Griffith Observatory

Fantastic place to go. When it gets really busy they have a bus service because parking can get way down the road. It's basically free to go. Cafe and gift shop downstairs. I've been a few time. Awesome views of Hollywood sign and downtown Los Angels. A must see. Great for kids. There is so much to learn there.

The observatory wasn't open yet as we got there early. I do think they should open early rather than in the afternoon. However the views from outside was great to look at. You can see a lot of Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign and the Yosemite mountains. The scientific information is also quite fascinating to learn about.
It's free to park around before 12 in case you want to go only for the views.
There are also restrooms available.

Amazing views! There’s a couple tours that you can pay for and a cafe downstairs. Wonderful learning opportunity for people of all ages.

Griffith Observatory sits on the south face of Mount Hollywood and overlooks the Los Angeles basin. Its location gives visitors impressive views of the surrounding area. But there's more than just a pretty photo-op here. The observatory hosts fascinating exhibitions and features a top-notch planetarium.

Most recent visitors cited the beautiful setting as Griffith Observatory's main draw, though the free entry was certainly a bonus. However, you will have to pay between $3 and $7 to see the planetarium shows. Griffith Observatory is open from noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, with extended hours on weekends. Free but limited parking is available along the winding roads leading up to the property, or visitors can park in the small lot by the observatory for $4 per hour. A gift shop and cafe can be found on-site as well

Besides snapping pictures of breathtaking views and architectures, make sure to spend a couple hour here to explore or review your Big Bang theory and space, moon knowledge for free. They also offer shows on various topics that require you to purchase a ticket, but if you get motion-sickness easily, it’s not recommended.