Downtown Los Angeles

Downtown Los Angeles, or the city's financial district, has transformed from a somewhat neglected place into a fun spot for tourists. In recent years, the city center has undergone gentrification, with a number of luxurious institutions like MOCA – the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Broad, and the architectural gem of the Walt Disney Concert Hall being built. Nearby is the entertainment and music venue of the Staples Center, where you can catch the stars of the Los Angeles Lakers. Downtown boasts a stunning mix of vintage buildings from the early 20th century alongside groundbreaking modern architecture.

How much time should you spend touring Downtown Los Angeles?

For a tour in Downtown Los Angeles, including El Pueblo de Los Angeles, it's worth dedicating at least half a day.

10 Must-See and Do Things in Downtown Los Angeles

1. History in El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Chinatown
2. A Lakers game (or Clippers, or Kings, or a cool concert) at the Crypto.com Arena (Staples Center)
3. The stunning architecture of Gehry at the Walt Disney Concert Hall
4. The rare contemporary art collection at The Broad
5. The even rarer contemporary art collection at MOCA
6. If modern art isn't enough, also visit the MOCA wing at the Geffen Contemporary at Little Tokyo
7. A dollar's ride on the Angels Flight Railway
8. Lunch at the Grand Central Market
9. View from the top of LA's stunning City Hall
10. Dinosaurs at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

What is Downtown Los Angeles?

Downtown Los Angeles is the city's main business district, filled with skyscrapers and plenty of interesting sites. Like other major American cities, LA's center isn't the most glamorous or pleasant part of town, but it has a lot of fascinating places and spots worth visiting.

Unlike other cities where downtown is defined by geographical elements, in Los Angeles it's bordered by wide roads. The northern tip of the center is where the 101 and 110 freeways intersect. The second freeway seals off downtown from the west. Its southern boundary is the I-10 freeway.

• The main axis of downtown is Grand Avenue. North of the 101 is Chinatown in Los Angeles, a settlement area for Chinese immigrants, and on a parallel strip in the southern section of the freeway is Little Tokyo, a historic residential concentration of Japanese immigrants.
• On Grand Avenue and the parallel boulevards, there are quite a few huge downtown hotels from the largest international chains.
• Among the tall towers, modern halls with groundbreaking architecture have also been built, as part of the renewal of the financial center's face.
• In downtown Los Angeles, you'll find a fascinating mix of shiny buildings, innovative museum institutions, shopping and entertainment zones, vintage spots from Hollywood's golden era, along with areas that are still somewhat neglected and even a bit intimidating.

Map of Downtown Los Angeles

Tour Path in Downtown Los Angeles

The tour in downtown Los Angeles is based on going through several sections that are close to each other.

• North of the business center, in today's Chinatown but once Los Angeles, lies the El Pueblo de Los Angeles district filled with many historic sites. This is where the city was first settled and where you'll find some fascinating historical buildings.
• Beyond the 101, it's worth visiting the area around Los Angeles City Hall in the developing zone of Little Tokyo. Nearby you will also find the wing of MOCA – the Museum of Contemporary Art, named in honor of Geffen.
• From the south, on Grand Avenue, the full power of Los Angeles is encapsulated into perfection. Architectural gems like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Broad, significant museum institutions and more line the avenue.
• Nearby are the historic Broadway district and the Grand Central Market, connected to Grand Avenue by the short funicular line – the Angel's Flight. In the southern part of downtown, you'll find the LA Live entertainment area and the Staples Center, an intriguing mix of some of the most attractive sports and music events in the world.
• South of downtown is also the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, a must-visit for any dinosaur enthusiast.

Downtown Los Angeles Sites

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

The cathedral is Los Angeles' modern answer to its Franciscan roots and the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli in the city of Assisi, Italy, which Los Angeles is named after. Affectionately known as the COLA, it's the seat of the bishop for the city's large Catholic community. The church's construction was only completed in 2002, and its exterior design is completely modern. The church's interior, however, leans more towards traditional Catholic style, featuring an abundance of sculptures and paintings with religious motifs.

Address: W Temple St. 555, Los Angeles

Chinatown

The Chinatown of Los Angeles is located in the northern part of downtown, beyond the wide expanse of Highway 101. North of El Pueblo de Los Angeles lies a classic Chinese district where you'll find unique shops, curious supermarkets, and knick-knacks on every corner. This district in Los Angeles is more of a Los Angeles experience than a typical Chinatown like those in New York or San Francisco, featuring wide streets for cars, graffiti, and plenty of Spanish mingling with the occasional Chinese.

