Best Things To Do in Los Angeles During World Cup 2026

Los Angeles is hosting 8 matches at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — making it one of the most active tournament cities. Between the near-perfect summer weather, the sprawling city, and one of the best modern football venues on the planet, LA rewards fans who plan beyond the stadium gates. Here's what's worth your time.

These are activities that work for groups, give you genuine LA experiences, and fit around a match schedule that could have you here for a week or more.

SoFi Stadium is in Inglewood — approximately 6 miles southeast of LAX and 10 miles from Hollywood. It is not walkable from Santa Monica, West Hollywood, or the Hollywood Hills. Plan transit accordingly.

Fan Experiences (Pre and Post-Match)

1. Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign Views

Why it works for World Cup fans: Free entry, panoramic views over the entire LA basin, and the Hollywood Sign framed in the background. This is the single best free activity in Los Angeles. Take the DASH Observatory bus from Los Feliz — don't drive, parking is a nightmare.

The Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood at 1,134 feet. The views stretch from downtown LA to the Pacific on clear days. The planetarium shows and public telescope sessions are worth the extra time if you're there at night.

Duration: 2–3 hours
Cost: Free (observatory entry); planetarium shows $7–10
Best time: Late afternoon for golden hour views, or after 20:00 when the city lights up
Transit: DASH Observatory bus from Los Feliz / Vermont-Sunset Metro stop

→ Book Los Angeles sightseeing tours on Viator

2. The Getty Center

Why it works for World Cup fans: Free museum admission with one of the best art collections in the United States, plus panoramic views over the city and the Pacific. A genuine world-class museum that costs nothing to enter — one of LA's best-kept mainstream secrets.

The Getty sits above the 405 freeway in Brentwood. Take the free tram from the parking structure (parking is $20 but Metro bus 761 from UCLA gets you there for free). The Central Garden is outstanding in summer; the European paintings collection is among the best in the American West.

Duration: 2.5–3 hours
Cost: Free entry (timed tickets recommended in summer)
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, closed Monday
Transit: Metro Rapid 761 from Westwood/UCLA

→ Browse Los Angeles museum tours on Viator

3. Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach Boardwalk

Why it works for World Cup fans: A quintessentially LA afternoon — two of the most recognizable stretches of Southern California coast connected by a 3-mile flat boardwalk walk. Easy by Metro E Line (Expo Line) from downtown.

Santa Monica Pier: The pier has operated since 1909. Pacific Park amusement rides, the original Gold's Gym nearby, seafood restaurants, and the Pacific Ocean. Arrive early to beat the crowds; evenings have live music in summer.

Venice Beach Boardwalk: Walk 1.5 miles south along the beachfront. The Muscle Beach outdoor gym, street performers, skate park, and the dense chaos of the boardwalk are all genuinely worth seeing. Cut inland to Abbot Kinney Boulevard for independent coffee, restaurants, and boutiques.

Duration: Half-day (3–4 hours)
Cost: Free
Transit: Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica station, 15-minute walk to pier

4. Universal Studios Hollywood

Why it works for World Cup fans: The world's most-visited movie studio theme park. The Studio Tour tram ride through the actual Universal lot — where Jurassic Park, Jaws, and hundreds of other productions were filmed — is a genuinely unique experience. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the newer Super Nintendo World add modern anchors.

Note: This is a full-day activity and needs to be planned for a rest day between matches.

Duration: Full day (6–8 hours to do it properly)
Cost: $109–$139+ (book online in advance for savings)
Transit: Metro B Line (Red Line) to Universal City/Studio City station, 5-minute walk up the hill

→ Book Universal Studios Hollywood tickets on Viator

5. Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive Walk

Why it works for World Cup fans: Free to walk, globally recognizable, and a clean contrast to the beach and museum days. Rodeo Drive is 3 blocks of the world's luxury retail brands — window shopping is the point. The surrounding streets of Beverly Hills have the manicured civic grandeur you'd expect.

