los angeles tour itinerary

The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary

Sunset at Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles

From the showbiz glamour of Hollywood and the upmarket shops of Rodeo Drive, to the bohemian vibes of Venice Beach, this Los Angeles itinerary will give you a great introduction to this buzzy Californian city.

Welcome to la la land! Los Angeles is one of California’s most popular travel destinations. The vast, sprawling city is home to the world’s movie industry, and a little of that Tinseltown magic can be felt all over the city.

However, there’s much more to Los Angeles than Hollywood – it’s one of the coolest and most vibrant cities in California. You’ll find gorgeous beaches, a great music scene and some of the best museums in the United States.

Palm tree lined roads in LA - a common view if you follow my Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary

There’s no shortage of things to do in Los Angeles, and it’d be impossible to fit everything into one short trip. To help you plan your LA city break, and find the coolest things to do in 2 days in Los Angeles, I’ve popped together this Los Angeles itinerary – happy travelling!

When Is The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles?

Southern California is well known for its sunshine, so it’s a popular place to visit all year round. I’d recommend visiting in spring, when temperatures hover around the low 20s, the days are sunny, and the crowds scarce.

Summer brings warmer weather, but also lots of tourists, so try to avoid if you can. Autumn is usually dry, hot and can be windy. Winter brings the chance of rain, although not much – this is Southern California after all!

Tour Hollywood

If you’re a first time visitor, start your Los Angeles itinerary in Hollywood, LA’s most iconic and stylish neighbourhood. Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where the star-studded sidewalks are a glittering reminder that this is a town filled with movie magic.

Don’t miss the Chinese Theatre, Paramount Studios, the Sunset Strip, and of course, the iconic Hollywood sign – one of the most popular things to see in Los Angeles.

If you start to get a little tired, there are plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants to choose from.

Grab Lunch at Grand Central Market

LA’s iconic food hall, Grand Central Market, regularly tops the list of fun things to do in Los Angeles. After a busy morning of sightseeing in Hollywood, it’s a great place to stop and sample some of the best food in the city.

The beauty of this bustling food market is that you’ll find a little bit of everything inside. Whether you’re into tacos, BBQ, dim sum or Italian meatballs, Grand Central Market is the place for you!

Go Shopping in Beverley Hills

LA is the shopping capital of California, and Beverley Hills is home to some of the swankiest shops you’ll find in the city. Whether you like to window shop, or are prepared for a big splurge, wandering through Rodeo Drive and the boulevards of Beverley Hills is a real treat.

You won’t just find clothes stores either – this is a great place to come for local produce, books, homewares, wine and beauty products.

Go On A Walking Tour Of Los Angeles

If you’re looking for a fun way to explore the city on foot, take a look at Around walking tours in Los Angeles . Pick one of the self-guided walking tours, which has been put together by an LA expert. The movie history one sounds particularly interesting. These tours are great if you want a flexible way to explore a destination on your own time, with no strict schedules or big tour groups!

Ride The Ferris Wheel At Pacific Park

Pacific Park, located on the Santa Monica Pier, is one of LA’s top attractions.

This theme park has everything you need for a fun afternoon, including some adrenaline-fuelled rides and roller coasters.

The park boasts the only solar-powered ferris wheel in the world, lifting passengers 130 feet in the air and offering unbeatable views of the Los Angeles shoreline.

Visit One Of LA’s Museums

LA is home to some fabulous museums, and at least one should feature on any Los Angeles itinerary. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is one of the best, and boasts a large collection of modernist masterpieces.

For something a little unusual, head to the Getty Center, for wonderful impressionist collections and fabulous ocean views.

Alternatively, book-lovers will marvel at the Huntingdon Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens – a wonderful green space with countless treasures to uncover.

Stroll Along Venice Beach Boardwalk

If the Hollywood glitz and glamour isn’t for you, head to Venice Beach for something a little more bohemian. The Venice Beach boardwalk is an ocean front promenade packed with performers, musicians, magicians, skaters, restaurants and shops.

This is the perfect place to come for an antidote to LA city life and to soak up the fabulous ocean views.

Walk along the boardwalk in Venice Beach - a must on any Los Angeles itinerary

Explore Griffith Park

One of the best things about Los Angeles is the easy access from the city to some beautiful natural spots. Griffith Park, spanning more than 4,000 acres of urban wilderness, provides a great contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Take a hike along one of the many walking trails, visit the Griffith Observatory (yep – that’s the place from the movie La La Land ), or visit Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Garden. Whatever you choose, a visit to Griffith Park is a real breath of fresh air on any Los Angeles itinerary.

Incredible views from Griffith Observatory, L.A.

Stay at a Luxurious Hotel in Los Angeles

If you’re visiting Los Angeles for a special occasion, how about living the true movie star life with a stay at one of the top-rated hotels in the city. Here are a few of my favourites…

The Peninsula Beverly Hills

A stone’s throw from the main shopping drag of Rodeo Drive, the Peninsula Beverly Hills offers decadent luxury in the heart of one of Los Angeles’ chicest neighbourhoods.

This stunning hotel, built in a French style, is gorgeous inside and out, especially at night when it’s all lit up.

There’s a fabulous spa, luxurious rooms, and wonderful fine-dining restaurant, The Belvedere. However, the real stand-out feature of this place is the service – you’ll be made to feel like a star, so enjoy it!

Check availability and latest prices at the Peninsula Beverly Hills here

The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Los Angeles

Shutters on the Beach

Santa Monica is one of Los Angeles’ finest beach towns. It’s where you’ll find locals, celebrities and Hollywood stars soaking up a little sun, sand and surf.

Shutters on the Beach is one of the best 5-star hotels in Santa Monica, and it has everything you’ll need for a luxurious beach holiday. With uninterrupted beach views, beautifully decorated interiors, and world-class facilities, this is the place to come for some seaside downtime.

Check availability and latest prices at Shutters on the Beach here

1 Hotel West Hollywood

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly way to indulge, why not try 1 Hotel West Hollywood, a new addition on the Sunset Strip known for its eco-friendly ethos. You won’t find any single-use plastics here and much of the striking décor is made from naturally fallen trees and other sustainable products.

However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be scrimping on luxury. Enjoy the fabulous valley views from the rooftop pool, and make the most of a whole range of wellness facilities, or indulge at one of the excellent restaurants, which serve fresh, local produce.

Check availability and latest prices at 1 Hotel West Hollywood here

Tours in Los Angeles

Warner Bros. Studios Hollywood Tour

For over a century LA has been the heartland of movie making, and you can’t visit without a taste of what it’s like to get in front of the cameras on a real life movie set.

This tour will take you behind the scenes of epic films, where you can ride the Batmobile, try out Harry Potter’s broomstick, and even re-enact your favourite scene from Friends’ in Central Perk.

Check availability and latest prices here

Los Angeles Helicopter Night Flight

If you’re looking for the ultimate addition to your Los Angeles bucket list , how about taking to the skies to view the City of Angels from the air.

This 30 minute night flight will take you over the city to see the illuminations from above. You’ll cruise over the downtown skyline as it glows, spotting familiar landmarks such as the iconic Hollywood sign, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign, Sunset Boulevard and more.

Looking for other cool places to visit in California? Don’t forget to check out my San Francisco itinerary , which is packed full of amazing food recommendations, fun day trips and great views.

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Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

The Perfect 3, 4 or 5 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary

Last Updated on February 13, 2024

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning the perfect Los Angeles itinerary can be quite a difficult task. For such a large and iconic city — the second-largest in the entirety of the USA — LA lacks a lot of traditional tourist sites and can be incredibly difficult to navigate. Despite this, there is so much to do in the city that you can very easily fill 3, 4 or 5 days in Los Angeles and still feel as if you’ve barely scratched the surface.

Known for the film industry and its beautiful beaches, Los Angeles is also a dynamic and multi-cultural city with a lot of character. It can be hard to get to know a city like LA in just a few days, however, you can definitely get a good feel for this city over the course of this itinerary.

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Los Angeles?

When determining how many days to spend in Los Angeles a better question may be to ask yourself how much time you have. LA has an infinite amount of activities and things to do so visitors could easily spend weeks and not get bored.

However, if you’re not the kind of person with unlimited time, planning to spend 3 days in LA is a good minimum if you want to get a good feel for the city and its top neighbourhoods and sites. Seeing Los Angeles in 3 days may feel kind of rushed, but you’ll still be able to cover a lot of ground and experience quite a lot.

If you have 4 days in LA, then this is a great amount of time to explore the city even deeper and spend a bit more time seeing some other neighbourhoods. And if you’re fortunate enough to have 5 days, you can use that final day to go on a day trip!

There are lots of places within easy reach of LA and it’s a great opportunity to explore more of Southern California.

In general, you’re going to want to allow for more than a weekend in Los Angeles and it’s safe to plan for at least 3 days in Los Angeles to really to the city justice.

Getting To & Around Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to LAX – its own international airport that connects the city to innumerable destinations throughout USA and worldwide.

However, that is not the only airport that serves the city and if you’re flying from within the US, there’s a chance that you could arrive into Burbank or Long Beach airport, as well.

LA is even relatively accessible from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana or Ontario Airport in San Bernardino County, however, it isn’t the closest option and you have to be willing to drive about an hour (or more, depending on the traffic) to reach the actual city of Los Angeles. You can also take a pre-booked transfer from the airport.

If you’re not flying, it is possible to arrive into LA via train – there are trains that connect Los Angeles to other cities in California. For instance, the train from San Diego takes about three hours and offers beautiful views of the Southern California coast. Trains arrive into Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. You can view train schedules here.

Los Angeles is also a perfect stop on any California coastal road trip and a good jumping-off point if you’re driving north to San Francisco or south to San Diego .

Getting around LA can be a bit of a headache no matter how you plan to do it. An incredibly car-centric city, planning to rely on public transportation while visiting LA isn’t the best idea. There is a public transport system in the city, however, it isn’t that broad or reliable and can be tricky to navigate.

Los Angeles is very spread out and not super walkable, so if you don’t plan on driving yourself, then your best bet is going to be to rely on ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft to get around the city.

The itinerary below does concentrate on different neighbourhoods each day, however, it is still going to be easiest to get around LA if you have a car. Driving in Los Angeles can seem a bit daunting — especially considering that Angelenos have a reputation for being aggressive drivers — but it is the most convenient and easiest way to get around the city.

Keep in mind that LA also gets terrible traffic and it’s hard to really convey just how gridlocked the city can be until you’ve experienced it yourself.

So even though something looks close on a map, you may spend a lot of time getting to your destination because of the traffic conditions. The nature of visiting Los Angeles is that you will likely be spending a fair amount of time in the car in transit.

If you want to rent a car while in Los Angeles, consider browsing Rentalcars.com in order to find deals across a number of major rental companies.

3, 4 or 5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Whether you have 3, 4 or 5 days to explore LA, this itinerary builds upon each day. This itinerary will take you through some of the most iconic sites and neighbourhoods in the City of Angels.

If you plan on visiting many of the paid attractions listed below, consider purchasing a Los Angeles Go City Pass to save money on entrance fees!

Day 1 – Hollywood

Being our time in LA by exploring Hollywood – the heart of the film industry. You can spend your morning taking in some views before heading down to enjoy the sites on Hollywood Boulevard and, if you’re interested, take a studio tour!

Griffith Park & the Hollywood Sign

There are few attractions in Los Angeles (and really in the entirety of US cities) as iconic as the famed Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee. Originally erected in 1923 to advertise a new housing development, it has become a focal point of the area ever since.

If you want to get some of the best views of the Hollywood sign, it’s a great idea to head to the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park.

From here, you can get a good view of Mount Lee and a panorama of Los Angeles below. And, if you’re looking to get even more active, there are also countless hiking trails within Griffith Park where you can get even better views and end up closer to the sign. You can also take a guided hike .

I recommend getting here early – especially if you plan to hike as it can get pretty hot in LA depending on the season you’re visiting.

If you want to hike to the Hollywood Sign itself instead of simply viewing it from Griffith Observatory, then there are a few trails you can choose from that range in difficulty — the Mount Hollywood Trail, the Brush Canyon Trail and the Cahuenga Peak Trail. There are also guided walking tours that take you to the top.

Make sure to set aside a couple of hours to dedicate to these hikes if that’s what you choose. In general, going out for a hike is one of the best things to do in LA.

Hollywood Boulevard & Walk of Fame

From Griffith Observatory, it’s only about a 10-minute drive to Hollywood Boulevard, home to countless iconic sites such as the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman’s Chinese Theatre).

Hollywood Boulevard is incredibly touristy and is pretty much always packed with visitors, but is an essential stop on any first-timer’s trip to LA.

Make sure to take the time to walk along the Walk of Fame and scope out the stars of your favourite artists and celebrities. You can also take in all of the handprints in front of the Chinese Theatre.

There are plenty of other sites to take in here, as well, and it’s the perfect place for film fans and Hollywood history buffs.

Explore Hollywood or Take a Studio Tour

After hanging out on Hollywood Boulevard and seeing the sights there, you have a couple of options on what to do next.

You could opt to venture a bit further from the Walk of Fame and explore more of Hollywood on your own. Famous Sunset Boulevard is only one block south and you can also even mosy your way to Melrose Avenue.

Another very popular thing to do while in Hollywood is to go on a Studio Tour. If you want to both take in some cinema history and to see what film sets are like, there are a number of different studios in Hollywood that offer tours.

Some of the most famous include Warner Brothers , Paramount and even Universal Studios (the latter may be better to dedicate an entire day and include the theme park).

Day 2 – Venice & Santa Monica

If your first day in Los Angeles was dedicated to all of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, plan to spend your second day taking in two of the city’s most popular beach areas – Venice and Santa Monica.

Venice Canals

Begin your day in the Venice neighbourhood in west Lost Angeles – so-called because the canals were designed to resemble the Italian city of the same name.

Venice was originally conceived as a development for a beach resort and several miles of canals were built in order to drain the marshes that originally inhabited the area.

Over the years, Venice has come to have a reputation of being a bohemian beach town with its own independent spirit, however, in more recent times it has become quite a coveted and expensive area of the city.

Before heading over to the iconic Venice Beach, make sure to take some time wandering around the Venice Canals. It’s a really beautiful area and a unique spot in the urban sprawl of Los Angeles.

Venice Beach

Mosy away from the canals and you will find the true draw of this neighbourhood – Venice Beach. This gorgeous stretch of soft, golden sand is one of the city’s top beaches but it is also well known for its iconic boardwalk.

Stretching for miles along the beach, the Venice Boardwalk is an expansive promenade that makes for some of the best people-watching you can find in the great Los Angeles area.

There is a lot to take in and explore in this area such as taking a food tour , however, you could also use this time to simply lounge on a beautiful Southern California beach.

Santa Monica

After enjoying Venice, it’s time to drive just a bit north to LA’s other incredibly famous beach neighbourhood – Santa Monica.

This upmarket area is well-known for the iconic Santa Monica Pier, a classic beach boardwalk amusement park that is filled with old-school carnival games, rides and a classic wooden roller coaster.

For those who don’t want to play at the pier, you can also opt to lounge on lovely Santa Monica Beach or take a surfing lesson . This is a beautiful soft sand beach that is perfect for sunbathing.

Away from the Pacific, the neighbourhood of Santa Monica itself is a great place to explore with plenty of great cafes, restaurants, bars and shops to browse.

Day 3 – Downtown LA

By this point, you’ve spent time in both Hollywood and exploring some of LA’s best beaches.

Now, on your third day, it’s time to head downtown and explore the urban centre of Los Angeles. If you love food, then you’re sure to love this day in LA. You can take a walking tour or a food tour of this area to learn more from a guide.

Arts District

Located on the edge of Downtown Los Angeles, the Arts District is a neighbourhood well worth exploring if you want to take in a bit of culture while visiting this Southern California city.

In a metropolis often derided in the US for lacking in culture, this is a neighbourhood that very much celebrates the incredible artistic nature of this city.

Whether you’re interested in taking in some incredible street art or murals or want to visit some museums, spend a few hours exploring the Arts District of LA. Not surprisingly, there are a number of galleries where you can explore some incredible art done by local artists, but there is more here than just that.

The Arts District is also home to some incredible restaurants, coffee shops and lots of craft breweries for those who fancy an artisan microbrew while on the trip to LA.

Little Tokyo

Located right on the cusp of the Arts District lies Little Tokyo, the historic heart of the Japanese-American community in LA. Home to what is actually the largest Japanese-American community in the entirety of the USA, this is a fascinating, historic neighbourhood to explore in Los Angeles and really outlines just how multicultural this incredible city is.

Those who want to learn more about this area and about Japanese Americans in general, then consider visiting the Japanese American National Museum.

And, if you’re looking for a more food-centric experience, then you’re certain to find some incredible food in this neighbourhood, as well. You may want to save some of your appetite for our next stop, however.

Grand Central Market

No time spent in Downtown Los Angeles is complete without visiting the Grand Central Market. First opened in 1917, this market hall is a foodie’s paradise.

Home to both fresh produce vendors and a range of different food stalls, you can get everything here from ramen to Berlin-style currywurst to barbecue to tostadas to wood-fired pizza and so much more.

Though this entire day really celebrates just how vibrant and multicultural LA is, you can really see it very tangibly for yourself just by browsing all of the stalls in the market.

End your day at the other side of Downtown LA in the Koreatown neighbourhood. Known locally as simply “K-Town,” this is the heart of the Korean-American population in the city and is actually one of the most densely populated neighbourhoods in the entirety of the USA.

K-Town has it all and if you’re a fan of Korean cuisine, you’re sure to find something great to eat here. It can also be a great idea to learn a little bit about the history of this ethnically diverse neighbourhood, especially considering it was the epicentre of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and it very much shaped the neighbourhood today.

There is a lot to offer in this neighbourhood and it is the perfect place to end your third day in LA.

Day 4 – Beverly Hills, Westwood & the Getty Center

If your visions of Los Angeles have to do with high-end homes and designer shopping, then you’re sure to love day four of this itinerary. And, if you’re looking to learn a bit, this day also includes a visit at one of the area’s top museums.

Rodeo Drive

Begin your day at Beverly Hills’ most iconic shopping street – Rodeo Drive. Whether you’re simply looking at doing some window shopping or are keen to splash the cash at the area’s countless designer shops, there is no doubt that this is a perfect place for an opulent LA experience.

You’ll notice a distinct change in atmosphere here compared to the other neighbourhoods you’ve explored and even if you’re not interested in the lives of the rich and famous of Beverly Hills, it can be worth having a stroll down Rodeo Drive just to experience the sheer diversity of LA neighbourhoods.

Explore Westwood

Not far from Beverly Hills and Bel Air lies the hip and cool Westwood neighbourhood. This is a young and vibrant area that is a fun place to explore. It has an especially youthful vibe as it is home to the UCLA campus.

There are lots of great cafes, restaurants, bars and shops to explore in this neighbourhood and, again, it can give you a bit of a different perspective on the city. And if you want to really see what this area is like, consider hopping in the car and driving through the winding streets of nearby Bel Air, where you can see some of the most opulent, giant houses in the city.

After spending the morning around Beverly Hills, it’s only a short hop over to the Getty — one of the top museums in Los Angeles. If you’re a fine arts fan, you will delight in visiting the countless exhibits in this beautiful museum.

The museum itself is worth visiting just for the incredible architecture and the great views you can get from there. The Getty is quite sizeable, so plan to spend a fair amount of time here really taking in all of the different exhibits of American and European art.

Day 5 – Day Trip or Universal Studios

If you’re spending 5 days in LA, then you can spend your final day on a day trip or, if you’re interested, enjoying all of the highlights at Universal Studios. There are countless options open for you depending on what exactly you’re after.

Universal Studios

If you want to head to a theme park but don’t want to leave LA proper, then make sure to head to Universal Studios. Here, you not only can go on a classic studio tour but you can also enjoy the sprawling theme park and have a blast on all of the rides and areas based on your favourite movies!

You need a whole day (at least) to devote to Universal Studios, so this is an excellent way to spend your final day exploring LA.

Santa Barbara

If you’re up for a bit of a drive, then consider heading to Santa Barbara , which is located about 2 hours from the centre of Los Angeles.

This lovely town is a perfect day trip destination an it has a lot to offer visitors. You can wander along the beach, explore the Funk Zone (the cool, downtown area) or enjoy the Urban Wine Trails.

Santa Barbara is the limit of where Southern California can merge into the Central Coast and it has a much more laid-back and relaxed culture when compared to Los Angeles. It is an excellent day trip option for LA.

If you want to head out to the beach once more, then you really cannot go wrong with driving out to Malibu. Located just north of Los Angeles proper, Malibu is home to several incredible beaches that are not quite as built up and a bit wilder than the beaches you will find within LA itself.

Malibu is also home to the Getty Villa, an offshoot of the Getty Museum in Beverly Hills. Here, you can view a wonderful collection of antiquities that were in the possession of oil tycoon J Paul Getty.

Orange County

If you’re keen to head south, then consider visiting Orange County. Now famous for the popular 2000s-era TV show The OC , Orange County is home to countless lovely beach towns and interesting places to visit. Huntington Beach is the closest to Los Angeles and is a perfect place to observe surfers catching the waves (or to try your hand at it yourself).

Other options in Orange County include swish Newport Beach – which is a great option for kids as you could also visit the classic theme park on Balboa Island.

And just a bit further south and about 1.5 hours from LA itself is Laguna Beach. This is a relaxed beach town with a ton of beautiful beaches to explore and wonderful shops and restaurants.

Catalina Island

Finally, if you’re looking for a unique day trip from LA, then consider heading to Catalina Island . Located off the coast of Southern California, Catalina is a lovely destination and it’s accessible via high-speed ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro, just south of the LA city centre.

Once in Catalina, you can spend your day wandering around the charming city of Avalon, touring the iconic Casino, hiking in the hills or, if you’d like simply lounging on the beach. Catalina is also a haven for those who like snorkelling, SCUBA diving or other watersports.

The historic Avalon Casino on Santa Catalina Island

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

Hollywood Inn Suites Hotel – If you’re wondering where to stay in LA and are travelling on a mid-range budget then this modern hotel is a great choice. They have a number of rooms to choose from that are suitable for couples or families and there is a swimming pool for guests to enjoy.

Hotel Per La – This cool hotel located in downtown LA is the perfect place to stay if you’re after a bit of luxury when visiting the City of Angels. They have a central location and guests can enjoy a rooftop swimming pool with fantastic views of the surrounding area.

Freehand Los Angeles – If you’re travelling solo or prefer to save some money, then this hostel is a fantastic option Located in downtown Los Angeles, they have a range of both private rooms and dorms with facilities that you would typically only find in hotels such as a rooftop pool and fitness centre.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Los Angeles hotels!

Planning the perfect trip to Los Angeles is no easy task as this large and spread-out city has a lot to offer. Whether you’re looking to spot Hollywood stars, lounge on the beach or experience incredible world cuisine, you’re sure to find something to love about California’s largest city!

Are you planning to visit Los Angeles? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

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About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

Hey Maggie I appreciate all the information you shared on here! My husband and I are headed to California from Canada here on Saturday and had no plans other then a rental car, hope to do some hiking, trying all the food and taking in all that California has to offer. We are starting in Los Angeles and were thinking of making our way up to Yosemite and Maybe San Francisco. We have 10 days so we will definitely be spending a good portion in Los Angeles because of the information you’ve given us here. If you have any other suggestions for our adventure around the state we are all ears!

I’m so happy you found this helpful! We have a lot of other great articles on California that should hopefully help you plan out your trip: https://www.theworldwasherefirst.com/california-travel-guide/

The Perfect 3 Days In Los Angeles Itinerary (2024 Guide)

Last Updated: April 29, 2024

Trying to find great activities and attractions in the City of Angels? Our Los Angeles itinerary is all you need to plan the perfect trip!

The world’s entertainment capital, Los Angeles, is a world-famous city that offers a wide range of activities and attractions in Southern California .

Empowered by its robust variety of gorgeous beaches, movie industries, Hollywood stars, outdoor activities, historic landmarks, and famous theme parks, Los Angeles has loads of fun activities waiting to be experienced.

There’s a reason this city is known across the world and why visiting Los Angeles is a top bucket list option for many.

Its famous tourist spots like Venice Beach, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood are joined by its many attractions like museums, theme parks, and historical landmarks. Really, who wouldn’t be tempted to visit?

Our article features the top activities to participate in, encompassing outdoor and indoor activities. Just a weekend (or 3 days during the week to beat the crowds) is a great amount of time for an intro to LA.

You can explore the beaches and see the highlights like Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach boardwalk.

You can also explore downtown LA, hike Runyon Canyon, visit Griffith Observatory, see the Hollywood sign, and more.

Los Angeles is also a convenient location for road-tripping or just traveling around California. A road trip to San Diego is 2 hours away along the Pacific Coast Highway . San Francisco is a 1.5-hour flight away.

Combine this 3 days in Los Angeles itinerary with the other California highlights and you’re sure to have an unforgettable trip.

Read Next: Looking for more activities to add to your LA itinerary? Check out all of these great things to do in Los Angeles !

Table of Contents

Day 1 Morning – Sightseeing in Downtown LA

Day 1 afternoon – explore santa monica pier & venice on an electric bike tour, day 1 evening – hike at runyon canyon park , day 2 morning – grab fresh produce at the downtown santa monica farmer’s market, day 2 afternoon – peer through a telescope at the griffith observatory, day 2 evening – grab tickets to the tcl chinese theatre, day 3 morning – browse the grand central market, day 3 afternoon – explore the los angeles zoo & botanical gardens, day 3 evening – paddle on echo park lake and/or see a show at walt disney concert hall, when is the best time to visit los angeles, getting around los angeles, best hostel in los angeles, best mid-range hotel in los angeles, best luxury hotel in los angeles, how to spend 3 days in los angeles itinerary.

The perfect destination for a range of outdoor and indoor activities, we’ve created the ideal three-day Los Angeles itinerary for a productive and stimulating time exploring the city.

Prepare yourself for an array of activities, from hiking the famous trails at Runyon Canyon Park to biking down the historic Santa Monica Pier. Let’s get started!

Day 1 in Los Angeles

Let’s start your three-day weekend in Los Angeles by exploring the grand outdoors of the magnetic city! Start with some good old-fashioned sightseeing in the heart of LA.

Then, spend the afternoon exploring Santa Monica & Venice on an Electric Bike Tour. And end the day with a relaxing hike at Runyon Canyon Park, a popular spot to see your favorite celebrities! when you visit LA.

The first day of your Los Angeles itinerary should start with the basics. Put on your walking shoes, grab your camera, and head to downtown LA.

Your first stop should be the famous Hollywood Boulevard. This long street runs east to west through downtown LA and is the heart and soul of the tourism and entertainment industries.

Stop by the Hollywood Walk of Fame and see all the famous stars on the pavement. It can be a bit crowded and touristy around the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but it’s an iconic spot in the city nonetheless.

Hollywood Boulevard is home to some major Los Angeles museums as well. Stop in the Hollywood Museum, Wax Museum, Guinness World Records Museum, Museum of Selfies, Medieval Torture Museum, or whatever else sparks your interest.

Consider walking down Sunset Boulevard, aka the Sunset Strip, though this spot is at its prime when the sun goes down. If you’re itching to experience nightlife during your LA itinerary, Sunset Strip is the place to be.

If you’d like to continue exploring the famous spots in downtown LA, hop on the local bus and continue down Hollywood Boulevard toward Beverly Hills. Walk down the classic, palm-tree-studded streets and admire all the mansions.

Read Next: Be sure to check out the best day trips from Los Angeles !

Next, head to the coast on an Electric Bike Guided Tour of Santa Monica and Venice.

With more than 7 million visitors a year, Santa Monica is a famous beach city that boasts some of the best sunsets on the West Coast.

Honing 3.5 miles of coastline and the pedestrian-friendly Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica boasts a laid-back atmosphere combined with high-class refinement.

The famous Santa Monia Pier is the area’s most well-known spot. With its own amusement park and Ferris wheel, as well as amazing viewpoints and fishing spots, the Santa Monica Pier is a must-see.

On the other hand, Venice Beach is known for its canals, beach, and the Venice Beach boardwalk, a two-and-a-half-mile pedestrian promenade often speckled with street performers and vendors. It’s also known for Muscle Beach outdoor gym and its skate park.

Exploring these magnetic Los Angeles locations by electric bike is a fun and enjoyable way to cover some ground without getting too tired. The electric bike removes the physical effort, allowing riders to bask in sunshine and refreshing views of Los Angeles’ top sunny tourist attractions.

During the tour, riders will ride down Santa Monica’s award-winning beach to the Marion Davies Guest House, under the Santa Monica Pier, and through Venice Beach, past the free-spirited Venice boardwalk to the Venice Canals.

Hours : 10 AM, 2 PM
Admission : $79/person
Address : 214 Pier Avenue

After a late lunch, get away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood and step on over to Runyon Canyon Park.

A relaxing outdoor activity to settle down after a glorious day of exploring Los Angeles, Runyon Canyon Park is a relatively short hike.

This 160-acre park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains is a popular hub spot for celebrities, locals, and tourists, whether they be looking for a challenging run, to take their energetic dogs for some much-needed exercise, or to bask in the outdoors on a peaceful hike.

We highly recommend taking a hike to embrace the outdoors of Los Angeles. The spectacular city views are breathtaking, and you can see all the way to the Hollywood Sign up in Hollywood Hills.

Depending on your patience level, we recommend not going to Runyon Canyon Park on the weekends. The trails are a popular spot and can get a bit overcrowded on the weekends, and parking can be tight.

There are three entrances to Runyon Canyon Park. The park’s southern end entrances are Fuller Avenue and Vista Street. The third entrance is on the northern end, located on Mulholland Drive.

Only street parking is available in the local neighborhood to hike at Runyon Canyon Park. Always pay attention to parking restriction signs, so you don’t come back to a hefty parking ticket. We recommend getting an Uber or Lyft to drop you off to avoid dealing with the issue of finding parking.

Try visiting on a weekday, and you’ll be able to experience the glory of this popular hiking trail!

Opening Hours : 6 AM-6 PM Daily
Admission : Free
Address : 2000 N Fuller Ave

Read next: The Ultimate 3 Days in San Francisco Itinerary

Day 2 in Los Angeles

To continue this optimal three-day Los Angeles itinerary for visiting LA, start day two by feasting your senses and taste buds on freshly sourced produce and products at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.

Next, explore the galaxy at the Griffith Observatory and its stunning city panoramic views. Finally, end the day at the movie palace of TCL Chinese Theatre, surrounded by signature marks of famous celebrities like Marilyn Monroe.

A feast for the senses, start your morning at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. Grab a fresh-baked muffin and juice for a quick delicious breakfast as you explore the vibrant market full of produce, vendors, and lively people.

As California boasts rich agricultural land, we highly recommend investing in some of the fresh local produce at this famous farmer’s market. Feel like a local as you take part in the Southern California lifestyle!

Many A-list celebrities and big-time chefs, like Niki Nakayama and Michael Cimarusti, investigate the day’s fresh produce at this hit Santa Monica market.

However, you’re likelier to see chefs right as the farmer’s market opens at 8 AM when they can grab the freshest catch of the day. At this hit farmer’s market, unique items to splurge on include emu eggs, sea urchin, black truffles, and bergamot.

So join the club and pick out a fresh batch of produce, flowers, and other insanely delicious goods at Santa Monica’s Farmers Market!

Opening Hours : Wednesday & Saturday, 8 AM-1 PM
Address : Arizona Avenue (between 4th & 2nd)

READ NEXT: Check out our post on all the other great things to do in Santa Monica !

Zone in on the stars and planets during this guided tour of the Griffith Observatory!

A magical place to visit, the Griffith Observatory allows visitors to witness unbelievable sights of the stars, moon, and planets outside our atmosphere.

It also boasts the best vantage point to observe the famous Hollywood Sign. So it’s no wonder the Griffith Observatory welcomes over 85 million visitors annually!

Fondly dubbed the “hood ornament” of Los Angeles, the Griffith Observatory is settled in a prime location… but the parking is not ideal.

We recommend getting dropped off by an Uber or Lyft or getting dropped off at a walking distance from a nearby location to avoid the dreadful parking struggles. To avoid a crowd and lack of parking spots, visit the Griffith Observatory during the day.

During your visit to the Griffith Observatory, check out the moon landing and space debris in the Edge of Space exhibition. Then, walk the impressive scale model of the store system. Next, experience a live show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium.

Finally, bask in the empowering and stunning views of Mount Wilson, Los Angeles Griffith Park, the Pacific Ocean, and the world-famous Hollywood Sign.

Opening Hours : 12 PM-10 PM (Friday), 10 AM-10 PM (Saturday-Sunday)
Address : 2800 E Observatory Rd

With a collection of around 200 handprints, autographs, and footprints of famous stars, the TCL Chinese Theatre is not your average theater.

First opened in 1927, this theatre is the most renowned Hollywood cinematic icon. It boasts the largest IMAX auditorium in the world! It has cemented its place on the Historic Hollywood Walk of Fame. It also hosted the Academy Awards from 1944-1946.

And yes, you can watch movies at this exceptional movie palace! And, if you’re interested in learning more about the history of this famous theatre, there are 30-minute walking tours available for all the curious guests wanting to explore its magnificent structure.

During one of the tours, guests can explore the women’s dressing room featuring a 14-mirror wrap-around wall where Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe once stood in 1953.

Then, investigate the iron grate that once concealed the tunnel that leads to the Roosevelt Hotel.

Finally, at the TCL Chinese Theatre, guests can gaze at Marilyn Monroe’s gold dress in Gentleman Prefer Blondes , Judy Garland’s dress from The Wizard of Oz , and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s costume from the famous Terminator 2: Judgment Day movies, along with Grace Kelly’s enchanting beaded gown from the premiere of To Catch A Thief .

Learn more about the history of this astounding theatre during your trip, before or after you watch a movie in this magnificent structure!

Opening Hours : Saturday, 10:15 AM-7 PM
Admission : $14/Child, $15/Military/Senior/Student, $16/Adult
Address : 6925 Hollywood Boulevard

Heading east? Check out our guide to the best things to do in Las Vegas !

Day 3 in Los Angeles

Get ready for a fun day of exploring Los Angeles! First, start day three by exploring the impactful landmark emporium of the Grand Central Market.

Next, witness the multitudinous animal and plant species at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens. Finally, end your last day in Los Angeles with a romantic trip on the signature swan pedal boats on Echo Park Lake.

Initially called “Wonder Market” upon its opening, it is now known as the Grand Central Market. This impactful downtown Los Angeles landmark emporium has been known as the “largest and finest public market on the Pacific Coast” since its founding in 1917.

Hosting over 50 privately owned and operated vending stalls, this impressive market features florists, game nights, prepared food vendors, and movies.

At the Grand Central Market , Los Angeles cuisines and cultures are empowered to be expressed and experienced through its vendors and visitors. Vendors promote only the highest quality ingredients and products.

In downtown Los Angeles and only a short walk from the Pershing Square stop on the Metro Red/Purple Line subway, the Grand Central Market can be a great stop if you want to avoid driving downtown. It’s an accessible stop, only two stops from the Union Station.

Experience this national-caliber eating experience as you embark on an adventure of the 30,000-square-foot retail marketplace and food emporium for the ultimate downtown gathering place.

Afterward, we recommend stopping by The Last Bookstore, an airy book and record store that features local art only a few blocks away.

Opening Hours : 8 AM-9 PM
Address : 317 S Broadway

Hosting more than 2,200 types of animals, including 270 species of animals, 60 endangered species, and highlighting over 800 different plant species and 7,400 individual plants, the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens is a worthwhile Los Angeles attraction to visit.

Founded in 1966, the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens boasts an array of specific biomes for the habitat exhibits, including New World tropics and African grasslands.

In the zoo’s 133 acres, the zoo dedicates this space to educating the public on its conservation efforts of the beautiful creatures and the habitats they live in.

Explore the stunning assortment of plant species, like the Hong Kong orchid trees and Mexican fan palms, at the Botanical Gardens. Then, soak in the sights of endangered species like the Addax and Okapi at the Los Angeles Zoo.

Check out the impressive collection of plants and notorious animal species at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens!

Opening Hours : 10 AM-5 PM Daily
Admission : $17/Child, $19/Senior, $22/Adult, Free/Infants
Address : 5333 Zoo Drive

Read Next: Check out this great 3-day San Diego itinerary !

End your last day in Los Angeles on a romantic note via swan pedal boat rental at Echo Park Lake!

A staple landmark of East Los Angeles since 1895, Echo Park Lake is surrounded by expansive lotus flower beds, an array of fluttering wild geese and swans, and dense greenery.

A top-rated Los Angeles activity, many have cruised along Echo Park Lake’s glistened waters for the ultimate romantic date, a short secluded getaway on a stunning waterfront scene surrounded by native flora and fauna.

At this East LA park, popular local events and festivals, like the Dragon Boat Race and Lotus Festival, are annually held at this historic Los Angeles landmark.

So take a stroll as you take in the generous art scene, people watch Echo Park Lake’s daily visitors, and embrace this one-of-a-kind Los Angeles haven.

Your swan pedal boat rental encapsulates a refreshing experience paired with a mobile trivia game that shares the rich history of Echo Park Lake. Bask in the panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline on this top-rated Los Angeles activity!

Opening Hours : 9 AM-7 PM Daily
Admission : $11/Adult
Address : 751 Echo Park Ave

If you still have time and energy after this, head over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall which is just a 5-minute drive away. This sophisticated and modern concert hall has incredible, world-class concerts every week.

End your LA itinerary with an enchanting night of music at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. See the website for schedules. Hours and prices vary depending on the performance.

Address : 111 S Grand Ave

Los Angeles Travel Guide

Of course, there are lots more attractions in LA, like the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Universal Studios Hollywood, La Brea Tar Pits, Long Beach, Santa Barbara , and more.

But 3 days in Los Angeles is enough to see some of the highlights that we mentioned, and you’ll just have to come back to LA to see everything else! And if you have some free time, feel free to fit more stuff into this 3 days in Los Angeles itinerary. This is just a guideline!

Now that you have the best LA itinerary to guide you, here is some information that will help you know the best time to visit, how to get around, and where to stay when you visit.

Like anywhere in the world, there’s always a recommended time to visit, whether it be to avoid poor weather or oppressive crowds.

When looking to visit Los Angeles, we recommend planning your trip to this world-famous city either from March to May or September to November.

During these recommended months, the air is more breathable as you’ll be avoiding the oppressive heat of summer. The crowds are also less packed, which can drastically take away from an otherwise invigorating experience.

As a tourist, getting around Los Angeles isn’t as difficult as you might think. Los Angeles has a metro rail system that is easy to use and that many locals use to get around the vast metropolis.

The bus public transport system is also reliable, you just have to deal with the LA traffic which the metro avoids.

However, we do recommend car rentals to get around Los Angeles. You can find all major car rental companies in LA. If you want to drive along the Pacific Coast Highway or take a day trip to nature like Joshua Tree National Park, having a car is ideal.

Uber or Lyft are great options if you’re looking to invest in infrequent trips that are not near your stay in Los Angeles.

Otherwise, invest in this Private One-Way Transfer to Los Angeles for a stress-free one-way transfer from the Los Angeles International Airport to your destination in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is well connected to other big cities by plane, so it’s easy to find affordable flights into the city. Particularly from San Francisco, Las Vegas, and other west coast metropolises, getting into LA is easy.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

If you’re wondering where to stay during your LA itinerary, our recommendations for the best accommodation in Los Angeles will help you choose the top spot for your budget!

The Banana Bungalow is a hot spot hostel in West Hollywood near Sunset, Hollywood, and the Melrose strip.

The hostel offers free BBQ on the terrace, free Wi-Fi, large $5 dinners, and shuttles to Disneyland, Venice Beach, Santa Monica Beach, and more big-time Los Angeles attractions! There’s no better place to stay for an LA itinerary if you’re traveling on a budget.

Located in Venice Beach, STAY OPEN is only a minute walk from the beach!

With featured accommodations like free bikes, concierge service, and free WiFi, STAY OPEN boasts seaside views in its optimal location near big beach spots like Venice Beach, the famous Santa Monica Pier and Beach, and Marina Del Rey Beach.

In addition, the Los Angeles International Airport is only six miles away from your stay!

At the Peninsula Beverly Hills , guests are only a 12-minute walk from Rodeo Drive, a popular shopping spot in Beverly Hills.

Featuring world-class dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this luxury hotel in Los Angeles offers enigmatic accommodations like its large rooftop outdoor pool, modern gym with available personal coaches, full-service spa, and gourmet on-site dining options!

DISCLAIMER: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means if you book accommodation, tours or buy a product, we will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. These commissions help us keep creating more free travel content to help people plan their holidays and adventures. We only recommend the best accommodations, tours and products that ourselves or our fantastic editorial team have personally experienced, and regularly review these. Thanks for your support, kind friend!

Alesha and Jarryd

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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How to See Los Angeles in 3 Days – the Perfect Itinerary

Last Modified: May 5, 2024 // by Anda // 58 Comments

If you only have 3 days in LA and are wondering where to start, you’ve come to the right place. As a local, I can give you some good advice and tips for visiting the city. I can also help you plan the perfect 3 days Los Angeles itinerary that will leave you with lots of great memories.

the best itinerary for spending 3 days in Los

Table of Contents

About This Los Angeles Itinerary

L.a. itinerary day 1, l.a. itinerary day 2, l.a. itinerary day 3, how to move around l.a., best time to visit los angeles, how to save money on a 3-day trip to los angeles, need a place to stay.

It’s hard to know where to begin when you visit a large city like Los Angeles. Unlike other metropolises around the world, L.A’s attractions are spread all over. If you are coming from a smaller place, you will most likely feel overwhelmed here.

One thing to consider when planning your Los Angeles itinerary is the notorious L.A. traffic which will limit your ability to cover a lot of ground in these 3 days. That means you probably can’t put together a list of 20 some-odd objectives and expect to hit them all.

With the itinerary below you’ll be able to see some of the L.A’s most iconic places, without rushing. Trying to squeeze more into these three days will only drain your energy and leave you tired and confused.

Some of the places that I included in this list are totally free, which is always a plus. So here is your Los Angeles trip plan:

3-Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Day 1: Santa Monica Pier, Malibu and Venice Beach Day 2: Getty Center and the Griffith Observatory Day 3: Hollywood and Downtown Area

Santa Monica is one of the most romantic getaways in California . The 72 miles of coastline and approximately 330 days of sunshine are a magnet for the visitors of LA. Besides, the coastal areas are among the most scenic places in Southern California.

In all, there are over 60 beaches on this incredible stretch of coastline. Therefore, I think it’s best if you start your Los Angeles itinerary at the beach. The closest and most popular ones to downtown LA are Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu.

Stroll on the Santa Monica Beach and Pier (free)

You can start your 3 days itinerary at the Santa Monica Beach, just a short 20-minute drive from Downtown Los Angeles. The beach stretches along either side of the historic Santa Monica Pier.

There is plenty of parking, restrooms and beach side cafés along the beach. The paved path that follows the shoreline all the way to Venice Beach is a paradise for rollerblading, biking, or walking.

There are many small shops where you can rent bikes, rollerblades, boogie boards, chairs, and umbrellas. You can either lay down on the beach, or grab a bicycle and cruise from the Pier to Venice Beach and back.

3 Days in Los Angeles: Santa Monica Pier

The most popular spot in Santa Monica is the Pier at the foot of Colorado Avenue. This bustling wooden wharf is where the action is. With its shops, small restaurants, arcade, roller coaster and giant Ferris wheel, the historic Santa Monica Pier continues to be the main attraction in Los Angeles for families with kids .

Walk (bike, or rollerblade) to Venice Beach (free)

Just South of Santa Monica is one of Los Angeles’s most popular and eclectic places: Venice Beach. However, this beach is a mixed bag that isn’t for everyone. If you want to experience the bohemian spirit of Los Angeles, you should definitely come here. There are so many things to do on Venice Beach!

Be advised however that the free-spirited Venice Broadwalk may shock you with its colorful graffiti, street performers, and funky shops. You will see some things that you’ve never seen before and will shake your head. But you may very well find all these very entertaining.

I love Venice Beach, always have. It has an indescribable vibe that I have only experienced here. When we were younger we used to rollerblade from here all the way to Santa Monica and back. If you enjoy people watching, then this is the place to be. It is for sure one of the most unique beach-going experiences you’ll have.

Drive to Malibu (free)

Malibu is a must, no matter how many days you have in L.A. This is where the famous Pacific Coast Highway drive starts. Here is where you’ll see some of the most picturesque stretches of beach in Southern California.

The beaches in Malibu are however very different from the ones in Santa Monica or Venice. Some of them are private, so they allow alcohol on the beach (Paradise Cove), but they are notorious for the huge parking fees.

In Malibu you will find surf beaches and stretches of shore with tide pools, caves and strange rock formations (Leo Carillo). If you want to explore the caves and rock formations, you should come prepared with good shoes because you’ll have to walk down a big bluff.

Tidepools at Malibu - Los Angeles Itinerary

Malibu beaches offer a truly laidback experience where you can just lay in the sand and dip in the ocean. And if you are in Los Angeles when the whales migrate (Dec.-Jan, April-May) you’re likely to see some gray whales, dolphins and seals here. Especially if you visit Malibu early morning.

TOURS WE RECOMMEND:

You should make your second day in Los Angeles a museum day. But not just any museum! The Getty Center is a more than just a museum and is a very impressive place to visit. You don’t have to be a huge art or museum devotee to fall in love with this iconic site.

The Getty Center (not at the same location as the Getty Villa) sits high up on a hill overlooking the city and is connected to the parking lot at the bottom by a funicular.

The museum has numerous galleries that spread out in multiple buildings. The Center holds the best and most valuable art collection in Los Angeles.

In addition to its extensive artwork collection and unique architecture, the Getty Center features an impressive garden. The Central Garden, designed by artist Robert Irwin, sprawls over 134,000 square feet of green space. You can easily spend an entire day here, admiring the outstanding art collections.

There are several options for lunch at the Getty Center. If you’re looking for a substantial lunch, there are two on-site cafés and a fine dining restaurant. Or you can just grab a bite between the exhibits at one of the several snack carts around the museum courtyard.

Restaurant at the Getty Center Los Angeles

LACMA vs the Getty Center

I sometimes get asked whether I would recommend the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) or the Getty Center. This is a difficult decision to make since they are outstanding art museums. If you are strictly interested in art, then you should go to LACMA as it has a more comprehensive art collection. However, I would choose Getty over LACMA simply because it also has an outstanding location, beautiful gardens, and more varied art collections. Note that the Getty Villa is a separate museum where their antiquities are kept.

Visit the Griffith Observatory (free!)

You can end up your 2nd day in L.A. with a sunset visit at the Griffith Observatory. The Observatory features space-related exhibits, star shows in the planetarium, and a telescope.

View of the Griffith Observatory - 3 days in Los Angeles

Admission to the Observatory building, grounds, and telescopes is always free. However, you will have to buy tickets for the planetarium show.

The grounds of the Observatory are very beautiful, featuring some terraces from where you get a bird-eye view of the entire valley. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Santa Monica from up here.

The best time to visit the Observatory is the late afternoon towards the evening when you can stick around to see the sunset and the city lights.

To get to the Griffith Observatory you can either rent a car , use public transportation, share a ride, bike, or walk via N Vermont Canyon Rd (2 miles). Parking near the Observatory costs $8.00 per hour, but is very limited.

Don’t Miss the Hollywood Sign !

On the opposite hill, right across from the Griffith Observatory, you can catch an unobstructed view of the Hollywood Sign, one of the most iconic sights in Los Angeles.

The worldwide symbol of the U.S. movie industry has a very dull and uninteresting beginning. Many people believe the Hollywood Sign was part of a movie set, but it was actually an outdoor billboard for a real-estate development.

No Los Angeles itinerary would be complete without a visit to the famous Hollywood. As touristy as this place may be, it should be part of your L.A. list of attractions. Especially if this is your first time in the city!

Hollywood enjoys an international reputation like no other place in the world. Although some parts of the area are undeniably derelict, Hollywood still sparkles with glamor.

Walk the Sunset Strip (free!)

You can start your last day in Los Angeles with a walk on the famous Sunset Strip. The strip is the 1.5 -mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood. Sunset Boulevard extends from Hollywood all the way to Beverly Hills.

The Sunset Strip is home to flashy boutiques, high end restaurants and nightclubs, as well as huge, colorful billboards. And it’s not impossible to bump into a celebrity at one of the hotel bars in West Hollywood, or in one of the high-end boutiques on Rodeo Drive, in Beverly Hills.

