Solo Female Travel in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, located on the West Coast of the United States in Southern California, is the epitome of a vibrant, sun-soaked city. Known as the entertainment capital of the world, it is home to the infamous Hollywood sign, iconic film studios including Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers, which offer behind-the-scenes tours, and the rich, star-lined streets of Beverly Hills. Venice Beach captures the city's bohemian spirit, while the culturally rich downtown boasts famous art institutions such as The Broad and the Grammy Museum. With its melting pot of cultures, Los Angeles also pampers the palate with a diverse array of cuisine. From globally-inspired gourmet locales to food truck favorites, the city is a food lover's dream come true.

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Travel index

Safety:Safe

Los Angeles is a large, vibrant, and multinational city with a wide array of cultural experiences. However, the safety varies significantly between neighborhoods. While areas like Santa Monica or Beverly Hills are generally safe to roam around, some areas downtown can be unpredictable, especially at night. As a solo female traveler, it's important to use well-populated transportation, be cautious while exploring at night, and try to stay in well-known, tourist-friendly areas. Always trust your instincts, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Transport:Moderate

Navigating is moderate as the city is spread out and heavily dependent on car transportation. However, public transit systems like subways and buses are available and growing. Traffic can be dense, but bicycle and walking routes are becoming more prevalent, especially in the downtown area and beach communities. Navigating through neighborhoods to popular points of interest with the aid of mobile applications is manageable. Overall, understanding the layout and transportation systems might require a bit of a learning curve for newcomers, but it is not insurmountable.

Things to do:Fascinating

Los Angeles, offers a vast array of activities for a solo female traveler. Being home to Hollywood, you can visit iconic film locations or try to catch a glimpse of a movie star. Nature lovers can enjoy the beautiful beaches, hiking trails, or visit the stunning Griffith Observatory. The city also boasts incredible museums, art districts, shopping sites and culinary experiences. The culture, sightseeing, shopping, food, and entertainment options are virtually endless here.

Food:Excellent

The food scene in Los Angeles is as diverse as the city itself. From mouthwatering tacos in food trucks to exquisite sushi in Japanese eateries, LA offers a wide array of culinary experiences. Don't forget the healthy Californian bowls and the tasty vegan options available almost everywhere. Whatever your food preference is, LA probably has it. The quality is generally high across the board and the variety is almost unmatched.

Budget:Moderate

Los Angeles can definitely be pricey, especially if you're planning on visiting major tourist attractions and eating out frequently. However, with a little planning, it's definitely possible to enjoy LA on a budget. Public transport is reasonable and there are many free or low-cost activities to enjoy such as museums, art galleries, and beautiful beaches. The city has a wide range of accommodations, however, some areas can be quite expensive. Therefore, balancing your activities and opting for budget-friendly accommodations would be a smart move.

Is Los Angeles worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.7 /5

based on 15 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4/5

Safety

3.4/5

Food

3.9/5

Budget-friendly

2.8/5

Solo travel experience

I felt safe inside and while walking in crowds. Overall, the food choices in regular spaces were regular. There are kind people and there are people with ostentatious personalities, too. I stayed at hostels and they were good. Samesun is safe and quiet

Posted: March 23, 2024
Things to do: 2/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 3/5
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Solo travel experience

Absolutely love LA for solo female travelers. So much to do and so many sweet people! It is safe for the most part; I would just avoid downtown LA. There is always something to do, and you won't ever get bored!

Posted: January 9, 2024
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I visited Los Angeles alone and here are a few things that might come in handy. I was in Downtown and Hollywood in the evening to grab drinks but I only did it a few times and I was always in company. People say that it can get really dangerous there at night so I didn't want to spend the nights there alone. I also always tried to be aware of my surroundings. I stayed in West Hollywood and felt really safe there (even at night). I made sure to plan out each day, as Los Angeles is huge and very spread out, and planning my schedule based on location really helped me save time. As for the beaches, Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach were really nice places to visit and people-watch.

Posted: October 8, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

The city is amazing full of so many things to do. It can be unsafe if you drift too far from downtown without really knowing the neighborhoods. Great diversity and delicious food. It’s really easy to beat around the city and visit neighboring places too.

Posted: June 4, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I visited Venice Beach during the day and although it was a great experience, it can be a bit dangerous there at night. On the other hand, Santa Monica was much safer. Getting around Los Angeles is not easy, so I used Lyft Pools to save money and focused all my activities in one place for the entire day.

Posted: May 23, 2023
Things to do: 4/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I suggest avoiding Hollywood. It's quite neglected and there are many homeless people there, so it's not the most pleasant experience. Santa Monica and Venice are popular areas, and downtown Los Angeles has wonderful museums.

