Fun Facts About Los Angeles: Your Essential Trivia

Published: July 18, 2024
Palm Trees

How much do you know about Los Angeles? Before you head to L.A. on vacation check out our guide to essential Los Angeles trivia. 

Test your knowledge with these fun Los Angeles facts below...

Top facts about L.A.

Beverly Hills
  • 1. Universal Studios Hollywood combines a theme park and a real working studio. CityWalk, the attached shopping and dining area, is free to explore.
     
  • 2. Out of American cities, Los Angeles is second only to NYC in terms of population.
     
  • 3. Madame Tussauds Hollywood is the only American location of this famous wax franchise featuring an entire section devoted to MARVEL© characters.
     
  • 4. The Hollywood Walk of Fame includes more than 2,600 stars.
     
  • 5. Warner Bros. Studio features a replica of Central Perk Café from the Friends series that serves real coffee and treats.
     
  • 6. The Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.
     
  • 7. The US Bank Tower is the third-tallest building in California and the 15th-tallest in the United States.
     
  • 8. OUE Skyspace L.A. located in the US Bank Tower, provides views as far as the San Gabriel Mountains, Catalina Island, and the Pacific Ocean.
     
  • 9. Downtown L.A. is home to the largest concentration of government buildings and institutions after Washington, DC.
     
  • 10. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards®, the Dolby Theatre also plays host to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the Daytime Emmys, and the American Idol finals.

More fun facts about L.A.

Hollywood sign viewpoint
  • 11. The Hollywood Museum is home to the most expansive collection of Hollywood props, objects, and artifacts.
     
  • 12. Griffith Park at the Hollywood Hills sign has one of the best vistas of Los Angeles and can be easily reached by hiking. Griffith Park is also the second-largest urban park in California.
     
  • 13. The RMS Queen Mary is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the official Historic Hotels of America.
     
  • 14. Los Angeles is the only North American city to have hosted the Olympics twice.
     
  • 15. The Los Angeles Zoo also encompasses a substantive botanical garden with a renowned collection of native plant species.
     
  • 16. Los Angeles is home to the largest historic theatre district on the National Register of Historic Places.
     
  • 17. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is the largest such institution in the Western United States and its collections cover 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history.
     
  • 18. Approximately 50 million people visit Los Angeles County each year.
     
  • 19. The Huntington Library — in addition to being one of the best research libraries in the world and boasting gorgeous rose gardens — has been used as a set for nearly 30 different film projects from television to the big screen.

Even more interesting L.A facts

Santa Monica pier
  • 20. Los Angeles is home to the state’s only remaining wooden lighthouse, at San Pedro’s Fermin Park.
     
  • 21. The La Brea Tar Pits is an excavation site with the largest number and most diverse selection of Ice Age fossils in the entire world.
     
  • 22. The USS Iowa is now a floating museum known as Battleship IOWA and is made of 45,000 tons of steel.
     
  • 23. The Autry Museum of the American West was founded by iconic actor Gene Autry and encompasses significant collections of artwork and cultural artifacts.
     
  • 24. The Los Angeles area is home to more than 100 museums of varying sizes and purposes.

Save on admission to L.A. attractions

You'll save on admission vs gate price to many popular Los Angeles attractions with Go City®

Check out passes from Go City and you could save yourself up to 50% on your must-sees – perfect! ☀️Compare Los Angeles passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️

Share your trip with us – follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your vacation!

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

Continue reading

skyline-los-angeles-during-sunset
Blog

Los Angeles Staycation - Ideas to Plan a Fun Weekend at Home

We all love a good vacation. But sometimes, life gets in the way and we can’t get out of town for a variety of reasons. That’s where the idea of a Los Angeles staycation comes in handy. Explore your local city with fresh eyes, seeing and doing things you’ve never done, or only done once. You could even stay in a hotel to make it seem like more of an escape from daily life. If you’re in Los Angeles looking for some ways to explore your hometown, then check out this list of our favorite things to do in L.A. for a fun staycation. Our top staycation ideas include: Aquarium of the Pacific OUE Skyspace L.A. Natural History Museum California Science Center Newport Landing Whale Watch Cruise L.A. Zoo & Botanical Gardens Roller-Skating in Santa Monica The Huntington Library & Gardens Griffith Park Save on Admission Looking to save on tickets to your favorite Los Angeles staycation ideas? Pick up a Go Los Angeles® Card to save up to 50% on top area museums, tours, activities, and more. See all available attractions and prices – here. Newport Landing Whale Watch Cruise In search of something truly special for your staycation? Then a whale watch cruise it is! This delightful and educational excursion is an excellent way to not only see more of your city via the water, but also to appreciate the natural environment in a way you might not have before. Come here to see these majestic creatures in the wild, from Giant Blue Ways to smaller Minke Whales. The kind of whales you’ll see varies seasonally, so be sure to ask your captain what to expect! Getting In: Whale watch tickets are included with the Go Los Angeles Card. Roller-Skating in Santa Monica If you’re in search of some old-fashioned fun, why not try your hand at roller-skates after all these years? Cruise around the Santa Monica Boardwalk on your skates, and enjoy the fresh air and exercise. Adults and kids alike will delight in this fun activity. You can rent skates easily from Perry’s Beach Café, which also doubles as an excellent place for some tasty lunch or snacks (see above - doesn't it look relaxing?) Getting In: Perry’s Beach Café rentals are included with the Go Los Angeles Card. Don’t Forget to Save There you have it – our favorite suggestions for Los Angeles staycation ideas. Whether you’re the type that loves to explore and learn new things, or just love to kick back and relax, we’re sure you’ll be able to create that perfect staycation plan. Remember, if you’re looking to spend wisely while enjoying your local attractions, pick up a Go Los Angeles® Card today!
Katie Sagal

Have a 5% discount, on us!

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