Day Trips in Hollywood – Fun Days Around Santa Monica

Where will we explore? In the luxury neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the cities along the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains

What's the itinerary? 2 daily routes through the most attractive districts and cities of Greater Los Angeles, the peak of the glamorous world

When is it best to travel? All year round – Los Angeles enjoys pleasant weather almost all year

Who is the trip suitable for? Adults, couples, friends, family, and more

What transport will we use? It's highly recommended to travel with a rental car, as some places are a bit hard to park near and there are parking fees. You can also travel with Uber or taxis from place to place. The trip is based on parking in a certain area and then exploring on foot. It's less advisable to use Los Angeles public transportation.

What's the intensity level? Easy highlight tours in the northern part of Los Angeles

Information about the itinerary

Where to stay?

Los Angeles offers a massive array of hotels of all types and levels. As it's a sprawling city with several urban centers (Downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, etc.) and severe traffic jams in the morning and evening, it's worth finding a place close to where you plan to explore.

Click here for a list of 14 great hotels across Los Angeles…

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Expert tip for travelers in Los Angeles

• LA Traffic Jams – Los Angeles is a car city, and almost all its residents use private vehicles for commuting. The metropolis spans a vast area and has excellent freeways, but the problem is there are too many cars and significant traffic jams, especially on the 10, the 405, and Santa Monica Boulevard (there are also jams in other areas that are less of interest to us). It’s better to head out for a trip either before (by 7:15 AM) or after (after 9:15 AM) peak hours.
• Parking – Parking in the Santa Monica slopes area isn't too easy, but it isn't terrible either if you know where to go. Street parking is generally by side and day, so it's best not to overcomplicate it. It's advisable to find a paid parking garage near the trip spot as a base and leave your vehicle there. Most parking garages are secure, and there are no break-ins in the better areas of the city. Parking isn't cheap and can reach up to $20 a day. There are plenty of established parking lots in Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.
• Evening fun – The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood is the most vibrant and exciting part of the long boulevard in the city. The strip runs along the northern part of the Norma Triangle neighborhood, at the point where the Santa Monica Mountains ridge begins to rise from the north. Along the strip, you'll find a large concentration of trendy boutique shops, restaurants, comedy clubs, bars, small venues for performances, and all the fun of L.A.'s night scene.
• A visit to Los Angeles isn't complete without a trip to Disney-themed parks in Anaheim or a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. It's worth dedicating two or three days to the parks.

Map of Greater Los Angeles

Detailed Travel Days

Travel Day 1: Route from Downtown Los Angeles to Griffith Park, Hollywood, and Beverly Hills

The first day of the trip will be dedicated to an efficient circular route that begins with the highlights of Downtown Los Angeles and then to attractions in the northern part of the city, in the eastern section of the Santa Monica Mountains. From Downtown, we'll visit the attractions of Griffith Park and reach Warner Bros. and Universal Studios (you can enter Universal Studios Hollywood amusement park, but this requires at least half a day trip). We'll return through the mountains to the Hollywood Bowl and then head to the star-studded Hollywood Walk of Fame, the epicenter of the glam world. From Hollywood, we'll continue to the nerve center of the glamour world in Beverly Hills.

A Taste of Downtown Los Angeles

1. We'll park in downtown Los Angeles and reach the intersection of 2nd Street with Grand Avenue, known as the Ground Zero of downtown LA. At the junction, we'll see the stunning Frank Gehry building, the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
2. Next to it is the equally beautiful building of The Broad Museum, home to famous modern works by Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein, and more.
3. From The Broad, we'll head to MOCA – the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, which also houses a fascinating modern collection.
4. From the museum, we'll hop on the Angels Flight Railway, a short funicular line, and enter the Grand Central Market, the indoor food market of downtown LA.

North of Downtown

1. We'll get back in the car and head north on the 110. We'll pass by the Dodger Stadium and continue towards Griffith Park in the northern part of the city.
2. We'll park the car near the iconic Griffith Observatory. From the observatory's terrace, there is a breathtaking view of the city and towards the famous Hollywood sign.
3. In the park, you can hike on wooded mountainous trails or visit the Los Angeles Zoo, which is very popular with children. You can also check out the railroad museums in the north of the park – the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum and the Travel Town Railroad.
4. From the world of trains, we'll continue to the world of movies and head to a tour at the Warner Bros. Studios. Not far from the studios, you'll find the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, near Universal Studios.
5. From the studios, we'll drive to the large parking area of the Hollywood Bowl up the 101 ridge. You can enter the Hollywood Bowl Museum with rotating exhibits related to Hollywood and the amphitheater itself. Adjacent is also the Hollywood Heritage Museum located in an old wooden barn where the first movie to be filmed in Los Angeles was shot in 1914.

