24 Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles That Are Totally Free

Sure the City of Angels can be expensive, but it's easy to enjoy L.A. on a budget, too.

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Los Angeles? For many, it's the glitz and glamour, the stars and handprints on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, window shopping along Rodeo Drive, or catching a glimpse of a celebrity in the wild. And while you can come to L.A. for those things, there's so much more to see and do if you know where to look. Not only that, but there's plenty that's free in L.A., and you can genuinely enjoy the city on a budget.

TOP 5 CAN'T MISS

• Hike the trails in Griffith Park and get a clear view of the Hollywood sign.

• Get your 10,000 steps with L.A. Conservancy's self-guided walking tours to modern architecture in Venice and film locations in West L.A.

• Snap a coveted photo inside Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Rooms at the Broad.

• Workout classes are expensive, but running up and down the city's 14 hidden staircases is free and fun.

• Browse a market of Mexican handicrafts and eat taquitos on Olvera Street.

To help keep costs low on your next trip, start with our list of the best free things to do in Los Angeles.

Related: The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary, Mountain Hikes, Seaside Bike Rides, and Fresh Seafood Included

Hike with the Los Feliz crowd at Griffith Park.

Griffith Park's 4,210 acres of natural, chaparral-covered terrain make a great place to hike, picnic, and play. All the hiking tracks — including the Mount Hollywood Trail — are free, and so is the iconic Griffith Observatory, which appeared in the film, "La La Land." Note that parking is not free; avoid paying $10 per hour by taking the DASH Observatory shuttle, which runs from the Sunset/Vermont Metro station and costs 50 cents. At the base of Griffith Park is the lovely neighborhood of Los Feliz — the shuttle stops here, too — where you can roam the streets that feed directly into hip Silver Lake. Though the park is popular with tourists, this is also where many locals hang out in L.A.

Take a free self-guided walking tour.

The Los Angeles Conservancy blows apart the idea that no one walks in L.A. Its website offers plenty of maps for self-guided tours of the city, from history tours of the city's Chinatown and Koreatown neighborhoods to a closer look at Downtown L.A.'s historic side and eclectic modern architecture in Venice. There are also several self-guided walks dedicated to popular film locations in West L.A., Hollywood, Griffith Park, Downtown L.A., and the Valley.

Catch a free exhibition at The Broad.

The Broad makes art democratic by offering complimentary general admission to Eli and Edythe Broad's personal collection of nearly 2,000 pieces of contemporary art from the 1950s to the present. The Downtown L.A. museum also hosts ticketed exhibitions from big-name artists like William Kentridge, Mickalene Thomas, and Takashi Murakami. Its most popular exhibit is its two Infinity Mirror Rooms by Yayoi Kusama; these are free but require advance tickets. For a low-key and free thing to do in L.A. at night, come on Thursdays, when the museum is open until 8 p.m.

Sweat it out with a run up a hidden staircase.

Angelenos love to climb the city's stairways — originally designed to connect steep-streeted communities in the 1920s — to fit in a workout. Sweat alongside the locals on one of the city's 14 hidden staircases, including the colorful Rainbow Staircase (also called the Micheltorena Stairs) in Silver Lake, Hollywood's picturesque Saroyan Stairs, and the steep and challenging Castellammare Stairs in Pacific Palisades. Running up and down these stairs is a fun free thing to do in L.A. with kids.

Celebrate the area's Mexican heritage on Olvera Street.

Get a dose of local Mexican-Angeleno culture and history at the Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, near the site where settlers from Mexico established the city's roots. Browse artwork, jewelry, bags, hats, clothing, and other souvenirs at the Mexican Marketplace along Olvera Street, and join a free tour of the city's oldest house, Avila Adobe, which dates from 1818. There's always something fun and usually free going on, so check the calendar of events; September 15th and 16th are huge festival days in celebration of Mexican Independence Day. For lunch or dinner, indulge in classic fare — like taquitos at Cielito Lindo — with all the money you've saved.

Get your culture fix at LACMA.

