We list the best hotels and accommodations in Los Angeles as recommended by travel experts from CNN, Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s, New York Times and more. All hotel recommendations have been referenced with customer reviews and we only listed places that have at least a 4 out of 5-star customer review rating.
Best cheap hotel in Los Angeles: Freehand Los Angeles
Best boutique hotel in Los Angeles: Mama Shelter LA
Best luxury hotel in Los Angeles: Hotel Shutters on the Beach Santa Monica
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Los Angeles is an expanding city in southern California and is the center to Hollywood – the American cinema and television industry. Studios such as Warner Brothers, Universal and Paramount Pictures offer behind-the-scenes tours.
Some of the best neighborhoods in Los Angeles are:
Atwater Village
Atwater Village is a neighborhood located northeast of Los Feliz and south of Glendale and its Glendale Boulevard is lined by restaurants, bakeries, and shops. It is the home to the trendy Golden Road Brewing Company that is popular among beer lovers.
Culver City
Culver City is a neighborhood that is quiet, walkable, and is the home to Sony Pictures Studios, The Museum of Jurassic Technology and the Kirk Douglas Theater. The area is replete with busy bars, a movie theater, and casual and upscale restaurants.
Downtown
Downtown area of the Los Angeles city is far removed from the beach areas and is full of skyscrapers, markets, gyms, bars, museums, restaurants, coffeeshops, and lovely parks. It is home to stylish areas such as the Arts District and Little Tokyo.
Koreatown
Koreatown is a walkable and diverse neighborhood that is centrally located and has numerous coffeehouses, shops, bars, and restaurants. It is the home to the city’s historic venue – The Wiltern. The public transport is solid and makes it a great neighborhood.
North Hollywood
North Hollywood is a neighborhood that has numerous bars and theaters with live entertainment and some new restaurants. It is the home to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and California Institute of Abnormal Arts.
Also check out our travel guide about the best areas to stay in Los Angeles.
If you're looking for a cheap hotel in Los Angeles, then book Freehand Los Angeles. It's an excellent budget hotel offering great value for money. It's in a good location, it's been recommended by travel experts and the hotel has excellent customer reviews. Also check out our list of the best cheap hotels in Los Angeles.
You like some luxury but don't like the famous chain hotels. If you're looking for the best boutique hotel in Los Angeles, you should check out Mama Shelter. It's a very cool hotel that has been highly recommended by travelers and experts.
Also check out our list of the best boutique hotels in Los Angeles, it's a manually curated list of the most unique and romantic hotels in the city.
If money isn't a problem and you're looking for a luxury hotel in Los Angeles, then go for Hotel Shutters on the Beach Santa Monica. The hotel offers excellent service, it's in a top location, it has been rated very highly by previous guests and renowned travel critics have recommended it. Also check out our list of the best luxury hotels in Los Angeles, it's a manually curated list of the most exclusive 5-star hotels in the city.
If you're looking for a great hostel in Los Angeles, then you should check out Orange Drive Hostel Hollywood. The hostel has magnificent reviews by backpackers, it has been recommended by well-known travel experts and it's in a good location. Make sure you read our list of the best hostels in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is expensive. For a 3-star hotel you have to pay around $200 per night and for a 4-star hotel you would be looking at $250 per night. If you're after a luxury 5-star Los Angeles hotel then you can expect to pay around $610 per night.
Try Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills if you're looking for a romantic getaway, it has some excellent recent customer reviews by couples.
If you're looking for a room with a view, then try the Terranea Oceanfront Resort or The Line Hotel. Both offer amazing views of Los Angeles according to recent customer reviews.
Looking for a great view while having your dinner or drinking a beer? Ace Hotel Downtown has one of the best rooftop bars in Los Angeles.
Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Beaches and More. From the Hollywood sign to the celebrity mansions of Beverly Hills, Los Angles is so full of iconic sights it can be tricky to see them all. Price: $89.
Los Angeles: Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Tour. See where the rich and famous hang out on a guided tour of Hollywood, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills by open-top bus. Discover the hot spots and celebrity homes of the world's entertainment capital. Price: $37.
Griffith Park Experience: Hollywood Hills Hike. Experience panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline as you embark on a 3.5 mile (5.6 km) hike to one of the highest peaks in Griffith Park. Price: $39.
More things to do in Los Angeles
If you’re like most people, your idea of a trip to Los Angeles is probably something along the lines of hitting up Hollywood Boulevard and a couple of famous red carpets. And while that may be fun for a day or two, there are so many more amazing things to do in LA if you dig deep enough. This city has so much history packed into every single one of its neighborhoods. This city has everything from the ritzy hills of Beverly Hills to the gritty warehouse district downtown. There are museums galore, incredible parks and nature trails you can hike, unique architecture that will blow your mind, and hidden places you probably won’t find on your own.
