Los Santos, commonly known as L.S., is a vibrant city featured in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) and Grand Theft Auto Online. Located in the southern region of the State of San Andreas, Los Santos serves as the county seat of Los Santos County, the most developed and populated county in southern San Andreas.

Description

Los Santos in GTA 5 is a more expansive, diverse, and detailed version of its previous depictions. Known for its association with the film industry through the iconic Vinewood motion pictures, the city attracts filmmakers and actors globally. The city’s first mention in the HD Universe was in Grand Theft Auto IV and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

The sprawling metropolis of Los Santos boasts a variety of cultures, from the prestigious film-making industry in Vinewood to the suburban life in Strawberry. Like Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV, the city’s timeline in GTA 5mirrors the game’s release year (2013). In Grand Theft Auto Online, set in real-time, the city continually evolves with each update, introducing new locations and features.

Influence

Los Santos is inspired by Los Angeles, California, and its metropolitan area. The name “Los Santos” translates to “The Saints,” a playful nod to “The Angels,” which translates to “Los Angeles.”

Geography

Los Santos is divided into 40 districts and neighborhoods, some of which were incorporated communities that merged into the city. Here’s an overview of some notable areas:

Downtown Los Santos

Downtown is the financial hub of Los Santos, featuring the city’s tallest skyscrapers like the Maze Bank Tower, FIB and IAA buildings, and the Union Depository. It encompasses neighborhoods such as Pillbox Hill, Mission Row, Textile City, and Legion Square.

South Los Santos

South Los Santos is an economically depressed area, predominantly African-American, characterized by street gangs and low-income housing. It includes neighborhoods like Strawberry, Rancho, Chamberlain Hills, Banning, and the incorporated city of Davis.

East Los Santos

East Los Santos is a large district with a significant Latino population and strong gang presence, notably the Los Santos Vagos and Marabunta Grande. Despite being primarily industrial, the area has seen gentrification. Key neighborhoods include La Mesa, Cypress Flats, El Burro Heights, and Murrieta Heights.

Rockford Hills

An affluent area known for shopping and residential life, Rockford Hills features the iconic Portola Drive and includes the neighborhood of Burton.

Vinewood

Vinewood is famous for its entertainment industry, theaters, and nightclubs. This large district is divided into Alta, Hawick, Downtown Vinewood, West Vinewood, East Vinewood, and Mirror Park.

Vinewood Hills

Known for its stunning views, the Vinewood Sign, and luxury homes, Vinewood Hills is home to many celebrities.

Richman

Richman is a high-class neighborhood with large luxury mansions and the Los Santos Golf Club, making it an exclusive area.

Morningwood

Morningwood is a quiet, wealthy neighborhood known for its historic theaters.

Little Seoul

Located in Central Los Santos, Little Seoul is a diverse middle-class district, home to Korean and Asian immigrants.

Del Perro

Del Perro is a trendy beachfront community known for its beach and the famous Pleasure Pier.

Vespucci

Vespucci is a beachfront neighborhood known for its canals, beaches, and famous boardwalk. It includes Vespucci Beach, Vespucci Canals, and Puerto Del Sol.

La Puerta

La Puerta, with its roots in the fishing and longshoring industry, is primarily industrial and home to the Maze Bank Arena.

Los Santos International Airport

One of the world’s busiest airports, LSIA is surrounded by warehouses, hotels, and restaurants.

Port of Los Santos

As the major seaport and the busiest port in America, the Port of Los Santos is divided into Elysian Island and Terminal.

Pacific Bluffs

Home to the Kortz Center museum, Pacific Bluffs is a high-class residential district with low population density.

Landmarks and Sightings in Los Santos

Los Santos, featured in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5) and Grand Theft Auto Online, is a city renowned for its diverse and dynamic landmarks. From towering skyscrapers to iconic cultural sites, Los Santos offers a rich tapestry of locations to explore.

