The 75 best things to do in L.A. this summer

It isn’t summer in L.A. until the first cemetery screening brings hoards of movie-lovers to Hollywood Forever, toting folding chairs, picnic blankets, snack spreads and lots of booze. Each year, Cinespia brings classic cult favorites to the hallowed resting place of such Hollywood greats as Rudolph Valentino and Bugsy Siegel. It’s an L.A. rite of passage, a quintessential summer experience and one of the best film venues in the city.

See more of L.A.’s outdoor movie screenings.

This gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre has been hosting concerts since the LA Philharmonic first played here in 1922. It boasts a stellar summer lineup (from Mitski and Beck to Disney movies) and a pretty generous BYOB policy that lets you bring wine and beer to nearly every performance. If you’re a first-timer, make sure to see our full primer to picnicking at the Bowl.

Endless summers in Los Angeles mean non-stop cravings for the best ice cream. When temperatures climb and the Santa Ana winds roll in, treat yourself to the city’s tastiest frozen treats—whether in a cone or a cup, spread inside a doughnut, scooped into a coconut or squeezed between two cookies.

Gas prices have really put a damper on some of our favorite day trip destinations these past couple of years. So how can you still satisfy your wanderlust without succumbing to the prices at the pump? (Aside from road tripping in an EV.) Try these nearby destinations that are reachable by boat, Metro or Amtrak—all within three hours or less for a trip starting at Union Station.

One of L.A.’s most treasured summer traditions is back after a five-year hiatus. Barnsdall Art Park’s wine tastings set up on the west lawn of the historic Hollyhock House (which you can tour during the evening for an additional $25), with selections of boutique wines provided by Silverlake Wine. Bring along a blanket and a picnic basket, or just nosh on the variety of food trucks over the spectacular sunset views.

Once again, L.A.’s big Pride celebration has splintered into two similar events this June. The familiar LA Pride has left behind West Hollywood for Hollywood, where the LGBTQ+ event first began in the 1970s. Meanwhile, WeHo will still be staging its own inclusive festival, WeHo Pride, the week before. Confused? Don’t worry, we break down everything you need to know about L.A. Pride, WeHo Pride and each event’s Pride Parade right over here.

In 1974, oil magnate J. Paul Getty opened a museum of his holdings in a faux villa in a Pacific Palisades canyon. Eventually the decorative arts and paintings were moved to the Getty Center, and the villa was closed for conversion into a museum for Getty’s collection of Mediterranean antiquities. Even if you’re not interested in the art, the palatial courtyards and manicured gardens are worth the visit.

What is it that they say about smog? Oh yeah, beautiful sunsets. Make L.A.’s haze work for you at these cocktail bars and beachside spots, where the views rightfully rival the booze. From Downtown L.A.’ tower-topping bars to Malibu’s seaside cabanas, we’ve picked out the best bars in L.A. with a view.

As sunset creeps later and later into the evening, the Huntington is taking advantage of the extra daylight with this coveted after-hours series. Formerly open just for members, Twilight Garden Strolls is now open to the public, too, and will extend the San Marino garden’s hours until 8pm on select evenings in the summer. Just a heads up that you’ll need a timed ticket that’s separate from regular morning or afternoon admission.

Everyone’s favorite NPR member station has a hand in a slew of summer concert slates at public plazas and beloved museums. Familiar KCRW DJs and local buzz bands will be providing free, open-air tunes on select nights from June through September at Union Station, CAAM, Descanso Gardens, Bowers Museum, Century Park, the Autry, KCRW’s Santa Monica headquarters and—our favorite—the party-till-midnight bashes at Chinatown Central Plaza.

The masters of rooftop movie viewing have returned for another season of screenings in Downtown L.A. Known for excellent film choices and a steady supply of snacks and booze, Rooftop Cinema Club was the first series to hit town with a tough-to-beat alfresco setup: You’ll watch from comfy chairs with the audio piped in over wireless headphones, though you can still keep up with some quieter sets of speakers as you hit up the concession stand.

With its Downtown skyline backdrop, lotus flower bloom and spraying fountains, this onetime drinking water reservoir is now the perfect recreational destination. Today, you can walk the track around the lake or push your way through it in a swan boat—set sail in the evening for an illuminated, extra-romantic twist.

A little bit coastal and a whole lot of a party, Christopher Tompkins’s popular Smorgasburg stall (and now Grand Central Market stand) also has a permanent home tucked into a Malibu strip mall, where a pair of tented decks in the parking lot look out over the coastal hillside. It’s the perfect setting to grab a beer or some natural wine and our favorite lobster rolls in town (available warm and buttered or East-Coast style, chilled and in a thin sheen of mayo).

This epic (and free) outdoor concert series features live performances by artists from around the world at the totally overhauled California Plaza stage in DTLA, where the shallow water separating the stage from the audience has been replaced by a proper event lawn. Don’t miss a diverse and highly intriguing mix of bands, DJ sets and dance parties.

Small, beautiful and dominated by rocky outcrops, El Matador is easily the most picturesque piece of coastline in the county. Wear shoes and don’t bring too much gear; the western Malibu beach is only accessible via a steep gravelly path from a paid parking lot (unless you score a free pass with your library card). There are no lifeguards or other facilities, but it’s the perfect spot to spread your towel in the cupped hands of the rocks—just watch out for high tide when sand comes at a premium. Arriving early or staying late should reward you with a memorable dawn or sunset.

No we’re not talking about the experimental genre, free jazz: Jazz at LACMA is a free seasonal series that’s featured legit legends over its three-decade run at the museum. The beloved program is back again for the season on Friday evenings in LACMA’s welcome plaza (just behind Urban Light).

The allure of the canyons is inescapable once your car climbs their well-worn roads. The era of folk and free love trickled out of the mainstream but never left the canyons. Magic is still hidden around every bend in these mountains, and it’s yours to discover. So, fill up your gas tank and head for the hills.

Looking for a hike that’ll wash away those beads of sweat midway through it? Try a waterfall hike. Even though some of them are down to a trickle in the middle of the summer, it’ll still be enough to help you cool down along the way. Wondering where to start? Try these five of our favorite waterfall hikes, with picks in both the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.

The L.A. Conservancy offers a delightful summer time machine in the form of landmark films, screened inside Downtown’s grand old movie palaces throughout the month of June.

This year’s lineup includes The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and The Seven Year Itch at the Orpheum on June 1, Bullitt and Gaslight at the Los Angeles Theatre on June 8, and From Russia with Love and Mi Vida Loca at the Palace Theatre on June 15.

Looking for lit? If you’re book shopping in Los Angeles, look no further. We’ve found the best shops and independent retailers offering art books, travel guides political tomes and children’s tales. Check out these top booksellers for the best bargains, out-of-print titles, author readings and community events.