View of the Sunset Strip – 3 days in Los Angeles

Visit the Chinese Theater (free!)

The Chinese Theater became famous for being the venue of the Academy Awards ceremony from 1944-1946. But most visitors are lured here by the celebrity handprints and footprints in the concrete of the theater’s forecourt.

The tradition began during the theater construction, when one of the Hollywood legends at the time accidentally stepped into the wet cement outside the building.

Instead of covering the imprint, theater owner Sid Grauman encouraged other celebrities to repeat the “mistake.” And so it all began. The courtyard is usually cluttered with tourists trying to snap a shot of the famous imprints.

How to spend 3 days in Los Angeles - the Chinese Theater pavement

In 2013, after extensive renovations, the The Chinese Theater was turned into a grandiose 923-seater IMAX auditorium that projects stunning quality movies. If interested, you can still watch a movie in this iconic landmark.

View of the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles

Tour the Dolby Theater

Right next to the Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard is Dolby Theater – the current and permanent home of the Academy Awards. Dolby Theatre opened its doors in 2001 as the Kodak Theatre . Its façade is at the front of the Hollywood & Highland Center, a nice shopping area with boutiques and souvenir shops.

You can take a guided tour of the theater all year round, except for the time leading up to the Academy Awards in February, when the Dolby Theater is off limits.

If the Oscars are your thing, you’ll find the tour very interesting. The guide will take you on the red carpet path that the celebrities follow from Hollywood Boulevard into the theatre. You’ll see the VIP Room, the Green Room and then you’ll go out onto the stage. You will also see where the actors seat while they wait to hear if their names will be called.

the Dolby Theater - Los Angeles Itinerary

Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame (free!)

The Walk of Fame is an internationally recognized Hollywood icon. It encompasses over 2,600 five-pointed stars made of terrazzo and brass and embedded in the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard.

The stars bear the names of famous musicians, actors, directors and producers and are given in recognition to achievements in the entertainment industry.

What began as a Chamber of Commerce marketing tactic, is today one of Los Angeles’s biggest magnets. It attracts an estimated 10 million visitors each year. You can read more about the history of the Walk of Fame here .

Unfortunately, the Walk’s fame (pun intended) ruins its appeal. It is always crowded with costumed characters offering to take pictures with the visitors, illegal street vendors handing out CDs and tickets, and shady characters.

Most people who ever visited the celebrated Walk of Fame will probably tell you it’s not worth your time. And truth be told, walking the entire 15 blocks (1.3 miles) from east to west on Hollywood Boulevard is not something I would recommend.

However, you shouldn’t skip this famous landmark if you are in Los Angeles for 3 days. Even if you only take a few steps up and down the street to see what the buzz is all about.

Here are some more popular activities in Hollywood:

Hollywood: Highlights Guided Walking Tour and Museum Visit
Los Angeles: Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour
Los Angeles: The Official Hollywood Sign Hike

Tour the Disney Concert Hall (free)

Disney Hall has been one of L.A.’s top architectural landmarks since it opened in 2003. Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the monumental structure resembles a sailing ship.

Audio tours are the most comprehensive way to explore the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The self-guided audio tour takes you through the concert hall’s history from conception to completion. The audio tour is complimentary for individuals or groups below 14 people and takes about 50 minutes.

The places of interest in Los Angeles are as spread out, so you won’t be able walk between them. Whether you have one, two, or three days in L.A. you’ll either have to rent a car , or use public transportation.

The best way to explore the city is definitely by car, but driving in L.A. may be quite challenging. If you don’t want to face the city’s infernal traffic and tricky parking signs, you will be better off using public transportation. Plenty of Los Angeles neighborhoods are not only walkable, but connected to one another by train. The L.A. Metro system works good and has many stops.

By Public Transport

To use the Metro, purchase a TAP card at any Metro station from one of the vending machines. The Red Line , which begins at the Union Station in downtown L.A, will take you to Los Feliz, Hollywood, and to Universal City (home of Universal Studios).

The Purple Line will take you through Koreatown, and the Gold Line goes through neighborhoods like Chinatown, Highland Park, and Little Tokyo. The Expo Line goes all the way to Santa Monica, just a short walk from the famous Santa Monica Pier and the beach.

Planning a 3 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

There are some facts about Los Angeles that you probably already know. But the first thing you should be aware of is that Los Angeles is MASSIVE! This fact pervades nearly all the advice that follows and will definitely influence your Los Angeles itinerary.

Los Angeles’s points of interest are spread quite far apart from each other, so don’t assume that you can figure out an itinerary as you go. Chances of stumbling upon a great site accidentally are quite slim.

Another important thing to know is that Los Angeles is very eclectic. It’s made up of hundreds of neighborhoods that look and feel quite different from each other.

Deciding what’s the best area to stay in Los Angeles as a visitor may be difficult. While Downtown L.A. is modern and contemporary, neighborhoods like Altadena, or North Hollywood, are way calmer and laid back.

In case you are asking yourself what would be the best time to travel to California , you should know there is no good or bad time for your trip. The weather is perfect almost year round and no matter when you visit, you’ll always have plenty to do in Los Angeles (even in December) .

However, you should be aware that during July and August temperatures sometimes climb up to 100ºF (or over!). That may be a concern for spending too much time outside (except for the beaches).

The area around Los Angeles is also full of natural parks and attractions, like the Vasquez Rocks Park, or Mormon Rocks, so if you have more than 3 days I suggest adding them to your itinerary as well.

Visiting L.A. is on many travelers’ bucket lists, but the costs involved scare many people away. The good news is that 3 days in Los Angeles won’t break the bank.

The best way to save money on sightseeing is to buy the Go Los Angeles Card . You can buy an all-inclusive card, or build-your-own. The all-inclusive card saves you up to 50% of the gate price for the attractions.

All you have to do is just pick the number of days you are in Los Angeles and you are ready to do unlimited sightseeing. The build-your-own card will save you only 20% of the gate ticket price, but you can choose to see only what interests you.

I hope this guide will help you make the most of your three day trip to L.A. and go home with some good memories. If you have more than 72 hours in the city, there are some great getaways from Los Angeles to consider

I wrote an in-depth post about the best areas to stay in Los Angeles as a tourist, so if you need more insight information you should check out this insider’s guide . There are many inexpensive hotels in the suburbs around L.A. that you can choose from. You can also choose to rent an entire house, or an apartment through AirBnB, or VRBO . If you want to check hotel prices in L.A. using the box below:

If you found this information helpful, please pin it to help others find the best itinerary for first time visitors to Los Angeles.

Reader Interactions

April 7, 2024 at 8:58 am

Thanks for informative blog

Shikha Sharma

January 10, 2024 at 9:38 pm

Well-Written article! Your post is commendable. I am a travel-loving person and also I like to know more about different places. I don’t know about this place. I searched travel blogs and found this blog. This place looks very beautiful. I would like to add it to my bucket list.

July 1, 2023 at 1:00 am

Los Angeles would be a dream to visit! I wish i could visit in one day!

March 24, 2023 at 5:09 am

It was a very nice introduction article, you explained it in every detail.

C.M. Chamber

March 9, 2022 at 10:05 am

This article is very helpful! We are headed out in a week. Just wanted to ask rent a car or Uber/Lyft? We’re staying in Hollywood at a hotel so I’m debating the cost of parking/rental vs. Uber/Lyft. Any info is helpful thanks!

March 9, 2022 at 11:32 am

Renting a car in L.A. is pretty inconvenient. Gas is expensive, parking fees are huge, traffic is a nightmare! Even if you break even with Uber/Lyft, it’s still worth saving yourself the hassle of driving in Los Angeles.

Go Wander Wild

August 24, 2021 at 12:48 am

This Los Angeles guide is incredibly helpful. You’ve really thought through everything you need to know before planning a trip. Thank you for this helpful resource. Saving this guide for later!

August 24, 2021 at 8:55 am

Thank you for your helpful feedback.

March 3, 2022 at 9:36 pm

This is very helpful, great little weekend guide to a great la. Vacation thank you so much.😊✌

November 20, 2020 at 1:41 am

I absolutely love this post! So many great places to visit in Los Angeles. I can hardly wait for my trip.

February 13, 2020 at 7:35 am

This is an amazing itenarary and I will be following this when I visit LA for the first time in April. I just wanted to ask if you recommend any hotel or Air BnB which is family friendly and local to using Hollywood and all these attractions? x

February 13, 2020 at 10:54 am

Hi Taj, thank you for your nice comment. I’m really glad if my information was helpful to you. I don’t have a specific recommendation for you, as Los Angeles is such a huge area. However, I always use VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) which is very similar to AirBnB. They have lower prices and don’t charge booking fees.For hotels and other resource recommendations, you can also check my Travel Resource Page . Hope you’ll find the information helpful.

October 26, 2019 at 9:33 pm

Hi I am going for the first time to LA for 3 days.In which area should i stay so that the itinerary listed above would be more convenient.i would be using public transportation. Any suggestion would be truly appreciated. Thanks.

Anda Galffy

October 28, 2019 at 5:05 am

Hi Sam, the best place for you is to stay in Santa Monica, or Pacific Palisades. It would be however more efficient if you could rent a car. While public transportation works all right, it’s more time consuming taking the bus.

Catherine Salvador Mendoza

September 19, 2019 at 3:53 am

Oh, Malibu! One of my dream beaches because of Rhianna! HAHA! Anyway, love the itinerary that the first day includes a beach. I’m a big fan of beaches and whenever I read posts and itis including beaches, makes me happy! LA is a place in the US I’ve been dreaming too, aside from New York! Great tips you got as well, I think having a car tho is the best way to be able to free roam!

September 18, 2019 at 6:54 pm

I didn’t realize that LA is so spread out, so it’s really helpful to have a suggested itinerary to focus on highlights. And it’s good to know that renting a car is the easiest to explore but that we should manage our expectations with it being very traffic heavy.

September 17, 2019 at 2:16 pm

I love the highlights of L.A. I love going to the beautiful beaches and shopping! LA is so fun! xo – Kam

September 16, 2019 at 10:37 pm

Great itinerary. Didn’t know there is a Venice beach there. Walk of Fame sounds interesting and makes me curious too. Thanks for highlighting the free things to do in LA.

Linda (LD Holland)

September 16, 2019 at 6:38 pm

This is a timely post. We are doing a cruise in and out of LA. So were wondering what to do when we arrive for a few days before the cruise. On our last visit we stayed in Santa Monica but it might be fun to return. We missed spending time in Malibu so maybe that would be a good place to visit. It would be great to head to the Griffith Observatory for a panoramic view. A good tip to head there at sunset. We will defiantly check out public transit. We really don’t want to drive in the city.

September 17, 2019 at 10:39 am

I strongly recommend driving up to the Observatory. It’s a great spot to admire the city from above.

September 16, 2019 at 1:58 pm

Great guide with all the LA highlights. It is a fascinating city with so much to do. When we first moved to Los Angeles, the size and scale of the city blew us away. Love how you have organized the itinerary into bite-sized chunks. Out of curiosity, is there any reason you left out the Hollywood Sign? This was on our to-do list when we first moved. Regardless, great post and agree driving is the best way to get around.

September 17, 2019 at 10:38 am

I didn’t leave it out. It’s actually included in the trip to the Griffith Observatory. You can see the sign from there. I don’t think it’s worth hiking to the actual sign itself if you only have 3 days in L.A.

September 15, 2019 at 8:31 pm

I need to get to Venice Beach and check out the free-spirited Venice Boardwalk. It does have such a bohemian vibe to it. I’ve only been to LA on a stopover so I haven’t seen many of these places except for the Walk of Fame.

September 17, 2019 at 10:40 am

Then it’s time for a return trip, Nicole.

September 15, 2019 at 7:39 pm

You got a great photo of downtown LA. I could spend weeks just hanging out at Santa Monica, Malibu and Venice. I went to Grad School in LA and would drive up to the Observatory and stare out at the city lights at night. LA is so big, It really is incredible

September 17, 2019 at 10:36 am

I didn’t know you lived in LA, Sherianne.

Elaine Masters

September 15, 2019 at 5:21 pm

Definitely some great advice here. I’m partial to some of the museums as there are many unique options. Love the idea of being a tourist in LA. Great pictures as always.

Nicole LaBarge

September 14, 2019 at 10:38 pm

I think the 72 miles of coastline is a big driver! I’ve only been to LA once but I want to go back to the the Santa Monica Pier and visit there. I loved the walk of Fame when I was there!

April 2, 2019 at 11:43 am

I haven’t been to the US yet, but I am sure when I make it to the US, I would like to visit Los Angeles. I didn’t know that renting a car is the best way to go around in LA. I also didn’t know how big LA is. It seems so huge. I usually see a lot of photos of Venice beach since many content creators live around by. Thanks for the piece. I found it so useful

April 2, 2019 at 3:09 am

It’s been nearly 20 years since my last visit to LA. I’d like to go back and do it properly. I didn’t realize that the Hollywood sign isn’t lit up at night and spent a lot of time trying to find it unsuccessfully in the dark after attending an awards show. So a return visit is due and I’d definitely like to see the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and finally actually see the Hollywood sign.

April 1, 2019 at 10:19 pm

This is the most comprehensive article introducing LA for first timers. I have not been there but for me, public transport any day. Helps me to do other things than watching for the cars on road :). Except probably for places not well connected, if any.

April 1, 2019 at 4:51 am

Massive indeed, and patience is vital. I have not taken the Metro in LA but think that is a huge tip! This a great itinerary and the Griffith Observatory is not to be missed

April 1, 2019 at 9:33 am

If you can drive, is better.

March 31, 2019 at 11:30 pm

I live in LA and have done all the above but I must say, there is so much to see/do here in LA and you have put some of the must do things together in this beautiful post on what to see as a tourist. All the places you’ve listed are the MUST do things for everyone who’s visiting LA

March 31, 2019 at 1:25 pm

I’ve been to L.A. a few times, including my senior trip, many moons ago. My step brother actually lives in Santa Monica. I’ve seen all of these things except the Observatory. If I even went back, I would go there for sure. When I went to Venice Beach, I couldn’t believe everything I was seeing. I was just 17 at that time. There was an outside gym then, full of muscle bound people. The crowds in L.A. are quite overwhelming to me though. Thanks for the introduction to the Observatory.

April 1, 2019 at 9:37 am

The Griffith Observatory is quite interesting to visit and it’s famous for its gorgeous views.

March 31, 2019 at 4:35 am

What a great guide to LA for first-timers. I have only visited Santa Monica, but would love to get to the Getty Center and the hand and foot prints at the Chinese theatre. I’ve wanted to visit the Griffith Observatory since seeing La La Land!

March 31, 2019 at 2:57 am

I never done LA before but hope to do it in the near future but for me, I think I would like to check out the beaches more than the touristy stuff. I am more into nature. Can you still hike up to the Hollywood sign?

April 1, 2019 at 9:35 am

No, you can’t tile to the Hollywood sign.

Carol Colborn

March 30, 2019 at 4:35 pm

It’s good my granddaughter works and lives in Santa Monica. It’s also good that I have covered Day 2 except for the Griffith Observatory. I have also not gone to the Getty Center.

March 28, 2019 at 11:07 pm

I visited LA almost half a decade ago and it’s a pity that I didn’t rent a car and drive to Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach and Malibu. I’ve always regretted that. I don’t think I’d like to drive within the city itself, however, given the traffic and as you said, confusing parking signs! But it’s good that there’s the metro for that 🙂 I had some friends who were nice enough to take me around back then but they’re not there anymore. If I make it back to LA someday, I’d have to find my own way. Definitely making it to the beautiful coast next time!

blair villanueva

March 28, 2019 at 10:31 pm

Thanks for sharing your LA itinerary guide. My other family side lives in LA and some in Santa Barbara, and they all telling me how awesome living in there (even there are many challenges as well, cost of living isn’t cheap though). Someday I will visit my family in LA and have a trip using your guide!

March 28, 2019 at 4:45 pm

I’m yet to head to the American continent and when I do definitely I’d want to visit LA. I’ve heard so much about Malibu beach so definitely it would be in my list. The water is so pristine. I’ve not seen star fishes in wild before. I might just spend an entire day in Malibu.

March 28, 2019 at 6:33 pm

Hope you’ll make it here someday.

March 28, 2019 at 4:19 pm

I have not been to LA in years and years and I would really love to go back one day. The traffic in LA is however such a put off and whilst I would prefer to have the freedom of my own car, I’m not sure I can handle the traffic. Santa Monica Pier looks like so much fun despite the crazy crowds. I guess that just comes with the territory. Those muscle men still at Venice Beach? I’d love to go to the Getty Center….that is my kind of place. And shopping….. I could go crazy!

I agree, the traffic here is a nightmare.

Jane Dempster-Smith

March 27, 2019 at 4:12 pm

This is a perfect 3 day itinerary. In the past I have only spent a day in Los Angeles just passing through and I have really missed out on all the sights. At the top of my list would be the Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A great tip about going to the Observatory late in the afternoon to see the sunsets and the lights below.

Sinjana Ghosh

March 27, 2019 at 11:59 am

I have never visited Los Angeles so this is a great itinerary to begin with. Will keep in mind the vastness and not try to squeeze too much. I think the Santa Mobica beach itself will cover half of the day with all the activities. The sunset strip will be on my list for sure. I understand your point about the walk of fame, I will probably just walk around it for some time and then leave. I don’t find those places particularly interesting but I dont want to miss out on the most celebrated place in Los Angeles either.

March 27, 2019 at 6:43 am

Visiting the beach is one of our favorite things to do anytime our destination is nearby. Venice Beach most likely won’t shock me with its colorful graffiti, street performers, and funky shops. I’ve seen it all!

I’m also game for a laid back experience at Malibu beach, one of my favorite beaches.

March 26, 2019 at 7:55 am

Great post! As a local, I definitely think a car is necessary as our public transportation isn’t very reliable/safe and the city is just so spread out! The things you mentioned always top the list of our visitors and 3 days is the perfect amount of time to hit them all up.

March 26, 2019 at 6:09 am

Hello thanks, Anda for sharing such kind of valuable tips and the images you have used its really appreciable. LA is really a home to some of the USA’s best beaches and each one has its own unique character. I will definitely travel there!!

March 25, 2019 at 4:27 pm

Great tips for a first time visit. I’m passing this along to a friend who will be visiting in May for her first time.

March 25, 2019 at 10:07 pm

Thanks, Jill. Hope your friend will make some use of this information.

Rhonda Albom

March 24, 2019 at 1:38 am

I have been to L.A. many times yet I have not done it all. The Getty Center sounds interesting and it is one of the places I have never visited. I also never walked the Sunset Strip. Thanks for some good recommendations.

March 24, 2019 at 1:55 am

Next time you come here I’ll take you on the Sunset Strip, Rhonda.

March 22, 2019 at 9:33 pm

Great post! I just came back from LA myself. Did a two-day getaway and checked out Hollywood, Santa Monica, USC, Chinatown, and the LA City Hall. You are right about there being plenty of shady people in the Walk of Fame area. I’ll be writing about my visit there on my blog and how I fell for a scam there – come check it out in a few days!

July 24, 2023 at 9:39 am

Thanks 🙏🏼 for the great tips! I’d like to see comedy stand up gigs and drag queen gigs. But I heard LA is dangerous at night in the streets. Are these comedy places in downtown LA (where I plan to stay)? Would you recommend LACMA or Getty Center? Thanks again

July 25, 2023 at 11:58 am

I’m glad you found this information useful, Fabi. Downtown L.A. is overall a very safe area, but I would advise you to stay away from Chinatown at night. In regards to stand-up comedy places, I’ve heard there is a very good comedy theater in downtown called “The Nitecap,” but I didn’t go there personally.

As for LACMA vs the Getty Center, if you are strictly interested in art go to LACMA as it has a more comprehensive collection. However, I would choose Getty over LACMA simply because it also has an outstanding location, beautiful gardens, and more varied art collections. Note that the Getty Villa is a separate museum where their antiquities are kept. Hope this helps.

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Home » North America » Los Angeles

INSIDER LOS ANGELES ITINERARY for (2024)

Los Angeles is a vibrant, diverse, and creative city. Boasting the perfect balance of scenery, activities, and attractions, there’s something for everyone.

Nicknamed the ‘city of angels’ due to its Spanish roots, this multicultural city has many unique layers and caters to a diversity of tastes, preferences, people, and budgets.

Located in the southern region of California, LA is the epicenter of fame, fortune, and showbiz. There are plenty of other attractions that draw people to this destination each year.

The sprawling metropolis offers something for everyone. From stylish shopping boutiques to massive amusement parks and picturesque beaches, LA is sure to make for a memorable vacation!

Whether you’re spending two days in the city of angels or more, our Los Angeles Itinerary will guarantee the perfect getaway.

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Best Time To Visit Los Angeles

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LA is alive with tourism all year! This city doesn’t experience extreme high or low temperatures – the weather stays comfortable year-round. No matter the season, there’s always something to do in LA.

The summer months (June – August) produce the warmest temperatures. This is a great time to travel to LA to enjoy the beaches and long summer days!

The Broke Backpacker is supported by you . Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more .

Fall (September – November) is also a great time to plan a trip to Los Angeles. The crowds thin out and the weather is still very enjoyable.

You’ll want a jacket during the winter months (December – February). Although temperatures never get too cold, the air does get a bit chilly. LA’s limited rainfall is generally seen in the winter months, but it’s rarely intense enough to inconvenience, and the cityscape looks beautiful in the rain!

Spring (March – May) produces warm days and blue skies. If you’re trying to decide when to visit Los Angeles, this is another great time! Really, you can’t go wrong.

With a Los Angeles City Pass , you can experience the best of Los Angeles at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

If you’re planning a trip to LA, you’re going to want to stay in a location that will make your Los Angeles itinerary as accessible as possible. This sprawling city is full of culturally rich neighborhoods, and there are plenty of great areas to stay in!

If you want to be close to all the action, Hollywood is the place to stay . The symbol of entertainment, this area houses many of the city’s iconic landmarks. From the Hollywood walk-of-fame to the Dolby Theatre, this is the postcard city of LA!

There are also plenty of retro-cool bars, shopping venues, and vibrant night-clubs. This larger-than-life district is perfect for first-time travelers, especially. Here, you’ll find plenty of vacation rentals to suit all budgets!

Venice Beach is another great area of the city to stay in. Buzzing with bohemian spirit, this beach town has everything from funky shops to stylish boutiques. If you’re looking for cool and unique things to do in LA, Venice offers a vibrant mix of activities and attractions.

Spend a day exploring Venice’s iconic beach and boardwalk. Marvel at colorful murals and interesting street performers, or hit up one of many outdoor farmer’s markets. If you’re spending a weekend in Los Angeles make sure to check out the drum circle at the end of the Venice Beach Boardwalk by Brooks Avenue.

You could easily spend a week or more in LA, which is why I always recommend looking at vacation rentals such as VRBO in LA, because they come with all the facilities you would need to make your accommodation a home away from home.

Best Hostel in Los Angeles – USA Hostels Hollywood

USA Hostels Hollywood has all the components to make your stay in LA as memorable as possible! Enjoy a real hostelling experience and community lifestyle when you stay here.

From the friendly staff to the regularly scheduled hostel events, you’ll feel right at home! Ideally located between Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Strip, it’s close to all the main attractions.

If you prefer hostels, explore even more LA hostel options here.

Best Airbnb in Los Angeles: Private Studio near the Hollywood Sign

Private Studio near the Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles

If location is your top priority, then this Airbnb is a winner. Adjacent to Griffith Park where you can hike to see the Hollywood Sign and Thai Town, where you can taste various authentic Thai cuisine. This studio apartment is conveniently located near the 101 highway, just a 10-minute drive to Sunset Blvd, Hollywood, Walk of Fame and a few blocks from Franklin Village.

Best Budget Hotel in Los Angeles – Ramada by Wyndham Marina del Rey

Located in Venice Beach, just a five-minute drive to the beach and the Boardwalk, this hotel is perfect for travelers wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the city center.

All rooms feature a coffee/tea maker, cable TV, and free toiletries. Guests will also enjoy free WIFI, parking, and a continental breakfast served daily! It’s great value for money!

If you need some more inspiration for places to stay, check out these awesome motels in Los Angeles .

No matter how many days you’re spending in Los Angeles, you’re going to need to figure out how to get around! Luckily, this city has a few transportation options to choose from, and they’re all relatively easy and convenient.

The easiest way to get around LA is by car. Fortunately, car rentals in the city are well-priced. Major car rental companies can be found at the airports and can easily be reserved ahead of time.

The Los Angeles Metro is affordable, relatively easy to use, and services most of Los Angeles. It consists of Metro Buses, DASH Buses, and Metro Rail Trains. Use the metro trip planner to help you plan your route around the city.

Uber and Lyft are popular ride-sharing services and offer travelers an easy and convenient form of transportation. Simply plug-in where you want to go and a driver will pick you up right at your door-step. This app will make getting to every point on your Los Angeles itinerary as convenient as possible! Just don’t forget to tip your driver.

If you want to head offshore and stay in Catalina Island , there are great ferry connections from Long Beach and San Pedro.

Walking in Los Angeles is also a great option in certain areas. There are lots of walkable shopping and beach areas in Hollywood, Downtown LA, Venice Beach, Santa Monica.

Spend your first day in Los Angeles checking out the city’s most iconic sights and cultural attractions!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – Hollywood Walk of Fame

Why it’s awesome: This is one of the most famous sidewalks in the world! Walk along the sidewalk and see if you can spot your favorite celebrity.
Cost: Free!
Food recommendations: Check out Hollywood Burger for a quick bite to eat. This gastropub mainly serves gourmet burgers, sandwiches, milkshakes, and beer. Fast service, affordable prices, and large portions. Vegetarian options are available too!

This iconic Los Angeles attraction is a must-see when visiting the city. Walk along the sidewalk stars and check out the names of Hollywood’s elite, past and present. You’ll see everyone from Elvis to The Beatles. Great for a one-of-a-kind LA photo opportunity!

There are more than 2,600 stars embedded in the sidewalks. The stars are spread throughout fifteen blocks on Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks on Vine Street in Hollywood. This free attraction has been around since the 1960s. Spend as much time as you’d like exploring the stars and taking pictures!

The long strip of stars is complemented by malls, cafes, restaurants, and an endless number of souvenir shops. It’s also bustling with street vendors and performers.

You’ll find plenty of tour companies on this street covering everything Hollywood related. Cruise Hollywood in comfort on a guided tour, see where celebrities live, and find out more Hollywood history and scandal. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is the perfect place to start your Los Angeles itinerary!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – TCL Chinese Theatre

Why it’s awesome: Iconic and historic movie-theatre located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Cost: $25.00 USD
Food recommendations: Pokinometry offers fresh and healthy Japanese and Asian inspired meals. They serve build-your-own style poke bowls. Customize your poke-bowl with your favorite veggies, rice, and seafood! This casual eatery delivers the highest quality of ingredients possible and is perfect for a quick and healthy meal!

The TCL Chinese Theatre is a historic Los Angeles attraction. This impressive movie-palace theatre is styled in Chinese design, gorgeous from the inside out. It opened in 1927 and is steeped in Hollywood history. Today, you can watch a show or take a tour of the theatre.

The theatre has hosted countless premieres, including the 1977 original Star Wars film premiere! It has also hosted the Academy Awards from 1944 – 1946.

hollywood sign road trip in southern california

Learn the theatre’s fascinating history on a guided tour. Hear fun facts about all things Hollywood, including celebrity stories. See the nearly 200 handprints, footprints, and autographs of famous movie stars. The most popular handprint being that of Marilyn Monroe!

This old theatre has converted to modern times. Today, it possesses the world’s largest IMAX auditorium as well as state-of-the-art IMAX laser projection. Watch modern movies while enjoying the sharpest, brightest, and most vivid digital movie experience possible!

A fun experience for all ages! Experience old Hollywood by taking a trip to the TCL Chinese Theatre.

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Griffith Park

Why it’s awesome: A beautiful park in Los Angeles offering a break from the busy city. There are lots of activities to choose from and fun for all ages!
Cost: It is free to enter the park, and prices vary depending on attractions selected.
Food recommendations: Pine and Crane is a trendy Taiwanese restaurant. They specialize in tapas-style Taiwanese food in a casual environment. There are lots of menu options including alcohol and beer.

Perfect for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, Griffith Park is a large municipal park located in Los Angeles. There’s so much to see and do in this spacious outdoor area.

Watch a show in the open-air at the Greek Theatre. This outdoor venue features a number of live musical performances, comedy shows, and plays throughout the year.

Visit the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Perfect for families traveling with children, check out the native plant species and exotic wildlife, including elephants, tigers, and hippopotamus!

Griffith Park also offers fifty-three miles worth of hiking trails! One of the most popular hikes starts at the Griffith Observatory (our next stop) and summits Mount Hollywood. Take this hike for spectacular views of the LA basin and the Hollywood sign!

Alternatively you can just relax and have a picnic. There are loads of grassy areas in this park, perfect for enjoying the peaceful ambiance of nature. Grab a blanket and enjoy a quiet reprieve from the busy city.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – Griffith Observatory

Why it’s awesome: Great for photo opportunities and scenery, you’ll see wonderful views of the Hollywood Sign, Downtown Los Angeles, and the Pacific ocean!
Food recommendations: The Trail’s Cafe is nestled inside Griffith Park. The location offers scenic views and a relaxed vibe. They have a simple menu mainly featuring sandwiches, pastries, and coffee. Vegetarian and vegan options are also available.

This facility sits on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood in Los Angeles’ Griffith Park. It provides some of the best views you can find in LA. The Griffith Observatory is a fun place to go and learn about the planets and the solar system; it’s California’s gateway to the cosmos!

This popular tourist attraction has an extensive array of space and science-related displays. Look through telescopes, explore the exhibits, and enjoy panoramic views of LA!

You can check out a Planetarium show in their state-of-the-art dome theater. Take a cosmic journey of exploration and discovery! Tickets to watch a show are $7.00 USD for adults and $3.00 USD for children. They can be purchased at the main box office inside the Observatory.

Day 1 / Stop 5 – The Getty Museum

Why it’s awesome: A gem in the heart of Los Angeles. The Getty is one of the premier art museums in the world with a vast collection of precious artifacts curated from around the globe!
Food recommendations: Restaurant at The Getty Center offers American style dishes in an elegant dining space adjoining the museum. At this restaurant, you’ll receive top-level service, artfully presented meals, and fabulous views! Their menu does lean toward the pricey side, but the portions are plentiful and the food comes highly rated!

A cultural highlight of LA, the Getty Museum houses a fabulous collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures, and much more! The permanent exhibits at this museum include European and American art from medieval times to present.

See Van Gogh’s Irises , and Rembrandt’s An Old Man in Military Costume . There are rotating special exhibitions on display throughout the museum. The architecture of the building is impressive and the museum’s layout is very well curated. A must-see when touring Los Angeles.

Self-guided audio tours are available for free, just submit a form of ID at the front desk in exchange for your device. Walk around the museum at your leisure and enjoy the artwork, sculptures, and artifacts.

This museum also has a large picturesque garden, which is a work of art in itself. Symmetric and well-manicured lawns and flowerbeds form patterns and designs that compliment the masterpieces found inside the museum.

Step outside and you’ll be greeted with relaxing scenery and beautiful panoramic views of Los Angeles.

Day 1 / Stop 6 – Sunset Boulevard

Why it’s awesome: This iconic street is full of great places to eat, shop, listen to live music, and people-watch.
Food recommendations: For old Hollywood glamour make sure to check out Chateau Marmont. Movie-stars are known to frequent this intimate restaurant. This is the place to go for fine dining and top-notch service. Just make sure to book a reservation before-hand, this place is always busy!

This twenty-two-mile-long road stretches from Hollywood to Malibu, while winding past Beverly Hills and Bel Air. Sunset Boulevard is one of the most famous stretches of pavement in the world, and the options for entertainment along this strip are in abundance!

If you’re in the mood for live music make sure to check out the Roxy Theater. The iconic venue is small and intimate. It has amazing acoustics and has hosted several legends including Frank Zappa and Bob Marley.

Today, you can catch a performance from some of the top indie rock bands! This is the perfect place to go for some instrumental delight and a memorable night.

Or swap a concert for some comedy and check out a show at The Comedy Store. Famous alumni include Jerry Seinfeld, Eddie Murphy, and Dave Chappelle! See up-and-coming comedians at this historic comedy club, open every day.

For shopping make sure to check out the area of Sunset Boulevard called the Sunset Strip. You’ll find options to suit all budgets and styles.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Warner Brothers Studio Tour | Los Angeles County Museum of Art | The Groove and Original Farmers Market | Venice Beach Boardwalk | Santa Monica Pier

Spend day two of your Los Angeles itinerary checking out a few more iconic Hollywood attractions before making your way to the coast!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood

Why it’s awesome: Get a behind-the-scenes look into how your favorite movies and TV shows are made, a unique Hollywood experience.
Cost: $69.00 USD to $79.00 USD
Food recommendations: Head to Don Cuco for fresh and authentic Mexican food. This colorful and upbeat family-run restaurant is great for a casual sit-down meal. The service is friendly, the portions are large, and the margaritas are divine!

For a one-of-a-kind Hollywood experience, take a Warner Brother Studios Tour . Glimpse behind the scenes of one of the oldest and most popular film studios in the world!

Tours are guided by knowledgeable and entertaining guides. Most tours last approximately three-hours and run every half hour from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm.

If you’re a fan of the sitcom Friends , you’ll be able to get up close and personal with the Central Perk Set, including the Friends couch! Fans of Harry Potter will love seeing authentic props used in the movies, including the sorting hat and Dobby the House Elf.

Experience the golden age of cinema by booking a Classic Tour. This tour focuses on classic-themed Film and TV, from the early days of the studio up to the 1970s.

Walk around the different sets and prop rooms as your favorite movies and TV shows are brought to life! Get the full Hollywood experience by taking a Warner Brothers Studio Tour, a great addition to your Los Angeles itinerary.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Why it’s awesome: This museum houses modern and ancient works of art. It is well organized and has an eclectic range of artwork.
Cost: $25.00 USD for adults, children 17 and under are free!
Food recommendations: Ray’s and Stark Bar is located on LACMA premise and offers Mediterranean fine dining and handcrafted drinks. They have happy hour specials, outdoor seating, and are kid-friendly.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the western United States! There are lots of different exhibits to check out, including several interactive exhibits.

This museum houses more than 150,000 works of art spanning the history of ancient times to present. There are permanent installations as well as temporary exhibits, so you can see something new each time you visit.

See famous paintings from Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera. The museum itself has five different buildings. You could easily spend half a day admiring each piece and reading the information shown next to each piece.

Before you enter the museum you’ll see the Urban Light exhibit at the entrance. This is arguably the most popular exhibit on display. The large-scale assemblage consists of restored street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s. Many of these street lamps were once used to light the streets of Southern California. Great for a unique photo-op!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The Groove and Original Farmers Market

Why it’s awesome: Large retail complex with endless options for shopping, food, and entertainment.
Food recommendations: Be sure to stop at See’s Candy and Sprinkles Cupcakes. Both of these sweet shops were founded in Los Angeles and have gone on to franchise across the United States.

This large outdoor mall and farmers-market has endless options for entertainment. It features high-end and budget shops as well as fine and casual dining options. Its modern and artistic architecture ties in perfectly with its pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.

You’ll find all major clothing outlets here, from H&M to Nordstrom. There are ever-changing pop-up shops offering even more shopping options. This is your one-stop destination for clothing, jewelry, souvenirs, and beauty products!

The Grove features a large fourteen-screen movie theater. Enjoy a comfortable movie experience with wall-to-wall oversize screens and immersive surround sound. Check out the full-service bar located in the theatre lobby to enjoy a pre or post-movie cocktail, beer, or wine.

The Groove and Original Farmers Market, Los Angeles

You’ll find varying events at the Grove including fitness workshops and family activities. Check out their summer concert series where you can enjoy live music outside in the warm afternoon air.

If you’re hungry, you’ll find a wide range of options to choose from. There’s everything from chocolate shops to cafes to sit-down eateries. Your dining options will be as diverse as your cravings!

The Farmers Market is located directly next to the Grove. This area has food stalls, sit-down eateries, prepared food vendors, and fresh local produce. You’ll find everything from seafood, to wine, to sweets! It has a lively atmosphere and options for everyone.

First opened in July 1934, it is a permanent installation and is open every day of the week. Featuring more than 100 vendors, this is a historic Los Angeles landmark and a big tourist attraction!

This massive complex feels like a city within a city! It’s fun for all ages and has options to keep everyone entertained.

Day 2 / Stop 4 – The Venice Beach Boardwalk

Why it’s awesome: This lively boardwalk is filled with performers, vendors, and storefronts. It has an upbeat vibe with lots of activities to keep you entertained.
Food recommendations: Venice Ale House is the place to go for great views and great food. They specialize in organic American fare and craft beers. There are options for everyone, from meat-eaters to vegans! The outdoor seating makes it the perfect place to soak up the Venice ambiance.

There’s never a dull moment at this iconic Los Angeles landmark. The Venice Beach Boardwalk is quintessential California.

The beach offers a 1-mile stretch that runs parallel to the ocean. Peruse this path for the full Venice Beach Boardwalk experience. Walk or rent a bike and cruise down the coastline. Electric bikes and scooters are available too!

Make sure to check out Muscle Beach Gym while you’re there. People of all skill levels frequent this iconic ocean-side gym. Back in the day, Arnold Schwarzenegger himself used to pump iron here. People-watch or partake in a gym-sesh. A day-pass to workout is $10.00 USD.

If you want to pick up a unique California keepsake the Venice Beach Boardwalk is filled with anything and everything you could imagine. From clothing to jewelry to recycled trash turned into art, you’ll find it all here.

Watch the most eclectic range of street performers you could image. From singing and breakdancing to performers eating fire and juggling knives, this is an awe-inspiring kind of place.

Make sure to bring an appetite when you visit. From roof-top bars to sidewalk cafes to ice cream stands, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.

Insider Tip: You can walk from Venice Beach to the Santa Monica Pier and vice versa. Just follow the two and a half mile Ocean Front Walk and you’ll be there in roughly fifty minutes!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – The Santa Monica Pier

Why it’s awesome: Located right on the beach, this lively Pier has everything from amusement rides to an aquarium. Soak up the sun and stunning views at one of the most popular Los Angeles landmarks!
Food recommendations: Head to Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe for a casual beach-side dining experience. This sports bar has a long history of providing seafood pub-grub and cold beer. The prices are reasonable and there’s plenty of outdoor patio seating!

The historic Santa Monica Pier is entertaining in so many ways. From the amazing views of the ocean to the Pacific Park amusement park, to the street entertainers, it’s a non-stop show!

The Pier itself is free to walk across and you’ll find stunning panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and sandy coastline. Take a towel and lay out on the beach, or have a dip in the cool Pacific water. A little beach time is, after all, a must for any Los Angeles itinerary.

Pacific Park is an amusement park located on the Santa Monica Pier and looks directly out to the Pacific Ocean. The park rides are pay-as-you-go, so you can ride as many, or as few as you’d like. Check out the iconic Ferris wheel for stunning views of Santa Monica in every direction. This oceanfront amusement park is vibrant and full of life!

The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is located directly under the Pier. This public aquarium operates nonprofit and charges $5.00 USD for admission, kids 12 and under are free!

There are countless restaurants and food stands in and around the Pier. Dine at a restaurant on the beach or grab some fair-food and people-watch. At any time of day you’ll find the air buzzing with live music and lively crowds!

Head to the Santa Monica Pier for some fun in the sun, or watch as the sun sets and the amusement park rides light up the night! This stop is a must if you’re planning a trip or are backpacking through Los Angeles . The views are beautiful any time of day and the open-air activities are fun for all ages!

USA Hostels Hollywood

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Los Angeles Itinerary: Day 3 and Beyond

Disneyland Park | Universal Studios Hollywood | Hollywood Bowl | The Queen Mary | Paradise Cove Beach

If you’re spending three days or more in Los Angeles, you’re going to want to check out a few more of the city’s main attractions! Here are a few extra things we think are great additions to your Los Angeles itinerary:

Disneyland Park

The original Disney Theme Park, built under the construction of Walt Disney himself.
Open long hours and every day of the year.
Firework shows Friday- Sunday night, or every night during summer.

A trip to Disneyland Park is a truly magical experience. It has something for everyone, young and old. From rides to fun-themed eateries, to parades with all your favorite characters, a trip to Disney will make for a nostalgic and spellbinding experience.

There are numerous rides to choose from that combine stimulation with visualization. Each ride tells a story and the attention to detail in every aspect of the park is impressive and enchanting.

This is one of the most popular Los Angeles points of interest and it’s recommended to spend at least a whole day here to get the full experience.

Insider Tip: Download the Disneyland app to see the wait times for all the rides!

Universal Studios Hollywood

World-famous film studio and theme park.
Perfect for families, thrill-seekers, and movie-lovers.
This theme park has state-of-the-art special effects on every ride, show, and attraction!

A trip to Universal Studios is sure to make for an action-packed day full of fun and entertainment. From rides and shows to dining and shopping, this theme park has something for everyone.

Enjoy a world-famous studio tour where you’ll go behind the scenes of iconic Hollywood sets . This sixty-minute narrated tram ride goes through four acres of historic studio lots. Check out the Bates Motel from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho , see the plane crash-site from Stephen Spielberg’s War of the Worlds , and look out for more from your favorite films.

Universal Studios Hollywood, Los Angeles

Immerse yourself in the wizarding world of Harry Potter! Visit Hogsmeade and have a butter-beer, soar over the castle grounds of Hogwarts, and visit the room of requirements!

Insider Tip: Make sure to check out Citywalk Universal, located next door to the park, right before the entrance. Here you’ll find even more shopping, dining, and entertainment options!

Hollywood Bowl

Outdoor amphitheater in the Hollywood Hills.
Watch a live performance or concert!
Wine and dine as you enjoy great acoustics and lively entertainment.

The Hollywood Bowl is a great place to watch a live performance or concert. This outdoor venue has lots of seating options and wonderful views of the Hollywood Hills.

There are many food and drink stands inside the venue to choose from. Pre-order a picnic basket and wine. Hit-up a street food vendor for an easy meal to take back to your seat, 0r simply pack your own snacks to bring along.

This casual venue is the perfect place to go for entertainment and a laid-back vibe, especially in summer. Spend a few hours watching a show and enjoying the wonderful LA weather!

If you don’t have time to catch a show, it is free to go inside and walk around the amphitheater during certain hours of the day.

The Queen Mary

Beautiful retired British ocean liner from the 1930s.
This large vessel is now open for tourism.
Rumored to be haunted, there is a large number of recorded incidents of paranormal activity in the ship’s logs!

The Queen Mary is an iconic vessel stationed on Long Beach, California, twenty-six miles from Downtown Los Angeles. Once an active sailing vessel, today it is permanently docked and open for tourism. The beauty and grandeur of the ship have been well maintained. It invites guests aboard in several capacities.

You can book a room onboard this historic vessel! There are several hotel options to choose from, each offering modern amenities with original 1930s designs. Enjoy casual or fine dining at one of the ship’s restaurants, or have a drink at the Observation Bar, styled in sophisticated 1930s fashion.

You can take a guided tour and hear more about this magnificent ship’s history and a few ghost stories. There are several tour options to choose from that cover everything from the ship’s mechanics to haunted encounters.

The Queen Mary is full of history and mystery, paranormal-enthusiasts and history-lovers will especially love this addition to their Los Angeles itinerary!

Paradise Cove Beach

Small public beach located beneath the cliffs of Malibu.
Rentable private terraces, beach beds, and loungers.
You are allowed to bring in your own alcohol, but only beer, wine, and champagne.

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without some beach time, and Paradise Cove Beach is our pick for the best beach in LA! The seclusion of this beach combined with the ability to rent out beach terraces and bring your own alcohol makes for the perfect beach day.

The beach has lifeguards on duty, clean facilities, and a private pier. Paradise Cove sits in front of a privately-owned restaurant, Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, where you can enjoy tropical drinks and American fare. The sandy coastline and pristine ocean waters make this beach perfect for your vacation in Los Angeles.

A trip to Paradise Cove can be pricey, especially if you plan to rent out beach amenities. However, if you are willing to spend a little extra to feel some vacation vibes, this is the place to do it!

Insider Tip: The beach is public, but you have to pay for parking. Parking price Monday – Friday is $35.00 USD and weekends and holidays $50.00 USD. If you eat at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, located next to the beach, most of your parking-fee is comped.

Whether you’re exploring Los Angeles in three days or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind. Generally speaking, most of Los Angeles is considered safe , especially tourist areas and places on the western and northern sides of the city.

The areas of LA that are not considered safe are Skid Row, South Central, and Compton. Not to worry, no places mentioned in your LA itinerary are located in these areas.

Like any big city, crime does occur. Watch out for pickpockets, who are skillfully experienced in taking things undetected. Keep your valuables hidden and try to travel with bags and purses that you can securely close.

If you are traveling solo, make sure to keep to the tourist areas. Try to blend in as much as possible, especially if you’re going out at night. Don’t wear anything that looks expensive (jewelry, cameras, handbags) and again, keep your valuables hidden.

If you are traveling with a car in Los Angeles, never leave valuables in plain sight in your vehicle. Keep them locked in your trunk, or even better, in your accommodation. Car break-ins are known to happen, especially if things are left in view.

Follow these simple guidelines and you should have nothing to worry about. Keep your wits about you and enjoy your time in LA!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Los Angeles

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Day trips from Los Angeles are a great way to pack even more action into your vacation. These trips are a great addition to your Los Angeles itinerary, and there are lots of options to choose from!

Palm Springs Day Tour and Outlet Shopping from Los Angeles

On this full-day tour, you’ll visit the desert oasis of Palm Springs! Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway 5,000 feet up the cliffs of Chino Canyon. At the top, you’ll be greeted with spectacular views of the Palm Springs Valley.

Visit the Living Desert Zoo where you’ll learn all about the desert ecosystem! Enjoy lunch in El Paseo, where you’ll have a break to eat, shop, and relax.

Next, enjoy a bus-tour where you can see the homes of Hollywood stars! Finish up with a trip to Desert Hills Premium Outlets before being transferred back to LA.

California Coast Day Tour from LA: Santa Barbara & Solvang

On this fourteen-hour trip, you’ll discover the coastal town of Santa Barbara and the Danish town of Solvang. You’ll drive north as you expand your Los Angeles itinerary. Witness the stunning California coast and enjoy the spread-out scenery as you leave the city.

Walk along Santa Barbara’s harbor and visit a Spanish Mission Station. Explore charming Solvang, filled with unique European architecture and quaint local shops and bakeries.

Lastly, you’ll visit Hearst Castle, built by newspaper baron William Randolph Heart. Tour this grand and extravagant mansion, a truly magnificent and unique residence.

San Diego Zoo Tickets and Transfer from LA

On this nine-hour tour, you’ll visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo! Discover some of the most exotic creatures from around the globe.

Home to over 4,000 animals, the San Diego Zoo has one of the largest collections of exotic wild animals found anywhere in the world. Check out a show, featuring various species found in the zoo. Take a leisurely guided bus tour or ride the Skysafari tram for aerial views of the animals.

This trip offers convenient round-trip transportation from Los Angeles to the Zoo’s entrance.

Round-trip Transportation to SeaWorld San Diego From L.A.

On this nine-hour day trip, you’ll explore the underwater world of SeaWorld San Diego! Experience a full-day of endless entertainment as you see and learn about underwater creatures.

SeaWorld makes learning fun and engaging. Get close enough to touch a dolphin’s fin, watch the penguins play, and stare down a fearsome shark. Watch a theatrical aquatic show where you’ll be mesmerized as you watch Orcas flip through the air and perform high-energy tricks.

Enjoy round-trip transportation from Los Angeles to SeaWorld San Diego. Sit back and relax as your professional driver takes you from LA straight to SeaWorld’s entrance!

Santa Barbara: Wine Country Tour with Picnic Lunch

On this seven-hour tour, you’ll enjoy a relaxing wine country experience. Travel by air-conditioned bus to the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County.

You’ll visit three wineries and enjoy a private wine tasting at each. Learn about the different wineries and wine from the friendly staff. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch from a private chef at one of the wineries. Cold beverages are also included.

Santa Barbara Wine Country Tour with Picnic Lunch

Before heading back, explore the small towns of either Los Olivos or Solvang. Wine-lovers especially should make sure to add this day-trip to their Los Angeles itinerary!

Stash your cash safely with this money belt. It will keep your valuables safely concealed, no matter where you go.

