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Pasadena

· Pasadena, CA

Why you should go…

Best known for the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game each New Year's Day, Pasadena sits at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains just north of downtown Los Angeles. The city's historic Arts and Crafts architecture, the Norton Simon Museum, and a walkable downtown of shops and restaurants give visitors reasons to stay beyond the parade. Old Pasadena's restored commercial blocks draw shoppers and diners year-round.

  • #rose parade
  • #rose bowl
  • #museums
  • #architecture
  • #los angeles area

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Pasadena, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Local Gem

    The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

    $25–$50

    A sprawling San Marino estate of rare-book stacks, Gainsborough paintings, and a dozen themed gardens.

    1.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Old Pasadena

    Free

    A 22-block historic downtown district in Pasadena with shopping, dining, and nightlife in restored early-1900s buildings.

    1.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Los Angeles

    Free

    Official Los Angeles tourism site with trip planning, neighborhood guides and a visitor perk pass.

    9.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Quirky Fun

    Citadel Outlets

    Free

    Shop discount fashion outlets inside a landmark building modeled on an ancient Assyrian citadel.

    9.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Hollywood Sign

    Free

    The nine white letters in the Hollywood Hills are the most recognized symbol of the movie industry.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    TCL Chinese Theatre

    Free

    The pagoda-style 1927 movie palace famous for the handprints and footprints in its forecourt.

    13 mi awayMore like this