December Overview
- High temperature: 68°F (20°C)
- Low temperature: 49°F (9°C)
- Hours daylight/sun: 9 hours
- Water temperature: 60°F (0°C)
Choose Los Angeles as your vacation destination in December if you are after some beautifully mild weather rather than the freezing cold that’s prevalent in most other big US cities. Temperatures highs reach 68°F (20°C) even now and the sun shines for 9 hours each day. There is a bit of rain to be expected with 4 rainy days on average for the month and temperatures can drop to 49°F (9°C) so do pack some warmer clothes and an umbrella too. The ocean water temperature off the coast of LA measures 60°F (16°C) in December.
While in Los Angeles you can still relax at the beaches and explore the outdoors in December- there are plenty of wintery, Christmassy things to do as well. From Ice Skating to the Christmas Lights and The Nutcracker, Los Angeles has everything to make your holiday season an extremely special one. And the ‘City of Angels’ is famous for throwing some of the best NYE parties ever!
Best Time to Visit Los Angeles
The best time to visit Los Angeles is probably in the shoulder seasons of spring or fall (autumn). It’s not too hot, cold or rainy and most importantly there are less visitors around.
Summers are busier but the lovely and warm weather with highs of 84°F (29°) invites you to enjoy the endless beaches and if you want to swim in the Pacific Ocean it has to be in summer as it’s the only time that is reaches temperatures close to 70°F (20°C).
Winters are mild with highs of 68°F (20°C) and less crowded- good for getting travel deals! The only downside in winter is that it can be rainy.
Things to know about Los Angeles
If you’re planning to spend a few days in Los Angeles for the first time, everything can be quite confusing. The city seems enormous and tiring with all its different parts and getting from A to B can be challenging. Without doubt though, the city is also crazy, inspiring and (one of) the most beautiful in the United States! Here are some guides that might help you plan your stay to be as smooth, pleasant and fun as possible.
Venice Venice is a lot people’s favorite of all the districts in Los Angeles. It gives you that cool surfer and hipster feeling, is close to the beach and airport and allows you to enjoy the beautiful sunsets. Really impressive are the old channels that the district gets its name for. Little bridges and lovely walking paths take you through the area, passing little bungalows and boats along the way.
Things to do in Venice:
- Check out the Venice canals
- Stroll along Venice Beach (especially at sunset)
- People-watching and shopping along Venice Boardwalk
- Rent Beach Cruiser Bikes and cycle along the beach all the way to Santa Monica
- Have a breakfast at Eggslut or Rose Cafe
- Eat at The Butcher's Daughter, a trendy and vegetarian Cafe
- Take a photo of the ‘Venice Sign’
- Buy some unique street art
Mulholland Drive If you need to escape the hectic city for a bit, drive up to Mulholland Drive. In the hills above Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica you will not only find some quietness with impressive estates overlooking the city but also canyons, a lot of nature and hiking opportunities (e.g. Topanga State Park). The Mulholland Drive starts at Cahuenga Boulevard taking you up through the Hollywood Hills. One of the best viewing spots is the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook.
Hollywood (Sign) From wherever you are in Los Angeles, you will again and again see the famous Hollywood Sign. It can be a bit tricky to find the spot with the best view on it. A good place might be from the Last House on Mulholland or from the hiking paths which lead further up the hill from there.
Tips for Hollywood:
Even though it can get crowded, a walk along the Hollywood Boulevard and Walk of Fame is a must when visiting Los Angeles. If you look a bit closer you will actually spot some great Art-Deco buildings with Hollywood-Retro-Flair. And you might also be able to grab some great pieces in the costume shops in between the touristy souvenir shops.
- Mama Shelter: A Boutique Hotel in Hollywood with a lovely rooftop bar accessible also for non-hotel guests.
- Iguana Vintage Clothing and Stage of Hollywood: If you are after some great finds for your next festival.
- Amoeba Music: Huge Music Store in a beautiful Art-Deco building.
- Shake Shack: A trendy chain of fast food - a must during your visit!
Griffith Observatory The beautiful white building with amazing views onto the town is well known as shown in many movies such as Terminator and La La Land. Inside you will find a planetarium, a telescope as well as interesting exhibitions about the universe and the history of astronomy.
Further Infos:
The entrance is generally free- just for certain shows in the planetarium and parking a fee is charged. Since it’s one of the most visited attractions in Los Angeles it gets especially busy around sunrise and sunset. When you are already up there it’s recommended to take a hike around the paths in the park. The small parking lot fills up quickly so try to get there early or take the ‘DASH Observatory public bus’.
Downtown L.A. Downtown L.A. has probably changed the most over the past few years. It used to be an absolute no go but now it’s really up and coming. It gives an interesting contrast to the beautiful beaches and other attractions of the city.
Things to do in Downton L.A.:
- Walking through downtown (at parts you might still feel slightly uncomfortable…) you will find some impressive Art-Deco buildings and old theatre buildings.
- Have a little snack in the Grand Central Market or experience some L.A. craziness of the 1920s at the Clifton’s.
- Plan to be there in the late afternoon so you can enjoy a ‘sundowner’ at one of the hippest rooftop bars such as the one of the Freehand Hotel, the Perch Rooftop Bar or the one atop the ACE hotel.
- Enjoy the amazing sun reflections in the Walt Disney Conerct Hall buildings.
- Another must, when in Downtown is a visit to the ‘Last Bookstore’. It’s huge and offers new as well as used books. Have a seat on the sofas of the huge atrium on the first floor and browse through as many books as you wish. Also check out the tunnel made of books!
- Also in Downtown and great for a night out is LA Live- a new subdistrict with bars and restaurants surrounding the Staples Center arena. Be sure to check out if the Lakers, Clippers or Kings are playing or if there’s a concert to enjoy whilst in the area.
Arts District The Arts District is actually part of Downtown L.A. but really deserves to get it’s own little paragraph. Over the last few years it developed into something extremely special within the art scene. Within old warehouses and industrial buildings you will find ateliers, shops, bars and restaurants. The district is located roughly between the Second and Seventh Street and Alameda Street.
Tips for the Arts District:
- Check out the #angelwingsproject on Google and follow some great street art.
- Some great cafes/restaurants include the Urth Cafe, The Factory Kitchen and the Zinc Cafe and Market.
- Bar-wise you should check out the Resident and the Angel City Brewery.
Getting around in L.A.: Rental cars vs. Public transport or Uber
Los Angeles definitely is a city of cars. There is some sort of public transport like the metro and busses but sadly the connections aren’t great… So the easiest and cheapest way to get around probably is to rent a car even though you will be sitting in the traffic quite a bit. But it is worth for example to visit the beautiful Getty museum which offers a perfect view of the city in the further distant district Brentwood.
