Griffith Observatory - Los Angeles

Griffith Observatory is a facility in Los Angeles, California, sitting on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. It commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. 

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One of the leading centres of public astronomy, the Griffith Observatory is a fascinating science facility and one of the most famous attractions of LA and indeed southern California.

The observatory is a fun and informal public observatory, with a planetarium, an observatory, and tons of science exhibits. Some of these exhibits are extremely innovative, including the cafe of the observatory itself - the Restaurant at the End of the Universe - which has on one of it's walls the largest astronomically accurate image ever made. The facility is divided into 6 zones - the Wilder Hall of the Eye, Ahmanson Hall of the Sky, W.M. Keck Foundation Central Rotunda, the Cosmic Connection, Gunther Depths of Space Hall, and the edge of Space Mezzanine. 

All of these zones are specially dedicated to a specific subject, for example the Cosmic Connection displays the history of the universe fantastically, the Gunther Depths of Space Hall contains models and exhibits on the solar system and the space, and so on. The observatory is also the best vantage point for the famous 'Hollywood' sign. Griffith Observatory was built in 1935, by the funds left by Griffith J. Griffith in his will. He also left instructions on how the observatory is to be run, and what is to be its purpose, and those rules are still adhered to today. It is why admission to the observatory is free, though some special exhibitions have a small add on price.

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A public observatory owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles for the benefit of all. Located on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Observatory offers a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, cafe, bookstore, and the best views of the Los Angeles basin. Admission is free, and visitors may drive directly to the Observatory and park in its lots and roads.

For an interesting experience on your holiday to Los Angeles, don't miss the Griffith Observatory. Take in the views as well as the fascinating space and science displays as you enjoy a visit to this popular attraction. The Griffith Observatory is in Griffith Park to the north of Downtown Los Angeles. Sitting on a south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood, you'll have incredible views out across the City of Angels and of the iconic Hollywood sign. After taking plenty of photos outside, head inside the observatory, which is free to enter but closed on Mondays. As you make your way through the impressive building, you'll come across lots of great exhibits where you can learn all about astronomy and our universe. 

The aim of the observatory is to spark your imagination, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to see and do your own observing. There are often special events, talks, and things like sunset walks, so check the observatory's website to see what's happening while you're there. If you can stay at the Griffith Observatory into the evening, the views across LA are incredible when the city's countless lights twinkle in the night. A peaceful spot that feels like it's separated from the rest of bustling LA, you'll head back down Mount Hollywood feeling nice and relaxed. From the Griffith Observatory, it's just a short journey to Dodger Stadium if you want to watch the city's baseball team in action. Or, if there's enough time left in the day, have another fun and educational trip to the California Science Center.

Griffith Observatory is a planetarium & astronomy museum, and a great free thing to do in Los Angeles, California. It’s also great for hikes with excellent panoramic views of the Hollywood Sign, Downtown L.A., and Pacific Ocean on clear days. This offers a review, photos, and tips for visiting Griffith Park, which is one of the top things to do in SoCal. (Updated June 27, 2021.)

Griffith Observatory has once again reopened, at least for three days per week (Friday through Sunday) for now. Per Los Angeles County requirements, unvaccinated visitors must wear a face mask while inside the building. By entering, visitors are agreeing to follow this requirement. Please be aware the building is very busy during the summer, and the galleries and theaters will be crowded.

Additionally, Griffith Park is open daily, which means that the exterior grounds, terrace, sidewalks, and trails are all available as normal at Griffith Observatory. This is half the appeal, so if you’re visiting Los Angeles in the near future, we’d highly recommend making the trek out to Griffith Park and up to the Observatory to check to see it, inside and out. It’s worth it!

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From Ranches to Riches: A History of the Griffith Observatory

The Griffith Observatory exists today because of one man’s love of science and astronomy and his desire to make LA a more beautiful place for its residents.

Today, it’s the crown jewel of LA’s Griffith park — one of the largest municipal parks in the United States, at over 4,210 acres. In the 18th century, the Spanish governor of California presented the land that is today Griffith Park to Corporal Jose Vicente Feliz, as a gift for safely bringing the first Spanish settlers to California.

In those days, the land was known as Rancho Los Feliz. Today, the neighborhood the park sits in is still known as Los Feliz. The Los Feliz neighborhood is loved for its charming cafes and restaurants, pedestrian-friendly streets (a rarity in Los Angeles), and its eclectic mix of residential architecture.

