Pasadena Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum showing a statue or sculpture
Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum featuring a statue or sculpture
Pasadena

With remarkable museums and art galleries, this Californian city is known as one of the cultural centers of the San Gabriel Valley.

Pasadena has many cultural and scientific institutions, including the renowned California Institute of Technology. This city is an important hub of creative and historic life in California. Visit well-known museums, art galleries and city landmarks.

Stop at the Norton Simon Museum, a famous art center featuring European paintings, Asian artworks and sculpture gardens. Explore Old Pasadena, with one of the first modern art museums in the United States. Take an architectural walking tour and admire some of Old Town’s historic buildings.

Old Pasadena, the significant center of Pasadena, has some of the best shopping and entertainment in Southern California, with over 200 one-of-a-kind shops. Dine in award-winning restaurants and charming sidewalk cafés. Shop for antiques, boutique fashions, vintage items and fresh produce.

Admire masterpieces of modern art in the Pasadena Museum of California Art. See ongoing exhibits of expressionist and contemporary art. This museum preserves the artistic and cultural history of California through painting, graphic design, photography and architecture.

In San Marino, the affluent community about 10 minutes’ drive to the southeast from Pasadena, tour the Huntington Library and Gardens, an educational and research institution that features 12 gardens with over 15,000 plant species. Admire European art from the 15th to the 20th century and American art from the 17th to the 20th century. The Huntington Library is one of the largest research libraries in the world, with over 9 million items, including rare books, manuscripts and photographs.

Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Stadium is an outdoor athletic arena built in the 1920s. This site is regarded as one of the most famous arenas in sporting history and has hosted five Super Bowl games. Watch a sporting event or attend one of the Rose Bowl Flea Markets on the second Sunday of each month.

Pasadena is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) from Los Angeles International Airport. Alternatively, fly into Bob Hope Airport about 16 miles (26 kilometers) from Pasadena.

Pasadena is the perfect city to appreciate California’s cultural and artistic history.

Where to stay in Pasadena

Old Pasadena

Old Pasadena

4/5(3 area reviews)

Visitors often come to Old Pasadena for its abundant dining options, but many stay to explore sights like Old Pasadena Historic District and 39 Raymond. Getting around the area on the metro is easy if you take a ride at Del Mar Station.

Old Pasadena
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North Central

While North Central may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Rose Bowl Stadium and Pasadena City Hall.

North Central
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North Arroyo

While visiting North Arroyo, you might make a stop by sights like Rose Bowl Stadium and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

North Arroyo
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South Arroyo

While visiting South Arroyo, you might make a stop by sights like Norton Simon Museum and Colorado Street Bridge.

South Arroyo
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Playhouse Village

If you're spending some time in Playhouse Village, Pasadena Playhouse and Pasadena Museum of California Art are top sights worth seeing.

Playhouse Village
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Lamanda Park

3/5(1 area review)

When in Lamanda Park, you can plan a visit to The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens and Pasadena Playhouse, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Lamanda Park
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown

4 out of 5
361 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA
The price is ₹11,976 per night from 30 Jul to 31 Jul
₹11,976
₹13,916 total
30 Jul - 31 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (3,475 reviews)
"Good"

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

citizenM Los Angeles Downtown
Hilton Los Angeles Airport

Hilton Los Angeles Airport

4 out of 5
5711 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is ₹12,011 per night from 17 Aug to 18 Aug
₹12,011
₹13,962 total
17 Aug - 18 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy 4 restaurants, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the bar and the ...
8/10 Very Good! (4,760 reviews)
"I loved it they were so sweet"

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Hilton Los Angeles Airport
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport

4 out of 5
6225 W Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
The price is ₹13,105 per night from 11 Aug to 12 Aug
₹13,105
₹15,227 total
11 Aug - 12 Aug
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (3,985 reviews)
"Excellent service, very quiet hotel and clean. They have a Starbucks on the 1st floor where I was able to get my coffee and snacks and there is a complimentary shuttle and the driver was so helpful with my luggage. I will rebook for future trips."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham

3 out of 5
219 W 7th St, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour front desk and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (672 reviews)
"The room was really nice, spacious and equipped with what we needed. Unfortunately like most reviews the internal and external noise was a bit much. You could hear parties going on within the hotel and the external noise they cannot control. If you have never been Downtown LA is filled with the homeless ..."

Reviewed on 21 Jul 2025

The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Fenix Hotel Hollywood

Fenix Hotel Hollywood

4 out of 5
7070 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Hollywood Boulevard and Hollywood ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (153 reviews)
"Nothing but praise for this hotel. It’s more of an apartment to yourself which I liked. Rooms were cleaned frequently, the pool and rooftop bar were always accessible. Walking distance for the iconic Hollywood landmarks. The only issue I had was needed a code for everything. Other guests had the ..."

Reviewed on 18 Jul 2025

Fenix Hotel Hollywood
Gilmore One

Gilmore One

4 out of 5
14839 Gilmore St, A, Van Nuys, CA
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly aparthotel in Van Nuys. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an airport shuttle (surcharge) and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Woodley ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (60 reviews)
Great Place Horrible Parking
"It was a pretty good stay and very nice room and place overall was very clean and nice the parking is HORRRIBLEEE THOUGH we could never ever find street parking we had to park two blocks down bc of how bad it was first night we almost couldn’t even find a spot it was so frustrating made us so hesitant ..."

Reviewed on 20 Jul 2025

Gilmore One
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Pasadena

4.5
Top destination
5 - Excellent
6
5 - Excellent 55%
4 - Good
5
4 - Good 45%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Nice, clean place.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Lovely place. Friendly people. Very scenic

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller

has real character

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Everyone so pleasant and area clean and safe to walk highly recommended hotel and area

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Plenty to do and see but you will need a car

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Pasadena is beautiful. Lots to do. A very safe area were you can leave the car and walk about . Plenty of dining and shopping close by. The rose bowl is a short drive.we found it a very friendly area.

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