Combine with the Farmers Market and The Grove (at 3rd and Fairfax, 10 minutes by rideshare) for a full afternoon. The Grove is an outdoor shopping center but the adjacent Original Farmers Market has operated since 1934 and is legitimately excellent for a late lunch.

Duration: 2–3 hours
Cost: Free to walk
Transit: Metro Rapid 720 west from downtown, or rideshare

6. Grand Central Market and Downtown LA

Why it works for World Cup fans: The best single food destination in Los Angeles — an indoor market at 317 S Broadway that has operated since 1917. Eggslut for breakfast sandwiches, Wexler's Deli for pastrami, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, and a dozen other vendors in one space.

Downtown LA on match days has a pre-game energy centered on LA Live (the entertainment complex adjacent to Crypto.com Arena). Multiple bars and restaurants. Grand Park nearby has hosted FIFA Fan Festival events in previous tournaments.

Duration: 1–2 hours
Cost: Budget $20–35 for a full meal and drinks
Transit: Metro B, D Line to Pershing Square or 7th Street/Metro Center

7. LACMA — Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Why it works for World Cup fans: The largest art museum in the western United States. The Urban Light installation at the entrance — 202 cast-iron streetlamps from the 1920s and 1930s — is one of the most photographed public artworks in America. The permanent collection spans 6,000 years across every continent.

Located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile, next to the La Brea Tar Pits.

Duration: 2–3 hours
Cost: $25 adults (free on the second Tuesday of each month)
Transit: Metro D Line (Purple) to Wilshire/La Brea or Wilshire/Fairfax

→ Browse LACMA and LA art tours on Viator

Match Day Planning Table

| Day | Best Activities | |-----|-----------------| | Day before match | Griffith Observatory (evening) + Grand Central Market lunch | | Match day morning | Santa Monica Pier walk or Venice Beach boardwalk | | Post-match | LA Live entertainment complex + Koreatown BBQ | | Rest day (one day) | Getty Center + Beverly Hills walk + Abbot Kinney dinner | | Rest day (full day) | Universal Studios Hollywood | | Two rest days | Malibu coast drive + Santa Monica; or a day trip further afield |

LA Food Worth Seeking Out

Birria tacos: The birria taco revolution started in Los Angeles and it's still done best here. Teddy's Red Tacos in Mar Vista, Burritos La Palma in Bell. Dip the corn tortilla in the consomme broth — that's the move.

Koreatown BBQ: Koreatown is a 10-minute rideshare from downtown. Park's BBQ on Vermont Avenue is the classic choice for galbi and brisket — go on a weeknight to avoid weekend waits.

In-N-Out Burger: A California institution. The animal-style Double-Double is $5. There are multiple locations near SoFi Stadium and on the way back from Inglewood.

Getting Around

LA without a car is manageable but requires patience. The key Metro lines for fans:

Metro E Line (Expo): Downtown LA → USC → Culver City → Santa Monica
Metro B Line (Red): Downtown → Hollywood → Universal City
Metro C Line (Green): Connects to Inglewood for SoFi Stadium (via match-day shuttle)
Metro D Line (Purple): Downtown → Koreatown → Beverly Hills (under extension)

Uber and Lyft fill the gaps. On match days at SoFi, rideshare surge pricing can reach $40–80 from downtown — take the Metro C Line + match-day shuttle. Budget $40–60 cash for street food, parking tips, and markets.

Weather note: Mid-June to mid-July sits around 25–28°C with almost no rain. Mornings can be overcast (June Gloom) but clear by midday. Sunscreen is not optional — the UV index is high even on cloudy days.

Staying near the match? Long Beach and Inglewood are 10–15 miles south and run $30–60/night cheaper than Santa Monica or Beverly Hills equivalent hotels. See the alt-city savings guide →

Planning your accommodation? See LA hotels and neighbourhoods →

Travelling to other cities after LA? Compare travel insurance plans before you go → — LA to Miami or New York means different medical cost exposure.

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