Immerse yourself in the California art scene at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), which is free for L.A. County residents every day after 3 p.m. (with a valid I.D.); for all visitors the second Tuesday of each month; and for Bank of America carholders the first full weekend of every month. Kids 17 and under who live in L.A. can sign up for a free NexGenLA membership to get complimentary entry at any time for themselves and one guest. Chris Burden's "Urban Light" installation in front of the museum is free to access daily.

Channel your inner Hermione Granger at DTLA's bookish hot spots.

Pay a visit to the magnificent art deco Central Library in Downtown L.A. — a dream destination for any book and architecture lover. Also in DTLA, don't miss The Last Bookstore to see the ever-Instagrammable labyrinth of books. A few blocks away in Little Tokyo is Japanese book giant Kinokuniya, whose selection of manga- and anime-everything might spark some Halloween costume ideas. The art and design books can be pricey at Hennessey + Ingalls and ARTBOOK @ Hauser & Wirth, both in the neighboring Arts District, but flipping through them for inspo is completely free.

Related: 13 Los Angeles Locations Every 'La La Land' Fan Should Visit

Check out the music scene free concerts.

If you're visiting L.A. during summer, your ears will be happy and your wallet fuller, thanks to the many free concerts offered. From June to September, rock out at Grand Performances on Saturdays in Downtown L.A., the Summer Sounds Outdoor Concert Series on Sundays in West Hollywood, and Off The 405 on Saturdays at the Getty Center, among other seasonal free-to-attend events.

Hit the beach and bike along the Strand.

Work off all those famous L.A. street tacos with a stroll or bike ride down a portion of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail (also known as the Strand), a mostly flat, well-paved 22-mile beach path running along the Pacific from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance. Although L.A. has a good bike share system, rides are limited to 30 minutes; to really enjoy the Strand, rent a bike from Perry's ($45/whole day) or the handful of bike rental shops along the Strand itself.

Flex your yogi muscles at Runyon Canyon.

Angelenos love yoga, so join the fray by hitting up one of the many donation-based yoga classes you'll find around the city, like those at Runyon Canyon, where there's a class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Note that there is a suggested donation of $5, but it's at your discretion. Keep the free fun going — and snap a picture in your cutest pair of leggings — on a hike around Runyon after the class.

Explore the Arts District in DTLA.

Make time to wander through L.A.'s Arts District, a section of Downtown that's bordered by the Los Angeles River on one side and Little Tokyo on the other. Check out dozens of colorful murals as well as galleries showcasing cutting-edge, local work. Among the most popular are the Institute of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Over the Influence, and Art Share L.A., all of which have free admission and a roster of ever-changing exhibitions.

Give back to the environment.

You can help counteract the effects L.A.'s car culture has on the environment by volunteering and planting trees with the folks at TreePeople — no training necessary. Check the calendar on the volunteer page to see when tree planting and park restoration days are happening (often Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays). As a reward for your hard work, unwind in nature with a hike in Fryman Canyon Park, a lesser-known trail spot that's much more invigorating than being stuck on a star-seeking tour bus.

Soak up the quirky vibe in Venice.

Head to this oceanfront neighborhood to watch street performers on the iconic Venice Beach Boardwalk, stroll past the canals, and check out public art — the Giant Binoculars on Main Street are truly a sight to behold. For great budget eats, plan your visit to coincide with the monthly First Friday on Abbot Kinney. Come hungry — it's a major foodie event where you can sample bites from some of the best food trucks in L.A.

Related: 17 Best Beaches in Southern California

Admire L.A.'s iconic Watts Towers.

Crane your neck at the historic Watts Towers, a series of 17 interconnected sculptural structures built over 33 years by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia. The tallest of the towers, which are made from ceramics, bottles, tiles, shells, and other salvaged materials and scraps, reaches a height of 99.5 feet. Guided 30-minute tours of the site and the Watts Towers Arts Center are offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and cost $7 for adults, and $3 for seniors and children over 13 (cash only). Even when there are no tours, you can still view the magnificent spires from outside the fence at no cost.

Check out the art in historic Union Station.

