11 Things to do in Los Angeles at Christmas

Los Angeles is a city with a unique charm, where you will have an enormous amount of things to see and do, but at Christmas time all its magic is enhanced even more. At Christmas time in Los Angeles you will live incredible experiences that will remain in your memory forever. The decoration of the city, the lights that decorate every corner, the exclusive shows, the carols, absolutely everything is fantastic.

Whether you plan to spend Christmas in Los Angeles as a couple, with family or friends, the city has the best plans to offer you, so you can live it to the fullest. Here's an itinerary of things to see and do in Los Angeles at Christmas.

You can visit Universal Studios Hollywood all year round, but I assure you that if you go at Christmas time, it will be a unique and unforgettable experience. The parks and the main attractions dress up and get ready for Christmas with everything.

Amongst so many Christmas activities and attractions, you can enjoy the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which will be fully adapted for the occasion, with Christmas spirit, festive decorations and all the Christmas-themed entertainment and shows.

You can also take a stroll through Universal CityWalk. Another great plan is to enjoy a Christmas movie at the Citywalk cinemas, I recommend you check the listings before you go. Keep in mind that Universal Studios tends to be very crowded and even more so on special dates like Christmas. To avoid queues and save time and money, I recommend that you buy your Universal Studios tickets in advance.

I can assure you that the lighting of the Venice Beach Christmas sign has become a Christmas classic in Los Angeles. You probably recognise the typical illuminated sign that characterises Venice Beach, located on Windward Avenue. Yes, that's right, it is dyed red and green to welcome the Christmas season. This event is accompanied by a huge celebration with music and activities for all tastes and ages.

Venice Beach is only half an hour from Downtown Los Angeles by car or taxi and 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus. You can even take a day trip from Los Angeles and enjoy this seaside town in depth and even sign up for a surf lesson because the temperatures at this time of year allow it.

Christmas parades are a Los Angeles classic and there's something for everyone. You can welcome Father Christmas as he lands by sleigh in Hollywood, as well as witness the huge number of boats and motorboats decorated for the holiday season and combine this experience with a boat ride around Los Angeles. Here's a little more about the classic Christmas parades.

• Hollywood Christmas Parade: On the Sunday after Thanksgiving each year , Father Christmas arrives in his sleigh, with a slew of floats and huge inflatable figures accompanying him on Hollywood Boulevard for an incredible parade.
• Los Angeles Harbor Floating Parade: This floating caravan that you can enjoy in the Los Angeles harbour is a true marvel that kicks off the holiday season for coastal communities. Keep in mind, the harbour is located about 40 kilometres from Downtown Los Angeles. If you're driving, you'll get there in about 30 minutes by taking I-110 S, which is the most direct route. If you plan to go by public transport, it will take you about 1 hour and you can choose between tram or bus.
• San Pedro Christmas Parade: You can enjoy this unique event in historic downtown San Pedro. It is about 30 kilometres from Downtown Los Angeles and it takes about 25 minutes by car or taxi along the I-110 S road to get there. If you prefer, you also have the option of bus or tram and it will take you just over an hour.
• King's Marina Boat Parade: This is a legendary event that has been held for over 50 years at the King's Marina. It is about 30 kilometres from Downtown and can be reached in approximately 20 minutes by taxi or car via I-10 W or in just over an hour by bus, underground or tram.

The festivity and Christmas spirit is not only concentrated in the city, Los Angeles County is full of small towns that experience Christmas in a more local style, but no less intense.

You will be amazed by the picturesque decorations, colourful streets and more natural outdoor spaces to enjoy Christmas in a quieter way, away from the noise of the city, but in an absolutely festive atmosphere, with the colours and traditions of Christmas. Here are some recommendations.

• Mammoth Lakes: a small town of just over 5,000 inhabitants located about 4 hours from Downtown Los Angeles by car.
• Solvang: a Danish town of about 5,000 inhabitants founded by a community of immigrants from Denmark in the 20th century. It is almost 3 hours by car from Downtown Los Angeles, although to visit it I recommend that you take a tour or excursion from Los Angeles that has it included in its itinerary.
• Newport Beach: a tourist and residential city in Orange County, California with a population of about 80,000 people, about 1 hour's drive from Downtown Los Angeles.
• Yosemite and Glacier Point: a wilderness getaway to Yosemite National Park and Glacier Point, a spectacular viewpoint over 2 km high above Yosemite Valley.
• Santa Barbara: you can also book an excursion that includes a visit to Santa Barbara, a Mediterranean-style mountain town whose historic centre is a true reflection of its legacy as a Spanish colony.

If you're not so keen on Christmas, there's an anti-Christmas plan in Los Angeles for you too. When you visit Universal Studios Hollywood take part in one of the most popular attractions: Grinchmas. There you can have your picture taken with the Grinch, the enemy of Christmas, and his only doggy friend Max.

