Thinking of downtown as the central tourism spot in a city is an outdated concept – but not in L.A. In fact, there are so many things to do in downtown Los Angeles that it is not only a great place to stay but also the best that the city has to offer.
In particular, if you are a first-time traveler in Los Angeles, you will find downtown to be a buzzing city center with every kind of retail, recreational, urban, family-oriented, walkable, and metro-friendly activity available. And to meet downtown, you need to act like a local. Take lots of walking tours, for example. In this way, you will come across things to see in downtown L.A. in true Californian spirit. The skyscrapers, Grand Central Market, and rooftop bars with views are just some of them.
So, if you are wondering what to do in downtown L.A., let us introduce you to The Grammy Museum, Crypto.Com Arena, The Olvera Street, The Angels Flight Railway and so many more exciting things to feel the heartbeat of the city.
Exciting Stuff To Do In Downtown L.A.
Catch A Basketball Game At Crypto.Com Arena
Address: 1111 S Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
A 26-year-old multipurpose arena still stands in downtown L.A. with lots of exciting activities happening all the time.
If you are in the city for some entertainment and sports-related activities and unsure of what to do in downtown L.A., look no further than Crypto.com arena. Also known as Staples Center, this is where some of the biggest sports events take place in the USA – NBA finals, Grammy Awards, etc.
Needless to say, when it is not crowded with stars and NBA GOATS, the place becomes such a major and attractive thing to see in downtown L.A.
From basketball games to concerts, thousands of locals and tourists flock to this attraction in Los Angeles, so be prepared to find it crowded. However, we highly recommend arriving early to explore the venue properly and settle down before it gets really loud.
Experience Contemporary Art Like Never Before At The Broad
Address: 221 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
This contemporary art museum first impresses you with its unique honeycomb-like exterior design, but that’s not all. There is so much downtown L.A. stuff to do if you are visiting The Broad.
Let’s start by admiring the 2,000+ artworks in the collection, mainly focusing on contemporary and post-war art. The famous “veil-and-vault” concept, is a breathtaking sight both from the exterior, and the top floor, expansive skylit gallery. This gallery, in turn, is home to some of the greatest works of contemporary art.
And even though you think you have never visited The Broad before, well – think harder. The Infinity Mirrored Room, a mirror lined chamber in the museum is a popular highlight on everyone’s Instagram. It is honestly one of the best things to do in downtown Los Angeles and to find this stunning LED light display, head over to the first floor of the museum.
While admission to the museum is free, we recommend booking a visit in advance, especially during peak tourist hours, to avoid long lines and wait time.
Grab A Taco At Grand Central Market
Address: 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
Grand Central Market is one of those places that makes us feel as if we have visited it before but also offers a completely new experience.
If you are wondering what to do in downtown L.A. for a laid back and homely getaway, Grand Central Market will bring to you international and local diversity in one place.
Bustling with over 50 stalls piled up with fresh fruits, meats, poultry, vegetables, and fresh fish, this place is where you meet new and old friends as you have fun bargaining and getting the best price on every item.
And when you have grabbed a few bags, have a chat with a friend over an ice cream cone as you bathe in the Californian sun. Villa’s Tacos has the best tacos in Los Angeles, so don’t forget to grab a blue corn masa tortilla on your way out.
Revisit The Grammy Award Winners At The Grammy Museum
Address: 800 W Olympic Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States
Grammy Museum has four floors of pure entertainment and offers one of the best things to do in downtown L.A.. Four floors of interactive, cutting-edge experiences and exhibits dedicated to music’s biggest night.
The first floor begins the journey with a gift shop; the second floor is an exhibit gallery that has a state-of-the-art theater, The Clive Davis Theatre, with a capacity of 200 persons and is perfect for film screenings and concerts. Even Ringo Star and Taylor Swift have performed here,
The third floor offers even better things to see in downtown L.A… It has the most stylish flagship experience room, Mono To Immersive, along with pop-up displays, an exhibition gallery, and moments worthy of your Instagram.
The fourth floor is dedicated to Mike Curb Gallery. This is where you know all the education initiatives that the museum had taken in the past, and open up to a whole new world of music.
Visit An Icon – The Los Angeles Central Library
Address: Central Library, 630 W 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90071, United States
If you ask us what to see in downtown L.A. if you are fond of old landmarks, we would at once recommend The Los Angeles Public Library.
The famous library has 72 branches across the city, but the crown jewel is the downtown building, constructed in 1926, still standing proudly in between the high rise hotels and office buildings.
The Los Angeles Central Library has eight stories and houses over ten million items, ranging from rare genealogical titles to popular fiction publications, U.S. patents, and historic photographs.