The heart of the district is the Chinatown Central Plaza, where a cluster of restaurants and shops can be found. It's worth specifically dining at a restaurant in Chinatown rather than wandering the neighborhood too much. This is the second district established by Chinese immigrants, the first of whom arrived in the late 19th century during the Gold Rush. The original Chinatown was located where today stands the Los Angeles Union Station, and it was moved to its current location in 1938.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles

The historic district of El Pueblo is located on the northern side of the 101 in downtown Los Angeles. It's the oldest part of Los Angeles, also known as the Los Angeles Plaza Historic District. In fact, the city's first urban core was long swallowed up by Los Angeles' Chinatown, but the houses and buildings around the central square, the plaza, still tell the story of the Spanish Los Angeles at its foundation.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles was established in 1781 with the settlement of 44 colonists from Mexico. They named the place after the Church of the Angels in Assisi, in accordance with their Franciscan affiliation. Around the central square, or plaza, there are several historical buildings such as The Pico House on its southern side. It's the last Mexican governor's house in Los Angeles, built in 1870. Nearby is the Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, which is the oldest church in Los Angeles, founded in 1822.

Avila Adobe, the oldest standing house in Los Angeles, was built in 1818. The house is located near the Olvera Street Plaza. The old market street is still lined with stalls along its length. Another major institution in the El Pueblo Plaza is the Chinese American Museum. This museum symbolizes the renewal of the area which first filled with Italian immigrants and later with Chinese immigrants.

Walt Disney Concert Hall

The magnificent hall on Grand Avenue is one of the most amazing contemporary architectural wonders of Los Angeles. The building opened to the public in 2003 and has since become a must-see for fans of modern architecture. It is one of the famous works of the top architect Frank Gehry, the Canadian Jew, alongside the renowned Dancing House in Prague and the iconic Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. Gehry, who was born in Toronto, moved with his family to live in Santa Monica during his childhood.

The large indoor hall can seat 2,000 spectators who enjoy one of the most unique spaces for music performance, with meticulous acoustics. The hall has starred in many Disney films and series since its opening and has firmly established itself as one of the most iconic buildings in Los Angeles.

Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles

The Broad

The Broad is a large museum of contemporary art showcasing the rich private collection of Eli and Edith Broad. The collection is housed in a uniquely modern designed building on Grand Avenue, the heart of Los Angeles, close to the architectural marvel of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The museum opened in 2015 as part of the cultural spotlight on downtown Los Angeles, transforming Grand Avenue into an attraction for tourists.

The Broad collection includes around two thousand works by leading modern and postmodern artists. You can find pieces by great American pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as well as the best works of contemporary artists.

Address: 221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles

Click here for the museum's current operating hours…

MOCA – The Museum of Contemporary Art

Adjacent to the Broad and the Walt Disney Concert Hall stands MOCA, the magnificent institution that completes the grand ground zero of culture in Downtown Los Angeles, at the intersection of Grand Avenue and 2nd Street. This sunny yet somewhat gray junction has, against all odds, turned into a rare architectural experience. MOCA is the oldest institution among the three at the intersection (technically, half a block south), founded in 1979 as a spacious display area for local artists. Over the years, exhibitions that were intended to be temporary have evolved slightly, but the museum has become a foundation that also purchased a permanent collection.

The MOCA collection contains about 6,000 pieces of postmodern art, the majority of which were donated to the foundation by its well-off members. It includes the best works of well-known American artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, Mark Rothko, and more.

Address: 250 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles

Click here for the museum's current visiting hours…

Angels Flight Railway

The short funicular railway in downtown Los Angeles has over the years become a particularly beloved tourist attraction. The short rail line connects Grand Avenue with the Grand Central Market and runs along just one block. The line was built in 1901 half a block north from where it is now and closed in 1969.

Due to pressure from residents, the municipality promised to restore the rail line after the area undergoes urban renewal. The line has been moved slightly south from its original location, reopened to the public, but closed several times due to accidents and technical problems. Since 2017, it has been operating continuously and has become a popular attraction in the heart of the city. The ticket price for the ride is one dollar.

Grand Central Market

The downtown Los Angeles indoor city market has also become a charming attraction in recent years. The entire downtown area of the city, which used to be quite an unpleasant place, is undergoing a process of gentrification, and one characteristic of this transformation is the market. The place opened to the public in 1917 and has experienced quite a few ups and downs.

As part of the downtown beautification process, the city also invested in the market, and with the visitors came the trendier restaurateurs. Today, the market is a mix of the city's grit with plenty of things that are attractive to foodies or just curious folks. Around forty stalls and restaurants operate here, and it's bustling with people all day long.