Skyscrapers and Corporate Buildings

While Los Santos may not be as famous as Liberty City for its skyline, it hosts many significant companies and government agencies such as the FIB and IAA. Most of the city’s high-rises are located in Downtown LS, with others spread across Little Seoul and Rockford Hills.

• 3 Alta Street Tower (801 Tower)
• 707 Vespucci (800 Wilshire Boulevard)
• Arcadius Business Center (Westin Bonaventure Hotel)
• Badger Building (Capitol Records Building)
• FIB Headquarters (One California Plaza)
• IAA Headquarters (Two California Plaza)
• Little Seoul Tower (Equitable Life Building)
• Lombank West (100 Wilshire Building)
• Lombank Building (Figueroa Tower)
• Maze Bank Tower (US Bank Tower)
• Mile High Club (JW Marriott & Ritz-Carlton hotels) (under construction)
• Penris Building (Wedbush Securities Building)
• Richards Majestic Tower (Constellation Place)
• Schlongberg Sachs Center (Citigroup Center)
• Union Depository Tower (Mellon Bank Center & Gas Company Tower)
• Weazel Plaza (Fox Plaza)
• Wiwang Tower (Variety Building & Aon Center)

Hotels

Los Santos’ northern side is known for its high-quality hotels, including famous chains owned by affluent families like the Von Crastenburgs.

• Banner Hotel & Spa (Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows)
• The Emissary (Millennium Biltmore Hotel)
• The Generic Hotel (Standard Hotel)
• Gentry Manor Hotel (Chateau Marmont Hotel)
• Hookah Palace (Figueroa Hotel)
• Opium Nights (Sheraton Gateway Hotel)
• Pegasus Concierge Hotel (Sunset Tower)
• The Richman Hotel (Beverly Hills Hotel)
• Rockford Dorset Hotel (Beverly Wilshire Hotel)
• Von Crastenburg Hotel (Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel)

Residential Buildings

Los Santos features both luxurious apartments and low-rise housing projects in South Los Santos. The high-end apartment buildings often come with hefty price tags.

• Dream Tower (Wilshire Christian Manor)
• Eclipse Towers (Sierra Towers)
• Kayton Towers (Central Plaza)
• Rancho Projects (Nickerson Gardens)
• Tinsel Towers (Sierra Towers) (shortened version)
• Weazel Plaza (Fox Plaza)

Recreation and Sports

Los Santos is celebrated not just for its film culture but also for its sports. The city is home to several popular sports teams with dedicated fanbases.

Sports Teams:

• Boars Baseball Club (Los Angeles Angels)
• LS Squeezers
• LS Pounders (Los Angeles Rams)
• Los Santos Corkers Baseball Team (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Feud Baseball Team
• Los Santos Kings (Los Angeles Kings)
• LS Benders (LA Galaxy)
• U.C.L.S. Bookworms (UCLA Bruins)
• Los Santos Panic Basketball Team (Los Angeles Lakers)
• San Andreas Magnetics (Los Angeles Chargers)
• LS Jardineros (Los Angeles FC)
• Los Santos Shrimps (Los Angeles Clippers)

Locations:

• Del Perro Plaza (Portofino Plaza)
• Los Santos Golf Club (Los Angeles Country Club)
• Maze Bank Arena (Great Western Forum & Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)
• Pleasure Pier (Pacific Park)
• Puerto Del Sol Yacht Club (Marina City Club)
• Rockford Plaza (Beverly Center)
• Vinewood Bowl (Hollywood Bowl)
• Vinewood Racetrack (Hollywood Park Racetrack)

Art and Culture

Los Santos boasts a rich cultural scene with historic theaters and modern art galleries that have made Vinewood’s film industry famous.

