Griffith Observatory

I continued strolling around during the day and went to the Griffith Planetarium, which is located on a hill with the Hollywood sign visible from a distance. The Griffith Observatory is a building with a distinct 1930s style. It is a favorite destination for local residents, young people and tourists. It was not open when I went there, but the building was still visible.

Paid parking, $4/hour, prepaid machine, limited parking spaces, especially at night may not be available.

As I was going up the mountain, I unexpectedly encountered a barrier, so I went down the mountain, turned around and went back up.

From sunset to night, overlooking Los Angeles, it is romantic and beautiful

Go to the observatory and learn about astronomy. There is a sparkling little stone that was picked from the moon!

I visited the observatory twice during my trip to Los Angeles. The first time, I joined a tour group and only stayed for an hour, which wasn't enough. I later left the group and drove back home. I spent three hours there and saw two shows, but unfortunately, I didn't see sunset, only the last light. If you're not pressed for time, you could park on the mountain road and walk up the hill. You could easily spend the whole day there. Parking is really expensive, eight dollars an hour...

The Griffith Observatory, featured in "La La Land," is one of the world's most famous observatories. It's located in the hills northwest of downtown Los Angeles, facing the Hollywood Hills. A Los Angeles landmark, it served as a filming location for films like "Charlie's Angels 2" and "GoldenEye," and also appeared in the game "Grand Theft Auto V." However, it's now in disrepair thanks to "La La Land."



Griffith Observatory is a popular spot for watching the sunset, the stars, and the night view of Los Angeles. As a result, the mountain is packed with cars in the evening, and parking and access are restricted. We went twice, and the first time we couldn't find a parking spot, so we had to go back down the mountain. The second time, we finally had to wait until a car left before we could find a spot. We then had to walk at least 500 meters to the top of the observatory. It's truly popular! The top floor of the observatory was packed with people:



Here you can not only see and learn about various detailed introductions to the universe, celestial bodies and natural phenomena, as well as physical dynamic models, but you can also enjoy the charm of overlooking the Los Angeles sunset and skyline in the evening. In addition, this is also another best place to take pictures of the white letter "HOLLYWOOD" sign. See what we took:



The advantage of being with a science guy is that once you get inside, he's got all the instruments and astronomy knowledge covered. The entire Griffith Observatory is primarily focused on popular science, explaining the Earth's gravity, its rotation around the Sun, tidal phenomena, total solar eclipses, the seasons, time zones, constellations, and other astronomical knowledge. They also feature the Sun, the most closely related object to Earth, a physical display of the periodic table, and the Moon's trajectory and relative position. There are also some of the earliest telescopes.



Starting at 7:00 PM every evening, the giant telescopes at Griffith Observatory are open to the public free of charge. Most of us in China probably haven't seen a large telescope in person, and this one is free, though there's a waiting line. There are four large telescopes, but only two are typically open daily. Each telescope features a different observation area each day (usually pre-set by staff to focus on a specific celestial object; visitors are not allowed to manually adjust the telescope). Visitors must select their desired object and then queue. The average viewing time is 30-45 seconds, with queues ranging from 30 minutes to an hour and a half per telescope. With luck, you might be able to see unusual objects like Pluto, Saturn, and Jupiter. Less lucky, however, will likely only see the lunar surface. Remember the super blue blood lunar eclipse on January 31, 2018? NASA filmed the entire eclipse here.



The surrounding mountains offer hiking opportunities. The Griffith Observatory is particularly beautiful at dusk. As the setting sun casts its rays upon the observatory's buildings, everything emanates a sacred and enchanting light. At night, the bustling cityscape of Los Angeles, with its myriad lights shimmering like the Milky Way, is breathtaking.

Griffith Observatory is one of the world's most famous observatories, open to the public free of charge, including various exhibition rooms and a movie theater. There are still quite a lot of tourists here.

There are quite a lot of tourists here. Griffith Observatory is very close to Universal Studios Hollywood and faces the Hollywood Hills in the distance. It is a landmark building in Los Angeles. It also offers a panoramic view of the entire city.

The observatory is so popular that there's only a limited amount of parking on the mountain. Most people park at the base and take a shuttle (US$1 per two people) or walk up the mountain (about 15 minutes). Many people choose to watch the sunset (recommended! Around 4:30 PM) and the night view (which is average). There are various astronomy education and special videos on the mountain (for a fee), and you can use the telescope (free) for astronomical observations at 7 PM. Unfortunately, the large telescope was under maintenance when we visited, so we only managed to see the surface of Mars and the moon using the smaller telescope.

I really long for this place, and it is one of the attractions I must visit when we come to Los Angeles. It is the Griffith Observatory, one of the filming locations of the movie "La La Land".

