Los Angeles in September

Published: July 18, 2024

There’s a lot to do in Los Angeles, especially in the fall. Though the West Coast may be lacking in scenic seasonal foliage, the area more than makes up for it with an exciting array of activities and events of all kinds. Explore the city on sightseeing tours, soak up culture at museums and galleries, or choose from the many free things to do. Trust us when we say that you’ll never be bored here - rather, you might struggle to fit it all in! Whether you’re a culture vulture, an artsy type, or a foodie, you’re sure to find something to pique your interest. Still daunted by the prospect of exploring a new city? Don’t worry, this L.A. bucket list is a good place to start, with a great mix of attractions and activities to keep you busy! Which classic fall L.A. activities will you try?

See the Sites

Image of Handrail, Person, Walking, Path, Road, Corridor, Indoors, City, Street, Urban, Walkway,

When exploring a new city, it’s always a good idea to check out the local galleries. Thankfully, Los Angeles is chock-a-block with fantastic cultural institutions, ranging from the big hitters to fun speciality museums. Still, one of our favorites has got to be the Getty Center for its impressive and broad repository. Combining art, architecture and nature all into one, this popular visitor attraction really is a total must-see. Perched atop a hill in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, the establishment offers spectacular 360-views of the city. Upon entrance, visitors can enjoy one of the finest collections of artwork in the world - no really, we mean it! The Getty’s collection includes everything from historic manuscripts and Renaissance paintings to Baroque sculptures and 20th-century American photography. Highlights include Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece Irises, Rembrandt van Rijn’s joyful self-portrait Rembrandt Laughing, and the Center for Photographs. In addition, the Central Garden is a total sight to behold. A thoroughly unforgettable cultural experience, the Getty Center is perfect for those who are looking to incorporate a little education into their travel experience.

Image of City, Urban, Road, Street, Path, Sidewalk, Metropolis, Downtown, Person, Bag, Handbag, Car, Vehicle, People, Plant, Shop, Shopping Mall, Advertisement, Bus, Pedestrian,

As the bustling epicenter of the American entertainment industry, L.A. has long been a significant draw for pop culture lovers and creative types alike. Those who are looking to dive into all of the glitz and glam will have countless attractions to choose from, though few are quite as iconic as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Stretching for 1.3 miles down Hollywood Boulevard, this unique attraction draws in over 10 million visitors each year - and it’s easy to see why! Standing as one of Tinseltown’s most emblematic attractions, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has been representative of strong ambition, accomplishment and creative thought ever since its establishment way back in 1960. If you’re looking for the particular star of one of your favorite celebrities, we recommend using the Walk of Fame’s Star Search tool on their website to assist. As one of L.A.’s most beloved tourist hotspots, the Walk of Fame should rank high up on any first-timer’s itinerary.

Explore the City

Image of Neighborhood, Palm Tree, Plant, Tree, City, Road, Street, Urban, Path, Summer, Boy, Male, Person, Teen, Sidewalk, People, Skateboard, Building,

Los Angeles is a wonderful city comprised of countless different neighborhoods. Though L.A. has districts for almost every area of interest, we especially love Venice for its artistic nature and laid-back personality. Of course, one of the top visitor attractions of Venice has got to be its world-famous beach. September is a great time to grab a lounge chair and soak up the sun, since the weather will still be warm, whilst the crowds should have just died down - just remember to bring plenty of sunscreen and water! And whilst the area is known for its fantastic beach, that’s not all that there is to do here. Another popular tourist activity in the area is walking the Venice Canals. Nestled between the Venice Boardwalk and the Abbot Kinney, this quiet spot provides a scenic tour of some of the neighborhood’s most charming beach houses. In addition, Venice is home to some of the city’s quirkiest attractions, including The Mosaic House and Muscle Beach. With so much to see and do here, this place is a total crowd-pleaser.

Image of Urban, Shoe, Person, Amusement Park, Fun, Theme Park, Handbag,

Another one of our favorite places to visit in Los Angeles in September is the Santa Monica Pier. A quintessential West Coast attraction, the Santa Monica Pier has been drawing in visitors from near and far since its establishment way back in 1909. This spot is great for those travelling in groups, since there is a lot of choice for exciting activities to choose from. One of the pier’s most popular attractions has got to be Pacific Park, an admission-free amusement park with lots of exciting rides, restaurants, stores and more. Another great stop is of course, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, which features over 100+ local marine life and animal species. Or, if you’re looking to just kick back and relax, we highly suggest checking out the Santa Monica Pier Farmers’ Market. Celebrating California’s rich agricultural heritage, this spot is widely known for purveying fresh fruit and veggies as well as some seriously delicious eats. Grab a bite and enjoy your food whilst watching the sun set over the Pacific - what could be better than that?

