Travel Itinerary – Five Days in Los Angeles

Where will we explore? The city of angels Los Angeles and its surroundings

What is the itinerary? Daily routes within the neighborhoods of Los Angeles and the attractive neighboring cities. It's important to note that a visit to Los Angeles is not complete without a day trip to Universal Studios and two days at the two Disneyland parks in Anaheim (though if you're in a rush, both can be done in one day).

When is it best to visit? All year round – Los Angeles enjoys pleasant weather almost throughout the entire year.

Who is the trip suitable for? Adults, couples, friends, and more (for kids, there is Disneyland and Universal Studios).

What means of transportation will we use? It's highly recommended to travel with a rental car, as parking can be a bit challenging and there are parking fees, but you can also use Uber or taxis to get around. The trip is designed around parking in a particular area and then exploring on foot. It's less advisable to rely on Los Angeles public transportation.

What's the intensity level? An independent trip aiming to cover a lot of ground. The trip is quite intense but can also be spread over additional days.

Information about the itinerary

Where to stay?

Los Angeles has an enormous variety of hotels of all types and levels. Since 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 wise to find a place close to where you plan to explore.

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

Click here to check availability and prices in Los Angeles hotels…

Expert Tip for Travelers in Los Angeles

• Public Transportation – Although Los Angeles is one of the most advanced cities in the world and its public transport is not bad at all, it's still better to avoid relying solely on the system due to the potential discomfort it might cause. Buses, light rail, and subway travel through less attractive areas, which can be somewhat intimidating for those unfamiliar with the city.
• The Traffic Jams – Los Angeles is a city of cars, and nearly all its residents use private vehicles for transportation. The metropolis sprawls over a vast area with excellent highways, but the problem is there are too many cars resulting in significant traffic jams, especially on the 10, the 405, and the Santa Monica Boulevard (there are also jams in other areas we're less interested in). It's better to go for a trip either before (by 7:15 AM) or after (after 9:15 AM) rush hour.
• Parking – It's obvious that a car-filled city like Los Angeles has parking options, but it's not as easy as it sounds, much like back home, and doing some homework is necessary. The main parking issues are in the downtown area or in the districts and cities on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains. Generally, it's better to find a paid parking lot near your tour spot as a base and leave your car there. The lots are usually secure, and there are no break-ins in good parts of the city. Parking isn't cheap and can cost up to $20 a day (there are more expensive and also cheaper options in less crowded areas). Street parking is mostly by sides and days, and it's better not to get too entangled with it.
• Evening Hangout – The Sunset Strip is the most vibrant and happening part of the long avenue in West Hollywood. The strip runs along the northern part of the Norma Triangle neighborhood, where the Santa Monica Mountains begin to rise to the north. Along the strip, you'll find a large concentration of trendy boutique shops, restaurants, stand-up comedy clubs, bars, small venues for performances, and all the fun of L.A.'s nightlife.
• A visit to Los Angeles isn't complete without a stop at the Disney theme parks in Anaheim or a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood. It's worth dedicating two or three days to explore the parks.

Map of Greater Los Angeles

Detailed Itinerary Days

Day 1: Downtown Los Angeles

The first day of our trip is all about the extreme side of Los Angeles, focusing on the city rather than the movie industry of neighborhoods and cities north of downtown. Downtown Los Angeles isn’t the most pleasant place to wander, but it has recently undergone improvements that have brought tourists back to Grand Avenue, the main street of this sprawling city. A little north of the downtown towers, in El Pueblo, the city of Los Angeles was born.