It’s a wondrous hybrid between a research institution and a public library, and the 90 year old library still acts as a host for cultural performances. A visit to The Los Angeles Central Library isn’t just a fun thing to do in downtown Los Angeles, it also makes you realize how much the historic building means to the people, who want to protect and support it no matter what happens.
Visit The Old And Magical Bradbury Building
Address: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
You must have visited the Bradbury Building before, even if you had never set foot in Los Angeles. How? The famous architectural landmark has been featured in so many popular movies – Blade Runner (the 1982 version), (500) Days of Summer, Chinatown, The Artist, and many, many more.
This is particularly why this building is so famous and one of the best things to see in downtown L.A.
Open cage elevators, ornate iron railings, marble stairs, and the Victorian court lobby make this building a movie star, and just like that, it manages to win hearts even after a century of grandeur.
So, grab your cameras and make way to the light filled, 50 feet, magical Victorian court, and pose against the most photographed aspects of the building and join the long list of admirers who always appreciate this unique treasure that DTLA proudly represents.
Admire The Magnificent, Twisted Architecture Of Walt Disney Concert Hall
Address: 111 S Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
This concert hall is the fourth in the Los Angeles Music Center, and if you are looking for one of the best things to do in downtown Los Angeles, do see this out-of-this-world building on South Grand Avenue.
Designed by Frank Gehry, the twisted architecture has a unique “from the inside out” philosophy behind its stainless steel panel system, adorned with many other materials like glazed curtain walls, metal studs, and pre-cast concrete.
It is a highly recommended place to see in downtown L.A. Just take your time to admire the stunning building, but also explore the concert hall inside which has the capacity to seat more than 2,200 people, while the best of contemporary and classical music is presented to the crowd.
Praise-worthy architecture and extraordinary sounds are what make Walt Disney Concert Hall the best stuff to do in downtown L.A. whenever you are bored.
Learn More About American Diversity At Japanese American National Museum
Address: 100 N Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
In the heart of Little Tokyo, the Japanese American National Museum does a remarkable job of representing the cultural and ethnic diversity of America.
One of the best things to do in DTLA is to visit the multiple exhibitions, public programs, resource center and the museum store of the Japanese American National Museum. And what makes it such a significant historical landmark is its combined and long standing efforts to speak out against social injustice or a compromise on diversity in America.
The “Common Ground” and exciting exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum offers hundreds of documents, objects, and photographs from Japanese American history, all the way from the late 1800s to Word War II incarceration and the redress movement.
Take Your Family To Pershing Square
Address: 532 S Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
As one of the oldest public spaces, Pershing Square is the best thing to do in downtown Los Angeles if you are fond of urban parks and their lively atmosphere.
Pershing Square has undergone many makeovers in the past and is expecting another one in the upcoming years. This small park, perched over an underground parking garage, is pretty much the center of DTLA.
The facelift not only added artsy touches to the park in the past, such as urban waterfalls, hardscapes, and a little grass here and there, but it also renovated the surrounding neighborhood’s appearance.
Today, Pershing Square is one of the best things to see in downtown L.A. for public gatherings and celebrations, with the monuments, children’s playgrounds, a large seating platform, pet areas, chess areas, and an amphitheater keeping the whole family entertained no matter what time of the year it is.
Take A Stroll On The Olvera Street
Address: 845 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
A visit to this colorful Mexican marketplace is one of the most fun things to do in downtown Los Angeles.
This place isn’t just a pedestrian street. It is a living museum. The attractive buildings lining the tree-shaded and brick-lined street provide shade for the millions of visitors who like to explore the restaurants and shops along the block.
Calle Olvera, or Olvera Street, isn’t just a feast for your eyes. The sounds, smells, and colors, so many colors in one place, deserve to be on every tourist’s itinerary, as it proves to be a historical hub for Mexican, Spanish, and American heritage.
Besides the shops, the street also hosts exciting events all over the year, such as Cinco de Mayo, Blessing of the Animals, Fiestas Patrias, and Las Posadas. A stroll around the area will make you want more and more on every visit.
Ride On A Vintage Gem – The Angels Flight Railway
Address: 351 S Hill Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013, United States
The world’s shortest railway and its two popular cars, Olivet and Sinai, used to carry Angelinos from Hill Street to Olive Street, but today, almost everyone who has come to experience the exciting things to do in downtown L.A. wants a ride.
It costs just $1, each way, for a ride on this legendary funicular. And believe me when we say that all tourists and locals are ready with a round trip ticket, so why should you stay behind.
If you get a sense of Déjà vu, don’t fret. You must have seen the Angels Flight in La La Land, the Bosch series pilot, and The Biggest Loser, and other famous Tv shows on HBO.
This cable railway, which is built into a hillside, pretty much looks the same as it did since the early 1900s. It only runs for a block, but the ride is steep enough to be extra thrilling.
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