Why visit
LA is Venice Beach and Santa Monica, Hollywood and Griffith Observatory, LACMA and the Getty, Little Tokyo and K-Town, plus mountain hikes in minutes from the coast.
Los Angeles at a glance
City population
3.8 million
Metro: 13.2 million
Elevation
93 m
305 ft
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST)
America/Los_Angeles
Airport
LAX
Los Angeles International
Founded
1781 (El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles)
Getting around
Metro (7 lines, growing), buses; car-dominant
Signature dish
Tacos al pastor, Korean BBQ, In-N-Out, cronut, boba tea
Neighborhoods for travelers
HollywoodSanta MonicaVeniceDowntown (DTLA)Silver Lake
United States at a glance
Country center
38.0°, -97.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,372,610 km²
3,618,783 mi²
Country population
334.9 million
36/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
Dial
+1201
Language
English
Demonym
American
Internet
.us
UN
Member state
ISO code
US / USA
Where in the world
38.0° · -97.0°
United States
Open in Google Maps ↗
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- LA County has over 10 million people and 88 incorporated cities inside it.
- The Hollywood sign originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND": an advertisement for a real estate development.
- LA has more museums than any other US city.
- The US has no official national language: English is de facto but not de jure.
- Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (~2 cents per acre at the time).
Bordering United States
Traveler notes
- Rent a car. LA is not transit-friendly
- Griffith Observatory sunset
- K-Town Korean BBQ or Little Ethiopia
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Verify swim safety, ocean conditions, and water-quality reports by month.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Los Angeles
What currency is used in Los Angeles?
Los Angeles uses the United States dollar ($), ISO code USD.
What languages are spoken in United States?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United States?
The calling code is +1201.
What airport serves Los Angeles?
Los Angeles International (IATA: LAX).
Other North America destinations
Bahamas
Bahamas is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Barbados
Barbados is a destination in North America with coastlines and warm-water travel at its core. Plan around season, swim conditions, and regional island or coastal routes.
Belize
Belize is Caribbean reef travel. The Belize Barrier Reef (second-largest in the world), the Blue Hole, Caye Caulker island pace, and Mayan ruins at Caracol. English-speaking.
Canada
Canada is wilderness travel. Banff and Jasper in the Rockies, Tofino on Vancouver Island, Quebec City's old-world feel, Newfoundland's icebergs and puffins, and Yukon for the aurora.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is biodiversity concentrated. Manuel Antonio's beach-jungle, Arenal volcano and hot springs, Monteverde cloud forest, and Pacific surf coasts. In a country you can cross in five hours.
Cuba
Cuba is Havana's 1950s cars and crumbling facades, Viñales tobacco valley, Trinidad's cobbled old town, and Varadero's resort beaches. With restrictions on US travelers.