It looks exactly like a normal belt except for a SECRET interior pocket perfectly designed to hide a wad of cash, a passport photocopy or anything else you may wish to hide. Never get caught with your pants down again! (Unless you want to…)

Find out what people want to know when planning their Los Angeles itinerary.

How many days do I need in Los Angeles?

Exploring Los Angeles can be done in two full days, but we’d recommend adding at least 1-2 more to your trip. That way, you get to see the city without any stress or fear of missing out, plus you can add half a day of just chilling to your itinerary.

What are the most popular attractions in Los Angeles?

The Hollywood sign and the Hollywood Walk of Fame are probably the most popular attractions in Los Angeles, but if you ask us, also totally overrated. We’d recommend seeing the Venice Beach Boardwalk instead.

What should I not miss when visiting Los Angeles?

Don’t miss out on these attractions in Los Angeles: – The Venice Beach Boardwalk – Santa Monica Pier – Los Angeles County Museum of Art

What is the best family itinerary for Los Angeles?

Families will love these attractions in Los Angeles: – Warner Brothers Studio Tour Hollywood – The Groove and Original Farmers Market – The Santa Monica Pier

Los Angeles is a popular vacation destination offering the best mix of entertainment, good weather, and iconic attractions. Pulsing with style and energy, it’s a gathering place where people from around the world spend whole days shopping, dining, relaxing, and thrill-seeking.

LA is a coming-together of cultures, cuisines, and scenery. There’s nothing quite like it. There are so many places to visit in Los Angeles and each one is filled with plenty of sunshine and excitement!

From world-class museums to trendy shopping malls, to quirky beaches, to Hollywood hallmarks, there’s something for everyone. If you’re backpacking California , make sure LA is on your itinerary!

Blessed by an endless coastline and infused with a seductive spirit, it’s no wonder thousands of people travel to Los Angeles every year. Whether you’re spending three days in LA, or more, this itinerary will make sure you make the most of your trip!

Ashley Ryan

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3 Days in Los Angeles: Detailed Itinerary for First Trip (+Map & Tips)

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 8, 2023

3 Days in Los Angeles: Detailed Itinerary for First Trip (+Map & Tips)

Visiting Los Angeles for three days and wondering what to see and how to plan your time? In this guide, we share a detailed LA 3-day itinerary based on our recent trip. This itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors since it covers all the must-sees in LA.

You probably already know that Los Angeles (California, USA) is a very big city. Extending for 44 miles in one direction and almost 30 miles in the other, LA covers an area of over 500 square miles (1,300 km²). As you can imagine, planning a trip to such a vast city isn’t as straightforward.

So let’s start with a few tips that you may find helpful when planning your LA itinerary.

First, you will need a car for exploring LA. There is a pretty substantial metro network in the city and it’s expanding too, but it’s not easy to explore all the best places in LA without a car. Alternatively , you can take organized tours for some areas, use hop-on-hop-off buses for the most popular sights, and taxi/uber is also a good option for getting around without a car.

Second, everything takes longer than expected . This is because most top sights and places you’ll want to see on your first visit to LA are located far away from each other. Traffic can be quite bad too. In addition, you will need patience at the attractions too. In some places, you’ll have to park your car quite far away, in others, you will need to reserve tickets in advance, etc.

So while 3 days in LA might look like a lot of time, you will have to be quite selective about which places you decide to visit. Don’t fill your days to the last minute or it will leave you exhausted and frustrated. Instead, choose just a couple of main sites that you want to see each day and build your itinerary around them.

This article should help you do just that – see the best of LA in three days in an efficient, but relaxed way . To help you plan your trip, we also include a map indicating all the places mentioned in our article and the most convenient parking locations. In our guide, you will also find useful tips, such as tour recommendations, which tickets to prebook, suggestions for lunch/dinner, etc.

Good to know: When suggesting which places to see each day, we sometimes include additional recommendations indicated as ‘optional’. These activities will make your visit to LA much more memorable, but you can’t do each and every one of them. So pick the ones that interest you the most and perhaps skip something else to make it work.

How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Here is our recommended Los Angeles itinerary for 3 days:

On your first day in LA, we recommend focusing on what made the city famous – the movie industry. Start with Hollywood and Beverly Hills, visit film studios, see the Hollywood Sign, and enjoy the (sunset) views from Griffith Observatory.

Here’s what your first day in LA could look like:

Hollywood & Walk of Fame

No trip to Los Angeles would be complete without visiting Hollywood. The must-see places here are the Walk of Fame, Dolby Theater, and Chinese Theater.

Walk of Fame is the famous pavement on Hollywood Boulevard featuring pink stars with the names of various artists, actors, and movie directors on them. It stretches for miles and – according to Wikipedia – there are over 2700 stars here.

Unless you want to spend an entire day here counting the stars, just visit the central part of Hollywood Boulevard where the two most famous theaters are located – Dolby Theatre and Chinese Theatre.

Opened in 1927, the Chinese Theatre is one of the most iconic cinemas in Hollywood. It’s a popular venue for red-carpet movie premieres, always attracting big crowds trying to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors and other celebrities. It played home to the Oscars for a few years as well (1944-46).

In front of the Chinese Theatre, you can also see another famous Hollywood attraction – the handprints and footprints of some of the most famous Hollywood artists immortalized in cement.

Right next door, you can’t miss the Dolby Theatre . Built specifically for the Oscar ceremony and opened in 2001, it’s been home to the Oscars ever since.

Optional: If you have time, you could watch a movie at one of these theaters in the evening. Alternatively, if you want to visit inside, they both also run guided tours during the day. These tours last about 30 minutes and you can find more info on the official websites.

TIP: If you are looking for a specific star on the Walk of Fame, be sure to research its location in advance. Otherwise, the chances of you finding it are really low.

Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles - Steven Spielberg star

Beverly Hills

One of the most popular things to do in LA is to go on a celebrity tour that brings you past the most iconic places in Hollywood and Beverly Hills and passes several houses of famous Hollywood actors. There are tons of tour options , they usually take about 2 hours.

Optional: If you start your day early, plan well, and book a time slot that suits you, you could easily take such a tour on the morning of your first day in LA. This highly-rated tour is one of the best options and it fits this itinerary quite well since it starts/ends in the above-mentioned Walk of Fame area. There are hourly departures, so it’s really easy to add this to your itinerary if you want to.

These tours can be really nice if you want to see more of Hollywood and Beverly Hills without worrying about the traffic or trying to figure out where exactly to go.

If you are not taking a tour, you can also visit Beverly Hills by car. But remember that it’s a large area and so you may want to do some research in advance so that you know where to go and what to see.

TIP: One of the places to check out in Beverly Hills is the famous Rodeo Drive . This is the most expensive shopping street in LA and you will find all the big names in the fashion industry represented here. You may recognize it as the place where Julia Roberts went shopping in ‘Pretty Woman’. It’s also included in the itinerary of most Beverly Hills tours.

Depending on what you choose to do in the morning, you could have lunch in Hollywood (after the celebrity tour), somewhere in Beverly Hills, or head to your next attraction and have lunch there (as we did).

Warner Bros. Studio Tour

When visiting LA for the first time, we highly recommend taking a tour of the film studios. One of the best places for that is the Warner Bros Studio Tour . It’s just 4.5 miles (10-15 minutes drive) from the Walk of Fame in Hollywood and can easily be included in pretty much any LA itinerary.

Good to know: We highly recommend booking this tour in advance . That way, you can just arrive there for the specific time slot and be sure that you don’t waste any time waiting for the next available spot (if it’s not sold out for the day to start with). The tour is made up of three parts and generally takes about 2.5-3 hours.

After a short introductory film, you will step on a little bus which will take you to the film studios and stages. You visit the studios with a guide and this part takes about 1 hour. On the way, you will stop to explore a few of the places where movies are made, see the inside of a real filming studio, and maybe even get a chance to take some pictures on the famous ‘Friends’ couch in front of the NYC fountain (except that – obviously – it’s not in New York at all and has never been).

Warner Bros studio tour Hollywood Los Angeles

The second part of the tour is where you can explore on your own, and you can make it as long or as short as you like. Here, you can see the reconstructions of the actual film sets from ‘Friends’, ‘Big Bang Theory’, and several others.

You can have pictures taken everywhere (or take your own), and you can also opt for a video recording of yourself driving the Batmobile or flying on a Harry Potter broomstick, etc.

Here, you will also find a ‘Friends’-themed gift shop and a café/restaurant where you could have a quick lunch. We opted for the ‘Joey Special’ (pizza) and it was surprisingly good.

Central Perk Friends film set - Warner Bros studio tour in Los Angeles

Finally, you step on a shuttle again, and it brings you to the last part of the tour where you will also find a gift shop and the exit. But don’t rush through it – there are some cool costumes that you can see here, plus a few famous vehicles and other artifacts that you will recognize from some iconic films, etc. There is also an entire section for Harry Potter fans. You can sit under the famous Sorting Hat, make a potion drink, etc.

We personally really enjoyed this tour and I can highly recommend it. We did this with kids/teens and they had a great time as well.

TIP: Harry Potter-themed souvenirs are much cheaper at Warner Bros. than at Universal Studios. At least, that was the case when we visited. Some items were even 30-40% cheaper here.

READ ALSO: Warner Bros vs. Universal Studios Hollywood

Warner Bros Studio Tour Hollywood - Harry Potter letters

Hollywood Sign

Taking a picture with the iconic Hollywood sign is one of the musts in LA. You will see the sign from various locations in the city, but if you want to take a picture from somewhat closer, you may want to drive to the Hollywood Sign Viewpoint (indicated on our map).

It’s less than 4 miles/10-15 minutes drive from Warner Bros Studios. However, the road is really steep and narrow here and usually very busy with tourists. Plus, the roadside parking at the ‘viewpoint’ is very limited and if you pass by, there is no place to park or turn around anymore.

So you may want to just skip this and go straight to Griffith Observatory where you also have a pretty decent view of the Hollywood sign. In both cases, you don’t get really close to the sign, but close enough for a decent picture.

Good to know: If you want to get as close to the Hollywood sign as possible, you will have to hike. For that, head to Innsdale Trailhead (free street parking, but very limited). For the front of the sign, choose the ‘Hollywood Sign’ trailhead. If you want to get really close and see the back side of the letters from the hill, you’ll need to choose the ‘Mt Lee Summit’ trail. Going all the way to the top is strenuous and you need good shoes and lots of water. Count at least 2 hours for this hike.

TIP: You can also do this hike with a guide . This is a very highly-rated tour with a great guide who also knows all the best spots for photos. If you book well in advance, there are usually many possible starting times that you can choose from. So you could easily fit this hike into this itinerary.

As you can imagine, your overall itinerary for this day will depend on the choices that you make (take the Beverly Hills tour or not, visit the Hollywood sign viewpoint or hike to the sign, etc.). If you just drive to the viewpoint and take some pictures, it takes maybe 30-45 minutes out of your day. If you also do the hike, then you will need about 3 hours for a visit here.

Griffith Observatory

Next on your itinerary is one of the must-sees in LA – Griffith Observatory . People come here mostly for the views, but you should also visit the planetarium/museum.

Set on the hill in Griffith Park, the views from the observatory are quite nice indeed – with the entire city of Los Angeles stretching far into the horizon. As already mentioned, you also have a decent (but far) view of the Hollywood Sign from here.

Griffith Observatory is also a very popular place to come to for sunset.

If you have some time, be sure to also explore the museum inside. Comprising two levels and several halls, it’s free to visit. You can learn more about our planet system, the sun, the moon, etc. There are also regular shows at the planetarium, and you can just get the tickets on the spot.

When we visited, it was very busy here and the museum was packed. But the planetarium show (the only part where you have to pay) was available and we could just get the tickets for the next show.

The show took about 30 minutes and was ok, but definitely not a must. We had seen more interesting planetarium shows before. But they have several options, so I can’t comment on all of them. Anyway, our kids found it quite worth it, and we all agreed that it was nice to relax in a comfortable chair after all the walking and sightseeing the whole day.

Good to know: Griffith Observatory is open daily except on Mondays, until late in the evening (usually 10 pm). It sometimes closes for events. You can find all the practical info here .

Parking: This can be a nightmare. There is a parking area at the observatory itself, but it fills up quickly and they close Observatory Road not even allowing you to get closer. When we visited, we had to park at the bottom of the hill (I indicated the parking on the map), about 15 minutes walk from the observatory itself. This is a large and free parking. There’s also roadside parking on Western Canyon Road (also about 10-15 minutes walk from the Observatory), but the signs indicated that you have to pay $10 (and it was full when we visited).

Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, USA

After visiting Griffith Observatory, you may want to call it a day and find a restaurant for dinner. There is a café here too, but I would recommend looking for a nice restaurant closer to your accommodation.

We stayed in Hollywood and, after returning to our hotel, went for dinner at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (also indicated on our map).

It’s a very nice Italian restaurant and their pizza is truly as good as the one we had at the restaurant with the same name in Naples, Italy . The prices in Hollywood are not comparable to 5-6 euro pizzas in Naples though, but all the meals we had were absolutely excellent.

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Hollywood Los Angeles

On your second day in LA, you could visit one or two museums, followed by lunch/shopping at a local market, and end your day with a visit to LA’s most famous beaches. You can easily adjust this itinerary and visit The Getty Center and/or Getty Villa if you prefer.

This is what your second day in LA could look like:

Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, LACMA & Urban Light

There are quite a few nice museums in the city, but with just three days in LA, you’ll have to be selective. We recommend planning the first half of the day for this. Depending on your interests and the places you choose, you could visit one or two museums.

If you are like us and want your LA trip to be focused on something typically ‘Los Angelesy’ that you wouldn’t find anywhere else, then head to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures .

This museum is dedicated to the history of the movies and film industry. You can watch fragments from some iconic movies, get to know more about some of the most notable film directors, see costumes from various blockbusters, etc. It’s also a good place to visit with kids and teens.

Film costumes at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles

Right next door, you’ll also find the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) , which is considered one of the best museums in the city after The Getty Center. It could be a very nice addition to your LA itinerary, especially if you have a few extra hours to spare.

TIP: In addition, check out the Public Art sculpture ‘Urban Light’ which is located just outside the LACMA. This is one of LA’s most popular Instagram spots and you’ll probably also recognize it from various Hollywood movies, video clips, and various commercials. This light installation is located outside, is always open, and there is no fee to visit.

Good to know: These two museums are located just next to each other. So if you start early and don’t linger too long, you could see them both in half a day. LACMA is closed on Wednesdays.

Public Art sculpture Urban Light at Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Lunch at the Farmers Market & The Grove

Just a few blocks from the above-mentioned museums, check out The Original Farmers Market , which is a great spot for lunch in this part of LA.

This is indeed a food market where you will find stands selling fruit, vegetables, flowers, etc. Some places serve food and have seating available too. Whether you are looking for a quick bite or want to sit down for a quieter lunch, there are some really nice options here.

In addition, check out the adjacent outdoor shopping mall The Grove . Even if you are not planning to do any shopping, it’s nice to just walk through.

You will find several restaurants here as well. Since it was raining (yes, we Belgians tend to bring rain everywhere we go), all the seating at the farmers market was wet. So we had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.

Flowers for sale at the Original Farmers Market in Los Angeles

Santa Monica

In the afternoon, head to Santa Monica at the coast and visit the most popular beaches of Los Angeles.

This is a very different side of LA compared to any other area you will have seen up to now. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and you can find all the typical beach resort activities here.

Start with a visit to the Santa Monica Pier (there is a big car parking just next to it too). One of the landmarks here is the ‘End of Route 66’ sign. Indeed, this historic road starts in Chicago and ends here at the Pacific Ocean.

If you have seen the movie ‘ Forrest Gump ’, you will have to smile at the name of the restaurant ‘Bubba Grump Shrimp & Co’. At the entrance, they also have a Forrest Gump bench and a pair of oversized sneakers like the ones he used to run across America.

There are a few other restaurants at the Santa Monica Pier too. Plus, a small Ferris wheel and a few other rides for kids. You’ll see fishermen, souvenir vendors, and street artists here too. It’s a nice place to hang around for a while, watching surfers in the sea and all the people around you.

If you feel like it, you can also take a nice long walk on or along the beach. Or you can rent a bike and bike or walk to Venice Beach .

Santa Monica is a great place to spend at least a couple of hours. If you are here in the evening, be sure to stay for sunset. You can also find some nice (seafood) restaurants for dinner here as well. We had a very nice meal at The Albright on the pier itself. Despite its very touristy location, the food was excellent and very good value. Plus, we really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere.

On the third day in LA, we recommend that you visit Universal Studios. The ticket is valid for an entire day, and indeed, you can easily spend the whole day here. Alternatively, you can just do their iconic studio tour in the morning and then visit one of LA’s most famous museums in the afternoon. If you are not interested in Universal Studios at all, you can devote the entire day to the museums – see our recommendations below.

Here are some of the places you could visit on the third day in LA:

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is a working film studio, but also a theme park. The theme park has expanded so much over the years that you would almost forget this is the place where some of the most famous movies are being filmed.

As fun as the rides are, the main reason we highly recommend visiting Universal Studios Hollywood is for their iconic and world-famous studio tour . We have done it in the past, but while the concept of the tour remains the same, it’s been enhanced and improved so much in recent years.

The studio tour takes about 1 hour and takes you behind the scenes of a real movie studio. You can see some film sets and experience quite a few really cool features that make you feel like you are in a movie yourself. It’s really well done, with intense 3D experiences, exhilarating high-speed chases, and so much more. In addition, check out the WaterWorld , which has been their most popular show for decades (prepare to get very wet!).

If you decide to spend an entire day here, you won’t get bored. There are so many fun things to do at Universal Studios Hollywood and you may want to make the most out of your (not-so-cheap) ticket!

On the other hand, most attractions and rides are similar to what you find at other theme parks too. So if you want to make the most of your three days in LA, in the afternoon, you may want to visit a few other landmarks instead.

TIP: Reserve your tickets for Universal Studios in advance – it will save you a lot of time at the entrance. With an advance booking, you get a ticket with a QR code and can head straight to the entrance. You only have to pass the security line.

We booked our tickets via GetYourGuide and it was so much simpler than the official site which overloads you with so much unnecessary information and choices. Not even to mention that it’s easy to cancel or reschedule.

LEARN MORE: Tips for Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood

Hogwarts Castle at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios Hollywood, LA

Alternative Suggestions for Day 3 in LA

If you decide to visit Universal Studios for just a few hours, or if you are not interested in the film studios tour at all, you could see one (or both) of the Getty sites on your third day in LA. Alternatively, you can opt to explore the LA downtown area and visit the contemporary art museum The Broad.

If you only have the afternoon free, it’s best to choose just one place because on most days these museums close at 5-6 pm. If you have the whole day, you can definitely visit two places. If you would happen to visit on one of the late-opening days, you could even see all three.

Here are some additional suggestions for day 3:

The Getty Center is probably the most famous art museum in Los Angeles. Set over six buildings, it features a very impressive art collection from the Middle Ages to the late 19th century.

The permanent collection features works by Leonardo Da Vinci, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Bernini, and Rembrandt to mention just a few. In addition, there are temporary exhibitions as well.

Many people visit The Getty not just for the art, but also for the impressive architecture of the Getty Center, its gardens, and stunning panoramic views of the city.

Good to know: The museum is open daily except on Mondays and the entrance is free of charge. However, you have to reserve a timed-entry spot in advance. Plus, you have to pay for the parking. See their website for more info. We indicated the location of the parking on our map (it’s the only way to get to the museum if you are coming by car). The parking is located much lower than the museum and there is a ‘train’ that brings you up the hill.

All in all, you should count at least 3-4 hours for a visit here.

TIP: If you are interested to learn more about the center and the art, you can also book a private guided tour of the museum .

The Getty Villa

The Getty Villa Museum is located close to the coast, about 20-30 minutes drive from the Getty Center. Its architecture was inspired by old Roman villas and the art here is focused on ancient Greek and Roman times.

In addition to the museum, you can also explore the beautiful gardens. A visit here will take you from the hustle and the bustle of LA and transform you into ancient Europe.

If you have never been to Pompeii or Herculaneum in the Naples area in southern Italy, a visit here will give you somewhat of an idea of how a luxury Roman villa would have looked like two thousand years ago.

Good to know: The Getty Villa is open daily except on Tuesdays. Also here, the entrance is free of charge, but you have to reserve timed entry tickets in advance and pay for the parking see here ). Also here, you can opt for a guided tour if you’d like to get a better understanding of what this place is about.

The Broad is a modern art museum in Los Angeles downtown. It has rotating exhibitions and when we visited, you could also see one of Yayoi Kusama’s famous Infinity Mirror Rooms. We had seen one of these in the Swarovski World in Austria in the past and now also in LA and it remains a really special experience.

But also the other exhibitions at the Broad are really interesting, especially if you like modern art.

Good to know: The regular exhibition at The Broad is free of charge and you don’t need to reserve. They have a big underground parking garage and you get a small discount if you validate the ticket inside the museum. The Infinity Mirror Room requires a timed-entry reservation. You can find more info on the website of the museum .

You only need about 1 hour to visit this museum, so – time permitting and depending on your itinerary – you could also explore a bit more of the downtown area. If you have more time in this area, you may want to check out Elysian Park where you’ll also find a nice viewpoint overlooking the city.

Lunch & Dinner

Depending on what you choose to do, you can have lunch at Universal Studios or at one of the Getty museums. For dinner, it really depends on where you end your day.

We had dinner at Miceli’s Italian restaurant in Hollywood. They had live music and the food was quite good, just double-check what you order if you eat here. For some strange reason, some of their pizzas have garlic on them… This is something we never experienced in any Italian restaurant before (and most definitely not in Italy)…

Miceli's Italian restaurant in Hollywood LA

Where to Stay for 3 Days in LA

If you are wondering where to stay for sightseeing in LA, there are countless options. I recommend that you choose a place which is somewhat central to everything you want to see.

We chose to stay in the Hollywood area because it was quite central for most of the places that we visited, easy to reach from the highway, and close to the metro (which we used once – to go to Universal Studios). There are also lots of restaurants in this area. It’s not the nicest area of LA, but it’s very convenient for sightseeing and offers good price/quality.

Here are some of the best-rated hotels in this area for various budgets:

$$$$$ The Hollywood Roosevelt $$$$ Loews Hollywood Hotel $$$ Holiday Inn Hollywood Walk of Fame $$ Hollywood Celebrity Hotel $ Orange Drive Hostel

We also considered hotels close to Universal Studios – that area is also very central to most of the sights mentioned in this itinerary.

If you are looking for something a bit more exclusive, you’ll find some really nice hotels in Beverly Hills .

So, this is a suggested 3-day Los Angeles itinerary based on our personal experience.

Of course, you can switch the days around, combine several different attractions in a day, and just choose to visit the places that interest you the most. I hope that this gives you an idea of some of the main places to see in LA and how you could cover all these sights in just three days.

Have a great trip!

READ ALSO: San Diego Itinerary (1-3 Days)

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin these images!

What to see in Los Angeles in 3 days - things to do and itinerary

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More itineraries for city trips in the USA:

1 Day in New York .
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Thursday 9th of March 2023

Hi Jurga, thank you for such a comprehensive guide. We are going to LA in May so this is very helpful. I also read your article comparing film studios. Very good info. Thanks again

Friday 10th of March 2023

Glad to help, Dan. Have a great time in LA!

Tuesday 14th of February 2023

sounds great. I'll have to try it. thanks

Thursday 16th of February 2023

Glad to hear that, Anthony. Happy travels!

Sunday 12th of February 2023

I'm a Los Angeles native and have been taking my family and friends touring for years. Yes, you checked all of the iconic blocks, but you missed on some of the best of the best.

We have beautiful mountains and pristine beaches, not just Santa Monica and Venice which are touristy and the latter is now just beginning to recover from years of homeless encampments. There are hikes, from easy to challenging. Tidepools, wonderful for folks who don't live in a coastal region. So many ethnic cuisines... two nights, both at Italian restaurants, when we have so much more to offer!

My 10 and 13 year old guests who are amusement park junkies to their core, spent a week with us, and were happy with one Hollywood theme park! Instead, we went to the Aquarium, Port of Los Angeles (biggest in the world and they were gobsmacked by it's massiveness!), a Dodger game, beaches, and so much more!

Next time you're in town, head to less touristy spots, where you might actually see real stars instead of statues!

Wednesday 15th of February 2023

Hi Nanette, I understand exactly what you mean. But our guides - like this one - are meant for first-time visitors who want to see all the ‘musts’ in just a few days. Any destination in the world has countless amazing things to offer to those who have more time to explore. But if you go to Paris or London for the first time and you only have limited time, you’ll want to see the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, or the Big Ben, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace. And Iceland locals will also tell you that Golden Circle is not the best place to go to and that the famous tomato restaurant is for tourists, but if you’re visiting for the first time, that’s exactly where you will want to go. So when you read our website as a local vs tourist, try to remember that we always write with tourists in mind. We know our audience and the biggest majority of our readers who will travel to LA for just a few days will want to visit all those ‘must-see’ places that made the city famous. That also includes film studios. And no, these are not the only things we did in LA, but that’s what I would recommend to our readers who only have 3 days in the city. As for the food, everyone can choose what they like and I think I made it more than clear that there are tons of options. Italian was our kids choice. After two weeks of eating Mexican and American food, they wanted something they are familiar with :). I am sure that our readers with children can relate to that too. Happy travels!

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5 Days In Los Angeles: A Complete L.A. Itinerary

Since we’re from the Bay Area, we’re obligated to turn our noses up at any mention of Los Angeles or Southern California in general as part of a friendly rivalry between the northern and southern California contingents. But, if we’re being honest, LA is a pretty cool city. Sure, it’s full of traffic, new age hippies driving Land Rovers, and really, really awful drivers. We got cut off three times IN A BLOCK (twice by Land Rovers) on one of our trips across LA, which really drives home all three points. And don’t get us wrong – over 5 days in Los Angeles, you’ll probably be spending PLENTY of time in traffic.

Would we move to LA? Probably not. It’s not our type (we like to walk, and learned that walking in LA isn’t super pleasant when there’s a six lane road next to the sidewalk). Is it a great place to visit? Definitely yes. There’s a ton to do, see, eat, and drink in LA and just outside the city limits. Alysha remarked that it’s like NYC in the sense that, whatever you’re into, you can probably find it in LA.

We also learned that LA is massive, which is why it’s important to think about how to organize your time to make the most of it and avoid spending your time in the car. This guide will arm you with the information you need to plan the perfect 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, from the logistics (yes, you need to rent a car) to the best way to spend your time.

Planning a Trip to LA? Read my other guides to discover something new to add to your itinerary!

Where to Stay in LA: A Complete Guide to LA’s 3 Best Areas
The Best Gluten Free Restaurants in Los Angeles

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.

Where to Stay for 5 Days in L.A.

Before we get to specific recommendations, let’s get one thing out of the way: do not stay in an Airbnb in Los Angeles . L.A., like many cities on the west coast including our hometowns of Seattle and San Francisco), is in the midst of a full fledged housing crisis. The city is trying to crack down on illegal rental units, but they’re still found all across the city. In fact, we’d venture to say that MOST of the Airbnb listings in L.A. are in a grey area, if not completely illegal.

We love staying in Airbnbs in places that aren’t cities, but it doesn’t feel like the right choice in Los Angeles.

Lucky for you, L.A. has a ton of great hotels. Our top recommendation would be to find a great hotel in one of L.A.’s best neighborhoods . If you choose to rent a car, be prepared to pay a little extra for overnight parking in places like Downtown and Santa Monica.

The two best neighborhoods to look at are going to be Santa Monica for all the beach vibes , and Silver Lake or Echo Park, which is hipster paradise (I mean that in the best way possible) and is our favorite part of LA to stay in thanks to its central location between Hollywood and Downtown.

DO NOT STAY IN HOLLYWOOD. You’ll thank me later.

One thing to consider – since you have five days, you could absolutely spend 2-3 days in each area, to experience the best of both worlds. Staying in Silver Lake puts you close to downtown and some of the more urban feeling parts of the city, while Santa Monica puts you right on the beach, which is a completely different vibe.

Don’t miss my guide to the best places to stay in Los Angeles .

Staying in Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a little more residential, though Sunset Blvd runs right through it and it is lined with all sorts of fun shops, bars, and restaurants. We loved the area north of Sunset between the two, near Elysian Park, where you’ll be super central to both Silver Lake and Echo Park. This area is right in the middle of Hollywood and Downtown, and will serve as a great home base for 5 days in LA.

There’s only a couple of hotel choices here, as the area is mainly residential.

We were THIS close to staying at the Silver Lake Pool & Inn , but ultimately decided to stay elsewhere to be closer to the beach. It’s a gorgeous property with all the amenities – including a pool, as the name suggests – and it’s smack dab in the middle of Silver Lake, walking distance to great bars, coffee, food, and more.

The other option we like is Noon on Sunset Hill , which is more of a cross between a B&B and a hostel, with private rooms (with private bathrooms) and some shared common areas, including a kitchen. It’s a small place, and it would be a more social stay than staying at a different hotel thanks to all the common spaces, including two decks.

Staying in Santa Monica

In Santa Monica, look at the northwestern part of the neighborhood near Montana Ave, which was our favorite “cutesy” street in all of LA. You’ll be within walking distance of great coffee, bars, and restaurants, and also the glitz and glam of Santa Monica State Beach and the Third Street Promenade.

Keep in mind, this part of L.A. is expensive. We have a suggestion below for people who are on a budget, but want to be near the beach.

Recommended Hotels: The Palihouse Santa Monica is nice, and is in a great location just blocks from the beach, Montana Avenue (our favorite stretch in LA), AND the Third Street Promenade. The Santa Monica Proper is equally gorgeous. More affordable options include the Shore Hotel and the Georgian Hotel , which are both right along the closest street to the beach.

On a Budget, But Want the Beach? Stay in Venice!

If you’re on a budget but still want to be near the beach, look at nearby Venice Beach , which is like Santa Monica’s slightly odd cousin who sometimes forgets to shower, but is generally a good time.

Venice is… interesting. It’s an iconic part of L.A., and there are some great areas with tons of bars, restaurants, and things to do and see. A stroll through the canals is a must-do, as is a walk up Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Recommended Hotels in Venice: Hotel Erwin is right near the Venice sign, and is a perfect spot to base yourself for exploring the area. A little further off the beach (but still within walking distance) are two other good options – the Kinney and Inn at Venice Beach .

Your Complete 5 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

A quick note before we get into it – I have Celiac Disease, which means I need to eat strictly gluten free. In fact, this site started with my gluten free travel guides . Because of that, we don’t get to eat at most of the amazing restaurants in LA.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. You’ll find a few gluten free restaurant recommendations in the itinerary for LA below (don’t miss my complete guide to eating gluten free in Los Angeles), but for my non-gluten-free friends, here are a few resources to check out regarding the best restaurants in LA.

The Eater Guide to LA
38 Essential LA Restaurants (Eater)
Female Foodie’s Guide to the 25 Best Restaurants in LA
A First Timer’s Guide to Eating in LA (The Infatuation)

Use those guides to plan your food stops if you don’t need to eat gluten free, like me. Eat all the tacos, Korean food, and avocado toasts you can!

With that out of the way, let’s get into it.

Day 1: The Beaches

On your first day in Los Angeles, soak up alllll the beach vibes with a trip out to Santa Monica, the crown jewel of LA’s west side, and its no-less-famous little brother that sometimes forgets to shower, Venice Beach.

This was among our favorite parts of the city, particularly along the most “cutesy” street in LA – Montana Ave on the north side of the area.

Morning: Santa Monica

Start your day on Montana Ave, before making the journey first to the Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Pier, and further on to Venice Beach.

Montana Avenue

Montana Avenue is a stretch that is on the north side of Santa Monica, and the piece of the street between 7th and 20th is one of our favorite parts of LA (also, one of the bougiest).

There’s enough here to occupy you for most of the day, but you should start with some of the best coffee in Los Angeles at Primo Passo Coffee Co , which almost always has a line out the door of people eagerly awaiting their morning fuel to tackle the day.

Next, head northeast along Montana Ave towards 20th, taking your time and browsing the wide variety of shops, stores, and cafes that line the street. Here are some spots not to miss along the way.

There are TWO gluten free bakeries within a block of each other – Erin Mckenna’s Bakery and BreadBlok – the latter of which is one of the best gluten free bakeries in LA.
If you’re more into shopping, Burro was one of our favorite stores in LA, full of all sorts of knick-knacks, cute cards, and offbeat gifts. Another great place to shop is Brentwood General Store , which sells a variety of handcrafted home goods.
If you’re looking for a hard-to-find wine or bottle of craft beer , the Duck Blind has a great selection.
Do you like cheese ? We do. Andrew’s Cheese Shop is worth a stop in, even if you aren’t going to buy anything. There’s a huge selection of cheese (duh) but also gourmet food items like pepper jelly and Vermont maple syrup that make great gifts.

Once you make it to around 17th Street, the neighborhood becomes pretty residential, and it’s time to head to your next stop – the Third Street Promenade . It’s just over a mile, and I’d recommend walking.

The Third Street Promenade and the Santa Monica Pier

This is by far one of the most touristy spots in LA, but it’s definitely worth a visit. The Third Street Promenade is a pedestrian-only stretch in Santa Monica lined with all sorts of stores (mostly of the chain variety) and more importantly, leafy dinosaur fountains.

Start on the north end of the street and walk south towards the Santa Monica Pier.

If you find yourself craving more coffee, Demitasse is a great choice, and it serves as a perfect starting point for your journey down 3rd Street.

I don’t have too many specific recommendations for this stretch other than walking slowly, doing some people watching, and stopping into any stores that catch your attention. There’s an Apple Store and an Urban Outfitters, along with just about every chain store you can imagine.

Here are some neighborhood gems to check out.

Misfit Bar and Restaurant is a good spot for lunch, or just a drink with plenty of gluten free options, including a dedicated fryer. They have solid happy hour deals too from open to 6pm. Note : They’re only open for lunch Thursday to Sunday.
Chris + Mary is a cool little family owned boutique that reflects the interests of its two owners… Chris and Mary. They stock socially conscious products free from cruelty and inhumane labor practices.

I really loved this guide to Santa Monica from a local, which helped me discover a few of the places above.

You won’t want to miss the Santa Monica Farmers Market , which is where big name chefs go to stock up on produce for their restaurants in LA. It’s held on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 8am to 1pm along Arizona Avenue right in the middle of the promenade. If your trip falls on either of those two days (which math tells me it must), then move day 1 to be either a Wednesday or Saturday. It’s worth it, we think.

Walk all the way to Colorado Avenue and turn right, which will lead you straight to the Santa Monica Pier.

To be completely honest, we had no idea that there’s a fully functioning roller coaster and arcade here. As we were walking up, I was thinking to myself “wait, is that… a roller coaster?”

Turns out, Pacific Park , the mini amusement park on the Pier, has a roller coaster, Ferris Wheel (is there a requirement that every city have a Ferris Wheel now?) and a handful of (overpriced and mediocre) restaurants. Still, it’s a fun stop, especially with kids, and it’s free to walk through.

Walk to the end of the pier and back, then head south along the beach path towards Venice Beach. You’ll be walking along Santa Monica State Beach , one of the most iconic beaches in LA and all of Southern California. This is the spot to bring your beach blanket and picnic on a warm day (so, every day) and lounge in the sun with thousands of your new best friends.

Next, head south to Venice, either on foot, or by renting a bike from Santa Monica Bike Rentals (but you’ll have to bring it back).

Renting a bike is actually a great way to explore Santa Monica , and would be a great addition to this first day of your LA itinerary. You could rent a bike, head up to Montana Ave, then ride back down near 3rd Street to the pier and onwards to Venice, and then bring it back at the end of the day.

Afternoon: Venice

Venice Beach, home of the boardwalk and famous bodybuilding gym on the beach, is full of contradictions. Particularly between the vibrant, lively, and sometimes sketchy boardwalk area, which is lined with family-owned shops and stalls selling all sorts of things, from “I <3 LA” thongs (not the sandal kind) to some really good tacos, and Abbot Kinney Blvd, which is cool, calm, and polished.

Here are some things to do near Venice Beach.

Walk the boardwalk and take in the sights, sounds, and smells that make Venice special.
Get coffee near the beach at Menotti’s Coffee Stop. If you’re in the mood for food, head to Great White instead, which is across the street near the famous Venice sign.
Explore Abbot Kinney Blvd . Get coffee at Blue Bottle or Intelligentsia. Shop at Burro (again), Urbanic for all sorts of cards, notebooks, and stationary, and Grow Venice, which has all of the plants and pots to go with them. More stops include Salt and Bazaar. Erewhon Market is a high-end gourmet grocery store at the east end of the street that is worth a stop for foodies. Sweetfin is a 100% gluten free poke restaurant that is good for a quick bite to eat. There are a ton of shops here, including storefronts for a few of the direct-to-consumer online brands like Casper and Warby Parker. It’s very hip, and worth a walk all the way down and back.
Explore the Venice Canals , which are full of incredible houses that we were daydreaming about owning someday before we looked at the Zillow values. Walk from the end of Abbot Kinney along N Venice Blvd.
Devour delicious ice cream at either Salt & Straw or Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, two imports from Portland and Chicago respectively.
Grab a drink at Venice Ale House, Roosterfish (a fun gay bar) or Venice Beach Wines.

That’s plenty of ground to cover on your first day, so grab some dinner either in Venice or back near your hotel, and relax (or, head to Roosterfish and get wild. Your call).

Day 2: Melrose Place and Hollywood

This is quintessential LA, I think. When I think of LA, I think of Sunset Blvd running through Hollywood and Melrose Place, which is lined with upscale boutiques and hip coffee shops, among other things.

It’s not really the most interesting part of LA, but every Los Angeles itinerary has to include a stop at the Walk of Fame, right?

Today, start in Beverly Hills before making a sweeping half circle all the way through Hollywood, with a stop at Melrose Place and the surrounding area in the middle.

Morning: Beverly Hills & Melrose Place

That’s where I want to be!

Anyone else get that Weezer song stuck in their head immediately after hearing the words Beverly Hills? Just me? Okay then.

Beverly Hills

First, start your day at the Beverly Gardens, which is where you’ll find the Beverly Hills sign. Alfred Coffee, the first real Insta-famous coffee shop, is right across the street if you need a caffeine fix (although there’s better coffee nearby – more on that in a second).

From there, walk down Rodeo Drive, which might be one of the most ritzy drives in the entire world. Shops with prices outside of our budget line the street, and you might even spot a celebrity ducking in or out of one. Although I will say we were in LA for over a week and saw exactly ZERO celebrities.

Then, if you skipped Alfred’s and held out for some of the best coffee in LA, you’re in luck.

While this part of the city doesn’t have a ton of interesting spots, at least in my opinion, it does happen to have some pretty good coffee options. Head to La Colombe , which is at the northwest corner of the area on Santa Monica Blvd, or Blue Bottle Coffee (a Bay Area native) or Aharon Coffee (fun latte art) which are both along S Beverly Drive to the south of Rodeo.

Wander down Rodeo Drive, then onto S Beverly Blvd. There are all sorts of restaurants and cafes along S Beverly, so take your time, wander a bit, and make a few stops along the way.

The Original Farmers Market (and the Grove, I guess)

Next, head to the Original Farmers Market and the Grove.

The Original Farmers Market is a cool spot, full of a ton of different vendors including a bunch serving fresh food, a store full of French products, and spices and coffee boutiques. See them all here . Walk the market and take in all the smells and sights. It’s a great spot to buy food-related souvenirs or gifts too.

The Grove is just a mall. But somehow it’s super famous, and I can’t pinpoint where I first heard about it. But it’s really just a typical SoCal indoor/outdoor mall.

Nearby, Melrose Trading Post is worth a stop if you’re in town on a Sunday, which is the only day it’s open. It’s like a big flea market, with a combination of local artisans (like a guy selling clocks made of books – imagine Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone with a working clock on the front cover) and people who must hit all the thrift stores in LA, then sell their best finds at the market. It wasn’t really our scene, but it’s definitely worth a stop and a walkthrough. It costs $5 to enter.

3rd Ave & Melrose Place

The stretch along 3rd Ave is one of the best in the city if you like coffee and gluten free food. Here are the highlights.

Verve Coffee Roasters : A Santa Cruz based coffee company that I love. Amazing pour over coffee and espresso drinks.
Fonuts : 100% gluten free baked donuts (so they’re more like cake than a fried donut). The Blueberry Earl Grey is to die for. Plenty of vegan options too.
Sweetfin : 100% gluten free poke bowls. Great fast casual lunch option.
Ecco un Poco : Amazing 100% gluten free gelato – yes even the cones! The owners were the ones behind the counter when we went, and painstakingly explained to us where the pistachios, hazelnuts, and lemons they use were sourced from. In case you’re wondering, it was Sicily, Italy, and the Santa Monica Farmers Market.

Melrose Place is worth a stop, but it’s really just high end shops that are out of your price range, along with a few gems like Alfred Coffee.

Afternoon: Hollywood – East and West

The two parts of Hollywood are…different, to say the least. This is just our opinion, but we think West Hollywood is young, hip, and lively, while East Hollywood, near the Walk of Fame, is old, stuffy, and boring.

It’s worth a stop in both to see them for yourself.

West Hollywood

It’s about lunch time, and you should head to Guisados for lunch . It was one of our favorite food spots in Los Angeles.

Unlike most taco shops in LA, which tend to serve up grilled taco fillings, Guisados is focused on slow simmered, uber flavorful stewed fillings known as “tacos de guisado.” We first came across these delectable delicacies in Mexico City at Tacos Hola, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in the US before our trip to LA.

Guisados is the gold standard, and they put their stewed fillings like cochinita pibil, a succulent stewed pork with achiote and peppers, and my favorite, chorizo, on top of thicker-than-usual handmade corn tortillas. If you want to try a bunch of different fillings, opt for the sampler platter, where you can choose six of them as mini tacos. That’s what we did.

Gluten free note : everything is gluten free with the exception of the shrimp and vegan tacos, and some of the specials. Definitely double check with the staff, who were friendly and helpful in my experience. Moles are safe here!

West Hollywood is nightlife central in LA, and is also the heart of the LGBTQ+ community in the city, which you’ll notice as you walk down Santa Monica Blvd and see the endless string of gay bars lining the wide street.

Here are some things not to miss in WeHo (because everybody loves abbreviations a little too much).

Explore the Design District , which is just south of WeHo and has a Verve Coffee location along with all sorts of boutiques, design firms, and restaurants. The Museum of Contemporary Art is also cool.
Come back and catch a comedy show at the Comedy Store , one of the most famous comedy clubs in the world.
Browse for your next great read at Book Soup , a great bookstore on Sunset in West Hollywood.
Eat at Night + Market , which dishes out incredible Thai food that is beloved by LA residents from all walks of life.

Next, continue along Sunset to Hollywood, which is a great place to end the day.

Hollywood gets all the fame, but it’s really not that cool, if we’re being completely honest. It’s full of tourists and lacks a lot of the character that some parts of LA exude.

There are exactly three things you should do in Hollywood.

Go to the Walk of Fame . Let me make an important caveat here. The Walk of Fame is not terribly impressive. In fact, I’d probably skip it. But when in Rome, right? Except, in this case, there are no Romans are going to the Walk of Fame. But if you’re in the area and you want to take a picture with your favorite actor’s star, it’s worth a quick stop. Given your limited time in LA, I’d recommend spending your time elsewhere.

Eat at In-N-Out , a California institution. They have a set menu of burgers, fries, and shakes, along with an extensive not-so-secret menu. Animal style fries. You’re welcome. The fries are hand cut, the burgers are fresh, and it’s one of the best value meals you’re going to find in all of LA. We try to make it to In-N-Out as often as possible since they have a solid gluten free offering (order “protein style with a gluten allergy, and no special sauce – special sauce packet on the side please!”)

Grab a drink at one of Hollywood’s (and WeHo’s) many offerings. Bar Marmont and the rooftop bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel are a good start.

Day 3: Downtown LA and the Arts District

Downtown LA and the nearby Arts District are up and coming areas in LA, and are a great example of the changing city.

Blocks away from notorious Skid Row, where streets are lined with homeless encampments that serve as an in-your-face reminder of the housing crisis in cities on the West Coast, you’ll find the Arts District packed with all sorts of specialty coffee shops, Instagrammable bars and restaurants, high end boutiques, artist collectives, and more.

Let’s talk about the ever-growing homeless population for a second. When you are in Downtown LA, you will see homeless folks and people struggling with addiction and other mental health issues. Take a second to recognize that the homeless are real people with real feelings and issues just like you before you pass judgement. They are victims of a society that has left them behind to fend for themselves, either in terms of affordable housing or mental health issues.

Morning: Downtown LA

Start your morning by heading downtown.

Coffee lovers should make a quick detour up to Chinatown to visit Endorffeine , a coffee shop run by a literal scientist-turned-barista who is the only person that will craft your precisely made drink. It’s worth the detour, and I think it’s among the best coffee shops in Los Angeles.

Otherwise, start at Grand Central Market , the beating heart of this part of Downtown LA.

If you’re not eating gluten free, then you need to grab breakfast at Eggslut , the highly acclaimed breakfast sandwich spot who happens to have a stall at Grand Central Market. Once you’re fueled up, explore the rest of the market. There are all sorts of vendors – from produce stands, to taco shops, to pupuserias, and Thai street food – and it’s easy to spend an hour walking around and trying them all.

Once you’re done at the market, head out to explore the area just to the north, which has several sights worth seeing all in a convenient little four block radius.

Grand Park is the open green space that most of the sights here are set around.
LA City Hall is a towering building at the southeast corner of Grand Park.
On the north side of the park is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels , an impressive cathedral that blends in nicely amongst the modern buildings of Downtown LA.
Several theaters line the northwestern edge of the park, including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion , where you’ll find the LA Opera, and the Ahmanson Theatre , which is where you’ll find the smash hits straight off of Broadway.
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is just off the southwest corner of the park, and is home to the LA Philharmonic . If you want a Beethoven concert, this is where to find it.
A block south is the Broad , the best museum in Los Angeles. It’s full of rotating modern art exhibits, and is free to enter, though lines can be long, and you need tickets for some of the exhibitions they bring in.

Next, head over to the Last Bookstore and SUPPORT INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORES. It’s somewhat dark and dingy inside, but they have a huge collection of books from all genres, along with a wide selection of used books (they’re mixed in on the shelves with the new ones, mostly).

Exploring the Arts District

After making the rounds of that area, either drive or take a Lyft over to the Arts District. I say drive or take a Lyft (rather than walking) because you’ll basically need to go right through Skid Row to get there. Better safe than sorry.

First, start at Verve Coffee Roasters at the north end, and make your way south along Mateo Street, ending at Wine Stop DTLA.

Here are a few highlights along the way.

Food (not gluten free, sadly): Zinc Cafe , Urban Radish (part grocery store, too), and Guerilla Tacos (the OG LA taco truck, or at least one of them, now has a restaurant).
Coffee : Verve and Blue Bottle have outposts along Mateo Street.
Bars : Everson Royce is the best of the bunch. Little Bear is good for beer lovers with their huge selection of Belgian beers on tap and in bottles, along with plenty of local California options too.
It should come as no surprise that there’s an urban distillery in this industrial-chic part of LA – Greenbar Distillery – who makes all sorts of organic and sustainably made spirits in their space at the south end of the Arts District. Book a guided distillery tour or a guided spirit tasting for an afternoon of learning (and drinking, obviously), which will cost $15 a person.
Wine Stop is a good spot to pick up a good and unique bottle of wine. Their helpful staff will help you find a bottle that fits your taste and budget.

Once you’ve finished that stretch, head over to Row DTLA , which is a unique anti-mall sort of mall, which is more than a little bit ironic. It’s an open air mall of old warehouses packed with all sorts of hip boutiques selling everything from bikes to cider. And some of the most creative and innovative companies in LA have offices on the upper floors.

Here’s what we discovered (and loved):

Pikunico : Japanese-style fried chicken – ”karaage” – where everything except the buns are gluten free (double check that though – things may have changed). I was devastated when we showed up and they were temporarily closed. Next time.
Go Get Em Tiger and Paramount Coffee Project are both among the best coffee shops in LA.
Flask and Field is a great wine store, with plenty of hard-to-find beer and cider to choose from too.
Hightide is a cool Japanese stationery shop right next to the parking structure. By Japanese, I mean it’s a Japanese brand, not that everything is in Japanese. Pop in to pick up a new pen, or find the perfect birthday card.

Smorgasburg LA

If you happen to be in town on a Sunday, then you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO stop by Smorgasburg , a huge open air food market with hundreds of local food vendors serving an eclectic and diverse collection of food. You can see all the vendors on their website. Come with an empty stomach. It’s behind the Row on Sundays.

