Los Angeles
United States · Country profile
Los Angeles is the great city of the American West, the sprawling metropolis of the Pacific coast that spreads its enormous web of the neighbourhoods, the beaches, the studios and the suburbs across the basin between the mountains and the sea. The city is the capital of the film and the entertainment industries that have shaped the imagination of the world, and Hollywood, with its studios, its hills and its monuments, sits at its centre, while the beaches of the Santa Monica and the Venice, the museums of the Getty and the districts of the Downtown and the arts frame the rest. Car-based, sunny and immense, Los Angeles is less a single city than a constellation of the worlds, and its ethnic variety, its food and its endless outdoor life give it its famous, particular magic. The city of the angels is one of the great myths and realities of the world.
About Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a city in United States. The city's documented population is around 3,820,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the US Dollar (USD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +1. It is served by 1 airport in our guide: Los Angeles International Airport.
The Beaches, the Studio Hills and the Basin of the Metropolis
Los Angeles is a vast, sunny, car-based city that is really a constellation of distinct worlds: the beach towns of the coast, the glamour of the Hollywood hills, the arts of the downtown and the enormous residential sprawl that fills the basin between them. The car is essential, and the visitor plans by districts rather than walking a centre. The city rewards the slow dive: the museums are world-class, the food is among the most diverse on earth, and the beach and the mountain life run all year. It is less a monument city than an experience city, where the quality of the light, the open air and the everyday motion of the metropolis is the real attraction.
The Car, the Golden Seasons and the Fog of the Afternoons
The car is the essential of the city, so the research of the traffic and the parking is part of the planning, and the subway and the bus cover only a thin core of the enormous region. The best seasons are the spring and the autumn, with the summers dry and warm and the winters mild, and the famous coastal fog rolling in through the afternoons. The museums, the studios and the beach neighborhoods are the essential circuit, and the hikes of the hills and the canyon roads give the city its extraordinary views. The US dollar is the currency, the card works everywhere and the city is safe in its main areas with the usual care of the car and the night.
The Getty, the Hikes and the Taco Trucks of the City
The museums of the city are among the great collections of the world, from the Getty with its hilltop acropolis of the art to the museum of contemporary art and the broad collections of the county museum, and the cultural districts of the downtown hold the modern galleries and the concert halls. The beaches of the city, from the pier of the Santa Monica to the canals of the Venice, are the great public stage, and the hikes of the mountains with their famous views over the whole basin are the classic panoramas. The film world, from the studios with their tours to the hills and the boulevards of the Hollywood, anchors the myth, and the food of the city, the taco trucks, the multi-ethnic restaurants and the fine dining of the districts, is among the most exciting of the country.
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- Country
- United States
- Population
- 3,820,000
- Coordinates
- 33.9416, -118.4085
- Capital
- Washington, D.C.
- Region
- North America
- Currency
- US Dollar (USD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +1
- Country code
- US
Entry requirements for United States
Visa status for travellers from common origins visiting United States for tourism.
Getting to Los Angeles
Airports we list for Los Angeles:
Other airports in the area:
- San Diego International AirportSAN≈ 175 km from Los Angeles
- Harry Reid International AirportLAS≈ 380 km from Los Angeles
- San Francisco International AirportSFO≈ 544 km from Los Angeles
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International AirportPHX≈ 595 km from Los Angeles
- Portland International AirportPDX≈ 1,343 km from Los Angeles
Cities in United States
Other cities we cover in United States:
Frequently asked questions
Is Los Angeles the capital of United States?
No — the capital of United States is Washington, D.C..
What currency do I need in Los Angeles?
The local currency is the US Dollar (USD). Languages spoken in United States include English.
What is the dialling code for United States?
The international dialling code for United States is +1.
Which airport should I fly into for Los Angeles?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is the airport we list for Los Angeles.
How far is Los Angeles from the nearest airport?
Los Angeles is about 175 km from San Diego International Airport.
Do I need a visa to visit United States?
It depends on your passport. For the origins we track, the current tourism visa status is Argentina (visa required), Japan (e-visa), Morocco (visa required), Singapore (e-visa) and South Korea (e-visa). Check the entry requirements tool for your own nationality.
Flying out of Los Angeles? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.