Los Angeles Overview

Fast Facts

Main Languages

Los Angeles is home to a huge population of Mexicans, which makes Spanish the second most spoken language after English. The city is also home to a large population of immigrants of Vietnamese, Persian, Indian, Japanese, Chinese and Korean origin. Thus you'll come a across a lot of people making use of these languages, especially in their respective ethnic enclaves like Koreatown, Little India and Japan Town etc.   
 
When to Go

The city’s climate stays moderate throughout the year with warm summers and pleasant winters. Winters is a great time to visit the city; the period witnesses some of the most beautiful and pleasant days LA has to offer. You can truly experience the city’s microclimates on a summer day with warm temperatures in the interiors and much cooler temperatures at the coast, so much so that you might need to dress up warm during nighttime.

From another perspective, spring is probably the best time. The weather is pleasant, the tourist crowds depart and a number of annual events take place during this time.

Local Transport

Getting around in LA is simply put, frustrating! The city’s internal rail system isn’t as developed as one would expect. However, it’s well-serviced by an extensive network of buses you can make use of to get anywhere in the city if you aren’t bound by time.     

Bus

Metro operates the LA bus network. A little difficult to understand, this is the best way to get around the city. Its Rapid Buses runs 24/7, however, the routes often change and their frequency is considerably lower during late hours. Fare: $1.25. Besides these, there are Dash Minibuses that operate on several routes at a charge of 75¢ per boarding.

Train  

The Metro rail service is a great way to get around the city and can be used to reach major tourist destinations like Chinatown, Hollywood, Universal City, North Hollywood and Pasadena. A single-line, one way trip will cost you $1.25.

Car  

Again, if you aren’t too pressed on time or cash, this can be a great option. However, try to stay off the road during peak hours. The traffic, early morning to 9:00 AM and from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM, can get really nasty.

Taxi

It’s easy to get taxis from the airport, bus stations and railway stations: the only places to get them from the roadside. Inside the city, you’ll have to make calls in order get a cab.  

Currency

US Dollars…1 USD is approximately equal to 46.61 INR

Voltage

120 Volts/ 60 Hertz

Time Zone

GMT -8 hours (IST – 13.5 hours)

Phone Code

213, 310/424, 323, 661, 747, 818

Altitude

233 Feet (71 meters)