Besides its appearance in innumerable movies, the skyline of Downtown Los Angeles is, taken on its own, not that remarkable. The skyscrapers’ uninspired buzzcuts are the result of a law, changed only in 2014, dictating flat tops to accommodate helicopter landing pads. Most distinctive among the skyscrapers is the 1,018-foot U.S. Bank Tower, its summit reminiscent of a travel plug. What makes this one of the best skylines in the world is how the surging towers starkly contrast with the vast, mostly low-rise urban sprawl that surrounds it. Topping it off, when viewed from the famous California coastline, is the backdrop of the rugged San Gabriel Mountains. The Griffith Observatory, one of the most unique places to visit in California, is the best spot to get a perspective on the epic skyline of California’s largest city. If you want to see it up close, head to the Standard Hotel’s rooftop bar in the evening to be enfolded within this glittering grove of skyscrapers and high-rises.