The car can be parked on the roadside or in the parking lot next to the observatory. I really wanted to imitate the male and female protagonists in "La La Land" and park the car on the roadside, but the roadside was full, so I had to park in the parking lot.

There were quite a lot of people in the Griffith Observatory, and there were many introductions to astronomy, but I was immersed in the unbeatable romance of the hero and heroine in the movie, hahahaha.

Friends who like Hollywood movies will definitely be familiar with the name Griffith Observatory, because this is the filming location of the finale of the romantic musical "La La Land".

"La La Land" was filmed in many places in Hollywood, making these originally inconspicuous places become popular check-in spots. The most eye-catching of these is the Griffith Observatory. The romantic dance of Mia and Cyrus under the starry sky at the end of the film was filmed here, which makes the already famous observatory even more a must-see place for tourists visiting Hollywood.

The observatory on the top of the mountain offers a panoramic view of the starry sea of Los Angeles at night.

The observatory is open to the public free of charge and has several exhibition halls. Since the author has almost no knowledge of astronomy, he can only watch the fun and not learn any more.

Most Hollywood fans are familiar with this place because it was the filming location for the movies "Charlie's Angels 2" and "GoldenEye", and appeared in the game "Grand Theft Auto 5".

What fascinates me most is "La La Land" because the most romantic scene takes place there.

The surrounding mountains are also open for hiking.

Watching the sunset at Griffith Observatory, I felt the breath of time.

After dark, you can watch the bustling and dazzling city night view from the observatory. The lights of Los Angeles are like the twinkling Milky Way, which is intoxicating.

As the second largest city in the United States, the observatory is the best choice for viewing the bustling and dazzling city night view after dark. Here you can take in the dazzling "starlight" of thousands of lights in Los Angeles, which will make you addicted to it.

Los Angeles has become quite popular because of LALA Land, especially the Griffith Observatory. And because the mountain road to the Hollywood sign is closed, this is also one of the best views of the sign.

I couldn't understand the English astronomy guide anyway. I just enjoyed the scenery. Plus, there were fewer people there, so I went mainly for the Hollywood sign.

Although you can't enter the planetarium, you can walk around it, and the external corridors, platforms, etc. are still open.

Regarding parking: I arrived around 10:00 AM, and as I understand it, you don't have to pay for parking before 12:00 PM. I checked with the staff, and they confirmed it! It's true! You don't have to pay if you come in before 12:00 PM!

When I was reading the guide, I also saw that it said that you can park somewhere else to see the night view. In fact, the management along the way is quite strict now. It is actually possible to park in the park at the foot of the mountain and then take the bus up the mountain.

The observatory is located at the top of a mountain. There are not many free parking spaces, so we parked our car halfway up the slope and walked all the way to the top. Halfway up the mountain, we saw a family of foreign tourists also hiking up the mountain. We followed them and took a shortcut, and soon reached the top of the mountain smoothly!

Since we arrived early, the observatory was not open yet, so we could only admire the outer building.

Looking down at the city of Los Angeles, I wonder if it must be beautiful at night under the flashing neon lights! We left for Las Vegas in the afternoon, so the night view can only be left to our imagination!

It happened to rain heavily, so we stayed in the corridor to enjoy the mountain scenery in the rain, which was quite unique!

It was already evening when we arrived, and many people were there to watch the sunset. The observatory offers a panoramic view of Los Angeles at night, and tourists were taking photos from every angle. Of course, there were more people on the west side, all hoping to get a good vantage point for the sunset.

The sun was almost setting. At first, I couldn't look directly at it for long, but gradually, the glare faded and became truly magnificent. Watching the sun gradually set, until only the sunset glow filled the sky, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility. Nature is truly magical and wonderful.

This is a free attraction. There are a lot of people at night, and there are queues for cars to go up the mountain and queues for cars to go down the mountain.

The rooftop of the observatory offers astronomy classes, and some smaller venues also screen educational videos. From 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM, some planetarium staff will be around to guide you through the stargazing process using automated telescopes, pointing laser pointers at the stars in the night sky and explaining them. This hands-on explanation is truly amazing! Seeing that tiny glowing orb through the telescope and then looking up at the starry sky feels so special and mysterious.

Of course, Mars is the planet that attracts the most attention, so it is treated differently from other planets. The queue to see Mars is also the longest, and we waited for half an hour.

The dome room houses an astronomical telescope for observing Mars. This telescope is very large, and when you actually go in to look at it, it is very dark, and you need to queue up and climb a ladder to see it.