Trip to Hollywood

1. From the Hollywood Bowl, we'll drive less than ten minutes to the Hollywood neighborhood and park as close as possible to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The famous sidewalk is where more than 2,500 stars with the names of American and international cinema giants are engraved.
2. We'll reach the famous TCL Chinese Theatre with its pagoda-like façade.
3. From the theatre, we will continue to the El Capitan Theatre across the street, which used to be Hollywood's traditional premiere venue and now hosts Disney premieres only.
4. Next to El Capitan is the historic The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel from 1926.
5. For pop culture enthusiasts, on Hollywood Boulevard near the theaters, there is a row of popular museums such as the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Guinness World Records Museum, and The Hollywood Museum. You can enter one of these institutions to experience Hollywood like a tourist. Nearby is the popular Hollywood Highland Center above the metro station.

Tour of Beverly Hills and Eastwood Village

1. From Hollywood, we'll drive along Santa Monica Boulevard to Beverly Hills and park as close as possible to the Golden Triangle (a drive of about fifteen minutes).
2. We'll walk across Rodeo Drive, the super-luxurious shopping street of the independent city. From Rodeo Drive, we'll drive southwest for five minutes and pass by the Fox Plaza building or 2121 Avenue of the Stars. This skyscraper is better known by its fictional name, the Nakatomi Tower, from the movie “Die Hard.”
3. From the tower, we'll head up the 405 and park in the large lot at the Getty Center. The museum offers a fascinating and quality collection including paintings by Rubens, Titian, Rembrandt, and more, along with an intriguing architectural space and stunning views from the ridge.

Day Trip 2: The Miracle Mile and Los Angeles Coast – Venice Beach, Santa Monica, and Malibu

We'll kick off the second day of our trip with a visit to the Miracle Mile museums and some shopping at The Grove. From there, we'll head to Venice Beach and follow the coastline towards Santa Monica. From the coastline, we'll climb a bit onto the ridge and finish with a glimpse into the good life of Malibu, the wealthy and famous town built on the oceanfront.

Miracle Mile

1. We'll start the second day of our trip by finding parking in the Miracle Mile complex, south of West Hollywood. We'll kick off our museum lineup at the Los Angeles Museum of Art, which boasts a very large collection of art, including some famous masterpieces by great impressionists, Baroque, Renaissance, and more.
2. We'll exit the museum and enter its neighbor, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. The site features an oily tar pit (crude oil) next to which is the famous natural history museum.
3. Let's continue to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, where exhibits from famous movies are displayed.
4. After that, we'll enter the stunning building of the Petersen Automotive Museum, one of the best car museums in the USA.
5. From the museum complex, we will head a bit north to The Grove, the perfect place for lunch and shopping. The Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust is also found in The Grove.

The Coastline of Venice and Santa Monica

1. From the Miracle Mile, we'll drive to Venice Beach and park at the large parking lot on the boardwalk. We'll stroll along Abbot Kinney Boulevard and return to the Venice Boardwalk.
2. We'll head north along the coast towards the Santa Monica Pier, visit the oceanfront amusement park known for its Ferris wheel. Those interested can also visit the Heal the Bay Aquarium in Santa Monica.
3. From the pier, we'll head towards the Third Street Promenade, where in addition to shopping, you can visit the Santa Monica Art Museum.
4. We'll continue a bit further north to Palisades Park, where there's a blend of beautiful sculptures and a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean.
5. We'll head back to the car in Venice (you can also grab a cab to save some walking) and drive north along the coast on Highway 1. We'll make a brief stop at Will Rogers State Beach just to snap a photo with the lifeguard huts made famous by the iconic '90s series “Baywatch”.

The slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains

1. We'll continue north to the slopes of the mountains and stop at the beautiful The Getty Villa. The villa showcases Jean Paul Getty's archaeology collection (the Getty Center up the hill exhibits the art collection).
2. From the villa, we'll climb up the hill to Topanga State Park. The park offers scenic views toward the Santa Monica Bay to the south and the San Fernando Valley to the north.
3. We'll continue our mountain tour on the Mulholland Highway, the western part of the famous road, and arrive at Malibu Creek. We'll head a bit east and descend towards Malibu by the coast, where we'll peek at the Malibu Hindu Temple.
4. We'll drive along Malibu and arrive at Malibu Lagoon State Beach, where the historic museum, the Adamson House Museum, is located.
5. For those who want a bit of nature and an amazing sunset view, you can continue west on Highway 1 to the beaches of Point Dume.