What to See in Los Angeles
There are a few things that every visitor to LA should do, whether or not it’s your first time here. You can’t go to Los Angeles without visiting the Walk of Fame, seeing the Hollywood Sign, or taking a selfie in front of the Capitol Records building.
The Walk of Fame – The Walk of Fame is one of the most iconic sites in Los Angeles, and a must-see for any visitor. You can walk up and down Hollywood Boulevard and see the names of some of the most famous actors and actresses in history.
The Hollywood Sign – The Hollywood Sign may be the most famous piece of architecture in Los Angeles, and is a must-see for any visitor. The sign is a little tricky to get to, but the hike is worth it. It’s a popular place to take wedding photos, so you’ll likely see a few couples posing with the sign in the background.
Capitol Records Building – This building is a bit more of a tourist trap than the other two, but it’s definitely worth a visit. This is the actual place where Michael Jackson recorded “Thriller,” and you can see his handwritten lyrics on the wall.
A Little Downtown LA History
For years, downtown LA was known as a seedy place where you wouldn’t want to spend any time. In fact, no one even wanted to live downtown, so it was mostly an industrial area with very few residents. But then in the late 1990s, people started moving into the area. Developers built high-end condos, and suddenly downtown became one of the most desirable places to live in Los Angeles. Today, downtown LA is one of the most vibrant and exciting places in the whole city. There are tons of restaurants and bars, as well as tons of events and festivals year-round. You’ll also find incredible art galleries, and the historic Music Center, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the LA Ballet.
The Best of LA Art and Culture
Los Angeles is often billed as “the Creative Capital of the World” due to the fact that one in every six residents works in the creative industry. As a matter of fact, there are more artists, writers, filmmakers, actors and actresses, dancers, and musicians living in Los Angeles than in any other city in the world.
Getty Center – The Getty Center is one of the most amazing places to visit in LA. It’s a massive art museum right above the city, and the architecture is absolutely stunning. The museum has an amazing collection of art spanning thousands of years, including pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, and Da Vinci.
The Broad – If you’re looking for something a little edgier, check out The Broad. This contemporary art museum houses some of the weirdest and most wonderful pieces of art you’ll ever see. Make sure to check out the giant wooden bunny in the lobby.
Japanese Gardens – If you’re more in the mood for something a little more serene, make sure to visit the Japanese Gardens. This is one of the most beautiful gardens in all of LA, and is a great place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Stunning Scenery in LA
Hollywood Hills – You can’t visit LA without hiking the Hollywood Hills at least once. This is the view you always see in the movies and on TV, and it’s equally as impressive in person. If you’re lucky, you might even run into a celebrity.
Venice Beach – This is one of the most colorful and quirky places in LA, and is a must-see for any visitor. You can spend hours just walking up and down the boardwalk, checking out the beach, and the many street performers who call Venice Beach home.
Boneyards – If you’re looking for something a little more off-the-wall, make sure to visit the Boneyards. This is a giant outdoor sculpture park where artists and designers have built giant, strange, and fascinating structures out of scrap metal and other materials.
A Taste of the Ocean
To get a real taste of the ocean, visit Venice Beach. This is a massive beach just south of Downtown LA, and is a much more mellow and relaxed place than you’ll find in Santa Monica or Malibu. You can walk or jog along the boardwalk, or just hang out and people-watch. Be sure to check out Muscle Beach, where you can watch people lifting some pretty crazy weights. Venice Beach is also home to the famous Venice Beach Wiggle, a strange dance that you can see people doing almost any day of the week.
Conclusion
There is so much to do in LA that it can be a bit overwhelming. It’s best to get an idea of what you want to do and where you want to go and make a list of the things you want to see while you’re there. You want to make sure to give yourself enough time to see everything you want to see. You don’t want to be the person who flies into LA, sees the standard tourist things, and then leaves two days later without seeing any of the real magic of this city. You can also take a day trip to places like San Diego or Palm Springs, and make your trip to LA a two-or-three-week vacation. No matter how long you’re here, you’ll be able to see so much more than just the tourist stuff.
Want to get to know the city a bit better? Check out our guide about where to stay in Los Angeles, it includes recommendations about the best areas, museums, attractions and other things to do.
If you like our list of the best hotels in Los Angeles, then you should also check out our selection of recommended hotels in San Diego or the best hotels in San Francisco.