Things to Do in Downtown LA and Pasadena
Concert halls, museums and markets downtown, gardens and the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
See top-rated activities »About Downtown LA and Pasadena
Los Angeles began downtown. The city was founded in 1781 near what is now El Pueblo de Los Angeles, where Olvera Street, a lane of Mexican market stalls and restaurants, and the city's oldest surviving house keep that history visible. Across the road, Union Station, completed in 1939, mixes Spanish Mission and Art Deco styles and is still a working rail hub.
On Bunker Hill, Frank Gehry's stainless-steel Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and its rooftop garden is open to visitors. Next door, The Broad shows postwar and contemporary art with free general admission, best reserved online in advance. Below the hill, the Angels Flight funicular rattles down to Grand Central Market, a food hall open since 1917, and across Broadway the Bradbury Building's skylit atrium of iron railings has appeared in many films. Little Tokyo, the Arts District with its murals and breweries, and the Crypto.com Arena, home of the Lakers, are all within a short ride.
South of downtown, Exposition Park groups the Natural History Museum, the California Science Center, home of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which is being installed upright in a new air and space wing (check whether it is on view), and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984. Dodger Stadium sits in the hills of Elysian Park, just north of the center.
Pasadena, about a half hour northeast by car or on the Metro A Line, has a different pace. Old Pasadena's restored brick blocks along Colorado Boulevard are full of shops and restaurants, and the city is known worldwide for the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The Norton Simon Museum holds an outstanding collection of European paintings, the Gamble House is a masterpiece of Arts and Crafts design, and next door in San Marino, The Huntington combines a research library, art galleries and some of the finest botanical gardens in the country.
Don’t Miss
A food hall since 1917, with tacos, noodles, egg sandwiches, coffee and produce under one roof.
Frank Gehry's landmark hall, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with self-guided tours on many days.
A contemporary art museum with free general admission; book a timed reservation online.
The historic heart of the city, with Mexican market stalls, restaurants and the 1818 Avila Adobe.
Hands-on science exhibits with free general admission; the Space Shuttle Endeavour is moving into a new wing, so check what is on view.
Dinosaur halls, gem and mineral collections and a nature garden.
Desert, Japanese and Chinese gardens, plus galleries of European and American art, next to Pasadena.
A compact museum with major European paintings and South Asian sculpture, on the Rose Parade route.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Downtown LA and Pasadena
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked November 8, 2026. Best of Los Angeles County may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Downtown LA and Pasadena — FAQ
Is downtown Los Angeles worth visiting?
Yes, especially for architecture, museums and food. Disney Concert Hall, The Broad, Grand Central Market and Olvera Street are close together and easy to see in a day on foot and by Metro.
How do I get from downtown LA to Pasadena?
The Metro A Line runs from Union Station to Pasadena in about 30 minutes, with stops near Old Pasadena. By car, the trip on the Arroyo Seco Parkway takes about 20 to 30 minutes outside rush hour.
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