What It Is
A free public observatory and astronomy museum on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park. It opened May 25, 1935 — funded by the estate of Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, a Welsh immigrant who made his fortune in mining and wanted every person in Los Angeles to have access to a telescope. His mandate was that the observatory would always be free.
It has been free for 90 years. 1.5 million people visit annually, making it one of the most visited public observatories on Earth.
You've seen it in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), La La Land (2016), Transformers, The Terminator, Charlie's Angels, and dozens of other films. A statue of James Dean stands near the entrance from the Rebel filming.
What's Inside (All Free)
The Foucault Pendulum
The centerpiece of the main rotunda. A 240-pound brass ball suspended from the ceiling on a 40-foot cable, slowly swinging to demonstrate Earth's rotation. The pendulum knocks over a peg roughly every 11 minutes as Earth rotates beneath it. You could watch this for an hour.
The Hugo Ballin Murals
Eight massive murals in the central rotunda depicting celestial mythology, painted in 1934. Most visitors look at the pendulum and miss these entirely.
The Wilder Hall of the Eye
The history of human observation of the sky, from ancient stargazing to modern telescopes.
The Ahmanson Hall of the Sky
Solar system science, seasons, tides, and the mechanics of how the sky works.
The Cosmic Connection
A 150-foot corridor tracing 13.8 billion years of cosmic evolution. Each foot represents roughly 92 million years. You walk the entire history of the universe in about a minute.
The Tesla Coil
Live demonstrations of 1.5 million volts. Loud, dramatic, kids love it.
The Zeiss Telescope
On the roof, free to look through on clear nights. More people have looked through this telescope than any other telescope in human history.
The Gottlieb Transit Corridor
A solar telescope that projects a live image of the sun onto a viewing screen during the day.
The Samuel Oschin Planetarium ($7)
The one thing that costs money. A 290-seat theater with a Zeiss star projector and laser digital projection system. Live shows (not recordings) rotate through several programs. Tickets are $3 for kids 5–12. Buy tickets when you arrive — they don't sell far in advance online and shows sell out on weekends.
⚠ Planetarium Tip: Shows sell out, especially on weekends. Buy tickets when you arrive — get there when the building opens and buy immediately.
The View
The terrace in front of the Observatory has a panoramic view of Los Angeles that genuinely stops people in their tracks. Downtown skyline to the east, Hollywood Sign to the northwest, the Pacific Ocean on clear days, the San Gabriel Mountains behind you. At sunset the entire city turns gold. At night, the city lights stretch to the horizon in every direction.
The James Dean statue is near the Observatory entrance — an iconic photo spot with the city behind you.
The Berlin Forest — Less than 0.5 miles from the Observatory, a grove of pine trees gifted by LA's sister city Berlin. Almost no tourists. A great Hollywood Sign viewpoint. Look for the George Harrison memorial tree (yes, the Beatle — another gift from a sister city).
Hours
| Day | Hours | |---|---| | Monday | CLOSED (grounds open) | | Tuesday – Friday | 12:00 noon – 10:00 pm | | Saturday – Sunday | 10:00 am – 10:00 pm |
The grounds, terraces, and walkways are open every day including Monday. Griffith Park itself is open 5:00 am to 10:30 pm daily.
Getting There & Parking
Address: 2800 East Observatory Road, Los Angeles, CA 90027
⚠ The Parking Problem
Observatory parking costs $7 for adults, $10 per hour. Enforced weekdays 12 pm – 10 pm, weekends/holidays 10 am – 10 pm. No time limit, but a 2-hour visit costs $20. The lot fills early on weekends and the single-lane road up the hill backs up badly.
✓ The Solution: DASH Shuttle (50 cents)
The DASH Observatory shuttle is the best-kept secret in LA tourism.
- Cost: 50 cents (35 cents with TAP card, 25 cents seniors, free under 6)
- Runs: Daily 10 am–10 pm, every 15–20 minutes
- Route: Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station → Los Feliz Village → Greek Theatre → Mt. Hollywood Drive → Observatory front lawn
Air-conditioned. Wheelchair accessible. Last shuttle departs Observatory at 10 pm.
The Free Parking Hack
When there's no concert at the Greek Theatre, park for free in the Greek Theatre lot. Walk across the street to the DASH stop. Ride up for 50 cents. Total cost: 50 cents vs. $20+ in Observatory parking. Check the Greek Theatre concert schedule before going.
Full Transit Option
Metro Red Line (B) to Vermont/Sunset station → DASH shuttle to Observatory (50 cents) = $1.75 total, zero parking stress.
Driving note: When driving up West Observatory Road, choose the correct lane: RIGHT LANE for parallel road parking; LEFT LANE for the parking lot (you can't access the lot from the right lane).
Best Times to Visit
Weekday afternoon (12–3 pm)
Least crowded. Easy parking. Building just opened.
Sunset (any day)
The signature experience. Watch the sun set over LA from the terrace. Then go inside for the telescope after dark. Budget 3–4 hours. Come early enough to get parking or take the DASH.
Weekend morning (10 am)
Building just opened, crowds build throughout the day. Best window is first hour.
Avoid
Weekend evenings in summer, especially with a Greek Theatre concert happening. Traffic will be apocalyptic.
Hiking from the Observatory
The Observatory parking lot is the starting point for several of Griffith Park's best hikes:
Mt. Hollywood Trail 3.0 miles round trip, highest point in the park, 360-degree views including the Hollywood Sign. Starts near the George Harrison tree behind the parking lot.
Hollywood Sign via Observatory 5.0 miles round trip, strenuous but covers the most ground in Griffith Park.
Nearby
The Greek Theatre — Iconic outdoor concert venue, walking distance
Fern Dell — Shaded nature walk from the park entrance up toward the Observatory
Los Feliz Village — Walkable neighborhood with restaurants, coffee shops, and Skylight Books (one of LA's best indie bookstores). Accessible via DASH shuttle stops along Hillhurst and Vermont.
The Hollywood Sign — Visible from the Observatory terrace, hikeable from the parking lot
Make It a WashedUp Plan
A sunset at Griffith Observatory is one of the best group activities in LA. Take the DASH up together, explore the exhibits, watch the sun go down over the city, look through the telescope. Post a plan on WashedUp and go with people who'll actually appreciate it.
Sunset at the Observatory with people who actually want to go — small groups of 4–6 are perfect for the terrace.
Last verified: February 2025. Parking rates and hours subject to change — check griffithobservatory.org for latest info.
FAQ
Is Griffith Observatory free?
Yes, admission to Griffith Observatory is completely free. Parking on the hill costs a fee, but you can also hike up or take the DASH bus.
What is the best time to go to Griffith Observatory?
The best time is just before sunset, so you can enjoy the views in daylight and stay for the stunning city lights after dark. Weekday evenings tend to be less crowded.
Can you see the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory?
Yes, Griffith Observatory offers one of the best and most iconic views of the Hollywood Sign in all of Los Angeles.
Related Guides → Griffith Park, Hollywood Sign & Observatory: The Complete Hike Guide → The Hollywood Sign: Best Views & History