We visited Griffith Observatory during the day, and the scenery was average. Besides looking at the exhibits and gazing out over the city, we didn't know what else to do. So, if you're going to the observatory, you must go at night. If you're going to the observatory, you must go at night. If you're going to the observatory, you must go at night. I can't say this enough. There's really not much to see during the day, and aside from the lack of crowds, there's really no real advantage.

This is a free attraction, but the parking fee is $6 per hour, it all depends on your own awareness.

We joked that America is America, capitalism, and it will find ways to make money from you. The boardwalk is free, but parking is $35. Griffith is free, but parking is not cheap either. After all, these are great places to see the night view of Los Angeles.

There are a lot of popular science materials in the observatory, and there are volunteers to introduce them to the children.

Although the buildings are not tall, they are imposing and the square is very spacious. Standing on the rooftop of the Griffith Observatory, you can overlook the entire city of Los Angeles and see the Hollywood sign opposite. Los Angeles under the sun has a hazy beauty and looks very large. There are not many tall buildings, and some houses are built on the hills. It is said that the higher you live, the richer you are.

Inside the dome, there were educational images and videos introducing the observatory's founder, humanity's exploration of the Milky Way, the stars, and the lunar landing. But what really caught my eye were the telescopes and clocks, both old and new, providing a visual comparison of the technological advancements in astronomy. Looking at both the old and new telescopes, I was eager to see what kind of stars I could see. There were coin-operated telescopes outside, but unfortunately, I didn't have any change and had to leave with regret.

Griffith Observatory is also the best place to view the night view of Los Angeles. From the highest point, the skyscrapers of downtown are particularly clear. Many couples go there in the evening to watch the sunset.

This is usually the best location for taking night photos. If you use a telephoto lens, the iconic buildings in the distance will be particularly eye-catching.

This is the most romantic spot in Los Angeles. In the evening, crowds gather at the top of the mountain to watch the sunset. The sky changes colors from pink to red to purple, finally tinged with blue. The natural changes of light at the top of Griffith Observatory once again astounded me. I've thought about many things I'd like to do with my future lover, and one of them is watching the sunset together from the top of the mountain.

Admission to the observatory itself is free. Exhibits in the various exhibition halls include models of the eight planets and a model illustrating the relative motion of the sun, earth, and moon. A full-length bronze statue of Albert Einstein is located in the lower hall, and scales on the floor reflect the weight of people on corresponding planets. For example, our weight on the moon is only one-sixth of our weight on Earth.

The explanations about time and celestial bodies in the exhibition hall are also very interesting. Don’t think of this as a place to take photos. The content inside the venue is much more interesting than the appearance.

The observatory is free to visit. In foreign countries, such educational and popular science institutions are usually free for the public to visit. You will see many parents bringing their children to learn astronomy there. The models are very easy to explain and intuitive for children to learn. It is lively and interesting. Parents with children are recommended to bring their children here to learn about science. It will not be boring at all.

Aside from the crowds, everything else was perfect. It's a perfect spot for panoramic views of Los Angeles and the nightscape. The observatory is also incredibly interesting, offering a lively learning experience about astronomy. You can also check out movie locations. Highly recommended!

Witnessing the sunset from the platform at sunset is a truly captivating experience. At nightfall, the observatory, home to a giant telescope, is open to the public free of charge, allowing visitors to clearly see the stars and even the outline of the moon, fully experiencing the wonders of the astronomical world.

This is a place that is relatively close to Hollywood Highlands. Watching the sunset here is also a good choice. After 7pm, you can queue up for free to watch the stars. We saw Jupiter, which was very clear. While queuing, you can also overlook the night view of LA. Therefore, many people come here at night. When we came, there was no parking space. We parked in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain and walked up the dirt road. At night, we got a ride down from a friendly person. It is recommended to come before 5pm so that you can see the clear Hollywood Highlands.

I first saw the Griffith Observatory in the 1995 film "GoldenEye." Most tourists choose to gaze from here at dusk, and we were no exception, witnessing the splendor of Los Angeles, bathed in the fading light of a thousand homes. Griffith Observatory is one of the world's most renowned observatories, open to the public free of charge, though admission to its largest celestial performance venue is charged. Inside, each exhibition hall offers engaging and engaging astronomical insights, from models of the eight planets hanging in the sky to exquisite ceiling murals.

Griffith Observatory is located on the top of a mountain and is a great place to overlook Los Angeles. Most people come here to overlook Los Angeles or look back at the Hollywood sign.



The observatory itself is also a fascinating place where visitors can learn a lot about astronomy. For example, there's a long pendulum that rotates with the Earth's rotation, and after a certain period of time, it strikes a building block placed below. This pendulum was first invented by French physicist Léon Foucault in 1851, hence the name Foucault pendulum. It gives children a very intuitive sense of the Earth's rotation and is very appealing to them.