1. We'll start our Los Angeles trip in the historic heart of the city – El Pueblo de Los Angeles. We'll stroll around the main square, or plaza, where historic buildings like the Pico House, on its southern side, can be found. This was the house of the last Mexican governor of Los Angeles, built in 1870. Nearby is the church, Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, the oldest in Los Angeles, founded in 1822.
2. From the square, we'll continue to the Avila Adobe, the oldest standing house in Los Angeles, dating back to 1818. The house is located on Olvera Street, an old market street still lined with stalls today.
3. From El Pueblo, we'll cross the 101 on Main Street and arrive at the beautiful skyscraper that serves as Los Angeles City Hall. We'll ascend to the observation deck on the 27th floor of the Tom Bradley Tower, above City Hall, offering a stunning view of the downtown and the entire metropolitan area.
4. From City Hall, we'll cross through Little Tokyo in Los Angeles and arrive at the exhibition space of The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.
5. From the museum, we'll take a cab (or walk) to the intersection of 1st Street and Grand Avenue, considered the ground zero of downtown Los Angeles. At the junction, we'll see the stunning building by Frank Gehry, the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
6. We'll walk along the boulevard and arrive at the equally beautiful structure of The Broad, home to famous modern works by Andy Warhol, Lichtenstein, and more.
7. From The Broad, we'll head to MOCA – The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, which also boasts a fascinating modern collection.
8. From the museum, we'll hop on the Angels Flight Railway, a short funicular line, and enter the Grand Central Market, Downtown LA's indoor food market.
9. After the tastings, we'll stroll along Broadway and see the dozen historic theaters of the Historic Broadway Theater District.
10. We'll return towards Grand Avenue and head to the complex housing the GRAMMY Museum L.A. Live and the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center). The museum has exhibits on contemporary music culture, and the nearby arena is home to the city's basketball teams – the Lakers and the Clippers.
11. If we have any energy left, we can take a taxi to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, located to the south. From the museum, we'll head back to the car at El Pueblo.

Day 2: Hollywood and Beverly Hills

On the second day of the trip, we will leave the downtown of Los Angeles for the world of dreams and fantasies of Hollywood. Downtown Los Angeles isn't that tall (due to earthquakes) and isn't what defines the city. The neighborhood on the slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains and its iconic sign are the true symbol of LA. Hollywood is the heart of the global film industry and a place where dreams come true. Nearby, in Beverly Hills, reside those who work in the film industry (or just have a lot of money).

Tour in Hollywood

1. We'll start the day by parking at Paramount Studios, where we will join a studio tour. You can also head slightly north to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, where guided tours follow the graves of Hollywood's famous.
2. Then, we'll head north and park as close as possible to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This famous sidewalk is where you'll find more than 2500 stars etched with the names of American and international movie giants.
3. We'll arrive at the famous TCL Chinese Theatre, known for its pagoda-like facade.
4. From the theatre, we'll continue to the El Capitan Theatre across the street, which once was the traditional spot for Hollywood premieres and now hosts Disney's premieres exclusively.
5. Next to El Capitan is the historic The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which dates back to 1926.
6. For fans of popular culture, on Hollywood Boulevard, near the theatres, there's a lineup of popular museums like the Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Guinness World Records Museum, and The Hollywood Museum. You can pop into one of these spots to experience Hollywood like a first-time tourist. Nearby is the popular Hollywood & Highland mall, right above the metro station. Stroll through Hollywood Boulevard.
7. From Hollywood Boulevard, we head to the large parking lot of the Hollywood Bowl up the ridge on the 101. The Bowl is the famous amphitheater of Los Angeles, and next to it, in the shopping and dining complex of the Bowl – the Plaza Marketplace, where the tea house used to be. We will enter the Hollywood Bowl Museum, featuring rotating exhibits related to Hollywood and the amphitheater itself.
8. We will cross the parking lot of the Bowl and enter the Hollywood Heritage Museum. The museum is housed in an old wooden barn where, in 1914, the film The Squaw Man was shot, the first movie filmed in Los Angeles.

