Pasadena Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

A corridor with arches, a hanging lantern, and a tiled floor.
A bronze statue of a contemplative man seated on a rock.
A grand clock with Roman numerals, set within an ornate arched ceiling with decorative elements.
A bronze statue of a muscular man with a beard, holding a clenched fist.
A covered walkway with a pergola, palm trees, and a building in the background.

With remarkable museums and art galleries, this Californian city is known as one of the cultural centres 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 centre 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 centre 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 kilometres) from Los Angeles International Airport. Alternatively, fly into Bob Hope Airport about 16 miles (26 kilometres) from Pasadena.

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

Where to stay in Pasadena

Find the best Pasadena areas for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Pasadena
Learn more about Pasadena

Old Pasadena

Spend some time visiting places like Old Pasadena Historic District while getting to know Old Pasadena, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Memorial Park Station or Del Mar Station to see more of the area.

South Lake Avenue District

While there might not be top attractions in South Lake Avenue District, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Pasadena Playhouse and Pasadena City Hall.

Playhouse Village

If you're spending some time in Playhouse Village, Pasadena Playhouse and Playhouse District are top sights worth seeing.

South Arroyo

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

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 Kidspace Childrens Museum.

Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena/Old Town

Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena/Old Town

4 out of 5
180 N Fair Oaks Ave Pasadena CA
The price is £146 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
£146
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Pasadena. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,258 reviews)
"Very disappointing experience. The hotel is dirty and smells terrible, especially from the parking to the entrance. The carpets and common areas feel unhygienic, and the elevators are old and poorly maintained. For the price we paid, the quality was unacceptable, and there wasn’t even breakfast included. ..."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Pasadena/Old Town
Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles

Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles

5 out of 5
1401 S Oak Knoll Ave Pasadena CA
The price is £433 per night from 8 Jul to 9 Jul
£433
8 Jul - 9 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Pasadena. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the comfy rooms in their ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,002 reviews)
"great"

Reviewed on 25 Jun 2026

Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles
Pasadena Hotel & Pool

Pasadena Hotel & Pool

4 out of 5
928 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena CA
The price is £130 per night from 13 Jul to 14 Jul
£130
13 Jul - 14 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this luxury hotel in Pasadena. Enjoy a rooftop terrace, breakfast (surcharge) and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the helpful staff ...
9/10 Wonderful! (1,508 reviews)
"The first room they put me in had fleas. Then they moved us to a different room on a different floor and it went a lot better after that."

Reviewed on 27 Jun 2026

Pasadena Hotel & Pool
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.
Historic Modern House Pasadena

Historic Modern House Pasadena

Pasadena CA
Stay at this holiday home in Pasadena. Enjoy laundry facilities and air conditioning. Popular attractions Rose Bowl Stadium and The Huntington Library, Art Museum, ...
Historic Modern House Pasadena
Kasa Sunset Los Angeles

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles

3 out of 5
5825 Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (335 reviews)
"Amazing property, totally recommended"

Reviewed on 26 Jun 2026

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
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 aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
The Haas, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
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.

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