12 things to know before you go to Los Angeles

From Venice Beach to the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles loves to do things on an epic scale. However, the city can be a little overwhelming for the uninitiated. The freeways are busy, restaurants have lines out the door and famous sites can be flooded with tourists. Knowing a bit about the city can make a big difference – here are the essential things you need to know before you go to Los Angeles.

Once you learn how to navigate Los Angeles, the city really starts to sparkle. You'll soon find yourself stumbling across iconic views and finding spots to escape in the mountains and by the beaches. And when you've adjusted to the city's rhythms, you can experience the best of everything, from music to nature to food.

One top tip is to give yourself enough time to appreciate Los Angeles. With the distances between the sights, you may struggle to see the best of the city in a weekend; allowing 4–5 days is a better option if you want to explore beyond the more obvious attractions.

Avoiding commonly made mistakes is the key to making the most of your adventures in California's most iconic city. Here's what you need to know before you visit Los Angeles, from tips on local etiquette to advice on getting around and staying safe.

1. Plan your time or spend your trip stuck in traffic

Visitors are often surprised by the sprawling layout of Los Angeles and just how far attractions are from one another. A friend once visited and planned to get breakfast downtown, go to Disneyland in Anaheim and enjoy some afternoon shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills before heading to dinner at Nobu Malibu. As you might expect, she didn't make it far beyond her breakfast stop.

Surprisingly for such a big city, Los Angeles is somewhat short on public transportation. Buses and trains can get you to key destinations, but you may need a rental car (or a taxi or rideshare) to reach some of the sights and the traffic in the city can bring travel to a standstill.

To avoid disappointment (and tick as much off your bucket list as possible), familiarize yourself with the areas you plan to visit on a map, plan your transport options carefully, and avoid traveling during peak hours.

2. Always make restaurant reservations

Los Angeles is home to more than 30,000 restaurants, and the city is famous for its vibrant international food scene. While the options are endless and you can always find somewhere that accepts walk-ins, reservations are recommended and often essential for the most popular spots.

Booking a week or two in advance will suffice for most places, but booking as soon as tables are released is the best way to secure a slot at Los Angeles' top restaurants – we're looking at you, Somni and Providence! Many restaurants accept bookings through websites such as OpenTable and Resy. If you want to eat like a local, the prime time for dining is between 7pm and 9pm.

3. Pack a jacket, even in summer!

Contrary to popular belief, while hot summer days can sizzle, it can also get unexpectedly cold in Los Angeles. While this is particularly true during the weather patterns known locally as "May Gray" and "June Gloom," it can even apply during the generally warm summer months.

More than that, locals often complain that 60ºF (16ºC) in Los Angeles feels colder than anywhere else. Don't judge the weather here until you experience it for yourself! Consider the best times to come when planning your trip, and pack appropriate outfits.

Don't overlook the water – the sea off those gorgeous beaches can be colder than people expect. Even in July, water temperatures only reach around 67ºF (19ºC), and many surfers wear a wetsuit.

4. The weather can vary from district to district

Speaking of the cold, the weather in Los Angeles can vary considerably depending on which suburb you find yourself in. Santa Monica can be rather chilly and cloudy while DTLA (Downtown Los Angeles) and Hollywood swelter in the summer heat. Before your trip, don't just look up the weather for Los Angeles as a whole; search suburb by suburb or risk getting caught in the wrong attire.

5. Be aware of the local smoking rules

The use and possession of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapes and cannabis is legal in Los Angeles. However, the city has very strict regulations regarding where you can light up. Smoking is prohibited in public spaces, including indoor areas such as offices, restaurants and bars, and most parks and beaches. If you do want to smoke, check the regulations in each county as rules vary.

Regardless of where you are, you cannot drive after consuming marijuana. If you ignore this rule, a misdemeanor Driving under the Influence (DUI) charge can lead to fines, 6 months in county jail, suspension of your driving license or even deportation if you're an overseas tourist.

6. Los Angeles may be the city of glitz and glam, but it's fine to dress down

For all its movie stars and fashion icons, Los Angeles has a fairly relaxed dress code, especially when it comes to visiting the city's beaches. A mix of casual, trendy and comfortable is the typical fashion, with many locals trading heels for sneakers throughout the day. However, for more upscale restaurants, events and theater shows, dressing a little more formally is appropriate. In more exclusive neighborhoods, avoiding beachwear and baggy clothing can be the key to admission to bars and clubs.