Day 4: Silver Lake & Echo Park

Saving some of the best for last, Silver Lake and Echo Park are two incredible neighborhoods perched between Downtown LA and Hollywood.

You’ll start in Echo Park, make your way to Silver Lake, and end with a sunset at Griffith Park and Observatory. Along the way, you’ll discover some of the best food, drinks, and coffee in the entire city.

Smushed between Downtown LA and Silver Lake and home to Dodger Stadium, Echo Park is an up and coming neighborhood, although I think it has probably reached the crest of its transition to mainstream by now.

Silver Lake is the more upscale between the two, but Echo Park has plenty of charm in its own right. It is one of the neighborhoods that has undergone a major transformation in the recent past, with gentrification transforming the area from a predominantly LatinX neighborhood to one full of coffee shops, trendy restaurants, vintage boutiques (including a candle store ) and dingy dive bars that trendsetters and creatives love.

Whatever your feelings about gentrification may be, Echo Park is well worth a morning of exploring.

Start with coffee at one of the three incredible coffee shops in this part of town.

Eightfold Coffee : Eightfold uses Heart Coffee, one of my favorite coffee shops in Portland, and the coffee is outstanding. The cafe also has a curated wall of books along with plenty of seating including some individual tables, and a communal table.
Bloom and Plume Coffee : This black-owned cafe brands itself as a community meeting place. The owner, Maurice Harris also owns a florist shop and has decked the coffee shop out in beautiful floral arrangements. Come here for delicious coffee in a stunning environment.
Woodcat Coffee: This locally owned cafe is an institution in Echo Park and is always packed with locals grabbing their morning caffeine fix. It offers a small breakfast menu, fresh pastries, and great classic coffee.

Next, get to exploring! Here are some of our favorite spots that we discovered in Echo Park.

600 acres of greenery and LA views at Elysian Park . Hike the 3 miles (round trip) to Angel’s Point for some of the best views in the city.
Rent a pedal boat on Echo Park Lake , though we didn’t actually do this, it would be a great family-friendly activity.
Catch an LA Dodger’s game at Dodger Stadium and marvel over the sunset over the stadium with the mountains in the distance.
Get breakfast at Honey Hi , a super hip 100% gluten free cafe that serves breakfast bowls and avocado toast made with locally sourced organic ingredients. They were briefly closed when we stopped by, and it was tragic to miss it.
Best places to come back to later in the day for a drink : for wine, including a good selection of natural wine, head to Bar Bandini . Bar Caló is an agave-based cocktail bar, using mezcal to craft unique cocktails alongside Mexican bar snacks. Next door is Sunset Beer Co , which beer lovers should definitely not miss – they have a good selection of gluten free beer and cider too.
Browse the shelves at Stories Bookstore . This bookstore’s shelves are full of preloved books from classics to rare finds. On the outdoor patio is a small cafe where you can sit and enjoy the book you just purchased.
Shop for an eclectic selection of things you didn’t know you needed at Shout and About , and stop by Cookbook LA for a high end grocery store focusing exclusively on locally grown and produced food, which there is plenty of in LA.

Silver Lake

Silver Lake, in comparison to Echo Park, has significantly more polish. The stretch along Sunset Blvd is lined with record stores, coffee shops, and all sorts of restaurants, and when you turn north on Silver Lake Blvd towards the neighborhood’s namesake lake, it gets residential FAST. Though there are stretches lined with gems like the area surrounding LAMILL , where you’ll find a couple of cool shops – Mush and Lake .

Silver Lake itself is a little underwhelming compared to Echo Park. It’s less scenic lake, and more industrial reservoir, complete with a chain link fence surrounding it and plenty of concrete. Still, the neighborhood is a veritable hipster paradise.

Here are some of the best things to do in Silver Lake:

Catch the Silver Lake Farmers Market . On Saturday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, you’ll find a farmers market at the corner of Sunset Blvd and Edgecliffe Dr.
If you missed it in West Hollywood, head to Night + Market Song on Sunset Blvd for Thai food that will blow your mind.
Craving more coffee ? Dayglow (I subscribe to their beans!), Dinosaur Coffee and Intelligentsia are the spots in Silver Lake.
For wine tasting and to find the perfect bottle, head to Silver Lake Wine . Tastings are on Thursday nights. They also have a great cider selection to choose from!
‘Grammable Stairs: Head to the Piano Mural Staircase and the Micheltorena Stairs – two perfect backgrounds for your Instagram pics for your weekend in LA.

Griffith Observatory

To close out your fourth day in LA, head up to the Griffith Observatory and watch the sunset over Los Angeles. You can see the Hollywood sign from here (I bet you thought we forgot about it!), along with the LA skyline.

The Observatory itself is worth a visit too, particularly for the planetarium (which is not free). It’s a beautiful building, and it’s worth walking around a bit and checking out the grounds.

Day 5: Choose Your Own Adventure

On your last day in Los Angeles, it’s time to choose your own fate.

But don’t worry, I have three options for you to choose from. All three are all day excursions.

Option 1: Hiking, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu

If you’re not interested in the themes parks (spoiler, that’s what the next two options are) then this is the option I’d recommend for you.

Start your day with a 4 mile hike on the Los Liones trail , which is just up the coast to the north of Santa Monica. Your reward will be sweeping views over the coast in both directions.

Post-hike, head down to Sunset Blvd in Pacific Palisades and explore a little bit, but make sure to stop by Sweet Laurel for unbelievable gluten free pastries. Alfred Coffee , just around the corner, is the best bet for coffee here. Wander down to Will Rogers State Beach , which is a lovely place to relax and listen to the waves crashing and seagulls whining.

Next, continue the drive up the coast along Highway 1 to Malibu. Head to Zuma Beach, which is where we always went with our SoCal family growing up and is emblematic of classic SoCal beaches (you can sometimes see dolphins from the shore!), and drive back south from there. Stop at Point Dume and the Malibu Lagoon and Pier , along with anywhere else that catches you eye.

Option 2: Disneyland OR California Adventure

If you or your kids have never been to the happiest place on earth before, that should be your first amusement park to check off the list.

I have fond memories of Disneyland from growing up, when we went about once a year when we visited family in Southern California. And, even as an adult, I still enjoy it immensely.

NOTE : If you’re going to go to Disneyland or California Adventure, you want to get there early and stay late, so I’d recommend staying near the park . Plus, if you stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotels , you get into the park A FULL HOUR EARLY , which means you can beeline for the best rides and avoid literally hours of waiting line. But it will cost you. Dearly. Like hundreds of dollars a night dearly. Instead, stay at one of the MANY hotels across the street. I have stayed at the Anaheim Mariott , but if I were to go back I’d choose Hotel Indigo .

In the Disneyland complex, there are actually two separate but related theme parks , Disneyland and California Adventure.

Here’s the important part: if you only have one day, I don’t think you can do both of them . I’d pick one and focus your time, and unless you’re tired of Disneyland because you’ve been SO MANY TIMES, I’d choose Disneyland. If you have two or three days, get park hopper pass and tackle both of them. There’s plenty to do and see.

Disneyland is the classic, with everything from roller coasters like Space Mountain (which I think is branded as a Star Wars ride now?) and Old Thunder Mountain Railroad, to kids rides featuring Disney characters like Dumbo, Snow White, and Peter Pan. And everything in between.

Here is a good guide on how to spend a day in Disneyland .

California Adventure is a relatively new park, with a distinctively California theme. The roller coaster is the highlight, with it’s signature mickey-face loop, but my favorite ride was 100% Toy Story Midway Mania.

Here’s a guide on how to spend a day in California Adventure .

Option 3: Universal Studios

I have only been once, and it was “blah” in my honest opinion.

HOWEVER, it is significantly closer to downtown LA – you won’t need to book a separate place to stay closer to the park – more affordable, and it has the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for all my fellow Harry Potter nerds out there (Goblet of Fire is the best book, I still remember reading “KILL THE SPARE” and having chills run down my spine).

Someday I’ll make it back to explore the Harry Potter attractions, but unless you’re sick and tired of Disney and their effort to take over the world, or you’re a huge Harry Potter fan, I’d opt for Disney instead.

Here’s a guide to spending a day at Universal Studios.

When to Visit LA

LA is a lovely place to visit basically year round.

In the summer , weather is warm and the days are long, but prices are high and tourists are everywhere. Plus, “June Gloom” might make visiting the beach a cold and windy affair.

In the spring and fall shoulder seasons (April/May and Mid-September/October), which are the best time to be in LA in general due to cooler temperatures and mostly clear skies, you’ll find less people and lower prices than peak summer.

Winter in LA is definitely cooler, but it’s still going to be in the 60’s and 70’s during the day, for the most part, and it doesn’t rain too often in Southern California.

Sadly, it is worth talking about fire season , which we are intimately familiar with as Bay Area residents. As temperatures rise and precipitation drops, California has gotten drier and drier every single year, creating the perfect conditions for huge fires in the blazing hot summer. Fire season now runs from late summer through the fall, often leaving LA and the rest of California covered with a layer of dense smoke for weeks at a time. And it’s not getting better. Quite the opposite, in fact. Every year, there are a couple of fires in Southern California that make it unpleasant to be outside for weeks at a time. It shouldn’t prevent you from visiting, and you can’t really plan around it because it’s so unpredictable, but it’s something you should absolutely be aware of. Climate change is real.

How to Get In and Out of LA

Chances are, you’re probably flying into LA. Growing up, our extended family lived in LA while we were up in Seattle, and our family had exactly one rule. Never, ever, under any circumstances, fly into LAX. Mostly because getting to and from LAX is a mess in terms of traffic. But that’s going to be your cheapest option, with the most flights going in and out per day.

Other options include Burbank, which is generally where we flew in and out of every time when we would visit, Orange County, and Long Beach.

How to Get Around (AKA Do You Need to Rent a Car?)

More and more, LA is making big investments in public transportation. There’s even a train connecting downtown LA to Santa Monica now! But at the end of the day, public transportation in LA is underwhelming at best , and useless at its worst.

You might also be thinking that you could use ride-sharing , like Lyft and Uber, to get around, which is totally possible. But by the end of the trip you’ll probably have spent more on ridesharing apps than you would have by renting a car for the whole time.

We think you need to rent a car to get the most out of LA . That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to always be driving everywhere – ride share apps are super popular and useful – but having a car will give you the flexibility to make trips across the city, which you’re almost definitely going to want to do over the course of five days.

Plus, if you want to visit the theme parks, particularly Disneyland, you’re going to want a car.

Renting a car at the airport is going to be the most convenient option if you’re flying in. I like to use Rentalcars.com to compare prices across different companies because they give you the rating of the specific location that you’re looking to rent from. Some locations, even within the same rental car company, are just plain garbage, and Rentalcars.com helps you figure that out BEFORE you get there and find out for yourself.

With just 5 days in LA, you’ve truly only scratched the surface of all the city has to offer. I mean, you didn’t even make it to Disneyland, one of my favorite places on earth, or Universal Studios! Or Malibu. Or the Santa Monica Mountains. Or to the top of Mt. Baldy.

Don’t worry, there’s plenty waiting for you on the next trip.

While we liked LA, one of the things we look for in a city is “walkability.” As we were strolling along Sunset Blvd, walking from Silver Lake to Echo Park, we turned to each other and said “this is not the most pleasant place to walk.”

And that theme continued throughout the trip. Walking along a street that has 4-6 lanes full of cars whizzing by constantly is not pleasant at all, we learned.

While there certainly are stretches in LA, like Montana Ave in Santa Monica and Abbot Kinney in Venice (among others) that are walkable, overall it’s not a walkable city. You’ll be driving everywhere, which for us, makes LA a great place to spend four days, but not a lifetime.

More to Explore in California

Heading to the great state of California? Here are some other posts you might like.

One Day in San Francisco: How to See the Best of San Francisco in a Day
4 Days in San Francisco: How to Plan an Amazing San Francisco Itinerary
Where to Stay in San Francisco: A Local’s Guide to the Best Places to Stay
Gluten Free San Francisco: A Complete Travel Guide for Celiacs
The Best Day Trips from San Francisco: 10 Amazing San Francisco Day Trips
5 Days in Los Angeles: How to Plan a Perfect Los Angeles Itinerary
Where to Stay in Los Angeles: A Complete Guide to L.A.’s Best Places to Stay
Gluten Free Los Angeles: A Complete Guide for Celiacs
3 Days in San Diego: How to Plan a Perfect San Diego Itinerary
Where to Stay in San Diego: A Complete Guide to the Best Places to Stay
Gluten Free San Diego: A Complete Guide for Celiacs
How to Plan an Amazing San Francisco to Los Angeles Road Trip
Northern California Road Trip: The Best of the Northern California Coast

Matt is the founder and main writer behind Wheatless Wanderlust, which he started back in 2018 as a way to share his gluten free travel guides with his fellow Celiac travelers.

Since then, Matt and his wife Alysha have visited 18 national parks, spent three months in Europe and six weeks in Colombia, and have explored every corner of the Pacific Northwest, which is where Matt grew up.

He writes super detailed guides to the places they visit, bringing together personal experience and historical context to help YOU plan an amazing trip.

Going solo to LA from Belgium to celebrate my 30th birthday and I came across this blog. Wow this is so amazing and well explained with everything you need. Many thanks for sharing this, I’ll definitely will follow this itinerary. If you still have any recommendations to celebrate my milestone, please don’t hesitate to share it with me. XOXO Lisa

How fun! Enjoy L.A.!

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Los Angeles Itinerary: Plan The Perfect 5 Day Trip To LA

Posted on Last updated: July 1, 2023

Planning to spend five days in Los Angeles, but not sure what to do? This Los Angeles itinerary is just what you need!

Los Angeles is a vast city with a population of over 12 million and over 20 counties. It’s the home of Hollywood, palm tree silhouettes at sunset, and one of the most iconic skylines in the world.

With so many things to do and all the variety of terrain that Los Angeles consists of, planning a short trip can seem overwhelming. If you only have five days in Los Angeles, this is the guide for you!

I’m going to break down ways you can make the most of your five day trip to the city of angels.

We will look at everything you need to know; like how to get around LA, the best places to stay, and the best things to do to for an incredible Los Angeles 5-day itinerary.

1 How to get around Los Angeles
2.1.1 Nightlife
2.1.2 Staples Center
2.1.3 Best Downtown LA Food: Grand Central Market
2.1.4 Best Downtown LA Day Activity: Arts District
2.2 Where to stay in Downtown LA
2.3.1 Day Trip to Venice Beach
2.3.2 West Hollywood
2.3.3 Drive-up Pacific Coast Highway
2.4 Where to stay in Santa Monica

View over Los Angeles from Griffith Observatory – Photo by Khurum Khan on Scopio

How to get around Los Angeles

With famous pictures of LA showing cars piled up on freeways bumper to bumper, you probably guessed that most people in Los Angeles navigate the city by car. If that was your guess, you guessed correct.

While cities such as New York feature populations that lean heavily on public transportation, LA is not one of those cities. The development of the city’s public transport has taken years and hasn’t amounted to much so far.

Burbank and LAX airport will have multiple car rental services that can accommodate you with a vehicle.

If you’re someone who likes to hunker down at your hotel and not venture out too far, consider Uber or Lime Scooters if you don’t feel like renting a car.

You’ll see enough people riding electric scooters around to feel comfortable getting one yourself.

Driving in Los Angeles – photo by ScubaOtter

5 epic days in Los Angeles

Even though this Los Angeles itinerary is limited to five days, you’ll be able to get a feel for the identities that different parts of LA have.

My suggested five days in Los Angeles is the following:

Two days in Downtown Los Angeles
Three days in Santa Monica

Sunset at the famous Santa Monica Pier – Photo by Stefan Obermeier on Scopio

Los Angeles itinerary – How to spend 2 days in Downtown LA

Downtown Los Angeles is centrally located in the city’s geography, which makes it an excellent area for visitors to experience both Downtown and the other regions the city has to offer.

East and West Los Angeles are two different sides of the LA coin.

West Los Angeles often represents the LA we see on TV. Downtown and East LA offers something unique with a booming arts district, rooftop highrise bars, Staples Center for significant events, and more.

Here is a list of some of the most fun activities Downtown LA has to offer:

Nightlife is most likely Downtown LA’s highlight. Downtown LA is flooded with popular bars and clubs that fit any personality. Rooftop bars make it easy to catch downtown views and strike up a conversation with others.

For a rooftop bar experience, hotels such as The Standard offer stellar high rise view with amenities such as pools and outdoor furniture.

Hidden bars such as the Slipper Clutch in Downtown LA continue to show how unique LA bar culture can be.

Beautiful beach sunsets in LA – photo by ScubaOtter

Staples Center

Staples Center is the premier entertainment arena in Los Angeles and is located downtown. Check the Staples Center calendar if you’re in the mood to catch a sports game or go to a featured show.

You can also discover Staples Center as part of a wider LA Highlights Tour , which will take you also to Hollywood, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills amongst others.

Best Downtown LA Food: Grand Central Market

Grand Central Market is a bustling and historical venue for fresh local food. My favourite part about visiting Grand Central Market is the number of options you have.

When walking through the Grand Central Market, you’ll find a variety of cuisines that range from Asian to Mexican, and much more.

Events are regularly held at Grand Central Market in the lower level. All of the vendors at Grand Central Market have a specialised niche and provide fresh food daily for visitors.

The best way to make the most of this unique market is to join a Downtown Food Tour . That way you’re sure you’re hitting all the best foodie spots, and will have a local guide sharing with you insights about LA.

Click here to book your Los Angeles Downtown Food Tour!

Delicious food from Grand Central Market in LA – photo by ScubaOtter

Best Downtown LA Day Activity: Arts District

Los Angeles’ Arts District has been rising steadily in prominence in the last decade. When visiting Downtown LA’s Arts District, you’ll find unique restaurants, independent galleries, and small shops.

The Arts District is also a great place to view some of Los Angeles’ acclaimed murals.

If you want to see the best of LA’s Arts District, I highly recommend joining an Arts Districts Bike Tour . In 2.5 hours a local guide will take you to see all the famous sights, best street art, and hidden local spots.

By cycling you’ll be able to see much more of the neighbourhood, without tiring yourself as much! Having a local guide explain the story and concept behind the street art you see will make it even more interesting.

Click here to book your Arts District 2-5 hour Bike Tour in Los Angeles!

View over Los Angeles from the Hollywood sign – Photo by Sarah Czajkowski on Scopio

Where to stay in Downtown LA

With so many things to do in Los Angeles choosing a well location hotel is key. We’ve listed below some options of places to stay in Downtown LA for every budget.

Luxury: Freehand Los Angeles – If you want to treat yourself, this is the place to do so. This artsy hotel has a fun vibe, cool interior decor and a rooftop pool where you can relax and enjoy the city skyline.

Click here to book your stay at Freehand Los Angeles!

Mid-range: City Center Hotel Los Angeles – This cute hotel is located right in the heart of Downtown LA. It’s nothing fancy but perfect for someone looking to be centrally located and a bit more privacy than a hostel dorm.

Click here to book your stay at City Center Hotel Los Angeles!

Budget: Freehand Los Angeles – Surprised? This fancy hotel also offers dorms! The dorms have the same cool vibe, as well as the rooftop pool access, and are much more affordable if you’re looking to save a bit.

Downtown Los Angeles – photo by ScubaOtter

Los Angeles Itinerary – How to spend 3 days in Santa Monica

Splitting time between East Los Angeles in Downtown LA and West LA in Santa Monica will help you experience different opportunities the city has to offer.

Staying in Santa Monica makes beach access and day trips to desirable locations such as Malibu an easy task.

Here are my recommendations for your three days in Santa Monica:

Day Trip to Venice Beach

Venice Beach is located next to Santa Monica. The bohemian nature of Venice that came to fruition during the 1960s is still alive today.

Walking on the Venice Beach boardwalk gives you an excellent opportunity to browse vendors offering art, food, and custom clothing.

Visitors to Venice will often visit the canals. You’ll find the Venice canals offer a quiet reprieve from the hustle and bustle of LA life as people stroll the paths to enjoy beautiful views of water, homes, and plant life.

There are tons of dining spots in Venice to enjoy. I recommend the Rose Cafe on Rose Avenue near the Boardwalk for a killer brunch.

If you want to explore Venice Beach with a local, you can join this Venice Beach sunset walking tour , to make the most of the beautiful golden light, and learn about the area with a local guide.

Click here to book your Venice Beach sunset walking tour!

The canals of Venice Beach in LA – photo by ScubaOtter

West Hollywood

When people think of LA, ideas of Hollywood and entertainment usually come to mind first. While Hollywood is only part of LA’s identity, it is an essential piece of the city’s history and current economy.

Visiting West Hollywood from Santa Monica is manageable with both areas existing in the city’s western regions.

When visiting West Hollywood, you’ll find unique shopping opportunities, clubs, and a fine selection of bars and restaurants.

Many West Hollywood visitors enjoy catching a show at places like the Comedy Store on Sunset Blvd or browsing clothing boutiques on Melrose Ave.

If you’re visiting Los Angeles at Christmas , this is also one of the spots where you can find the coolest Christmas light decorations.

One of the most popular and highly rated tours in LA is this Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Open-Air Bus Tour . As the name suggests, you’ll discover all the hot spots and celebrity homes of LA.

Check out prices and availabilities for your Hollywood & Celebrity Homes Open-Air Bus Tour!

Views over West Hollywood – photo by ScubaOtter

Drive-up Pacific Coast Highway

Traveling up Pacific Coast Highway is a great day trip to take during your time in LA.

Since LA can be congested with high amounts of vehicle traffic, traveling outside of the city’s dense areas up the coast can be a nice reprieve from the hustle.

Cities such as Malibu are located in Los Angeles county and take an average of 30 minutes to drive to from as Santa Monica. There are lots of awesome things to do in Malibu , so be ready for an exciting day!

During a drive up Pacific Coast Highway, you’ll enjoy ocean and canyon views in areas such as Topanga. Try and make time to relax at a Malibu Beach such as Zuma or reach the peak of landmarks such as Point Dume.

If you want to make sure you hit all the best spots, you can download this self-guided audio tour on the Pacific Coast Highway . That way you can explore at your own pace, but still have the support of a guided tour.

Click here to purchase your Pacific Coast Highway Audio Tour!

Sunsets in Los Angeles – photo by ScubaOtter

Where to stay in Santa Monica

Given you only have five days in LA you don’t want to waste them travelling back and forth too much. Here are some accommodation options in Santa Monica for every budget.

Luxury: Shutters On The Beach – If you’re looking to treat yourself, this is the perfect place to do so. Located right on the beach, this hotel has a beautiful pool, spacious rooms and epic beach views.

Click here to book your stay at Shutters On The Beach!

Mid-range: Arizona Apartment – This modern apartment is close to both the beach and main attractions of Santa Monica, perfect for two travellers who want a bit of privacy and freedom.

Click here to book your stay at Arizona Apartment!

Budget: HI Los Angeles, Santa Monica Hostel – If you want to save a bit, this hostel is a great option. It’s really close to the beach and in the heart of Santa Monica, with spacious dorms and lots of social common areas.

Click here to book your stay at HI Los Angeles, Santa Monica Hostel!

Iconic LA palm trees – photo by ScubaOtter

Final thoughts on five days in Los Angeles

While five days is only enough to sample all of Los Angeles has to offer, this guide is intended to make sure you make the most of your trip.

Through exploring both East and West Los Angeles, you’ll be able to experience the different thrilling opportunities that LA has to offer.

We hope you find this guide useful in planning your own Los Angeles 5-day itinerary! If you have any questions just leave us a comment below!

Want to explore beyond Los Angeles? Check out these US travel guides:

The ultimate US West Coast road trip
How to spend a weekend in San Francisco
Weekend getaway to Yosemite National Park
Santa Barbara 2-day itinerary
The best winter sun in the USA
How to spend an awesome weekend in Miami
Visit the Warner Bros studios in Hollywood

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About the author

ScubaOtter Blog | Instagram | Twitter

Austin Tuwiner is a 21 year old college dropout currently travelling the world. When not doing some type of work on his computer, you’ll find him playing with Bitcoin, diving, bouldering, or traveling. After discovering ways to make money online, he began running websites in some of the niches listed above.

Austin Jacob, author of ScubaOtter

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Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary: 5 to 7 Days in LA

June 24, 2021.

A Los Angeles Native’s Travel Guide to the City

It’s done. This LA native who has been a travel blogger for 6 years FINALLY wrote a Los Angeles itinerary. It was a daunting task because this “hometown” of mine has a lot to see and do, but sitting down to write an LA itinerary a day at a time helped ensure that I included all of the highlights and experiences you should not miss out on during a visit to Los Angeles.

It took me a minute to appreciate Los Angeles as a city. And by a minute, I mean 20 years or so. If you look at LA as a whole, it’s expansive and overwhelming. But, if you can recognize that Los Angeles is actually comprised of a series of diverse neighborhoods each offering something unique, then you really begin to value the city in its entirety. This LA trip itinerary methodically and deliberately divides up each day so that you can maximize your time in each of these various neighborhoods. You will not be crossing the city in rush hour traffic, I promise you that.

beverly hills palm trees in Los Angeles california

This post contains affiliate links. That means I receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking the link at no extra cost to you.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

There’s a battle in Los Angeles between urban and ocean. And honestly, both are great options. If you’d like to stay near the beaches, then I’d suggest an accommodation in Santa Monica or Venice. I shared my favorite in each neighborhood. And if you prefer a city lifestyle, then I would stay on the border between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. When you do search for hotels in Los Angeles, remember that Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and Beverly Hills are their own cities, so some of the hotels might not show up in a generic LA search.

Shore Hotel in Santa Monica

Check rates and reviews on TripAdvisor | Booking.com | Hotels.com

Hotel Erwin in Venice

Petit Ermitage in West Hollywood

Luxury Options:

The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills or Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills

Day 1: Santa Monica and Venice Beach

On your first day in LA, get right into the swing of things and live your best westside life. That means soaking up all the beach vibes in Santa Monica and Venice Beach. I’m torn about whether to suggest you start your day in Venice or Santa Monica, but ultimately decided to begin in Venice because the stillness of the water and the early morning light at the Venice Canals will undoubtedly be a trip highlight.

Start your morning strolling down Abbot Kinney Boulevard – a popular thoroughfare in Venice with some of the best shops, bars, and restaurants in all of Los Angeles. Grab some coffee at Intelligentsia or brunch at Butcher’s Daughter or Gjilena.

That mile long road with all of the shops you just walked down is named after the man who built Venice of America or what is commonly known as the Venice Canals. And that’s where you should be walking to now. Abbot Kinney decided to recreate the Venice, Italy canals in Venice Beach California and it truly is one of the best spots in LA. The canals are pedestrian only which makes this small square of land a quiet refuge tucked away from the big city. It’s almost a right of passage to play the “which house would you live in” game as you walk along them. You might see some kayakers and get mad at me for not suggesting that you do this activity; but don’t be because you actually have to be a canal resident or a plus one of a resident to go boating.

After wandering through the canals, walk to the Venice Boardwalk. It’s the ultimate people watching experience and a bit of a shock to the senses, but hopefully in a good way. Check out the skate park, a basketball game, and of course, the ocean as you walk/ride/blade the most scenic 2.5 miles out of the 26 mile bike path toward Santa Monica. If you are on the beach during the late afternoon/early evening on Saturday or Sunday, look for the drum circle that happens at sunset.

A note about biking or blading: Unfortunately, you can’t ride one of the Lyft electric bikes you see everywhere down the bike path. That would be ideal because we really only need a one-way ride. So here are your options:

1) Walk the 2.5 miles or so to Santa Monica. The downside with this is that you’ve already been walking so your feet might get tired. You can always walk some of the way and then take a scooter or bike the rest of the way – you just won’t be on the bike path for that part.
2) Rent a bike or roller blades for an hour or two and make it a round trip journey. From there, you can Uber to Santa Monica.
Rent a bike or roller blades for the day. You’ll have to return the equipment before the rental shop closes around dinnertime.

* I would not currently recommend a visit to the Venice Boardwalk especially if you are traveling with children as the area is considered by many to be unsafe right now. Rent an e-bike or scooter and head to Santa Monica instead.*

The bike path will end at the Santa Monica pier which I definitely recommend you visit, but would rather you save it for the evening. So once you make it to Santa Monica, you can hang at the beach or walk and shop along the famous Third Street Promenade. If you ate on the earlier side and starting to get hungry, Fig at 5 at the Fairmont Miramar hotel is the best happy hour on the westside. From 5 to 6 on Tuesday-Saturday, the entire menu (except for dessert) at Fig Restaurant is 50% off. And the ambience is absolutely beautiful to boot.

If you wanted to have dinner instead, Fia and Elephante are two trendy restaurants in Santa Monica. Forma and Tar and Roses are really good as well. The nice thing about Elephante is that it is close to the pier, so you could have dinner and then stroll back to the pier to ride the Ferris wheel, grab a hot chocolate, and watch the waves crash at night. Wherever you go, I would suggest making a reservation in advance. If you’re looking for a night out on the town in Santa Monica, Bungalow is the place – it’s also at the Fairmont Miramar – otherwise you can head back after the pier and get ready for Day 2 on your Los Angeles itinerary.

Day 2: West Hollywood and Beverly Hills

Out of all of the museums in the entirety of Los Angeles, I would recommend the Nethercutt Collection. But it’s not a realistic choice for most visitors because the location is really out of the way from tourist areas. If you are into cars or music, have been to Los Angeles before, and are looking for something truly “off the beaten path,” then you could consider adding it to your Los Angeles itinerary. But, for everyone else, the Getty Center is the most famous museum in Los Angeles – it’s rated #1 on Things To Do on TripAdvisor – and is probably the ideal museum to visit during your trip. The paintings are some of the best in the world – Cezanne, Gaugin, Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh – and the panoramic views of Los Angeles are spectacular. The gardens are dazzling and the story of the design intriguing, so try and catch the tour if the timing works out. The museum itself is free but you have to pay $20 to park so consider that your entrance fee.

Once you finish at the Getty, start gearing up for the ultimate LA vibes: Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. LA is a driving city and as such, there are a series of drives in Los Angeles that simply cannot be missed and photographed. Roll down the windows, turn up the music, and follow Waze. The first drive is what I call “palm trees down Canon Drive” in Beverly Hills. You’ve seen it on Instagram and now you’re going to live it. From there, you can drive down Rodeo Drive which honestly, I’m not really a fan of, but it is so iconic so you definitely shouldn’t skip it. You can also park your car in the Beverly Hills flats in a 2-hour parking spot and walk down Rodeo.

Maybe you had breakfast at your hotel or grabbed a coffee at the plethora of shops along the way to the Getty Center, but now it’s time for a late lunch and where better to go than Urth Cafe on Melrose. It is a scene, but the line moves quickly and it’s a classic LA establishment. Menu suggestions include the turkey burger or Urth salad and if you aren’t too heavily caffeinated, the Spanish Latte Granita or the Organic Green Tea Boba are fun drinks to get. Don’t finish them up too quickly because it’s really fun to go up to the Restoration Hardware rooftop, which is right across the street from Urth, and enjoy the peacefulness and the views. Window shop along Melrose Place – there’s a Zimmerman, Mejuri, Reformation, and the RealReal – all within a mile of each other.

Our final iconic drive of the day is down Sunset Boulevard. It’s a lot to take in so you could either drive up and down a time or two or park the car around Sunset Plaza and walk that stretch of street. Selling Sunset’s Oppenheim Group office is right there, along with some beautiful restaurant patios, and the Cinerama dome. And if you’re comfortable, driving up into the Hollywood Hills to admire the mansions and the views from that vantage point is really a fun activity.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the most chaotic, you can decide how you want to spend your evening in West Hollywood. 1 to 3 would be eating at a casual, but trendy LA spot like Guisados on Santa Monica Boulevard. 4 to 6 would include dining at a celebrity hot spot like Catch, Craigs, or Cecconi’s. E.P.L.P is a great rooftop bar for a drink or two after dinner. You’d be at a 7 to 9 if you decide to hit up the Vanderpump Rules restaurants – dinner at Sur or Pump and drinks after at TomTom – and if you really want to live it up in Weho at a level 10, then spend the night at the Abbey, the ultimate gay bar in Los Angeles.

Additional Activities:

O.J. Simpson Tour
Brunch or Bingo at Hamburger Marys
UCLA campus

Malibu farm on Malibu pier in Los Angeles

Day 3: Malibu

Not every day needs to be a go, go, go type situation and your day trip to Malibu certainly doesn’t have to. Treat Malibu as a vacation day during your trip to LA and embrace the fact that you are at the beach in such an iconic seaside destination. The marine layer doesn’t usually burn off until mid-day anyway.

Hop in your car late morning and make yet another celebrated drive down the Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu. Park at the Malibu Country Mart, an outdoor mall that is bougie AF and consequently, very fun to walk around and people watch. Attached to the Country Mart is the Lumber Yard which is also an outdoor shopping and dining complex made of hardwood. Grab a coffee if you’d like and continue your walk down to the Malibu Pier which is about 3/4 of a mile away down Pacific Coast Highway to have lunch at Malibu Farm. There’s a sit down restaurant at the beginning of the pier and a cafe at the end – both are great for different reasons. The ambiance at the restaurant is fun and it’s nice to have a place to sit for a bit. The cafe, on the other hand, has a much better view of the ocean. Whichever you choose, the cauliflower pizza is delicious! At the end of your meal, take the stairs to the upper level at the pier and admire the view. I sit here for hours and hours watching the waves crash, the surfers catching them, and the seagulls flying overhead.

While you could so easily sit on the pier for the entirety of the afternoon, there is still a beach to explore. So walk down a bit until you find beach access and spend some time dipping your feet into the Pacific Ocean. Dinner reservations should be made at Nobu (sushi) or Taverna Tony’s (Greek). You are pretty much guaranteed to spot a celebrity at either option. You could even do drinks at Nobu either before or after dinner at Taverna Tonys if you wanted to hit up both places.

Paradise Cove
Rosenthal Winery
Matador Beach

Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles

Day 4: Downtown LA and the Arts District

I want to provide a little more optionality on this day in Downtown LA. Because this part of Los Angeles is walkable, it’s easier to provide variety and then you can determine which track caters most to your interests.

If you love modern art and architecture, then you’ll want to start your morning off at the Broad Museum and nearby Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the LA Philharmonic, which was developed by none other than Frank Gehry. If you want to see the Infinity Room at The Broad, sign up in advance for a morning time slot. The museum is free, but parking in the lot is $17 for 3 hours. The Walt Disney Concert Hall gives hour-long self-guided audio tours and guided tours on most days.

Have lunch at Grand Central Market, an open air food market that has been in existence since 1917. It has since been revitalized and blends new, trendier cuisine with some of the old time institutions. You can’t really go wrong, but my favs include Villa Moreliana, EggSlut, Sticky Rice, DTLA Cheese, Lucky Bird, and China Cafe. When you finish at the market, check out some important historical sights – Angel’s Flight and the Bradbury Building. Bradbury is supposedly the oldest commercial building in DTLA, opened in 1893. Similarly, Angel’s Flight railway was built back in 1901; it’s actually the world’s shortest railway at 298 feet. You can ride the railway up and down for a couple dollars or just admire it from the street.

I don’t think it’s really necessary to go to Staples Center because every city has their own sports venue, unless you grew up a huge fan of Kobe and the Los Angeles Lakers. In that case, you’ll need to see a game. But LA Live is a fun area to walk around. It’s also the location of the Grammy Museum which showcases a large swath of musical history of all genres. The museum is really well laid out and informative, but watch the movie before you start the tour.

Downtown Los Angeles has a plethora of great eateries including the most reviewed restaurant on Yelp, Bottega Louie. Personally, I die for the lasagna. There are no reservations, and while the floor is huge, plan on waiting a bit for a table if you go during peak time. Grab drinks on Perch’s famous rooftop, one of the three floors at Clifton’s Cafeteria, or behind the door with the music note at the Varnish, a speakeasy inside the famous Cole’s restaurant.

Arts District Option

A hotbed for creatives, the Arts District underwent a major revitalization and has emerged as one of the coolest LA neighborhoods. You’ll understand the vibe a bit better if you start out at Hauser & Wirth, an art gallery with a small number of ever-changing exhibitions. Admission is free, but save that coin for drinks and dinner. Grab some beer at Angel City Brewery or the Arts District Brewing Company or take a tour of a liquor distillery at either Greenbar or Lost Spirits.

The Arts District has some of the best restaurants in LA, and you could honestly spend all day eating in this pocket of Los Angeles. I know that’s not realistic, so try and make a reservation at Bestia or Bavel if you want a truly phenomenal meal. If you can’t get one, don’t worry, keep it cute and casual at Wurstküche. They are infamous for their rattlesnake sausage. End the night at one of two arcades in the area. The VR games at Two Bit Circus are insanely cool or you can go the traditional route and play some pinball and other vintage arcade games at EightyTwo.

Karaoke and Korean BBQ in Koreatown

Day 5: Hollywood

Everyone always complains about how much Hollywood sucks, and I wish I could dispel that notion, but the truth is that everyone is right and I don’t like it either. You can still have a Hollywood-adjacent day though without the grittiness of this part of the city. So here it goes:

Begin your day with a little exercise. Hike Runyon Canyon or to the Hollywood sign. You have to force me to exercise so hiking isn’t my area of expertise, but I do know the basics: stay on the paved path on Runyon and parking is difficult. I hiked to the Hollywood Sign with my UCLA college roommates during finals week of senior year and don’t really remember how we did it; so, here’s a link to a post with good info on how to hike there .

If you’ve never been to LA before and feel the need to see the Walk of Fame and the Dolby Theater where the Academy Awards are held then I totally understand and won’t stop you. Hollywood and Highland is actually another interesting drive; it’s when you start looking for parking that things begin to go downhill. But you can find a outdoor paid lot or park in the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall where parking is only $3 when validated by participating shops and restaurants. Spend a little time walking around and snapping a few photos with the stars of your favorite actors and actresses. But,let’s get in and get out because there are more exhilarating things to do in Los Angeles today.

Psst: Check to see if you’re in town during Paley Fest, try to get tickets! That’s such a fun series of events and the second best way to see the interior of the Dolby, going to the Oscars being the first.

From here, I’m going to give you a couple of options. If you’ve never had In-N-Out Burger before and aren’t vegan or a vegetarian, then it’s kind of a necessity that you do. And what do you know? There’s an In-N-Out Burger a couple of blocks away from Hollywood and Highland. Animal style is the way to go and I also like to add a Neapolitan shake to my order. These are not-so-secret, secret menu items.

From here, you can decide whether you’d prefer to visit the Original Farmer’s Market and the Grove, the La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA and the Urban Lights, or some combination of them all. If you have been to In-N-Out before, then I’d suggest eating at Joan’s On Third which is a very trendy gourmet marketplace located nearby these three attractions. I’m obsessed with their mac and cheese and the Chinese chicken salad. You must get the Nutella poundcake for dessert! Your final lunch option would be to go on a food tour of the Original Farmer’s Market at the Grove. This is hands down the best way to experience the market; otherwise it’s a series of food stalls with very low ceilings.

Whichever activities you decide on, you need to keep an eye on the clock because you don’t want to miss the final hurrah – sunset at the Griffith Observatory. Griffith is one of those attractions that is touristy for a reason, it’s absolutely incredible. There is free parking down near the Greek Theatre. Take the shuttle bus up to the top. It’s only $.50 a person. After sunset, I usually walk down to the car because the line for the shuttle can be long and it’s only a 10-15 minute walk downhill.

There are so many dinner options for your last night. Sushi at Sugarfish, Thai food at a restaurant in Thai Town, or dinner at my all-time favorite LA restaurant, Osteria La Buca. If you’d like to cap off these five days in Los Angeles with a drink or two, there are some famous bars in Hollywood. Good Times at Davey Waynes is a fun dive bar and I’m personally dying to visit Tramp Stamp Granny’s, a 1920s themed piano bar owned by Glee star Darren Criss and his wife.

Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Horseback ride to the Hollywood Sign
concert at the Greek Theater or the Hollywood Bowl

Optional Days: 6 and 7

Disneyland.

Are you including Disneyland and California Adventure on your itinerary for Los Angeles? I never really understood the obsession with Disneyland until I went with a family who was obsessed with Disneyland and learned how to visit the right way. The key? It’s simple. You need two days at the park with a stay overnight at a hotel in Anaheim walking distance from the park. Lines are long for the rides and if you’re only at The Parks for one day, you’re going to stress the entire time about whether or not you’re able to fit it all in. Two days allows you to be much more relaxed and enjoy the Disney experience.

If you have a week in LA, I’d suggest going to a taping of a show or if you can’t get tickets to one, a Warner Bros. Studio Tour. The tour is expensive, so I held off going for years. But, when the Gilmore Girls Holiday Event ran as an exhibition, I bit the bullet. Even as an LA native, the tour was phenomenal and I could not recommend it enough.

Do You Need a Car in LA?

You do. With the emergence of Uber and Lyft, there is certainly less of a reliance on having your own vehicle, but it would be so expensive to ride share everywhere during the course of your time in Los Angeles, that it seems impractical to me. I use Priceline to find the best deals on rental cars and compare prices between the various companies.

How Many Days Do You Need in LA?

5 to 6 days is an ideal amount of time to experience Los Angeles. I would not spend less than 3 days unless you are merely stopping off here on a road trip up or down PCH. If you have plans to visit Disneyland and California Adventure, 7 days in LA and Anaheim would be best. And if you are following my itinerary and only have 3 days, I would eliminate the Malibu and Downtown days.

What is the Best Month to Visit Los Angeles?

April – Early June and Late September – November are great months to visit Los Angeles. The coldest it gets during the winter season is 50 degrees, which makes it easy to explore the city year-round. The two major impediments to your visit would be rain and wildfire smoke. It’s difficult to drive in Los Angeles in the rain and you don’t want to spend too much time outdoors if the air quality is unhealthy from local fires. It can get really hot in the summer, but it’s mostly a dry heat which is much more bearable then cities with massive humidity.

Would you include any other activities on this Los Angeles itinerary? Let us know in the comments below! And don’t forget to check out these other posts on WOAW!

Los Angeles Packing List: What to Wear in LA

Cute and Comfortable White Sneakers for Walking/Traveling

Best Tinted Mineral Sunscreens & Moisturizers for Your Face

Laguna Beach: Let’s Day Trip from LA

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Kate Abroad

The Ultimate One Week in Los Angeles Itinerary [2024 Guide]

Spending a whole week in a city is a great way to really get to know it and, in a city as big as Los Angeles, you need at least that long to get around. I spent a week in LA exploring a different part of the city each day, here’s the 7 day Los Angeles itinerary I recommend (with a few tweaks to do things in a more logical order).

I based myself in Santa Monica for this week. It’s not the most central location but as a solo traveller, I found it much safer than the Downtown or Hollywood area.

Top Tip: Wherever you’re staying, I’d recommend doing the section of the itinerary that’s in/closest to that area first so you can use the first day to adjust and recover from any jet lag.

If you do everything on this one week LA itinerary, the cost will add up pretty quick. However, I can guarantee you’ll walk away feeling like you really did LA.

I’ve put together a rough budget for the week at the end which you can use as a guide. However, you can save a lot by taking public transport (LA trains are fine, be careful on buses) and staying in hostels. Hostels are also a great way to meet people in what can otherwise be a lonely city.

Spending more time in California? Try this one week in the San Francisco Bay Area itinerary .

Los Angeles 7 Day Itinerary

Day 1: hollywood.

Hollywood is a must-do for anyone visiting LA. It’s super touristy sure but it’s also a bucket list place that you won’t want to miss during your week in LA.

I recommend embracing the cliché tackiness and doing it all. Start with a stroll along the Hollywood Walk of Fame then learn about old Hollywood at the Hollywood Museum and Hollywood Forever Cemetery .

madame Tussauds in hollywood on day 1 of my one week in Los Angeles

Bring out your inner kid at Madame Tussauds and either Ripley’s Believe It or Not or Guinness Worlds Records (unless you actually have kids with you, I wouldn’t recommend doing both).

For the afternoon, take the Paramount Pictures studio tour to see behind the scenes of the sets of your favourite shows and movies.

Then finish off the day with a film at the Chinese Theatre IMAX (all year) or a show at the Hollywood Bowl (October to May).

Day 2: Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is a good antidote to grimy Hollywood, it’s a least trying to have all the glamour and class that Hollywood lacks.

The snootiness of Beverly Hills does mean that it’s not fully integrated into the public transport system of the rest of the city so it’s easiest to catch an Uber/Lyft here.

If you’re up for an early start (to avoid the heat), try starting the day with the Runyon Canyon Hike . It’s meant to be a favourite of celebrities and influencers so keep your eyes peeled for someone you recognise.

After that refuel with some pancakes from Griddle Café , it’s not actually in Beverly Hills but their pancakes are one of the best American foods to try on your visit.

Beverly Hills is a fun place to explore on foot, soaking up the vibe and popping into stores and cafes as suits. However, if you prefer not to walk, a trolley tour is a great option to see the area, or you could jump on one of the celebrity homes tours that start around the area.

Shopping on Rodeo Drive is a must, even if it’s only window shopping – that’s all I could afford to do! Don’t miss the Cupcake ATM either.

Day 2 is a good time to check out LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) , you’ve probably seen pictures of the forest of lamps outside. It’s just down from Beverly Hills around La Brea area.

While you’re there you could check out La Brea Tar Pits and / or The Grove shopping centre.

Day 3: Venice and Santa Monica

It wouldn’t be a week in LA without at least one beach day and the Santa Monica / Venice Beach area is a fun part of the coast to explore.

Santa Monica is pretty laidback and family-friendly with the famous Santa Monica Pier full of rides and food stalls which makes for a good day out.

Santa Monica pier los angels one week itinerary attractions

Venice Beach is its own vibe known for bodybuilders and hippies. You can try some of the outdoor gym equipment down at Muscle Beach or grab a cannabis-loaded smoothie bowl. There is also a ton of great vegan and veggie LA restaurants in this part of town.

The walk in between along the boardwalk is super pretty, lined with lots of souvenir shops. You can also rent bikes or scooters which are super popular for getting up and down the coastline.

Day 4: Downtown and surrounds

Los Angeles’ Downtown area gets a bad rep for being dirty and unsafe but it’s in the process of revitalising and there are some really cool attractions to explore.

Grand Central Market is a must, there are so many food stalls there and you can’t really go wrong. I still dream about the tacos. While you’re there, jump on the Angel’s Flight cable car, it’s touristy but good fun.

DTLA is also home to a lot of historic buildings from Union Station and the Central Library to the Bradbury Building and El Pueblo de Los Angeles . Pop them into a map and take yourself for a walking tour, you’ll get some great photos.

I’d recommend doing a food tour on this day (If you don’t fill up at Grand Central Market). I did one run by Urban Adventures in Koreatown, and it was awesome, super informative and had lots of tasty food. It’s a good way to get to know some of the immigrant communities that have shaped today’s LA.

Day 5: Universal Studios

Los Angeles is movie city and while Hollywood is the old side of that, Universal Studios is the new and it’s a fun place to try some rides and see behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies.

Getting to Universal Studios can be a bit of a mission, I’d recommend getting an Uber or Lyft to avoid the hassle of trains and buses.

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, you’ll love the whole themed area at Universal Studios where you can try butter beer and go on wizard rides.

I highly rated the studio tour where you hurtle around TV sets in a trolley and see how some iconic scenes were put together.

If you can afford it, getting the Universal Express Pass makes the day a lot easier as you save heaps of time in queues, however, if you can time your visit for mid-week you can probably get away with a general pass.

Day 6: Griffith Park and The Getty

For the ultimate LA tourist bucket list moment, you need to climb up to the Hollywood Sign. It’s quite a hike but worth it for the amazing views over the city. If you’re visiting in summer, you’ll want to go very early to avoid the heat.

hollywood sign Los Angeles itinerary must do

Once you’re up there, you might as well visit the Griffith Observatory. It’s free entry and a great option if you’re travelling with kids.

Another slightly out-of-the-way attraction that’s worth the trip is The Getty. It’s the most famous museum/art gallery in LA and has an enormous collection of works from around the world. Kind of like LA’s answer to the Met.

Day 7: Disneyland day trip

While it might seem like a lot to do both Universal Studios and Disneyland in one week in Los Angeles, it wouldn’t be an LA trip without Disney and the two experiences are quite different.

To get to Disneyland I’d recommend taking the Amtrak to Anaheim and staying the night close by so you can get to the park at the opening in the morning. Booking.com has some great options for accommodation close to the park.

