3 days in Los Angeles

Day by day

1. Day 1: Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign trails

   Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Sign trails and Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, then Santa Monica Pier in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Griffith Observatory

      On the southern slope of Mount Hollywood since 1935, Griffith Observatory has free exhibits, a planetarium with paid shows, and terraces looking over the LA basin to the ocean and up to the Hollywood Sign.

   2. Late morning

      Hollywood Sign trails

      Hike early in the morning, carry plenty of water and stay on marked trails; there is little shade and rattlesnakes live in the park.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tacos al pastor

      Taco trucks across East LA, Boyle Heights and South LA, many parked in the same spot every evening.

   4. Afternoon

      Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre

      More than 2,700 brass-and-terrazzo stars line Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street.

   5. Evening

      Santa Monica Pier

      Rent a bike near the pier and ride the beach path south to Venice, about 3 km along the sand.

2. Day 2: Getty Center and Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals

   Getty Center, Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, then Walt Disney Concert Hall in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Getty Center

      Visit on a clear afternoon and stay for sunset from the west-facing terraces and the cactus garden.

   2. Late morning

      Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals

      Ocean Front Walk is LA at its most theatrical: street performers, murals, the outdoor gym at Muscle Beach and a skate park on the sand.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: French dip sandwich

      Philippe the Original, near Union Station and Olvera Street.

   4. Afternoon

      Los Angeles County Museum of Art

      Come at dusk to see Urban Light switch on, then walk next door to the La Brea Tar Pits.

   5. Evening

      Walt Disney Concert Hall

      Book an LA Phil concert to hear the hall's acoustics; in summer the orchestra moves outdoors to the Hollywood Bowl.

3. Day 3: Universal Studios Hollywood and La Brea Tar Pits

   Universal Studios Hollywood, La Brea Tar Pits and The Broad, then Hollywood Bowl in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Universal Studios Hollywood

      The working film studio's theme park combines the Studio Tour tram ride through real backlots with rides in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Super Nintendo World.

   2. Late morning

      La Brea Tar Pits

      Walk the park first: the Lake Pit and the outdoor excavation areas are free to see before you decide on a museum ticket.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Korean barbecue

      Koreatown, along Western Avenue and Wilshire and Olympic Boulevards.

   4. Afternoon

      The Broad

      Eli and Edythe Broad's contemporary art museum on Grand Avenue, opened in 2015 behind a honeycomb-like concrete veil, shows works by Warhol, Lichtenstein, Basquiat, Koons and Kusama.

   5. Evening

      Hollywood Bowl

      Bring a picnic and arrive early to eat in the grounds; park-and-ride shuttles avoid the slow exit from the stacked parking.

Before you go

• Universal Studios Hollywood: Buy dated tickets online in advance; express passes are worth considering on summer and holiday weekends.
• Hollywood Bowl: Popular summer concerts sell out; book on the official site soon after the season is announced.
• The Broad: Free timed-entry reservations are released in advance and go fast for weekends; a standby line is available but can be long.

If it rains

• Swap in Grand Central Market (Downtown LA): Ride Angels Flight up to Bunker Hill afterwards; from the top it is a short walk to The Broad and the Concert Hall.
• Swap in Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (Exposition Park): Pair it with the California Science Center and the rose garden between them; the Metro E Line stops right outside.
• Swap in Little Tokyo (Downtown LA): Visit the Japanese American National Museum first, then queue for ramen at one of the shops nearby.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Santa Monica keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Hollywood ($$) suits first-timers, budget and nightlife. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 29–39 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Los Angeles
• 2 days in Los Angeles
• 4 days in Los Angeles
• 5 days in Los Angeles
• 7 days in Los Angeles

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