If 'La La Land' stole your heart, then this L.A. getaway is made for you

In the glamorous world of picture-perfect, romantic cities, Los Angeles may not always make the top of the list alongside Paris, San Francisco, and Venice.

That is, until the cameras begin to roll.

Then watch as this vibrant city of sprawling freeways, endless strip malls, dry concrete riverbeds, 88 cities within L.A. County, and a staggering 45.5 million annual visitors last year steps into the spotlight like no other.

Los Angeles has been playing its part on the big screen since Hollywood’s birth – capturing everything from the glitzy glamour of 'Sunset Boulevard' to the gritty action of 'Speed,' the noir mystery of 'Chinatown' to the gritty drama of 'Training Day,' the rebellious youth in 'Rebel Without a Cause' to the offbeat comedy of 'Repo Man,' 'Pulp Fiction' and 'The Player,' 'Singin’ in the Rain' and 'Swingers,' 'Shampoo' and 'Short Cuts,' 'Boogie Nights' and 'Boyz n the Hood,' 'Blade Runner' and 'The Big Lebowski,' and the list goes on…

You get the idea.

Now, it’s 'La La Land’s' time to shine and transform Los Angeles into a star once more.

The big, award-winning musical from director Damien Chazelle (‘Whiplash’) blends real-life L.A. with its traffic jams, tow-away zones, run-down apartments, and unfulfilled dreams. And then, it dives into a cinematic L.A. – a whimsical world where gravity can disappear inside a famous observatory, and a traffic-choked freeway bursts into a dazzling musical number, with no helicopters or arrests involved.

Filmed across more than 40 locations, the movie stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as Mia and Sebastian. Together, they navigate love, life, and the pursuit of dreams in some of the most iconic spots around Greater Los Angeles.

Want to follow their lead and start your own epic love affair with L.A.? Begin at these unforgettable 'La La Land' filming locations.

The studio lot: Warner Brothers Studios

3400 W. Riverside Dr., Burbank, 877-492-8687, wbstudiotour.com

On screen: Mia serves coffee at a studio café, showing Sebastian a prop from 'Casablanca.' Later, the two stroll by Stage 6, where classics like '42nd Street,' 'Cool Hand Luke,' 'Dial M for Murder,' and ‘E.R.’ were filmed.

'La La Land' was shot on location at Warner Brothers Studios and Hollywood Center Studios.

Studio tram tour: Warner Brothers Studios, one of Hollywood's oldest working movie lots, offers 3-hour (or 5-hour deluxe) guided tours that take you behind the scenes of iconic productions like 'Rebel Without a Cause,' the Batman films, and the Central Perk set from 'Friends.'

Small groups of visitors hop onto a studio tram and zip around the 110-acre lot, exploring iconic sets, prop warehouses, costume departments, and sound stages of hit shows when the cameras aren’t rolling.

The steakhouse: The SmokeHouse

4420 W. Lakeside Dr., Burbank, 818-845-3731, smokehouse1946.com

On screen: Jazz enthusiast Sebastian plays Christmas carols reluctantly on the piano while clashing with supper club manager J.K. Simmons – before crossing paths with a captivated Mia.

At the red vinyl booth: Just across from the Warner Brothers lot, Burbank’s iconic steakhouse has been serving Hollywood legends for decades – from Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn to Judy Garland, and even ’60s Western extras dining in full cowboy and Indian costumes, according to SmokeHouse lore.

The signature prime rib has been a staple here since 1946, and the legendary garlic cheese bread remains just as irresistible as ever.

The coastal retreat: Hermosa Beach

On screen: After introducing Mia to authentic jazz at a classic club, Sebastian takes a leisurely walk along the pier and serenades her with 'City of Stars.'

At the beach: Hermosa Beach’s iconic pier stretches 1,000 feet into the Pacific Ocean, offering stunning views from one of South Bay L.A.’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Just steps from the pier, Hermosa’s historic bistro and music venue The Lighthouse Café (30 Pier Ave., 310-376-9833) has been a hotspot for jazz legends since 1949, continuing to host live performances from renowned jazz artists.

The expansive green haven: Griffith Park

On screen: Sebastian and Mia exchange half-hearted comments as they take in city views from a shaded hillside bench (Sebastian: 'Not much to look at, huh?' Mia: 'I’ve seen better.') before performing their iconic dance number 'A Lovely Night' with the sparkling L.A. skyline at sunset.

