Best Things to do Alone in Los Angeles
So you’re looking for things to do alone in LA and let me guess, you’re excited to explore but also wondering how to make the most of it without feeling overwhelmed? Have I got some tips for you!
As a Northern California native, I’ve been to LA more times than I can count. Now that my 20-something daughter lives there, I visit often and have had the chance to see the city through both a tourist's eyes and a local’s insight. Over time, I’ve figured out what works especially well for solo travelers: places that are interesting, walkable, safe, and easy to enjoy at your own pace.
Whether you’re craving art, nature, quirky shops, iconic landmarks, or just a cupcake and a bench with a view, this guide is packed with personal favorites. I’ve walked these streets, gotten lost near some of them, and enjoyed every minute.
Let’s dive into some of the best things to do in Los Angeles on your own terms.
Iliad Bookshop – North Hollywood
5400 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, CA
The Iliad Bookshop has over 150,000 books in stock and is one of the largest used bookstores in Southern California. There are rows and rows of shelves filled to the ceiling with books on every subject you can imagine. There's also plenty of seating so you can relax with a stack of books on a rainy afternoon!
Be sure to walk around the exterior of the building to see the whimsical paintings of literary and entertainment stars!
This charming bookstore has appeared in many TV shows and movies including American Horror Story, Jane the Virgin, Better Things, Storage Wars, and Lethal Weapon 3!
J. Paul Getty Museum – Brentwood
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA
J. Paul Getty (1892-1976) was a rich guy in the oil business, who despite being notoriously miserly, had a passion for collecting art and antiques. Though he was a billionaire, he always negotiated for the cheapest price for his purchases.
Check out the Getty Museum for the cool modern architecture, mostly European Art, beautiful gardens, and great views of Los Angeles!
Beware of the book in the shops there called “How to be Rich”. It's written by Getty, so I bought it, figuring once I finished it I would soon be rolling in dough. But turns out the book is about how to BE rich, not how to GET rich!! So, if any already rich person would like this book, I can sell it to you.
James Ensor
Driving Through Classic Hollywood: Beverly Hills Star Homes You Can See on Your Own
Gawking at celebrities' homes is one of the classic Los Angeles activities! You could take a guided tour on a bus, but if you have a car it's pretty easy to find addresses (esp. of old celebrities) online and check them out yourself. This is best done during the day and is very car-friendly if you’re traveling solo.
I love driving through the various beautiful neighborhoods on a search for a celeb's home. It was pretty interesting when I found Lucille Ball's Beverly Hills home. It's a pretty neighborhood with wide, tree-lined streets, but a relatively modest home for such a legend. Her contemporary comedian Jack Benny lived right next door, and Jimmy Stewart across the street! You can almost imagine them all chatting over hedges.
For more addresses and fun tidbits, check out The Beverly Hills Historical Society for the address of all the other great stars who lived in Lucy's neighborhood! On that web site look for a video where Lucy talks about how fans used to actually have picnics on her front lawn. She then explains how much fun she and Jimmy Stewart used to have, turning the sprinklers on those fans once they got all their picnic gear spread out 😀
Marilyn Monroe's last house is at the end of a cul de sac and is fenced off, but a cute dog was peeking underneath the gate when I stopped by.
I also tried going to Frank Sinatra's Beverly Hills home, but it was in a gated community. Boo!
Note: Check out my Coolest Places in Los Angeles Map for Lucy, Jack and Marilyn's addresses.
Cupcake ATM – Beverly Hills
9635 S Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hill, CA
This is my kind of ATM, no PIN required, just a sweet tooth. The Cupcake ATM is part of Sprinkles Bakery and sits just two blocks from Rodeo Drive, making it the perfect reward after a round of window shopping among the designer stores.
Here’s how it works: walk up, choose your flavor from a touchscreen, swipe your card, and like magic, a little door opens to deliver your boxed cupcake. It’s fast, fun, and surprisingly satisfying to do on your own.
I picked a red velvet (classic), and it came out smelling like vanilla dreams and frosting promises. (Yes, I took a Creative Writing class!)
If you’re exploring solo and craving a lighthearted moment, this one’s worth the stop. Plus, it’s Beverly Hills. You’re supposed to indulge a little. Zsa Zsa would be proud of you!
Hollywood Sign – Hollywood
Lake Hollywood Park, 3160 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA
The Hollywood Sign was erected in 1923 to advertise a real estate development called Hollywoodland. It was intended to stand for only a year and a half but has actually been there for over 100 years!
There are a few ways to see the sign up close: you can hike (if you’re feeling energetic), take a tour bus, or drive to one of the popular vista points. I chose the scenic route and drove to Lake Hollywood Park. It's is one of the easiest places to see the Hollywood Sign without hiking.
Getting there was a mini-adventure in itself. I wound my way up Mulholland Drive from 101, past jaw-dropping homes perched on the hills. The houses were amazing, but all I could think was how annoying it must be to drive up and down those twisty roads every time you need more coffee or Doritos. LA glamour, but with snack-run complications.
This is a peaceful, pressure-free stop that’s perfect for solo travelers. You get your iconic LA moment, a great view, and time to just enjoy being there, with no hiking boots required.
Hollywood Walk of Fame – Hollywood
Hollywood Boulevard from Gower to La Brea and on Vine Street from Sunset to Yucca
Checking out the Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sidewalks is the quintessential Hollywood bucket list item you need to check off! While in the area you can also check out the celebrity hand/foot prints in cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater ( now TCL Chinese Theater), and The Jimmy Kimmel show (get free tickets here: 1iota).