I won’t pretend to be a Disney expert, as there are people who write whole blogs just on the park, but my top tips would be to arrive early, pace yourself, and embrace the Disney spirit.

Related: Solo Traveller’s Guide to Disneyland

Disneyland solo travel tip use solo rider lines

Where to stay for a week in LA

Los Angeles has so many accommodation options you could find something for any budget in any part of the city.

I loved staying in Santa Monica as it felt super safe as a solo traveller while still having a lot happening and being on a train line that helps get to most places in the city.

Beverly Hills is also a great area if you want to be more central and are ok paying slightly more.

Here are some top picks for accommodation around the city:

HI Los Angeles Santa Monica – a cheap hostel near the beach with good social vibes
Freehand Los Angeles – a midrange hotel downtown with a cool bar and restaurant
Beverly Hills Plaza Hotel – a beautiful boutique hotel close to upmarket Beverly Hills

Compare prices at Booking.com

How much to budget for a week in Los Angeles

To help you plan your LA week, here’s an idea of costs if you did most of the activities on this itinerary. All amounts are in USD and based on adult prices, most places have student discounts.

Attractions:

Note: I’ve based these off the entry-level tickets, if you want express passes or multi-park passes etc then you’ll need to budget more.

You could cut down these costs with a multi-attraction pass like the ones offered by Go City, which gives you a discount on tickets. Click here to check out the Go City Passes – I’ve tried their 2 day pass which is great value.

As a general guide for other costs:

Accommodation: $30-50/night for a hostel bed, $150-200/night for a couple in a mid-range hotel
Food: $30/day for groceries/street food or $50-100/day for eating at cafes/restaurants
Transport: $12.50 for 7 day LA Metro pass or $40-100/day for rideshare/taxis

That comes out as around $450 minimum for a week so close to $800 including attractions.

In Short: How to Spend a Week In LA

There are so many ways you could spend a week in LA so hopefully, this itinerary gives you a starting point for planning your trip. If you’re visiting for less time, you could easily pick out the days with the most interesting activities for you.

For more USA travel inspiration, check out these articles:

East Coast Road Trip Itinerary
Northeastern United States Itinerary
Best Midwest Holiday Destinations

Happy travelling!

USA Travel Resources

Find the best prices on hotels with flexible cancellation at Booking.com
Find tickets for attractions and awesome day tours on Viator
Save $$$ on attractions in NYC, LA, Miami and more with a Go City Pass
Compare prices on cars and campervans at RentalCars.com
Sort your US dollars with a Wise currency card

Kate is the founder of Kate Abroad. She has travelled to nearly 40 countries from Austria to Vanuatu, and lived in 3. She's on a mission to empower other Gen Zs and Millenials travel affordably by sharing helpful travel guides, stories and tips to over 200,000 readers.

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Girl Eat World

A girl's adventure in food and travel around the world, optimal los angeles itinerary for first time visitors.

I used to live in LA for a long time – ten years to be exact. I spent a good chunk of my formative year growing up in the suburb of LA before getting thrown straight into the heart of the city when I attended UCLA for my undergrad studies.

Safe to say, I spent my best years in LA. I love the city so much and I want to help make your stay here to be as enjoyable as possible. So, I’ve put together a Los Angeles itinerary that is hopefully easy to follow for you, whether you’re spending just a weekend in LA, or a whole week and more.

It’s going to be a long one, so buckle up!

Before we go on, I wanted to say my special thanks to my good friend Kat for being a true champ. This post would not have been possible without her. Kat and I met a long time ago when we were both students at UCLA. She continued to live in LA while I moved across the world to Singapore.

When I was in LA visiting her, she drove me around LA. And I do mean, EVERYWHERE which is not an easy feat in a city as trafficky as LA! We even went to all the parts that we didn’t get to explore as the poor car-less students that we were.

Thank you so much, Kat!! <3

Okay so without further ado, here is everything I know about visiting Los Angeles.

Tips for visiting Los Angeles
How to drive in Los Angeles
Parking in Los Angeles
Public Transportation in Los Angeles
How much time should I spend in Los Angeles?
When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?
Where to stay in Los Angeles
Day 1: Central LA (Hollywood)
Day 2: Historic Downtown LA
Day 3: Westside LA (The beach!)
Day 4: Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip
Day 5 onward: Day Trip Ideas from LA

My tips for visiting Los Angeles

To make your visit to LA more enjoyable, here are some of my tips:

1. Get a travel pass to save money! – There are lots of things to visit and do in LA, which means you’ll spend money on those activities. Getting a travel pass could ease the pain!

Here are a few travel passes you can consider:

Go City Los Angeles All-Inclusive Pass – If you are only in LA for less than a week and plan to see as many attractions as possible, it’s usually worth it to get the Go City All-Inclusive Pass to cover you for some of those days. The pass will already pay for itself if you plan to get the multi-day card and plan to visit one of the amusement parks (except Disneyland) – check the list of attractions here .

To make it easier for you, I’ll leave note in the itinerary below which landmarks are included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass.

Go City Explorer Pass – On the other hand, if you decide that you only want to visit a few select attractions, you can consider this instead. The Explorer Pass entitles you to see these attractions at your own pace – the pass is valid for 60 days and you can select any 2-7 attractions.

2. Book ahead an airport pick up from LAX . Unless you plan to rent a car straight from the airport, this is the best way to get to your hotel from the airport. You can book a private Airport pick up here . Otherwise, you can consider looking at a shuttle bus. It’s cheaper than taking a taxi or ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft.

3. Rent a car. Book a car rental that you can pick up and return at LAX here . Why? Public transportation in LA, though arguably better than what it was before, is not the best – I’ll talk more about this later . Taxis must be booked in advance, and ride-sharing could get expensive. Trust me, I didn’t have a car when I was living in LA, and it was a nightmare. For more information on driving in LA, check out the next section of this blog driving in Los Angeles , which includes things like parking in LA.

4. If you cannot drive , then your best bet is to go by tour or sightseeing tours or bus. While it might not be the most efficient way, it will still take you to all the places you’d want to see in LA. Here are some tours that would take you to most of the must-do activities in LA and include hotel pick-up:

Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Beaches, and More
The Best of LA Tour: Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Griffith Park +More

Tip: The Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus 1-Day Classic Tour could be a great option and is included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass . It normally costs US$ 46 per adult.

5. Take note of the opening time of the attractions you want to see. For example, The Getty and the Griffith Observatory are closed on Mondays and Getty Villa is closed on Tuesdays. So generally, the latter half of the week (Wednesday – Sunday) is the best time to visit LA if you are interested.

6. Learn how to tip the American way – yes, I know, the tipping culture in the US baffles every visitor. It’s confusing! But, you don’t want to shortchange someone just because you disagree with this social norm. The most common instance where you’ll need to tip is when eating at a restaurant. The general rule of thumb is to tip 15% for average service, 20% for great service, and 25% for exceptional service. You don’t need to tip at establishments where the food is not served to you. Fast food, bakeries, or dessert places are examples of these types of establishments, but it certainly would be nice if you felt the staff did an exceptional job. You also don’t need to tip ride-sharing drivers (but again, it is always nice to), but you must tip taxi drivers.

7. Watch out for the CA sales tax! In California, you’re subjected to a sales tax every time you make a purchase. This sales tax is usually not included in the stated price and will be charged upon payment. In Los Angeles, the sales tax is 9.50%. So for example, say you see a nice purse for $30 – it will actually ring up as $32.85 when you pay for it.

8. Wise Card worked super well in the US – If you’re an international visitor like myself, definitely get yourself a Wise Debit Card . You’ll save on foreign transaction fees with it. I never had to use cash when I was in NYC and San Francisco !

9. Be at the beach in the late afternoon for sunset – You’ll see some of the best sunsets of your life, so plan to be at the beach during sunset time! I recommend visiting Santa Monica Beach or Venice Beach around 5 PM.

10. Last but not least – HAVE FUN! I feel like most of my travel tips have been negative, but trust me, it will all be worth it. I just wanted you to be mentally prepared to be able to enjoy this special city.

How to drive a car in LA

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that driving is pretty much a requirement if you want to explore Los Angeles. Aside from the vast area, you would need to cover, there isn’t a good public transportation infrastructure in LA.

Anyone can drive and rent a car in LA so long as they have a valid driving license. Good news for international tourists – you don’t need an International Driving License to drive in California . But you DO need a valid driving license from your country of residence.

What is the driving requirement in California? See the DMV page on California driving requirements .

Once you’ve secured a vehicle, be prepared to deal with the LA traffic. You can try to avoid it, but I’ve been told traffic is bad all day long. You just have to accept it and plan your day around it. Be prepared to factor in extra driving time.

Also, make sure you are a confident driver. LA drivers are notoriously aggressive drivers. You’ll also be doing a lot of street parking so make sure you know how to parallel park.

Last but not least, practice basic safety to ensure your car doesn’t become a target for car break-ins – don’t leave anything visible in the seats (bags, earphones, or other small electronics). Always take your valuables with you.

Parking and car parks in Los Angeles

Another thing you need to learn about is how the car park works here. And let me tell you, parking is expensive in LA, especially in the Downtown area. There are usually parking lots with either an hourly rate (capped to a certain amount per session) or a flat rate regardless of how long you park your car. In the downtown area , this is usually a steep flat rate of US$12-15, so you’ll want to keep your car in the same lot while you’re sightseeing. You can refer to this map to plan your parking before coming to downtown LA.

The cheaper way to park your car is to find street parking , which is sometimes metered or sometimes free, but obviously, these are super coveted spots and everyone wants them. Don’t bank on it, but if you do find a street parking spot, make sure you pay attention to the signs since street parking is usually only allowed at certain hours and there might be a block out time for street cleaning.

If you’re lucky you might be visiting a museum/restaurant/shopping mall that offers validated parking , meaning they’ll cover your parking cost or offer discounted parking up to certain hours, so keep looking out for that too!

And again, please take note to not leave any valuables in the car or even leave anything small on the car seat that can be seen from outside, because it might make you a target for car break-ins.

Taking Public Transportation in LA

I came from Singapore, where public transport is probably the best in the world. So I can’t say I was impressed by public transport in LA, but in retrospect, it’s not too bad. It’s still not the most comprehensive, but at least it’s not nearly non-existent like how it was when I lived here ten years ago!

Here is a quick rundown of the two types of services you’d likely take as a tourist in LA:

The LA Metro – The metro is a transportation agency consisting of rails and buses. Their rail lines now take you from downtown LA to Santa Monica! This is something that didn’t exist when I was in college.
DASH Bus service – LADOT (short for Los Angeles Department of Transportation)’s bus service that services mostly downtown. Free with the TAP card you use to ride the metro.

To use the above services, you need to get a TAP card online . If you have a smartphone, you can even just pay for the fares through the app instead of a physical card. Then, you can buy a 1-day, 7-day, or 30-day pass for unlimited rides if you’re in LA for longer.

How much time should I spend in LA?

Let me start by saying that LA is a HUGE city and the landmarks are spread apart from each other. Ideally, you should try to spend 5-7 days here if you don’t want to be rushed and want to see everything.

But if you are okay with missing out on certain stuff, you can still see a good amount of stuff in just 3-4 days, or even a weekend if you’re good at organizing your time. After all, you can always come back 😉

When is the best time to visit LA?

So this is why I love LA so much – the weather here is simply the best. It’s great to visit all year round! The summers are not too hot, and the winters are not too cold. Spring and Fall are just downright beautiful. California tends to be dry, so you don’t have to worry too much about rain ruining your travel.

However, forest fires have unfortunately become a common occurrence in California, so be prepared if you’re visiting when it’s forest fire season. Pay attention to the news!

Where to stay in LA

There isn’t a specific area you can stay in LA where everything will be close by. No matter where you visit, you’ll likely still have to drive. That said, here are some recommendations!

If you have a high budget then staying in Downtown LA or West Hollywood is great for that LA feel. Here are some notable hotels if you need ideas:

Chateau Marmont – Aside from being one of the most iconic hotels in Los Angeles, this hotel is also frequented by A-list celebrities.
Ace Hotel DTLA – A historic hotel right in the heart of Downtown LA. The building interior is a spectacle on its own.
The Beverly Hills Hotel – One of the world’s best-known hotels located on Sunset Blvd. It is said that “Hotel California” by the Eagles is based on this hotel.

Otherwise, if you want a more chill beach vibe then I recommend staying closer to the coastline in Santa Monica or Venice Beach. Bonus: It’s also close to LAX!

HI Los Angeles – Santa Monica Hostel – This is a hostel so expect basic amenities. You can stay in a bunk bed or opt for a private room.
The Georgian Hotel – This hotel caught my eye during my visit as it looks straight out of a Wes Anderson movie. Aside from that, the location is also really good – right in front of the beach and within walking distance of the Santa Monica Pier.
Venice Breeze Suites – Located within walking distance of Venice boardwalk. Venice Beach can be a bit noisy and kind of dodgy at night, but it’s still one of the best places to enjoy LA.

The Must-Do Los Angeles Itinerary

To visualize the itinerary better, I’ve created a Google Maps link that marks all the routes and landmarks I’ll mention in this blog.

Here is the complete LA Itinerary map (If you can’t see the map, click here ):

🗺 Save this map to your phone! If you are a Google user, click on the image of the map above. The map will then be saved to your “Recent” maps viewed. Click here for instructions on how to view the map later . It will work from your phone too.

I hope you can see why I keep saying LA is huge. Most of the landmarks and points of interest are not concentrated in one place. But don’t worry! This is why I’ve grouped the activities into one area for each day, so you can plan and optimize your time in LA.

Here is a quick look at the areas we’ll be covering in this itinerary:

Day 5 etc: Day Trip Ideas from LA

PS: If you are getting a travel pass, the Go City All-Inclusive Pass is mostly useful on Day 1 and 2. If you want to visit an amusement park though, it’s still worth it by adding extra days.

Here is a Los Angeles itinerary for your first visit:

Day 1: Central LA (The Hollywood Route)

This itinerary will take you through what LA is best known for – the fame, glamor, and glitz of Hollywood. On my LA Map itinerary, The Hollywood Route is marked in Purple . Here is the same itinerary map zoomed to just the Central LA portion:

Open Map on a new window

1. The Hollywood Sign & Griffith Observatory

Start your morning by going up to the Griffith Observatory. It’s a great place to see Los Angeles city from above, as well as the famous Hollywood sign. Contrary to popular belief though, you can’t get too close to the Hollywood sign since the area around it are private properties. If you do, it might be considered trespassing unless you know the owners of the lands.

The Griffith Observatory itself is an interesting place to visit, but very limited availability. Please also take note that it’s closed on Mondays . Admission is free though! ( Click here for information on Griffith Observatory )

⛰ Tip: If you fancy a hike, a Hollywood Hills Hike tour is included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass (normally US $28 per person). They depart at 10 AM and take 2.5 hours, so plan carefully whether you have time for this given all the other stuff you’d want to do for the rest of the day.

Hollywood Sign from Griffith Observatory

2. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Make your way down to Hollywood Blvd for the Walk of Fame, where you can see the star-studded sidewalk, literally! The Walk of Fame is where 2,600 Hollywood entertainers have earned the achievement of a lifetime, in the form of a 5-point star embedded in the sidewalk along the street.

3. Grauman’s Chinese Theater (TCL Chinese Theater)

Down the street from the Walk of Fame is the famous Chinese Theater, a theater whose decor was modeled after the red Chinese pagoda. It is the site where countless blockbuster movies held their global premiere, including the 1977 George Lucas’ Star Wars!

The theater has changed ownership a few times and changed names because of that – it was originally named Grauman’s Chinese Theater, but to me, it was known as Mann’s Chinese Theater. And now, the official name currently is TCL Chinese Theater!

Aside from being the site of major premieres, the theater is also known for housing over 200 handprints and footprints of famous Hollywood celebrities in the front yard of the theater.

Tip: If you fancy a tour, they have a VIP 30-minute walking tour that runs daily ( check the schedule here ) and is included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass (which normally costs US$ 14 per person). Note that if you take this tour, then you cannot go to Hollywood Museum using the Go City All-Inclusive Pass anymore.

4. Kodak Theater (Dolby Theater)

This theater is perhaps best known for hosting the ultimate Hollywood event – the Academy Awards (aka the Oscars) since 2002. The Kodak Theater has been officially known as Dolby Theater since 2012, but it will always be Kodak Theater for long-time LA residents – such as myself, I suppose. I moved away before the name change and was shocked when I found out!

Tip: They used to have a guided tour that runs daily every half hour from 10 AM – 4 PM, but now it runs more on the latter half of the week (check the schedule here ). The tour is included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass . The tour takes 30 minutes.

5. Hollywood Museum

Across the street from the Chinese Theater is the Hollywood Museum, where you can learn about the history of Hollywood and see props, costumes, and scripts from classic movies.

Tip: Admission is included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass (normally US $15 per person) if you didn’t go for a tour at the Chinese Theater.

6. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

If you love museums, definitely stop by here. You’ll probably recognize it right away from the famous Urban Light installation by Chris Burden , placed prominently at the entrance of the museum on Wilshire Blvd, a major street in LA.

Check out the museum during the day if you want to go in (it only opens till 5 PM), but if you’re just there for the Urban Lights then you can come at night since it is open 24 hours and it’s beautifully lit up when the sun goes down.

7. LA’s Farmers Market & The Grove

One block away from LACMA is LA Farmers Market , a fun place to people-watch, grab a bite, and get some refreshments. They are open every day ( click here for more information ).

Right next to it is The Grove , possibly the most beautiful open-air shopping center I’ve ever been to.

8. Rodeo Drive

Rodeo Drive is LA’s most luxurious street, known for its high-end stores, celebrity sightings, and the very fancy cars that often line up the very regular street parking spots. Keep your eyes peeled when you’re here, you never know who you might run into!

Where to eat/drink in Central LA

Pink’s Hot Dogs – It’s a must-visit in LA. Started as a pushcart in 1939, Pink’s has now become a historic road site spot in LA, serving creative hot dogs.
Urth Caffe – Organic coffee, tea, and healthy breakfast made from local ingredients. They are mostly known to be frequented by celebrities. There are eight locations around LA now, but the one in Melrose is probably the most convenient to go with your itinerary. It also has the highest chance of celebrity sightings.
The Griddle Cafe – The place for indulgent hearty American breakfast. Think red velvet pancakes and the like.
In-N-Out Burger – You haven’t been to California if you did not have In-N-Out. Period. There is a branch near the Chinese Theater on Sunset Blvd, so don’t miss this one!
LA’s Farmers Market – Great place to get local produce and snacks.
Yamashiro Hollywood – This place has been here forever! I remember coming here for a date back when I was in college. It’s located on top of a hill, so you’ll get a great view with your meal too.
Lawry’s The Prime Rib – You might have seen them as the brand for seasoned salt in your grocery store, but Lawry’s is originally a famous steak house that has been around in LA since 1938. Their creamed corn is the best!

Day 2: Historic DTLA (Downtown LA)

This itinerary takes you through the modern, rugged downtown of LA, and what makes the city tick. Most of the landmarks on this route are close to each other and very walkable.

TIP: This is the only itinerary on this post that is potentially walkable or can be done through public transport. If you aren’t already staying in downtown LA, you can just arrange transport to DTLA, as you might not need a car for this day with everything being within walking distance.

On my LA Map itinerary, The DTLA Route is marked in Green . Here is the same itinerary map zoomed to just the DTLA portion:

Optional: Walking Tours!

I included this portion because the downtown LA area is just rich with history and very walkable and I think it’s worth paying extra for some local knowledge. Here are some walking tours you can consider:

Old and New Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour
Downtown Los Angeles Architecture Walking Tour
Los Angeles Beginnings Walking Tour
If you are here on a Saturday, check out the walking tour by Los Angeles Conservancy . The tour costs $15 per person and they have tons of interesting options!

1. Bradbury Building

Start your morning at the Blue Bottle Coffee downstairs of the Bradbury Building. Bradbury Building is a prominent architectural landmark in LA. Built in 1893, it still retains the original design open-caged elevator and exquisite ironwork that gave this place its fame, in addition to being featured in famous movies, music videos, and television shows (how very LA of this building, right?). It is also most well known as one of the shooting locations for the 1982 Blade Runner sci-fi movie.

2. The Last Bookstore

Just a block away from Bradbury Building, this independent bookstore was made famous thanks to the round of photos on Instagram, and rightfully so – they house a handful of very Instagrammable beautiful creative art displays, with a theme centered around, well, books.

3. Grand Central Market & Angel’s Flight Railway

Right around the corner from Bradbury Building and The Last Bookstore is Grand Central Market. You can settle down here for lunch with lots of options. I recommend checking out the oyster bar or checking out Eggslut for a popular Egg sandwich.

Then, right across the street from Grand Central Market is Angel’s Flight, a funicular railway that connects Downtown LA to Bunker Hill. The ride lasts no more than thirty seconds and costs $1. Nowadays it’s regarded as a tourist novelty, but a fair amount of locals still use the railway too.

4. The Broad

Make your way down to The Broad, a contemporary art museum. And in true LA fashion, tickets to the museum are free but parking will cost you an arm and a leg. So if you’re already parked somewhere nearby, just leave your car and walk over here. The museum is closed on Mondays ( click here for more info on visiting the broad )

The Broad is yet another place that has been made even more popular by Instagram in recent years – thanks to the famous Yayoi Kusama installation “ Infinity Mirrored Rooms “, which is currently on view at The Broad.

If you’re there mainly for the Kusama installation though, be prepared to line up. The good thing is they have put in a virtual queue system that will notify you when your number is up, so you can use the waiting time to wander around the rest of The Broad! More instructions on visiting Infinity Mirrored Rooms are here .

But aside from the famous Kusama installation (which I did not bother waiting for), I think The Broad has a solid offering of modern art – you can see works by famous contemporary artists like Takashi Murakami, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jeff Koons.

5. Walt Disney Concert Hall

Before leaving The Broad, you can walk around the building and check out Disney Concert Hall. You don’t have to go in, but I think the facade from the outside is such an architectural delight.

But if you’re interested, you can go for a complimentary guided tour or self-guided audio tour which runs in the mornings at around 10 am – 3 pm (please check for availability!)

6. Grammy Museum

If music is your thing you might be interested in visiting the Grammy Museum too, where you can learn about the history and past winners of the Grammys. There are some paid exhibitions too.

Tip: The Grammy Museum is closed on Tuesdays . Admission is included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass (normally US$ 18 per person).

6. Olvera Street / El Pueblo Historic District

Los Angeles is nothing without its Mexican community – even the name of the city “Los Angeles” is in Spanish! So, end your day by visiting the colorful Mexican marketplace at Olvera Street. First opened on easter in 1930, the street now houses shops, restaurants, and souvenir shops. You can take the bus DASH Downtown Route A to get there .

The market is open every day, but most merchants are only open 10 am – 5 pm. Click here for more information on visiting . If you’re lucky, you might be there during one of the big events such as Dia De Los Muertos in October or Cinco de Mayo in May – check their calendar here !

7. Arts District

If you still have time after Olvera Street, you can walk over to the Arts District. The arts district was a pretty run-down, sketchy part of LA, but had undergone a major clean-up under its iconic mayor Joel Bloom. Nowadays, it houses many trendy restaurants, cafes, and breweries! You can take the bus DASH Downtown Route A to get there .

Where to eat/drink in Downtown LA

Blue Bottle Coffee – I know they are not originally from LA, but there is one right downstairs of the Bradbury Building so you might as well try the coffee here if you haven’t before.
Grand Central Market – Great place to visit with a group and sample many different things at once.
Eggslut – This breakfast fast-food restaurant became a viral success back in 2011. The most popular item is “The Slut”, which is a coddled egg on top of a smooth potato puree, poached in a glass jar and served with toasty crostini. There is a branch in Grand Central Market!
Koreatown – Or locally known as K-town. I’m a huge fan of Korean cuisine , but I find the ones in LA are often even better than in South Korea itself. I recommend checking out BCD Tofu House if you do decide to go.
Ave 26 Tacos at Little Tokyo – The original location is a little bit out of the way, but now there is a location in Little Tokyo! You don’t get more LA than inhaling Lengua tacos off the back of your friend’s car in some shady parking lot.
Langer’s Deli – One of the few Jewish delis in LA. I didn’t get to try the matzo ball here , but you should!
Pacific Dining Car – Another iconic LA steakhouse that’s been around since 1921. I heard reservations are hard to get, but you should still try. As the name says, you’d be dining in a railway dining car.
Clifton’s Republic – Used to be Clifton’s Cafeteria, the building has now turned into a hip bar. There are a total of 4 floors and each floor has a different theme.
SUGARFISH by Sushi Nozawa – This is a very trendy sushi place in DTLA that is also known for serving great food.

Day 3: Westside LA (The Beach!)

This itinerary is a much more chilled-out day compared to the previous ones. It takes you what you probably had in mind when you hear “California” – the palm trees and the beach! This area is my favorite since not only is it beautiful, but it’s also my old stomping grounds.

On my LA Map itinerary, The West LA Route is marked in Red . Here is the same itinerary map zoomed to just the West LA portion:

1. UCLA Campus – Where the Internet was born

Okay, I might be super biased cause I’m a Bruin, but I do think UCLA is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the US! You can stroll around the campus, see how American college students go about their daily lives, and visit the room where the internet was born at 3420 Boelter Hall (learn more about it here )

PS: I was a Computer Science student and once spent a week straight, day and night, at Boelter Hall finishing my CS project. I have a love-hate relationship with that place.

UCLA was also used as a set for many Hollywood movies and TV Shows. It’s been used to illustrate Harvard University in Gilmore Girls and Legally Blonde , among many others. If that interests you, check out the full list of movies and TV shows filmed at UCLA .

2. The Getty Center

The real name of this place is The J. Paul Getty Museum, but we all call it “The Getty” for short. It’s only a few miles away from the UCLA Campus. The museum houses famous art and painting (most notably Irises by Vincent van Gogh) but aside from that, it’s also famous for its architectural design and an amazing view of LA from above.

Take note that they are closed on Mondays . Admission is free, but you should still reserve a ticket here . Check out what exhibition is currently on here . Parking costs $20 , but if you plan to visit Getty Villa on the same day, parking there would be free.

3. Santa Monica Pier & Third Street Promenade

Once you’re done with The Getty, drive down to Santa Monica and head to the pier. Santa Monica Pier was declared as the official endpoint of the legendary highway Route 66 on the highway’s 83rd birthday. Nowadays you can see a road sign that marks the end of the trail in the Pacific Ocean.

On the pier is a small amusement park called Pacific Park , where you can grab a bite, get on some rides, or play games.

🛼 Tip: You can also rent a bike/roller skate from Perry’s Cafe, included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass (normally US$12 per hour).

From Santa Monica, it’s just a short walk to Third Street Promenade , a peaceful open-air shopping mall that’s perfect to chill out at. And just to add to the LA-ness of this place, one time as I was shopping here and Vanessa Carlton randomly showed up for an impromptu performance (remember her??).

4. Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Abbot Kinney Boulevard is a neighborhood that started flourishing in the 2010s and was referred to as the coolest block in America by GQ in 2012. You can explore trendy shops, cafes, restaurants, and art galleries here. I recommend checking out Intelligentsia for coffee and Salt & Straw for ice cream.

You can check out merchants in the Abbot Kinney Boulevard here . They also hold events on the first Friday of every month, which you can check out here .

5. Venice Canals Historic District

You can’t stop by Venice without checking out the manmade canals, which are modeled after Venice in Italy (hence the name of this area). If you’ve watched the show “Californication” on Showtime, this area would look REALLY familiar.

If you’re wondering who Abbot Kinney is, he’s the guy responsible for building this area in 1905. The Venice canals used to be 2-3 times bigger than it is today, but most of the canals were closed and turned into normal roads when automobiles gained popularity.

Keep in mind that although historic, they are still expensive high-end residential areas and people DO live here, so be respectful of people’s privacy when visiting… even though I would imagine they’ve gotten used to tourists.

6. Venice Beach Boardwalk

Finally, end your day at Venice Beach, just a short walk from the canals. You should try to get here a little before sunset. Walk around the Venice Boardwalk , check out the famous Venice Beach sign , watch muscular people work out at the open-air Venice Muscle Beach, the Skate bowl watch skaters perform their tricks, and end your day by enjoying one of the best sunsets in the world.

Where to eat/drink in West LA

C&O Trattoria – Nice place for Italian dinner. The garlic balls are the best!
In-N-Out – You haven’t been to LA if you did not have In-N-Out!
SUGARFISH by Sushi Nozawa – I’ve mentioned this in the DTLA portion, but there is also a branch in Santa Monica.
Sushi Zo – I used to go here for omakase dinner. I’m glad they are still around and kicking!
Sidecar Doughnuts – My friend Kat brought me here and I’m in love! I did not try the decadent maple bacon doughnut, but I quite enjoyed the Butter & Salt and the Huckleberry doughnuts.
Afters Ice Cream – Their milk and cereal ice cream is SO good
Salt & Straw Ice Cream – Portland-based ice cream that has opened a branch in Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Day 4: Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) Driving Route

Pacific Coast Highway (or PCH for short) is undoubtedly the most famous highway in America. It’s a very scenic drive along the coast of California, starting from San Francisco and going all the way down to Los Angeles before continuing to San Diego. If you were to do the entire drive it would take you up to a week, but while you’re in LA it’s entirely possible to catch a glimpse of the famous PCH drive.

On my LA Map itinerary, The Pacific Coast Highway Driving Route is marked in Orange . Here is the same itinerary map zoomed to just the PCH portion:

1. The Getty Villa Museum

If you’ve been following my itinerary so far, you would have visited The Getty on the Westside LA route. This villa is part of the same Getty property! But unlike The Getty, Getty Villa is more of an architectural delight than the arts. Sure, the arts were cool, but I feel that the immaculate garden and the beautiful buildings overpowered them.

Take note that they are closed on Tuesdays . Admission is free, but you should still reserve a ticket here – though I must note that nobody checked our reservation when we were there. Check out what exhibition is currently on here .

Parking costs $20 , but if you plan to visit Getty Center on the same day, parking there would be free.

Malibu needs no introduction. You’ve most likely heard of this name before, so try to make a stop here! We stopped by Malibu Lagoon State Beach , evidently a surfer’s paradise based on how many surfboard-carrying vehicles we saw parked on the side of the street. Point Mugu State Park is also a great place to stop and enjoy the beautiful California coastline.

4. Oxnard & Santa Barbara

It’s up to you how long you want to continue the drive, but I suggest making your way up to either Oxnard or Santa Barbara before turning back. Oxnard doesn’t have much for tourists, but it does have some of the BEST Mexican food. We stopped by Carnitas El Rey here, and I still think about their carnitas even 5 years later.

Santa Barbara is a beach town with cute restaurants, spa treatments, and hiking. It could be a day trip in itself if this is something that interests you.

5. Camarillo Premium Outlets

LA is known for shopping, but the best kind of shopping is the one at premium outlets. Stop by here if you need to do some shopping. You can pretty much get the same brands, and sometimes the same clothing that is currently being sold in the mall for much cheaper here. Think Lululemon, Adidas, Banana Republic, Coach, Kate Spade, and so much more. Check out their full list of stores here .

Where to eat along the PCH

Duke’s Malibu – I have great memories of Duke’s. This was where my sorority held one of our formals!
Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market – You can enjoy seafood overlooking the Malibu beach
Carnitas El Rey – If you make it to Oxnard, make sure you stop by here! You know it’s legit when a place only serves one kind of dish – Carnitas. I’m convinced I’ll never find Carnitas as good as this place again…

Looking for more? Day / Short Trip Ideas from LA

If you have more time in LA and you’ve done all of the above itineraries, you can take a look at the following activities:

1. Visit Amusement Parks

Amusement parks are perhaps what Los Angeles is best known for, second to Hollywood. We do have a lot of exciting parks around! Most of these parks are about a 1.5 – 2 hours drive from LA, so visiting one of the parks will take the entire day.

Tip: All of the amusement parks below are already included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass (except Disneyland) , so if you’re planning to visit these parks and other LA landmarks, highly suggest purchasing the pass !

Universal Studios – Fun park to visit for movie buffs. It’s the closest to the city out of all the amusement parks near LA. Note that Universal Studios is considered a premium attraction and is only included with the 3, 4, 5, and 7-day Go City pass.
Six Flags Magic Mountain – Great for those looking for more thrills. The rides here are amazing, full of twists, turns, and loops!
Knott’s Berry Farm – a quintessentially American amusement park. This is the park I used to go to when I was living in LA. They have rides that cater to both adults and children. If you’re here during Halloween month (October), you can also check out Knott’s Scary Farm, their Halloween event.
LEGOLAND – This is way down south closer to San Diego, about a 2.5-hour drive from LA, but a must if you love those LEGO blocks! Note that if you use the Go City All-Inclusive Pass here, you cannot use it for San Diego Zoo.

2. Go to Disneyland

There are two Disneyland Parks in Anaheim, CA. Disneyland Park is the original Disney amusement park, built in 1955 under the supervision of Walt Disney himself. Disney California Adventure is the newer park with more exciting rides – I remember I had just moved to LA when this park was first opened in 2001. I was still in high school back then and I had great memories of this place.

Tips for visiting Disneyland

If you are only going for one day to either of these parks, you can book Single Day Tickets here, it’s cheaper than booking from the Disneyland website. BUT If you want to go to both parks and you are going during the low season, it would be better to buy separate single-day tickets rather than the multiday link below. Check the calendar in the link above.
If you want to go to both parks during regular or peak season, then the Multiday Tickets will be a better deal (also cheaper through this link than booking straight from Disneyland’s website).
Download the Disneyland App and use the Genie service to manage your ride wait times.

3. Nature, Beach, and National Parks

If nature and hiking are more your things, you can check out the following areas:

Joshua Tree National Park – This park is about a 2.5-hour drive inland from LA. If you want to make this a day trip, you’ll have to leave very early to avoid traffic.
Palm Springs – Palm Springs is close to Joshua Tree National park, and a popular weekend getaway for Angelenos. It’s one of the earliest settlements that has flourished to this day, offering desert life, resorts, and a spa.
Mojave National Preserve – Also about a 2.5-hour drive inland from LA, just a bit more north. It’s about the halfway point from LA to Las Vegas.
Big Bear Lake & Lake Arrowhead – These lakes are up in the mountainous region in San Bernardino, just a little under 2-hour drive from LA. In the winter it’s famous for snow sports such as snowboarding and skiing. In the summer, you can do watersports and hiking.
Catalina Island – Catalina is an island that is about a one-hour ferry ride off the coast of LA. You can do kayaking, ride a glass bottom boat or go snorkeling and scuba diving.
Southern California Ghost Towns – Unlike Palm Springs, there are plenty of ghost towns left in the desert of California from the early settlements that did not last. All that’s left is an abandoned town and a cool preserved look into life back in the 1800s. You can read this article for more information .

4. Cities near LA

Santa Barbara – I’ve mentioned Santa Barbara in the PCH route itinerary, but if you didn’t make it up there, it is a beach town with cute restaurants, spa treatments, and hiking.
San Diego – Visit San Diego Zoo (included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass if you haven’t used it for LEGOLAND), the beach, or have some good food.
Beach Cities – Stop by Huntington Beach for a whale-watching cruise or Long Beach for the Aquarium of the Pacific (both activities are included with the Go City All-Inclusive Pass)
Burbank – North Hollywood, Warner Brother’s Studio Tour (included with Go City All-Inclusive Pass), and Porto’s Bakery!

Okay, that was a lot longer than I expected. I guess after living in LA for 10 years, I do know a thing or two about the place.

Leave me a comment below if you found this itinerary useful. I love hearing from you guys!

PS: If you need this guide for later, click here to save this post on Pinterest !

102 Comments

June 6, 2024

Hi Melissa,

Thanks for the useful info — very helpful indeed. My family and I are traveling to LA in mid August. We’d heard people saying it’s not safe in LA/DTLA, so we have some concerns. What would you suggest as to where to stay, and what and where to avoid during even day time from a safety perspective.

Best. Moore

June 7, 2024

Hey Moore, it’s true that DTLA could be gritty, but I think if you blend in and don’t draw attention to yourself, you’ll be fine. I would avoid Skid Row area. In my itinerary above, you would come close to it on Day 2. However, I have to say that I never had anything bad happen to me even when I was traveling alone and I don’t personally know anyone who has had bad experience in LA. Hope you’ll have a great and safe time in LA!

April 28, 2024

Incidentally, I am father of a Bruin who completed undergrad in Math of Computation in March 2024 and am heading to LA for his graduation ceremony in June 2014. Will follow your advice as we plan to stay there for 15 days. Have booked an Airbnb in Westwood. Cheers!

April 29, 2024

Mrinal, congratulations to your son and I hope you have a great time in LA!

March 12, 2024

A trip to Los Angeles is always exciting! There’s never a dull moment, whether it’s the famous Hollywood sign or the energetic streets of Venice Beach. A local food truck serves delicious tacos, so make sure to indulge in some delicious food while watching the sunset at Griffith Observatory. There is something for everyone in Los Angeles.

February 19, 2024

is your iti good for public commute?

Hi Jen, only Downtown area and maybe west LA is good for commute by bus. The rest, you’ll need a car.

November 24, 2023

HI Melissa, I am visiting LA next month, have marked most of the places your have mentioned in your itinerary but the way you have sought it out region wise. You save my trip. Thanks for making my upcoming trip successful.

October 15, 2023

Why have I not found your guide sooner!!! This guide is on point and have sent our relatives from other counties to use this. Thank you!!!

Thank you Julie for your kind words! It’s comment like yours that makes writing post like this worth it!

September 1, 2023

Hi Melissa:

In terms of visiting your alma mater the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), apparently, UCLA has multiple addresses. As a result, for future reference, at which address/location of UCLA should a taxi drop me off at, and at which address/location of UCLA should a taxi pick me up at?

In addition, in terms of eateries in and around UCLA, which eatery (if any) or eateries (if any) would you suggest, advise, and recommend that I consider eating at that is relatively healthy?

I made it to LA! I am currently here for an LA getaway this summer for seven (7) days in which four (4) days have already elapsed.

In terms of transportation, I have utilized the taxi, and my good old fashioned feet to get me to particular places.

Hey TJ, you can ask to get dropped off at Ackerman Union. That is the student center and it has some food options there. I hope you are enjoying LA!

August 13, 2023

Hi, thank you very much for this, great help in preparing our itinerary. Our family will go to San Francisco, Las Vegas, San Diego and Los Angeles this December. Do you have a suggestions to experience Christmas in LA?

July 29, 2023

No car, no experience. LA is huge you must rent to get a better view of the LA vibe.

July 13, 2023

Hello Melissa,

Thank you for your itinerary! I am going to LA for honeymoon with my husband next week. We will be following your itinerary on Day 1 and day 2 (Hollywood and Downtown LA). We will be driving and I am wondering where can I park in these two areas? Thanks!

Hey Rachael, in those areas you’ll want to look for a dedicated carpark or street parking. carpark is easiest to find, but will be more expensive

Thanks for your reply! Do you have any suggested carparks?

I wouldn’t say I have a suggested carpark per se. But I did find this interactive map of carparks which will tell you the cost and where to park: https://downtownla.com/maps/getting-around/parking . I would say if you’re following my itinerary closely, you might want to park close to The last bookstore since it’s closer to where the other stuff is. For hollywood, park near the walk of fame.

Dear Melissa,

Thank you so much! 🫶🏼

July 5, 2023

This is such a great site! There’s so many amazing spots that I look forward to visiting with my family and friends. I’m completely obsessed, thank you!!

July 3, 2023

Thank you for this itinerary. I appreciate it. I have not been able to read it in full and in depth yet. However, I will definitely be reading this in full and in depth when I have a chance.

It would be my first (1st) time visiting Los Angeles as I am planning an LA getaway this summer.

Not too short, but not too long either. Perhaps five (5) to seven (7) days (give or take) as you suggested, advised, and recommended.

I am struggling a little bit right now figuring what I would like to do in LA while I am there.

However, I do not know that I am a man who loves to be in the middle of the action, in the middle of the vibe(s), in the middle of the social scene, to be where the action is, etc. (applies to both daytime and nighttime).

I love to party. I love to go clubbin’, bar hoppin’, socially drink, etc. The nightlife is usually my lifestyle.

In terms of the nightlife, where should I go partying, clubbin’, bar hopping, etc.?

Additionally, if I have another question, or, any other questions, how can you be contacted?

July 4, 2023

Hey TJ. LA is a city that sleeps early 😉 for nightlife, i would suggest heading to west hollywood.

May 23, 2023

This is such a thorough and great itinerary! Thanks so much for taking the time to craft something so thoughtful. I’ll be in LA at the end of July for five full days, and I’m following your plan very closely.

Have fun Charles! July should be great for weather in LA

February 12, 2023

thanks this is great itinerary i’ve been looking for..hope can make it this summer

January 13, 2023

Such a great list! I’ve been living here my whole life and there are several places on here that I still haven’t been to! Sidecar Donuts has been on my list for a long time. I’m gonna have to go this weekend! 🙂

December 27, 2022

Exactly the info I needed! Thanks for making the time and content for this post. You’re awesome 😎

December 24, 2022

Thanks for this useful blog. I plan on visiting Los Angeles this January along with my girlfriend and family. I hope I can eat affordable foods there. See you soon LA.

November 20, 2022

thank you for taking your time and provide us with this post.

September 6, 2022

This information is very useful for my next trip to the city and to be able to visit it with my family.

April 20, 2022

The above blog is very useful for first-time visitors to Los Angeles. The places you have mentioned are very beautiful places. and some great information to check the new places.

November 30, 2021

Hey Melissa! Awesome itinerary and places to visit. I’ll be flying in for the Kanye West show at the LA memorial collisium in about a week, any advice on where to stay the night of the show? I’ll move around after, since I’ll be here for a week, but I want to make sure the day of goes smoothly.

November 12, 2021

Hi Melissa! I’ll be visiting LA very soon next week with my sister and I’m so excited and thankful for your detailed itinerary, it really gave me a lot of information and I think it would be very helpful to us there since this is our first time in LA (we’ll be staying for about 2 weeks). Thank you so much!

Prestisa, I’m glad you found it useful! Enjoy LA

October 12, 2021

This is great informative and helpful content. Thanks for the itinerary!

September 16, 2021

Your post is about some good advice and tips for visiting the city. It is hard to know where to begin when you visit a large city like Los Angeles.

July 11, 2021

Beautiful article! Thanks for sharing

June 26, 2021

Actually, it will be my second time in LA but I can’t wait to be there again!

Thanks for this amazing guide!

May 19, 2021

Hi i’ll be visiting for my first time ever in July this year, whats a good car rental company to rent a car from with good prices?

August 13, 2020

Thank you so much for this! I’m heading to LA for the weekend for business but wanted some cool things to do during my downtime. I’m really excited about the Hollywood itinerary since I’m staying in that area. This made my planning so much easier!

May 30, 2020

This is great! I have yet to pass my test (due to the pandemic) but once I do, I do want to go LA and drive around there myself and experience what it’s like there. Thanks for the itinerary!

May 23, 2020

I’d love to visit LA, your photos look amazing and it looks like there’s loads to there!

May 4, 2020

Los Angeles is an amazing city with so many things to see and do! This itinerary is very detailed and is indeed a big help.

March 23, 2020

these tips are surely very helpful and informative as well my brother who is planning to go to Los Angeles may find these tips very informative, I will surely share this with him, and with my friends as well for their future reference. As it is Los Angeles is so beautiful place that everyone seems to visit .

March 4, 2020

Hi, love how you break down the itinerary by area. We will be renting a car for your holiday as we are driving down to SF, in this case, do you suggest us staying at different hotel or? Thanks

Hey Hazel, the areas I listed is still good even if you’re driving.

Thank you for your reply.

Would it be better if we stay at different hotel? like Santa Barbara? So that it will be easier to drive down Yosemite National Park and Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel? Actually i am still in dilemna, where to visit first….your advise? Do you have itinitery to share on San Francisco, California?

I did SF – LA- Vegas last year and I’m happy to share my experience with you Hazel?

Great, Thank you!

February 25, 2020

Hello Marissa,

Thank you for the itinerary you posted it gave me some very good ideas for my first trip.

My wife and I and two children (10 and 12) are visiting LA for first time in April 2020. We will rent a car. Is parking available/expensive around Hollywood Walk of Fame, Farmers Market,Walt Disney concert hall, etc? My son will enjoy the skate bowl at Venice beach. Any other ideas for young children? A friend mentioned the San Diego zoo.

Hi James, my name is Melissa 😉 There are parking around these areas, but they tend to be expensive – you’ll probably end up paying about $15 to park your car. You can try to find street metered parking but they are hard to come by so most likely you’ll just have to pay the cost. If you are following my itinerary you only have to pay one parking fee per day (usually $15 is flat rate you need to pay regardless how long you leave the car). San Diego Zoo is quite far from LA but if you don’t mind the drive then it could be a good option (2 hours without traffic). What about amusement parks like Universal Studios and Disneyland?

June 18, 2021

Hi Melissa If I follow your itinerary you said for each area you pay parking fee once per day, I’m assuming you park your car (example) somewhere in the Hollywood area and then walk to all the different places in Hollywood you want to see? Are they all walkable within its area? What about the Santa Monica area, is it the same?

January 18, 2020

We went to Venice beach and it was awful! So many homeless people laying around the beach and just everywhere. It was very dirty and had horrible smell. Did not even feel like I was in America. Santa Monica was a little better than Venice but it also had a homeless problem. I would avoid these 2 beaches in the future and maybe go to Laguna Beach area- we did that and it was beatiful.

January 7, 2020

Can I drive at LA with an Australian driving license?

yes, there shouldn’t be an issue. https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/dl/dl_info#international

December 9, 2019

Hi, first I want to thank you for this amazing article, one of the best written online for such itinerary.

I am traveling with wife and 2 kids (9 and 4), can you recommend some areas to stay at?

Hi Mohammad, it really depends what you want to do in LA. I would recommend staying near the beach (Santa Monica / Venice) or somewhere near West Hollywood would be good if you are planning to follow all of my itineraries. But as I said, you’d have to drive in LA anyway since the area is huge.

December 3, 2019

I would like to check with you if it is recommended to rent car with driver or get LA pass or both since either me or my hubby cannot drive but we also would like to explore those places recommended by you.

Will that be better to go SF via flight?

December 5, 2019

Hey Jesslyna, if you can get a car with driver that would be best, but you can also just book Uber or Lyft when you are there to take you around. You can get the LA pass which includes some bus lines, but I don’t really recommend relying on public transport while in LA.

Thanks for your reply. Is it recommended to go both SF and LA in 2 weeks or LA only in 10 days

I think 2 weeks is doable for both SF and LA.

November 8, 2019

Hello Melissa and thank you for providing us your itenerary,my friends and I are going to Los Angeles in early December for the first time and your blog is the blest helper for our trip.I would like to ask you 2 things,we are from Greece so the drivers license is a European,do you know if we have to make the license international or it is okay with the European?Also we are going to book the Go Los Angeles card you recommend and I am wondering about visiting universal studios which is in the city pass,is there also a way to pay extra for not waiting in the line and for example visiting the Harry Potter experience or Jurassic world,do we have to pay extra for the experiences inside the universal studio? Thank you for your time,you are the best!!Greetings from Greece

November 11, 2019

1. Universal Studios – Harry potter and Jurassic World should be included in the Go Los Angeles card since it’s part of the theme park. But if you don’t want to wait in line, you can upgrade at the park for Express privilege. I am not sure how much it costs though, and the upgrade is limited per day. If you aren’t able to upgrade, try to get there early to minimize the wait time, and try to not go on weekends. But you should be okay since early December is not yet the peak season for these parks. Note that admission to Universal Studios is available only for the 3, 5, and 7-Day Go Los Angeles Pass packages

Another option is to buy the express pass separately: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/18057-universal-studios-hollywood-express-vip-los-angeles/?aid=5711 BUT i would only recommend this if you decide not to buy the Go Los Angeles Card.

2. If your driver’s license is in English, you can drive in California with just your European license without converting to international license.

Thank you very much for your help,you are the best!!!

November 3, 2019

Where would be the best place to stay to do most of what is on your itinerary?

October 23, 2019

You are a Legend Melissa, amazed by the amount of details especially we are travelling with a little one, so everything counts. Thanks heaps for this and keep posting

i’m glad to have been able to help!

October 9, 2019

You saved my trip! What a complete and dedicated itinerary. Thank you for that Melissa. Any recommendation for Beverly Hills and hollywood stars homes’ tour ?

Thanks Julia. sorry I just saw your comment – hopefully you found a good tour!

January 30, 2020

Do you have any recommendations for good home tour?

