Griffith Observatory

Visitor Guide to LA's Iconic Free Observatory

⏱ 2-3 hours👤 All agesFree

Opened in 1935 and perched on the southern flank of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory is both a serious public observatory and one of Los Angeles's signature views. The Art Deco building, with its iconic copper domes, was a gift to the city for public astronomy and education, and admission to the building and grounds remains free — a rare thing for an attraction this celebrated.

Inside, visitors find hands-on exhibits on astronomy and the cosmos, a Foucault pendulum, historic telescopes, and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, whose immersive shows (ticketed separately) are among the best in the country. On clear evenings, staff and volunteers set up public telescopes for free viewing of the moon, planets, and stars, including through the building's historic Zeiss telescope. The exhibits make it a genuine science destination, not just a viewpoint.

But the views are the universal draw. From the observatory's terraces, the entire LA basin spreads out below — downtown's towers, the grid of the city, and the Pacific beyond on clear days — while the Hollywood Sign stands clearly on the hillside to the west, making this one of the best and most accessible places to see and photograph it. Sunset and the transition to the glittering nighttime city are spectacular. It's appeared in countless films. Parking near the top is limited and fills up; arriving early, taking a shuttle, or walking up are smart strategies. Allow time for the exhibits, a planetarium show, and the views.