Just like with New York, Brazilians need the American tourist visa (B1/B2) to visit Los Angeles — Brazil is not part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, so you can’t sort this out the week before your flight. It’s the same process we’ve detailed in our New York guide: an online form, a fee, and, in most cases, an in-person interview at the consulate.
Once that’s taken care of, Los Angeles delivers a sprawling itinerary — more than any other city in this guide, the distance between attractions is part of the experience. Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Downtown function almost like separate cities, connected by freeways that set the pace for visitors.
This guide covers the tickets worth booking in advance, the logistics of LAX airport, and the neighborhoods that make sense for a short visit.
Hollywood: Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the iconic sign
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, with its bronze and quartz stars embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard, is free and open all day — it’s worth going early in the morning to snap photos without the crowds that build up throughout the day. The Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars, and the TCL Chinese Theatre, with its handprints and footprints of movie stars, are in the same area and also don’t charge to see the exterior.
The Hollywood Sign, perched atop Mount Lee, can be seen from various points around the city, but to get closer you’ll need to hike trails in Griffith Park or the Hollywood Sign Trail — there’s no car access to the base of the sign. The most classic and free view is usually from the Griffith Observatory lookout, which is also inside the park.
Griffith Observatory: The City’s Most Sought-After Free View
Admission to the Griffith Observatory is free, including the indoor astronomy exhibits and the Zeiss telescope for nighttime viewing — only the planetarium shows charge a separate ticket, at a relatively low price. Parking on-site is paid and fills up fast on weekends and at sunset, when the view of the city (and the Hollywood Sign itself) is most in demand.
It’s worth arriving with plenty of time or considering walking from a more distant parking lot within Griffith Park during peak hours. If you time it right, you can catch the sunset over the city and the transition to the nighttime lights all in one spot, without spending anything beyond parking.
Universal Studios Hollywood: Theme Park and Movie Studio
A one-day ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood starts at around $109 for adults when purchased online in advance, with Express Pass options ranging from $209 to $309 depending on the date. The park combines themed attractions (Harry Potter, Jurassic World, Super Nintendo World) with the Studio Tour, a guided tram ride through real film and TV sets still in use.
Buying in advance on the official website is usually cheaper than at the gate, and midweek dates outside of holidays tend to have cheaper tickets than weekends and U.S. school vacation periods.
Santa Monica and Venice Beach: The Los Angeles Coastline
The Santa Monica Pier, with its solar-powered Ferris wheel and Pacific Park amusement park, marks the official end of historic Route 66 — entering the pier is free, and only the park’s specific attractions charge individual admission. The surrounding beach is wide and well-maintained, with a bike path that stretches all the way to Venice Beach.
Venice Beach, just a few minutes away on foot or by bike, has a more alternative vibe: Muscle Beach (the original outdoor gym where Arnold Schwarzenegger used to train), street performers, and the Venice Canals, a replica of Italian waterways lined with charming residential homes. It’s worth setting aside at least half a day to link the two beaches by walking or renting a bike.
Getty Center: Free-Admission Museum with Panoramic Views
The Getty Center, with its European art collection and modern architecture perched on a hill, has completely free admission — but it requires an advance online reservation to manage visitor flow. Parking is the only charge, at around $20 (which can vary on high-demand dates), and a tram takes you from the parking lot to the top of the hill as part of the experience.
The view from up there, with the Los Angeles basin on one side and the ocean in the distance on clear days, is worth the visit even for those who aren’t museum fans. Plan for 2 to 3 hours for the full experience, including the outdoor gardens.
| Neighborhood | Vibe | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood | Touristy, lively, central | First-timers, close to movie attractions | Heavy tourist traffic all day |
| Santa Monica | Beachy, laid-back | Those prioritizing the beach and a calmer vibe | Heavy traffic to other areas |
| Beverly Hills | Luxurious, residential | Designer shopping, architecture | Higher hotel rates |
| Downtown LA | Urban, up-and-coming | Those seeking better prices and big-city life | Less touristy vibe at night in some areas |
Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive
Beverly Hills is known primarily for Rodeo Drive, a three-block street with the world’s most expensive luxury brands side by side — going into the stores doesn’t cost a thing, even if you just want to window-shop and soak up the neighborhood’s atmosphere. The Beverly Hills Trolley offers a guided tour through the area’s residential streets, showing celebrity mansions from a distance (with no guarantee of any actual sightings).
