Although Los Angeles doesn’t normally experience a ton of rain—in fact, New York and Chicago usually have three to four times as many rainy days as LA—when it does rain, it can be that much more frustrating, especially if it ruins your plans for the day. Thankfully, though, there are at least as many fun indoor activities in Los Angeles to enjoy as there are great outdoor activities.
To help you discover ways to keep yourself occupied on a rainy day, we’ve put together a list of 19 of the best indoor activities in Los Angeles—just keep reading to discover our top picks!
1. Check out some of the best arcades in LA
First on our list of indoor activities in Los Angeles is spending a few hours (or a whole day, let’s be honest) at one of the city’s best arcades. Whether you’re more excited about vintage arcade games and pinball machines or would prefer to focus on high tech VR experiences, you can find exactly what you’re looking for at numerous locations across the city!
2. Browse used books in a former bank vault at The Last Bookstore
The Last Bookstore is the largest new and used book and record store in California, as well as one of the biggest independent bookstores in the world, with more than 250,000 books to browse in their 22,000 square foot space! Even if you don’t end up buying a book, simply visiting this massive store is one of the more uniquely entertaining indoor activities in Los Angeles.
3. Invite all your friends to a spontaneous party at a Los Angeles Peerspace venue
Throwing a party with your best friends and having a blast together can definitely take away some of the sting of having to stay indoors on a rainy day! If you can’t have it in your own home, then consider renting a Los Angeles party venue on Peerspace instead.
Here are a few examples of the kinds of amazing spaces we’re talking about:
- This downtown LA Arts District space has everything you could possibly want from a classic loft style venue: amazing natural light, a full working kitchen, a view of the Los Angeles skyline, tables and chairs available for rental, and so much more. The hosts describe it as a particularly good fit for upscale parties, so if you’re hoping to give your gathering a classy vibe, this is an affordable (at $90 to $140 per hour) yet appealing option. The space also measures 1,600 square feet and has room for as many as 60 guests at a time.
- This intimate black box theater in Hollywood is an ideal choice if you’re planning on hosting a movie screening rather than a more conventional party. Measuring 1100 square feet, the intimate space has 36 seats as well as a projector and full size screen.
- This modern Silver Lake multi-level house will absolutely elevate your event, from the natural light offered by lots of windows and skylight to the beautiful reclaimed wood accents throughout the home’s inside and outside. At about 2,000 square feet, the space can accommodate up to 40 people, and has over 100 glowing reviews from past renters confirming that it’s as amazing a venue as it seems.
Once you’re ready to begin searching Peerspace for yourself and finding the party venue of your dreams, make sure to filter your search results based on your top criteria: price per hour, number of attendees, date and time of the event, etc. This streamlines your search for the ideal venue by ensuring you only see listings that meet your party planning needs and preferences among your search results.
4. See a movie at the historic Egyptian Theatre
The Egyptian Theatre has been around since the silent film era (it was built back in 1922), making it an important part of film history and of the history of Los Angeles. Renovated from 2021 to 2023, it’s now been perfectly preserved to maximize its historic charm as well as its current functionality as a movie theater—showing all kinds of great films you won’t find at chain theaters!
5. Or see a mind-blowing IMAX movie at AMC Universal City Walk
For a more modern movie-going experience, spending a few hours seeing an IMAX movie at this state of the art theater is one of the best indoor activities in Los Angeles, especially for a rainy day!
Got a birthday coming up? Ensure it’s spectacular by scouting ideas courtesy of our Los Angeles birthday ideas guide!
