For some people, going on vacation means getting in touch with Mother Nature: camping, spelunking, cataloging the local flora and fauna. For others, though, there’s no greater wilderness than the concrete jungle. To all you cityphiles, here’s our guide to urban exploring in Los Angeles.

Downtown L.A. makes a perfect home base, so check into the historic Figueroa Hotel, a Moroccan-styled oasis in the shadow of gleaming skyscrapers. It’s a slice of Casablanca up the street from the Staples Center. Guest rooms and suites are appointed with warm orange walls, ornate rugs and tapestries, and sturdy Arabic furniture. The hotel features numerous lounge areas, the most striking being the lush outdoor pool terrace, canopied by bougainvillea and framed by glowing candles and potted plants. Grab a cocktail from the Veranda Bar and take in a view of the L.A. skyline.

After an evening of lounging poolside, you should be well-rested for some urban hiking. The Los Angeles Conservancy offers more than a dozen walking tours focusing on the city’s architectural history and future. If you’re a fan of Victorian houses, sign up for a tour of Angelino Heights, one of L.A.’s first suburbs. A stroll down Carroll Avenue is like a portal to a different era; you may even get to peek inside some of the restored homes. For fans of art deco architecture, there's a tour that highlights Downtown's stellar examples of the style, including the turquoise-and-gold Eastern Columbia building and the castle-like Oviatt. The conservancy doesn’t just cover the city center; there are also trips to San Pedro, Highland Park and USC.

If delving into L.A.’s past makes you feel like the leading man or femme fatale of your own private film noir, perhaps a grittier view of the city’s underbelly is in order. Esotouric’s bus-bound tours draw inspiration from tough-guy writers such as Raymond Chandler and Charles Bukowski, as well as from actual history, like the infamous Black Dahlia murder. Travel the mean streets and try your hand at solving some of the city’s greatest mysteries—real and imagined. The snack stops continue the themes, so you may find yourself hopping out at Scoops in East Hollywood to sample a Chandler-inspired nicotine ice cream. Esotouric also offers a Hollywood-centric rock ’n’ roll history tour for those who like to head-bang and air-guitar. The bus departs from Amoeba, makes the rounds and loops back for an in-store concert.

Night owls can check out the Museum of Neon Art’s Neon Cruise, a double-decker bus adventure that makes an art exhibit of the entire city. The ride departs from MONA's Downtown headquarters and explores this town’s brightest attractions, including glitzy movie marquees, vibrant storefronts, and luminous bars and restaurants. Men about town Eric Evavold and Eric Lynxwiler narrate, and pit stops in Chinatown and at Canter's allow neon lovers to refuel during the voyage. The museum also arranges special tours on occasion, such as a neon tour of Las Vegas.

Finally, for urban explorers on a budget, you can still get your fix of L.A. culture. Download a printable map and a free audio podcast from Downtownlawalks.com, then venture out on your own self-guided walking tour.

Oliver Gettell is copy editor for Metromix Los Angeles.

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