Try Something Unique

Image of People, Person, Crowd, Cinema, Electronics, Screen, Adult, Female, Woman, Classroom, Indoors, School, Hat,

As the entertainment capital of the world and home to the stars, Los Angeles presents countless places to catch a movie - and in many forms! Still, what better way to see a movie than set against California’s wonderful natural backdrop? With Street Food Cinema, spend time with your loved ones and watch the stars under the stars. This service is known for its impressive programming, with everything from new blockbusters and old classics to quirky indie movies to choose from. Don’t fill up before you head out because this place has lot of great food trucks serving up freshly-made dishes put together by local artisans. There are lounge chairs laid out to sit on, though we recommend bringing blankets to keep yourself warm if you’re going for a late-night show. With its laidback atmosphere and fun vibe, this is the perfect way to relax after a long day of exploring!

Fall in Los Angeles can be a wonderful time of the year. Explore the area to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.

Sarah Harris
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

Blog

Los Angeles Vacation Tips

Whether you are heading out west for the sunny weather, the beautiful beach or to try and catch a glimpse of a star or two, there are certainly a number of things to know which will make your time in Los Angeles a little bit more fun. With a couple helpful Los Angeles Vacation Tips and a Go Los Angeles Card Attractions Pass tucked into your pocket, there’s simply no way that your time in the Golden State won’t be great! The first tip is a relatively new one. Use your Go Los Angeles Card to visit Universal Studios Hollywood and take a trip on the park’s newest ride - “Despicable Me Minion Mayhem.” A motion simulator ride based off of the rib-splitting flick Despicable Me, the ride has been a hit since it opened up in LA after first having success in Orlando. A special feature of the Go Los Angeles Card that is unique to Universal Studios allows pass-holders to enter the park three separate times, good for $84 worth of fun. You may be wondering what you’ll be getting yourself into when you get to LA, so here’s a brief overview of what to expect: The City of Los Angeles is 472 square miles of entertainment and culture, with more than 300 museums, the largest government center outside of Washington, D.C., the nation’s largest historical theater district and of course, the one and only place to see the infamous stars on the Walk of Fame. Los Angeles County is obviously far larger at 4,084 square miles and it contains 88 incorporated cities with L.A. being the largest with a population of 3.8 million people. During your visit to all the 37 sites that are available with the all-inclusive Go Los Angeles Card for one low price, keep your eyes peeled for birds of paradise (the official city bird) and coral trees (the official city tree). You also may want stop by the port in Lalaland if you want to see a city in action as the waterfront in the City of Angels is the busiest in the U.S. and one of the busiest in the world. You certainly won’t be the only person looking for Los Angeles Vacation tips as Los AngelesCounty generally has 40.3 million visitors each year. The Go Los Angeles Card has been ranked by reviewers at 4.5 out of five stars and has gotten positive reviews from around the world, including this one from a German tourist in 2012. “I bought the 5-day Go LA Card and it was well worth it! At this time of writing I have only used it 4 days out of 5 and it is already well worth it, I saved more than if I didn't get the card!” Need things to do in Los Angeles? Consider options like the Hollywood Museum, Malibu Movie Star Homes Tour or Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Go City Expert
Los Angeles sunset
Blog

Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles - The Ultimate Tourist Guide for Your Trip

