrait of actor Danny Trejo to a reimagining of the Mona Lisa as a Mexican folk heroine, dagger and all. If you’re lucky, you might even catch an artist at work.

Nothing says Tinseltown quite like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and traipsing the 2700-plus terrazzo-and-brass stars that line Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street doesn’t cost a cent. Find your favourite celebrity (everyone from Steve McQueen to Queen Latifah have made their mark on the Walk) and snap a photo, stopping along the way to see the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. New plaques are unveiled at free public ceremonies along the eight-block stretch, so you might even see a star in real life. 

Hit the stores to get a feel for LA’s fashion scene and escape the Golden State’s signature sunny weather while you’re at it. Head to Rodeo Drive for big-name designers (and to follow in the footsteps of celebs like JLo and Leonardo DiCaprio), Melrose Avenue for boutique browsing (Zimmermann, The RealReal) and hit up The Grove for accessible mall shopping where the people-watching is as good as the window displays.

The final resting place of Judy Garland, Johnny Ramone, David Lynch and Toto from The Wizard of Oz, among many others, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery makes for an atmospheric – if unconventional – tourist attraction. There are more than 20 hectares of manicured lawns and peaceful ponds to explore, with walkways and benches dotted throughout. Nighttime events, such as concerts and classic film screenings (Psycho, The Princess Bride), incur a fee and tend to sell out quickly.

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