The neighborhood is also home to some of Los Angeles’s most traditional hotels, like the Beverly Hills Hotel, with its iconic pink and green sign — worth stopping by for a photo even if you’re not staying there. The area is more residential and quieter at night than Hollywood, so it’s not the ideal spot for those seeking a lively nightlife scene.
Getting from LAX Airport and Getting Around the City
The FlyAway bus connects LAX to Downtown and Hollywood for about $9.75 per person, with trips taking 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic — you pay only with a credit card, right at the company’s counter in the arrivals hall. It’s the simplest option for those who don’t want to deal with transfers.
Los Angeles’s metro is cheaper ($1.75 per ride, with a reloadable TAP Card costing $2), but it requires more patience: from LAX, you’ll need to take a shuttle to the Aviation/Century station before boarding the lines that head to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, or Hollywood, usually with at least one transfer along the way.
Unlike most cities in this guide, Los Angeles was designed around the car — public transit exists, but it’s slower and less comprehensive than in New York, for example. Those planning to visit several spread-out areas in a few days often consider renting a car or using ride-hailing apps frequently.
It’s worth remembering that a Brazilian driver’s license, accompanied by an International Driving Permit, is accepted for driving in the United States for a limited period — but rental companies usually require an international credit card in the driver’s name and a minimum age of 21 or 25, depending on the car category.
Best Time to Visit Los Angeles
Los Angeles enjoys mild weather year-round, but September and October deliver the best balance: comfortable temperatures, less coastal fog (the “June Gloom” that blankets beaches like Santa Monica on early-summer days), and hotel prices slightly lower than in summer.
December through March is the rainiest season, though rain in LA is far rarer and shorter-lived than in tropical destinations—it’s not a period to avoid, just worth packing a backup umbrella. Summer (June through August) is peak season, with beaches and theme parks more crowded.
Where to Eat: Food Trucks, Tacos, and LA’s Culinary Diversity
The food truck scene is part of Los Angeles’ gastronomic identity—from authentic Mexican tacos to Korean and fusion cuisine, it’s common to see a line in front of a truck with no flashy signage, fueled purely by word-of-mouth from those who’ve been before. Neighborhoods like Koreatown and East LA hold much of this culinary diversity off the beaten tourist path.
You can’t talk about LA food without mentioning In-N-Out, a regional burger chain that only exists on the American West Coast and almost always has a line, even outside peak hours—it’s more of a cultural experience than a culinary one for out-of-town visitors. The Farmers Market, near Fairfax, gathers a variety of food stalls in a more relaxed format than street food trucks.
Los Angeles’ diversity also shows up in ethnic neighborhoods lesser-known to first-time visitors, like Little Tokyo downtown and Thai Town near Hollywood—both with more authentic restaurants and friendlier prices than the standard tourist circuit. Worth adding one of these neighborhoods to your itinerary if you want to stray a bit from the obvious.
Before You Go
- Visa: B1/B2 required for Brazilians, same process as the New York guide—start early.
- Best time to go: September and October for balanced weather and less coastal fog.
- How long to stay: 5 to 6 days to cover Hollywood, the beaches, and at least one theme park at a relaxed pace.
- Getting from the airport: FlyAway to Hollywood/Downtown (~$9.75) or metro with shuttle (~$1.75 + TAP Card).
- Approximate daily cost: between $100 and $250+, depending on your travel style.
- What to pack: consider renting a car if your itinerary spans several spread-out areas.
Quick Questions
Is renting a car in Los Angeles worth it? If your itinerary includes Hollywood, the beaches, and Beverly Hills in the same stretch, yes—public transit is slower for covering long distances.
Is the Getty Center really free? Admission is, only parking is paid—but you need to reserve a time slot online in advance.
How many days do you need for Universal Studios Hollywood? One day covers the park comfortably, since it’s smaller than Universal Orlando—but set aside a full day just for it, without pairing it with other attractions in the same stretch.
Los Angeles Rewards Those Who Embrace the Drive
Between the Hollywood sign, the free views from Griffith Observatory, and the coastline from Santa Monica to Venice Beach, Los Angeles delivers a more spread-out, less walkable version of the American dream that New York represents in more compact form. The city rewards those who accept the car (or the Uber) as part of the itinerary, rather than fighting that logic.
Sort out your visa with the same lead time as the New York guide, pick one theme park instead of trying to hit them all, and leave at least one afternoon free to walk from Santa Monica to Venice Beach without rushing—it’s on that stretch that the city shows its most laid-back side.