Hollywood Walk of Fame “Fun” Facts:
- The Walk originated in 1960
- There are more than 2,700 stars
- The Walk is nearly 2 miles long
- Anyone can nominate a new celebrity but the celeb must agree to the nomination to be considered by the committee
- 1 posthumous award is given per year
- Each June an average of 30 Stars are selected out of the 200 to 300 applications
- You can look up where a Star is located and see the schedule for upcoming award ceremonies here: https://walkoffame.com
Tip: This is not the most safe-feeling area, particularly at night. I advise visiting during the day and parking in a garage (or if you're lucky on the street) near the Walk of Fame.
Griffith Observatory – Griffith Park
2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA
Griffith Observatory is an icon in the LA skyline and offers one-of-a-kind views of Downtown, the Pacific Ocean, and the Hollywood Sign. Admission is free, but parking costs $10 per hour.
I can't give you much info on the Observatory as I was only able to drive past it because all the parking spots were taken!! So I offer you my cautionary tale… I figured I would just drive up to take a look on Spring Sunday afternoon. For some reason, it didn't occur to me that ONE MILLION other people would also decide to do this! I still enjoyed the amazing views from the road and definitely want to return and be able to actually get out of the car!
If you do need to go on a weekend or holiday I'd advise parking your car and catching public transportation or Lyft/Uber to go up. You could also do a steep 20-minute hike up to the Observatory from the Greek Theater's parking lot (if there is not a concert going on there).
As far as movies shot there, there have been a lot! Most famously, James Dean's Rebel Without a Cause. Also, Elvis, La La Land, Back to the Future, The Terminator as well as TV shows like 24, Beverly Hill 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Wonder Years, Quantum Leap, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and CHiPs!
The Broad – Downtown LA
221 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA
The Broad (rhymes with “toad”, not “awed”) is a free contemporary art museum in Downtown Los Angeles. Inside, you'll find wild, thought-provoking modern art that ranges from “What am I looking at?” to “Whoa, I that actually touches me!” The building itself is a work of art, with its honeycomb-like facade and wide open gallery spaces that invite you to take your time.
Visit for the cool architecture, wacky modern art and the amazing exhibition Infinity Mirrored Room—The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away! It’s a small, mirrored space filled with tiny lights that stretch into what feels like forever. You (and a friend if you want) step inside for about 45 seconds, and you exist in your own shimmering universe. It’s surreal, peaceful, and strangely emotional, like a mini pause button on the world.
Note that the museum entry and Mirrored Room are free but both require timed entry tickets.
The Last Bookstore – Downtown LA
453 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA
This cool place is the largest new and used bookstore in California. It resides in an old bank building and uses the bank vault to feature the scary books! The Last Bookstore also has records, a book tunnel, a coffee bar, little independent shops upstairs, and a room just for first editions and rare books.
When I visited, the streets around the store were closed off for a movie shoot. Turns out, it was for Joker: Folie à Deux. Nothing like walking out of a bookstore and seeing a Gotham City police car to add a little flair to your day. (Also, Gone Girl filmed a scene inside the store because, apparently, drama loves this place.)
This is a dreamy stop for a solo traveler. Whether you spend ten minutes or two hours, there’s zero pressure and plenty of charm. Just don’t get lost in the stacks. Actually, do.
Angels Flight Railway – Downtown LA
350 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Angels Flight is the shortest railway in the world! It journeys 0.0564 miles each way up and down a hill in downtown LA. There are 2 cars making up this funicular railway. I looked up what the heck “funicular” means…basically, it's 2 trains/carriages attached to opposite ends of a cable that counterbalance each other on a hillside. ie. when one goes up, the other goes down. Look at all we're learning!
The railway was built in 1901, ran until 1969, and then was dismantled during some downtown redevelopment. 27 years later in 1996 the Angels Flight trains were taken out of storage and set up again at its current location, 1/2 block away from the original location.
It costs $1 each way to ride. You can get a nice view from the top, especially at night.
Angels Flight has appeared in many movies over all of its years, most recently in La La Land.
After you check out the historic Angels Flight be sure to cross the street to grab some food at the fabulous Grand Central Market!
Cool Places to Stay in LA
Whether you’re looking for something budget-friendly, boutique, or a bit of both, these are the LA stays I’d book again in a heartbeat. I prioritize charm, safety, cleanliness, and a welcoming vibe for solo travelers. Especially those of us who like to feel like we’re “home” even when we’re not.
Check here for the best places!
Crazy Fun Restaurants and Bars in LA
Whether you want a quirky theme spot, a buzzy bar, or a delicious local find where it’s totally fine to dine alone, I’ve collected my favorites here. These are places I’ve eaten at solo, or would confidently send a fellow traveler to enjoy without feeling awkward or rushed.
Check here for the most fun places to eat and drink!
Map of mentioned places
In Summary
I hope this list helps you feel excited, confident, and a little giddy about your solo trip to the City of Angels. Whether you're downing a cupcake on a bench, wandering through a book tunnel, or riding the tiniest railway in the world, I promise: LA has plenty of magic just waiting for you.
If you’ve been to LA and have a spot you loved, I’d love to hear about it. And if you’re planning your first solo trip and feeling a little nervous, know that you’re not alone. You’ve got this.
