Beyond the Stadium

Things to Do

Hollywood walks, Universal Studios, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier, food tours, and the dozens of LA experiences World Cup visitors will want to book before they fly. Browse the curated picks below or jump into Viator's full Los Angeles catalog.

The Big Six

Anchor Sights

Los Angeles rewards slow exploration. These six are the ones worth the traffic — and three of them are completely free.

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The Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Dr, Brentwood. Free admission — Monet, Rembrandt, van Gogh, plus Richard Meier architecture and one of the best views of Los Angeles from the hilltop gardens. Tram from the parking structure (parking $25). Book timed entry online.
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Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory Rd. Free building entry; planetarium shows extra (~$10). Iconic LA landmark with sweeping views of the Hollywood Sign and the LA basin. Free parking fills by 10am — take the DASH Observatory shuttle from Los Feliz.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza. Adults ~$109+ (cheaper online, prices fluctuate). Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Studio Tour tram, Jurassic World ride. Full-day operation. Express Pass worth it during World Cup summer crowds.
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LACMA (LA County Museum of Art)
5905 Wilshire Blvd. Adults $25, under 17 free. Largest art museum in the western US — Urban Light (free exterior photo op, open 24/7), Chris Burden's Metropolis II, and a world-class Islamic art collection.
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Venice Beach & Boardwalk
Ocean Front Walk, Venice. Free. Muscle Beach outdoor gym, street performers, skate park, eclectic vendors. Rent bikes and ride north to Santa Monica Pier. Abbot Kinney Blvd (1 block east) is the best restaurant strip.
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Runyon Canyon / Griffith Park
Runyon Canyon: 2000 N Fuller Ave — free 130-acre park with Hollywood Sign views; popular celebrity-spotting hike. Griffith Park: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr — 4,200-acre free park, largest urban park in the US.

Tours & Experiences

Curated Picks

Top-rated Los Angeles tours and experiences on Viator. World Cup dates sell out fast, so book ahead.

See All Los Angeles Tours on Viator ↗
200+ tours, activities and experiences across LA

Family + Sport

Stadiums & Attractions

SoFi Stadium (Inglewood)
1001 Stadium Dr. World Cup host venue — opening ceremony + first match June 12 (Katy Perry headlining). No tailgating. Metro C Line to Hawthorne/Lennox + shuttle (2.1 miles). No general parking — pre-book via JustPark.
Dodger Stadium
1000 Vin Scully Ave. One of baseball's most beautiful ballparks — mountain backdrop, great Dodger dogs. MLB runs through the World Cup window. Shuttle from Union Station (Dodger Express, ~$6 RT) is the easiest option.
🦈
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach. Adults ~$35, children ~$24. 11,000 animals across three galleries. Shark Lagoon is the highlight. Blue Line Metro to Aquarium station.
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Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier. Free pier access. Pacific Park amusement rides extra (~$10–35). Solar-powered Ferris wheel, trapeze school, Bubba Gump Shrimp. Bike from Venice Beach in 15 minutes.

Neighborhoods

Walk-the-Streets Los Angeles

LA rewards neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood exploration more than any other US city. Rent a car or scooter — these pockets are 10–20 minutes apart.

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Venice Boardwalk & Abbot Kinney
Ocean Front Walk + Abbot Kinney Blvd. Boardwalk is free; Abbot Kinney has the best independent restaurants and boutiques in LA. Free to wander. Friday food trucks on Abbot Kinney (first Friday of the month).
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Silver Lake & Los Feliz
Sunset Blvd & Hillhurst Ave. LA's most creatively dense neighbourhood — indie record shops, taquerias, comedy clubs, and the best coffee scene in the city. Free. Walk up to Griffith Observatory from Los Feliz.
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Koreatown
Wilshire & Western. Free to explore. Best Korean BBQ in the US, 24-hour karaoke rooms, Korean spas (jim jjilbangs ~$25). The most vibrant neighbourhood in LA after midnight. Not a tourist area — that's the point.
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Arts District (DTLA)
E 3rd St & Traction Ave. Warehouse district turned creative hub — Hauser & Wirth gallery (free), Bestia restaurant, Orpheum Theatre. Free to walk. Sunday farmers market.
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Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood & Highland. Walk of Fame stars, TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre (Oscars venue). Free to walk. Crowded but obligatory. Hollywood Museum in the Max Factor Building: adults $15.

Match-Day-Friendly

Quick Hits

Under 90 minutes — morning is essential in LA; traffic and heat build from mid-morning.

🔭
Griffith Observatory (90 min)
Free entry. Best before 11am. DASH shuttle from Los Feliz avoids the parking nightmare. Views of Hollywood Sign and the entire LA basin.
🏖️
Venice Boardwalk (1 hr)
Free. Street performers, Muscle Beach, skate park. Best 9am–11am before it gets crowded and hot.
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Getty Center Gardens (2 hr)
Free (parking $25 or take the 761 bus). Arrive at opening (10am). The gardens and city views alone justify the trip even without going inside.
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Grand Central Market (45 min)
317 S Broadway, DTLA. Free to enter. 30+ food stalls — Eggslut, Sticky Rice, Roast to Go. Open 8am–9pm. Walking distance from Union Station.

During the Tournament

Other Live Sports

Other notable sporting events happening in or near this metro during the FIFA World Cup window (Jun 11 – Jul 19, 2026). Use these to plan around match days. MLS is paused May 25 – Jul 16 for the World Cup, so most domestic soccer is dark.

Find Tickets on TicketNetwork ↗
Resale marketplace — search by team, venue or date for any event below.
Mon-Wed Jun 15-17
Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay Rays · Dodger Stadium — ~12 mi NE of SoFi
Fri-Sun Jun 19-21
Dodgers vs. Baltimore Orioles · Dodger Stadium
Thu-Sun Jul 2-5
Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres · Dodger Stadium — Includes July 4 weekend
Mon-Wed Jul 6-8
Dodgers vs. Colorado Rockies · Dodger Stadium
Fri-Sun Jul 10-12
Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks · Dodger Stadium — 10-game homestand into All-Star break
Wed Jun 17 · Sat Jun 21 · Sun Jul 6 · Wed Jul 8
LA Sparks (WNBA) · Crypto.com Arena, downtown LA — vs. Lynx, Liberty (30th-season tribute), Storm, Fever (Caitlin Clark)
Fri-Sun Jul 17-19 (NY)
Yankees vs. Dodgers · Yankee Stadium, the Bronx — Marquee Dodgers away series — same weekend as the WC final at MetLife.
Tue Jul 14 (Philly)
MLB All-Star Game · Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia — Multiple Dodgers in the All-Star roster expected.