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Home / Travel Blog

What is Los Angeles Known For?

Travel Blog Last Updated · Sep 25th, 2022

Let’s take a look below at famous things Los Angeles is known for.

Welcome to Los Angeles!
Welcome to Los Angeles!

Los Angeles is among the most well-known cities in the world and for good reason.

There are many things that make this city special and below we’ll talk about things that Los Angeles is known for so you can learn more.

Table of Contents

  • Things Los Angeles Is Famous For
    • Hollywood Sign
    • Venice Beach
    • Beverly Hills
    • Homeless People
    • Muscle Beach
    • Mexican Culture
    • Famous Celebrities
    • Little Tokyo
    • Skid Row
    • Santa Monica
    • Hollywood Boulevard
    • Traffic Jams
  • What Is Los Angeles Known For?

Things Los Angeles Is Famous For

This city is known around the world as the home of the rich and famous, and it’s the second-largest in America, so there are plenty of tourist destinations in Los Angeles for you to enjoy.

Whether you’ve been before or not, it’s a city with unique experiences to offer, so let’s learn a little bit more about what makes it so special.

Hollywood sign visible from a street in Los Angeles
Hollywood sign visible from a street in Los Angeles

Hollywood Sign

When people think of Los Angeles, one of the first things that come to mind is the Hollywood sign because it’s the most recognizable landmark.

Originally, the sign read “Hollywoodland” and it stayed that way for 16 years before it was changed. The original purpose of the sign was to advertise a hillside development, but it grew to become a symbol of the film industry.

Locals and tourists walking in the boardwalk of Venice Beach
Locals and tourists walking along the boardwalk on Venice Beach

Venice Beach

Beaches are one of the many things Los Angeles is known for, but Venice Beach is one of the most popular in Los Angeles, so it’s worth a visit.

The most popular attraction is the Venice Beach boardwalk, which is full of performers, fortune-tellers, and a colorful community of oddballs who crowd the promenade. It’s a very charming place!

The iconic palm trees in a neighborhood in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles
The iconic palm trees in a neighborhood in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, so it’s one of the most common tourist destinations in Los Angeles.

The zip code 90210 is known by everyone and it’s one of the most expensive places to live in America.

This area is one of the most famous things in Los Angeles because it’s home to mega-celebrities, high-end shopping, and some of the most incredible properties in the world.

Many visitors to Los Angeles do the celebrity home tour that tours the area in an open-top bus to give an insight into this unique celebrity world.

A homeless person outside a diner near Venice Beach
A homeless person outside a diner near Venice Beach

Homeless People

Unfortunately, homelessness is one of the many things Los Angeles is known for, which offers a huge contrast compared to what we just discussed above.

There are over 63,000 homeless people in LA county, and over 41,000 of them live in the city of LA. These numbers are just an estimate and they are believed to be higher by advocates.

The signage of Muscle Beach in Santa Monica
The signage of Muscle Beach in Santa Monica

Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach is located in Santa Monica, which was the birthplace of the fitness explosion in the US back in 1934.

It all started with an outdoor weightlifting platform called Muscle Beach Venice and 18 years later, Muscle Beach was established.

If you’re into bodybuilding, you can’t miss the opportunity to work out at the most famous outdoor gym and the day pass is only $10.

A tourist drinks Jarritos soda, originally sold in Mexico, at Central Market hangout in Los Angeles
A tourist drinks Jarritos soda, originally sold in Mexico, at Central Market hangout in Los Angeles

Mexican Culture

Before California became a part of the United States, it was a part of Mexico, so the Mexican culture is still one of the biggest things Los Angeles is known for.

Around 33% of the people living in the state have Hispanic heritage, so you’ll see the culture all over the place because Latinos have helped shape this part of the US.

Los Angeles offers some of the best Mexican food, second only that of Mexico.

Celebrities can be spotted in El Capitan Theatre where some movie premiers are done
Celebrities can be spotted in El Capitan Theatre where some movie premiers are done

Famous Celebrities

One of the most famous things in Los Angeles are celebrities and this city is packed with them.

Many of the world’s most well-known people live in Los Angeles because it’s the center of the entertainment industry.

Famous movie and TV stars, singers, influencers, etc., you’ll find them here. You never know who you’ll spot while you’re out and about.

A shrine in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles
A shrine in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

Little Tokyo

Located in Downtown LA, Little Tokyo is a cultural and civic center for Japanese Americans and it stretches for five city blocks.

This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Los Angeles and it’s an exciting place to visit full of restaurants, bars, and events.

It’s one of the most multicultural neighborhoods and it’s full of history, so you’ll enjoy taking a walking tour.

Skid Row

Also known as Skid Road, this is a neighborhood located in downtown LA that houses the largest homeless population in the country.

The area is the exact opposite of Beverly Hills and it’s known as a dumping ground for “undesirables”.

People living on Skid Row are not just homeless, they suffer from addiction, mental illness, and they’ve had incredibly difficult lives, rejected by society.

The famous Santa Monica pier in broad daylight
The famous Santa Monica pier in broad daylight

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is a well-known beachfront city and it’s one of the tourist destinations in Los Angeles you can’t miss.

The Santa Monica Pier is particularly well-known and tourists flock to it, so expect a crowd.

The beach is also lovely and there’s easy access to it from all parts of the city, so it’s the perfect place to spend a sunny day.

The Hollywood Boulevard during midday
The Hollywood Boulevard during midday

Hollywood Boulevard

The Hollywood Boulevard is one of the many must sees in Los Angeles and it’s quite iconic. It’s a huge tourist spot, so it’s one of the main things Los Angeles is known for.

You’ll find plenty of landmarks, museums, and many attractions all along the boulevard, so you can’s miss it if you want an authentic experience in the city.

Traffic at East Olympic Boulevard in the evening
Traffic at East Olympic Boulevard in the evening

Traffic Jams

Last but not least, we can’t talk about Los Angeles without mentioning the traffic jams.

They are notoriously terrible and they can cost you hours of your day. That’s why people say LA is such a sublime walking city.

The weather is always nice and there’s so much to see, you’ll be better off walking around, especially during rush hour.

What Is Los Angeles Known For?

These are only a few of the things Los Angeles is known for, but there’s a lot more where that came from.

The city is exciting and it’s packed with tourist destinations, landmarks, opportunities for adventure, good food, and so much more.

Sure, not everything is perfect, but it’s a lovely place to visit and if you want to have an authentic experience, you can’t miss the most famous things in Los Angeles.

Why not compare Los Angeles with San Francisco if you are thinking of moving or spending an extended period of time in California?


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