My initial reason for visiting the Griffin was to take a picture of the Hollywood sign. Once inside, I discovered there was much more to the exhibits than the simple exterior. Of course, the exhibits all dealt with galaxies in the universe, so even an astronomy-blind person like me could only snap a photo next to the spectacular scenery and pose with the Einstein sculpture.

Another reason to visit the observatory is to get a bird's-eye view of Los Angeles. Los Angeles isn't the highly developed city we imagine, with its towering skyscrapers. Aside from a few relatively concentrated high-rises, the rest is low-rise. Following the straight, brightly lit avenues, you can see the city's edge disappearing into the dark clouds, with no end in sight. The surrounding multicolored lights, like brilliant stars, embellish the vast "Milky Way," make you marvel at the vastness of this vast and prosperous urban cluster.

The road up the mountain was incredibly congested! We ended up walking, and our driver, who was struggling, slowly made his way through the traffic before finally joining us. The night view of Los Angeles was stunning. Watching the sunset from up there and the city lights gradually come on was quite romantic.

You can overlook the Hollywood sign and the Los Angeles cityscape from a distance. Be careful to prevent car theft and vandalism.

It was Christmas, and we had a long holiday. All the tourist attractions were closed. I had originally planned to visit the Griffith Observatory, but I could only see the exterior. I heard that the night view was beautiful. The dance scene of the male and female protagonists in "La La Land" was filmed at the observatory. During the day, you can see the letters HOLLWOOD on the opposite hill.

Griffith Observatory, nestled atop Hollywood Hill, offers expansive views, offering panoramic nighttime views of the Los Angeles cityscape and its dazzling cityscapes. The observatory's Hall of Science displays numerous astronomical displays, and atop the observatory is a 12-inch telescope, California's largest, allowing visitors to explore the mysteries of the stars.

The Griffith Observatory is located on a hill not far from the Avenue of Stars. You can go there in the evening to see the sunset and the night view of Los Angeles. There are not many parking spaces inside the observatory, so you need to be lucky. There are many metered parking spaces on the roadside near the observatory, which cost $7 per hour. Pay with a credit card. The observatory is free to visit.

The first time I knew about Griffith Observatory was in Lalaland. I thought it was a very romantic place, very suitable for young couples to take photos. No tickets are required here. The parking lot at the foot of the mountain is free. After going up the mountain, the parking lot near the observatory is charged by the hour, and the price varies at different locations.

The travel guide I made before said that the observatory is opposite the Hollywood Hills in the distance, and you can take the best photos of the Hollywood sign. Unfortunately, when we went there, the weather was very bad and there was a lot of fog, so we couldn't see the Hollywood sign at all.

Fortunately, the fog slowly dissipated after dark, and it still felt beautiful. I couldn't help but sing the song "City of Stars"...

Griffith Observatory is great, but it's hard to get there by bus, so it's more convenient to take an Uber.

The observatory holds immersive lectures at fixed times every day, allowing everyone to understand the universe, time, the world and ourselves with emotion.

Fortunately, there is free parking halfway up the mountain, and then we took a shuttle to the top of the mountain, which was also free. The night view of Los Angeles from this perspective is still very beautiful, but it seems that every city has a must-see observation deck.

It was the filming location for "La La Land" and is well worth a visit. Los Angeles has very few high-rise buildings, with only a few in the city center, making them very noticeable. Every evening from 7:00 PM, the giant telescope at Griffith Observatory is open to the public free of charge, though there's a line.

The observatory isn't far from Hollywood, just a few minutes' drive. Initially, the navigation system defaulted to a mountain road west of the observatory, but upon arrival, we discovered it was closed at night, so we took a different route east. Due to traffic restrictions, we couldn't drive directly to the observatory entrance, so we parked on a lawn halfway up the mountain.

The observatory is about a 20-minute hike from the parking lot. We were both a little tired after a day of fun, so we asked the parking attendant if there was a quick way up the mountain. We got both good news and bad news. The good news was that there was a bus to the observatory near the lawn for $1 for two. The bad news was that the bus only accepted cash. Since our only $4 in change had been used to buy youtiao (fried dough sticks), we had no choice but to hike up. So frustrating, hahaha.

The Griffith Observatory is one of the world's most renowned observatories. Like the Getty Center, its rooftop offers panoramic views of Los Angeles. Unfortunately, we arrived near closing time, so we missed out on a lot of things to see. We recommend going before sunset so you can see the famous "Hollywood" sign atop the Hollywood Hills (it's not illuminated, so it's hard to see at night) and enjoy the Los Angeles skyline as night falls.