Later, the duo makes their way back up into the hills to an empty observatory, where they drift into a dreamy planetarium sequence under the stars.

In the park: Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. (almost five times the size of Central Park in New York), is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, the Autry Museum of the American West, the Greek Theatre, numerous golf courses, and miles of hiking and horseback riding trails across its 4,310 acres.

Griffith Park Observatory (2800 East Observatory Road, 213-473-0800) has been the park’s most iconic landmark since 1935 and its most famous film location since 1955’s 'Rebel Without a Cause.'

The recently renovated Art Deco structure features science exhibits, planetarium shows (the film's planetarium scene was shot on a replica set), and breathtaking hilltop views of the sprawling city extending to the ocean on a clear day.

The couple’s enchanting duet 'A Lovely Night' takes place along Mt. Hollywood Drive, just west of the Observatory.

The mural: 'You Are the Star'

Located at the southeast corner of Wilcox Ave. and Hollywood Blvd.

On screen: Mia walks past a vibrant mural depicting Golden Age Hollywood legends seated in a movie theater, their eyes eerily fixed on her as she passes by.

On the wall: Created in 1983 and recently restored by artist Thomas Suriya, 'You Are the Star' stands as one of Hollywood’s most iconic murals, featuring stars like Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and an aisle-dancing Fred & Ginger, among other legendary figures.

The heart-stopper: Colorado Street Bridge

532 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena

On screen: Mia and Sebastian take a romantic walk across the elegant, curvaceous Colorado Street Bridge – a spot so high up that it’s a no-go for anyone with a fear of heights.

On foot: When it was completed in 1913, the Colorado Street Bridge was recognized as the world’s highest concrete bridge, spanning Pasadena’s dizzying Arroyo Seco.

One of the city’s greatest engineering marvels, the 1,500-foot Colorado Street Bridge hosts its most anticipated event in July: the annual Colorado Bridge Street Party, sponsored by Pasadena Heritage.

The eccentric masterpiece: Watts Towers

1727 E. 107th St., Watts, Los Angeles, 213-847-4646, wattstowers.org

On screen: During their summer romance montage, Mia and Sebastian walk away from the sprawling, vibrant art installation marked by its colorful walls and towering spires.

In Watts: Watts Towers, L.A.'s most unique and personal artistic creation, was built by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia, a construction worker who spent 33 years of his life crafting this backyard masterpiece using only hand tools, well into his 70s.

'I wanted to do something big, and I did it,' Rodia would succinctly explain his incredible creation.

Designated as a National Historic Landmark, the seventeen sculptures made from scrap rebar, wire mesh, mortar, and countless mosaic pieces soar as high as ten stories.

Guided tours are available Thursday through Sunday. The site also hosts annual community events such as the Day of the Drum Festival and the Simon Rodia Watts Towers Jazz Festival.

The food hub: Grand Central Market

317 S. Broadway, Downtown, 213-624-2378, grandcentralmarket.com

On screen: Mia and Sebastian enjoy a quick snack at a bustling downtown L.A. market before hopping onto a steep, short cable car ride.

At the counter: Grand Central Market, L.A.’s historic food hub, first opened nearly a century ago, 99 ½ years ago to be exact.

Once known for its lively produce stalls and straightforward taco counters, the recently renovated GCM now attracts a younger crowd of chef-driven food stalls and trend-setting foodies, eager to queue up for gourmet egg sandwiches, fancy falafel, or next-level ramen bowls. Mia and Sebastian grab a bite at Sarita’s Pupuseria.

Just across from the market lies Angels Flight (351 S. Hill St.) – currently closed to the public. This steep funicular railway, which dates back to 1901, relocated from its original downtown site to its current location in Bunker Hill.

The freeway overpass: 110-105 interchange

On screen: A gridlocked freeway ramp erupts into the lively opening number 'Another Day of Sun,' where a jam of drivers transforms into a chorus line of singers, dancers, and car-hood acrobats.

Behind the wheel: The entire sequence was meticulously rehearsed and filmed on an upper express lane interchange between the 110 and 105 freeways – one of the city’s most complex highway junctions.