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Before you go
Your trip to Pasadena.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Pasadena – California Destination Los Angeles and Hollywood
How to get there
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Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR) Burbank · 26 km
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Memorial Park Station (Metro A Line) 1 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
From downtown Los Angeles, the Metro A Line, which departs from Union Station, reaches Old Pasadena at Memorial Park station and continues east. By car, highways 110, 134 and 210 connect Pasadena to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. The nearest airport is Hollywood Burbank (BUR), about 26 km away; Los Angeles International (LAX) is about 47 km away.
How many days
One day covers Old Pasadena, the Norton Simon Museum and the Gamble House, with a visit around the Rose Bowl in the late afternoon. Two days allow time to include the Huntington gardens and collections in San Marino at a relaxed pace, which take half a day or more.
When to go
The climate is Mediterranean: mild winters, with days near 20 °C, and hot, dry summers, with afternoons over 30 °C. Rain falls mainly between November and April. Spring and autumn are good for walking and for the gardens. At New Year’s the city fills up because of the Rose Parade and the Rose Bowl game, and accommodation sells out early.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
It isn’t essential. Old Pasadena, the Norton Simon Museum and the Gamble House are close to each other and to the Metro A Line. A car or taxi helps to get to the Rose Bowl in the Arroyo Seco and to the Huntington in San Marino, and to combine Pasadena with other points in the Los Angeles region.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Pasadena
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Morning
Norton Simon Museum and Gamble House
Start with the guided tour of the Gamble House, by the Greene brothers, then head to the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Orange Grove Boulevard, where the Norton Simon Museum is located; it can be visited in the afternoon.
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Afternoon
Rose Bowl and Arroyo Seco
Go to the Rose Bowl and join the walking circuit that goes around the stadium and the golf course, with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background.
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Evening
Old Pasadena
End the day in Old Pasadena: have dinner and stroll the blocks around Colorado Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue, among late 19th-century façades, interior courtyards and alleys with shops and cafés.
2 days in Pasadena
Day 1
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All day
Museums, Craftsman houses and Old Pasadena
On the first day, take the Norton Simon Museum and the Gamble House more slowly, have lunch in Old Pasadena and, in the afternoon, walk along the Arroyo Seco to the Rose Bowl and the Colorado Street Bridge.
Day 2
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All day
Huntington, in San Marino
Reserve the second day for the Huntington, a few kilometers away: the Japanese, Chinese and desert gardens, the exhibitions and the galleries of European and American art.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What to do in Pasadena?
Walk through Old Pasadena, see the Norton Simon Museum collection, visit the Gamble House, get to know the Rose Bowl stadium and the Arroyo Seco, and, in neighboring San Marino, the Huntington gardens and library.
How to get from Los Angeles to Pasadena?
By metro, on the A Line that departs from Union Station and stops in Old Pasadena at Memorial Park station. By car, the trip from downtown Los Angeles is short via highways 110 or 134 when there is no heavy traffic.
Where is the Rose Parade?
In Pasadena. The parade runs along Colorado Boulevard starting at the intersection with Orange Grove Boulevard, next to the Norton Simon Museum, and passes through Old Pasadena.
Is it worth visiting Pasadena outside New Year’s?
Yes. The museums, historic houses, Old Pasadena and the Huntington gardens remain open year-round, and the city is a quiet base for exploring the Los Angeles region.
How many days to stay in Pasadena?
One day for the center, the museums and the Rose Bowl; two days if you want to include the Huntington at a relaxed pace.