We went early and there were plenty of parking spaces, so we didn't encounter the legendary problem of not being able to find a parking space.

Here is the first astronomical telescope in Los Angeles, in addition to simulations of the Earth's revolution and rotation, and its orbit around the sun.

How should I put it? The police blocked the road because there were too many people, so I could only watch from afar.

Griffith Observatory is one of the best photo spots for the Hollywood sign. You can also get a panoramic view of Los Angeles from here. It is also the place I visited twice in Los Angeles. You can see the Hollywood sign during the day and enjoy the night view of Los Angeles at night.

The observatory is in a great location and offers a panoramic view of Los Angeles.

The park closed the access road at 9 PM, so I missed the night view of Greater Los Angeles. I visited again the next morning, but the daytime view couldn't compare to the city at night, as if the day didn't understand the darkness of night. I recommend that if you want to see the night view from Griffith Observatory, make sure to schedule your trip before 9 PM.

It's really beautiful! I recommend going in the evening so you can take pictures of the sunset, watch the stars, and maybe even see planets through the telescope.

Parking is a bit difficult, you may need to go early

We set off around 4:00 PM. They said traffic would be heavy and parking would be scarce after 5:00 PM. As we drove up the mountain, we noticed the roadside was already packed with cars even before we reached the summit. It was so far, so we insisted on driving up. And sure enough, there were some empty parking spaces. The observatory is a place to learn about things like the sun, moon, and universe. Those who haven't mastered geography can go there for a refresher. We saw a show, one of those in a darkened hall where you look up at the sky. The dome theater at the top, built to mimic the sky, offers a 360-degree view of the celestial evolution. The glasses-free 3D technology brings the universe very close to our very eyes. There were three films, and "Water is Life" seemed good, but the timing was off. We watched "Centered in the Universe," which depicts how humans measured time in the past and then, through scientists' continued exploration, reveals and recounts humanity's evolving understanding of the universe, including the formation of the universe. It was quite fascinating and a real learning experience.

After 7pm, you can queue up to see the astronomical telescope for free.

Griffith Observatory

It was already evening when we came out, so we headed to the Griffith Observatory.

I've always been impressed by this building, thanks to Optimus Prime's declaration at the end of the 2007 film Transformers. It's a world-renowned observatory and a Los Angeles landmark, nestled against the Hollywood Hills. It was also a major filming location for films like "Charlie's Angels 2" and "GoldenEye." The crowds and fog made it impossible to see the Hollywood sign. Looking down at Los Angeles, it felt like a vast rural village.

In 1896, Baron Griffith donated 3,015 hectares of land to Los Angeles for the creation of a large public park. In 1904, Baron Griffith visited the newly built observatory on Mount Wilson and donated an additional $100,000 to the city to build an observatory on Mount Hollywood within Griffith Park. Unfortunately, Baron Griffith died in 1919. However, the observatory, named after him, was completed in 1933 and opened to the public in 1935. A renovation in 2002 involved elevating the observatory with reinforced concrete, adding a second floor beneath the original. The construction cost $95 million (only $100,000 at the time, considering inflation over the past century). The project took four years and reopened to the public in May 2006.



Inside, the planetarium exhibits included models of the eight planets and a model illustrating the relative motion of the sun, earth, and moon. Seeing the model comparing the size of Earth to Jupiter made me feel incredibly overwhelmed. Saturn and the like are so much bigger than Earth, not to mention the sun. And the universe is so vast, Earth is just a drop in the ocean. A human life, so brief, is barely a speck of sand on Earth, let alone the universe itself. Compared to this, life and death seem trivial. What hurdles can humans possibly overcome?

As the name suggests, this place is actually an observatory for stargazing, located on a hillside in the north of Los Angeles. Because of its excellent geographical location, this place is often used as an observation deck overlooking the city of Los Angeles. In the movie "LA LA LAND", there are many shots here, and there is also a game model of the original scene in the game "GTA5". The observatory itself is open in the afternoon. Generally, there are many locals running and exercising in the morning, and many tourists choose to visit here in the morning. A small tip is that if you come here before 12 noon from Monday to Friday, parking is free.

You can see the Los Angeles skyline from here. If you really want to take pictures of the skyline, it is recommended to bring at least a 200mm focal length lens. There is a coin-operated viewfinder on the observation deck.

Facing the Hollywood Hills in the distance, it's a Los Angeles landmark, having served as a filming location for films like "Charlie's Angels 2" and "GoldenEye," and also appears in the game "Grand Theft Auto V." From here, you can see the entire LA skyline at night, but traffic is heavy, so you'll need luck to drive up. We were told by traffic police to park at the bottom of the hill and walk up. We were exhausted after a day of walking...but once we reached the observatory at the top, the views made us forget our fatigue.

