5 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

      Parking near the building fills quickly around sunset; the LADOT DASH bus from Los Feliz runs up the hill. (2–3 hours, free).

   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. (2–4 hours, free).

   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

      Look up a favourite star's location in the Walk of Fame's online directory first; the stars stretch for more than 2 km. (1–2 hours, free).

   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. (3–4 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals

      Walk the boardwalk in the late morning, then cut inland to the canals and Abbot Kinney Boulevard for lunch. (Half a day, free).

   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. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   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

      Arrive before opening and head straight for the most popular rides, then take the Studio Tour later when its queue eases. (Full day, expensive).

   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. (2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Korean barbecue

      Koreatown, along Western Avenue and Wilshire and Olympic Boulevards.

   4. Afternoon

      The Broad

      Afterwards, cross Grand Avenue to the Walt Disney Concert Hall and climb to its public rooftop garden. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   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.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Disneyland Resort

   About 45–90 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car, rideshare or train to Anaheim.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Disneyland Resort

      About 45–90 minutes by car (Car, rideshare or train to Anaheim); about 45 km.

   2. Day

      Disneyland Resort

      The original Disney park, opened by Walt Disney in 1955, sits beside Disney California Adventure in Anaheim. Best for families and first-timers.

   3. Evening

      Back in Los Angeles

      Dinner: try Double-Double burger.

5. Day 5: Grand Central Market and Olvera Street and El Pueblo

   Grand Central Market, Olvera Street and El Pueblo and Little Tokyo, then Hollywood in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Grand Central Market

      Ride Angels Flight up to Bunker Hill afterwards; from the top it is a short walk to The Broad and the Concert Hall. (1 hour, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Olvera Street and El Pueblo

      Eat taquitos with avocado sauce at one of the long-running stands, then walk through Union Station's grand waiting room. (1–2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Double-Double burger

      Branches across the region, including one near LAX where planes pass low overhead.

   4. Afternoon

      Little Tokyo

      Visit the Japanese American National Museum first, then queue for ramen at one of the shops nearby. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Hollywood

      Nightclubs, rooftop bars and historic venues such as the Hollywood Palladium near Hollywood and Vine.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Universal Studios Hollywood, Hollywood Bowl and The Broad before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 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 33–45 hours of visiting over 5 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
• 3 days in Los Angeles
• 4 days in Los Angeles
• 7 days in Los Angeles

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