1. The Broad — Bunker Hill
Free contemporary art museum.
The Broad has works by Koons, Basquiat and Kusama, with free general admission.
Book a timed ticket.
Good to know: Reserve online.
221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
The 10 Best Attractions in Downtown LA (2026)
The best things to do in downtown Los Angeles in 2026 are the Broad museum, Walt Disney Concert Hall, lunch at Grand Central Market, Little Tokyo and the Japanese American National Museum, and Olvera Street and Union Station. The Last Bookstore, the Bradbury Building and the Arts District round out a walkable day.
Downtown is the most transit-friendly part of LA, with Metro lines meeting at Union Station and 7th St/Metro Center. You can see most sights on foot in a day.
2. Walt Disney Concert Hall — Bunker Hill
Frank Gehry's steel landmark.
Disney Hall is home to the LA Phil, with free self-guided audio tours on many days.
Climb to the rooftop garden.
Good to know: Take the free audio tour.
111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
3. Grand Central Market — Historic Core
A 1917 market hall for lunch.
Grand Central Market has counters for tacos, sandwiches, pupusas and more.
It is the best lunch downtown.
Good to know: Go before noon.
317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
4. Bradbury Building — Historic Core
An 1893 atrium of iron and light.
The Bradbury Building has a famous skylit atrium with ornate ironwork, seen in Blade Runner.
It is across from Grand Central Market.
Good to know: Visit the lobby during business hours.
304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
5. The Last Bookstore — Historic Core
A huge bookstore with a book tunnel.
The Last Bookstore fills an old bank with new and used books and an upstairs labyrinth.
It is free to browse.
Good to know: Weekday mornings are quieter.
453 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
6. Olvera Street — El Pueblo
LA's birthplace and a Mexican marketplace.
Olvera Street, in El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument, is a market street with crafts, food and the city's oldest house.
Cielito Lindo's taquitos are a classic snack.
Good to know: Combine with Union Station across the street.
125 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012
7. Union Station — El Pueblo
A 1939 Mission Revival train station.
Union Station is a grand 1939 station mixing Mission Revival and art deco, with a soaring waiting room.
It is still LA's main transit hub.
Good to know: See the old ticket concourse.
800 N Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
8. Japanese American National Museum — Little Tokyo
The story of Japanese Americans, including wartime incarceration.
The Japanese American National Museum tells the history of Japanese Americans, including the incarceration camps of World War II.
It anchors a visit to Little Tokyo.
Good to know: Pair with ramen in Little Tokyo.
100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
9. Hauser & Wirth Los Angeles — Arts District
A free gallery in a former flour mill.
Hauser & Wirth's LA gallery occupies a converted flour mill in the Arts District, with free exhibitions, a courtyard garden and a restaurant.
It is the Arts District's cultural anchor.
Good to know: Admission is free.
901 E 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
10. Angels Flight Railway — Bunker Hill
A tiny 1901 funicular up Bunker Hill.
Angels Flight is a short funicular railway connecting Hill Street with Bunker Hill, near Grand Central Market.
A ride costs a couple of dollars.
Good to know: Ride up after lunch at Grand Central Market.
350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Frequently asked questions
Is downtown LA worth visiting?
Yes. It has LA's best museum cluster on Grand Avenue, historic architecture, food halls and Little Tokyo, all walkable.
Is the Broad free?
General admission is free with a timed ticket; book online.
What is Olvera Street?
The historic heart of LA, where the city was founded in 1781, now a Mexican marketplace across from Union Station.
Can you visit the Bradbury Building?
The lobby of the 1893 Bradbury Building, famous from Blade Runner, is usually open to visitors during business hours.
How do I get around downtown?
Walk, or use the Metro and DASH buses. Parking is expensive.