US · California · 34.05°N 118.25°W

los angeles

Film studios, hillside views, beach paths and tacos across a city of separate neighbourhoods.

Best time
March–May and September–November mix warm days with fewer crowds. Summer is hot inland, May and June often start under grey coastal cloud, and winter is mild with most of the year's rain.
How long
4–6 days
Getting there
Fly with one stop, usually via Tokyo, Seoul, Taipei or Hong Kong, about 18–21 hours all in. From LAX it's 45–90 minutes by road to most neighbourhoods, depending on traffic. LA is 15 hours behind KL, 16 from November to early March. Malaysians need a US B1/B2 visitor visa, usually with an interview at the embassy in KL; ESTA isn't open to Malaysian passports.
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US · Californialos angeles34.05°N 118.25°Wgowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Film studios, hillside views, beach paths and tacos across a city of separate neighbourhoods.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLos AngelesUS, California
KLlos angeles
≈ 14,136 km from KL, as the crow flies
February shot of downtown Los Angeles sunset with Mount Baldy in the background after a large snow storm.

Photo: Alek Leckszas · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

LA is a cluster of separate neighbourhoods spread between the mountains and the Pacific, joined by a lot of freeway. A good day might start at a film studio, carry on at a taco truck and end with the city lights from Griffith Observatory.

Makan

  1. Street tacosFrom trucks and stands all over the city. Carne asada is beef; al pastor is pork.Map ↗
  2. Korean barbecueKoreatown is the biggest in the US. Beef short ribs (galbi) are the easy non-pork order.Map ↗
  3. Thai foodLA has a big Thai community, and Thai Town in East Hollywood cooks for it.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Griffith ObservatoryFree terraces on the hillside with views over the city and across to the Hollywood sign. Go for sunset.Map ↗
  2. Santa Monica and VeniceThe pier, a wide beach and a seaside path down to Venice's boardwalk of skaters and street performers. Hire a bike for the whole stretch.Map ↗
  3. Studio toursWarner Bros. and other working studios take you round their backlots and soundstages, separate from the Universal Studios theme park.Map ↗
  4. Getty CenterArt, gardens and city views on a hilltop, reached by a little tram from the car park.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Halal is easy across LA, from Pakistani and Afghan grills to Little Arabia in Anaheim, about 45 minutes south of downtown.
  • Plan each day around one part of the city; crossing from the beach to Hollywood at rush hour can take well over an hour.
  • Book studio tours ahead, especially for weekends.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.