Address: S Broadway, 317, Los Angeles

Historic Broadway Theater District

The stretch of Broadway from 3rd Street, where the Grand Central Market is, to 9th Street, is called the Historic Theater District due to the vintage movie theaters and cinemas located along it. This section of the street has no less than 12 theaters built at the beginning of the 20th century and were part of the golden age of Hollywood and Los Angeles. During this period, many famous movies used to premiere at the Broadway theaters. Today, this section, like the entire downtown, is undergoing a process of improvement, but neglect still peeks out from every corner.

GRAMMY Museum – L.A. Live

Adjacent to the Staples Center (the well-known name for what is now called the Crypto.com Arena) is the LA Live, built as part of a plan to transform the southern part of downtown Los Angeles into a culture and sports hub. The entire area surrounding the cultural center has become a trendy place to live, filled with attractions, restaurants, hotels, and more.

One of the attractions is the Grammy Museum, where you can enjoy the glamorous side of the local music industry. Los Angeles is also the home port of the music world, just as it is the undisputed capital of the film industry. At the museum, you can learn about the development of American music, record songs, produce a demo tape, and more.

Address: W Olympic Blvd. 800, Los Angeles

Click here for the museum's updated opening hours…

The Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center)

The Staples Center, now officially known as Crypto.com Arena, is the most attractive and powerful entertainment venue in downtown Los Angeles. It's the home court of the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as their city rivals, the Clippers, and the Los Angeles Kings hockey team. Besides the sports events that draw huge crowds almost every night, the arena also hosts performances by top musicians and other events. The arena seats 20,000 spectators for sports events and even more for events like music concerts.

Address: 1111 S Figueroa St., Los Angeles

Click here for the updated schedule of events at the arena…

Los Angeles City Hall

The magnificent Los Angeles City Hall is located at the eastern end of Gloria Molina Grand Park, in Downtown LA, and to the east of it begins the Little Tokyo neighborhood. This impressive white skyscraper was built in 1928 and serves as the administrative center of the city. The building houses the mayor's office and the city council meets there. Until 1957, a municipal ordinance limited the height of Downtown towers to 12 floors, which preserved its status as the tallest building in Los Angeles. Afterward, it became overshadowed by the shiny metal and glass towers that now characterize the area.

Above the council building rises the Tom Bradley Tower, featuring an observation deck on the 27th floor. The building has appeared in numerous films representing Los Angeles in the city's thriving industry. Its most famous scene is being destroyed by aliens during the invasion in the 1953 movie “War of the Worlds.” The building also appeared as Clark Kent's workplace in the 1950s Superman TV series.

Address: 200 N Spring St., Los Angeles

Little Tokyo

Little Tokyo is just one of the three Japan towns in the entire USA, all of which are in California. It's the largest concentration of Japanese immigrants in California and the USA, essentially reminiscent of Chinatown but much more refined. Little Tokyo became the hub for Japanese immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. The area boasts excellent Japanese restaurants, grocery stores, and more. The overall vibe is a fusion of Tokyo with an updated version of Los Angeles, but the place has its own charm.

In the heart of the neighborhood is the Japanese American National Museum, where you can learn a lot about the history of the Japanese in the USA. The museum also covers the trauma of World War II, when many descendants of Japanese immigrants were placed in large internment camps. This fascinating museum is located near the Geffen Contemporary wing of MOCA.

The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA Museum

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles is a magnificent institution showcasing all the fertile avant-garde creations of the world's most modern city. The Geffen wing initially opened as a temporary exhibition space in what was once a huge garage used by the Los Angeles Police in the heart of Little Tokyo. In 1983, the garage was renovated and refurbished under the museum's auspices. Since the conversion was successful and the Los Angeles Police no longer needed the space, it remained as a wing of MOCA. The fascinating space features rotating exhibits or displays parts of MOCA's extensive collection.

Address: 152 N Central Ave., Los Angeles

Click here for the current opening hours of MOCA's wing and the museum itself…

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

The County Natural History Museum is nestled in the southern part of the University of Southern California campus, about a 5-minute drive south of Staples Center. It's the largest natural history museum in the western U.S., boasting millions of geological and paleontological artifacts. Opened in 1913 as an institution blending exhibition and academic research, it has since become a fantastic outing for families with kids.

The museum's famous exhibits include the formidable Triceratops reconstruction based on fossil bones, along with numerous life-sized dinosaur reconstructions both inside the museum and on the surrounding lawns.

Address: Exposition Blvd. 900, Los Angeles

Click here for the museum's current opening hours…