It wasn’t until 1882 that Rancho Los Feliz became Griffith Park. That year, Welsh immigrant Griffith J. Griffith purchased the land after striking it big in the silver mining industry. A philanthropist and lover of his adopted city, Griffith gave the land to the city of LA as a Christmas present in 1896 so it could be used as a public park.

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What Makes the Observatory So Incredible

Since it opened on May 14, 1935, the Griffith Observatory has offered free admission to the public and remains free to this day. This includes free public telescopes on the grounds with guidance from demonstrators so you can learn more about our galaxy. Inside, the observatory features two main exhibits: Hall of the Eye, which focuses on human exploration and the continuing discovery of space, and Hall of the Sky, which features a more in-depth look into the science of the solar system.

Beyond that is the crown jewel of the Griffith Observatory — the Samuel Oschin Planetarium — a state-of-the-art, 290-seat planetarium showcasing interactive scientific lectures presented by experts in the field. While admission to the observatory is free, planetarium shows range from only $3-$7 — probably the cheapest night out in Los Angeles.

And if you’re an architecture buff, the observatory building itself is a breathtaking example of the Art Deco style. Some key features include the mural painted on the ceiling of the central rotunda, the sundial in front of the observatory’s entrance, and the six statues surrounding it, depicting six of the greatest astronomers in history.

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Star Party at the Griffith Observatory

If your stars — and travel plans — align with the observatory’s most special night of the month, you might even be able to attend a star party. Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep probably won’t be there, but you’ll see plenty of other stars.

On one Saturday of each month from 2 p.m.-9:45 p.m., the Griffith Observatory invites you to an afternoon and evening of gazing at the sun, moon, and thousands of stars, led by expert astronomers on the open lawns of the observatory. It’s a pretty epic way to spend a day in Los Angeles.

Things to Do in the Neighborhood

As it happens, the Griffith Observatory is located in one of the most beautiful and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in Los Angeles: Los Feliz.

Los Feliz has two main streets running through it which are parallel to each other, running north and south. They are Vermont Avenue and Hillhurst Avenue. Vermont Avenue leads directly north to Griffith Park from the Vermont–Sunset subway station and is peppered with cafes, vintage shops, an old movie theatre, and restaurants. Stop here for a leisurely stroll and a bite to eat before or after your visit to the observatory. Just a couple of blocks east is Hillhurst Avenue, which also features some fantastic restaurants where locals like to hang out.

1. Hiking Trails for the Hollywood Sign, Caves, and More

Who says nobody walks in LA? Angelenos might drive everywhere but they love to hike and Griffith Park is the top hiking destination.

There’s more than one trail in Griffith Park that will give you a good view of the famous Hollywood Sign or even — if you’re up for the trek — get you all the way to the sign itself.

A popular option is to combine the Brush Canyon Trail to the sign with a short hike to Bronson Caves. The caves are man-made tunnels that have been used for several movie and TV filmings. They’re probably most famous for being the Batcave location in the Batman TV series from the 1960s.

Another fun loop in the park takes you through Amir’s Garden, built on land once devastated by fire but now an ornamental collection of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Hiking paths around Griffith Park range from an easier 3-mile loop to more challenging ones, so you’ll need to choose the trail that fits what you want to see. Or just hike with a local to cut out the guesswork. Wherever you walk here, it’s a great place to enjoy some healthy outdoor exercise with fabulous views.

2. Old Los Angeles Zoo

The old LA zoo was actually called the Griffith Park Zoo. This zoo opened in 1912 with 15 animals but was abandoned in 1966 when Los Angeles decided the city needed a bigger and better zoo.

You can take a short hike to explore the abandoned cages and animal enclosures. It’s an offbeat or even slightly eerie photo op — how often do you get to take a pic of yourself inside an animal enclosure, right? And it’s also one of the more unusual attractions in LA.

3. Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The current Los Angeles Zoo opened in 1966 on 133 acres in the northeast corner of Griffith Park, just a little north of where the old zoo was originally. Favorite residents include chimpanzees, Asian elephants, orangutans, and the endangered California condors, which the zoo has a breeding program for. Earlier this year, they also welcomed the first western lowland gorilla to be born at the zoo in more than 20 years.

While this attraction is located inside the park, admission to the zoo is separate and costs $22 for adults 13 and older with discounts for seniors and children.

4. Travel Town Museum

For indoor entertainment, try Travel Town, a railway museum on the northern end of the park. It’s free to visit, and they have all kinds of old trains on display that you can see up-close, plus some hands-on exhibits for little learners. You can also pay a small fee for a miniature train ride that loops around the perimeter of the museum.