Posted: May 15, 2023
Things to do: 4/5Food: 4/5Budget-friendly: 2/5Safety: 4/5
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Solo travel experience

I felt unsafe and dirty. Many homeless people were using the bathroom on the sidewalk. The smell of urine was everywhere. Tents set up on the sidewalks. I couldn't escape from there quickly. The Griffith Observatory was amazing.

Posted: June 4, 2022
Things to do: 3/5Food: 3/5Budget-friendly: 3/5Safety: 2/5
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Local tips

Los Angeles is very car dependent city, so ubering or renting a car would be the best way to get around. LA has traffic all the time, but the best times to avoid, is anywhere between 7 am- noon. As well, as 7pm and later.

Posted: March 12, 2024
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Laura

Laura

United States

As a local from Los Angeles, I recommend The Grove, The Getty Center and Villa, and Downtown for great food. I would skip the Santa Monica Pier. For safe nightlife as a woman, West Hollywood is where is at, with mostly Gay Bars, it’s a safer atmosphere!

Posted: December 27, 2023
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You can take great photos during a trip to Griffith Park, Runyon or at the Hollywood & Highland Center on the 3rd floor. You can skip Hollywood/Walk of Fame, it's full of tourists and tacky souvenir shops. In my opinion, the best restaurants and bars are downtown. Some of my favorites include: Perch (best rooftop and views), Broken Shaker (great rooftop), Bottega Louie (Italian), Hama (sushi, Little Tokyo), Bestia (Italian), Grand Central Market and many others. Santa Monica is also great. Along Main St and surrounding areas, there are many great restaurants and bars.

Posted: October 30, 2022
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If you're heading to Santa Monica Pier, check out the 3rd Street Promenade, which is right next door. There's a Cake Boss bakery there (best chocolate strawberries) and a used bookstore called Monster Books, which I love! In the Glendale area, there's a place called Din Tai Fung, which is amazing! If you like moments on Instagram, the Pink Wall is a hot spot, and there are many other murals around the city. There's also a charming little cafe called Carerra, which offers the best ciabatta sandwiches! There's also a great brunch spot called The Overland Cafe! Then, you also have the Grand Central Market area in downtown Los Angeles, which is a must-visit as well.

Posted: September 5, 2022
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Definitely do not go to the beach in Venice, unless you like crowds. Visit the Grand Central Market and/or Smorgsburg LA to taste a variety of dishes and products from different vendors. You will definitely feel the LA vibe. Go watch the sunset over the Canals in Venice, you will not regret it. Visit the Japanese Garden, it's 100000% worth the zen. If you're looking for nightlife, head to the Arts District, where there are several bars, game rooms, and beer gardens within walking distance of each other, as well as local late-night food. If you're up for a small walk, visit the Trail Canyon trail - it's a waterfall trail and is much less crowded than other trails in LA County. Then you can head to Burbank for brunch, they have a great culinary scene there. If you're looking for a beach, take the Malibu One Highway and drive down the coast, get off wherever you want, there will be fewer people and it will be easier to find parking than in SM, and it will also be much quieter there. If you want to fully experience LA, make sure to visit the Sunset Strip and don't be extravagant.

Posted: September 4, 2022
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Hollywood is a tourist trap. If you're planning a trip to Hollywood, expect it to be dirty. The only place really worth visiting in Hollywood from a historical standpoint is having a meal at Musso & Frank's Steakhouse, where you can still sit in the same booths as former celebrities once did. Sunset Strip is also a tourist trap. Beverly Hills is the area most often shown on TV and in movies as representative of LA, because it's very green. But there are plenty of beautiful places that nobody talks about because they haven't done enough research. Brentwood is beautiful and that's where the stars live. Stars don't really live in Beverly Hills. That was the neighborhood of the stars back in the times of Clark Gable. Westwood, near UCLA, is next to Brentwood and it's really charming. North Santa Monica is beautiful, but the Pier is a tourist trap. Stick with Montana Ave and 14th street to see the part of Santa Monica where the locals go. Pacific Palisades north of Santa Monica is one of the most beautiful places in the entire city. We have lots of beaches here. But they're often windy and cold. Don't go to Venice Beach or Santa Monica Beach. Go to Manhattan Beach or Zuma Beach instead! The part of Venice that's really beautiful is located by the canals in Venice. You can rent paddleboats there and tour the fancy homes.