Indeed, the city isn't exactly known for its public transport, but the metro and buses do work to get around LA without a car. Better yet, each metro station is full of art; Union Station in particular is known for its extensive murals, impressive architecture, and digital installations. Recent works have focused on Chinatown's rich history and culture and how local artists have seen and experienced the city. Check the website to see what's on display when you're in town. If time allows, see if any Metro Art Tours are available during your trip so you can tour Union Station with a volunteer docent and learn more about the pieces you're viewing.

Learn About L.A.'s Japanese culture in Little Tokyo.

Take in the lantern-lined streets and alleyways of Little Tokyo, which has been known for its Japanese immigrant community since 1885. Today, you'll find a vibrant neighborhood full of restaurants, galleries, and indie clothing shops. While exploring the area, head to the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, where you can go for a stroll in the James Irvine Japanese Garden, a peaceful oasis that's free and open to the public all year long.

Tour the striking Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Capitalize on the complimentary tours that take visitors through the interior spaces and gardens at the architecturally stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by Frank Gehry. Choose from the 90-minute guided tour that includes all four of The Music Center's impressive theaters, or take a self-guided audio tour of just the Walt Disney Concert Hall, narrated by actor John Lithgow, which you can do at your own pace. In addition to free tours, there are occasional concerts and other events at no cost.

Gallery hop in Chinatown.

Take a self-guided tour of the up-and-coming galleries along Chinatown's Chung King Road — including the Charlie James Gallery, Noon Projects, and Sebastian Gladstone. If you can, time your visit with one of the monthly Chinatown First Fridays, which offer extended hours and a night market. Check the event's Instagram page for updates.

Nerd out over the Bradbury's architecture.

One of the city's most-filmed commercial sites is also one of its oldest. The Bradbury Building is recognizable by its open cage elevators, marble stairs, and ornate iron railings, all illuminated by the ample natural light that spills in from the skylights above. The best part? It's free to poke around. If you're really keen on the building's history and architecture, join a Saturday morning historic downtown walking tour ($18).

See the stars at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Dating from 1899, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the resting place for some of Hollywood's greatest legends, including Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino, and Douglas Fairbanks. Punk rock fans can pay their respects to two members of the Ramones, Johnny and Dee Dee. Stroll through the grounds for free and admire the intricate headstones and mausoleums of these luminaries.

Visit The Original Farmers Market.

The sights and sounds of The Original Farmers Market, adjacent to The Grove shopping complex in West Hollywood, are a feast for the senses. Open since 1934, the site was a popular stop among Hollywood's elite, from Shirley Temple and Ava Gardner to Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra. Today, window shoppers can find a mix of merchants selling flowers, books, and fresh local produce as well as more mainstream stores like Kiehl's and Williams Sonoma among the more than 100 shops and eateries. And while entry is free, we can't guarantee you'll be able to resist forking over some dough for a couple of treats from the famed Nonna's Empanadas. Don't miss the vintage-style Streamline Modern gas station, inspired by the one that stood there in the 1930s.

See one of the West Coast's best impressionist collections.

With sweeping views of the city, the Getty Center is one of the most prized museums on the West Coast, boasting a world-class collection of European impressionist works, contemporary photographs, and decorative arts. Admission is entirely free, so you can peruse the museum (known as much for its architecture as the art within), its stunning gardens, and the tram up to the complex at no cost (though there's a charge for parking). There are more free visual delights at J. Paul Getty's stunning Pacific Palisades property, the Getty Villa Museum, which focuses on Greek and Roman art and is also free.

Travel back to the Ice Age at the La Brea Tar Pits.

In central L.A., right next to LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum are home to the only actively excavated Ice Age fossil site found in an urban location in the world. Wandering the outdoor grounds and checking out the pools of sticky asphalt is free — it also makes a perfect stop before you check out LACMA's Urban Light installation (also free).

Discover local wildlife with the Audubon Society.

Indulge your inner birder — and discover local woodlands, gardens, coastal scrubs, or wetlands — on a complimentary bird walk with the L.A. Audubon Society. Guided walks take place on the second or third Saturday of each month and explore beautiful areas like Topanga State Park and Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.

For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.