.webp)
Los Angeles has undergone an enormous transformation in the last century to become the second-most populous city in the United States.
During this rapid expansion, L.A.—now home to Hollywood stars and America's elite—has become an important commercial centre and a hotspot for outdoor recreation. Frankly, we couldn't imagine a better place for a corporate getaway.
Celebrities flock to Los Angeles because its larger-than-life personality is unmatched anywhere else in the world.
And this city doesn't pull any punches regarding team-building activites, either. Here, your employees can spend the day exploring Hollywood, de-stressing at a yoga class or reaching new heights at the climbing gym—the sky is the limit at The City of Angels.
.jpg)
We've put together a list of
team-building activities for company retreats in
Los Angeles
, including options that work well for both small and large teams.
Spanning Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and iconic spots like Griffith Observatory, this Los Angeles retreat agenda combines structured sessions with a creative studio-style experience and relaxed California evenings.
Los Angeles is a strong option for teams that want a mix of city energy, creative industries, and coastal lifestyle. It’s especially appealing for teams looking to combine work sessions with iconic experiences like beach time, rooftop gatherings, and entertainment-focused activities.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is one of the busiest global hubs, with direct flights from Europe, North America, and Asia. Travel time from LAX to areas like Santa Monica or West Hollywood typically ranges from 20 to 45 minutes depending on traffic.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) usually offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds. Temperatures are typically between 65–80°F, while summer can be busier and hotter inland.
Santa Monica is ideal for a beach-focused retreat, West Hollywood offers nightlife and central access, Downtown LA is more business-oriented, and Venice Beach has a more relaxed, creative atmosphere.
Los Angeles stands out for its scale and diversity. Teams can combine beach time, studio tours, hiking in the Hollywood Hills, and high-end dining, all within the same retreat, creating a highly varied experience.
Options include surf lessons in Santa Monica, hiking to the Hollywood Sign, studio tours at Warner Bros. or Universal, beach volleyball tournaments, and food tours across different neighborhoods.
Most teams plan 4 to 5 days due to travel distances and the size of the city. This allows time to balance work sessions with activities without feeling rushed.
Los Angeles is generally on the higher end in terms of costs, particularly for accommodation and transportation. However, the range of options means teams can adjust based on budget and priorities.
Popular options within 1 to 2 hours include Malibu for coastal views and beach activities, Santa Barbara for a relaxed seaside atmosphere and wine tasting, and Laguna Beach for a more compact, walkable coastal experience. For nature-focused teams, the San Gabriel Mountains offer hiking and scenic escapes close to the city.
Los Angeles offers a highly diverse food scene, from casual taco spots to high-end restaurants. Teams can plan group dinners, rooftop events, or curated food tours across neighborhoods like Koreatown or Downtown.
Surf Office was amazing to work with - from the initial introductory call to the final day of our corporate retreat! They are well-organised, transparent, super reliable and the communication throughout the planning and execution phase was prompt and clear. We are looking forward to working with them for future company retreats.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Elke and Álvaro to plan our onsite, and I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the very beginning, they were incredibly friendly, responsive, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us create a great event. Elke was so thoughtful and organized, always making sure every little detail was covered and keeping everything running smoothly. She brought such a positive energy to the process — she was super approachable and made collaboration easy and fun. Throughout the entire planning period, they both went above and beyond to support us. I really appreciated how proactive they were in anticipating our needs, and how enjoyable every interaction was. It truly felt like working with partners who cared as much about the success of our onsite as we did. Thank you, Elke and Álvaro, for being such a joy to work with! I’d happily work with you both again any time.
It's our second year working with Surf Office for our company offsite (30 pax first year, and 42 pax second year), and we're super happy! This year our offsite was a huge success, with direct impact on our employees' satisfaction, company culture, and alignment with our mission. The week they put together for us was perfect on all fronts: venue selection, logistics, activities, last-minute changes - everything was super well executed. Couldn't recommend them more! And... I know whom we're working with next year!
Working with Surf Office was a great experience from start to finish. Communication was smooth, the planning was thoughtful, and the platform made coordination easy. We really appreciated the well-curated suggestions for locations, activities, and restaurants – everything felt carefully considered. Beyond that, the setup created a great team atmosphere, making it easy to connect and enjoy our time together. We would definitely recommend Surf Office to any team looking for a well-organized and inspiring retreat.
Danielle, Giselle and the SurfOffice team were extremely cooperative, understanding and flexible to support my team’s 80-person offsite in Belgrade, Serbia. From being patient with our company’s lengthy vendor due diligence and procurement process, to responding swiftly when an attendee misplaced her passport - everything went really smoothly. Working with them took a huge load off our shoulders and their relationships with hotels/activities/venues also helped us secure good deals. Would definitely recommend their services to any company who’s looking to plan for an enjoyable team offsite.
We recently organized our company offsite with SurfOffice, and we couldn’t be happier with the experience. From the very beginning: The location selection and contract negotiations with Giselle, to the actual planning and execution of the offsite together with Elke, everything was handled exceptionally well. Working with Elke was truly outstanding. She was incredibly proactive, always thinking several steps ahead, and responded extremely quickly to every question or change. She managed to get fast answers from all providers: from transport companies to hotels and local activity partners- and did so with a consistently friendly and professional attitude. Thanks to her dedication, we had little organizational workload on our side, and we always felt fully supported. The offsite turned out to be an amazing experience for our whole team, and we’re certain we couldn’t have organized something like this on our own. SurfOffice played a huge role in making our offsite in Kemer such a success, and we can wholeheartedly recommend them to any company planning an offsite for a larger group.
Sara was fantastic in organising our company trip to Istanbul - she was quick to reply, offered great solutions to issues, and made the trip itself seamless and enjoyable. Already looking forward to the next one!
Expertise and competence in service. Friendly, helpful, and respectful communication. Comfortable, welcoming, and inspiring surroundings.
This was our second year working with Surf to plan our annual company retreat, and once again, they smashed it. We had a beautiful, restorative and fun retreat just outside of Barcelona that the whole team loved. It was so lovely to have the team's support in planning such a complex event, and they did a great job at helping us stay within budget. Great experience overall.
The most popular team building activities are surf lessons, SUP lessons and tapas night but there are plenty more to choose from.
Our closest location
Closest airport
Currency
Join the club of innovative companies which organise
retreats with Surf Office.