A trip to Beverly Hills and Eastwood Village

1. From the Hollywood Bowl, we'll drive along Santa Monica Boulevard to Beverly Hills and park as close as possible to the Golden Triangle (about a fifteen-minute drive).
2. We'll walk across Rodeo Drive, the super luxury shopping street of this independent city, and head towards the Beverly Hills City Hall, with its Renaissance style.
3. Then we'll return to the car and drive to the historic Beverly Hills Hotel up the hill, famous for its pink color.
4. After a quick glance at the hotel, we'll continue driving through the hilly streets to the Virginia Robinson Gardens, stunning botanical gardens.
5. From the gardens, we'll head to the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, which boasts a surprisingly high-quality private art collection including paintings by Picasso, Cézanne, Kandinsky, and more.
6. We'll continue west on Sunset Boulevard to the UCLA campus, visiting the The Fowler Museum, an anthropological museum with fascinating exhibits from around the world, and the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, featuring more than 70 modern sculptures.
7. From the campus, we'll drive a bit south to the UCLA Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden which houses over 3000 different plant species.
8. From the garden, we'll head further south to the vibrant Westwood Village and step into the Hammer Museum which has an exceptional private art collection.
9. Near the museum is a small municipal cemetery where some of Los Angeles' greatest residents are buried, such as Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Burt Lancaster, and the legendary singer Frank Zappa.
10. For those who want to venture a little east, you can also reach the Fox Plaza Building or 2121 Avenue of the Stars. This skyscraper is better known by its fictional name, Nakatomi Tower, the third star of the movie Die Hard after John McClane and Hans Gruber.
11. From the tower, we’ll hop on the 405 and park at the large parking area of the Getty Center. The museum offers a fascinating and high-quality collection including paintings by Rubens, Titian, Rembrandt, and more, alongside a captivating architectural space and breathtaking views from the top of the ridge.

Day 3: The Coastline – Venice Beach, Santa Monica, the Ridge, and Malibu

The third day of the trip will be dedicated to the stunning coastline of Los Angeles and a climb up the Santa Monica Mountains. We'll start our journey at Venice Beach, move along the coast towards Santa Monica, cruise down Mulholland Drive, and finish with a glimpse into the good life in Malibu, the town with houses perched on stilts above the ocean.

The Coastline of Venice and Santa Monica

1. We'll start the day by finding parking at Venice Beach (there's a massive lot right on the water's edge). From the parking lot, we'll stroll to the streets along the canals in the district that aspires to breathe life back into Venice's canals in Italy, but actually reminds much more of Florida's Gold Coast cities. We'll wander around the main Abbot Kinney Boulevard Abbot Kinney and return to the Venice Boardwalk.
2. We'll head north along the coast towards the Santa Monica Pier, visit the amusement park over the ocean waters, and if you're interested, you can also enter the Santa Monica Heal the Bay Aquarium.
3. From the pier, we'll head to the Third Street Promenade, where besides shopping, you can also visit the Santa Monica Art Museum.
4. We'll continue a bit further north to Palisades Park, where you'll find a mix of beautiful sculptures and a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean.
5. We'll return to the car at Venice (or take a taxi to save some walking) and drive north along the coast on Highway 1. We'll make a brief stop at Will Rogers Beach just to snap a picture with the lifeguard huts that starred in the iconic Baywatch series.

The slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains

1. We'll continue north to the mountain slopes and stop at the stunning The Getty Villa. The villa is home to Jean Paul Getty's archaeology collection (the Getty Center up the hill houses the art collection).
2. From the villa, we'll continue to visit the Will Rogers State Historic Park, the ranch house of the Hollywood star where he lived his life as a cowboy.
3. From the ranch house, we'll climb up the mountain to the Topanga State Park. The park offers scenic views towards the Santa Monica Bay to the south and the San Fernando Valley to the north.
4. We'll continue our mountain journey on the Mulholland Highway, the western part of the famous road, and reach Malibu Creek. We'll head slightly east and descend towards Malibu on the coast, and on the way we'll peek at the Malibu Hindu Temple.
5. We'll drive along Malibu and arrive at Malibu Lagoon State Beach where the historic museum Adamson House Museum is located.
6. For those looking for a bit of nature and stunning sunset views, you can continue west on Highway 1 to the beaches of Point Dume.

Day 4:  Griffith Park, North LA, and Pasadena

The fourth day of the trip will be dedicated to traveling from the center of Los Angeles towards a route of sites in the northern part of the city and a stroll in Griffith Park. We will visit the studio area of Burbank and drive to the slopes of the vast San Gabriel Mountains to the city of Pasadena. Pasadena is a cultural and fascinating city, where we'll visit its old center, top-notch museums, and the famous Rose Bowl stadium.

