Griffith Observatory

An Art Deco observatory built in 1935. Free admission and telescope stargazing. The terrace is the best spot to see both the Hollywood Sign and the Los Angeles night skyline. Featured in La La Land.

Griffith Observatory sits on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, at an elevation of 346 m. Completed in 1935, its Art Deco building with a verdigris-green dome is itself a landmark. Rebel Without a Cause, La La Land and The Terminator were filmed here. Admission to the observatory is free. The exhibit halls feature a Foucault pendulum, Tesla coil demonstrations, a scale model of the solar system and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium (about $10 per show, well worth it). After dark (Tuesday to Sunday), you can line up for free to observe the Moon and planets through the 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope on the roof, and volunteers often set up telescopes on the lawn. The real draw is the terrace. The west terrace faces the Hollywood Sign, and the south terrace overlooks the entire Los Angeles basin from the downtown skyline to the Pacific. After sunset, the city lights fill the view, and it's considered the most beautiful night view in Los Angeles. On the lawn nearby, the James Dean bust and trails lead toward the Hollywood Sign. Traffic is the biggest challenge. The hilltop parking lot has only about 300 spaces ($10 per hour), and it's usually full on weekend afternoons after 3 p.m. You'll need to park on the street near the Greek Theatre at the bottom of the hill and walk 20–30 minutes up. The recommended option is the Metro B Line to Vermont/Sunset station, then the DASH Observatory bus ($0.50) straight to the site. Uber drop-offs are available at the entrance. Suggested plan: arrive around 4–5 p.m., look at the exhibits, photograph the Hollywood Sign, wait for sunset, stargaze, and head down after 8 p.m. The observatory is closed on Mondays. The terrace is windy and cooler at night. Holidays and weekends are very crowded.

Opening hours

Tue–Fri 12:00–22:00; Sat & Sun 10:00–22:00; closed Mondays (terrace open all day)

Viewpoint · Night views · Astronomy · La La Land

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