From Hollywood to downtown to the sun-baked hills and the sandy beaches, Los Angeles has a little something for everyone. This multifaceted city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States for good reason. With a nearly unconquerable wealth of museums, music venues, historical landmarks, comedy clubs, and pretty much any other institution you can think of, one could spend their entire life in Los Angeles, California and probably still never scratch the surface of what it has to offer.
Of course, if you’re the more chill type, you can always head over to one of the many beaches in Los Angeles and spend the whole day lounging on the sand and drinking frozen cocktails. If you’re traveling with kids, you can head over to one of the world famous Los Angeles theme parks and have the ride of your life. With so much going on in the city of Los Angeles, the city isn’t exactly walkable, so your best bet for getting around to all of the amazing sites in a timely manner is to rent a motorcycle and explore the streets on your own.
Here is everything you need to know about hiring a motorcycle in Los Angeles. Most things here can also be applied if you are renting a motor scooter. This guide includes:
- Whether you can drive in California with a foreign license
- Where to find motorbike rental in Los Angeles
- The cost of motorbike hire in Los Angeles
- Safety issues concerned with driving a motorcycle around Los Angeles
- The best things to do in Los Angeles by motorcycle
Can You Drive in California With a Foreign License?
When it comes to driving in the United States with a foreign license, every state has a different set of laws. In some states, you’re perfectly fine to drive with a foreign license, whereas in other states you’ll need to present an international driving permit to law enforcement if you’re pulled over driving with a foreign license.
Luckily for you if you’re a foreigner reading this, the state of California does recognize foreign driver’s licenses and you do not need to obtain an international driving permit. If you have a valid license from your home country, you can legally drive in California for up to one year. If you’re planning on going to another state that does require an international driving permit, you can apply for one online here.
Where Can You Find Motorcycle Rental in Los Angeles?
If you plan on flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you probably won’t be able to find motorcycle hire right at the airport; however, there are many motorcycle rental shops just a short taxi ride from the airport and there are also services that you can find online that will deliver your motorbike to the airport. Driving around LAX can be difficult, though, so you’re probably better off getting a taxi and going to one of the motorcycle rental shops.
If you want to wait until you’re in the city of Los Angeles to rent your motorbike, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a rental shop anywhere in the city that’s near the coast. However, your best bet would be to go to the area around Venice Beach and Santa Monica. There are also quite a few rental shops around the Toy District.
What Is the Price of Motorcycle Rental in Los Angeles?
If you’re interested in renting a proper motorcycle such as a Harley-Davidson Electra Glide, you can probably find one for around $170 per day, which comes out to around €143 at the current conversion rate. If that’s a little too expensive for you, you can probably find a motor scooter like a Honda PCX 150 for around $75 per day, which is equal to around €64. Unfortunately, that’s about as cheap as you’ll find motorbike rental in the city. Everything in Los Angeles is pretty expensive.
With that being said, if you plan on staying in Los Angeles for an extended period of time, you should ask your rental shop if they offer discounted rates for weekly or monthly rentals. You should also make sure that insurance is included in the state rental rate. Pretty much every rental shop in the United States will include insurance, but it’s always better to double-check.
Is It Safe to Drive a Motorcycle in Los Angeles?
The two major things you need to know about driving in Los Angeles is that it’s absolutely huge and that there’s a lot of traffic. You can travel almost 50 miles and never leave the city of Los Angeles, and if you try to travel from one end to the other through Los Angeles traffic, you’re going to have a bad time. You should also avoid the neighborhoods of Chinatown, Little Tokyo, South Park, and Lincoln Heights, especially at night, as these areas have the highest crime rates in the city.
If you’re driving a motorcycle in the city of Los Angeles, you’re legally allowed to drive between two lanes; however, it’s probably best not to consider how congested the city’s roads can get. You’re better off relaxing and taking in the sights of Los Angeles at a nice, easy pace. Before you start driving in Los Angeles, you should know that this city has a higher rate of motor deaths than most other cities in the United States. But if you stay vigilant and drive defensively, you shouldn’t have any problems.
What Are the Best Things to Do in Los Angeles by Motorcycle?
If you’re renting a motorcycle in Los Angeles, you’ll have the flexibility to go to many of the distant places in the city and really make the most of your time there. Here are a few ideas of things to do in Los Angeles to get you started:
The Getty Center
The Getty Center is located close to the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, which is home to the Fowler Museum and the Hammer Museum. But before you make a stop at either of those two museums, make sure you take a tour around The Getty Center, which consists of the Getty Museum and other programs of the Getty Trust. The museum is home to one of the finest collections of art in the United States. And the best part: it’s totally free.
After you’re done touring the museum, The Getty Center has a whole lot more to offer. You can walk around the grounds and admire the phenomenal architecture. You can take a seat in one of the world-famous gardens and enjoy the California sun. And there are even some stunning views of Los Angeles where you can snap the perfect photo to remember your trip. One could spend hours at The Getty Center and never get bored.
Santa Monica Pier and Beach
One of the things that the city of Los Angeles is known for is its many amazing beaches. However, with so many beaches to choose from, one of the best has got to be Santa Monica. The area offers 3.5 miles of stunning sandy beaches that are highly frequented by tourists but also have a thriving local culture. Rent a beach chair, have a seat, and enjoy the afternoon relaxing with a cold drink.
You also can’t leave the Santa Monica area without doing a little exploration on the pier. There are a ton of restaurants and food stands offering every kind of food you could possibly imagine. There are street performers all over the place. There’s even an amusement park that features some pretty awesome rollercoasters. You certainly wouldn’t regret devoting an entire day of your Los Angeles vacation to Santa Monica.
Griffith Observatory
The Griffith Observatory touts itself as “southern California’s gateway to the cosmos.” Located in Griffith Park, which also has a bunch of incredible walking and biking trails, the observatory gives visitors the opportunity to look through telescopes for unparalleled views of space, walk around exhibits about every part of the universe from the furthest reaches of the cosmos to the smallest building blocks of life, and hear live lectures about the latest in scientific exploration.
While you’re at the Griffith Observatory, you should make sure to visit the Samuel Oschin Planetarium where you can see the entire solar system laid out right before your eyes. You should also check out the Tesla Coil for mind-blowing electrical demonstrations.
Live the Los Angeles Life by Motorcycle
Los Angeles is truly one of the most magnificent cities in the world and there are endless things to do in its many neighborhoods. The one complaint that many people have is that it’s hard to get around the city. So, by renting a motorcycle, you’ll be giving yourself the freedom to take advantage of everything the city has to offer.
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