10+ Places in LA Music Fans Should Visit

From strolling down the Hollywood Walk of Fame to spotting concrete handprints of your favorite guitarists and browsing the iconic vinyl shops, LA's vibrant music scene is thriving.

Published: July 18, 2024
Hollywood

While Los Angeles is the home of Hollywood glamour, it's not all about movie stars. LA has a world-famous music scene and rich musical history, with plenty to delight audiophiles. From seeing your favorite musician's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to visiting the legendary venues on the Sunset Strip, there are tons of attractions in LA for music fans, including...

  • GRAMMY Museum
  • Madame Tussauds
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame
  • Guitar Centre Rock World
  • Hollywood Bowl
  • Sunset Strip
  • LA Music Strip
  • And more!

GRAMMY Museum

gramophone-interior

The GRAMMY Museum is a superb place to learn about musicians in a fun, unique, interactive way. With the help of innovative programming, you'll discover the stories behind the artists and the music they created. Music has shaped how we understand the world, and the GRAMMY Museum breaks down the boundaries between artist and audience.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood

madame-tussauds-hollywood
The images shown depict wax figures created and owned by Madame Tussauds.

Madame Tussauds Hollywood is one of the top attractions to visit in LA. Immerse yourself in all the glamour of Hollywood past and present, and surround yourself with Los Angeles' rich and famous. You can get close enough to touch some of the sculptures - and, of course, take that all-important selfie with your favorite singer.

Rub shoulders with the likes of Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Rihanna. Don't miss the themed areas such as the Pop Icons Room - it's filled with all your favorite music stars.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Hollywood walk of fame

You can't visit Los Angeles without taking a stroll down the Walk of Fame. It's a 1.3-mile walk that runs east to west on Hollywood Boulevard and boasts more than 2,600 stars over 15 blocks. These stars represent the names of actors, singers, musicians, directors and so many more who have shaped the entertainment industry. Look for your favorites and snap some photos.

Guitar Center Rock Walk

This may seem like just a giant guitar store, but it's so much more. They have the biggest guitar collection you will ever see, plus other instruments and memorabilia. You can practice any instrument you like without salespeople hanging around. Plus, in front of the store, they have a cement block with the hand-prints of many famous rock stars. See which ones you recognize!

The Hollywood Bowl

Rolling Stone Magazine called The Hollywood Bowl one of the top 10 best live music venues in America.  This amphitheater in Hollywood Hills opened in 1922 and has seen the likes of Billie Holiday and the Beatles play on its stage.

Over the years, it has been upgraded to improve the audience's experience and the performers' acoustics. Today, you can see performances by Cyndi Lauper, Tony Bennet, Hugh Jackman, and so many more. You can purchase tickets for single performances, or create your own package. Don't forget to stop in at the Hall of Fame while you're there.

Sunset Strip

Sunset Strip

If you're going to Los Angeles, the Sunset Strip is a must-see for any music fan. A mile and a half long and steeped in history, the Sunset Strip was the go-to destination of Hollywood stars in the 1920s. It was bursting with supper clubs and nightclubs.

However, it has changed with the times, as the classy jazz age slipped into a more complex web of beatniks and literary geniuses. It has changed with society through folk, rock and roll, and punk. Today it's a pop culture haven, full of bars and shops. Some musical must-sees on the Strip are...
 

  • Whiskey A Go Go - On the corner of the Strip, Whisky A Go Go has been an anchor since 1964 and is still a happening nightspot. It's small, but if you want no-frills rock performances, this is a must for you. If you're looking to listen to metal, this is where you'll find it.
     
  • The Troubadour - The Troubadour is an intimate setting for contemporary music acts. Billy Joel, Elton John, James Taylor, and many more have played on the Troubadour stage.
     
  • The Roxy - If you want to launch your career in LA, this is where you perform. The Roxy Theatre is a place for aspiring new artists, plus well-established acts. The two merge together at The Roxy and you get to experience the wonder of performances in a state-of-the-art facility.

LA Music Center

The LA Music Center is best known for its dance program and affordable ticket prices. The Music Center has four theaters and four resident companies; the LA Master Chorale, the LA Opera, the Center Theatre Group, and the LAPhilharmonic. This is a must-see destination if you want the best in live performances from a nationally recognized program. The LA Music Center is a non-profit organization that brings art and live performance to the world.

Amoeba

Searching through records

Amoeba is another place audiophiles need to put on their must-see list. It is the largest independent music store and it stocks all kinds of music from today's top hits to experimental music. It has a huge collection of vinyl LPs and is still a trading post for new and used discs.

Its selection changes almost daily, so if you see something in this store that you just have to have, you'd better buy it. It considers its staff to be veterans of music retail, with the knowledge to rival everyone else in the business. Amoeba's goal is to match its customers to the music of their soul. 

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

tropical-botanical-garden

You may not think a zoo would be the first stop for a music fan, but in summer, Los Angeles Zoo hosts Roaring Nights. Their annual summer music series is complete with dancing, bars, wild hosts, and DJs. Every year, there's a new theme, so check the website to find out what's going on. It's how the zoo does music. Plus, who doesn't love a great zoo?

