The sun goes down every night in Los Angeles. Some of these spots are five minutes away. Others take a little planning. All of them give you a clear line to the horizon and a reason to stay a while.
Here are my favorite sunset spots in Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory
📍 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
🕛 Get there about 30 to 45 minutes before sunset. In August the sun drops around 8 PM, so aim for 7:15 or 7:30. Parking fills fast on weekends and clear evenings, so go earlier if you want a spot.
🎟️ Free admission. Parking fills fast on weekends, so arrive early or take the DASH shuttle from Vermont/Sunset station for 50 cents.
This is a hilltop terrace on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood. The view stretches from downtown LA to the east out to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. At sunset the entire city turns gold. You’ve got the Hollywood Sign to the northwest and the San Gabriel Mountains behind you.
The grounds and terraces stay open every day, even Mondays when the building is closed. You can use the free telescopes after dark if you stick around. The whole setup is part of Griffith Park, so you can hit the trails if you want to stretch your legs before or after.
Manhattan Beach Pier
📍 Manhattan Beach Boulevard at the ocean, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
🕛 Show up around 7:30 PM in August. The pier faces west so you get the sun dropping straight into the ocean. Weekdays are quieter than weekends if you want fewer people in your shot.
🎟️ Free. Parking on nearby streets can be tight, so either go early or be ready to walk a few blocks.
This is a concrete pier that stretches 928 feet into the ocean. You’re standing directly over the water with nothing between you and the horizon. The sun drops straight into the Pacific and the light bounces off the waves on both sides of the pier. It’s the oldest concrete pier on the West Coast, and the view hasn’t changed.
There’s an aquarium at the end of the pier if you want to kill some time before the light hits. The beach has volleyball nets and a bike path that runs the whole coast. Plenty of spots to sit and watch the water after the sun goes down.
El Matador State Beach
📍 32350 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265
🕛 Get there by 7 PM in August. The parking lot only holds about 20 to 30 cars and it fills fast on weekends. You need time to hike down the steep stairs to the beach before the light hits.
🎟️ Parking is $8. There’s limited free street parking along PCH if you don’t mind walking a bit, but watch the signs.
This is a small cliff-foot beach with dramatic rock formations and sea caves. The cliffs frame the view on both sides and the rocks jut out of the water right in front of you. At sunset the light hits the sea stacks and the water glows orange. It’s one of the most photographed beaches in Malibu for a reason.
You can explore the tide pools and sea caves once you’re down there. The bluff has picnic tables and port-o-potties if you want to hang out before or after. At low tide you can walk to the neighboring beaches, Lechuza and San Juan Leighton.
Palisades Park
📍 Ocean Avenue from Colorado Avenue to San Vicente Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
🕛 Show up around 7:30 PM in August. The park runs for 2.6 kilometers along the bluff so you can find a quiet spot even when it’s busy. Sunsets here are popular, so expect other people doing the same thing.
🎟️ Free. Parking is along Ocean Avenue but it fills up fast during sunset hours and on weekends.
This is a long strip of grass and palm trees perched on a bluff above Santa Monica State Beach. The entire Pacific Ocean spreads out in front of you with nothing blocking the view. You can see the Santa Monica Pier to the south and the coastline stretching toward Malibu. The light turns the water gold and the sailboats catch the last rays.
The park has benches all along the walking path and a rose garden tucked in near the middle. There are beach access points every 50 meters if you want to walk down to the sand after. It’s a good spot to sit and watch the sky shift after the sun drops.
The Getty
📍 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049
🕛 Aim for around 7 PM in August. The museum stays open until 9 PM on Saturdays, which gives you plenty of time to catch the sunset and stick around after. On other days it closes at 6:30 PM, so you’ll miss the full show unless you’re there in winter when the sun sets earlier.
🎟️ Free admission. Parking has a fee, check current rates before you go. Closed Mondays.
This is a hilltop museum complex in the Brentwood hills overlooking the 405. The terraces and gardens face west with sweeping views from downtown LA to the Pacific Ocean. At sunset the white travertine buildings catch the light and the whole city turns amber below you. The gardens give you different angles depending on where you stand.
You can walk through the galleries before or after if you want to make a whole evening of it. The gardens have benches and walking paths that wind between the buildings. The Restaurant at the Getty Center serves dinner on Saturday evenings, so you can eat and watch the sky change.
Pick one spot from this list and go catch a sunset this week. You already live here. You might as well use the view.
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