Itinerary · Los Angeles · United States
7 days in Los Angeles
A day-by-day plan grouped by neighbourhood, so you spend your time seeing Los Angeles, not crossing it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
7 days is enough to see Los Angeles's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. Day 1: Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign trails. Day 2: Getty Center and Santa Monica Pier. Day 3: Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Base yourself in Santa Monica.
Key facts
- Days
- 7
- Sights covered
- 13
- Day trips
- 2
- Best base
- Santa Monica
- Book ahead
- Hollywood Bowl and The Broad
Day by day
Day 1: Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign trails
Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign trails, then Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre in the evening.
Morning
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Park · 2–3 hours · free.
Late morning
Hollywood Sign trails
Griffith Park · 2–4 hours · free.
Lunch
Lunch: Tacos al pastor
Taco trucks across East LA, Boyle Heights and South LA, many parked in the same spot every evening.
Evening
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.
Day 2: Getty Center and Santa Monica Pier
Getty Center and Santa Monica Pier, then Hollywood Bowl in the evening.
Morning
Getty Center
Brentwood · 3–4 hours · free.
Late morning
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica · 2 hours · free.
Lunch
Lunch: French dip sandwich
Philippe the Original, near Union Station and Olvera Street.
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.
Day 3: Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals and Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals and Los Angeles County Museum of Art, then Walt Disney Concert Hall in the evening.
Morning
Venice Beach Boardwalk and canals
Venice · Half a day · free.
Late morning
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Miracle Mile · 2–3 hours · mid-priced.
Lunch
Lunch: Korean barbecue
Koreatown, along Western Avenue and Wilshire and Olympic Boulevards.
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.
Day 4: Day trip to Disneyland Resort
About 45–90 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car, rideshare or train to Anaheim.
Morning
Travel to Disneyland Resort
About 45–90 minutes by car (Car, rideshare or train to Anaheim); about 45 km.
Day
Disneyland Resort
One park fills a day with children and two days cover both; Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street U.S.A. and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge are the highlights.
Evening
Back in Los Angeles
Dinner: try Double-Double burger.
Day 5: La Brea Tar Pits and Petersen Automotive Museum
La Brea Tar Pits and Petersen Automotive Museum, then Hollywood in the evening.
Morning
La Brea Tar Pits
Miracle Mile · 2 hours · low cost.
Late morning
Petersen Automotive Museum
Miracle Mile · 2 hours · mid-priced.
Lunch
Lunch: Double-Double burger
Branches across the region, including one near LAX where planes pass low overhead.
Evening
Hollywood
Nightclubs, rooftop bars and historic venues such as the Hollywood Palladium near Hollywood and Vine.
Day 6: Day trip to Santa Catalina Island
About 1 hour by ferry from Long Beach each way. Getting there: Ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point.
Morning
Travel to Santa Catalina Island
About 1 hour by ferry from Long Beach (Ferry from Long Beach, San Pedro or Dana Point); about 60 km.
Day
Santa Catalina Island
Avalon, the island's small harbour town, has a 1929 Art Deco casino building (a ballroom, not a gambling hall), glass-bottom boat trips, snorkelling at Lovers Cove and hiking in the protected interior, where a herd of bison roams.
Evening
Back in Los Angeles
Dinner: try Korean tacos.
Day 7: The Broad and Grand Central Market
The Broad and Grand Central Market, then West Hollywood in the evening.
Morning
The Broad
Downtown LA · 1.5–2 hours · free. Free timed-entry reservations are released in advance and go fast for weekends; a standby line is available but can be long.
Late morning
Grand Central Market
Downtown LA · 1 hour · low cost.
Lunch
Lunch: Korean tacos
Kogi trucks around the city (schedules are posted online) and Korean-Mexican counters in Koreatown.
Evening
West Hollywood
The Sunset Strip's music clubs, including the Whisky a Go Go and the Roxy, and the LGBTQ+ bars of Santa Monica Boulevard.
Before you go
Reserve timed tickets for Hollywood Bowl and The Broad before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.
Where to stay for this itinerary
With 7 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 26–34 hours of visiting over 7 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
Questions travellers ask
+Is 7 days enough in Los Angeles?
7 days is enough to see Los Angeles's highlights at a comfortable pace, with time for day trips. How many days Los Angeles needs.
+What should I book before visiting Los Angeles?
Hollywood Bowl and The Broad.