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If I were to say, “Imagine Hollywood, California,” you’d probably imagine streets lined with palm trees; gorgeous restaurants and storefronts filled with celebrities; mansions in the hills; just overall the glitz and glamor you would expect from a movie town. Well, I hate to break it to you, but any Angeleno could tell you Hollywood isn’t like that. Beverly Hills is though.

When people think of the “stereotype” of Hollywood, what they’re actually thinking of is Beverly Hills. It’s one of the most affluent areas in Los Angeles county, and that wealth is reflected in its abundance of public art and greenery. Not to mention its many world-class stores and restaurants. There’s a reason why so many movie stars, musicians, and executives take up residence in Beverly Hills. However, just because the rich and famous live in Beverly Hills, doesn’t mean you have to be rich or famous to take in the sights! There are many activities in Beverly Hills for everyone to enjoy!

Quick Answer Guide: 12 Best Things to Do in Beverly Hills

‌Top Things to Do in Beverly Hills‌

‌Best Things to Do During the Day in Beverly Hills‌

‌Best Things to Do Outdoors in Beverly Hills‌

‌Best Things to Do at Night in Beverly Hills‌

‌Free Things to Do in Beverly Hills‌

Top Things to Do in Beverly Hills

If there's one word that best sums up Beverly Hills, it would be: luxury. Beverly Hills is home to one of the World's most famous shopping districts with some of the finest luxury brands. It has one of the highest concentrations of luxury hotels. It has some of the very best luxury services and high-end restaurants. So if you're a person who enjoys the finer things in live, Beverly Hills is most definitely the place for you.

1. Explore Rodeo Drive

  • ‌Perfect For:‌ Fashion lovers
  • ‌Website:‌ https://www.rodeodrive-bh.com
  • ‌If You Go:‌ Two Rodeo drive has free two-hour valet parking.

Visiting Rodeo Drive is absolute must do in Beverly Hills. It’s by far the city’s most popular tourist attraction. Running right through The Golden Triangle (the Beverly Hills downtown district), Rodeo Drive attracts visitors from all over the world. Why? Because this easily walkable area boasts storefronts for some of the most iconic fashion brands ever. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, Chanel to name a few. And those are just some of the stores you’ll find on the street. There are even more renowned brands inside Two Rodeo Drive, a shopping center designed to look like a European shopping district, right down to the cobblestone walkways! And Hollywood may have the Walk of Fame, but Rodeo Drive has the Walk of Style. Legends from the fashion industry such as Tom Ford, Giorgio Armani, and Donatella Versace have plaques embedded in the sidewalk of Rodeo Drive to forever honor their contributions to fashion.

2. Book a Stay at a 5-Star Hotel

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Alright, maybe fashion isn’t your thing, but you still want a taste of glamor and luxury? Well Beverly Hills has some of the truly finest hotels in the world. It boasts one of the largest concentrations of 5-star hotels in America, second only to New York City. Also, amenities, amenities, amenities! We’re talking fitness centers, business centers, spas, restaurants, pools indoors, pools outdoors, pools on rooftops! From large luxury hotel brands such as Hilton and Waldorf Astoria to smaller boutique hotels, there’s something for everyone’s tastes. Of course, the two most famous hotels are The Beverly Hills Hotel and The Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Both hotels have long and storied histories and are located in the heart of Beverly Hills. They have hosted movie stars, rock stars, and royalty. Checking in to one of those hotels is like being a part of Hollywood history while also getting the royal treatment! And if you care about that sort of thing, the Beverly Wilshire was also used as the backdrop for the movie, ‌Pretty Woman‌. Whatever you choose, you really can’t go wrong to treating yourself to a night (or a week!) in a luxury hotel in Beverly Hills.

3. Rooftop Drinks!

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If you are ever asking yourself what to do in Beverly Hills, the simplest answer is always grab a drink! However, if you really want to make the most of your visit, don’t waste your time on ground-level. Hit up one of the many incredible rooftop bars around town. If you booked a stay at one of Beverly Hills’ luxury hotels, visiting one of these bars may be as difficult as taking the elevator. However, there are plenty of other rooftop bars around town. After a long day of shopping (or window-shopping!) on Rodeo Drive, pop over to the Gucci store one more time. Only this time, you’ll head up to the roof. There you will find Gucci Osteria by three-Michelin-Star Chef Massimo Bottura! Sip a delightful cocktail while watching the sun set on a sprawling view of Beverly Hills. Or if you need a break from all the fashion, head over to The Penthouse at Mastro’s to sit in a comfy chair on their outdoor patio. In either case, you might as well indulge in some of the delicious cuisine while you’re there! If you choose the right rooftop, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous Hollywood sign.

Best Things to Do During the Day in Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is a city best known for its shopping, so, of course, Beverly Hills thrives in the daytime when all its many boutiques, salons, and specialty stores are open and thriving. This is the time of day when people treat themselves to brunch mimosas before setting out a shopping spree. It’s quintessential Beverly Hills. Plus, there’s so many public gardens and parks that are at their most beautiful on a warm, California day. You absolutely can’t miss spending your day exploring (and treating yourself!) in Beverly Hills.

