Are you looking for something awesome, memorable, and CHEAP to do in Los Angeles?? Well, I’m here to tell you that the Griffith Observatory checks off all of those boxes.
Whether you’re an LA visitor, a local playing LA tour guide, or just looking for something fun to do on a day off, the Griffith Observatory is something that is a Los Angeles icon and is not to be missed.
Taking your visitors to a famous movie spot will wow them, but they’ll really be blown away by the excellent view of the famous Hollywood sign!
That and oh, all the cool science-y stuff there is to actually do in the observatory! Let’s not forget about that!
What to do at the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
Did I mention that the Observatory is FREE?? That definitely makes up for the hassle it takes to get there (more on that below). In fact it’s one of the best free things to do in Los Angeles!
There are tons of astronomy-themed exhibits in all the halls, that are fun and interesting for all ages. Don’t miss the large Tesla Coil in the Wilder Hall of the Eye!
The exhibits were arranged and planned in such a way to categorize different types of observation. The Hall of the Eye being for how humans observe the universe and how that evolves.
The Ahmanson Hall of the Sky focuses on the observation of phenomena that occur on Earth as a result of celestial movements. The Richard and Lois Gunther Depths of Space turn the attention to space exploration.
Okay well I made it sound boring but it’s really awesome, I promise!
There are special events throughout the year (many of which are free). A lot of them happen around times of celestial happenings, such as eclipses and equinoxes. Check out the calendar here to see what’s going on.
Telescopes & Star Parties
Every night except Monday, public telescopes are set up and guides help you scope out the skies. More extensive ‘star parties’ happen one Saturday a month, where they bring out a wide variety of telescopes and amateur astronomers can bring theirs as well.
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium
With 8 shows every weekday and 10 shows on weekend days, you’ll definitely be at the Griffith Observatory at the right time to catch one of the incredible planetarium shows.
While not free, the shows are $7/adult ($5 for student and seniors) and $3/child, so they’re pretty affordable. If you want to see the show, make sure you buy your tickets right when you get there since you can’t pre-book them online.
There are three different shows offered, Centered in the Universe, Water is Life, and Light of the Valkyries.
Make sure to be there on time! They won’t let you in after the show has already started.
Important Info about Visiting
**Please note at the time of writing, the Observatory is CLOSED due to Covid-19 so much of the information below isn’t accurate. The info below is only accurate when the Observatory is on normal operations. Read more about the status here**
Hours of Operation:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday – Friday: 12PM-10PM
Saturday – Sunday: 10AM – 10PM
There are a cafe and gift shop located inside the Observatory, in case you get hungry or wanna buy a NASA shirt or something equally as kitschy (but fun!).
How to Get To Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles
Drive your own car: you can access the Observatory by the Fern Dell, Hillhurst, or Vermont entrances off of Los Feliz Blvd. **
Bonus: If you choose the Vermont Canyon route (via Hillhurst or Vermont Ave), you will drive through the tunnel used in Back to the Future!
DASH Bus: Pick up the Observatory/Los Feliz DASH line at the Sunset/Vermont station of the METRO Red Line Subway. Board the bus at the northeast corner of the Vermont & Sunset intersection.
You can also pick up the Observatory Bus at the Greek Theatre inside Griffith Park.
The bus runs 7 days a week (even Monday, when the Observatory is closed) from 10AM – 10PM. Rides are $0.50 in cash or $0.35 if you have a TAP Card. It runs about every 15-20 minutes.**
LA Metro Bus 96: The LA Metro 96 bus runs through the eastern end of Griffith Park, so while it doesn’t go directly to the Observatory, it stops at at few points within the park that could connect you to the Parkline (mentioned below) or to a rideshare to take you the rest of the way.
Griffith Parkline Shuttle: On Saturdays and Sundays, a free shuttle runs to all the main spots in Griffith Park, including the Observatory and the LA Zoo. It runs from 12PM – 10PM **
Rideshare: Rideshares drop off right at the front door of the Observatory! A great alternative to braving the crazy parking sitch yourself.
Hike: There are several trails that end up at the Observatory, or that connect to one that ends up there. The shortest and most popular is the West Observatory Trail, which is about a mile one way, but it’s pretty much straight up. There are lots of other ways, more of which are described on this website.
If you hike to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, it’s best to do it in the cooler times of day or year. There is little shade and it can get HOT in the summer. Take lots of water and watch out for rattlesnakes!
Parking
Parking can be a bitch at the Observatory. There, I said it.
A few years ago parking was free right up at the top of the hill in front of the Observatory, but it got WILD, y’all.
So they started charging to park at the top in order to alleviate some traffic (although you can park at the top for free with a handicap plaque).
Parking at the top and along Western Canyon Road ranges from $4 – $15 PER HOUR, with it being more expensive during popular times (weekend, holidays, summer, etc).
Griffith Observatory Hack: They only start charging for parking when the Observatory opens (see times above). If you want to go early an explore the grounds and check out the great views early, you can do that without paying a ridiculous amount to park. Just make sure to be at your car when they start charging so you can pay or leave (although seeing the inside of the Observatory is worth it, in my opinion).
If you want to ride the DASH bus or Parkline Shuttle, you can park throughout most of Griffith Park for free. Those buses both pick up at the Greek Theatre, which has free parking if it’s not a show day.
Take advantage of the free parking at the Greek or in other areas to hike to the Observatory or to take a rideshare up to the top.
In case that didn’t answer all of your questions, this website is a great resource for how to get to Griffith Observatory.
Are there any other Los Angeles landmarks on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments!
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