Los Angeles, United States

Photo spots in Los Angeles

• Griffith ObservatoryViewpoints
  City views, white dome landmark, busy evenings with tourists
• Getty CenterArchitecture
  Hilltop museum, white travertine building, gardens, city views
• Hollywood Sign ViewpointViewpoints
  View from Bronson Canyon, hike about 3 miles round trip
• Venice Beach PierBeaches
  Sunset backdrop, boardwalk energy, palm trees and sunset
• Mulholland Drive OverlookViewpoints
  Panoramic city and valley views, city lights at dusk
• Santa Monica PierLandmarks
  Ferris wheel, iconic pier, sunset and blue hour magic
• Downtown LA Skyline (from Elysian Park)Viewpoints
  Best city lights at dusk, colorful skyline reflections
• Runyon CanyonNature
  Hiking trail with city views, popular at sunrise
• Broad MuseumMuseums
  Modern beehive structure, downtown, free but tickets needed
• Union StationHistoric
  Spanish Colonial Revival masterpiece, classic LA landmark
• LACMA Urban Light InstallationLandmarks
  23 restored street lamps, iconic photo spot, evening best
• Point Dume State BeachBeaches
  Dramatic bluffs, dramatic coastal views, sunset hikes
• Rodeo Drive, Beverly HillsNeighborhoods
  Luxury shops, upscale architecture, tree-lined street
• Universal Studios HollywoodTheme parks
  The Studio Tour tram and Super Nintendo World are the pictures here; the park is cut into a hillside so the Lower Lot sits in shade for most of the day. Rope-drop the Lower Lot first — after 11am the queue switchbacks make clean frames impossible.
• Disneyland ParkTheme parks
  About an hour south in Anaheim, so budget a full day rather than a side trip. Shoot Main Street toward the castle in the first 30 minutes after opening while it is still empty, then hold a spot at the hub 40 minutes before fireworks.
• Academy Museum of Motion PicturesMuseums
  The Renzo Piano glass sphere and its Dolby Terrace frame the Hollywood Hills, and terrace access is included with admission. Go late afternoon so the terrace lands in golden light and the dim galleries come after.
• Petersen Automotive MuseumMuseums
  The stainless-steel ribbon facade is the real subject and reads best from the Fairfax sidewalk once the underlighting fires at dusk. Galleries inside are very dark and tripods are not allowed, so bring a fast prime.
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour HollywoodTheme parks
  Cart tour through the Burbank backlot and standing sets; outdoor shooting is fine but cameras are shut off inside active soundstages. Book the earliest slot — the backlot streets are empty and light still rakes down them.
• Los Angeles ZooZoos & aquariums
  Hillside site in Griffith Park with a lot of chain-link between you and the animals; a long lens wide open pressed near the mesh is the only way to lose it. Opening hour is when animals move and the canyon is still shaded.
• Aquarium of the PacificZoos & aquariums
  Down in Long Beach, roughly 40 minutes on the 710, and worth it for the three-storey Blue Cavern and Tropical Pacific tanks. Press the lens hood flat to the acrylic to kill reflections and shoot wide open — flash is banned.
• The Huntington Library, Art Museum & Botanical GardensParks
  Enormous — the Chinese and Japanese gardens plus the art galleries need three hours minimum, and timed entry sells out on weekends. Book a weekday opening slot and walk straight to the Chinese garden bridges before the crowd reaches them.
• BMO StadiumSports
  BMO Stadium — exterior and marquee shots are free any day; coordinates curated from general knowledge, confirm exact position before publishing.
• Crypto.com ArenaSports
  Lakers and Kings — the statues of Kobe, Magic and Gretzky out front at Star Plaza.
• Dodger StadiumSports
  Palm trees, mountains and the mid-century pavilions — golden hour is unbeatable.
• Griffith ParkParks
  Hollywood Sign hikes and observatory lawns — one of America's largest city parks.
• Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumSports
  Olympic torch and peristyle arches — two Games' worth of history.
• Natural History Museum of Los AngelesMuseums
  Natural History Museum of Los Angeles — flagship museum; coordinates curated from general knowledge, confirm exact position before publishing.
• Glendale Amtrak StationTransit
  Amtrak stop GDL — platform, trains and station architecture; historic depots often photograph best from the track side at golden hour.
• Museum of Contemporary Art, Los AngelesMuseums
  Art museum in Los Angeles, California
• Little TokyoHistoric quarters
  Neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA; carries an official heritage designation
• MacArthur ParkParks
  Park in Los Angeles, California; carries an official heritage designation
• Grammy MuseumMuseums
  Music museum in Los Angeles, United States
• Lucas Museum of Narrative ArtMuseums
  Planned museum in Los Angeles
• California Science CenterMuseums
  Museum
• Statue of Bruce LeeMonuments
  Statue in Los Angeles, California
• California African American MuseumMuseums
  Museum in Los Angeles, California
• Arroyo SecoViewpoints
  Seasonal watercourse in Los Angeles County, California, United States of America
• Shrine Auditorium and Expo HallCulture
  Large event venue in Los Angeles, California; carries an official heritage designation
• Orpheum TheatreCulture
  Movie theater and music venue in Los Angeles, California, United States; carries an official heritage designation
• Angelus TempleReligious sites
  Historic church in Los Angeles; carries an official heritage designation
• Wilshire Boulevard TempleReligious sites
  Building in Los Angeles, California, United States; carries an official heritage designation
• Saint Sophia CathedralReligious sites
  Church; carries an official heritage designation

Where to stay

Hotels near these spots are shown on the map as bed pins, grouped into three price bands, with a booking link for each one. Open the map and tick “Hotels” in the legend.