The 12 Best Places To Visit in California (Rating and Reviews)

California is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. With so many amazing places to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go. To help make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in California based on traveler ratings and reviews. So whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway spot or an adventure playground, there’s something for everyone in this metropolis!

The Best Place to Visit in California

Universal Studios Hollywood

• Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (132286)
• Phone: +1 800-864-8377
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

  Saturday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

  Sunday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Top 12 Tourist Attractions in California

Disneyland Park

• Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (111380)
• Phone: +1 714-781-4636
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM

  Saturday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM

  Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM
• Reviews:
  There’s an undeniable magic to Disneyland. I mean, they literally infuse the smell of homemade cookies on Main Street. There’s an atmosphere and vibe that is difficult to replicate anywhere else, especially if you are a fan of Disney’s entertainment.

  Some personalities may not enjoy the long-line waiting, buying tons of merchandise, and the exorbitant prices of tickets (or food inside the park). Price is a huge thing. Is it worth it? That will be up to the individual to decide. I think if you are going with children aged 6-12 it could be incredibly “magical” to watch them experience Disneyland, enjoy the rides, meet some of their favorite characters, etc. If you are going with only other adults, it may be best to make sure that everybody is a fan of Disney – because otherwise it may provide a lackluster experience and it may be better to go to a roller-coaster focused theme park. If you are going with extended family, hope to the universe that whoever is getting fast-passes for you gets it for a ride you like because you likely don’t have much of a say in anything.

  Overall, you are going to get your money’s worth and have an enjoyable time, for sure. This is Disney’s biggest money maker. It brings in more money (the theme parks in general) than basically any other portion of their business, and they own a ton. If you want to go and can afford it, it’s worth experiencing at least once in your life – possibly more if you fall in love with it.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Nate Church (10 months ago)

  We went for one day and tickets cost $164 each. Parking was $30, in which we also purchased ahead of time. Definitely plan ahead. We purchased a week and a half before our trip and although it wasn’t the day we originally planned, everything worked out. My teens first Disneyland visit and they had fun. The only downside was waiting in line for the rides. Definitely get the Genie Service, it’s only $20 per ticket, which I somehow mistaken the price. We arrived by 9am and waited for parking for about 15 minutes. Then walked towards the tram and did the security clearance [bag check, metal detector]. The tram was quick and they had multiple going at a time, back and forth, so the wait was less than 10 minutes. We were on the Disneyland Park side, so we walked and enjoyed the day there [was there for about 9 hours]. We didn’t stay for the parade or fireworks. By the end of the day, the sun was too much. After being there all day, we realized it’s better to go just before the sun sets, less sun exposure, shorter lines. Merchandise and food was definitely pricey. We will be back but for California’s Adventure.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By ANNE YIM (3 months ago)

  Fantastic! Still the great Disneyland that I remember since I was a kid. Great rides and attractions plus the crowd control seems to be a little better (didn’t feel like I had to wait hours for rides). The app was helpful though could definitely be improved. And I do recommend getting genie+ if you wanna get on rides without the wait (definitely worth it.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Ricardo Seah (3 weeks ago)

  What a beautiful place to have fun.
  If you go on a weekday, you will still be able to take a lot of good photos. If you go on weekends there will be more fun activities.
  In terms of buying tickets, you should buy tickets in advance to enjoy special offers or promotions or dresses for children and the elderly.
  Public transportation is also very convenient, you just need to search on Google map or ask anyone to go here very easily. We had genie but still we had to wait for long time and at some point we weren’t able to make reservation. If you on a busy day Genie not make any help. In all great experience

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Mahya Sahara (5 months ago)

  This was an amazing experience that we enjoyed in the rain and cold weather, we got the genie app and lightning lanes which helped out immensely. With the app we were able to see real time waits for ride lines couple days before, and schedule accordingly on the days that we were there. You can also search anything, like restrooms and restaurants. We were able to book walk up appointments for some of the restaurants and also mobile order food and coffee at some locations. This was very convenient while managing our time between meals attractions or shows……..

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Somesh Patel (a year ago)

Santa Monica Pier

• Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (98348)
• Phone: +1 310-458-8900
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Tuesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Wednesday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Thursday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Friday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Saturday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Sunday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Had a great time here! Be ready for the crowds of people that come here and bring your jacket because it can get pretty cold. There are many great spots to take pictures and spend time with family and friends here. We enjoyed the views entering the pier area and leading down to the actual pier. There are a variety of food options and many vendors providing custom gifts. We had some amazing funnel cakes and bought souvenir pictures for our group. This is a great spot for a day or night experience.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Sandy B (7 months ago)

  We went on a Sunday. Beautiful weather and plenty to do. It was just a day trip, so we only spent a couple hours there. I can’t wait to go back so we can take our time and experience more. Great place to spend the day. Very kid friendly, we took our 10 year old. The beach is clean and wasn’t too crowded. It was really nice and worth seeing, even with limited time.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Maria J (3 months ago)

