Pasadena

Travel Guide

Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum showing a statue or sculpture
Pasadena
Norton Simon Museum showing a statue or sculpture
Pasadena

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

Old Pasadena

Old Pasadena

4/5(3 area reviews)

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.

Old Pasadena
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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 Pasadena City Hall.

North Central
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South Arroyo

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

South Arroyo
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North Arroyo

While visiting North Arroyo, you might make a stop by sights like Rose Bowl Stadium and Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

North Arroyo
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Bungalow Heaven

While Bungalow Heaven may not have many sights to explore, venturing just a little farther will lead you to top things to see and do like Pasadena Playhouse and Pasadena City Hall.

Bungalow Heaven
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Playhouse Village

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

Playhouse Village

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
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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.