Landmark
Rose Bowl Stadium
The 1922 icon in the Arroyo Seco — home of the Rose Bowl Game, UCLA football and the monthly flea market. The free 3-mile loop around it is Pasadena's living room.
Things to Do & See
Things to do in Pasadena
Rose gardens and roaring stadiums, Beaux-Arts domes and waterfall trails. Here's what to hit first, what locals do on repeat, and what's worth the drive up the mountain.
The essentials
Four places that define the city
If you only have a day in Pasadena, spend it here.
Gardens
The Huntington
120 acres of Japanese, Chinese and desert gardens plus a rare-book library and Gainsborough's Blue Boy. Book timed tickets — weekends sell out.
Downtown
Old Pasadena
Twenty-two walkable brick blocks of arcades, alleys and patios. Start at Colorado & Fair Oaks and wander the passageways behind the storefronts.
Architecture
Pasadena City Hall
A 1927 Beaux-Arts dome with a courtyard fountain and citrus trees — free to walk through, and the city's best golden-hour photo.
Discover
Hikes, museums and free things to do
Filter by category and distance from Old Pasadena.
8 spots match
Outdoors · Arroyo SecoOpen
Rose Bowl Loop
3-mile flat loop everyone runs at dawn.
★ 4.91.2 mi
Outdoors · AltadenaOpen
Eaton Canyon Falls
Sandy wash walk to a 40-foot waterfall.
★ 4.74.6 mi
Outdoors · Angeles ForestOpen
Mount Wilson Observatory
Historic telescopes and 100-mile views.
★ 4.816 mi
Family · Central ParkOpen
Kidspace Museum
Sprawling hands-on outdoor play spaces.
★ 4.61.0 mi
Museums · Civic CenterOpen
Norton Simon Museum
Degas, Van Gogh and a Rodin sculpture garden.
★ 4.80.8 mi
Museums · El MolinoClosed
Pasadena Museum of History
Fenyes Mansion tours and local archives.
★ 4.51.4 mi
Arts · PlayhouseOpen
Pasadena Playhouse
The State Theatre of California since 1917.
★ 4.70.7 mi
Free · Arroyo SecoOpen
Colorado Street Bridge
1913 Beaux-Arts arches over the arroyo.
★ 4.81.1 mi
Keep exploring
More Pasadena city guides
Pair sights with meals, neighborhoods and events for a full itinerary.
Restaurants
Eat & Drink in Pasadena
Michelin-listed tasting menus, ramen bars, rooftop patios and local breakfast spots.
Areas
Pasadena Neighborhoods
From walkable Old Pasadena to quiet hillside streets and family-friendly suburbs.
Calendar
Pasadena Events
Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Flea Market, ArtNight and year-round farmers markets.