20 Essential Tips for Exploring Los Angeles: Your Ultimate Travel Guide

After all these years, we are now aware of how important tips and tricks can be especially while travelling. It is true in the case of exploring the city of angels as well. Here are the 20 best tips to know before you visit Los Angeles.

With 4 million people Los Angeles is the largest city in California. The city is the hub of the film and TV industry. This amazing city has a lot to offer. From beautiful landscapes, vibrant beaches, fun nightlife and a lot more LA doesn’t disappoint anyone. Including Los Angeles, there are 12 Best Places that you must visit in California. Though LA is quite a safe city there are a few things you need to check up on to avoid any issues. So here we present 20 must-to-know tips to you before you visit the city of Angels.

20 Best Tips to know before you visit Los Angeles

Here are the 20 Best Tips for you so that you can be well-informed and take wise decisions during your LA trip. Some of these are safety tips and others are best practices or just need-to-know things. I am 200% sure that these tips and tricks will not only help you but also enhance your trip experience as well.

6 Safety Tips for a safe trip to Los Angeles

1. LA isn’t that safe at night.

Yes, you read it right. Los Angeles isn’t that safe at night. Therefore you can limit your nightlife to safe areas.

2. Residential areas are more prone to gang violence.
Avoid violence's prone areas in Los Angeles

Avoid walking in residential areas as there are reports of a lot of gang violence.

3. Traffic is a heck.
Los Angeles has a very heavy traffic

LA is known for its slow traffic. Therefore expect delays anywhere you go.

4. Know your neighbourhood.

LA has some extremely safe and extremely dangerous neighbourhoods.

5. Beware of pickpocketing.

There is some pickpocketing mostly on the subways and the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame.

6. Always verify your bookings.

There are several tourist scams. Therefore do not buy tickets on the road.

10 Best Practices for a smooth tour of the City of Los Angeles

7. Finding good budget stay options can be tricky in LA.

You will have to do some research to get some budget-friendly options to stay in Los Angeles.

8. Best neighbourhoods in LA.
Best neighborhoods in Los Angeles

Some of the best areas to stay in LA are Downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Grove, West Hollywood, Westwood etc. Downtown and Beverly Hills are must-visit neighbourhoods in Los Angeles. Check out the best places to visit in Los Angeles, California.

9. Avoid using public transport.
You should avoid using public transport in Los Angeles

Getting around the city is a bit hectic as the public transportation system is not so efficient.

10. What is better: Car or public transport?

It is ideal to rent a car, drive your own car, or use Uber, Lyft or Zipcar.

11. Have some space in your phone to install these useful apps.
Best applications to download when in Los Angeles

Google Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, Uber, Lyft, Parkme, Best Parking, Parkwhiz, Gasbuddy, LA Weekly, 5 every day, Airbnb, Eatwith, Lime, Bird etc are some of the best apps to use while you’re in LA.

12. Buy a pass: Save your money and time.
passes and permits to travel in Los Angeles

Try to save on attractions by buying a Go Los Angeles Multi-Attraction Pass or a City Pass. You can read more about passes in Los Angeles here at https://www.vacationpass.com/los-angeles-tourist-pass.

13. La is known for its food.

Food is not cheap in LA but it definitely worth the hype. You can taste meals from all over the world here.

14. Tip culture of the USA
Don't forget to tip in the restaurants of Los Angeles

If you’re an international traveller make sure you always tip in restaurants and bars that you visit.

15. Your adapter might not work in LA!

You will need a special power adapter for your phone in the US. There are two kinds of adapters generally used in the USA as shown in the picture above.

16. Save money with discounts.

Always check out for discounts and coupons on online communities such as Groupon, LivingSocial etc.

4 Need to Know things to keep you informed while in Los Angeles

17. You might not need to buy water bottles in LA!
person holding empty clear glass bottle

Tap water is as clean as bottled water as claimed by the Los Angeles Department of Water.

18. Be patient when in LA.

LA is generally crowded. Therefore expect to wait in lines in restaurants and all major attractions.

19. Enjoy free wifi.

Access to free wifi is available in most places. You can also download the WiFi finder app so that you can find nearby wifi connections.

20. Get a local sim card for mobile data.

You can also buy a local Sim card and get online data. T-mobile and Mint are some of the prepaid Sim card providers.

I am sure you would find these tips relevant if you have visited LA before. If not yet, trust me, carry these tips and tricks with you while packing your bags and rest assured that your trip will be amazing. Don’t forget to share these amazing tips with your friends and social media. Here are some of our recommended articles for you that you might like.

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You should avoid using public transport in Los Angeles