North of Downtown

1. We'll start the tour by leaving downtown on the 110 East and pass by Dodger Stadium. You can also stop for a short walk in Elysian Park near the stadium.
2. We continue on the 110 to Lummis Home-El Alisal, a unique place where we'll visit the stone house and the beautiful gardens nearby.
3. Then we'll head towards Griffith Park in the north of the city. Architecture enthusiasts are advised to make a slight detour to specifically visit Hollyhock House by the father of modern architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright.
4. We'll park the car near the iconic Griffith Observatory. From the observatory plaza, there's a breathtaking view of the city and towards the famous Hollywood sign.
5. In the park, you can hike on wooded mountain trails or visit the Los Angeles Zoo, which is very popular with kids. We will continue from the observatory to the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum and Travel Town Railroad where there's a display of vintage carriages.
6. From the world of trains, we'll move on to the world of movies and head to a tour at Warner Bros. Studios. Not far from the studios is also the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, close to Universal Studios.
7. From the studios, we'll drive 20 minutes east on the 134 to the city of Pasadena. The city is part of the urban continuum of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the Valley, or the San Bernardino Valley.

Pasadena

1. Let's start our tour in Pasadena at Old Pasadena, the city's historic district along Colorado Boulevard. We'll also swing by the impressive City Hall.
2. From Old Pasadena, it’s a five-minute drive to the western part of the city to reach the Norton Simon Museum. The museum boasts a rare collection of European art by some of the greatest masters like Rembrandt, Albrecht Dürer, Botticelli, Raphael, and more.
3. From the museum, we'll drive two minutes to The Gamble House, the home of the founder of the pharma giant Procter & Gamble, and one of the most unique wooden homes in the USA.
4. From the house, we’ll continue to the massive Rose Bowl Stadium, which hosted the 1994 World Cup final. On every second Sunday of the month, the gigantic parking lot of the stadium hosts the Rose Bowl Flea Market, considered one of the most popular in California. The market features over 2,500 stalls and is buzzing with visitors and antique enthusiasts who come especially for this event.
5. From the stadium, we'll head south of the city for about fifteen minutes. If you're interested, we can make a short stop at the Caltech campus (California Institute of Technology, known as Sheldon Cooper's institution in The Big Bang Theory). We'll arrive at The Huntington, one of the most magnificent establishments in California.
6. The expansive Huntington complex is located in the suburb of San Marino, south of central Pasadena. The Huntington is a vast estate originally comprising the mansion and immense gardens of Henry and Arabella Huntington and now serves as a research institute and an attraction complex for discerning visitors. The complex includes a library, a very impressive art museum, and botanical gardens. After our tour at The Huntington, we'll head back towards Los Angeles.

Day 5: Miracle Mile and Long Beach

Let's start the day at the Miracle Mile Museums and shopping at The Grove. This is one of the liveliest areas in the heart of Los Angeles. From there, we'll head south straight to the big city of Long Beach in the southern part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The Miracle Mile

1. We'll kick off the fifth day of our trip by finding parking in the Miracle Mile area, south of West Hollywood. We'll gather our energy and enter the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, which has a very large art collection, including some famous masterpieces such as “The Penitent Magdalene” by Georges de La Tour and paintings by great Impressionists, the Dutch Baroque, and more.
2. Let's leave the museum and head to its neighbor, the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. The site includes a tar pit pool (crude asphalt) next to which the famous natural history museum is built.
3. We'll continue to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures where there are exhibits from famous films.
4. Then, we'll enter the stunning structure of the Petersen Automotive Museum, one of the best car museums in the USA.
5. From the museum complex, we'll head a bit north to The Grove, the perfect spot for lunch and shopping. The Grove also houses the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.

Long Beach

1. From Miracle Mile, we'll drive south for half an hour to the neighboring city of Long Beach. We'll park near the shoreline of Long Beach. We'll start the tour at the large Aquarium of the Pacific where you'll find a multitude of fish and marine life.
2. From the aquarium, we'll drive over the Queensway Bridge and enter the Queen Mary, the historic giant ship that now docks in Long Beach.
3. From the Queen Mary, we'll continue our ship journey and dock near the Los Angeles Maritime Museum where you can visit the Battleship USS Iowa Museum and the large cargo ship S.S. Lane Victory.
4. From the museum, we'll drive west to Point Fermin Park and visit the charming Point Fermin Lighthouse. From the park and lighthouse, there's a stunning view of the ocean from atop the cliffs.
5. We'll start heading back towards Los Angeles along the coastline and stop at the Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes. At sunset, we'll pause at the Point Vicente Lighthouse, which also offers a crazy beautiful view of the ocean.