Posted: August 26, 2022
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West Hollywood is really a great place if you want to see the Walk of Fame, the wax museum, etc. Avoid downtown Los Angeles, because there are homeless camps on the streets that can be a bit suspicious. If you prefer a beach atmosphere, I recommend Malibu, or perhaps the pier in Santa Monica.

Posted: July 13, 2022
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I live in Los Angeles and here are my leisure suggestions, given off the cuff, as a resident: * Go to Malibu. Point Dume Beach. Walk in the Santa Monica Mountains. Eat fish and chips on the beach at Neptune's Net. If you have cash, visit Nobu Malibu and see the stars. * Santa Monica. Good old, classic family tourist attractions on the pier. Play games, enjoy attractions. * Beverly Hills. Eat at the Polo Lounge. Look around Rodeo Drive. Graystone Manor offers beautiful views and old Hollywood charm. * West Hollywood. Chateau Marmont is where you can meet celebrities. Walk around the hills. * Hollywood, if you want to see the Walk of Fame, but honestly, it's a bit seedy. * Go on a food truck tour and eat all the tacos. * Downtown. Visit the Grand Central Market. Look around the Broad Museum. See the artist district. Eat Korean BBQ. * Great performances happen in the evening at the Hollywood Bowl. * Visit the old zoo in Griffith Park. * Venice Beach. Have a look around on a Sunday. Go to the outdoor markets. Drink smoothies and juice at Moon Juice and eat at Gjelina. * Watch a comedy or improvisation show.

Posted: June 16, 2022
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This is a plan that I give to my guests during their visit. I divide the city into three large areas, which I call "options". Option 1: beach side. Santa Monica, pier, walk/bike along the ocean shore to Venice, get lost checking street stalls, walk along the canals, go down the main street in Venice, pass 3rd street promenade in Santa Monica. Abbot Kinney is a charming street in Venice, as is Main St. Option 2: hiking in Griffith Park, see the observatory, walk on Hollywood Blvd (better in the evening), check out the LACMA museum, stroll around Tar Pit, eat at the farmers' market at Grove on 3rd/Fairfax, Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills. Of course, the Hollywood sign. Option 3: DTLA, Broad museum (free, but you have to reserve), and MOCA, eat at Central Market, visit Bradbury building and the last bookstore on Broadway Blvd, rooftop deck for views (Perch is free!), Union station and Olvera St for Mexican heritage and good food. Little Tokyo and breweries (my favorite is Angel City) in the arts district.

Posted: June 16, 2022
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What you can do really depends on your interests, but I recommend: Griffith Park - amazing views of the city and the Hollywood sign, a cool observatory, there are also hiking trails, and the surrounding neighborhood is beautiful. It's also close to Hollywood, so if you're interested in seeing stars on Hollywood Boulevard and in the Chinese Theatre, you can visit both places on the same day. However, be prepared that you will have to avoid some aggressive homeless people. The Getty Museum, Venice Beach is close to Santa Monica and is a bit shady, but quite characteristic of LA. Malibu is beautiful. Rodeo Drive is cool if you like high-end fashion and people watching.

Posted: May 22, 2022
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Suzie

Suzie

About Me

Hi! Hola! Salut! I’m Suzie, and I’ve lived my entire life in California. I love walking, trying new food, places, and meeting people! Obvi enjoy traveling and am a frequent sola traveler :) Excited to connect with others and swap tips!

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Anastasia

Anastasia

About Me

I had spent entire year traveling around different continents of our breathtaking planet, and freelancing as a web designer and front end developer. Met lots of full of curiosity people, and absorbed various cultural peculiarities. My adventures started after the war broke out in my home country of Ukraine. Now that I’ve finally settled here in the US I hope to get to know the local culture better though occasionally traveling to other states and hosting fellow travelers 🥳

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Anastasia

Anastasia

Los Angeles

Can host for:

2 days

About me

I had spent entire year traveling around different continents of our breathtaking planet, and freelancing as a web designer and front end developer. Met lots of full of curiosity people, and absorbed various cultural peculiarities. My adventures started after the war broke out in my home country of Ukraine. Now that I’ve finally settled here in the US I hope to get to know the local culture better though occasionally traveling to other states and hosting fellow travelers 🥳

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Kathleen

Kathleen

Los Angeles

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3 days

About me

Friends call me Kat. I love nature , adventure , and positive people and places. 48 and widowed at 21. Finding peace and keeping a light heart while here on this planet is something everyone deserves if you don’t already have that. The world is a beautiful place . I’m just trying to check it out. I’m open and single btw. Also pretty active working the leather community. I’m currently Ms Cristopher Street west 2023.

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