Where to stay in Los Angeles

With the perfect combination of gorgeous beaches, great shopping and attractions for all ages, Los Angeles is the optimal vacation spot. Find the best place to stay in LA using our extensive guide.

where to stay in los angeles
The Santa Monica Pier is a wellknown part of Los Angeles and if you are looking for a hotel in the area there is a lot to choose from.

Are you going on vacation to Los Angeles and want to get the most out of your stay? The destination has a lot to offer, with everything from museums and entertainment to great weather and long beaches.

Whether you are visiting Los Angeles for the first time or have been here before, hopefully our guide to the best spots to stay will give you a hand. Here you can learn all about where to stay with your family or as a first time visitor, and will also find the most popular tourist destinations and best areas in town.

Find the best place to stay – popular areas in LA

Los Angeles is filled with interesting neighborhoods and areas – learn a little more about some of the most popular options in the compilation below.

  • Hollywood: This is undoubtedly the most famous part of Los Angeles, and a great spot for first time visitors. Here you can experience iconic locations, shopping and nightlife.

  • Venice Beach: Venice Beach is a surfer’s paradise and well known for its boardwalks, street performers and unique lifestyle.

  • Beverly Hills: If you want to experience exclusivity and luxury, Beverly Hills is the place to choose. The area offers lots of high-end shopping and designer boutiques, together with great restaurants.

  • Santa Monica: This is the most popular beach in Los Angeles, with the well known Santa Monica Pier. If you are traveling with your family this can be a good choice.

  • South Bay: Another place to check out if you want a beach vacation is South Bay, which is a calm and walkable part of town.

  • Downtown LA: If you are visiting Downtown LA, you are probably here on business. Here you find conference facilities and business centers in every corner, together with a growing arts district.

Where to stay in Los Angeles with family

With popular sites such as Disneyland and Universal Studios, this is definitely a good destination if you are traveling with your kids. Several parts of Los Angeles are family-friendly, and if you are looking for a good place to stay with your kids there are a number of options to choose from.

One popular place to stay with family is Santa Monica. Here you find everything from beautiful beaches and family-friendly hotels to lots of shopping and outdoor activities. Another great choice is to look for a hotel in Hollywood, especially if your kids are interested in movies and entertainment.

Getting around LA – visiting without a car

When it comes to getting around Los Angeles, the city actually has one the best public transportation systems in the country. The most convenient choice is the metro system which covers most parts of town including the primary tourist spots. There are also bus lines connecting all the main parts of Los Angeles.

With that being said, if you are visiting Los Angeles without a car there are some parts of the city that are better than others. The best areas to pick are probably Downtown LA, Santa Monica or Hollywood.

Where to stay for the first time

Being the most famous part of Los Angeles, Hollywood is also a great area to choose if you are visiting LA for the first time. In the area you find a lot of iconic tourist destinations, a great nightlife and a good deal of shopping and restaurants. The area is also very walkable and you can easily get from one interesting location to another.

where to stay in los angeles hollywood
Don't miss the iconic Hollywood sign when visiting Los Angeles.

What to experience in Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world wanting to experience everything the city has to offer. Listed below you find some of the most well visited tourist attractions in Los Angeles.

  • Universal Studios Hollywood: Being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, Universal Studios provides everything from park rides to shows and a working movie studio. Reserve a full day and take part of everything that the theme park has to offer.

  • Griffith Observatory: Get the best views of the city by visiting the Griffith Observatory. Here you find both a planetarium and a number of exhibits.

  • Petersen Automotive Museum: The Petersen Automotive is known to be one of the best automotive museums in the world, and a must see if you are a car fan.

  • Hollywood Sign: You can’t actually access the Hollywood Sign, since it is located in a restricted area. With this being said, make sure you get a picture with the famous sign when visiting Los Angeles.

  • Venice Beach: As previously mentioned, Venice Beach is a unique destination with its busy boardwalk and street performers. Even if you don’t choose a hotel here, the bustling beach is well worth a visit.

  • Hollywood Walk of Fame: Another iconic part of Hollywood is the Walk of Fame, where you can find all your favorite entertainers.

  • Disneyland: Disneyland is actually located in Anaheim, but is for sure one of the most well visited destinations if you travel to Los Angeles. The theme park doesn’t really need much of an introduction – just expect a day filled with attractions and entertainment.

Arriving to Los Angeles by air

Los Angeles International Airport, more commonly known as LAX, is one of the top ten busiest airports in the world. The airport is located about 30 kilometers southwest of Downtown Los Angeles, and here you find direct connections with hundreds of airports around the world.

To reach the central parts of Los Angeles from the airport, the most convenient option is to go by bus or shuttle service. Either way the transfer time between LAX and Downtown LA is about 20-25 minutes.

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Where to stay – finding the best location

By combining our large hotel database together with thorough research from our editors, Wheretostayin.com can give you a great chance of finding the optimal spot to stay in each city. To help you find your perfect accommodation we have also considered circumstances such as which budget you are traveling on, what your traveling constellation looks like and how long you are staying.