4. Treat Yourself to a Spa Day

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  • ‌Perfect For:‌ Self care
  • ‌Website:‌http://tomokospa.com
  • ‌If You Go:‌ Make sure you stay hydrated before and after getting a massage to avoid muscle cramping

We all know life is hard. That’s why sometimes you have to treat yourself. And if we’re being realistic, chances are you might not be able to afford to treat yourself to $1000+ a night at a fancy hotel (no matter how much we want to!). However, you might have a couple hundred bucks to spare to treat yourself to a luxury spa day. Whether it be a relaxing full body massage or a soothing facial, or a much-needed pedicure, we all deserve to be pampered at one of Beverly Hills’ high-quality spas or salons. Tomoko Japanese Spa was named the best spa in Beverly Hills by Allure Magazine, and given the number of spas, that’s certainly saying something. It might have something to do with the complimentary mochi ice cream they give you after your massage…

5. Go Shopping. It’s a Must!

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  • ‌Perfect For:‌ Retail therapy
  • ‌Website:‌ https://rodeodrive-shop.com/categories.html
  • ‌If You Go:‌ If you’re around on Sunday, make sure you visit the Beverly Hills Farmers Market before 1 p.m. to get the best California-grown seasonal produce!

Shopping is by far one of the best things do in Beverly Hills. We already talked about how Beverly Hills is host to some of the most famous fashion brands, but there’s plenty of shopping to do beyond Rodeo Drive. As a certified cheese lover, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you about the “Mecca for cheese aficionados,” The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. They offer a variety of 500 cheeses, as well as selection of wines and foodstuffs to pair them with. With a single visit to The Cheese Store, you can prepare a truly epic charcuterie board. Can’t stand stinky cheeses? How about chocolate? Step aside See’s Candies. Beverly Hills is home to the world-famous K Chocolatier and Edelweiss Chocolates. Edelweiss Chocolates in particular is special because they still process their chocolates by hand at their Beverly Hills factory. But there’s a lot more to explore than just chocolates and cheeses. There are jewelry stores, perfume stores, furniture stores, stores for watches and glasses and rugs, and of course, apparel.

Best Things to Do Outdoors in Beverly Hills

Everyone seems to forget that there’s more to do outdoors in LA than just go to the beaches in Santa Monica. LA County has some of the best public parks in California, and though Beverly Hills is probably best known for high-end shopping and luxury hotels, it is no exception. The city also has a reputation for phenomenal outdoor spaces. Beverly Hills was actually an Arbor Day–designated “Tree City USA” because all of the gorgeous greenery. There are incredible hiking trails in Franklin Canyon Park for fitness enthusiast. And the Beverly Hills 9/11 Memorial Garden is perfect for those who want to pay their respects. Though you can’t go wrong with any of the many gardens and public parks, there are a couple that stand out.

6. Beverly Gardens Park

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Beverly Hills is home to many gorgeous public parks, but Beverly Gardens is the largest and most historic. Like its name implies, Beverly Gardens Park, features a variety of gardens, including the specialty Rose Garden and Cactus Garden. It is also the grounds for the semiannual Beverly Hills Art Show, which takes place on the 3rd weekend of May and the 3rd weekend of October every year. 250 from around the United States are selected to display their works. But if your trip doesn’t line up with those dates, no sweat! There is plenty of public art on permanent display in Beverly Gardens such as "Endless V" by Juame Plensa or "Electric Fountain, 1931" by Merrel Gage. Let’s say you’re not really into art. Couldn’t be me, but I know modern art is not everyone’s cup of tea. Beverly Gardens also features a two-mile hiking jogging path for the days you need something more intense than a garden stroll. Of course, no visit to Beverly Gardens would be complete without a quick stop at the iconic Beverly Hills Sign and Lily Pond for one of the best photo ops you can get anywhere in the city.

7. Virginia Robinson Gardens

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  • ‌Perfect For:‌ Quiet reflection
  • ‌Website:‌ https://www.robinsongardens.org
  • ‌If You Go:‌ Make sure you book your reservation in advance. No walk-ups are accepted.

If you’re a plant lover, one of the best things to do in Beverly Hills is book a tour of the gardens at the Robinson Estate. The estate holds a special place in history as being the very first luxury estate built in Beverly Hills, all the way back in 1911. It features six unique specialty gardens, including the Italian Terrace Garden, Display Rose Garden, and the King Palm Forest. Each 90-minute tour is led by a docent and must be booked in advance. While You can also look through the events page to see if there are any classes that you’re interested in taking. The gardens have hosted classes on botanical illustration, meditation, and gardening as well as a monthly book club.

Best Things to Do at Night in Beverly Hills

Of course, in terms of nightlife, Beverly Hills is home to your standard bars, eateries, and nightclubs. Well, “standard” is probably not the right word since Beverly Hills has some of the very best bars, eateries, and nightclubs in Los Angeles County, included Michelin Guiderated restaurants. But there is more to do at night in Beverly Hills than eat and drink! There is also a thriving theatre and music scene.