September 13, 2019

Thanks for your reply and tips about driving from LA to SD. As for the car rentals, can I use the same car to drive from LAX to SD and to Las Vegas and back? Any trusted car rental companies u recommend?

Hey Adri, yes you can use the same car, provided you pay for the fuel and fill the car up before returning. The road to Las Vegas from LA/SD is nicely built so any car you rent for the city should be fine. As for rental company I usually just go with whatever is the cheapest. I think I went with Enterprise last time and I had no issues.

Great thanks Melissa. Will check them out.

September 9, 2019

I’m intending to visit grand canyon and antelope canyon next year. Is it mandatory to book a tour in advance? or we can book the entry ticket on the spot

Hey Tris, I’ve only been to grand canyon, but I think you can just purchase ticket on the spot if you are driving. You only need tour if you need transportation to get there too.

September 8, 2019

This is the best info I have read on LA – thank you!!

I am visiting early October, driving Pacific Highway 1 night Santa Barbara then 2 nights at the Loews Hollywood. So much I want see but so little time. I not bothered about Disney or Wax works etc What are must sees in 2 days? Gosh wish I was there longer!! Should I do beach stuff on day I arrive as we will be that way already? Thank you!

hey Sharon, if you are just there for two days, I recommend doing this itinerary: https://girleatworld.net/los-angeles-itinerary/#westside for the beach, and maybe the downtown LA portion https://girleatworld.net/los-angeles-itinerary/#dtla

This should keep you busy for 2 days!

August 24, 2019

A great blog to read indeed! Will be visiting LA in Nov for 2weeks. But am totally clueless whether I should be spending time in San Diego or Los Angeles first. Am arriving LAX on a Wednesday morning. Could u kindly advise or propose a route on where I should visit first? Am travelling with teens so we will be doing more of amusement Parks, Disney, Big bear Lake and zoos. Not forgetting outlet shopping as well.

August 26, 2019

Hey Adri! I am happy you like the blog post. As for San Diego vs LA, I don’t think it matters much which one to go first. However the one you should be aware of is probably the traffic situation when going from SD to LA and then back. I would avoid that route on weekends, and I would also avoid traveling during peak commute times (morning and afternoon).

August 22, 2019

Loved reading through your adventures! So many places to visit, but we went for a family holiday by car and really enjoyed it. By the way, gorgeous photos!

July 31, 2019

Hey Melissa

Thank you for your detailed post. Can you recommend a site to buy cheap tickets for Disneyland? The one you posted (klook.com) doesn’t seem to be working now. Thank you!

Hey Andre, I have updated the link. Thank you for spotting this!

June 7, 2019

Hi Mellisa,

Thanks for sharing with us your itinerary, how about san Francisco? do you have a similar itinerary? thanks

Hey Tris! Glad you enjoyed this LA itinerary. Unfortunately it has been over a decade since I’ve been back to SF, so I don’t have anything on it :/

May 22, 2019

Hi, Thanks for your detailed itinerary. Which part of LA will you recommend to stay?

May 20, 2019

I used your itinerary for Tokyo and it was amazing! Will be using your California tips in December 🙂

May 21, 2019

thanks Emma!! have fun in California

May 3, 2019

From LAX to the Hotel (i am not sure which hotel to choose) but I am thinking of Hotel Hwood Near the Sunset Strip (Hollywood).of The Dixie Hollywood Hotel.

May 2, 2019

Hi, your itinerary is very detailed. It will be my first trip to LA. May I know whether should I arrange Greyhound transport instead of the Shared Transport.

Hey Susan – transport to where?

April 20, 2019

Hi Melissa, great to chance upon your blog and I’m Singaporean. Where would you reccomend the area to stay in LA? I’m travelling with my husband in Nov this year and it is our first time and we would like to get to the know where best to stay for first timers. Thank you

Hey Mael, it really depends what you want to do since LA is huge. If you want to see the Hollywood side then I recommend staying Weho (West Hollywood) area. But if you don’t mind the drive then Santa Monica area close to the beach is nice too!

April 4, 2019

Thank you, Melissa! I just bought the ticket to LA for the 2nd week of December and it’s gonna be our 1st trip to the states, so your itinerary is really helpful. We’re planning to do the road trip from LA – San Diego – Grand Canyon – Vegas – Pacific Coast – SF. Can you tell me about the December weather in these areas, i. e. How cold will it be in SF and how warm it’ll be in Grand Canyon? Thanks again!

Hey Anya, I assume you are from Singapore? In December it will be cold in all the places you are visiting, especially in relative to Singapore. Definitely bring a jacket and wind breaker for SF. It’s the wind that makes cold weather unbearable. Also note the weather is very dry (again in relative to humid Singapore) so make sure you moisturize hands and especially lips! Mine gets dry to the point my lips start bleeding when I don’t properly moisturize it. It hurts a lot when it gets to that point, so prevent it with daily lip balm.

Hi Melissa, sorry I just realized you replied! Yes we live in Singapore. Thanks a lot! I’ll go with my husband, my 8 yo, and 4 yo daughters so we’ll make sure we prepare the right outfit, esp for the kids.

March 25, 2019

Thank you so much! I am planning for a trip to LA with senior relatives in a month and I am going crazy with the trip planning. Your itinerary is such a great help!

Thank you for the comment Maggie. Hope you will have fun in LA!!

March 19, 2019

This is my second time in LA & i must say :: THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL ITENIRARY 😭😭😭 ! It is the best I have ever seen and have helped me as a tourist know exactly where to go. Thank you so much & keep posting !

Thanks Abi! I guess i should rename this itinerary not just for first time visitors? 😂

February 21, 2020

Melissa, my Kids (25 & 16) will be visiting California for the first time in July. We want to visit the touristy places; Universal Studios, Hollywood sign, Walk of Fame, Museums, Trendy Eateries, Santa Monica Pier and both Disneyland parks. My dilemma is where to stay to easily navigate to these places. We’ll be there for 4 days and will have a rental car.

Please advise on where to stay

February 24, 2020

Hi Marissa, I would recommend staying near the beach (Santa Monica / Venice) or somewhere near West Hollywood. But you’d have to drive in LA anyway since the area is huge.

February 4, 2019

I fully agree that without a rental car in Los Angeles it will be difficult without a rental car. I was here last summer and car rental saved our holiday. It’s good that there are good prices and a normal selection of cars.

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The Emerald Palate

Seattle food tours & retreats

California , Travel Guides · February 7, 2023

The Perfect 4 Day Los Angeles Itinerary You’ll Want to Copy

woman on a bench looking out at a viewpoint during a 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

I decided to put together my perfect 4 day Los Angeles itinerary after getting asked for recommendations multiple times. My style of travel is to stick to mostly non-touristy activities, maybe with a few popular attractions thrown in. And there’s always a heavy dose of eating.

So if you’re planning a long weekend in LA and want a mix of must-see spots, excellent food, and less-touristy experiences, use this 4 day LA itinerary as your guide!

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4 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Feel free to swap the order of these days so that you avoid major attractions on weekends. Note, this itinerary assumes you’ll rent a car !

I’ll keep updating this as I find more fun things to do in LA during a long weekend, so save this to Pinterest for later!

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Day 1: Santa Monica & Venice Beach

Kick off your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary exploring the beautiful Pacific Ocean and laid-back, hip vibes of LA’s coastal neighborhoods.

Get breakfast at Gjusta

website | 320 Sunset Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$15-$25 per breakfast item | best for: homemade breads and that quintessential California cuisine

Gjusta is a super popular spot in Venice Beach that is loved by both locals and tourists alike. It can get crowded, so consider ordering ahead for takeout or getting there around 7 AM when they open.

The menu consists of artisanal, homemade breads and classic California cuisine focused on simple local ingredients. Think bowls, simple egg dishes, etc. You can’t really go wrong, so choose what looks good that day!

Pro tip: Their sister takeaway restaurant, Gjelinda , is nearby. Hit up both spots to compare if you’re feeling adventurous!

canyon views on a sunny day in Los Angeles, CA

Hike Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Park

website | Rivas Canyon Trail ( get directions ) | length: ~2 miles, easy | best for: sweeping views of the city

No 4 day Los Angeles itinerary is complete without some nature. Will Rogers State Park is one of my favorite places to hike in Los Angeles because it’s in a residential area of Santa Monica that makes it feels like it’s just you and the locals.

When you arrive at the park you’ll see play fields, a paid parking lot, and public restroom. The trail you’re looking for is the Backbone Trail to Inspiration Loop Trail. You’ll notice a relatively steep incline right from the trailhead, but don’t fret. It smooths out to a more gentle incline after the first ~1/4 mile.

trail at Will Roger Park, a must visit during a 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Once you’re on the gentler Inspiration Loop Trail, you’ll start getting uninterrupted views of LA from all directions. To the west you’ll see the Pacific Ocean. The city skyline will be to the east. As you meander north, you’ll see breathtaking views of the canyons with expensive homes tucked in between the foliage.

I recommend just doing the ~2 mile trail to the Inspiration Point vista and then heading back. However, if you’re feeling adventurous you can take an additional 2.1-mile hike to Temescal Gateway Park. In fact, there are 70 miles of trails in this canyon, so it’s a huge area to get some exercise and views!

woman enjoying views of LA from Inspiration Point, must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Get lunch at John & Vinny’s

website | 11938 San Vicente Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$15-$25 per appetizer and entree | best for: Italian food and natural wine | reservations accepted

The ex-east coaster in me swooned the first time I ate at John & Vinny’s. It’s an Italian spot serving excellent pizza, pasta, and salads. Plus there’s a natural wine bar concept inside called Helen’s that has a sommelier, wine flights, and all.

While they make good pizza, the must-get here is the spicy fusilli pasta and a side of meatballs. I love the vodka sauce on the pasta, particularly because you don’t often see that Italian-American classic in the Pacific Northwest.

Fusilli pasta with vodka sauce and covered with cheese

Grab ice cream at Sweet Rose Creamery

website | 225 26th St ( get directions ) | price range: ~$7 for a scoop | best for: creamy ice cream in interesting flavors

Sweet Rose Creamery is a local ice cream shop with great texture and interesting ingredients. I typically only come for a scoop in a cup, but they’re known for making fun sundaes.

The seasonal menu changes, but if it’s available don’t miss the sweet potato sesame brittle flavor. It’s salty, sweet, and nutty!

Pro tip: You get an hour of free parking in the lot next door to the ice cream shop. After you park, make sure to grab a ticket from the attendant sitting at the exit.

Check out the Santa Monica waterfront

website | 200 Santa Monica Pier ( get directions ) | best for: ocean views and beaches

The Santa Monica Pier is an iconic destination right on the Pacific Ocean. While it’s fun to snap some photos, I usually skip the rides and attractions on the pier itself and head to the Oceanfront Walk hugging the Santa Monica Beach. It’s a great spot for people watching, and chances are you’ll see a ton of lazy squirrels splayed out on their tummies in the grass. So weird!

Pro tip: If you’re feeling adventurous, rent cruiser bikes for ~$20-$30/day to cover more ground along the coastline! If you have time, you can also do a biking tour of the area.

woman giving a peace sign in front of the famous Venice Beach sign

Explore Venice Beach and the Canals

website | Venice Beach ( get directions ) | best for: beaching and people watching

You’ve likely seen the iconic Venice Beach in movies. It’s pulsing with people and is a fun place to stroll, so make sure to visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary.

woman crossing the street to go to Venice Beach during a 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Start at Venice Beach and walk along the oceanfront path. I tend to ignore all the tschocke shops and instead focus on the Venice Beach Skatepark and people working out on the public equipment (in a non-creepy way of course). Don’t forget to walk a few blocks up from the beach afterwards to snap a photo at the famous Venice Sign !

view of Venice Beach and grafitti on palm trees

After you had your fill, head to the Venice Canals a few blocks away from the beach. It’s a pretty area that seems more fitting in Amsterdam, with cute bridges spanning serene waterways. I’m always amazed by the transition from the bustling beach to almost people-free canals. It’s the perfect escape to get some peace and quiet!

The Venice Canals, a must visit on your 4 day LA itinerary

Shop along Abbott Kinney & Lincoln Blvd

website | Abbott Kinney Blvd ( get directions ), Lincoln Blvd ( get directions ) | best for: indie shopping

Abbott Kinney is a popular street in Venice known for having a lot of great boutiques all within a few short blocks. After you visit the beach, head to this area for some shopping and pop into whatever stores look interesting.

When you’ve had your fill, head north to Lincoln Blvd. for more shopping. While the road is a bit busier, some of my favorite stores are in this area.

Make sure to stop in General Store for a well-curated selection of home goods and women’s apparel. The Mart Collective down the street is a vintage mall full of curiosities.

Pro tip: Abbott Kinney hosts First Fridays where they invite food trucks for a party the first Friday of every month.

Get dinner at Night + Market Sahm

website | 2533 Lincoln Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$17-$20 per dish | best for: Thai food

Night + Market is serving some of the best Thai food in LA. They have three locations around the city, with Sahm being in Venice.

You’ll find a lot of authentic dishes served on tables covered in bright vinyl tablecloths. My must-get here is the nam khao tod, a crispy rice salad served with a ton of ginger, pork, peanut, onions, and chili. It’s one of the best versions I’ve had in the US!

plate of fried chicken on a colorful plastic table cloth

Day 2: Hollywood Hills & Silver Lake

Spend the day exploring central Los Angeles, home to the entertainment core of the city.

Get breakfast at République

website | 624 S La Brea Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$10-$25 per dish | best for: baked goods

Ask anyone where to find the best breakfast in LA and I’d bet République is on the list. It’s super Instagrammable and makes killer pastries, so there’s a lot to love.

You’ll immediately sense this place is special when you walk in. The restaurant is bright and airy thanks to a huge atrium anchoring the space. The historic detailing is evident, and you’ll be happy to know the story fits the aesthetics.

Charlie Chaplin built the property in 1928 alongside architect Roy Seldon Price. They dreamed of turning it into a mixed use space with offices above and shops below, all surrounding a picturesque courtyard.

plate of croissant, doughnut, and danish from a famous LA bakery

République has returned the space to a lot of its former glory, but it’s not just looks. The restaurant is owned by husband-and-wife Walter and Margarita Manzke. Walter worked alongside chef greats like Ferran Adrià of the late El Bulli, while Margarita made a name for herself at famed restaurants like Spago.

You can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner at République, but daytime is the real draw given their pastry program. Margarita has earned multiple James Beard Award nominations for Outstanding Pastry Chef, so that’s what you must order.

The menu changes regularly, but if it’s on the menu get the creme brûlée doughnut. It has the most perfect vanilla custard and that burnt sugar crust thinly veiling supple brioche dough. However, if that’s not available, rest easy knowing their danishes, cakes, muffins, cookies, and more are all top notch.

Pro tip: This spot gets crowded, so arrive before 9:30 AM on a weekday to avoid a long wait. Order at the counter and grab a seat with your number so they can find you when your food is ready.

table of brunch food at one of the best Los Angeles restaurants

Hike Runyon Canyon

website | 2000 N Fuller Ave ( get directions ) | length: ~2.7 mi loop | best for: a workout and killer city views

Runyon Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in LA, so it’s a must when planning a 4 day Los Angeles itinerary. It takes about 1.5 hours to complete so it’s just enough time to get your heart pumping. However, you may not notice the exertion given the panoramic city views.

The park has 3 entrances: Fuller, Vista, and Mulholland Road. I entered via the Vista entrance after finding street parking and did the West Trail that veers left. I read that less people go this way because the path is a bit more treacherous.

I ended up going to the vista and returning back the way I came, so I can’t say if the other part of the loop is easier. However I can confirm the West Trail had less people. I can also say it wasn’t too scary. The most unsettling part is that the path is unpaved and can get slippery both when wet and dry. There’s also some light scrambling toward the top of the vista.

Since I was wearing Adidas with poor traction, I ended up not making it all the way past the scrambling. But that’s more so because I’m a baby…my partner and everyone else on the trail did it in comparable sneakers just fine, ha.

Even without going to the tippy top, I got epic views and would definitely do this hike again. Just make sure to wear a hat and sunscreen, plus bring a lot of water, as you’ll be in direct sunlight the whole way.

Pro tip: If you’re looking for another option, the Runyon Canyon to Indian Rock is said to be easier.

person hiking at Runyon Canyon, a must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Get lunch at Burgers Never Say Die

website | 2388 Glendale Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$12-$15 per burger | best for: smash burgers

Burgers Never Say Die in Silver Lake specializes in smash burgers, which as the name implies is a patty that’s been compressed to allow for better char. What makes Burgers Never Say Die special, though, is the fact that they keep the edges of the patty so thin, it’s crunchy. I’ve never had a smash burger like this and I’m here for it.

The pro move is to get the triple stack with an extra slice of American cheese. You may think 3 patties is way too much, but they’re so thin the whole sandwich will be about the size of your typical gourmet quarter pounder. Prepare to eat standing up or at the few outdoor tables, as this place is tiny.

Pro tip: Call in your order ahead so you can skip the line. They’ll text you a link to pay.

person holding a triple stack cheeseburger from a burger joint in LA

Seek out artsy staircases

Silver Lake is home to some super cool staircases covered in art. One of the most popular ones is the Micheltorena Heart Stairs , but there are actually a few others in the area!

Weekend Sherpa outlines a 1.5 mile excursion that takes you to other less-visited ones if you have time to a longer adventure. You can also check out the Painted Stairways of Silver Lake Facebook Group for more ideas.

Check out Griffith Park

website | 4730 Crystal Springs Drive ( get directions ) | price: ~$4/hr to park | best for: views upon views

Griffith Park is over 4,200 acres and a must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary. You’ll find golf, the LA zoo, Autry Museum of the American West, and a bunch of other attractions.

However, the most popular things to do in Griffith Park is check out the walking trails and Griffith Observatory . The observatory is a must visit if you love astronomy. It’s free to enter and has a bunch of exhibits, plus a planetarium with an admission fee. Parking can be dicey, so plan to find a spot on the street or take the $0.50 shuttle from the Greek Theater parking lot.

view of Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory

Even if you’re not interested in going inside, the observatory is a great spot for taking in stunning views of the city below. It’s also a congregation point for a bunch of different trailheads.

There are 53 miles of trails in the park . AllTrails has a list of popular ones, but here are a few to consider:

Griffith Park Old Zoo Loop – This easy ~2.5-mile hike takes you to a small abandoned zoo! There’s also a vista for pretty views of the city below.
Hollywood Sign via Canyon Drive – The quintessential thing to do at Griffith Park is scope out the Hollywood sign. This moderate ~6-mile hike gives you an interesting view of the sign’s backside, which makes for great photo opps with downtown LA in the background.
Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Drive – This is an easy ~1.7-mile hike that gets you a front view of the famous sign.

View of downtown LA and Griffith Observatory

Check out the La Brea Tar pits

website | 5801 Wilshire Blvd ( get directions ) | price: free entry to tar pits, ~$15 pp for museum | best for: taking a park stroll while learning about fossils

Did you know that fossils from the Ice Age are found everyday right in LA? Yeah, I didn’t either until I discovered the La Brea Tar Pits.

This public park is home to the only active urban fossil dig site in the world. You’ll find 6 different pit and dig sites skewed around the park, each turned into a free exhibit with interpretive signs explaining what the deal is with these stinky pits (yes, they smell like asphalt!).

If you’re curious, tar pits form when crude oil seeps to the surface through cracks in the Earth’s crust. Unsuspecting animals wander into what they think is just a pool of water, only to get trapped in the sticky tar below.

sculptures of mammoths at La Brea Tar Pits in LA

La Brea Tar Pit staff and volunteers discover fossils of saber-tooth cats, mammoths, dire wolves, and other animals and plants every single day. It’s extraordinary to see, especially if you’re there during an active dig.

If you want to get more up close and personal with the fossils, pay the admission fee to enter the museum. You’ll see the fossils pieced together to give you the full effect of the animal, plus a lot of interpretive exhibits.

Want to fit in as much food as possible? You’re going to want to be hungry for dinner at your next stop, but you’ll be really close to Mom Please La Brea . This spot makes amazing Ukrainian food like pierogies and cabbage rolls. Stop to try some if you can!

Get dinner at Park’s BBQ

website | 955 S Vermont Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$20-$70 per dish | best for: Korean grilled meats

I would have never discovered Park’s BBQ if it wasn’t for my Korean coworker who happens to live in LA, but dang am I happy she introduced me to it.

Park’s BBQ has some of the best Korean barbecue I’ve ever had. They serve quality meats, seafood, and veggies that they grill right in front of you at the table. My other Korean coworker who dined with us explained that this place is the type of place you were taken to when you got good grades. It’s not fine dining, but it’s higher tier than your everyday Korean BBQ joint.

The best move is to order a bunch of items family style and come hungry. There are a ton of sampler platters that are probably the way to go, but if you want to order a la carte, make sure short rib and bulgogi are part of your order.

person grilling meat at a Korean BBQ restaurant table full of Korean food

You’ll get a bunch of banchan as part of your meal. If you’re not familiar, they’re little bowls of side dishes and condiments to go along with your grilled food. Standouts include the kimchi, acorn jelly, and mung beans, but you should really try it all!

Side dish wise, I recommend also ordering the tofu stew and steamed egg. Both are exquisite and worthy of your table.

Pro tip : The BBQ will make you smell after eating here, so wear clothes you can wash if you’re sensitive to smells like me. You can also ask them for plastic bags to put your bags and coats in.

Extra hungry? Koreatown is my favorite foodie destination in LA. If you want to make dinner this night a food crawl, add these spots before or after Park’s: Han Bat Sul Lung Tang – Hidden oxtail soup spot with the best kimchi ever Borit Gogae – Awesome barley rice spot known for its banchan variety Bumsan Organic Milk – Excellent Korean soft serve ice cream

person picking up oxtail from a bowl of Korean soup

Consider this a stretch goal since you’ll have had such a long day, but if you love theater end the evening with a show. Most Broadway plays come to LA, plus there are always fun music and theater performances to be seen.

I personally am a sucker for Broadway, so I always check out the Broadway shows playing in Hollywood. Last time I was in LA I saw Mean Girls and it was just as transformative as it was when I first saw the movie!

If you like other types of performances, check out Los Angeles Theater for concerts, plays, comedy shows, and more. Fever is another good resource for finding quirky exhibits, burlesque, and more.

If you want to pair a show with killer cocktails, check out Black Rabbit Rose . It’s a cocktail bar with a speakeasy theater hidden behind a grandfather clock where they host magic shows. If you don’t want to buy tickets to the show, you can experience some close-up magic from the magician roaming the bar.

Pro tip: I don’t know if this is true, but a local told me if you buddy up to one of the magicians you can get an invite to the famous and exclusive Magic Castle .

Day 3: Downtown & market hopping

Spend the day shopping and eating your way through the many great restaurants in LA’s historic city center and business district.

Note, if it’s Sunday and you want to fit everything on this list into your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary, start very early !

The Bradbury Building, a must-visit on your 4 Day LA itinerary

Get breakfast at Backyard Bowls

website | 3504 W Sunset Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$10-$15 per item | best for: smoothies and healthy bowls

Backyard Bowls has a few locations around the city, a testament to how much people love their organic smoothies, acai and yogurt bowls, oatmeal, and toasts.

My favorite item on the menu is the Dune Day Crusher smoothie with cold brew coffee, cacao, cinnamon, dates, bananas, cashew mylk, and peanut butter. It’s the perfect way to fuel up for the day ahead.

View of the Hollywood sign and LA buildings

Visit the Hollywood Farmers Market

website | 1600 Ivar Ave ( get directions ) | best for: souvenirs and snacks

Not a Sunday? No worries if you can’t get to the Hollywood Farmers Market. There are a ton of others around the city every day of the week.

The Hollywood Farmers Market runs every Sunday from 8 AM to 1 PM, so definitely plan a visit if you’re in LA on this day. It’s right along the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame , so you can see how many celebrities you recognize while walking from wherever you park to the market.

There are more than 160 vendors, so there’s a lot to explore. You’ll see a ton of produce vendors, especially those selling local oranges and avocados. Keep your eye’s peeled for stalls serving fresh squeezed OJ if it’s a hot day. Other places to seek out include:

Cumin Chicken Express – You’ll smell their affordable rotisserie chicken and potatoes from for away!
Bub and Grandma’s Bread – This popular pastry vendor sells out quick, so the trick is to pre-order if you’re determined to try their goods. Another option is to check out their brick & mortar.

If you’re feeling peckish, there’s also a ton of vendors selling food. Explore wherever your nose takes you!

Hollywood Farmers Market, a must see during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

If it’s Sunday, go to a flea market

Y’all know how much I love finding the best vintage clothing shops in Seattle and Seattle antique stores . So the first time I went to LA, I made it my mission to plan my trip when two of the most popular fleas are happening.

Rose Bowl Flea

website | 1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena ( get directions ) | price: $12+ pp | best for: vintage and handmade decor

This huge flea market happens every second Sunday of the month, rain or shine, on the outskirts of LA. It runs 9 AM to 3 PM for general admission ticket holders, but VIPs who pay $20 instead of $12 get a 5 AM entry (that’s dedication!). Kids 12 and under are free with an adult and there’s free parking.

Since the flea takes place in the famous college football stadium, it’s huge. The sections are color coded so you can find different types of merchandise. There are new, vintage, and antique items, but I’d say the Rose Bowl Flea is most popular for antique furniture and decor. Don’t miss the orange area where you’ll find these one-of-a-kind items.

Pro tip: It can get very hot here because there’s barely any shade, so plan accordingly!

Outdoor vintage decor at a shop in Los Angeles

Melrose Trading Post

website | 7850 Melrose Ave ( get directions ) | price: ~$6 pp entry, kids under 12 free | best for: vintage clothing

Vintage clothing lovers must stop at Melrose Trading Post if in LA on a Sunday. This popular outdoor market is from 10 AM to 5 PM at Fairfax High School in LA proper. It offers free valet parking and over 100 vendors selling mostly vintage clothing. There are even a few handmade items, plus food vendors if you’re feeling peckish.

Melrose Ave is known for being a popular shopping street in general, so if you have time consider walking along the street between the Fairfax and Highland Ave cross streets.

Melrose Trading Post, a flea market in LA

If it’s Sunday, eat around Smorgasburg

website | 777 S Alameda St ( get directions ) | price: free entry and parking | best for: sampling food from a bunch of small businesses

You’re probably noticing a theme here: Sunday is one of the best days to visit LA because there are so many markets. Smorgasburg runs 10 AM – 4 PM every Sunday and is a must visit for foodies.

Smorgasburg LA, a food festival you must visit during your LA 4 day itinerary

You’ll find a bunch of food vendors selling amazing bites. The best thing to do is to do a lap and scope out what looks good, keeping an eye out both on the stalls and what everyone else is eating. A long line is usually a good sign, and I’ve found line lengths ebb and flow so don’t get discouraged.

If they’re available when you go, don’t miss Treme Kitchen and their homemade pralines and beignets. You’ll literally see them rolling out dough and shaping fluffy doughnuts. It’s worth the wait to get these delicate puffs doused in powdered sugar.

person holding a takeout container of beignets covered with pralines

Smorgasburg is inside ROW DTLA , which is described as a city within a city because there are bunch of shops in a cool warehouse complex. If you’ve ever been to Brooklyn, it’s very similar to Industry City. So once you’re full, save some time to explore.

Pro tip: Pikunico is a Japanese fried chicken spot in ROW DTLA that draws huge lines. It’s worth the wait!

Feeling wild? Check out Grand Central Market for even more food. If you do, stop in the beautiful Bradbury Building across the street.

Visit The Broad Museum

website | 221 S Grand Ave ( get directions ) | price: free entry | best for: contemporary art

The Broad (pronounced “brode”) is a modern art museum that regularly sells out of tickets. You wouldn’t think a museum would be so popular, but people flock to their exhibits which include greats like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Yayoi Kusama (who is best known for her exhibit Infinity Mirrored Room).

Infinity Mirrors exhibit at The Broad Museum in LA

Tickets are released on the last Wednesday of each month at 10 AM PST for admission the following month. Admission is free, but it’s highly recommended to reserve a ticket in advance because the walk-in line can get really long.

Pro tips: The MOCA is across the street from The Broad and is also free. Since it’s smaller, it’s easy to fit in a visit here after you visit The Broad.

art exhibit at The Broad Museum, a must visit on your 4 Day Los Angeles itinerary

Get dinner at Holbox

website | 3655 S Grand Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$15-$25 per dish | best for: cured and raw seafood

One of my favorite restaurants in all of Los Angeles is in an unassuming area south of downtown. It’s called Holbox and it’s inside a Spanish food hall called Mercado La Paloma.

Given the casual nature of the food stalls, you’d never guess that Holbox is Michelin recognize and has been nominated for a James Beard Award. What’s caught the foodie world’s eye, you may ask? Their expertise when it comes to seafood.

You’ll find a ton of raw, cured, and smoked items on the menu. I’ve rarely seen food hall vendors dole out beautiful avocado flowers elegantly placed on supple scallops, but Holbox is proving you can have elevated food in even the most casual of places.

Don’t miss their ceviche de pescado and smoked kanpachi tostada. Both have some the freshest fish you’ll ever have, seasoned beautifully with salt, acid, fat, and heat.

Pro tip: Holbox hosts fancier multi-course dinners Thursday and Friday nights. Reservations are required.

ceviche tostada from one of LA's best restaurants, a must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Enjoy dessert at Millet Crepe

website | 330 E 2nd St ( get directions ) | price range: ~$9.50 per crepe | best for: stuffed crepe cones

Hopefully you saved room for dessert because not too far away from Holbox is Millet Crepe. You may be thinking, “Meh, crepes,” but this place is serving them in a unique way. Rather than eating them on a plate with a fork and knife, these crepes are rolled like an ice cream cone and overstuffed with creative Asian-inspired ingredients.

They’re most famous for their creme brûlée crepe, so don’t skip that. You can get it stuffed with additional fillings like matcha, strawberries, and mochi. If you’re feeling extra, top it off with a cute, Instagrammable animal ice cream scoop on top!

Pro tips: You don’t ever come in contact with staff to order. Instead, place your order at the pad to the right of the counter.

Also, there’s another Millet Crepe location closer to Venice Beach if you prefer to visit on the first day of your trip.

person holding a creme brulee crepe cone at a must visit restaurant on any 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Day 4: Spend the day at Universal Studios

Spend the day at one of the best amusement parks in the country. The hours change with the season, so check the park’s calendar online. In general the park opens at 9 or 10 AM and closes at 6 or 7 PM, sometimes 10 PM on weekends.

You can do the whole park from 10 AM – 6 PM, so that means you can get good meals flanking your visit!

Disneyland is another great choice for an amusement park. However, it’s farther away in Anaheim and bigger, so it’s harder to fit into one day. If you have little ones in tow, though, Disney may be a better choice (as I’d say Universal is more for kids around 10 and up).

Get breakfast at HomeState

website | 4624 Hollywood Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$3.50-$12 per dish | best for: tacos

HomeState is a Texas-style burrito place loved by locals. You can stop at their storefront or order delivery. Either way, it’s going to be good.

I recommend getting the Tijuana Panther taco with shredded brisket, queso, potatoes, and pico de gallo. If you want to make it feel more breakfast-y, add eggs. The Don’t Mess with Texas taco is also great. It has refried charro beans, bacon, potatoes, and cheddar.

Pro tip: I chose the Hollywood location assuming it’s near where you’re staying, but HomeState has a bunch of locations .

tin foil splayed out to show messy tacos inside

Spend the day at Universal Studios

website | link to get tickets | 100 University City Plaza ( get directions ) | price: ~$100-$200 pp | best for: amusement park attractions

No 4 day Los Angeles itinerary is complete without a trip to Universal Studios. Given that you’re in the movie capital of the world, immersing yourself in how movies are made and some of the biggest IP out there is super cool. Here are some tips for making the most of your day:

Definitely invest in the Universal Express ticket : Yes, it’s almost double the cost at ~$200 per person, but it pays for itself by the first ride because it lets you skip the line. They’ll ask you if you want to be able to skip the line an unlimited amount of times, but get the cheaper one that only let’s you skip the line once per ride. That’s all you need. Pro tip: Purchase online beforehand for the best deals and to save time at the park!
Go on as a single rider if needed: If there are new attractions when you go, they sometimes won’t let you use your Universal Express pass. If that’s the case, split up your group and ride as a single. For example, we waited in a 15-minute line instead of an hour by doing this for the Super Nintendo World attraction when it first opened.
Make sure to leave about an hour for the Universal Studios Tour: This is one of the best experiences at the park so make sure you have enough time for it! You’ll see memorabilia from popular movies, drive through real movie sets, and learn how entertainment is made. So cool!
Only bring a small cross body bag: If you want to be able to bring bags on rides, leave your backpack at home. Many attractions make you check them at the start of the ride. A few rides have little bags by your feet for loose items like water bottles. There are also lockers at the entrance of the park if you need to stow luggage.

Milton of Simpsons sitting on a bench at Universal Studios, a must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

If you’re wondering why I don’t have any tips about food, the reason is because I’ve never eaten well at Universal Studios. So I usually fill up before and after the park day and survive on snacks.

Lastly, if you’re curious what my favorite rides are, I absolutely love The Mummy roller coaster, Transformers 3-D ride, Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride, and the Universal Studios Tour. All the attractions at the park are fun, but I think these are the best!

Pro tip: If you don’t make it to the Universal Studios Tour, the other famous movie producing brands also provide tours. Check out the Warner Bros Studio Tour , Paramount Studio Tour , and Sony Studio Tour .

woman standing in front of the Super Nintendo World mountain at Universal Studios Hollywood

Get dinner at Saffy’s on Fountain

website | 4845 Fountain Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$10-$65 per dish | best for: Middle Eastern food | accepts reservations and walk-ins

After your jam-packed day at Universal Studios, relax at a restaurant worthy of being your last meal of the trip. Saffy’s is owned by the same people behind Bestia and Bavel , two of LA’s buzziest restaurants. All of their spots are a good choice, but I like the slightly more casual ambiance Saffy’s offers.

You’ll find Mediterranean staples like hummus, falafel, tabouleh, tagines, shawarma, and kebabs. You can’t go wrong with anything here, so order what looks good!

Pro tip: They have a tiny coffee shop attached selling great baked goods daily from 8 AM to 3 PM. On weekends starting at 9 AM they also serve Arabic breakfast of shakshouka, challah, clotted cream and honey, olives, and salad. Their baked goods are fantastic, so consider stopping here again during the day if you have time to spare! Don’t miss the Swedish cardamom roll and potato curry bourekas during your visit.

overhead photo of Mediterranean food scattered across a marble table

Where to stay in LA

There are a ton of great places to stay in LA. For this 4 day Los Angeles itinerary, I think West Hollywood , Fairfax , Silver Lake , and nearby areas are the best neighborhoods because they’re centrally located for seeing everything. Here are some of my top picks in those areas.

Kimpton Everly Hotel

link to book | 1800 Argyle Ave ( get directions ) | price range: ~$250+ per night | best for: posh vibes at a lower cost than other spots

I often stay at the Kimpton during my frequent trips to LA. It’s in a quieter area of Hollywood right off the highway, so it’s well located for exploring the city. The rooms feel modern, particularly in the bathroom where you’ll often find huge soaker tubs. The lobby has a happening bar and there’s a pretty good restaurant attached to the hotel (where you can get yummy coffee for free in the morning). During the warmer months you can even relax at the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the city.

Pro tip: Make sure to book a city view room. The Hollywood sign rooms sound attractive, but they face the highway.

I Hotel West Hollywood

link to book | 8490 Sunset Blvd ( get directions ) | price range: ~$450+ per night | best for: luxury vibes and a stunning pool

One of my colleagues who lives in LA recommended this hotel. She said it’s pricey, but it makes up for it with super swank vibes. The rooms are some of the most luxuriously decorated I’ve ever seen, the pool area has sweeping views of the city, and there’s even an onsite rooftop restaurant, spa, and gym. All in all, I am definitely booking this spot the next time I’m in the city!

Modern Silver Lake House

link to book | near Bacari, a cool outdoor restaurant ( get directions ) | price range: ~$560+ per night | best for: larger groups

If you want a more residential feel and bigger space for a group, this light and airy Silver Lake home is the perfect choice. It fits 5 people with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, plus it has plenty of space to spread out. I’m absolutely obsessed with the different garden nooks around the property perfect for cozying up as a group when you’re back from sightseeing.

Best time to visit LA

Los Angeles is a great place to visit year round given it’s sunny climate. However, if you don’t like extreme temperatures (like me), avoid the summer months. I went to LA once in August and literally thought I was going to die.

My preferred time to visit is October through May . My last trip was the end of January and it was lovely. Sure, I was a bit chilly at night, but it was sunny the whole time and I’d take being cold over hot any day!

Important travel tips

Lastly, let me leave you a few tips for making the most of your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary.

Fly Into Burbank Airport

If your hometown has direct flights to Burbank, fly there instead of LAX. It’s a much smaller airport so you’ll be in and out of security in no time! Plus it’s close to Hollywood, so it’s conveniently located if you’re staying in that area.

architectural arch on a downtown LA building

Definitely rent a car

LA is huge so ride shares will cost a fortune and public transit will take forever. To do this whole 4 day Los Angeles itinerary and explore the main areas of the city, you really need to rent a car .

Prepare for homelessness

Unfortunately there are a lot of unhoused people in LA. You’ll see tents set up on sidewalks and people asking for money outside food stores. It’s quite sad, but also harmless. If you’re from Seattle, I’d say it’s very similar and in a lot of ways better than our homeless crisis given LA is more sprawling.

Hogwarts from the Harry Potter attraction, a must visit during a 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

Bring Shoes to Hike in

If you plan to do any of the trails I recommended on this 4 day Los Angeles itinerary, definitely bring a pair of shoes with good traction that you don’t mind getting dirty. LA is very dry, so most of the trails are slippery due to dusty gravel.

Pack layers & Sun Protection

Especially if you’re traveling in the winter months, make sure to pack warm clothing. I was freezing at night when it hit the high 40s in January. However, it was really sunny during the day, so I had to make sure to cover up with hats, sunscreen, and light jackets.

person picking up pizza with red sauce, mozz, and basil at a restaurant you must visit during your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary

More ideas for a 4-day LA itinerary

There is so much more to do in LA, particularly when it comes to eating and hikes! Here’s my Google Map where I keep a running list of places to try. Use this to customize your 4 day Los Angeles itinerary!

Ideas for road trips from LA

After you make your way through this 4 day Los Angeles itinerary, check out these other places to visit nearby!

How to Spend the Weekend in Santa Barbara
Everything You Must Do in San Luis Obispo
The Only 3-Day San Diego Itinerary You Need
San Diego Road Trips
The Ultimate San Francisco to San Diego Road Trip
How to Spend the Perfect Day in Phoenix
Unique Scottsdale Restaurants
Scottsdale Weekend Itinerary
Best Arizona Wineries

The perfect 4 day Los Angeles itinerary including where to eat in LA, must-do LA hikes and Los Angeles viewpoints, a guide to Venice Beach, CA, and how to make the most of a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. If you are wondering how to spend 4 days in LA or need a Los Angeles long weekend, let this be your guide to LA!

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5 Days Los Angeles Itinerary + Complete LA Guide & Insider Tips

February 13, 2023

Paula Martinelli

If you are planning a trip to LA and wondering where to start, you are in the right place! I have visited the City of Angels on different occasions and lengths of time. Now, I am happy to share with you this 5 days Los Angeles Itinerary, plus you will find great tips and helpful information to make the best of your LA Itinerary.

The first thing to know is that Los Angeles is a huge city and is very spread out , and visiting with an itinerary in mind, understanding the best things to do and the areas is your smartest choice.

With this 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary, you will be able to visit the bucket list places in LA without rushing and really have the best experience.

This guide is packed with tips that will help you to discover the best of Los Angeles, the best areas to stay , tips on how to save money, and the best options to get around LA Here you can also find the best ways to get around in Los Angeles.

So without further ado, I hope you enjoy this Perfect Los Angeles Itinerary in five days!

4. Go on a Sunset boat cruise at Marina Del Rey

Marina del rey: for a quieter stay but, but walking distance to the buzz of the venice beach.

Read More: The Ultimate Guide for Los Angeles Bucket List

5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary Overview

If you are wondering, how many days you need to explore the best of Los Angeles , here is my honest answer for you:

Given the size of the city, and how spread out it is, I recommend a 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary. In 5 days in LA, you can avoid spending your visit running around from sight to sight, without time to really enjoy the unique atmosphere of the city.

Just because there is so much to do and see, I highly recommend coming to Los Angeles with a well-defined itinerary , in order to maximize your time. Some areas are walkable, for example, you can walk from Venice to Santa Monica in 1-hour. But in other areas such as Hollywood and Malibu, you will need a car or Uber .

Lastly, make sure you choose accommodation in a good area , where you can walk to the areas you want to visit. Making your reservations in advance is also part of a well-planned Los Angeles Itinerary.

LOS ANGELES ITINERARY OVERVIEW:
DAY 1 | Explore Venice Beach, walk Venice Boardwalk, visit Venice Canals, go shopping at Kinney Boulevard, grab a sunset at Venice Beach
DAY 2 | Explore Santa Monica, enjoy the beach, stroll the Santa Monica Pier, and have a nice dinner at the Ocean Avenue
DAY 3 | Take a road trip to Malibu, drive the Pacific Coast Highway, head to the Beaches in Malibu, go hiking, and visit a winery in Malibu
DAY 4 | Visit the Griffith Observatory, hike the Hollywood Sign, walk the sunset strip, visit Beverly Hills
DAY 5 | Relax by Marina del Rey, go kayaking or paddleboarding, visit the Fisherman’s Village, go on a sunset cruise

How to Save Money on a 5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary

If visiting Los Angeles is on your bucket list, but the costs may scare you away – I have great advice and tips here for you! Yes, it is possible to visit Los Angeles for 5 days without breaking the bank!

You can find inexpensive hotels, there are some restaurants and cafes that have reasonable prices. I also recommend getting the Go Los Angeles Card or Los Angeles Sightseeing Flex Pass as these passes start at $83 for one-day grant access to a variety of different attractions. Each pass has slightly different terms and attractions on offer so check carefully to see which will suit you better. This card offers 2 options:

All-Inclusive Card: This is the best option as you can save up to 50% of the gate prices for the main attractions in Los Angeles.
Build-Your-Own: With this option, you can save up to 20% of the gate prices, and you can choose to see only what is in your interests.
Hop-off-Bus Ticket: This is a good option too, with options of 24, 48, or 72-hour passes. The tour is narrated and takes you exploring Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Santa Monica Pier and Beaches.

A Perfect 5-Day in Los Angeles Itinerary

Day 1 los angeles itinerary: explore venice, 1. grab a coffee and an egg sandwich at the egg slut.

Suggested start time: 9 AM
Address: 1611 Pacific Ave – Los Angeles, CA

Start your first day of your 5-day Los Angeles itinerary with a hearty and yummy egg sandwich at the Egg Slut. I know right? This name – if you wonder why just like I did here we go: The name refers to a chef who simply adds an egg to everything to make it better. The first public use of it was by chef Anthony Bourdain in season 5, episode 5, of his show No Reservations, which aired on February 2, 2000 .

The egg sandwich is loaded with cheesy soft scrambled scallion eggs, sriracha mayo, crispy bacon, and a buttery toasted brioche bun. It’s the perfect sandwich for hangovers, brunches, or mornings when you need a little something extra to start your day. One of their specialties is the “slut” – a cage-free coddled egg on top of a smooth potato purée, poached in a glass jar – it is just yummy!

2. Visit Venice Beach Boardwalk

Address: Ocean Front Walk, Venice Beach, California 9029

After grabbing your breakfast (or egg slut sandwich), walk to Venice Beach to enjoy the vibe. This eclectic and buzzing oceanfront playground for Southern Californians, and is one of my favorite things to do when I am visiting L.A. The beach here offers prime surfing, and you can also work on your tan if you feel like taking an easy morning.

But with so much to do, see and explore, I suggest you just walk around and make some stops along the way for a cocktail, pictures, or shopping. Now, talking about my favorite thing: active travel – this is paradise.

Here you can find a boardwalk that runs parallel to the ocean and many attractions line in including tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, bike, and rollerblading trails, a skatepark…

PRO-TIP: Take advantage that you are at one of the most famous beaches and join a Venice Beach 2-hour group surfing lesson , also recommended for beginners. Or you can join a fun gui ded bike tour to explore some of the best sights such as Venice Beach, Santa Monia, and the Venice Canals

4. Stop for a workout at Muscle Beach

Address: Long Beach, CA 90802
Price: $10 for a day pass or yearly membership is $200

Now we are talking about – as a bodybuilder athlete myself , I don’t have to say how much I love this place! This is the “Home of Bodybuilding” nestled right in the heart of Venice Beach since 1963.

This is the complete outdoor gym to work out. Some of the biggest names in bodybuilding and film including Franco Columbu, Lou Ferrigno, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Frank Zane have all been called Muscle Beach Venice home, and you can also work out here during your Los Angeles itinerary.

PRO-TIP: Muscle Beach Venice is open 7 days a week except for major holidays and rainy days and you can pay $10 for a day pass.

4. Walk and take some pictures from the Pier in Venice Beach

Address: 1600 Harbor Dr. S, Venice, FL 34285
Hours: open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Located on the southern part of Venice Beach , there is a the1,300-foot concrete fishing pier, built-in 1963. The pier offers great views, including watching the surfers which is my favorite thing to do. Enjoy a stroll while you appreciate the breathtaking views, and take some beautiful pictures here. Occasionally you can see dolphins too.

PRO-TIP: If you feel hungry, grab a fish taco at the Venice Whaler , which is just a few minutes’ walks from the pier.

3. Visit the Venice Canals

Address: The intersection of Pacific Avenue and Washington Boulevard
Must read: 20 Cool Things to do in Venice Beach

This is how the Venice name started – these canals were designed in 1905 to turn this area into a cultural center and create an Italian-inspired “Venice of America”. At one point the canals were home to gondolas imported from Italy.

Nowadays, the gondolas are gone, but it offers a beautiful and relaxing place to take a walk, away from the buzzing of the Venice Beach oceanfront.

6. Go shopping at the Kinney Boulevard

This is a mile-long strip of the latest fashion, art, and food and it is just minutes walking from Venice Beach . This is the place if you are searching for a truly eclectic shopping experience during your 5 days Los Angeles Itinerary. This is a bustling district, which stretches from Venice Boulevard to Pacific Avenue, and it is a popular destination for Joho Chip Shoppers. Here you can find one-of-a-kind local products, as well as internationally recognized brands.

If you are looking for a great place to eat, the Felix Trattoria is a temple with hand-made pasta and the traditional menu has a range of delicious antipasti, and second and vegetable contorini.

If you are looking for a great coffee or a small snack, you need to stop at The Butcher’s Daughter with a delicious menu with plant-based versions of popular favorites, and a beautiful patio.

PRO-TIP: Every first Friday of the month at 5 pm the street becomes a festival, filled with live music and the L.A. Premier Food Truck Event, with dozen of food trucks.

7. Grab Happy Hour and enjoy the sunset

The best way to relax after this busy Los Angeles itinerary is to grab a cocktail and enjoy the magical sunset in Venice Beach. A great place to go is the Hotel Erwins’ Rooftop Lounge. – a stylish and open-air deck where you grab a drink and they also serve small plates. This is a cool place to hang out, with DJs both, night and day, and stunning views. They also offer brunch on the weekends from 11 am to 3 pm.

My personal preference is the Venice Whaler , and also, it is a very laid-back place. I just love the atmosphere, the world-famous fish tacos, and the fantastic margaritas – but the sunset is what makes it even more remarkable. The Whaler has been welcoming locals and celebrities since 1944 – such as the Doors, Beatles, and Beach Boys.

Don’t forget to check for the Los Angeles Hotels with rooftop pools , to take full advantage of the beautiful weather, and pool party scene.

Day 2 Los Angeles Itinerary: Explore Santa Monica

Start day 2 of your 5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary by exploring Santa Monica. It is one of the most scenic places in southern California, one of my favorite places in Los Angeles , offering 72 miles of coastline and sunshine for approximately 330 days in the year. With over 60 stunning beaches to explore, lots of amazing restaurants, and of course, the famous Santa Monica Pier for some fun!

1 . Have a Coffee or Brunch at Urth

Suggested start time: 9 AM Address: 2327 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90405

Every time I visit Los Angeles, this is a must-stop for me. Founded in 1989, this cafe is widely considered the first coffee roasting company in America to offer exclusively organically grown, heirloom coffees. If you love coffee like me, they offer exclusive signature blends from light to dark roasts – from americano to latte, cappuccinos, and all between.

