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You could spend a month visiting L.A. and barely scratch the surface of all the varied attractions the city has to offer. (Don’t tell anyone, but even as an L.A. native, there are still places I haven’t made it to yet.) So in a city with so many iconic landmarks, world-class museums, picturesque beaches and sites made famous on screen, it’s hard to pick just one as the absolute best.
But when considering the one thing we’d recommend to anyone visiting L.A. if they were short on time, one pick stood out: the Griffith Observatory. I know, it’s not exactly groundbreaking (space-breaking?) at this point or a hidden gem—the 90-year-old institution welcomes 1.6 million visitors a year and is the most popular public observatory in the world—but despite its global recognition, it’s one landmark that’s loved by both tourists and locals alike. Here are six reasons why we’ve ranked the iconic Art Deco observatory No. 1 on our guide to the top attractions in Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways.
1. First and foremost, it’s free.
So not only is it the top overall attraction in the city, it also tops our list of the best free attractions in the city, and it’s on our guide to L.A.’s best museums as well. After Griffith J. Griffith provided the funds to build the observatory in his will, it was donated to the city with the stipulation that it be open to the public and free to visit. That means you can check out its enlightening exhibits and even peer through its telescopes—more people have looked through its Zeiss 12-inch refracting telescope than any other on Earth—all free of charge.
True, in recent years, parking on-site became more of a headache (it now costs $10, even if you park downhill a bit), but if you’re up for a bus ride, a DASH bus route will take you to the top of Observatory Road for only 50 cents—and only 35 cents with a Metro TAP card. Alternatively, you can park for free by the Greek Theatre (as long as there’s no show) or along Fern Dell Drive and hike up.
2. It’s educational.
You can learn all about about astronomy, the solar system, space exploration and more—and even see a working Tesla coil—in the Observatory’s exhibits, which include the Hall of the Eye, the Hall of the Sky and Edge of Space mezzanine. Brand new to the displays is the Celestial Globe—a rotating bronze sculpture that’s adorned with 46 constellations and hovers over the stairway up to the Center of Gravity exhibit.
On the third Thursday of each month, live episodes of the free public program All Space Considered are broadcast from the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater, while live shows at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium are held daily (they cost $10 but are totally worth it). And one Saturday evening a month, you can join a free public star party on the lawn, learning from astronomers and looking through telescopes.
3. The views are stunning.
Even if you’ve absolutely no interest in science, a visit to Griffith Observatory is imperative for the views alone. From its 1,134-foot-high perch on Mount Hollywood, you can see views of the entire Los Angeles basin: the Hollywood Sign to the West, the Mount Wilson Observatory and San Gabriel Mountains to the northeast, and the Downtown skyline and Pacific Ocean in the distance. You can head up onto the roof deck, the East Terrace or the West Terraces, but my personal favorite is the Promenade Walkway, where the views are framed by the Observatory’s iconic arches.
4. You’ll be stepping into cinematic history.
It’s no secret that the Griffith Observatory has played a supporting role in dozens of films and TV shows since it first opened. Perhaps the notable entry in its filmography is 1955’s Rebel Without a Cause (James Dean’s knife fight memorably took place on the East Terrace, and the planetarium made an appearance as well). To this day, you can see a bronze bust of Dean on the landmark’s lawn, and the observatory recently hosted a pair of screenings of the classic film. Today, most audiences might know it even better from La La Land. Between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone floating inside the planetarium and dancing around the Foucault pendulum, their characters’ observatory visit made for a quintessentially L.A. first date.
5. It’s a hub for hiking.
If the weather is good—and let’s be real, there’s a 99% chance it’s going to be—you can add a hike to your itinerary. There are 53 miles of trails in Griffith Park, and from the observatory’s parking lot, you can hike to the summit of Mount Hollywood, the highest peak in the park. You can also start at my personal favorite spot in the park—the Fern Dell Trail, which is more of a shady stroll through a forest than your typical L.A. hike—and head up to the observatory from there.
6. You’re close to a ton of other attractions.
Drive down the mountain and down Vermont or Hillhurst Avenue, and in minutes you’ll be amid the trendy shops and eateries of Los Feliz. You’re also a short drive from the lovely Barnsdall Art Park and its centerpiece, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House. Slightly to the west, you can catch live comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade in Franklin Village. If you’d prefer to stick to the observatory’s home of Griffith Park, you can check out the Los Angeles Zoo, Autry Museum of the American West and Travel Town.