You can overlook the entire Los Angeles from the observatory, but my friend said it would be more impressive at night.

I arrived just in time for the sunset to dye the sky red. When I arrived, I thought of a saying: every city has a place where you can see the mountains below.

It seemed to be the 17th day of the lunar calendar. I looked at the moon through the telescope of the observatory. It was very round and big.

The observatory's pendulum is also the filming location for Lala Land. It's a great place to see the night view of LA and stargazing. The exhibitions inside are also quite interesting. You can also go to the second floor to use a telescope to see the stars. You can park on the way up the mountain. It's safer to park at the foot of the mountain, but you can also try your luck along the way.

The observatory's exhibition hall showcases astronomical knowledge about the planets and the universe. A dome theater on the roof, built to mimic the sky, offers 360-degree viewing of films depicting the evolution of celestial bodies. Glasses-free 3D technology brings the universe closer to our very eyes.

The observatory is also equipped with four fixed telescopes. Through the Zeiss telescope with a 12-inch reflector, you can see unique views of the night sky. In addition, three solar telescopes can provide you with vivid and interesting images...

The observatory is open to the public free of charge on weekdays, so many tourists come to watch the sunset, including many photography experts carrying their cameras...

The observatory is located on a mountaintop, and the wind is very strong. From the top of the mountain, you can see downtown Los Angeles with its tall buildings. This place is both an observatory and a great place to enjoy the view...

Due to limited time and the weekend, there were many tourists, so we had to rush through and leave regrets! Astronomy enthusiasts can go early and watch carefully. It is a place worth seeing.

The planetarium closes at 10pm. We arrived at the top of the mountain at 9pm and took a quick look inside.

Located on a hill north of downtown Los Angeles, this observation spot offers the best panoramic views of the city. It's also a haven for astronomy enthusiasts. On weekend nights, it can be crowded, making parking difficult to find.

The scene of GTA 5. When I arrived at the top of the mountain and found a good place to park, it was already dark. If you want to see the sunset, you must find a good place to park early. Don't park at the top of the mountain. There are basically no parking spaces. It's better to park when you are about halfway up the mountain. It's best to walk for 10 minutes.

A good place for science popularization, where you can learn a lot of astronomy knowledge, and the surrounding mountains are parks

We arrived at Griffith Observatory at around 8 o'clock in the evening. The sun had already set, but there were so many cars that we had to park far away. It took more than ten minutes to walk to the observatory to see the night view. It was not very cold, so a coat was enough.

This is the best observation deck to watch the night view of Los Angeles

A must-see in Los Angeles, especially if you're traveling with older children. The dome show is a must-see. There's also a lot of educational information inside. The rooftop buffet is also fantastic, with a view of Hollywood and a bird's-eye view of Los Angeles. If you want to watch the sunset and the stars, remember to go in early (up the hill). After 5:00 PM, you can only enter but not exit, as I experienced.

There is a parking spot on the mountain. After you come down, you can see the words HOLLYWOOD. They are a little bigger than on the high ground. Hahahaha. You can also see the whole picture of LA from here.

I chose to go on Monday because the observatory is closed on Mondays, so I thought there would be fewer people.

When I got there, I found that there were quite a lot of people there.

Before we went, we checked the official website for free parking. It's located at the Greek Theater below the Griffith Observatory. During weekdays when there aren't shows, the parking lot is free. However, the downside is that it takes a 15-minute walk uphill from the parking lot. Afterward, it takes another 10 minutes to walk downhill to get the car.

Because it was almost sunset when we drove to the top of the mountain, my husband put me down to watch the sunset while he went downstairs to park the car and then climbed up again.

Even after the sun sets in the evening, it's still very cold and windy on the mountain. Everyone, remember to wear more clothes.

When the sun sets completely, the night view is still quite beautiful, but not very clear, and it is still foggy.

The Griffith Observatory at night is also beautiful.

When talking about Griffith Observatory, the first thing that comes to mind is "LA LA LAND".

The dreamlike scenes in the film arouse endless desires and allow girls to immerse themselves in romantic love memories.

One of the most impressive scenes is the dance performed by the hero and heroine at the Griffith Observatory.

The background is matched with the starry sky, creating an extremely beautiful picture.

What is more recommended than visiting the observatory is the sunset here.

The word Hollywood can be seen in the distance from the Griffith Observatory.

Fortunately, the weather was very good that day. The backlight lasted for nearly an hour, and even the afterglow was pink.

From the other side of the observatory, you can overlook the entire city of Los Angeles.