8. The Wallis

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The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a gorgeous 70,000 square foot facility that features multiple performance spaces as wells as the restored historic Beverly Hills Post Office Building. Since its doors opened in 2013, The Wallis has produced more than 400 theater, film, dance, music, cabaret, comedy, and family entertainment programs. There’s almost always something going on at the Wallace from over-the-top musicals in the state-of-the-art 500-seat Bram Goldsmith Theater, to small black box productions in the intimate 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater. There’s also an outdoor plaza space that host various family events and free events throughout the year. They even offer classes for both kids and seniors. And for all you history buffs out there, The Wallis also offers tours of the historic Italianate-style Post Office building during the day.

9. Concerts on Cañon

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Do you like jazz? No? How about Latin? Or oldies? Or folk music? Or reggae? Or rock? These are just a handful of the eclectic musical styles you can experience at a Concert of Cañon, hosted at Beverly Hill’s newest public green space, Beverly Cañon Gardens. Every Thursday night, you can lounge in the grass or at the café tables in this tranquil park while you listen to live music played by talented musicians. With local acts from Los Angeles to international artists, you’ll have the opportunity to experience familiar classics or listen to musical styles you’ve never encountered before. Either way, there’s a good chance you’ll want to get up and dance! And did I mention these concerts are free? There’s only one problem. Concerts on Cañon only runs through the summer. But if you’re planning your trip for the winter, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck You can always check out the Beverly Hills municipal website to see if there are any other free concerts, film screenings, or events happening while you’re in town.

Free Things to Do in Beverly Hills

I won’t lie to you. So far, many of the recommendations for Beverly Hills (except for the parks!), have not exactly been easy on the wallet. Beverly Hills is an expensive place because most of its residents can afford it. After all, we are talking about a city that is home to one of the world’s most famous fashion districts and luxury hotels. Some of us can only afford to buy one fancy cheese at The Cheese Store (and most of the time I’m one of them). But that’s okay! Beverly Hills is not off limits to you. Here are some the best things to do in Beverly Hills that are completely free!

10. Greystone Mansion & Gardens

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Much like Virginia Robinson Gardens, the Greystone Mansion (also called the Doheny Estate) is a Beverly Hills historic landmark featuring a gorgeous historic mansion and gardens. There is a key difference, however. Greystone is totally free and requires no advance reservations! The grounds feature two public areas that are open to explore: the formal gardens and the inner courtyard. While you’re wondering around the beautifully maintained gardens, be on the lookout for shots from movies. The Doheny Estate was used as a filming location for such movies as ‌The Social Network, Spider-Man,‌ and ‌The Bodyguard‌ to name a few. Additionally, the Greystone Demonstration Garden offers seasonal gardening classes for people of all ages. Unfortunately, the interior of the mansion is off limits unless you purchase tickets for a self-guided tour, which are only available the first weekend of each month. Even so, tour tickets are only $8 each. A lot less than a movie ticket! Though I haven’t personally visited Greystone yet, it is at the very top of my list for places to visit in Beverly Hills.

11. Tour the Public Art Installations

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One of my favorite things about Beverly Hills, more than the greenery, more than the luxury retailers, is the art. If things are going my way, you will probably catch me in an art museum during one of my days off. But what makes Beverly Hills so special is that you don’t need to buy tickets to a museum to experience great art. Because there are dozens of free public art installations located all around the city. Many of the sculptures are located in or around Beverly Gardens Park, which is the largest and one of the most beautiful public parks in the city. So, take yourself on a walking tour of all the publicly available art. See if you can spot all three of the sculptures by Banksy’s protégé, Mr. Brainstorm. View the tiled mural, "El Camino Real," for a bit of history. Meander over to Rodeo drive to get a look at Robert Graham’s iconic "Torso. Explore the city while you’re at it. You never know when you might stumble on your new favorite ice cream place, or comics store, or antiques shop! And sure, shopping might not be free. But window shopping is!

12. Hit Up the Local Landmarks

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Beverly Hills is very old, with a history dating way back to California’s Rancho days. So there are plenty of historic landmarks you can see around town. If you happen to be a cinephile, many of these local landmarks are gorgeous mansions that once belonged to famous American movie stars. Hop in a car and take a along some of Los Angeles’ most famous streets such as Sunset Boulevard and Mulholland Drive, while you try to spot some of these unique landmarks. If you’re interested in architecture, you have to check out the O’Neil House, with swirling exterior designs that look straight out of Alice in Wonderland, and “Anderton Court,” the last building that famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright built in the LA area. If that sounds dull to you, I promise you’ll still want to see The Spadena House, AKA The Witch’s House. Once upon a time, the house was used as offices and dressing rooms for a silent film studio, but now this old house looms in Beverly Hills with its pointy, lopsided roof and tiny, shuttered windows. And those are just a few of the cool landmarks you can see around town in Beverly Hills. Many more are waiting for you to discover them!

As you can see, there are a ton of interesting and fun things to do in Beverly Hills. And this list only scratches the surface. I didn’t even get to tell you about the Fire Department tours, or Theatre 40, or LA’s most expensive cheesesteak! So obviously, you need to start planning your trip Beverly Hills so you can experience everything this beautiful city has to offer!