7. Be prepared for high levels of homelessness

Homelessness is a complex issue in Los Angeles. Despite the city's wealth and many government initiatives, some 75,000 people go without a roof over their heads on any given night – a problem made worse by high levels of drug use. Seeing people living on the streets can be quite confronting, especially for children. It's important to educate yourself and your family about the issue ahead of your travels to Los Angeles.

Homelessness occurs in many parts of the city, and there can be associated social problems, but mostly it's a situation to deal with compassionately. If you encounter people in this situation, show kindness, respect their personal space and avoid confrontation.

For safety, it can be a good idea to travel in a group at night, as deprivation is linked to high crime levels in some districts, such as Skid Row, on the edge of downtown. Rather than walking at night, many locals prefer to get around by rideshare.

8. Be open-minded toward different cultures

California is the second-most diverse state, just behind Hawaii, with an ethnic and racial diversity of 69.7%, according to the most recent census in 2020. The city is also home to the nation's largest Hispanic and Latino population. Visitors to Los Angeles are in for a treat when it comes to sampling global cuisines, attending festivals hosted by diverse communities, and enjoying all sorts of multicultural music and entertainment.

While embracing the city's cultural mix, be both curious and respectful, particularly when partaking in customs and activities that are unfamiliar to you. Approach conversations and interactions with cultural sensitivity and avoid making assumptions about people. Several local cultural centers introduce visitors to the role of different communities in Los Angeles' story, including the LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes near Olvera St, the downtown hub of the city's Mexican community.

9. Always purchase travel insurance with good medical coverage

It's one thing to risk your bag not making it to your destination, but you're playing with fire if you travel to Los Angeles without travel insurance that includes coverage for medical treatment. The threat of natural disasters in California is a reason to purchase travel insurance all by itself, but additionally, there is no universal healthcare system in the United States.

If you don't have medical coverage, you risk being left with an extremely hefty bill in the event of a medical emergency. When my mom visited recently, she had to consult a medical professional, and the bill for a 10-minute visit came to over $4000. Luckily, she had medical insurance!

10. Respect nature

Whether you are surfing in Malibu or hiking in Topanga or Griffith Park, always be respectful of the nature around you. This means packing up your trash to prevent leaving litter on the sand, or – even better – cleaning up any other trash you may see on the beach.

Bring reusable water bottles around so you won't have to add to the waste collection burden on cliffside hiking trails. Also be alert to the risk of wildfires – bonfires are banned on most Los Angeles beaches and barbecues are only permitted using designated fire pits. In the event of wildfires, heed warnings from the authorities.

11. You can drink tap water (but you may prefer purified water)

On paper, the tap water in Los Angeles is safe to drink. However, the safety of doing so is a subject of ongoing debate. While contaminants in tap water do not exceed permitted levels, many locals choose to drink filtered or bottled water due to trace levels of chemicals such as arsenic, disinfection byproducts, and nitrates.

The quality of the water can also be affected if there was a recent wildfire, and many LA folks just think mineral water tastes better than the tap water. If you go hiking, remember to carry plenty of water, particularly in summer.

12. Be prepared in case of natural disasters

While not a frequent occurrence, natural disasters are a feature of life in Los Angeles – and something visitors should be prepared for. The city is prone to earthquakes due to its position on the tectonically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and there are two to three tremors per year on average, though the last notable earthquake in 2008 caused only minor damage.

Familiarize yourself with emergency earthquake safety protocols such as "Drop, Cover and Hold On" and be ready to shelter under a table or desk (not in a doorway) if there is an earthquake during your travels. If you're driving and a tremor hits, stop away from buildings and power lines and stay in the car. The California Earthquake Authority has more safety advice.

Wildfires are also a problem in the Los Angeles area, especially when conditions are dry and windy. Large areas were damaged by wildfires in early 2025, with the local government's response being widely criticized. Keep up-to-date with fire reports and monitor the media for evacuation orders. Even if you're not in a fire zone, the air quality can quickly deteriorate due to the smoke and ash. If you have respiratory problems, stay indoors and use air purifiers where available.

More common than earthquakes and wildfires is extreme heat. Temperatures can exceed 120℉ (49ºC) in some areas in summer. If you engage in outdoor activities such as hiking, stay hydrated, use high-factor sunscreen and avoid being outside during the hottest hours of the day, especially if you're not accustomed to high temperatures. Mornings and late afternoons are the best times to hike.

The good news is that the Los Angeles County and Los Angeles City authorities send out mass emergency notifications by telephone and text – opt-in via their websites and keep your devices turned on and updated while traveling.