City Guide
Los Angeles spreads its landmarks across a vast basin, from the Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee and the Art Deco domes of Griffith Observatory to the palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills and the carousel and Ferris wheel of the Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66. It's also one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup, with matches played at SoFi Stadium in nearby Inglewood. Here are five iconic Los Angeles spots worth visiting — each a collectible postcard in VistaSpots once you check in on-site.
Spots to collect
Erected in 1923 as a real-estate advertisement reading "Hollywoodland," the Hollywood Sign lost its last four letters in 1949 and became the symbol of the film industry and the city itself. Its 45-foot white letters sit on the south slope of Mount Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains. The classic views are from Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Park, and Beachwood Canyon. Check in on-site to add it to your VistaSpots collection.
Opened in 1935 on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory is a free public observatory whose Art Deco domes and terraces command a sweeping view of the Los Angeles Basin, downtown, and the Hollywood Sign. A fixture of films from Rebel Without a Cause to La La Land, it draws visitors for its planetarium and its sunset skyline. The terrace is the spot to check in for VistaSpots.
Beverly Hills, California
South Palm Drive is a quiet residential street in Beverly Hills lined with tall, evenly spaced palms — a classic Los Angeles "palm-lined street" view, away from the busier tourist corners. Running between Pico and Wilshire Boulevards, its closely set trees frame a long, symmetrical corridor that's a favorite for street photography and that quintessential Southern California look. Stand in the middle of the block and check in to earn the spot in VistaSpots.
Santa Monica, California
Opened in 1909 as the first concrete pier on the West Coast, the Santa Monica Pier marks the western end of Route 66. It carries Pacific Park, a seaside amusement park whose solar-powered Ferris wheel rises more than 130 feet above the Pacific, alongside a historic carousel and the original sign arching over the entrance. It's one of the most photographed spots on the coast. Check in on the pier to collect it in VistaSpots.
Inglewood, California
Opened in 2020 in Inglewood, about 10 miles southwest of downtown, SoFi Stadium is home to the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers and sits under a vast translucent canopy roof. It is Los Angeles' venue for the 2026 World Cup, hosting several matches during the tournament. Pair a match day with the city's landmarks to the north and west. SoFi Stadium is also a collectible spot in VistaSpots' Football Trail 2026.
For travelers who collect
VistaSpots is built for people who care where they stand, not just what they see. Each spot here is worth framing, and you earn its card by showing up in person.
Every card names the vantage that works, with notes on where to set up and when the light is good, so you can skip the guesswork at the railing.
You check in on-site to unlock a spot, so each card is tied to the place itself. That makes it real proof you visited, not a reposted stock photo, and worth sharing because you earned it.
Every visit becomes one card in a single album, so your travels stay in one place instead of buried in a camera roll you never scroll back through.
Los Angeles is one of the 16 host cities for the 2026 World Cup, with matches played at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles. Visitors basing themselves in the city can pair match days with the landmarks above, from the Hollywood Sign to the Santa Monica Pier. SoFi Stadium is also a collectible spot in VistaSpots' Football Trail 2026.
See the full Football Trail 2026 →VistaSpots is independent and not affiliated with FIFA, the World Cup, stadium operators, or any official tournament organization.
FAQ
The Hollywood Sign is sharpest from Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Park, or Beachwood Canyon; Griffith Observatory's own terraces frame the sign and the LA Basin together; South Palm Drive gives the symmetrical palm corridor from mid-block; and the Santa Monica Pier shoots well from the beach just south, with the Ferris wheel over the water.
The Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, the Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66, and the palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills, such as South Palm Drive, are the city's signature sights.
SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, about 10 miles southwest of downtown Los Angeles, is the city's 2026 World Cup venue.
Yes. Admission to Griffith Observatory and its grounds is free; only the planetarium show carries a ticket charge. It's one of the best free vantage points for the Los Angeles skyline and the Hollywood Sign.
Griffith Observatory, Lake Hollywood Park, and Beachwood Canyon offer some of the clearest views. The sign sits on Mount Lee and cannot be reached by car directly.
Open the map, pick a spot, and go stand where the shot actually works. Check in on-site and your visit unlocks that spot's collectible card: verified proof you were there, saved to one album with everywhere else you've traveled. It's free.
Find the best angle, check in when you get there, and keep every Los Angeles spot as a card you can show off and look back on.