Because Los Angeles is located in an earthquake zone, it is not suitable to build high-rise buildings. Except for a few high-rise buildings in the CBD (Central Business District), the entire city is vast.

Standing at the Griffith Observatory, you can see countless tourists from all over the world, as well as couples in love.

I waited from sunset to the lights coming on, admiring the gradual change of colors in the sky. This moment was romantic and beautiful.

The open-air terrace here is one of the best spots for panoramic views of Los Angeles. We arrived a little early, so I recommend coming in the evening for a more spectacular view of the city's vibrant lights. The observatory is right next to the Hollywood sign, offering a panoramic view. However, the location is a bit tilted for photos, making it less than ideal.

Griffith Observatory is one of the world's most renowned observatories. Each hall showcases astronomical knowledge in a vivid and engaging way, including models of the eight planets hanging on the ceiling and exquisite murals. The dome theater at the top mimics the sky, allowing you to recline and enjoy 360-degree films on the evolution of celestial bodies, bringing the vast universe to your fingertips. Furthermore, the museum boasts California's largest 12-inch telescope, allowing visitors to explore the mysteries of the starry sky.

The observatory is quite crowded, so you can hardly wait until the front is clear. You can enjoy the city view. Admission is free, and there are often astronomy tours. It's best to choose a time to go. Sunset is the busiest time, and parking is difficult. You basically have to park outside on the hillside and then walk over. If you plan to watch the sunset, be sure to get there early to secure a spot.

The astronomical clock and some of the planetary displays inside the observatory are quite interesting, but there are always a lot of people going there. Please note that the observatory is closed on Mondays.

Located on the Hollywood Hills in Griffith Park, the observatory is one of the world's most renowned. Open to the public free of charge, it features several exhibition halls and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium (tickets required for astronomy demonstrations). On clear nights, visitors can gaze at the stars free of charge through the Zeiss telescopes, equipped with 12-inch reflectors, located on the east end of the observatory's roof.

Getting There: The Los Angeles Metro Transit Company operates a dedicated public bus service to and from the Griffith Observatory on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays, excluding holidays). The bus departs from the Vermont/Sunset Station on the Red Line. Signs will direct you to the bus stop after exiting the station. The bus stops in front of the Observatory's main entrance, with the boarding and alighting points located at the same location.

Observatory Shuttle runs from 10:00am to 10:00pm (every 35 minutes)

Ticket price: 50 cents for adults, 25 cents for people with disabilities/seniors, free for children under 4; TAP cards accepted

If you visit on weekdays, you'll have to hike, drive, or bike up the mountain. There are hiking trails within Griffith Park. Also, be aware that the spiral stone staircases leading up to the top of the observatory are quite narrow at both ends, so be careful with the elderly and children walking at night. There's an elevator available.

The observatory offers a breathtaking view of the entire city of Los Angeles, and the night view is truly stunning. Don't miss this glimpse of the twinkling lights of thousands of homes. The night we arrived, the full moon slowly rising in the sky was truly stunning. (A camera can't capture what the naked eye sees.)

Get off at the DASH bus stop and ascend the stairs to the observatory. The first thing you enter is the WM Keck Foundation Central Rotunda, which houses a Foucault pendulum. Visitors can gently push and pull it. This elegant scientific instrument is said to be used to demonstrate the Earth's rotation (though I happily tried it, I still didn't understand how it works).

The Zeiss Telescopes on the top floor of the observatory are free (open only at night), making this an unmissable opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts. They're open until around 9:30 pm each night, and professional staff will be on hand to guide you through the vast starry sky. You'll usually see long lines at the telescope entrance.

At 6:30 PM, we drove along a winding mountain road to the summit of Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory. Why did we go there? I'm not an astronomy enthusiast, but I heard you could take photos of the "HOLLYWOOD" sign there, and because it offers a great view of Los Angeles at night. There's parking at the observatory, but it's quite tight, requiring patience and a few laps, waiting for cars to leave. Luckily, we didn't have to go around, and happened to pass a car backing out. Because of daylight saving time, the sunset in Los Angeles falls at 7:50 PM. Well, we took our time to enjoy the view. Parking is incredibly expensive, at $8 per hour. You pay for your parking time at the nearest payment machine (card only, no cash accepted), and then place your ticket on your car's windshield for the attendant to check. I'd seen a suggestion to park halfway up the park, where it's free. But I'm glad I didn't skimp. I can guarantee that if I'd carried my camera bag and tripod and meandered up to the observatory on the top of the mountain, not only would I have exhausted myself to the point of oxygen deprivation, but even the saliva from my son's complaints would have drowned me. Spending a hefty parking fee was worth it, both for protecting my knees and for the chance to take better photos.