They also have a large selection of one tea. And the bakery is to die for! From a large variety of rich and creamy cheesecakes to amazing pies, and exquisite cakes. You have to try the chocolate hazelnut cake – layered with Nutella and hazelnut icing, and covered in chocolate hazelnut ganache. O-M-G!!! and don’t feel guilty, because, with all the walks on the second day of your Los Angeles itinerary, you will burn it all 😉

2. Go shopping or a stroll at the Third Street Promenade

After you grab an amazing breakfast at Urth, take a walk to the Third Street Promenade. This is a pedestrian-only stretch in Santa Monica, offering many stores between chains and locals, and the most important thing here, the dinosaur fountains.

PRO-TIP: On Wednesdays and Saturdays morning, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. along Arizona Avenue, you can visit the Santa Monica Farmers Market – where big-name chefs go to stock up on products for their restaurants in Los Angeles.

3. Enjoy the Beach

There is a paved path that follows the shoreline all the way to Venice Beach , and it is a paradise for runners, rollerblades, biking, or walking. If you wish, you can rent a bike and or rollerblades and cruise from the Pier to or from Venice Beach. You can also rent boogie boards or umbrellas and beach chairs at one of the small shops, and just enjoy the beach.

I recommend stopping by Perry’s Cafe for a refreshment or lunch and spending a few hours here. It is a very laid-back restaurant on the sand, with lounge chairs where you can just sit down, relax and enjoy some people-watching. Here you can also find a beach chair and umbrella for rental.

Santa Monica Beach is a very active place and one of the best areas to stay in LA . Here you will find volleyball courts, surf lessons, rent a bike, and ride the 22-mile-long Marvin Braude Beach Trail. Also, Santa Monica Beach is the home to the original Muscle Beach, and today it features gymnastic equipment. including parallel bars, rings, and ropes, that can be used by adults and also kids.

PRO-TIP: If you are driving, there are plenty of parking lots. Here you can also find restrooms and beach cafes along the beach.

4. Stroll the Santa Monica Pier

Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

This is the most popular spot and it symbolizes the heart of Santa Monica. This pier has been around since 1909, and it is considered one of the landmarks in Los Angeles . It was originally built as a public utility for the city of Santa Monica. Considered a National Landmark, the pier remains a nostalgic past day and remains a fun icon today.

I love coming here at sunset for pictures, and just staying for dinner at one of the amazing restaurants in the area. The historic Santa Monica Pier is where all the action is, with shops, small restaurants, cafes, and locals selling arts. The highlight is the Pacific Park , the amusement park on the pier featuring roller coasters, and the Ferris wheel.

PRO-TIP: You can walk here all the way from Venice Beach, which is about 1 hour (2.6 miles). Another great option is to go on a 3-Hour Electric Bike Tour . This is a cool tour as the bicycle allows you to choose your own comfort level between pedaling with 6 gears, using the electric motor power which puts the power completely in your control, or both

5. Have dinner at Water Grill

Address: 1401 Ocean Ave 90401

You will find an infinite of options for great bars and restaurants in Santa Monica. One of my favorite places is the Water Grill – especially if you love fresh seafood.

This is an oceanfront restaurant overlooking beautiful Santa Monica. The outside patio isn’t that big and gets filled up pretty fast during the weekend – so I would recommend making reservations if you are dining here on the weekend.

Bring your jacket because the ocean breeze can make you cold especially when the sun is down. The service is very good, and the inside of the restaurant looks very nice and classy.

Day 3 Los Angeles Itinerary: Take a road trip in Malibu

On the third day of this amazing 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary, you will discover all the magic about Malibu. The famous Pacific Coast Highway starts here, offering some of the most picturesque stretches of beach in Southern California. And then, there are the beaches in Malibu, I recommend spending at least a few hours exploring one of the beaches in Malibu. I have listed a couple of great options below for you. And if you are a wine lover like me, head to one of the amazing wineries in Malibu – with great quality local wine!

1. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu

Suggested start time: 9 AM Start Point: This drive starts at the end of Interstate 10 in Santa Monica

This part is if you have a car if you want to hire a private driver, or even better if you join a Vintage VW hippie sightseeing to tour this beautiful route. The drive to Malibu is an attraction itself.

You will want to stop in some spots to take pictures and appreciate the views. The total distance is about 49 miles and it takes one to two hours, depending on the traffic. Your driving experience will be a little more enjoyable if you drive the route south from Oxnard toward Santa Monica. You’ll be on the ocean side of the highway, with better views. It will be easier to make a beach or photo stop because you won’t have to cross traffic.

2. Head to the Beach in Malibu

The beaches in Malibu are very different from Venice Beach and Santa Monica, including private beaches where alcohol is allowed – but they are also notorious for the huge parking fees. You will find surf beaches, caves, and incredible rock formations.

The beaches in Malibu offer a laidback experience, where you can relax and lay in the sand. Or at least take a walk and enjoy the beauty and take some amazing pictures. Between Dec-Jan and April-May is when the whales migrate, and you have a high chance to see some gray whales, especially in the early morning. Some of the most popular beaches are:

El Matador State Beach: This is one of the best-kept-secret. Here you can find caves and massive rock formations.
Paradise Cove: This is a public beach where you and enjoy walking down the coast and marvel at the enormous mansions.
Surfrider Beach: This is a great beach for surfing due to the long right-hand break. This is a perfect beach for taking the views and watching the action onshore.

3. Hiking in Malibu

If you are looking to go hiking, Malibu offers amazing hiking trails with views of the Pacific Ocean. Some of the best hikes in Malibu are the Escondido Canyon (3.7 miles), The Solstice Canyon Loop Trail (3.2 miles), and MASH Hike (4.85 miles).

Whatever hike trail you choose, you will be served with a beautiful landscape, with a seascape, mountains, and even waterfalls. Malibu hikes cover all difficulties from the easy hikes to difficult hikes for the expert and you can also customize your trail because some trails are linked to each other.

4. Go for a wine taste in Malibu

Location: Rosenthal Wine Bar is at 18741 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265.

Yes, you can (and should) go on wine taste in Malibu too – it is one of the coolest things to do in LA . You can find hidden in the canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, a couple of great wineries, producing some pretty tasty (and affordable) wines. Some famous wineries are Cornell Winery & Tasting Room, Cielo Winery, and Rosenthal .

I visited Rosenthal, the oldest winery in Malibu. But even if the winery is not open to the public, the wine tasting bar in Malibu is the place to hang out. If you’re looking to taste Malibu wines at a beach party, this is the next best thing. Across from the Pacific Ocean, this Malibu tasting room can get quite crowded and lively. They serve Rosenthal Estate wines by glass, bottle, or flight.

PRO-TIP: If you love wine and are interested on experience some of the top vineyards with spectacular views, the best option is to join the Malibu Wineries Private Group Tour . The tour is a great experience to visit 3 wineries on a private luxury vehicle and with a local expert guide, that will share all about wine, the region, and the history of the area.

Day 4 Los Angeles Itinerary: Hollywood and Beverly Hills

On the fourth day of this 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary, you will explore the famous Hollywood and Beverly Hills area. I only recommend this part of the Los Angeles itinerary, for first-time visitors.

If you are staying in Venice Beach or Marina Del Rey, I recommend taking an Uber to this area. You can also hire a private guide to drive you to the Beverly Hills Celebrity Homes – I know it sounds a little cheesy, but I have to confess that I drove there on my first visit to Los Angeles, and I had fun “hunting” for the amazingly rich and famous mansions.

1. Griffith Observatory

Suggested start time: 9 AM Address: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

The Observatory features space-related exhibits, star shows in the planetarium, and a telescope. Enjoy the grounds of the Observatory, it is beautiful and it features some terraces from where you get a birdseye view of the entire valley. If you happen to visit on a clear day, you will get to see all the way to Santa Monica from up here.

On the opposite hill, right across from the Griffith Observatory, you can catch an unobstructed view of the Hollywood Sign – that is the next destination of your 5-day Los Angeles itinerary.

PRO-TIP: Admission to the Observatory building, grounds, and telescopes are always free. However, you will have to buy tickets for the planetarium show . The best time to visit the Observatory is late afternoon towards the evening when you can stick around to see the sunset and city lights.

2. Hike the Hollywood Sign

Did you know that you can hike from Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood Sign? It is a 4.4-mile hike each way, The trailhead and the summit are separated by 575 feet of elevation, but because this route crosses a mountain in between, the hike actually has two ascents of 425 feet and 525 feet. If you decide to hike to the Hollywood Sign, you can check here for all the details .

The worldwide symbol of the U.S. movie industry has a very dull and uninteresting beginning. The Hollywood Sign was created as an outdoor billboard for real estate development, and today, it is the most well-known landmark in the city of Los Angeles .

PRO-TIP: If you don’t want to hike, you have the option to take a shuttle to the summit Hollywood summit. Driving to the Hollywood Sign is not allowed.

3. Walk the Sunset Strip

You can continue your fourth day in the Los Angeles itinerary with a walk on the famous Sunset Strip. The strip is the 1.5 -mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard that passes through West Hollywood. Sunset Boulevard extends from Hollywood all the way to Beverly Hills. This is very touristy, as you can imagine, but no Los Angeles itinerary would be complete without a visit to the famous Hollywood.

Here is home to flashy boutiques, high-end restaurants, and nightclubs, as well as huge, colorful billboards. Go shopping (or window shopping) at the famous Rodeo Drive , and walk among some of the world’s well-known fashion icons.

Another thing you want to do during your first time visiting Los Angeles is to walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame . The internationally-recognized Hollywood landmark . It encompasses over 2,600 five-pointed stars made of terrazzo and brass and embedded in the sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard.

4. Visit the Chinese Theater

Price to visit: FREE Address: 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

Stop by another famous landmark in the city of Los Angeles , the Chinese Theater. it became famous for being the venue of the Academy Awards ceremony from 1944 to 1946. But most visitors come here because of the celebrity handprints and footprints in the concrete of the theater’s forecourt. The tradition began during the theater construction when one of the Hollywood legends at the time accidentally stepped into the wet cement outside the building.

5. Visit some Celebrity Homes in Beverly Hills

Finish your Los Angeles Itinerary today by strolling through this tranquil green space filled with landscaped hedges, cascading fountains, and colonnaded walkways in Beverly Hills. While the city offers beautiful green spaces, a jog through Beverly Gardens Park offers ample space and a chance to sightsee as well.

If you are curious and want to dive into the “celebrity world” I recommend grabbing a map with the celebrity’s homes, or joining a local tour for a 2-hour fun time around Hollywood and Celebrity homes tour .

Day 5 Los Angeles Itinerary: Relax by the Marina Del Rey

You must be exhausted from this busy itinerary – I know I was after I have done this itinerary myself. And I also consider Marina Del Rey one of the best areas to stay in LA since it is quiet with excellent restaurants, and it is also within walking distance to Venice Beach.

So finish your dreamy 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary by chilling a bit, and here is the best place! The Marina Del Rey is a man-made marina in Los Angeles dating back to the 1960s. Today it is home to approximately 5,000 boats, offering opportunities for paddle-boarding, kayaking, yachting, cycling, and whale watching.

1. Start your day with a Brunch at the Marina Del Rey

Suggested start time: 10 AM Address: 4175 Admiralty Way Marina del Rey, CA 90292

The last day of this 5-day Los Angeles itinerary can start with a relaxing and enjoyable brunch at the stunning Marina Del Rey. My favorite place for brunch is the Jamaica Bay Inn . The brunch here is simply phenomenal, and the views make it a dreamy place you want to be when you visit Los Angeles for 5 days.

It has a great outdoor dining place with nice patios near the beach. It’s the kind of place LA has to offer. I ordered the avocado toast, and it was truly the best I ever had in my life.

PRO-TIP: If you plan to come on the weekend, you will need to make reservations in advance. In this article, you can find the best places to stay in Marina Del Rey .

2. Go for a Walk / Run / Kayaking or Paddleboard on Marina Del Rey

Address: Parking lot, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292

After that brunch, you can pick and choose some of the many activities to do at Marina Del Rey. You can rent a paddleboard or join a stand-up paddle-boarding lesson for all experience and skill levels. This is a fun activity, where your guide will provide information about the local environment and marine life, kayaking/paddle-boarding techniques, and safety while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the Los Angeles boater’s realm.

Then board your kayaks and paddle towards the main channel of the Marina. On the way, observe the beautiful and extraordinary boats. Begin your search for sea lions, birds, dolphins, and other marine life. You will love to just spend a few hours exploring this sanctuary during your Los Angeles Itinerary.

PRO-TIP: You can book this Kayak and/or paddleboard tour to see sea lions , and explore the beauty of the biggest marina in Los Angeles. You have the option to rent a double kayak or a paddleboard, and if you haven’t done it before, the guide will help you to feel comfortable and enjoy the most of this stunning scenario.

2. Visit the Fisherman’s Village

This replica of a New England seaport and the fish town is a quiet harbor front with beautiful views of the Marina, where you can enjoy the sailboats and some wildlife. You can find many restaurants, the Marina del Rey Historical Society exhibit space, and a smattering of shops. There is a lighthouse, and an abundance of bougainvillea to complete the charm of this place.

PRO-TIP: I recommend grabbing a drink and watching the sunset at the SALT Restaurant & Bar. Or take a cruise boat for sunset with wine and cheese.

What a perfect way to end your 5-day Los Angeles itinerary – you can go on a sunset cruise a relaxing ride onboard an electric boat, while you enjoy the beauty of the biggest marina in Los Angeles. Keep an eye out for the local wildlife while you celebrate sunset with a glass of wine and a yummy selection of meat, cheeses, and fruit. Oh, life is good!

How to Get Around Los Angeles in 5 Days

You can get a 15% off your rental car when you book through this site . I use and recommend RentalCar because it is the most reliable rental car source, and it allows you to compare the prices of different places.

Best Places to Stay during your 5 Day in Los Angeles Itinerary

The best decision you will make to have the best time during 5 Days in Los Angeles, is the area you choose to stay in, especially if you don’t have a rental car. As I said before, Los Angeles is a huge city, and very spread out.

Make sure you choose your accommodations close to the attractions you want to visit – You must check Where to Stay in Los Angeles, 6 best areas + Hotel Gide. Below is a quick guide for some of the best recommendations:

Downtown Los Angeles: Best for first-time visitors

Good Value Hotel | Freehand Los Angeles is a great option as it offers a combination of styles and is on a budget in the city of L.A. The decoration is to look like you have walked directly into the 60s with shabby chic furniture and colorful print tiles.

Mid Range | Hotel Indigo is a great option for midrange accommodation, offering stylish rooms and spaciousness when compared with the majority of the hotels in this area. With the Metropole Bar and Kitchen on site, and a cool penthouse bar called 18 Social is here too. You will love the pool at this hotel!

Luxury hotel | Conrad Los Angeles is the place for you if you are looking to spoil yourself. This hotel is stunning and it features a bar, restaurant, an amazing pool and a terrace, and incredible views of L.A. It is rated as Superb (9.0) by the guests for a reason.

Santa Monica: If you want to stay close to the beach

Good Value Hotel | The Georgian Hotel is an affordable accommodation, with an exceptional location, just a few steps away from the Santa Monica Pier. With 84 rooms with an ocean view, and a rooftop bar and restaurant.

Mid-Range | The Palihouse Hotel is an excellent option, located only 5-minutes from the beach. This is an iconic hotel that has been around since the 1900s. All the rooms come with kitchenettes, which allow you to prepare your own meals.

Luxury hotel | Casa Del Mar is a luxury hotel and one of the only beachfront hotels in Los Angeles. Here you can enjoy the pool that overlooks the beach, while you enjoy your favorite cocktail and live music. The rooms are lavishly decorated, and the spa offers amazing facials and massages.

Good Value Hotel | Hilton Garden Inn is where I stayed during my last visit to L.A. and I recommend this hotel. Featuring an outdoor pool and hot tub, it is only a 2-minute walk to the beach, and 1 mile from Venice Beach Boardwalk. Very comfortable bed and good size rooms.

Mid-Range | Jamaica Bay Inn is a beautiful collection by Hilton. Of all the hotels in Marina Del Rey, this is the best boutique hotel, right on Marina’s beach, with an outdoor pool, and it is the best option for families to stay in too.

Luxury hotel | Ritz-Carlton, Marina Del Ray One of the highlights of this incredible hotel is the fresh-caught seafood plates at the restaurant Cast and Plow. Also, you can get spoiled with an 80-minute bliss-fest massage, or chill in the poolside cabana, with complimentary sparkling wine and refreshments on tap.

What to Pack for your 5 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Los Angles Sightseeing Pass: I also recommend getting the Go Los Angeles Card or Los Angeles Sightseeing Flex Pass as these passes start at $83 for one-day grant access to a variety of different attractions.
Comfortable Pair of Shoes: That is the first thing you should pack for your trip to L.A.. you will walk a lot, and you maybe add some hiking too. I love my Nike Air Force as I find it ideal to wear with my gym clothes or a cute dress for a casual dinner.
Summer dresses: I recommend at least one summer dress as they are versatile to walk during the day or going out in the evening
Leggings: You will need at least one pair. Leggings are your best friend in L.A., as you can wear them pretty much every day (and night too;-))
Workout outfit: Dressing in layers and comfortably is the best rule to explore Los Angeles.
Long sleeves shirt and light sweater: It can get chilly in Los Angeles, even during the summer months. It is always wise to dress in layers!
Sunscreen : While you are out exploring, make sure to protect yourself from the sun. I recommend the Stream 2 Sea Sunscream and they are reef-safe
Sunglasses and hat: Don’t forget to pack your pair of sunglasses , you will need them!
Swimsuit: The water may be chilly, but I recommend planning at least a half-day at the beach, so pack that travel beach bag !
Beach Towel: This travel towel is a must to be used at the beach, on a picnic, or even as a blanket.
Day Backpack: This is a must on your packing list – I have a whole article on the best backpack for traveling that I recommend you to check!
Reusable water bottle: Never travel anywhere without a reusable water bottle . Remain hydrated without wasting single-use plastic bottles!

5-Day Itinerary Los Angeles Itinerary Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary, and that you have found it very helpful for your trip planning to the city of angels. With so much to do, see and experience, Los Angeles is a must destination for any adventure, outdoor, and art lover.

If you have any further questions, just leave me a comment below and I will be happy to get in touch with you. I have visited Los Angeles many times, and any time I come back, I feel in love with this city again. And I am sure you will also love Los Angeles and will want to come back to continue exploring.

If you love this article, I also recommend:

The Best Los Angeles Bucket List
Where to Stay in Los Angeles
The Top Things to do in Venice Beach, Los Angeles
How to rent an RV for a Dream Road Trip

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Where to Stay in LA: 6 Best Los Angeles Areas + Hotel Guide

The Ultimate LA Bucket List: 22 Best Things to do in Los Angeles

20 Cool Things to do in Venice Beach, California + Insider Tips

7 thoughts on “5 days los angeles itinerary + complete la guide & insider tips”.

Wow, I definitely didn’t fully experience LA last time I was there—there is so much to do! I’d love to do a road trip around the area some day 🙂

What a fantastic, lively city! The sunset strip looks gorgeous. I’d love to explore LA, the coast, and I’d also love to visit Koreatown.

Santa Monica Pier and Hollywood are high on my list when I finally see more than just the airport in LA. I’m looking forward to it & saving your tips for later!

This is such a great and detailed itinerary, Paula! I still have yet to visit LA. I’d love to check out the Venice Canals, as per your recommendation.

Looks like you had an amazing time! I’ve been to San Diego a few times, but never Los Angeles! I’m clear across the country in Virginia, but next time I visit I plan to visit LA. Thank you for the great list of suggestions!

It looks like you had a great time, and wait to try Egg Slut next time I’m in town!

I visited Venice before the pandemic. It was so fun to see the beach scene. I loved the skater park. And it is free!

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The Ultimate 2 Days in LA Itinerary (2024)

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Spending 2 days in LA and not sure what to do? This itinerary shows you how to tick all the highlights off your bucket list in under 48 hours.

It’s almost impossible to road trip through California and not visit the city of Angels. But since Los Angeles is such a large and vibrant city, seeing it in only two days can be tricky. You could live there for months and still find new places to explore!

Two days in Los Angeles does give you a great opportunity to see some of the main highlights alongside a few hidden gems. This 2-day itinerary shows you an easy and efficient way to see the city. Let’s dive in!

Santa Monica Pier

Dodgers baseball game, mondrian los angeles, joshua tree national park, how to get around los angeles.

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2 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Breaking down all the best things to do in LA is tough – there are so many great places! But we managed to take all the best bits and divided them into two days.

Day 1: West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica

If you’re on a tight time schedule, two days in Los Angeles will definitely be enough time to see some of the best spots in the city. On the first day, we start by checking off some LA bucket list items.

Hollywood Sign

We start our two day Los Angeles itinerary with what probably is the most iconic and famous sight of the city: The Hollywood sign. Located on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, the sign has been photographed thousands of times, starred in many movies and TV shows and attracted many tourists to LA.

The sign was created in 1923 and originally spelt out “Hollywoodland”. At first, it was only meant to be a temporary advertisement sign promoting a local real estate development. But due to its popularity, the sign stayed up.

One of the best places to enjoy the sign is in Lake Hollywood Park. Put 3000 Canyon Lane Drive into your navigation to get there. Here, you can find a park with a great view of the Hollywood Sign. For more great photography spots of the Hollywood sign, check this article .

Walk Of Fame

No visit to Hollywood is complete without the famous Walk Of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. With more than 2,500 terrazzo and brass stars as part of the sidewalk, honouring the accomplishments of some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, the Walk Of Fame turned into a tourist hotspot.

But do go in with the right expectations. Hollywood Boulevard is kind of a tourist trap and not as glamorous as it may seem in pictures and videos. It’s still fun to walk around it, see it with your own eyes and take a picture with the star of your favourite actors – but keep your expectations low and avoid going into any of the shops. They really try to profit from all the tourists and sell stuff with a crazy markup.

After walking upon the stars, head over to Sunset Boulevard for lunch. Here, you can find one of the most popular fast-food chains in California: In-N-Out Burgers . They are mainly found in California but are slowly expanding to other states as well. Their burgers are delicious (my dad went for seconds)! Make sure to try their house speciality, Animal Style Fries, which come with cheese, some onions and a tasty burger sauce.

Michael Jackson Star Walk of Fame Los Angeles

Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive

Beverly Hills is a city in the LA county, mainly known for its many celebrities who made this their home. If you want to enjoy some fascinating architecture, I’d highly recommend driving around for a while. Don’t expect to see any celebs walking their dogs, though 😉

While in Beverly Hills, head over to Rodeo Drive. This shopping district was put on the map when Beverly Hill 90120 aired. It is one of the most expensive (and luxury) shopping districts in the world. Obviously, I couldn’t really afford anything here, but it’s fun to see it with your own eyes!

The Original Farmers Market

If you’re not into burgers and fast food, do not worry. I have another recommendation for lunch right here: The Original Farmer’s Market. This historic Los Angeles landmark opened in 1934. You can find many food vendors, food stalls, local produce markets and other eateries here. There is a massive variety of foods available, so there really is something for everybody there. You can find more information about the Original Farmers Market on their website.

End your first day in Los Angeles in Santa Monica. It’s only a little drive away from Beverly Hills. The famous Santa Monica Pier makes for a perfect place to spend your evening. On the pier, you can find an amusement park (with the iconic Ferris wheel), restaurants and shops. The perfect place to watch the sunset!

Day 2: Downtown LA

After having seen some of the main highlights of Los Angeles, we head over to downtown LA on our second day. Downtown LA has a lot of really cool places to check out, and you can see quite a bit in just one day. Here are my recommendations.

Walt Disney Concert Hall & The Broad

Start your day at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. There are some affordable parking spots quite close to this building, making it a good start to the day. Even if you don’t go inside, the building is impressive enough to leave an impression.

Afterwards, you can visit The Broad which is located pretty much next to the Concert Hall. The Broad is a modern art museum that has a magical mirror room.

And the best thing… It’s completely free to visit! Just make sure you reserve tickets on their website before you go.

Angels Flight Railway

The Angels Flight funicular has been featured in many films, including La La Land. Only for that, it’s worth taking a peek. But also because it’s very close to the next two stops on this itinerary. For only a dollar, you can ride this iconic funicular. It only takes about 45 seconds, but it’s a cute little experience to add to your list.

The Grand Central Market

Food lovers’ paradise is only a few minutes away from the Angels Flight Railway: The Grand Central Market. With 38 different food vendors and a wide variety of international and local dishes, there is something for everybody to enjoy. The dishes are quite affordable and very Instagram-friendly 😉

It started off as an actual market back in 1907 and turned into a trendy meeting place for locals and tourists alike. It does get pretty hot in summer, so keep an eye out for that!

Bradbury Building

You may recognise the picture below from Blade Runner. The Bradbury Building was one of the locations where the film was shot. With many locations in LA, it’s really cool to see these places in real life. The building is open to the public to enjoy and because it’s almost next door to the Central Market, I’d highly recommend popping in for a quick picture.

Blue Bottle Coffee

Across the road from the Bradbury Building, you can stop for a quick coffee fix. Blue Bottle Coffee is a coffee chain that specialises in speciality coffee. America is big on coffee, and I sure do like a cup as well. Blue Bottle Coffee makes sure to serve coffee within 48 hours of roasting the beans, allowing you to experience it was peak flavour. They really know their coffee and it’s great to learn more about it from their staff.

The Last Bookstore

On to one of my all-time favourite spots in Los Angeles: The Last Bookstore. Yes, I love books and stories. That ain’t a secret. But add that to the most instagramable shop in California that also sells a ton of affordable secondhand books – say no more .

The Last Bookstore is located in downtown LA and is the largest bookstore in the state. Not only does it have an archway made of books, but they also hold many bookish events and sell many books by local authors. I ended up buying 3 secondhand books for $20 in total. They were all in great shape and they turned out to be lovely keepsakes to remind me of my two days in LA.

Dinner with a View

The city of Angels is even prettier from higher up. Good thing that they have countless rooftops with restaurants, bars and cafes that give you some of the most stunning views across downtown LA.

If you get the chance, please check out one of the rooftop restaurants for a beautiful end to your two days in Los Angeles with a view across the city as the sunset. You can find some of the best rooftop bars in LA in this article.

If you happen to spend two days in Los Angeles while the Dodgers are playing a game, please do go check it out.

We were lucky enough to visit LA when they played a home game and it was one of the coolest things we did in the US. Baseball is such a big part of the American culture.

Watching a game, eating a hot dog while doing so and chanting along with songs I didn’t really know the lyrics to (“ Take Me Out to the Ball Game …..”) – it was amazing!

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

Picking a place to stay can always be tricky, especially in a city as massive as Los Angeles. Whether you’re on a budget or don’t mind spending a bit more, here are some recommendations:

Travelodge by Wyndham Hollywood-Vermont/Sunset

You can never go wrong with Travelodge. This hotel is located in East Hollywood, making it a very affordable option for this location. It’s everything you need for two days in Los Angeles.

Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

A tiny bit more expensive, but a big upgrade compared to the Travelodge. As the name suggests, this hotel is located in downtown LA. The rooms are modern and very comfortable. Plus, the hotel has a rooftop pool and bar!

If you feel like treating yourself to a stunning and absolutely amazing stay, check out the Mondrian in Los Angeles. Located in the heart of the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, you’re not going to get a better location to stay at. Stylish and spacious rooms alongside an outdoor pool (with underwater music) and panoramic views over the city.

Day Trips From Los Angeles

You could stay in Los Angeles for weeks and still find more than enough things to do. But if you’d like to see some more of the vicinity, here are a few recommendations of day trips you can make.

Universal Studios Hollywood or Disneyland

In LA, you can find both Universal Studios Hollywood and Disneyland California. When we were in LA, we decided to go to Universal Studios rather than Disneyland because we only had time to visit one of them. Of course, I can’t compare the two because I only went to one – but I really enjoyed Universal Studios.

Even though the rides were great, my favourite part was the Studio Tour. Taking us through the actual Hollywood studios, and seeing places where some of my favourite shows and films were shot was amazing! The park was definitely a bit smaller than I expected at first, but that gave us the opportunity to do all the rides in one day. I was lucky enough to be chosen for the interactive wand picking at Ollivanders in the Harry Potter World, making it an even more precious memory.

Because Universal Studios is quite a busy theme park, I’d highly recommend pre-booking your tickets . If possible, try to avoid weekends and holidays.

Palm Springs

Just two hours from Los Angeles lays Palm Springs. Filled with hot springs and luxury spas, it is the perfect getaway destination when you’re in LA. Apart from great coffee shops, restaurants and vintage stores, Palm Springs is known for its midcentury modern architecture.

From Palm Springs, you can also take a trip to the famous Salvation Mountain or explore Joshua Tree. For a more detailed guide on how to spend some time in this desert oasis, check out my Palm Springs itinerary.

A unique flora was created where two deserts met in Joshua Tree National Park. The strangely looking Yukka Trees (also known as Joshua Trees) give the park its name and its fame. It’s a magical place, unlike anything else on the planet. So when you’re in Los Angeles, it’s worth making a little day trip out to Joshua Tree.

Want to see more of the United States of America? Check out my Denver to LA road trip itinerary to find out what I saw during my three weeks across the US.

Los Angeles Travel Tips

Before giving you my recommended two-day itinerary, I’d like to give you some extra tips for your trip to LA. If you’re already prepared for your Californian adventures, you can scroll down to the actual itinerary. But for those who still need some extra info; here you go!

Money In Los Angeles

As many of you will already know, the currency used in the USA is American Dollars ($). As with all currencies, the numbers fluctuate over time, but it currently sits around:

€1 = $1.11 £1 = $1.30 ¥100 = $0.92

The tipping culture in the United States of America is something that kinda throws off tourists. It’s confusing when you’re not familiar with the way tipping works, especially if it’s not such a big deal in your home country. But because servers’ wages are incredibly low in the US, it is good custom to tip at restaurants, bars and hotels to make up for this low pay. On average, it’s recommended to tip 15% . Some good guides to read about how to tip properly in the US can be found here .

Is 2 days enough in Los Angeles?

Spending two days in Los Angeles gives you enough time to see most of the highlights, including Hollywood, Santa Monica and Downtown LA. Especially if you want to see more of California, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than two days in Los Angeles, since there is so much to see nearby.

Best Times to Visit Los Angeles

Although Los Angeles never really gets too cold, the city does get very hot (and crowded). Especially during the summer, the heat and the massive wave of tourists do make the city a bit less enjoyable to visit. Personally, I’d recommend going in the fall if you have the choice.

If you’re travelling through the US or California, you’re most likely already using a rental car. Using a car is by far the easiest way to make your way around LA. Do keep in mind that parking prices tend to get pretty pricey. It’s always a good idea to double-check with your hotel to see if they have on-site parking.

If you don’t have access to a car, Los Angeles also has a great public transport system that you can use. You can use this guide for all the info you need about using the LA public transport systems.

Conclusion: Two Days In Los Angeles

I hope this 2 day Los Angeles itinerary gave you some good ideas on what to do in LA. Let me know if I missed any of your favourite things to do in this beautiful city – I’d love to go back someday!

Nele (Nay-la) graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with an English and Creative Writing Degree and has lived in the UK for nearly 10 years. She has had an interest in Japan and its culture for as long as she can remember. Since her first trip in 2018 surpassed all expectations, she has continued to return to Japan to explore more of all it has got to offer. You can read her full story here .

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2 days in Los Angeles: the Epic Itinerary + tips

Weekend in los angeles: the best 2-day itinerary + where to stay.

You want to spend 2 days in Los Angeles and you’re looking for the best things to do?

You’re at the right place!

In order to help you plan your stay , I have prepared for you this 2-day itinerary in Los Angeles.

During your trip, you will discover all must-see attractions of the city such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Universal Studios Hollywood and a lot more!

In addition to the best places to visit and activities for each stage of your itinerary, I will also give you all my best tips and accommodation suggestions depending on your budget.

So, what are the best places to visit in Los Angeles in 2 days? Where to stay?

Let’s find out!

2 Days in Los Angeles: Must-See Attractions:

One last tip for a perfect 2-day trip in los angeles, los angeles in 2 days: the best itinerary, a. hollywood sign, b. griffith observatory, c. walk of fame, d. sunset boulevard, e. rodeo drive and beverly hills, f. santa monica pier, g. venice beach, option 1: universal studios hollywood, option 2: exploring los angeles’ surroundings, a. battleship uss iowa museum, b. long beach – aquarium of the pacific, c. newport beach – whale watching cruise, where to stay in los angeles, 2 days in los angeles with your family, more things to do in 2 days in los angeles, map of your 2-day itinerary in los angeles, flight prices to los angeles, you’re traveling in the us these articles will help you, book your tickets for los angeles best tourist attractions in advance.

If you want to save time, you should buy your tickets online for each museum, activity and guided tour you want to do during your 2-day itinerary in Los Angeles.

Priority tickets are available for all major attractions and activities, so it’s very convenient!

Here is a quick recap of all tickets and tours for your weekend in Los Angeles. For your convenience, you will also find these links throughout the article.

By purchasing them using these links, you are 100% sure to get the official tickets. And as they are 100% digital , you don’t have to go anywhere to pick up your tickets, you’ll receive them immediately by email.

To see the prices and to book, simply click on the links below :

Guided tour of celebrities homes in Beverly Hills
Get your own Star at Hollywood Walk of Fame
Guided walk to the Hollywood Sign + Pictures
Full-day guided tour of LA
Fast track ticket for Universal Studios Hollywood
Battleship Uss Iowa Museum
Aquarium of the Pacific
Whale watching cruise
Helicopter tour
Warner Bros Studios
Paramount Pictures Studio
Petersen Automotive Museum
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum
Natural history museum of Los Angeles
Museum of Contemporary of Art
Dodger Stadium
Bus Hop-On Hop-Off
Half-day guided bus tour + photo stops
Full-day guided bus tour of LA
Gastronomic guided tour with food tasting
Guided tour of the Dolby Theatre
Ticket for Madame Tussauds Hollywood
Ticket for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library
One-hour or 2-hour horse ride in Griffith Park
Surf lesson at Venice Beach or Santa Monica
Guided kayak or paddle tour of Marina del Rey
Cruise in L.A marina with aperitif

If you want to book other activities in Los Angeles, you should always use these 2 reliable and safe websites:

GetYourGuide: Official entrance tickets and activities in Los Angeles .
Tiqets: Skip the line tickets in Los Angeles

If you already know your travel dates (or as soon as you will have them!) , you should really book your accommodation.

As Los Angeles is one of the most touristic cities in the world , the hotels offering the best value for money are often fully booked months in advance.

As a seasoned traveler, I can assure you that it’s always by planning as far in advance as possible that I’ve found the best hotels or apartments deals.

You agree that it would be a shame to somewhat ruin your stay in Los Angeles by ending up in a not-so-great hotel that costed you a fortune, right? 😅

So your best bet is to take 5 minutes now to have a look at traveler’s favorite hotels in Los Angeles.

And if you like one of the hotels you find, book it!

It’s fast, it’s easy and most accommodation offer free cancellation. That’s the best way to protect yourself from the inconvenience of finding nothing but mediocre rooms at exorbitant prices.

To check the best hotels deals in Los Angeles, simply click on the green button below:

After securing your dream stay, it’s time to continue reading this guide!

Let’s now plan your 48-hour itinerary in Los Angeles!

For this itinerary, I assume you will be spending 2 full days in Los Angeles and purchased skip the line tickets in advance for the visits and activities you want to do.

That’s the best way to save time and money during your stay!

If you still have questions after reading this guide or need help planning your trip, don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section located at the end of this article.

So, what are the best places to visit in Los Angeles in 2 days?

Day 1 of this Los Angeles itinerary – The best things to do

Day 1 visits:

A. Hollywood sign B. Griffith Observatory C. Walk of Fame D. Sunset Boulevard E. Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills F. Santa Monica Pier G. Venice Beach

The Hollywood Sign is a must-see and the perfect starting point for your 2-day visit of Los Angeles.

This iconic landmark, nestled in the Hollywood Hills , has been a symbol of the entertainment industry since 1923.

There are 2 ways to see the Hollywood sign:

Viewpoints accessible by car or public transports, such as Lake Hollywood Park and the Griffith Observatory (I’ll tell you more about it a bit below), where you can take some great photos.
Going on a short hike, to get a closer to the sign. It’s also a great way to enjoy superb views of Los Angeles.

There are several trails leading to the sign, and I especially recommend the Canyon Boulevard Trail for its scenic views or the Hollyridge trail.

You can’t actually touch the sign, but the hiking trails offer excellent spots for photos and a panoramic view of the city.

And if you prefer, you can hike with a guide, who will also take photos of you at the best spots. Click here to book and get more information!

Start early to avoid the crowd and the heat, especially during summer.

If you don’t feel like worrying about transportation, you’ll be happy to know that all visits of for your first day in Los Angeles are included in a minibus tour.

It’s really convenient , and your driver/guide will tell you everything you need to know about the places you’re going to see.

This tour must be booked in advance by clicking on the button below:

Next, head to the Griffith Observatory .

Located on the south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood, in Griffith Park, this observatory offers some of the best views of the city , including downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and the Pacific Ocean.

The Griffith observatory can also be visited.

Inside, you’ll find fascinating exhibits about space and science.

If you are visiting Los Angeles in 3 days with kids, it’s really a great visit, they will for sure love it, especially the planetarium.

Admission to the observatory is free, but there is a small fee for the planetarium shows. You can check the schedule here.

The next stop you shouldn’t miss on your first day in Los Angeles is the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame .

This sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard is embedded with stars honoring celebrities for their work in the entertainment industry.

You will have a fun time searching for the stars of your favorite actors and musicians.

The Walk of Fame is also an excellent spot to see street performers, go shopping and soaking in the Hollywood atmosphere.

Also keep an eye out for the TCL Chinese Theatre , known for its collection of celebrity handprints, footprints, and autographs embedded in the concrete.

If you’re looking for an original activity to do during your week end in Los Angeles, you can create your own star in your own name.

And, of course, have your photo taken in front of it. It’ll be a unique souvenir of your trip!

You need to book the “Get your own Star” activity in advance by clicking on the button below:

To continue your 2-day trip to Los Angeles, you should go on Sunset Boulevard , one of the most famous streets in Los Angeles.

This boulevard stretches from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean and is lined with a variety of entertainment venues, restaurants, and boutiques.

Sunset Boulevard is especially known for the Sunset Strip, a section that’s home to iconic music venues like The Roxy and The Viper Room.

Whether you’re looking for live music, comedy shows, or just a lively atmosphere, you’ll find it here.

Let’s now visit Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills .

This area is synonymous with luxury and fame , featuring high-end shops and elegant boutiques.

Even if you’re not planning to shop, a stroll through this glamorous neighborhood is a must on your 2-day trip to Los Angeles

Don’t miss the chance to walk by the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, famous for its role in the movie ‘Pretty Woman’.

You should also take a guided tour of Beverly Hills to see celebrity homes and learn about the history of this exclusive neighborhood.

To book this activity, you just have to click on the button below:

Next, head to the iconic Santa Monica Pier .

This historic pier offers a blend of entertainment, dining, and shopping , all with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.

The pier is also home to Pacific Park, a seaside amusement park. I recommend you try out the Ferris wheel and the roller coaster.

You can also indulge in a classic beach treat like ice cream or churros and try some local seafood for the dinner.

Catch the sunset from the pier for an unforgettable experience. The colors of the sky blending with the ocean are simply breathtaking.

End the first day of your 2-day trip to Los Angeles at Venice Beach , known for its bohemian spirit and vibrant boardwalk.

This eclectic beachfront neighborhood is a great place to shop for unique souvenirs , and enjoy street performances.

I really loved exploring the famous Muscle Beach outdoor gym and watching skateboarders at the Venice Skatepark.

The artistic murals and street art around the area are also not to be missed.

Grab a bite at one of the local eateries and enjoy the laid-back beach atmosphere of Venice.

A great way to end your first day of your weekend in Los Angeles!

When you’re in Venice, I’d also recommend taking a stroll along the canals.

Venice Canal in Los Angeles offers a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk, with some magnificent mansions to admire.

Day 2 of your trip to Los Angeles: What to do?

Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the most popular place to visit during a 2-day itinerary in Los Angeles.

So that’s the first option for your second day!

However, if you prefer to continue visiting L.A and its surroundings , I have also written a second option that you can read a bit below.

For this second day of your 2-day stay in Los Angeles, let’s discover the magic of movies with a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood .

This world-famous theme park and studio offer a blend of thrilling rides, live shows, and a real working movie studio experience.

You should start your visit to Universal Studios with the Studio Tour.

It’s an incredible opportunity to see behind the scenes of some of your favorite movies and TV shows. Keep an eye out for sets from movies like ‘Jaws’ and ‘War of the Worlds’.

I personnaly really loved Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Even if you’re not a Harry Potter fan, the attention to detail in this area is astounding. From the shops of Hogsmeade to Hogwarts Castle, it’s like stepping into another world!

Universal Studios Hollywood is home to a myriad of other immersive worlds , each offering unique experiences. Let’s explore some of these incredible attractions:

1) Jurassic World

Step into the world of dinosaurs in Jurassic World, and enjoy the Jurassic World Ride that takes you through a lush jungle landscape, filled with animatronic dinosaurs.

2) Super Nintendo World

For video game enthusiasts, Super Nintendo World is the new addition to the park. It brings the colorful and playful world of Mario Bros and other Nintendo characters to life.

3) The Simpsons World

If you’re a fan of the Simpsons, you’ll love visiting The Simpsons World .

Here, you can stroll through a r ecreation of Springfield , complete with Moe’s Tavern and Krusty Burger. Don’t leave without trying a famous ‘Flaming Moe’ or a classic ‘Krusty Burger’ for the full Springfield experience!

I really loved the Simpsons Ride, which is a fun and hilarious simulator experience.

4) Transformers

For action lovers, Transformers: The Ride-3D is a must-visit.

This 3D ride puts you in the middle of an epic battle between the Autobots and Decepticons. The high-tech visual effects and motion-simulator technology are very impressive.

Universal Studios also offers a variety of dining options, from quick snacks to full-service restaurants.

In the park, you will also find the CityWalk , an area with shops, restaurants, and cinemas , perfect for ending your day.

Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood is for me an essential part of any 2-day trip to Los Angeles. It’s fun for all ages!

To make the most of your day, use the Universal Studios app to check ride times and plan your visit around the attractions you most want to see.

Purchase your tickets online in advance to avoid long waiting lines. Also, you should get a Universal Express Pass to skip the regular lines on rides and attractions.

Buy it now by clicking on the button below:

Here is an alternative itinerary for you second day in L.A.

3 days in Los Angeles Day 2 itinerary option 2

Day 2 visits:

A. Battleship USS Iowa B. Aquarium of the Pacific C. Whale watching cruise

Start your day in Los Angeles with a visit to the Battleship USS Iowa Museum .

Located at the Port of Los Angeles, this historic battleship-turned-museum offers a unique glimpse into American naval history.

As you walk the decks, you can explore the life of sailors and see the technology used during the ship’s service.

The views from the ship are also quite spectacular, giving you a different perspective of Los Angeles.

You need to book your ticket online by clicking on the green button below:

Next, head to Long Beach to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific .

This expansive aquarium is home to more than 11,000 ocean animals representing almost 500 species. It’s a fantastic place to learn about the Pacific Ocean’s diverse marine life.

I really loved the Shark Lagoon and the interactive touch pools where you can touch starfish and stingrays.

The Tropical Reef habitat, replicating the conditions of the Indo-Pacific reefs, is also a must-see.

You need to get your skip-the-line ticket by clicking here:

While you are in Los Angeles for 2 days, you should go on an unforgettable whale watching cruise from Newport Beach.

This is a chance to see marine creatures in their natural habitat. Depending on the season, you might spot gray whales, blue whales, dolphins, and more.

Taking a cruise not only allows for an incredible wildlife viewing experience, but also offers breathtaking views of the Southern California coastline.

If you’re lucky, you can even see dolphins swimming alongside the boat!

And that’s it, you now know how to visit Los Angeles in 2 days! Spend one last night at your hotel before taking your flight back home the next day.

For the whale watching cruise, you need to book your tickets in advance by clicking on the button below:

Now that you know how to visit Los Angeles in a weekend , you will need to find a hotel.

In order to help you out, here are my favorite hotels of the city, each in a different price category.

And as always, if you already know your travel dates, book your hotel right now! In Los Angeles, the best hotels are fully booked very quickly.

Here is my selection of the best hotels to stay in Los Angeles:

HI Los Angeles – Santa Monica Hostel: Located 200 meters from Santa Monica beach. Dormitory beds from €50. Strong points: cleanliness, location next to the ocean. The perfect hostel if you’re looking for a cheap accommodation in Los Angeles.
El Royale Hotel – Near Universal Studios Hollywood: Located close to Universal Studios, comfortable and spacious double room from €190, breakfast included. Strong points: friendly staff, free parking, comfortable beds.
Park Plaza Lodge: Located close to LACMA and Farmers market. Modern and comfortable double room from €190. Benefits: swimming pool, parking, convenient location for sightseeing.
citizenM Los Angeles Downtown: Located in Downtown Los Angeles, 400 metres from City Hall. Brightly decorated contemporary double room with large window overlooking the city, from €260, breakfast €19. Strong points: design, friendly staff, panoramic view of LA.
Loews Hollywood Hotel: Located next to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beautiful double rooms, some with views of the Hollywood sign, from €255, breakfast €33. Strong points: heated swimming pool, geographical location, direct access to the shopping centre with lots of restaurants and a casino. My favorite hotel in L.A for its excellent value for money!
Pendry West Hollywood: This 5-star hotel on Sunset Boulevard offers sublime, elegantly decorated rooms with large picture windows. From €620 per night, breakfast €56. Strong points: the rooftop pool, the view over Los Angeles, the design of the hotel.
Shutters On The Beach: Magnificent 5-star hotel located directly on Santa Monica beach. Rooms with balcony and some with ocean views from €880, breakfast €46. Strong points: the view, the good restaurant, the style of the hotel, the swimming pool, the attentive staff. This is my recommendation for a luxury stay in Los Angeles!

Shutters on the Beach Where to stay in Los Angeles

Are you wondering if this 2-day itinerary in Los Angeles is suitable for a family trip?

The answer is of course yes!

Here are the best things to do in 2 days in Los Angeles with your family:

The bus guided tour to see the impressive houses in Beverly Hills
Visit the Griffith Observatory and its planetarium . There is also the Los Angeles zoo nearby.
Spend the day at Universal Studios Hollywood
Discover the marine animals at the Aquarium of the Pacific
Enjoy a ride at Pacifik Park at Santa Monica Pier.

If you’re looking to modify this 2-day Los Angeles itinerary or you’re simply looking to add 1 or 2 extra activities, you should have a look at my detailed guide of the city.

You will find it here: The 45 best things to do in Los Angeles .

To help you visualize your daily itineraries during your 2 days in Los Angeles, I have created this map with all the places to visit day by day . You can view the map’s legend by clicking on the top left button, the one with a little arrow.

You can thus see the suggested itineraries for each day.

As always, you should book your plane tickets as early as possible to get the best prices.

To check the rates and schedules for flights to Los Angeles, you can use our flight comparator, in partnership with Skyscanner:

Now you know the best way to visit Los Angeles in 2 days!

If you need help organizing your 2-day stay in Los Angeles, don’t hesitate to ask me your questions in the comments section below.

Discover all my articles about USA : All my articles to help you plan your trip to USA are listed there.

Itinerary: 10 days USA West coast – How to visit Western USA in 9, 10 or 11 days
Itinerary: 2 weeks USA West coast – The perfect 14-15 days road trip!
Itinerary: 3 weeks USA West coast – An epic 20-21 days road trip!
Las Vegas: Top 30 Best things to do and must-see attractions
Los Angeles: The 45 best places to visit
New York: The 57 best things to do
San Francisco: The 27 epic must-see attractions
2 Days in New York – The best itinerary to visit the Big Apple in 48h
3 Days in New York – All the best places to visit + Detailed itinerary
4 Days in New York – The perfect itinerary for your visit
5 Days in New York – Itinerary + Best things to do + My Tips
One Week in New York – The perfect 7-day itinerary
Where to stay in New York ? My guide of the best hotels for an EPIC stay!

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Creator of the Voyage Tips blog, travel and photography lover. I give you all my best tips to plan your next trip.

