Looking for the best views of Los Angeles? Check out these 5 places and enjoy the spectacular City of Angels like you haven’t seen it before.
Last updated: September 20, 2023
Where should you go to find spectacular views of Los Angeles? It’s a good question. Los Angeles is such a big city. To find a place that looks down at least at one part of the expansive city can be challenging. In many cases you need to hike and shed some sweat before feasting your eyes on the dazzling City of Angels below. Are you ready? Let’s the adventure start.
5 BEST PLACES WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS OF LOS ANGELES
Griffith Observatory
Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
The Griffith Observatory is undoubtedly one of the best places to enjoy the scenic views of the City of Angels. You can get really close to the building and skip hiking altogether or you can park a little bit farther away and enjoy a walk toward the Observatory.
This easy path opens the most spectacular views of Los Angeles from different angles. Additionally, panoramic scenes of the Pacific Ocean, the Hollywood Sign, and Downtown Los Angeles accompany you all the way to the iconic building.
J. Paul Getty Museum
Address: 1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049
Located atop the Santa Monica Mountains in Brentwood, the J. Paul Getty Museum amazes with its panoramic views that face Westwood and Downtown Los Angeles on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west. The museum is incredible on its own and is known as one of the most beautiful places in the city.
Runyon Canyon Park
Address: N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Runyon Canyon Park, a popular hiking and dog-walking park in the Hollywood Hills, offers the spectacular views of Los Angeles from four angles.
On the east, the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory present themselves in full glory. You can enjoy the view of Downtown Los Angeles from the southeast. The best panorama of Park La Brea, Wilshire Boulevard, and Baldwin Hills is on the south. And if you look in the southwestern direction, you will be able to detect some distant views of the Pacific Ocean.
Top it with the incredible vistas of Hollywood Boulevard with its Highland Mall, the Capital Records Building, and the Chinese Theater, and you may want to finish your search for the best views of Los Angeles right here.
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (aka Culver City Stairs)
Address: 6300 Hetzler Rd, Culver City, CA 90232
The Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is a tiny state park mainly known for a flight of stairs that ends at a platform with incredible views of Los Angeles. To get to the vistas, you can either climb the stairs, walk along a paved road, or hike up a dirt path.
No matter which route you choose, you’ll be glad you made it to the top. Here you get to admire the spectacular views of the San Gabriel Mountains, Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Westwood, and Culver City.
Stough Canyon Park
Address: 2300 E Walnut Ave, Burbank, CA 91504
Less popular and crowded than the other four places, Stough Canyon Park is one of the hidden gems of Los Angeles. Located in the Verdugo Mountains, the park instantly impresses with some lovely scenes of Downtown, the entire Valley, and the Burbank Airport.