My cell phone signal was poor at the top of the mountain, and I rarely received any WeChat messages. My friends in LA had already heard I'd quietly entered the village and were asking about my future plans and when we could meet for dinner. How could I easily turn down an invitation from an old friend from a distant place? Their enthusiasm grew more genuine as we chatted back and forth. Okay, let's start with tomorrow's breakfast. From the moment the sun set behind the "HOLLYWOOD" sign, it wasn't until 8:30 that it was completely dark. Despite the twinkling lights, LA's nightscape didn't surprise me at all, perhaps because I'm so used to the skyscrapers and bright lights of Shanghai. By comparison, I much prefer Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour and the Auckland nightscape I photographed from One Tree Hill in New Zealand in the cold wind. Urged by my son's constant cries of "I want to eat," I packed up my gear and said goodbye to LA. A tip for photographing the Hollywood sign: Morning is the best time to shoot, as sunset is completely backlit, making metering challenging. Compared to capturing the first rays of morning light shining on the world-famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign, the night view is relatively useless. If I come next time, I will choose the early morning.

By 9:00 pm, the hillside of the observatory was incredibly crowded, so we had to park halfway up the mountain and hike for half an hour to reach the observatory. This is the filming location for La La Land and a must-visit for young couples. The night view proved to be worth the climb.

The Hollywood sign is not visible at night, but it is nice to see the night view of Los Angeles.

The scenery is still very beautiful, it is a place worth visiting.

Watching the sunset is really beautiful, overlooking Los Angeles~

When we got to the mountain, there were a lot of cars and no parking spaces. We followed the staff's instructions and drove around in a circle before parking on a lawn. Parking here is free and it takes no more than 15 minutes to walk to the top of the mountain.

The view of Los Angeles from the top of the mountain is beautiful!

You can go up to the Griffith Observatory. On the top floor, you'll see a long queue. It says something about the largest telescope or something, but I forgot. We joined the queue, thinking it was a museum or something, but it turned out to be just a giant telescope, and you can only see it from a distance. If you're interested in this kind of equipment, it's definitely worth a visit!

This is still a good place to see the Hollywood sign and the night view of Los Angeles, but after the sun goes down, it was so cold that I started to have runny noses...

Griffith Observatory has a lot of introductions to astronomical knowledge, and friends who are interested can slowly savor it.

The astronomical telescope on the top floor is open to tourists free of charge, and you can clearly see the surface of the moon.

It is said to be the best place to see the Hollywood sign, but the weather was not very good when we went there, and we could basically see nothing. However, the observatory itself is also good, and you can overlook the entire Los Angeles.

The entire observatory was packed with tourists, capturing the boundless expanse of Los Angeles from every wall. The observatory offers a wealth of astronomical information, and the dome theater is highly recommended. Reclining to gaze at the panoramic screen while listening to insightful English commentary accompanied by rotating animations creates an immersive experience that feels like being transported to the universe—perfect for learning! After an hour of learning about cosmic history, La La Land was completely dark, and I frantically snapped away to capture this starry city.

One of the world's most famous observatories, it offers a stunning view of Hollywood on the opposite hill and is a landmark of Los Angeles. Built in 1933, the Griffith Observatory boasts a wealth of astrophysics information and images in its exhibition hall.

Looking out over downtown Los Angeles from the top of the mountain, this place serves as both an observatory and a viewing spot.

Here are the pictures! ~ If you have time, you can drive with a few friends and stay there from sunset in the afternoon to watch the night view. Visitors will definitely be moved by watching the night view the night before leaving. The entire city lights are really reflected in your eyes. It is very beautiful.

It's on a small hill with a nice environment. Many locals are running and exercising on the hill. I even saw two guys doing boxing. From the observatory, you can see the famous Hollywood sign.

I highly recommend the Griffith Observatory, a memorial to the astronomer Robert Griffith. The entire building is pure white, perched on a hilltop, offering a panoramic view of Los Angeles, just like in "La La Land." From there, you can truly appreciate why Los Angeles is known as the City of Stars—not just the dazzling stars, but the dazzling lights of countless homes.

This was my first time gazing down at such a vast city. Shockingly, the twinkling lights below truly looked like stars, twinkling and blinking. It truly was a city of stars. Some people noisily pulled out their cameras, snapping photos left and right, while others simply stood quietly gazing into the distance. Some hugged their loved ones for selfies, letting the city's rainbow bear witness to their love. Someone else pointed at the dark Hollywood Sign and exclaimed, "Mom! I see Hollywood!"

When you stand here at night, this city can easily move you, but you don't know why.