At Universal Studios Hollywood you will have many fun activities and attractions to visit with your family and you can also take a picture with Father Christmas and the gigantic tree of more than 20 metres high that will fill you with Christmas spirit.

Remember to buy your tickets in advance to save money and avoid long queues. Keep in mind that the Christmas season is one of the busiest times of the year and there is usually a lot of crowds.

And, one of the most comfortable and convenient ways to visit the city and not miss any of its most emblematic places decorated for Christmas, from Santa Monica Pier, the most famous theme park by the sea in the world, as well as other great buildings such as The Comedy Store or Paramount Studios... and all this, booking a tour in a Big Bus tourist bus. You can hop off at as many stops as you like and get back on at any time.

You can choose between two routes, one by Hollywood and one by Beach Shuttle, both with free stops and you will have your own audio guide so you won't miss any of the details of the tour.

From late November through January, the city lights up and the lights start to become part of the landscape, as the festive atmosphere permeates every corner. In addition, at certain unique times, special light shows take place at various locations around Los Angeles. Here's where to find the best lights for Christmas.

• Music Center Plaza: This is one of the three largest performing arts centres in the United States and every year for Christmas the **city'**s signature Christmas tree is installed there. You can be part of the lighting of the tree and officially welcome Christmas.
• Los Angeles Botanical Garden and Zoo: here you will be able to appreciate "The Lights of the LA Zoo", the most exotic and wild Christmas attraction of lights in the city, where the animals are the main characters and everything is decorated and set with lights. It is truly a work of art.
• Union Station: it is the last great railway station built in the United States, in 1939, and this is where the Christmas tree lighting event is held every year, with chocolate included for everyone present. Here you can also get your pictures taken with Father Christmas and the Snow Queen.
• Heritage Square: is an open-air museum of living history and architecture and is undoubtedly one of the best museums in Los Angeles. It is a must-see lantern-lit Christmas celebration.
• Grand Park: This legendary park is located in the civic centre of Los Angeles and is where you will find the most impressive light attraction called Winter Glow, with exhibits by local artists and a large luminous fountain that lasts for a whole month.

To continue to get into the holiday spirit throughout Los Angeles, you can't miss a visit to the local markets that are tailored to this time of year.

That's why I recommend including a stop at the Original Farmers Market in your travel itinerary. This is a historic Los Angeles market where you'll find local produce, restaurants and boutique shops.

As you'd expect, between December and January, Christmas decorations and produce take centre stage at this large market, with carolers and choirs performing karaoke, Christmas music, decorative lights and more.

Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra and Master Chorus and the fourth concert hall of the Los Angeles Music Center.

At Christmas time, you can enjoy a magnificent concert of carols and traditional Christmas music and children's choirs, with fun and festive decorations. It is an ideal plan for the whole family, which can be enjoyed by both adults and the youngest members of the family. Here is also an itinerary of things to see and do in Los Angeles with children so you can combine this activity with many others.

On the official website of this concert hall you will be able to check the calendar of events to better organise your visit.

Between mid-November and early January, you can enjoy Christmas festivities at Disneyland California, the only theme park that was designed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. It is one of the best times of the year to visit and feel the magic of Christmas that only Disney can offer you.

Your visit to Disneyland will be accompanied by all the fun, the most diverse styles of music for all tastes and delicious delicacies for the whole family. On this date, absolutely everything is adapted to celebrate Christmas to the maximum!

Disneyland California is about 40 kilometres away from Downtown Los Angeles and you can get there by car or taxi in approximately 30 minutes, by train in a little more than 1 hour or by bus in almost 2 hours.

Keep in mind that you'll need to get your tickets online in advance to avoid the long lines that tend to occur at this time of year, due to the high number of families.

If there's one thing you can't miss on a trip to Los Angeles, it's a trip to the best shopping malls for Christmas shopping. In Los Angeles you'll find a huge variety of shops, fairs and malls to browse through, which at this time of year become real Christmas attractions.

All of them will be perfectly decorated for the occasion, with Christmas bridges, exhibitions and various activities such as craft fairs and local handmade products. Since this is Los Angeles you have a huge variety of malls to visit, but I recommend a few must-visit ones.

• Rodeo Drive: it is the three-block shopping area located in Beverly Hills, which houses the boutiques and shops of world-renowned brands. Even if you are not going to buy anything, I recommend you to take a walk, as it becomes a real attraction at Christmas time.
• Hollywood & Highland: it is a shopping mall located in the heart of Hollywood Boulevard with several floors and a great amount of things to see and buy. On the top floor you will have a viewpoint to appreciate the city from a different point of view. At Christmas time this mall dresses up and becomes a nice plan to enjoy the Christmas spirit of the city.