2 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

3 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

4 Days in San Francisco: The Perfect Itinerary (First Time Visit)

A Los Angeles Itinerary Guide for First Timers: How to Spend 3-4 Days in La La Land

Planning a Los Angeles itinerary for the first time and feeling overwhelmed? Follow this guide below to make it easy!

You know, growing up on the East Coast, LA almost doesn’t feel real . You see it in so many movies and read about it so often with celebrities and actors and singers, but still. It’s some far off place where it’s always sunny and both glamorous and a little seedy! Weird to think, but I visited the big cities of Europe before I even thought of making my way over to the City of Angels!

My first trip happened for two reasons. Since I was teaching in Korea and coming home for summer vacation, I knew I’d be flying through California no matter what. And it just so happens my friend, Elissa, had the same summer vacation and is from Los Angeles! I joined her family on a little California trip that ended up back at their house and managed to get a local introduction to this famous city!

Since then I’ve been back twice. Once on my way home from Korea again where I crashed with Elissa’s family for a few days before getting my next flight to Philly. We did a few things, but mostly I was exhausted and we vegged on her couch watching the BBC miniseries “North & South”!

Recently, though, I returned with my friend, Sher, at the tail end of our California coast road trip! We had about two nights and three-ish days, and I had a list of spots I wanted to see! It was also Sher’s first time in LA, so I re-visited some spots and got to re-remember what I saw the first time.

Between all these visits, I’ve put together what I think is the perfect Los Angeles itinerary for any first time visitor. Before I get in exactly what to do and where to go, I’ve listed some tips below so you know what you’re getting into. LA is not like other cities, so there are some things you should be aware of beforehand!

Tips for Your Los Angeles Itinerary

You’re going to need to drive.

The one thing you have to know about LA, is that it is not a walkable city. Everything is very spread out and the public transportation is okay in the best of times and downright sketchy and unsafe during pandemic times. Even then, it doesn’t cover everything and you’ll still wind up taking an expensive Uber to cover the awkward distance in between.

Elissa obviously drove when I visited her, but when I did my road trip, Sher and I rented a car via RentalCars.com which landed us with Thrifty. I was hesitant to drive in LA but it actually was pretty okay as long as you’re used to driving in cities and on freeways.

Traffic is a guarantee

The downside to LA? The traffic. I mean I’m sure you’ve heard a late night show comedian joke about it, but it’s truly a guarantee. I would say we actually got pretty lucky on this recent trip and traffic was never horrible , but I remember it being pretty bad when I visited Elissa before!

Your best bet is to allot an hour to get anyway just in case, more if you find yourself driving during rush hour.

Where you stay is key

Because of the driving factor, where you stay is key. LA is massive and often expands beyond the city limits. I’ve stayed with Elissa’s family in Glendora and then in Downtown LA, which I honestly hated. I feel like unless you know you’re going out or going to the STAPLES Center, there are a million other nicer neighborhoods to stay in!

For this itinerary, I think the best spot is to stay in Beverly Hills as it’s the most central to all the places you’re going to want to go and the worst you can say about it is that it’s expensive. I’ve only been to The Grove, but it seems nicer than DTLA and is still fairly central.

For this itinerary, if you spend an extra day and want to do Venice Beach, it’s much nicer to just go over the evening before and stay the night! This way you don’t have to worry about packing up in the morning and driving over with traffic and instead can have the whole morning and early afternoon to enjoy the area. Plus parking is kind of frustrating, so it’ll be easier to leave your car at your hotel and bike from there.

It’s almost always hot and sunny (and often smoggy)

Listen, if you go to LA in November and the weather map tells you it’s going to be 50-60F, it’s lying. Chances are it’ll be 90F and if you only bring clothes appropriate for weather 30 degrees cooler, you will sweat your butt off. Take it from me!

Also keep in mind LA smog is a real thing, and probably added to my feelings of exhaustion by the end of our road trip. Shocker – a city where everyone drives and traffic is a guarantee is also home to some of the worst air quality in the country!

What to wear

LA is a very casual city. Unless you’re going to a fancy bar at night, it’s really all about easy, breezy outfits. Elissa joked that if you really want to blend in just wear athleisure everywhere. Each time I’ve been, I’ve always worn casual outfits and never once felt underdressed or overdressed. Keep in mind, LA is a tourist hotspot, so you’ll see everyone in all types of outfits no matter where you go!

How to Spend 3-4 Days in Los Angeles

And now for my LA itinerary guide!

Day 1: Arrival to LA

Hike to Griffith’s Observatory

I’m going to assume you’re not arriving to LA early in the morning but more towards the middle of the day! If this is the case, the first thing you do once you settle-in is to change into some hiking clothes and head over to Griffith’s Observatory for a little hike to stretch your legs. The observatory is on the south side of Mount Hollywood and is pretty iconic. You probably recognize it best from La La Land or, more recently, Adele’s comeback special.

The observatory itself was named after its benefactor, Griffith J. Griffith. While you can go inside, really the coolest part is wandering around outside and taking in the insane views over the LA skyline.

I wish we’d realized that you can still access Griffith Park and wander around the observatory even if it’s closed. The opening times are pretty narrow (Friday – Sunday) and of course the crowds are too much. In fact, I didn’t even get out of my car when we went! Sher just hopped out and ran around, and I circled until she was done. That’s how frustrating the parking was!

If you hike, though, it’s much easier. There are a few various trails (just check AllTrails) or you can book a guide with this hiking tour . You’ll have someone to lead you and tell you more about LA’s history.

Grab either Mexican or Korean for dinner

Once you’re done with Griffith’s Observatory, head back to your hotel get cleaned up and then head into the city for dinner! You could stick around Beverly Hills or La Brea or head more into the city around Koreatown. There are at least two types of cuisines you’ll want to try in LA – Korean and Mexican (I might just be biased). Either head to El Cholo for tacos or Ahgassi Gopchang for Korean BBQ. I haven’t tried either personally, but when I asked Elissa for some restaurant recommendations, she listed both of these spot.

Day 2: Major Sightseeing

See Hollywood Boulevard for yourself

One of the must-see spots on a first visit to LA? Hollywood Boulevard , aka the street with all the stars. I’m going to be honest – it’s not that great. Think of Times Square in NYC . You get there and it’s kind of cool for about a minute and then you’re like, “Ok what else?” Not to mention because it’s such a tourist hot spot, there are tons of tour operators vying for your attention and homeless people asking for spare change. It’s also frankly kind of dirty.

However , beneath this grimy exterior is a street teeming with Tinseltown history. Practically every building has multiple stories going back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and it’s pretty fun to imagine what kind of craziness this street has seen.

With that said, go with a tour guide . I cannot recommend this enough. Go with someone who can regale you with stories about what went on in this building or how all the old time celebrities, decked out in their Oscars gowns, had dinner at this restaurant before the show. When I worked on my post about Hollywood Boulevard , I found myself wishing I wasn’t finding out all this information after the fact!

Here are some tours worth looking at:

Hop-on hop off bus
Hollywood Boulevard bus tour
Tour Hollywood with an LA filmmaker

Parking: If you’re like us and drove over to Hollywood Boulevard, don’t worry. There are plenty of parking garages. Park at one by the Pantages Theatre as that’s a good starting point!

Get a cool view of the famous sign at Hollywood Lake Park

If you do a Griffith’s Hike on the first day, you’re probably going to encounter the famous Hollywood sign. But if not, or if you want to visit when you’re not sweat from a hike, then drive on over to Hollywood Lake Park! It’s not too long of a drive, and it gives you a few really cool views of the sign.

Just a warning – the street leading up gets very narrow and winding. When you park on the side of the road, don’t forget your emergency break! I’d say the best view is in the little grassy park area (so skip past the dirt area a lot of people will be taking photos from).

Get lunch at Guisados

Once you’ve gotten your pics at the Hollywood sign, find a Guisados on the way back to your hotel. We stayed in downtown LA, so the one we stopped at was on Sunset Boulevard. It’s nice but pretty small and had very limited parking with one of those lots that’s hard to pull out of if you can’t park anywhere. If you stay in Beverly Hills, there’s one on Santa Monica Boulevard and one on S Linden Drive.

Not a taco fan? There’s also a Din Tai Fung on Santa Monica Boulevard where you can get the most delicious xiao long bao!

Once you’ve eaten, relax and freshen back up at your hotel and leave your car with valet for the night!

Spend the evening in Downtown LA

Downtown LA is honestly one of my least favorite areas for now. There’s kind of a weird vibe going on as this part of town is gentrifying rapidly while not properly helping the equally rapidly growing homeless population. I don’t know. I feel like I ought to give it another chance someday but much more rested and wearing more weather-appropriate clothes.

Like Hollywood Boulevard there’s a lot of history and really cool architecture in this part of town that goes beyond Tinseltown history. So while I don’t recommend staying here, I do think spending at least an afternoon or evening is worth it.

Just take an Uber in so you don’t have to worry about parking and maybe do a tour so you have someone who can provide more cultural and historic insight!

Some tours that looked interesting:

Old and New DTLA Walking Tour
DTLA Architecture Walking Tour
Private DTLA Architecture Tour
DTLA Food Tour
Private DTLA Foodie Tour

When we went, we hit three main areas in the evening:

Bradbury Building

When getting your Lyft or Uber, have them drop you off at this building from 1893. Its name comes from the gold-mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury and is still used for various offices and buildings. The real architectural gem is in the inside, and in normal times you can go in on the first floor to see the gorgeous cast-iron filigree balustrades that line the stairs and halls of all five floors. Unfortunately, things are still closed to tourists for now, so we only managed a peak through the window!

Grand Central Market

This is where you’ll get dinner! Right across the street from the Bradbury Building is Grand Central Market , which has been a mainstay in DTLA since 1917. Situated in a Beaux-Arts building, it’s full of various food vendors of just about any cuisine you could imagine. We pretty much beelined for Sticky Rice, a Thai comfort food stand, and then I tried the vegan ramen spot, Ramen Hood. Elissa also let me know The Donut Man opened up a stall there as well, but by the time I finished my ramen, I was too full for anything else.

I will note that when I posted about Grand Central Market on my stories, a friend replied disappointedly that she can’t believe how quickly the market has gentrified and how it used to be a mecca of Hispanic and Asian hole-in-the-wall vendors as little has half a decade ago but changed the minute Eggslut was added. There’s a really interesting article from LA Mag if you want to dive in more.

The Last Bookstore

I wish I had words to explain how obsessed I am with this bookstore. I mean, I’m a pretty big sucker for bookstores in general, but this has to be one of the coolest. This was the last thing we did on our last full day in California, and it felt like I’d been revived when I exited with my newly purchased book, Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa.

The Last Bookstore has been around since 2005 when it was initially founded by Jos Spencer in a DTLA loft. Today it’s two floors and sells over 250k books both used and new. There’s literally a whole wall of cheap used books that if you’d given me the whole afternoon, I’d probably have sat there and looked at every single one. Seriously do not skip!

Day 3: Beverly Hills

Morning – Getty Villa

After grabbing breakfast, drive over to the gorgeous Getty Villa on the Malibu coast! Hands down this is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles and I’ve been twice over my visits. (It helps that it’s also Elissa’s favorite place in LA, so she’s always down to go).

Not to be confused with the Getty Museum, the Getty Villa was designed after the museum ran out of room with his art collection. Its design is mainly based off the Villa dei Papyri in Italy and is absolutely stunning. Enjoy the various art collections as well as the gardens.

Just be sure to reserve your spot in advance . Even before these times, they limited the number of people so everyone can enjoy the grounds in peace. Tickets are free but parking is $20.

After the Getty Villa, head over to The Grove. Technically it’s just a shopping complex, but it’s really pretty and partially outdoors. I remember going on my first trip with Elissa and her sister, and it was just nice to stroll and do some window shopping. (Also why you guys are getting a circa 2015 style TSGA photo lol).

Plus this is a great spot to get lunch as it’s home to the historic Farmers Market, which has been around since 1880. On your way out grab some cupcakes from Sprinkles!

Parking: There are a few different parking options, but you’ll most likely want the self-parking option. The Grove has a parking structure off Fairfax Avenue that is $2 for the first hour all the way up to $30 for a daily maximum. Double check with restaurants or stores to see if they have complimentary parking. Also if you spend over $250, go to Caruso Concierge and you can get free parking as well.

LACMA & the La Brea Tar Pits

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is still one of those art museums still on my list! It’s just always slightly out of the way for my LA trips, so cross fingers next time I finally make it there and the famous La Brea Tar Pits.

LACMA itself is probably most recognizable from the Urban Lights exhibit at the Wilshire Boulevard entrance. This exhibit, which is an Instagrammer fav, comprises of 202 restored street lamps from the 20s and 30s. This exhibit is free but the museum itself requires tickets purchased in advance.

As for the La Brea Tar Pits, they just look so random and cool! There have been over a hundred excavation done at these asphalt pits, and these fossils, which range from mammoths to sloths and more, are all on display in the museum.

Parking: Parking for LACMA is at the Pritzker Parking Garage on 6th St. and is $18 or $10 after 8PM while parking for La Brea Tar Pits is between Curson Ave and 6th Street. There’s also metered street parking around, but watch the time limits! The two spots are literally a 6-minute walk from each other, so I’m assuming you can parking in one and walk back after you’ve done both sites. (If you go, let me know if they have time limits on parking!)

Drive over to Venice Beach

Once you’ve finished with LACMA and the main part of LA, head over to your Venice Beach hotel for your final night and day! I’m putting my main things to do in Venice Beach below, but feel free to adjust depending on how much time you have in the afternoon and evening on Day 3 and when you fly out on Day 4. Our flights were around 2/3 PM, so we were able to have most of the morning in Venice Beach.

The Great White, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA

Day 4: Venice Beach

This time about a 120 years ago, Venice Beach was founded as an independent resort town! It’s only about a 20-minute drive from the main areas of LA and a nice way to end your Los Angeles itinerary. The name is obviously inspired by the Italy’s Venice and the founder, Abbot Kinney, even had canals built. Though this was also for practical reasons as the land for Venice Beach was very marshy.

I recommend staying here your final night to have a little more quiet than what LA will offer on its own and to enjoy the area! There are a few ways to do it from walking to surfing and more, but here are some tips from my very brief morning there.

Tours for Venice Beach

Ultimate Venice Beach experience
Venice Beach Surf Lessons
Santa Monica & Venice Beach Ebike Tour
Venice Beach Private Walking Tour

Brunch at Great White

One of the fun breakfast spots in Venice Beach is Great White . It’s very popular, so I’d make sure to make a reservation, especially if you’re here on a weekend morning. Everywhere has a sizable wait time for weekend brunch times! Great White has a really delicious menu and focuses on seasonal, organic produce from California. Highly recommend the breakfast burrito as well as the salmon mezze board and the shaken iced latte!

Bike around the canals

We didn’t have enough time, so all I did was catch a quick glimpse of the Venice Canals . But if you have more time, I’ do some sort of boardwalk and canals tour !

Shop and eat along Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Afterwards I’d stop in at the different restaurants, cafes, and shop along the palm-tree-lined Abbot Kinney Boulevard named, of course, after Venice Beach’s founder. In normal times, there’s a fun food truck event every first Friday of the month! Keep an eye here for its return.

And there you go! All my best tips for planning a solid Los Angeles itinerary for first time visitors. It hits all the “must-sees” as well as some more underrated gems and, most importantly, hits all the best spots for food. Let me know if you have any questions or even more recommendations below!

For more California travel, read these posts next:

How to Plan the Perfect Santa Barbara Weekend Escape
27 Unique Things to Do in Santa Barbara
18 Fun Things to Do in Truckee in the Summer
Going to San Francisco for the First Time?

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Just wondering….when was this blog written?? I got burned last year following a blog recommendation to go to St John, New Brunswick but it was written before COVID and nothing like the blog when we went!! TIA….

Hi! I went in November 2021, so I probably wrote it end of 2021 or beginning of 2022; well after COVID kicked off.

Wonderful Blog !! It was so interesting to read as it had a lot of information about this amazing city. Would love to visit LA soon.

Thank you! It’s definitely a very cool city!

Your attention to details is one of the reasons why you are one of my favorite bloggers. Thank you so much for this awesome first time guide to LA. I’ve been several times but I need a dedicated weeklong trip to cover the ground I need to. The weather looked absolutely beautiful!

Awww thank you Millette!!!

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The Perfect Los Angeles Itinerary for 5 Days

Best Los Angeles Itinerary For First-Time Visitors!

City of stars, are you shining just for me?

I bet you just sang it instead of reading it, right? Oh and please don’t tell me you haven’t seen the movie La La Land because that’s an absolute MUST if you visit the sunny city in Southern California.

Ever since I saw the movie, it has been my biggest dream to visit LA – one of THE most famous cities in the world!

No joke, but I almost cried when I finally booked the flight and planned my Los Angeles itinerary for five days. One of my biggest dreams came true and the feeling was simply overwhelming.

We had a total of six full days in Los Angeles, however, we decided to plan a day trip to San Diego as well.

Initially, we even thought of doing a proper California road trip to visit other places like San Francisco or Joshua Tree as well but then decided against it. Six days just weren’t enough so we stayed in LA.

I probably don’t have to tell you that the city is huge and it’s simply impossible to see and do all the cool stuff in only five days.

I’m still quite astonished by how many things we covered in such a short time. We never felt rushed or stressed tho and spent enough time at every place.

So if you want to make the best out of your time in the “City of Angels”, here’s your perfect Los Angeles itinerary for 5 days. Packed with all the must-see’s and -do’s, it guarantees you an unforgettable time!

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking.)

BTW, you can change the order of the days, it’s just an example of how we planned them. Don’t hesitate to adjust the itinerary as you like it! 🙂

Day 1: Beverly Hills, LACMA & Melrose Avenue

On our first day, we decided to visit one of the fanciest and most expensive parts of Los Angeles: Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills

Home to many Hollywood stars and only the most expensive boutiques it’s almost impossible to not feel super poor in this area – unless your name’s Kim Kardashian.

Let’s start your journey through this extraordinary part of LA at the iconic Beverly Hills Sign.

Beverly Hills Sign

The 12-meter-long Beverly Hills sign in Beverly Gardens Park is one of the most recognized sights in this area. The small pond in front of the sign is especially beautiful in spring and summer with countless blooming water lilies.

It’s also a perfect opportunity to snap a photo as evidence you’ve really been there!

Rodeo Drive

Walk along Beverly Gardens Park with the main street to your left and you’ll reach Rodeo Drive. Turn left and you’ll find yourself at the beginning of the famous and expensive shopping street.

Just wander along, admire the unaffordable goods in all the shop windows and feel a bit like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

If you turn around and make your way back to Beverly Gardens Park, keep on following Rodeo Drive to reach the most iconic hotel nearby: The Beverly Hills Hotel.

The Beverly Hills Hotel

On your way to the hotel, you’ll pass numerous very impressive villas – one bigger and more beautiful than the other one.

Some of them have a very modern architectural style whereas others almost look like Greek temples with huge columns at the entrance.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is a 5-star hotel and has been a hot spot for many celebrities – old and young – since 1912. So keep your eyes open, maybe you’ll see someone familiar entering the “Pink Palace” at Sunset Boulevard.

Tours you might find interesting :

Will Rogers Memorial Park

Right across the street from the iconic hotel there’s the lovely Will Rogers Memorial Park – a very beautiful and also historic place with a small fountain and huge palm trees.

It’s the perfect place to sit back, relax and watch some ducks play and swim in the water.

Alright, time to leave Beverly Hills and all the fanciness because it’s time to head to the next stop on our Los Angeles itinerary: Melrose Avenue!

Melrose Avenue

Melrose Avenue is one of LA’s most famous streets where you can find unique vintage shops, a lot of different dining places and some awesome wall paintings .

I really recommend you to just take your time, stroll around and enjoy the relaxing and cool atmosphere at Melrose Avenue. Don’t hesitate to visit some of its clothing stores , you can find many creative and unique pieces there!

Lunch at Fala Bar (optional)

No matter what part of Melrose Avenue you’re at, you’ll always find some great restaurants nearby.

If you want to have some nice vegan food in LA tho, I have the perfect address for you.

Fala Bar is a stylish vegan cafe offering a menu of organic falafels, sandwiches, and salads. It’s rather small and there are only a few tables outside so it’s likely you’ll have to wait to get a free one.

Trust me, the yummy food is definitely worth waiting tho!

The last stop of the day is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, short LACMA. This art museum is the largest of its kind in the western part of the US and features more than 150,000 works.

No matter if you prefer Modern and Contemporary Art, Greek art, Islamic art or Asian art – LACMA has it all! There are even parts of the museum entirely dedicated to photography and film.

Directly in front of the entrance to the museum, you can find a permanent art installation called “Urban Lights” .

202 fully functional street lights from cities in and around Los Angeles make an awesome photo opportunity during the day as well as in the evening when they’re turned on.

If you’re not a fan of visiting museums and want to do something fun and exciting instead, head over to the neighborhood of Century City where you find The Escape Game , America’s #1 escape room!

Day 2: Warner Bros Studio Tour, Hollywood Sign & Griffith Observatory

You’re probably already familiar with the fact that Hollywood is home to the famous U.S. film industry. Thus visiting at least one of its historic film studios is an absolute must!

Day 2 of this Los Angeles itinerary takes you to the Warner Bros Studio , one of the oldest and most popular film studios in the world!

Warner Bros Studio Tour

The Warner Bros Studio Tour is an awesome and fun way to experience the production of different movies and series close up.

Led by an experienced tour guide, the tour usually takes between 2-3 hours and you’re in a small group together with a few other people.

During this time you’ll see different sets where series like The Big Bang Theory or Two and a Half Men were filmed . Moreover, you can have a look at the original requisites from their latest productions.

The time we went there, their latest popular movie produced was Crazy Rich Asians so we could admire all the colorful dresses and other interesting stuff used in the movie.

It’s a very popular tour to take so you should buy tickets online to avoid queuing.

After the Warner Bros Studio Tour, grab something to eat at the Whole Foods Market close by and make your way to the iconic Hollywood Sign!

Hollywood Sign (Hike)

Hiking up the Hollywood Sign was my absolute favorite activity during my time in LA. Don’t worry, the hike is not as exhausting and long as it may seem at the beginning.

TIP: I recommend you start from Lake Hollywood Park and simply follow Mulholland Highway until you reach a fork. There, take a left and continue on Mount Lee Drive.

After a while, you’ll spot another fork with a snake warning sign – keep on walking straight ahead and you’ll reach the sign.

The entire hike takes around 50 minutes and is a bit steep sometimes, but trust me, the view is definitely worth it. Standing up there and looking down at the City of Angels is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you’ll never forget!

Griffith Observatory

Very close to the Hollywood Sign you can find Griffith Observatory, one of the most iconic landmarks in California .

It’s a public observatory on the southern part of Mount Hollywood offering a spectacular view of downtown LA, the Hollywood area, and the Pacific Ocean.

Besides enjoying an amazing view, you can see live shows in the Planetarium, look through telescopes, and visit different exhibitions to learn more about our planet and the universe.

Get more information about the Griffith Observatory and its exhibitions + tours .

Plus I highly recommend staying until it gets dark. You really don’t want to miss one of the most stunning sunsets!

Day 3: Hollywood, Runyon Canyon

Alright, day 3 of my Los Angeles itinerary for 5 days, and now it’s time to explore the “glamorous” Hollywood a bit more!

This day isn’t as packed as the others so you’ll have enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee at one of the many cafés on Hollywood Boulevard.

If there’s one part of Los Angeles EVERYONE knows, it’s Hollywood. In my opinion highly overrated and not glamorous at all yet not to miss during your time in LA.

Walk of Fame

Start your journey through Hollywood by taking a casual stroll at the popular Walk of Fame. More than 2,600 celebrities were honored by writing their names on stars embedded in the sidewalk.

It’s more than 2.1 kilometers long so it can take some time until you finally spot your celebrity crush!

Dolby Theatre

I bet you’ve seen the Dolby Theatre on TV already because it’s where the famous Oscars ceremony takes place. Once a year, it gets prepared to welcome the high society of the film industry.

On all other days tho, the Dolby Theatre functions as a shopping and entertainment mall.

Fun fact: The Academy Awards took place the day we left LA. Thus the entire theatre was covered and everyone was working hard to get ready for the important awards. That’s also the reason why I couldn’t take a proper picture of it.

TCL Chinese Theatre

Right next to the Doby Theatre, you find the grand TCL Chinese Theatre .

Is there a new movie you desperately want to see? There’s no better place than in this impressive movie palace shaped like a Chinese temple.

Don’t wonder about the masses of people staring at the ground in front of it tho. The floor at the entrance is filled with the hands and footprints of famous actors and actresses.

Even if you don’t want to see a movie or do a tour inside, it’s fun to stand in the footprints of George Clooney & Co. and compare them with your own feet size!

After casually walking around Hollywood, it’s time to get more active again. If you follow this Los Angeles itinerary, the next place to check out is Runyon Canyon.

Runyon Canyon

This 160-acre park at the end of the Santa Monica Mountains is a very popular hiking destination. Moreover, it’s also one of the most dog – friendly places in Los Angeles so be prepared to see many furry friends there!

You can either use the entrance at Mulholland Drive or the one at North Fuller Avenue as we did. It’s your choice where to go, the park is big and there are many awesome viewpoints.

However, keep in mind it’s not an easy climb to reach them so wear appropriate shoes. Once at the top, you’ll be rewarded with another breathtaking view of the city.

Moreover, the sunset up there is to die for so definitely deserves to be among the best places to watch the sunset in LA !

PSSST: Rumors say it’s a hotspot for celebrities so keep an eye open. Maybe if you’re lucky, you’ll see a familiar face.

Dinner at Firefly (optional)

If you’re hungry and want to have some fancy dinner, check out the restaurant Firefly in Studio City. It belongs to the more expensive sort of restaurant, but the food and the ambiance make an excellent dining experience.

Day 4: Downtown LA

Day 4 of my Los Angeles itinerary for 5 days is all about exploring Downtown LA.

This part of the city has long been and still is an area few people decide to visit. Frankly, I haven’t been the biggest fan of it either and preferred other parts of LA more.

Nevertheless, there are some awesome and fun activities you shouldn’t miss. In fact, it has so much to offer that I wrote an entire blog post including all the best things to do in Downtown LA .

I have some photos for you, just to give you a little foretaste of what awaits you there.

Day 5: Santa Monica & Venice

Oh how much I hate to tell you but we reached the last day of my Los Angeles itinerary already.

Now it’s time to explore – in my opinion – the two coolest, hippest, and simply best parts of Los Angeles: Santa Monica & Venice!

Santa Monica

Right at the Pacific Ocean and west of Downtown LA lies the coastal city of Santa Monica. It is mostly famous for the iconic Santa Monica Pier with the Pacific Park amusement park.

Before you’re going to spend some time here tho, make your way to the neighboring beach town Venice.

The best way to get there is to rent a bike from one of the rental stations near the pier. Then follow the cycle path along the beach until you reach the popular Venice Skatepark where you can park your bike.

So get on that bike, enjoy the sea breeze, and dig in all the stunning views on the way!

For me, Venice felt so different compared to the rest of LA . Everyone was super chilled and it almost seemed life happened slower than everywhere else in the city. No matter where you go, you’ll feel the relaxing atmosphere.

The best way to get an authentic experience of Venice is by taking a casual walk through the colorful beach town.

Start at the Venice Skatepark where you can see both, beginners and professionals, do some laps on their skateboards. It’s really fun to watch all the different tricks they perform!

Then continue your way to the central part of the town where you can find the iconic Venice Sign . It’s a great photo opportunity so make sure you click some good ones before heading to the Venice Canals!

The Venice Canals are beautiful, man-made canals off 25th Street. They’re not easy to spot so if you didn’t know about this place, you would probably just walk by.

Along the canals, you can find gorgeous houses, easily walkable sidewalks, and many connecting bridges. It’s a truly peaceful area and perfect for a leisurely stroll .

Lunch at Tocaya Organica (optional)

If you’re looking for a nice place to have lunch, I highly recommend the restaurant Tocaya Organica nearby. It’s an organic Mexican restaurant chain founded in Venice which has now locations all over Los Angeles.

Check out: Vegan Food Guide Los Angeles

After lunch, make your way back to the promenade and spend some time there before heading to Santa Monica again. If you want, you can also follow the cycle path in the other direction to see a bit more of Los Angeles’ coastline.

Back in Santa Monica, you can now do all the fun activities at Santa Monica Pier. Whether you’re brave and try the rollercoaster or enjoy the breathtaking view from the Ferris wheel – it won’t get boring at all!

Is there a better way to end the last day of your Los Angeles trip than with a sunset at Santa Monica Beach ? I doubt it! So walk down to the beach, sit down, and watch the sun disappear behind the horizon of California’s coastline.

Drinks at The Misfit & Shangri-La Rooftop Bar (optional)

Oh, I almost forgot one thing to make it a great last day! In downtown Santa Monica, only a few minutes from the pier, you can find some awesome bars to have a drink (or two.)

My recommendations are The Misfit (awesome atmosphere) and the Shangri-La rooftop bar (best views of Santa Monica Pier). So cheers to five unforgettable days in Los Angeles!

How to Get Around in Los Angeles

Do you believe me if I tell you it’s not necessary to rent a car in LA?

Although everyone recommended renting a car, we decided against it. Instead, we mainly used public transport to get around the city and it was straightforward!

Only a few times we had to order an Uber to reach places such as Hollywood Lake Park or Griffith Observatory. So if you don’t want to get stuck in the horrible traffic of LA, give public transport a chance!

Check out: 17 Best Day Trips From Los Angeles Vegan in Los Angeles – The Perfect Food Guide Best Places To Watch The Sunset in Los Angeles

Find Accommodation in Los Angeles

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Do you want to travel like me? Here are some of my favorite travel tips and resources:

Flights: I prefer using CheapOair or Skyscanner to book flights. The destination everywhere feature is perfect for finding some cheap deals! Accommodation: Booking.com is my favorite site to find some great hotel deals. I do love staying at a local place as well, thus I book an Airbnb every now and then. Travel Insurance: There are many reasons why travel insurance is important and I never travel without one. I use the simple and flexible one from SafetyWing that protects me against unforeseen events. Tours: I love taking tours to explore destinations like a local. My favorite website to book them in advance is GetYourGuide . Camera Gear: I use a Nikon D5300 camera with an 18-105 mm and a 10-20 mm wide-angle lens to take my photos.

Hey and welcome to my blog! I’m Alina, an Austrian travel addict and vegan food lover who has a passion for exploring new destinations and trying out the best plant-based food around the world. Come and join me as I share exciting bucket list experiences and provide helpful travel guides for your own adventures!

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67 Comments

This is an amazing itinerary Alina! I love SoCal, but I do need to get back to LA to do all the Hollywood stuff such as Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills Hotel, etc. I did do the hike to the sign and visited Santa Monica, which I loved! I loved all of your photos. 🙂

Thank you Taylor, really appreciate your comment! I also feel that I missed so much. Need to go back and explore Malibu for example 🙂

What a complete guide! 🙂 Los Angeles is in our bucket list and we hope it will be the first destination that we will visit in North America 😀 There are so many places here that look so colorful and alive!

Thanks guys ☺️ I hope you can make it there very soon, it’s an awesome city!

I’ve never been to LA but your post is definitely making me want to go there! 🙂

It’s a cool city!

I live in CA and have still never done an proper LA trip. Pinning for later!

Time to do so 🙂

I have been to LA a number of times but always looking for new things to see there when I will inevitably go back. I’m there for a long layover in May so planning my day already. I’ve never been to the Griffith Observatory so that’s high on my list.

Griffith Observatory is great, you’ll love it!

Awesome itinerary! Really great photos! The trip included a variety of aspects, which is awesome. I really hope to visit one day!

Thanks Jean-Marie! Glad you like it 🙂

Loved this itinrary for Orange county! I went there in 2010 and I’m hoping to get back there. This is a great breakdown for a second visit!

Thanks! Glad you like it 🙂

Ahh I’ve always wanted to go to LA! 5 days sounds awesome there! I’d definitely go by Melrose’s – it looks so iconic and just Hollywood!

So much to see hehe

This is an amazing itinerary! I’ve been to LA 6 times and can completely agree with the statement about downtown LA, haha no one likes to go there but I guess you have to go there once to see what it’s like! Also totally agree about Santa Monica & Venice – absolutely love them both!

Thanks Jasmine! 🙂 Haha yeah downtown is not the greatest of LA but there’s still much to see 🙂

Great post! I’ve been to most of these but this definitely makes me want to go back ? LA is such a fun city!

Thanks a lot! 🙂

Great itinerary! We are passing though LA this summer. Would love to go to see the LACMA – those lamp post photos are fab.

Love this guide so much! I have never been to LA but this makes me want to go even sooner.

Thanks, glad you like it 🙂

I felt a little overwhelmed when we visited Cali trying to figure out what to do in LA. Wish I had this a few months ago! But I’ll be saving for a future trip because I plan to return soon.

Hope you can make it there again soon!

I am a local and some of the restaurants I had no idea even existed. I am not vegan but love vegan food and love some of the spots you mentioned!

You’ll definitely like them!!!

Ya know, I’ve been to California so often and you found some gems I haven’t heard of or been to yet. Great post! Can’t wait to return now!

Thanks a lot 🙂

I live down in San Diego, but LA seems so far thanks to the traffic involved in getting there. More exploration time is definitely in order!

Oh yeah the traffic can be horrible but it’s worth exploring it 🙂

Beautiful and I think you’ve covered a lot of the most famous and must-go places in LA. Definitely a bible for the first-timer like me!

Oh yes we really did and saw a lot! 🙂 Glad you find it helpful

I have never been to LA, but this is such a great itinerary! Absolutely love your photos and would love to visit LACMA! Great article!

Thanks a lot Polly ☺️ Happy you like it!

Great post! I am going to LA in a few weeks so this guide was very helpful. Will pin so I have a reference. Thank you!

Glad you can use it! Have an amazing time you’ll love it 🙂

What an action-packed itinerary! There is so much to do in LA, I have a feeling you could spend a lifetime there and still not do it all!

Omg yes totally haha

Heading here later this year! Definitely saving this for later! Thanks for all the tips!!

Oh you’ll love it!

Great detailed post! I love reading itineraries that people have done themselves.

Thanks Lauren 🙂

How timely! I’m heading to LA next week. Can’t wait.

Perfect, hope you can use this 🙂

Wow this itinerary is super!!! I can’t wait my LA trip, and I was actually really struggling to plan my itinerary. Thanks, saving it! xx

Glad you can use it! 🙂

You are making me want to go to LA!!! Love this guide so helpful

Thanks Dana 🙂

Wow, this is such a detailed itinerary! We are hoping to head back to LA soon and will deffo use these tips! I MUST head to Santa Monica next time!

Thanks Katie! Santa Monica was really one of my favourite places 🙂

Thanks for a helpful post! I wish I had more time to visit LACMA when I was visiting LA, it looks lush! And Venice Beach was a hotspot for all fit hotties and athletes hahah xx

Omg yeeees haha! Loved Venice 😀

This post made me think of loads of fun I could have in the City of Angels with my BFFs. There would be plenty of things to do and see with a group as diverse as ours. Can’t wait to follow your itinerary!

LA is so high on my bucketlist! This itinerary looks perfect, has the right amount of everything! Definitely going to use this when I visit soon!

Thanks Emma! 🙂

It seems you had a great time.

I had, thanks 🙂

So many things I still haven´t seen in LA! I´d love to visit Runyon Canyon next time. Spending 5 days in Los Angeles seems like the best way to see most of the city!

Yes definitely! It’s a good amount of time 🙂

A very detailed and thorough itinerary. Thanks so much for the valuable information!!!

Glad you find it useful Michelle 🙂

This is a great guide! When I was in Los Angeles we were only there for a couple of days so sadly only got to see a fraction of these. I’d love to go back and see more though, especially the coast! My favourites were definitely the Warner Bros studio tour and the Griffiths Observatory. I’m going to save your recommendations for my next visit!

Hannah | https://getlost.blog/

I loooved the view from the Griffith Observatory so much ?

This is a great guide for first timers like my family, will be very helpful. Thank you for sharing, Alina!

I’m beyond happy to hear this, Debbie! Have a wonderful time 🙂

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3-Day Ultimate Los Angeles Experience Itinerary

Los Angeles

Hollywood Icons and Celebrity Tours

Studio tours and beach relaxation, cultural exploration and outdoor adventures, adjacent cities, what others have been looking for.

Protect Your Trip »

The 13 Best Los Angeles Tours

Maximize your time in Los Angeles with the insider tips and historical context provided by the best local tours.

Courtesy of Bikes and Hikes LA

At more than 465 square miles, Los Angeles defies easy exploration. Even those who dream of touring the city's top attractions in a sporty convertible may be discouraged by the city's notorious traffic congestion and tough parking rules. To enjoy that stress-free, laid-back vacation California is famous for, choose an easy, efficient guided tour. Using both traveler sentiment and expert opinion, U.S. News selected some of the top tours in Los Angeles whose entertaining introduction to the city will engage intrepid explorers, first-time visitors and local residents alike.

Bikes and Hikes LA – Hollywood Sign Hike

Price: From $29 Duration: 3 hours

Summit Mount Hollywood on this hiking trip. You'll see Griffith Park and the Forest Lawn Mausoleum as well as the world-famous Hollywood sign and panoramic vistas of the city. Be ready for a workout: You'll hike approximately 4 miles round-trip. Reviewers say the tour is excellent and the guides provide lots of history during the hike.

Tours are offered daily year-round and depart at 8:45 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. The company also offers a shorter version of this hike and several bike tours of LA.

Check prices & availability on:

Open Bus Tours – Movie Star Home Tour

Price: From $35 Duration: 2 hours

Open Bus Tours whisks you through Hollywood and Beverly Hills in an open-top van to show you the places where the rich and famous play. The guide will point out landmarks associated with past and current celebrities, contemporary sports figures and YouTube stars, plus drive past famous movie studios and filming locations, if available. You can snap photos of mansions, the Hollywood sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, the Sunset Strip, the Dolby Theatre and more. Visitors say they like leaving the LA driving to fun, knowledgeable guides who entertain them with gossip. Others emphasize that this is more of a sightseeing tour and wish that they saw more celebrity homes.

The tours are available from Thursday to Monday; there are four departures each day. The company also offers private tours.

Big Bus Tours Los Angeles – TMZ Celebrity Tour

Price: Adults from $59; kids from $49 Duration: 2 hours

Gossip, secrets and buzz-worthy names are the focus of this popular Hollywood Celebrity Hot Spot Tour from Big Bus Tours Los Angeles and TMZ, the famous celebrity news website. The guided bus outing departs several times daily from Hollywood and makes no stops. Instead, the entertaining guides show video clips, share stories, do giveaways and play games. Recent tour-takers who love celebrity gossip and pop culture offer very positive reviews of the outing, while some complain about not seeing any celebrities during their tour.

Tours depart multiple times daily. TMZ also runs a Hollywood Selfie Tour, which shuttles tourgoers to the best photo spots.

ExperienceFirst – Haunted Hollywood Walking Tour: True Crime, Creepy Tales

Price: Adults from $39; kids from $35 Duration: 2 hours

This ghost tour not only covers paranormal activity in Hollywood, but also delves into LA's crime history. You'll learn about serial killers who traumatized the city as well as the infamous Manson family murders. Among the locations you'll visit are the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Reviewers say the tour is excellent and that guides are wonderful storytellers.

Trips depart at 6 p.m. nightly. ExperienceFirst also operates guided hikes to the Hollywood sign, among others.

Courtesy of A Day in LA

A Day in LA Tours – LA City Tour

Price: Adults from $99; kids from $89 Duration: 7.5 hours

Cruise from Venice Beach to Griffith Park and everywhere in between on this tour. Tourgoers will hop on an air-conditioned bus that's equipped with device charging ports and cruise in comfort to areas like Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica. First-time visitors to LA rave about how much you see in one day despite the city's famous traffic. Others appreciate spending about 40 minutes at each attraction so they could explore and take photos.

Trips depart daily around 8 a.m. A Day in LA Tours offers hotel pickup from Los Angeles area hotels for an additional fee. You can also take this tour from Anaheim.

Six Taste – Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour

Price: From $85 Duration: 4 hours

On this Downtown LA walking tour by Six Taste, visitors will sample signature dishes from five eateries while learning more about the history of downtown and the city's diverse cultures. Tastings may include pupusas, pizza, chicken mole and gelato. The company partners with more than 100 restaurants, so these tastings may change. Locals and visitors alike rave about the Six Taste guides and their selection of hard-to-find stands and shops, as well as the delicious food.

Downtown tours run on Saturdays and Sundays only at 11 a.m. The tour is vegetarian friendly. Some dietary accommodations can be made as long as you notify the company at least 72 hours in advance. Other popular Six Taste tours explore Santa Monica and the Arts District.

Malibu Wine Hikes – Malibu Wine Hike & Trail Tour

Price: From $49 Duration: 2 hours

California wine is a must-try for oenophiles, but you won't need to venture to Napa, Sonoma or Santa Barbara to sample some vino. Approximately 30 miles west of LA you'll find Malibu, a well-known beach town and home to Malibu Wine Hikes. On its 2.5-mile wine tour, you'll explore Saddlerock Ranch and its incomparable beauty, including the property's grape vines. Guides will tell you about the varietals the ranch grows and you'll get to taste the wine it produces. Visitors say they had a great time and are particularly wowed by the scenery.

Keep in mind this hike isn't accessible and strollers and wagons are not allowed. Tours depart Wednesday through Monday. Times can vary by day, but you can generally expect tours in the late morning and mid-afternoon. Malibu Wine Hikes also offers a popular tour in a four-wheel drive vehicle.

Sunset Ranch Hollywood – Mulholland Trail Tour

Price: From $75 Duration: 1 hour

Hop on a trusted steed and explore Griffith Park with Sunset Ranch. As you ride through the park, you'll see the Hollywood Sign, the Pacific and LA vistas. Tour-takers say that the guides are friendly and knowledgeable; the ride is a great option for beginners. They also rave about the views from the trail. While children are welcome, they must be at least 8 years old to ride; they company doesn't allow double riders.

You'll want to book your tour online in advance to secure a spot. Tours depart hourly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you want a longer ride, consider the two-hour Mt. Hollywood Trail Tour.

Courtesy of Architecture Tours L.A.

Architecture Tours L.A. – Silver Lake

Price: From $80 Duration: 2-3 hours

Architecture buffs and design professionals should book ahead for this tour of the Silver Lake neighborhood. For up to three hours, you'll view midcentury modern and contemporary homes by master architects Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, John Lautner and other notables. Architectural historian and author Laura Massino Smith is your expert guide as she chauffeurs you through the neighborhood via van. Tour-takers appreciate Smith's insider access to homes designed by master architects that would otherwise be impossible to find or view up close.

Tours run daily around 10 a.m. and are given by reservation only. You can get tickets by contacting the company directly and you must have at least two people to book. Architecture Tours L.A. hosts a variety of other tours through Los Angeles neighborhoods, such as Hancock Park/Miracle Mile and West Hollywood/Beverly Hills.

Sidewalk Food Tours of Los Angeles – Downtown LA Food Tour

Price: Adults from $89; kids from $75 Duration: 3 hours

This vegetarian-friendly food tour of downtown Los Angeles appeals to travelers interested in the neighborhood's history and ethnically diverse culinary scene. You'll make six food stops that could include doughnuts, French pastry, Mexican tacos and Asian fusion. You'll also walk through Grand Central Market and see sights like the Biltmore Los Angeles, a luxury hotel, and the Million Dollar Theatre. Visitors rave about the knowledgeable guides and appreciate finding restaurants to return to, while locals enjoy learning about downtown and the city's hidden gem restaurants.

Expect to walk or stand the entire tour and bring a full water bottle. Tours run at 11 a.m. Friday through Monday. Many stops can accommodate gluten-free, vegan and dairy-free diets. Sidewalk Food Tours also offers a West Hollywood Food Tour and private food tours.

Surf City Tours – The Perfect Malibu Tour

Price: Adults from $85; kids from $70 Duration: 5.5 hours

See the homes of the rich and famous – with a side of spectacular ocean scenery – during this tour. Surf City Tours whisks you through Malibu to see the homes of celebrities like Lady Gaga and Cher as well as historic sites and filming locations. It also includes an hourlong stop so you can explore the beach on your own. Travelers say the tour is a must-do and appreciate the guides' enthusiasm and historical knowledge.

Tours depart at 9:30 a.m. daily. You must bring a car seat for all children 8 and younger. Tours depart from the company's location in Santa Monica. The company also runs a surfing trip and a Hollywood tour.

Universal Studios Studio Tour

Price: Included with park admission Duration: 1 hour

Movie fans will get a thrill out of Universal Studios' Studio Tour, a theme park attraction that moves tram riders around the studio backlot. Jimmy Fallon serves as your video tour guide who introduces short clips that serve to enhance the narration from your in-person guide. During the tram ride, you'll encounter the Jupiter's Claim set from "Nope," the shark from "Jaws" and other key props. Interactive experiences include watching a 3D King Kong battle a T. rex and racing alongside stars from "The Fast and the Furious" movie franchise. Both experiences are favorites of reviewers who especially enjoy the special effects. Some tour-takers feel that it is more of another theme park ride than a tour.

The backlot tours leave throughout the day. Tours are included with the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park ticket, which starts at $109 per person for one-day general admission. The park offers multiple shows and rides featuring famous animals, cartoon characters and blockbuster hits.

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood

Price: Adults from $70; kids from $60 Duration: 3 hours

Spend time with friends, scientists and wizards during the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. For one hour of the experience, a guide will drive you around the backlots of the studio while they tell you about the company's history and how they produce films and shows. The remainder of the the tour is self-guided. Tour-takers can explore sets from "Friends" and "The Big Bang Theory," see numerous costumes and props (including items from the DC Universe and "Fantastic Beasts") and grab a bite to eat or a souvenir at the cafe and shop. Tourgoers rave about this tour, calling it an absolute must for movie fans.

Tours are available daily from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You must select a specific time slot when you book. You can upgrade your experience to a Plus or Deluxe tour, which include longer guided tours and meals.

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The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary: 2024 Guide
The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary Tour Hollywood. If you're a first time visitor, start your Los Angeles itinerary in Hollywood, LA's most iconic and stylish neighbourhood. Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where the star-studded sidewalks are a glittering reminder that this is a town filled with movie magic.
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The Ultimate Los Angeles Itinerary

From the showbiz glamour of Hollywood and the upmarket shops of Rodeo Drive, to the bohemian vibes of Venice Beach, this Los Angeles itinerary will give you a great introduction to this buzzy Californian city.

When Is The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles?

Tour Hollywood

Grab Lunch at Grand Central Market

Go Shopping in Beverley Hills

Go On A Walking Tour Of Los Angeles

Ride The Ferris Wheel At Pacific Park

Visit One Of LA’s Museums

Stroll Along Venice Beach Boardwalk

Explore Griffith Park

Stay at a Luxurious Hotel in Los Angeles

Tours in Los Angeles

Chloe Gunning

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The Perfect 3, 4 or 5 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary

How Many Days in Los Angeles?

Getting To & Around Los Angeles

3, 4 or 5-Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Day 1 – Hollywood

Griffith Park & the Hollywood Sign

Hollywood Boulevard & Walk of Fame

Explore Hollywood or Take a Studio Tour

Day 2 – Venice & Santa Monica

Venice Canals

Venice Beach

Santa Monica

Day 3 – Downtown LA

Arts District

Little Tokyo

Grand Central Market

Day 4 – Beverly Hills, Westwood & the Getty Center

Rodeo Drive

Explore Westwood

Day 5 – Day Trip or Universal Studios

Universal Studios

Santa Barbara

Orange County

Catalina Island

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

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The Perfect 3 Days In Los Angeles Itinerary (2024 Guide)

Day 1 Morning – Sightseeing in Downtown LA

Day 1 in Los Angeles

Day 2 in Los Angeles

Day 3 in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Travel Guide

Where to Stay in Los Angeles

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How to See Los Angeles in 3 Days – the Perfect Itinerary

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3-Day Los Angeles Itinerary

Stroll on the Santa Monica Beach and Pier (free)

Walk (bike, or rollerblade) to Venice Beach (free)

Drive to Malibu (free)

TOURS WE RECOMMEND:

LACMA vs the Getty Center

Visit the Griffith Observatory (free!)

Don’t Miss the Hollywood Sign !

Walk the Sunset Strip (free!)

Visit the Chinese Theater (free!)

Tour the Dolby Theater

Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame (free!)

Tour the Disney Concert Hall (free)

By Public Transport

Planning a 3 Day Los Angeles Itinerary

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