  Lively place, full of entertainment with so many fun activities nearby happening. Amazing place to roam around in the evening time specially. Always remains crowded, mainly due to the pacific park in the pier which is super cool with tons of rides and games to enjoy. Ample parking places available nearby, so parking is not a problem here. Probably one of the most happening night beach in California. Highly recommended to visit while in LA.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Anthony Merchak (10 months ago)

  Santa Monica Pier is fantastic place to visit both for tourists and locals. I’m sure locals don’t come here on a busy weekend evening but our friends who live in Malibu come here quite a bit when its not crowded.
  It really is a fun and historic place… from being the last stop on Iconic Route 66 to the food shops available, street food, street performers and fantastic sunsets, this pier is huge with tons of life and activities.. You can easily spend 4 hours here so plan accordingly. The parking can be tricky as the weekends are very very busy but there are many underground nearby parking lots and if you don’t mind taking a walk there is lots of parking deeper into Santa Monica away from the beach. The pier is just lots of fun and easily top destination when visiting Southern California. Also, the cost of trinkets and souvenirs is not that high since there is a lot of competition. Overall people are very friendly and patient.. everyone is here to enjoy themselves and eventually wait for the beautiful sunset.. so plan to get your spot on the pier to record an amazing California sunset.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Topher Ellis (a month ago)

  This is a neat place to visit. There weren’t many people when we came because it was right after the tsunami warning expired. It was nice to casually tour without too much foot traffic. Parking costs, so be prepared for that. We paid $10 and parked across the street in a garage. It’s a nice place to see if you’re a tourist.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Mary Mitchell (a year ago)

Balboa Park

• Address: San Diego, CA, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (66170)
• Phone: +1 619-239-0512
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: Open 24 hours

  Tuesday: Open 24 hours

  Wednesday: Open 24 hours

  Thursday: Open 24 hours

  Friday: Open 24 hours

  Saturday: Open 24 hours

  Sunday: Open 24 hours
• Reviews:
  Such a lively place with plenty of foods and music. Great architectural buildings all over. Walking alongside fountains, sculptures, beautiful trees with so many people was a great experience. Nearby places are also amazingly beautiful. Cactus park across the road was superb as well. A very nice walk in well paved sidewalks.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Ashutosh Shandilya (10 months ago)

  If you are visiting San Diego this place is a must see. Bring your walking shoes and get ready to walk through the many Museums, theaters, shops, and wonderful views this place has to offer. It was nothing of what I expected, the Balboa park connects several Cathedral style venues on this wonderful walkways that include the San Diego Zoo, the Natural History Museum and several other museums. We didn’t even have time to see everything. There is a tram that takes you to all the parking lots. I went there on a Tuesday and it was very crowded, so weekends must get really packed. I highly recommend this place if you have a day to kill and spend some quality time with the family or significant other. Although I saw many snack vendors, I didn’t see many good restaurants so I would recommend bringing some sandwiches or whatever you can bring to eat. There are many areas to sit under the shade and relax on the grass or a bench. We went inside the natural history Museum and paid the admission but was a little disappointed with it. It probably took us around 20 minutes to see the entire Museum, compared to the natural Museum in L.A., this place was very small and was in need of more exhibits. Other than that, I gave Balboa Park an A+ because it really impressed me.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Isrrael Espin (7 months ago)

  Great park with a lot of attractions. The museums are great and worth getting a season pass or finding a deal online to go to multiple. The gardens are beautiful any time of year and great for a stroll. The architecture was the incredible. Walking through the court yards and walkways will yield a visual gem around every corner. Parking at the zoo and walking over is the way to go. Its free, plentiful, and easy to get in and out even at peak hours.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Amjad Kinhnarath (10 months ago)

  Gorgeous architecture and gardens! Well worth the visit, even if you don’t go inside the museums. There’s such beauty everywhere, food and gift/trinket vendors, a couple restaurants, and talented music performers placed thoughtfully throughout (electric violin, acoustic guitar, flute etc). Start at the information desk to get a map. If you do want to go inside the museums, they have a rotating daily schedule that lists what buildings are open that day, which is usually a handful. Wear good walking shoes and get there early as the afternoon is very busy.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By sotagirl1 (9 months ago)

  Beautiful part of the downtown San Diego area. Lots of great museums to visit. The gardens and grounds are nice just to walk around. Home of the San Diego zoo! Nice place to walk around and spend 1-2 hours. Of course, you could visit the museums and zoo and spend the whole day or more.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Mitch Green (5 months ago)

Disney California Adventure Park

• Address: 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (57364)
• Phone: +1 714-781-4636
• Website: Link
• Opening hours:
  Monday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM

  Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

  Thursday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Friday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Saturday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