Notable Venues:

• Betsy O’Neal Pavilion (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion)
• Doppler Cinema (Hollywood Pacific Theatre)
• Kortz Center (Getty Center)
• Oriental Theater (TCL Chinese Theatre)
• San Andreas Gallery of Modern Art (SAGMA) (Pacific Design Center)
• Sisyphus Theater (Greek Theatre)
• Ten Cent Theater (Million Dollar Theater)
• Tivoli Cinema (Fox Bruin Theater)
• Valdez Theater (Wiltern Theater)
• Whirligig Theater (El Capitan Theatre)
• Weazel Morningwood (Fox Theater, Westwood Village)

Government

The Los Santos metropolitan area includes several incorporated cities, each with its city hall, while the central government is based in Alta.

• Los Santos City Hall (Los Angeles City Hall)
• Davis City Hall (Compton City Hall)
• Del Perro City Hall (Santa Monica City Hall)
• Rockford Hills City Hall (Beverly Hills City Hall)

Iconic Landmarks

Los Santos is home to numerous tourist attractions, contributing to its glamorous reputation.

• Rancho Towers (Watts Towers)
• Sightings Bar & Restaurant (Theme Building)
• Tequi-la-la (Whisky a Go Go)
• Bishop’s WTF?! (Ripley’s Believe It or Not!)
• Vinewood Boulevard (Hollywood Boulevard)
• Vinewood Sign (Hollywood Sign)

Infrastructure

Air and Seaport: Los Santos hosts one of the busiest airports and seaports in the world, handling heavy traffic and a variety of goods, particularly from China.

• Los Santos International Airport (Los Angeles International Airport)
• Port of Los Santos (Port of Los Angeles)

Highways/Streets: Los Santos is known for its heavy traffic congestion and an extensive system of freeways, interstates, and highways.

• La Puerta Freeway (Harbor Freeway)
• Elysian Fields Freeway (Seaside Freeway)
• Los Santos Freeway (Hollywood Freeway)
• Del Perro Freeway (Santa Monica Freeway)
• Olympic Freeway (Glen Anderson/Century Freeway)
• Palomino Freeway (Long Beach Freeway)
• Senora Freeway (State Route 111)
• Great Ocean Highway (East Pacific Coast Highway)
• Bay City Avenue (Ocean Avenue)
• Carson Avenue (Willowbrook Avenue)
• Dorset Drive (Wilshire Boulevard)
• Eclipse Boulevard (Sunset Strip)
• Elgin Avenue (Hill Street)
• Hawick Avenue (Melrose Avenue)
• Innocence Boulevard (Marengo Street)
• Marlowe Drive (Mulholland Drive)
• North Rockford Drive (Interstate 405)
• Palomino Avenue (Sepulveda Avenue)
• Popular Street (Alameda Street)
• Portola Drive (Rodeo Drive)
• San Andreas Avenue (Wilshire Boulevard)
• South Rockford Drive (Lincoln Boulevard)
• Strawberry Avenue (Crenshaw Boulevard)
• Vespucci Boulevard (Venice Boulevard)
• Vinewood Boulevard (Hollywood Boulevard)
• West Eclipse Boulevard (Sunset Boulevard)

Transportation

Los Santos offers various transportation options, including a major highway system and a rapid transit system named Los Santos Transit. Buses frequently spawn in traffic, and the Los Santos Transport Traffic Control System monitors traffic conditions.

Los Santos International Airport serves as a major gateway, while the rapid transit system and extensive highway network facilitate commuting across the city.

Education

Los Santos is home to several educational institutions, the most prestigious being the University of San Andreas, Los Santos. The city also houses elementary and high schools, including the Los Santos Elementary and Davis High School.

• Davis High School (Compton High School)
• Los Santos Elementary
• University of San Andreas, Los Santos (University of California, Los Angeles)

Healthcare

The city features a variety of hospitals and medical centers, ranging from high-end facilities like Mount Zonah Medical Center to more affordable options such as St. Fiacre Hospital.

• Central Los Santos Medical Center (Los Angeles County General)
• Eclipse Medical Tower (Sunset Medical Tower)
• Mount Zonah Medical Center (Cedars-Sinai Medical Center)
• Pillbox Hill Medical Center (California Hospital Medical Center)
• St. Fiacre Hospital (Vernon City Hall)