And just a heads up, they have a pretty solid gift shop, too, stocked with lots of toys and games, most appropriately train-themed. This is either an awesome shopping opportunity or a hard place to get your kids to leave when it’s time to go. (If your youngsters like “Thomas the Tank Engine,” they’re in for a huge treat.)

5. Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round

Another classic for families, the Griffith Park merry-go-round is a fun and historic ride. The attraction dates back to 1926, so it’s worth a photo just for that, in my opinion.

It’s not too pricey if the kids want to ride, though. A quick spin on this carousel will only set you back $2. If you’re headed to the old zoo, you’ll pass right by it.

Hotels near Griffith Observatory

1. The Dixie Hollywood

The Dixie Hollywood Hotel is located in the very heart of Hollywood California, a stone's throw from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A tribute to sophistication and elegance, The Dixie Hollywood Hotel prides itself on its attentive service, guaranteed to make visitors feel at home. A stellar location puts the best of Hollywood's attractions, like the Hollywood Bowl, Universal Studios Hollywood, Greek Theatre and Griffith Park within easy reach by the use of the Metro Subway located directly next door to The Dixie Hollywood. Discover a vast range of boutique stores, Hollywood studios, and celebrity restaurants virtually blocks away from the doorsteps of The Dixie Hollywood. Perfect for families, couples and singles, every one of the Dixie Hollywood's 70 rooms and suites are decorated with a hand painted Hollywood themed mural, alpaca headboards, crisp, white high thread count triple-sheeted bed coverings, all accented with warm minimalist dark wood furniture and sparked with brushed stainless accents.

2. Hollywood City Inn

Hollywood City Inn is an excellent choice for travellers visiting Los Angeles, offering a quiet environment alongside many helpful amenities designed to enhance your stay. Hollywood City Inn offers guests an array of room amenities including a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and air conditioning, and getting online is possible, as free wifi is available. The hotel offers 24 hour front desk and baggage storage, to make your visit even more pleasant. The property also features a pool and free breakfast. Guests arriving by vehicle have access to free parking. While staying at Hollywood City Inn, visitors can check out Hollyhock House (0.9 mi) and Hollywood (1.7 mi), some of Los Angeles' top attractions. While visiting Los Angeles, you may want to try some ramen at one of the nearby restaurants, such as Silver Lake Ramen, Tatsu Ramen, or Shin Ramen.

3. Kimpton Everly Hotel

Sitting one block north of Hollywood Boulevard, Kimpton Everly Hotel gives guests a location to strut to the Walk of Fame and be amongst the glitz and glamour of red-carpet events. And if the thought of being in the midst of the LA entertainment is exhausting, you can sneak away into the comforting elegance of our guestrooms and casually dine in our restaurant Jane Q. Every room has a view of the LA skyline or the Hollywood sign.  

4. Hollywood Hotel

Hollywood Hotel is Where All the Action Begins! Hollywood Hotel is conveniently located across the street from a Redline Metro ( Subway or Tube ) station at the corner of Vermont Avenue and Santa Monica Blvd.. Hollywood Hotel has just completed a restoration of it's 3000 sq ft courtyard, an outdoor oasis, which can hold up to 100 people. Inspired by the relaxed style of the Mediterranean, the courtyard features all weather vintage country style wicker sofas and lounge chairs, premium teak beam tables and a classic mission style fountain surrounded by giant birds of paradise and flowers. A perfect setting for relaxation and drinks after a day of Hollywood sightseeing.

5. Dunes Inn Sunset

At the Dunes Inn on Sunset, you can enjoy the charms of historic Hollywood during your stay in Los Angeles. You can choose from a single Queen size, two Double beds or two Queen beds. Each room is equipped with satellite television, mini-refrigerator, ice box, air conditioning/heating unit and hairdryer for your convenience. Every room projects a tranquil environment so that you can feel at home after a long day exploring the thrills of Los Angeles. All of our rooms are non-smoking for your safety, and valid ID and credit card is required upon checking in, even if the reservation is prepaid. Our Hollywood CA hotel is located half a block east of the 101 freeway in Hollywood on famous Sunset Boulevard. In-hotel services include free wireless internet, parking, ice & vending machines on-site and a laundromat down the street. Some members of our helpful and friendly staff have been working for as long as 20 years to make our guests feel comfortable.

Timings : 

Tuesday - Friday: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM,

Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Entry Fee : 

Planetarium shows:

Adult - USD 7,

Child - USD 3