  Sunday: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
• Reviews:
  Great experience, more stuff to do for adults in this side and more interaction with the characters. My kids enjoy Disneyland more they are in the 5-6 year old range. Yet they still enjoyed seeing the Marvel characters. Food was cool looking but was not that great, it lack freshness. I will stick with the normal vendors next time. All in all we had a great will definitely visit again since we have the yearly pass. Next time I will take better photos 😂

  ✭✭✭✭ By Ken Gibson (11 months ago)

  My 1st visit to the park🎢 on a family vacation. Everyone had a blast!! 😃Awesome rides,🎡 good food 🍗, helpful & courteous staff. We stayed for the evening water show- absolutely the best, hands down…!! If you are a fan of Disney parks, this is a must see. 👀 Our family had a truly wonderful experience from beginning to end😁😄

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Lanell Williams (5 months ago)

  We enjoy our time here most by going on Soarin’ and the Radiator Springs Racers.

  We have the Magic Key so we get to visit as often as we want. But there are some things we’ve noted;

  We prefer riding the Radiator Springs Racers at sunset or when it’s dark. The ambiance is more enjoyable, at least for us. Also, we usually pay for Lighting Lane but the last time we tried the single rider lane- just to see if it was worth saving a few bucks.

  Of course, your group is separated when you do this but you still get to enjoy the ride. With that said, I still rather pay to sit with my family. But, we did have a conversation with a man who had a big family and he said it’s too expensive for so many people and I have to agree. So, depending on how big your group is and the cost that comes with that- the single rider lane will be much faster than the stand by lane.

  I only mentioned our two favorite rides but there’s plenty more to do here.

  Also, if you have interests in art I urge you to visit “Off the Page”, it’s a gallery where you can buy some really amazing pieces from some really talented artists (my favorite is Brett Owens). Some pieces are $$$ (mostly canvas) but you can always ask if they have the same piece in print or for even less, as a postcard. There’s so much more to discover here… so check it out!

  Enjoy your time here but please visit both parks if possible.

  ✭✭✭✭✭ By Maria (10 months ago)

  Sadly, I found my visit to the Disney Calif. Adventure Park underwhelming.

  I’ve got to say the Incredicoaster was fantastic and ideal for thrill seekers. The Cars-themed area was also really amazing to look at – so, so realistic. All employees we encountered were helpful and enthusiastic and the Disneyland app helps to plan your day, plus there’s maps and wait times on there too.

  Just like at many other theme parks, expect to spend many hours in lines for rides here, many which turn out not to be worth the wait. Even if you purchase Genie+, you can only choose a lightning lane once every couple of hours, and some rides have a separate lightning lane, which is just wrong when you’ve already paid extra. We chose to dine in at a cafe here which actually just turned out to be a Starbucks in disguise and was disappointing, though I probably should’ve looked into it a bit more.

  If you’re a Disney fan, it’s worth a visit. Although maybe you’d prefer Disneyland, which you can walk across to in a few minutes. However, if Disney isn’t all that important to you, Universal Studios was a much better experience in my opinion.

  ✭✭✭ By Roan Knowles (9 months ago)

  For my first time going to park, I had a great experience. The park has several really cool attractions, like the Incredicoaster or Guardians of the Galaxy (that replaced the former Tower of terror). The food was great also. Sadly, with the addition of Genie+ and LL, I feel that the “magic” Disney had is now gone. Instead of enjoying the scenery, the places, the views, the rides, you end up with your face looking at the phone almost all the time to see if you even have a chance to get to an attraction. Not only that, you have to pay an extra 25 dollars per person in your party and also, the lines can get WAY longer than you expect. The LL lines have priority so have this in mind if you are in the regular queue, since for every 10 people the let through from the standby line, they let at least 30/40 people go through from the LL line. This means that standby queues can become a nightmare and really not enjoyable at all. One other thing to consider is that the rides broke down a LOT. There was a time around mid-day where we couldn’t get to ANY attractions since they where all closed for issues or whatever (I’m literally not joking about this) and we had to wait until some opened. Overall, we had a great time since it is still Disney but I think that G+ was not a good addition at all for the experience at the parks.

  ✭✭✭✭ By Santiago Tombesi (a month ago)

Knott’s Berry Farm

• Address: 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.6 (53916)

Yosemite National Park

• Address: California, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (41727)

Alcatraz Island

• Address: San Francisco, CA 94133, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.7 (33621)

LEGOLAND California

• Address: One Legoland Dr, Carlsbad, CA 92008, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.5 (30117)

Joshua Tree National Park

• Address: California, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (17209)

Muir Woods National Monument

• Address: Mill Valley, CA 94941, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (14746)

Sequoia National Park

• Address: California, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (12689)

Redwood National and State Parks

• Address: California, United States
• Map: Click here
• Rating: 4.8 (8054)

California is a world-famous tourist destination, and it’s no wonder why. Here is our list of the top 12 best place to visit in California – based on expert opinions and customer reviews. Did your favorite spot make the cut? Let us know in the comments above!