The Griffith Park Observatory and its surrounding grounds are great for views of the city and the Hollywood sign. One of the best times to visit is before sunset, so you get a day time plus a nice evening view of the lights of LA.
The Griffith Park Observatory building is open Tuesday-Friday (12 noon-10pm) and Saturday-Sunday (10am-10pm). The Observatory is closed on Mondays, but the surrounding grounds to enjoy the views are still open until 10pm.
Entrance to the observatory building and the grounds is free, but there is a small fee to watch the show in the Planetarium.
SHUTTLE DETAILS:
For those of your exploring the city without a car, there is a Dash
WEEKEND
Observatory Shuttle Bus available. But remember, it is
ONLY AVAILABLE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
The shuttle operates all weekends of the year, except the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
TAKING THE SHUTTLE:
1) Take the Metro Red Line from either 7th St/Metro Center or Pershing Square and get off at the Vermont/Sunset Station.
2) You can then catch the DASH Observatory Shuttle from the northeast corner of Vermont and Sunset.
Fare:
$0.50 (exact change required - fare as of 10/2/14). If you have money loaded on your TAP card, you can use those funds for this trip. But do note, the Metro Day Pass on your TAP card does NOT cover this ride.
Hours:
Rides to the Observatory begin at approximately 10am. Last ride back to the Vermont/Sunset Station leaves at approximately 9:56pm. Buses make stops about every 30-40 minutes. Schedules can change, so be sure to click below to check for any timetable updates.
Click here to go to the DASH site to review timetables, see route maps and more.
Make sure you allocate time to visit. No visit to LA is complete without it!
