Griffith Observatory
Free telescopes, a planetarium and the best view of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Sign.
Photo: Matthew Field · CC BY 2.5
Griffith Observatory guide: free admission, the public telescopes, the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, sunset views over Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign, hiking up and parking.
What to expect
Perched on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory has been open to the public since 1935, and entry to the building and grounds has always been free. It was the gift of Griffith J. Griffith, who wanted everyone to be able to look through a telescope.
Inside, exhibits cover the planets, the Sun and the history of astronomy, and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium projects the night sky onto its dome in regular shows. On clear evenings, free public telescopes are set up, including the historic Zeiss refractor in the rooftop dome.
The terraces offer one of the best views in Los Angeles: downtown, the Pacific Ocean on clear days and the Hollywood Sign on the next ridge. The building has starred in many films, most famously Rebel Without a Cause in 1955 and, more recently, La La Land.
Parking near the building is paid and fills quickly at sunset and on weekends. The DASH Observatory bus runs up from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station, and hikers can walk up through the park from the Greek Theatre or Fern Dell.
Griffith Observatory: top things to do
- 1Sunset over Los Angeles from the terraces
- 2The Hollywood Sign from the observatory
- 3The Zeiss telescope on a clear night
- 4A show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium
Griffith Observatory: best time to visit
All year; clear winter evenings give the sharpest views, and weekday afternoons are the least crowded.
Insider tips
- Take the DASH bus or hike up to avoid the parking lines at sunset.
- Check the opening days before you go; the building is closed on Mondays.
- Buy planetarium tickets as soon as you arrive; they are sold only at the observatory.
Fees, passes and parking
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Entrance | Free |
- Federal park passes such as America the Beautiful are not valid here.
- Entry is free. Parking around the observatory is paid by the hour and fills at sunset; the DASH bus is cheaper.
Checked Oct 28, 2026. Official prices
Gas and fast charging nearby
617 gas stations within 20 km
- 1.2 km Chevron
- 1.4 km 76 open 24 hours
- 2.1 km Shell
- 2.2 km Gas station
- 2.2 km Gas station
- 2.3 km Mobil
- 1.9 km EVgo Fast chargers (EVgo)
- 1.9 km Loop Fast chargers (Loop)
- 2.5 km 5420 Sunset Supercharger Fast chargers (Tesla)
- 4.9 km Tesla Supercharger Fast chargers (Supercharger)
OpenStreetMap data, Oct 28, 2026.
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