Overview
Van Nuys is a prominent neighborhood in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, a part of the city of Los Angeles in Southern California. Although there are few tourist attractions here, Van Nuys serves as a civic and commercial center for the Valley.
1 sights · 4 things to do · 10 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Van Nuys
The Japanese Garden
A tranquil and gorgeous Japanese garden with a dry Zen meditation garden, a tea garden, and a wet garden with lakes, waterfalls, and streams which uses reclaimed water from the adjacent water treatment plant.
Van Nuys Golf Course
This small park boasts an 18-hole, par 3 course for beginners as well as a driving range.
Sky Zone Trampoline Park
Iceland Ice Skating Center
This indoor ice skating rink offers bumper cars, "easy skaters" (or, walkers for new skaters), and three party rooms. Also a recognizable landmark for fans of the 2005 film Me and You and Everyone We Know.
Woodley Lakes Golf Course
Woodley Lakes has tournament-like greens with flat, wide, and forgiving holes that are great for beginners.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jan–Dec. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 44°F. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Burbank)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BUR Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Burbank — 5 mi away (major hub). Directions
- LAX Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles — 17 mi away (major hub). Directions
Van Nuys sits north of U.S. Route 101 and straddles Interstate 405, which runs north–south through the middle of Van Nuys. To the immediate south is Sherman Oaks, while to north are North Hills and Panorama City. Like the rest of the Valley, the major streets are laid out in a grid pattern.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 1-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning The Japanese Garden, Woodley Lakes Golf Course, Van Nuys Golf Course
- Lunch Lido Pizza
- Afternoon Sky Zone Trampoline Park, Iceland Ice Skating Center
- Dinner Kyushu Ramen
- Evening Springbok Bar & Grill
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Van Nuys sits north of U.S. Route 101 and straddles Interstate 405, which runs north–south through the middle of Van Nuys. To the immediate south is Sherman Oaks, while to north are North Hills and Panorama City. Like the rest of the Valley, the major streets are laid out in a grid pattern.
By train
- Train operators:
- Routes stopping in Van Nuys:
- Coast Starlight operates daily between Seattle and Los Angeles. Stops include Tacoma, Lacey, Centralia, Kelso, Vancouver, WA, Portland, Salem, Albany, Eugene, Klamath Falls, Dunsmuir, Redding, Chico, Sacramento, Davis, Martinez, San Francisco (Emeryville), Oakland, San Jose, Salinas, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Van Nuys, and Burbank.
- Pacific Surfliner operates daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego via Los Angeles.
- Metrolink provides commuter rail from Los Angeles via the San Fernando Valley on the Ventura line (weekdays only).
By plane
The nearest airport offering commercial service is Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank, due east of Van Nuys. By public transit, you can take the Metrolink or Amtrak directly from the airport, or take a free shuttle to the Metro Rail station in North Hollywood, where you can connect to the Metro Orange Line.
More distant is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), a major airport served by many international airlines; LAX FlyAway offers a direct shuttle service from the LAX terminals to Van Nuys, stopping at the FlyAway Bus Terminal at 7610 Woodley Ave (at the NE corner of Woodley Ave and Saticoy, next to the Van Nuys Airport), with service every 30 minutes for 24 hours a day. A second FlyAway stop is on the south side of Victory Boulevard just east of Woodley Avenue, near the Woodley station on the Metro Orange Line bus route; FlyAway buses serve this stop hourly from 4:45am to 11pm. FlyAway buses cost $9.75 each way; cash not accepted, credit/debit cards only.
Get around
Public transit is offered by the city-wide Metro service, with bus service on every major street in Van Nuys. A prominent Metro service through Van Nuys is the Orange Line, a busway that runs east–west across the Valley from North Hollywood to Chatsworth. In North Hollywood, the Orange Line connects to the Metro Rail system.
See
Do
Eat
Eat Dr. Hogly Wogly's Tyler Texas BBQ
It gets really busy on the weekends. Try the beef ribs, pork ribs, beans and macaroni salad. It also has delicious bread.
Eat Kyushu Ramen
Authentic Japanese food. Open late.
Eat Lido Pizza
Casual Italian.
Eat Los Tres Hermanos
A local Mexican restaurant that mixes in some authentic food from Mexico. Most of the time the restaurant is busy during the week with most of the customers coming from the local businesses.
Eat Lulu's Restaurant
American Traditional and sports bar.
Eat Mercado Buenos Aires
Argentine steakhouse.
Eat Norm's Restaurant
24/7 diner.
Drink
Van Nuys isn't exactly known for its nightlife, but there are a few local spots that offer a laid-back neighborhood atmosphere as well as live music.
Drink Springbok Bar & Grill
South African pub known for BBQ, beer, rugby fans, international beers on tap, and live performances.
Drink Ireland's 32
Irish charm, pub food, and live bands or karaoke.
Sleep
Travelers should be wary of staying at any "motel" or "motor inn" in the area, as many along Sepulveda Boulevard are not suitable for tourists. There are only a few legitimate hotels in Van Nuys:
Nearby
Sherman Oaks
City / town · 13 listings · 2 mi away
South Valley
City / town · 16 listings · 4 mi away
Studio City
City / town · 14 listings · 4 mi away
North Valley
City / town · 20 listings · 4 mi away
North Hollywood
City / town · 10 listings · 4 mi away
Universal City
City / town · 6 mi away
Burbank
City / town · 32 listings · 7 mi away
Beverly Hills
City / town · 32 listings · 8 mi away
My experience
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