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Top 10 Things to Do in Los Angeles for First Time Visitors - Must See & Do Attractions

The first images that come to mind when you think of Los Angeles probably include the iconic Hollywood Sign, surfers riding the waves in Malibu, and lots of sunshine covering legions of palm trees. While you'll hear the occasional wisecrack about traffic on the freeways, millions of people make Los Angeles their home because it's an amazing place to live, work, and play. Los Angeles offers its visitors an incredible array of world-famous attractions and iconic venues, and you can party like a local if you know where to go. If you and your family are looking for the top things to do in Los Angeles during your trip, check out our list of some of the best attractions, including... Universal Studios Hollywood Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Madame Tussauds Hollywood Knott's Berry Farm Six Flags Magic Mountain and more... Save on Admission to Top Things to Do in Los Angeles Many of these must-see attractions are available on the Go Los Angeles Card. Choose as you go from dozens of popular Los Angeles attractions and save up to 50% off combined admission vs. paying at the gate. See all available LA passes, attractions & prices – Learn more. Please keep in mind that some of the attractions listed in this post are separately ticketed and may not be currently included with the Go Los Angeles Card. Universal Studios Hollywood As one of the top amusement parks in the world, Universal Studios Hollywood got even better in 2016 when it added The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to its lineup of famous attractions. If your vacation includes a visit in October with your rowdy teenagers, don't miss the park's one-of-a-kind Halloween Horror Nights event. If you decide to make an entire day out of your visit to Universal Studios Hollywood (very easy to do), don't forget to explore the area outside the park, Universal CityWalk, which is filled with places to shop and tons of restaurants. You can even experience indoor skydiving at iFly Indoor Skydiving. Tip: Check out our tips and guide to visiting Universal Studios Hollywood to make the most of your day there and get the most value out of your ticket! Getting In: Universal Studios Hollywood tickets are included on 3, 5, and 7-Day Go Los Angeles Cards. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood Are you vacationing with movie lovers? The Warner Bros. studio tour is a terrific way to see a real, working movie studio in action and one of the best studio tours in Los Angeles. The famous Warner Bros. backlot covers more than 110 acres, and you might even see a real Hollywood movie in the middle of filming during your tour. A few of the memorable sets you might see include the Central Perk coffee shop set from the television show "Friends" and a display of costumes from recent Warner Bros. films. You might want to check out the tour's "Stage 48: Script to Screen" feature, which is an interactive soundstage that shows you all the steps necessary to get a film from initial concept to the silver screen. Check out our post on other popular Hollywood Studio tours to visit. Getting In: Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card. Madame Tussauds Hollywood The Hollywood movie stars, music icons, and internationally renowned celebrities that greet you within this iconic wax museum on Hollywood Boulevard will never decline a photograph or refuse to pose with you for a quick picture. The Hollywood location of Madame Tussauds is a movie lover's dream and a photographer's delight. A few of the displays you might see include the Spirit of Hollywood, Legends of Country Music, and Marvel Superheroes. If the kids love superheroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, and Wolverine, they'll love having their picture taken with wax superhero statues that look so real you expect them to move and speak. Getting In: Madame Tussauds Hollywood tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card. Hollywood Museum No visit to Los Angeles is complete without appreciating a little Hollywood history. With a history that stretches back more than 100 years, the film industry has captivated fans and audiences with thousands of films over the years. The Hollywood Museum is one of the top things to do Los Angeles to see all those awesome movie treasures you remember like Marilyn Monroe's actual movie dresses and a Rolls-Royce driven by Cary Grant. The curators of the collection at the Hollywood Museum boast that there are more than 10,000 "showbiz treasures" from every facet of Hollywood's Golden Era. The museum regularly hosts special exhibitions, so you never know what might be on display when you visit. Getting In: Hollywood Museum tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card. Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour (Yellow Loop) Make sight-seeing easier by taking a ride on a StarLine sightseeing tour. A bus pass allows you to board the bus and hop off at your leisure whenever the bus stops at one of the attractions you'd like to visit. Whenever you ride the bus, you'll hear pre-recorded tour narration in your choice of one of nine languages. The yellow loop is ideal for traveling between Santa Monica and Beverly Hills and offers you stops between a variety of shopping venues including the Brentwood Country Mart, the 3rd Street Promenade, and Westside Pavilion. The bus will also take you to the Santa Monica Pier so that you can add Pacific Park to the day's activities. Getting In: Hop On Hop Off Los Angeles Bus Tour tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card. Scheduling Your Vacation for Maximum Fun in Los Angeles The size and scope of Los Angeles and all its attractions might make you wonder if you can see everything you want to experience during your vacation. Los Angeles County is comprised of many well-known cities like Santa Monica, Hollywood, and Long Beach, and it helps to concentrate your efforts in a particular region each day. For example, you might devote a day to Hollywood to take the Hollywood Movie Star Homes Tour and visit Madame Tussauds Hollywood, as well as stroll along Hollywood Boulevard to see the Walk of Fame. Another day might find your family visiting the beach cities to see the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach and the Newport Landing Whale Watch further south. Using the Starline Tours: Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour is an excellent way to tour an area. You'll easily reach a few of your chosen destinations for the day without fighting the traffic and packed boulevards with your rental car. However, some of the best experiences in Los Angeles are worthy of an entire day. Attractions like Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott's Berry Farm, and Six Flags Magic Mountain are activities that can provide your family with entertainment for an entire day. Let's Recap So there you have it. Our picks for some of the most popular and top things to do in Los Angeles for first-time visitors during their vacation. Plan to visit some of these top attractions during your trip. Whether you are traveling with kids, teens, or just adults, we're sure you and your family will have a great time. Pick up a Go Los Angeles Card and save up to 50% on combined admission vs. paying at the gate.
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