Los Angeles is more than just a party in the U.S.A. Once you've hopped off the plane at LAX, you'll soon discover that it's a modern, trendsetting city with diverse residents, a rich global culture, varying landscapes, excellent eats, and circa 300 days of sunshine a year. Whether you're traveling with kids in tow, planning a romantic getaway, meeting up with friends, or going solo, our travel guides have all the information you need to get into the Cali mindset and plan a memorable trip. From Hollywood thrills and outdoor activities to cultural explorations, Los Angeles has it all. So, here are some resources and helpful tips to help you enjoy Los Angeles. Popular Los Angeles attractions   Universal Studios Hollywood - The Entertainment Capital of L.A, it includes a full-day, movie-based theme park, and Studio Tour plus Universal CityWalk®, an entertainment, shopping, dining complex, and much more. Madame Tussauds Hollywood - Enjoy a carefree time posing with the lifelike Hollywood personalities on display at this iconic attraction. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood - Go behind the scenes at a Hollywood studio and ee how your favorite movies & TV shows are made. Hollywood Museum - The official museum of Hollywood has the most extensive collection of Hollywood memorabilia in the world. Head over here for more Los Angeles attractions to see during your trip. How long are you visiting the City of Angels? Whether you're visiting Los Angeles for 24 hours or staying an entire week, we've put together sample itineraries that include all of the most popular things to do in the city. From all-around-town tours to popular theme parks and activities, these itineraries give you the best LA experience based on your length of stay. One Day in Los Angeles - sample itinerary 3 Days in Los Angeles - sample itinerary One Week in Los Angeles - sample itinerary California Road Trip - sample itinerary - San Diego to San Francisco Who's coming to L.A. with you? No matter who you're traveling with, there are a ton of fun things to do in Los Angeles, particularly for families. We've put together a list of top attractions and activities geared to young kids and teens to help you plan your trip. Things to Do in Los Angeles with Kids Things to Do in LA for Teens What type of L.A. activities are you into? Whether you're planning on checking out all the top museums or you really just want to go behind the scenes and see the 'movie magic,' our LA locals put together a few 'best of' lists to help you decide what's worth adding to your itinerary. Best Hollywood Studio Tours Top Los Angeles Area Theme Parks Top Museums in Los Angeles Visiting Los Angeles on a budget Which parts of Los Angeles are you interested in visiting? Explore Los Angeles by neighborhood to make the most of your time sightseeing. We've highlighted a handful of top attractions and places to see by neighborhood in LA so you can maximize your time in each location. Los Angeles Neighborhoods Guide Things to Do in Hollywood What time of year is your L.A. trip? Los Angeles is a great city to visit year-round and offers a different experience to travelers with each season and type of weather. Check out our lists of things to do in the city throughout the year to make the most of your itinerary and experience unique, calendar-based LA happenings. Things to Do in Los Angeles in the Spring Things to Do in Los Angeles in the Fall Things to Do in Los Angeles in the Winter Things to Do in LA on a Rainy Day What's the best way to get around Los Angeles? L.A. is easy to navigate and there are tons of taxis and shared ride services available. Car: Renting a car is the most popular option for travelers.  Public transportation: the Metro Bus and Rail system is a convenient and affordable way to get around Los Angeles. Consider getting a Metro Day Pass for unlimited rides on the day of purchase. Tip: get the free moovit app for point-to-point trip planning and real-time updates for both subway and bus routes.  Taxis: taxis are available and easy to hail down and shared ride services such as Uber and Lyft are widely available and easy to use.  Hop-on hop-off tours: a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour (an included attraction option) is a great way to get acquainted with the city and see some popular attractions. Where should you stay in L.A? There are plenty of great places to stay in the area. Below are a handful of hotel suggestions located near popular tourist attractions and fun things to do. Hollywood Historic Hotel Hilton Checkers Hollywood Le Bon Hotel Sheraton Grand Los Angeles Hollywood Hotel-The Hotel of Hollywood Where are the best places to go shopping in L.A? In between sightseeing, try and find time to pick up some souvenirs. Here are a few popular areas to get some shopping in. Citadel Outlets Macy's The Grove Santa Monica Place Rodeo Drive Where to eat in Los Angeles Go on a tour of Los Angeles’ foodie scene with our top picks for family-friendly places to eat in Los Angeles. We’ve included top picks for every appetite so you can sightsee while you taste your way through Los Angeles’ culinary destinations. Fun info from an L.A. local   The Hollywood sign originally said “HOLLYWOODLAND” – its intended purpose was as a billboard marketing a housing development. Los Angeles is built on the third largest oil field in the country. There are more cars than people in L.A. Los Angeles has the largest number of female-owned businesses in the country. Beverly Hills was originally a Lima bean ranch. Share your adventure with us Tag @GoCity in your vacation photos and we’ll feature you on our page. Follow the Go City Instagram and Facebook channels for exclusive competitions, special offers, and events to help you make the most of your travels.
Casey Makovich

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.