Pasadena Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Pasadena
Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum showing a statue or sculpture
Pasadena City Hall showing interior views
Norton Simon Museum featuring a statue or sculpture

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.

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Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles

Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles

5 out of 5
1401 S Oak Knoll Ave Pasadena CA
The price is £353 per night from 7 Apr to 8 Apr
£353
7 Apr - 8 Apr
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! (1,007 reviews)
Excellent service, very nice room, clean tidy and classic, super comfortable bed

Reviewed on 9 Mar 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 £138 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
£138
1 Apr - 2 Apr
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! (1,502 reviews)
Historic hotel in the heart of Pasadena. It was our second time staying there. We enjoyed it.

Reviewed on 6 Mar 2026

Pasadena Hotel & Pool
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 £132 per night from 22 Mar to 23 Mar
£132
22 Mar - 23 Mar
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a free airport shuttle. Our guests praise the breakfast and ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,549 reviews)
The staff was extremely helpful.

Reviewed on 9 Mar 2026

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.
House Sober Safe Space

House Sober Safe Space

Pasadena CA
Stay at this holiday home in Pasadena. Popular attractions Rose Bowl Stadium and Norton Simon Museum are located nearby.
House Sober Safe Space
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, parking (surcharge) and air conditioning. Popular attractions Hollywood Walk of Fame and Hollywood ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (274 reviews)
View was amazing check in was simple exceeded the expectations and definitely will be staying again

Reviewed on 3 Mar 2026

Kasa Sunset Los Angeles
Fenix Hotel Hollywood

Fenix Hotel Hollywood

4 out of 5
7070 Franklin Ave Los Angeles CA
Stay at this aparthotel in Los Angeles. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Hollywood Boulevard and Hollywood Walk ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (287 reviews)
Very friendly staff, clean room, crisp white bedding, well situated!

Reviewed on 21 Feb 2026

Fenix Hotel Hollywood
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

Things to do

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.

Cities near Pasadena

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