Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Great for First Timers

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, so you better believe there are a ton of things to do here. I’ve lived in SoCal my whole life so I know a thing or two about this sunshine state.

If you’re visiting Los Angeles county for at least a three day trip, this itinerary will pack in the most famous and popular sights that people like to frequent when they come to Los Angeles, California. As your travel guide, let’s dive into this Los Angeles 3 day itinerary!

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Day 1

Stop #1: Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach

10am – 1:30pm (3.5 hrs)

Two of the most popular beaches in Los Angeles are famous Santa Monica Beach and Venice Beach. Luckily, they are right next to each other. Each beach has its own unique vibe and has something different to offer.

Take a stroll through Third Street Promenade which features many restaurants, shops and street performers. It’s an outdoor area great for people watching and enjoying the sunshine.

If you’re interested in learning about historic Santa Monica you can visit the Santa Monica History Museum which is located at 7th and Santa Monica Blvd. Downtown Santa Monica is a popular place for tourists to visit and experience.

Venice Beach is about a 35 min walk from Santa Monica Beach. You can also rent a bike and get there in 15 min as well. You can also rent a scooter or e-bike which will get you there even faster. I’d highly recommend renting a scooter if you want to see more of the main areas.

Venice Beach is very different from Santa Monica Beach in that it has a more laid back feel to it. It has a unique vibe and energy that’s artsy, cultural and very busy.

The main areas of Venice Beach are the Venice Beach Boardwalk, the Venice Beach Skatepark, Muscle Beach, Abbot Kinney Blvd. and the Venice Canals. Each of these areas are right next to each other.

The Boardwalk is a 1 mile long stretch along the beach full of food options, shopping, street performers and art. It’s a great place to get a souvenir or just people watch.

Continue down the Boardwalk and you’ll see the skate park where skateboarders show off their skills ripping through concrete bowls and rails. It’s a skater’s heaven.

Further down is Muscle Beach which is an outdoor workout area where you can watch people get pumped! It’s a place where some of the biggest names in bodybuilding have trained, the most notable being Arnold Schwarzenegger. There is a fee though. You do a day pass if you want to work out there.

Continuing down the beach are the Venice Canals which are Italian-inspired canals with sidewalks and bridges. It’s a beautiful place to take a stroll, view the homes along the water and watch the gondolas flow through.

Abbot Kinney Blvd. is a street inland of the beach that’s lined with many higher end clothing stores, restaurants and galleries. It’s a pretty busy street that stretches about a mile long.

Now, I only allotted 3.5 hours to see both places. So spend your time wisely. You may not be interested in seeing everything just mentioned. Some of these things you might just look at it and continue on.

But be sure to take some time to get lunch at either Santa Monica or Venice. Both places have food options, although the food options in Santa Monica will likely be more expensive with a sit down type setting.

Venice Beach has more fast food type options like French fries, hot dogs, pizza and hamburgers. There are some restaurants but most of those will be off the beach toward Abbott Kinney Blvd.

Parking: There are paid lots and meters in Santa Monica. Of the paid lots, most of them give you 90 minutes free, but after that the price can go up pretty quickly. Venice Beach has paid lots and metered parking as well.

Either way, be prepared to pay for parking unless you Uber or Lyft there. The weekends and summertime, of course, will be the most busy. If you’re there during the week, you might be able to find free parking, but it still won’t be easy.

Drive and Park: 1:30pm – 2pm (30 min)

Stop #2: The Getty Center

2pm – 5:30pm (3.5 hrs)

The Getty Center is one of the most popular museums in Los Angeles. It’s filled with art from the Middle Ages through today and features a beautiful garden that over looks the city.

The best part is, the Getty Center is free! It’s only open until 5:30pm Tuesday-Friday and Sunday. And open until 8pm on Saturday. It’s closed on Mondays.

So you may need to change up the order of which day you do first if your day 1 is a Monday. If you plan to go to the Getty Center you must make a timed-entry reservation ahead of time. So be sure to do this at least a week in advance. Weekends will be completely booked.

While entrance into the museum is free, parking is not free. Parking is at least $20. Once you park you have to take a tram up to the arrival plaza.

After going up the stairs you will enter the Museum Entrance Hall where you can start your journey. There are various buildings at the Getty where each building has different types of art.

Be sure to take a map and determine which pavilions you want to see. You can see art anywhere from the 1600’s to present.

If you go to the Garden Terrace you can make your way down to the Central Garden which is a beautifully landscaped area where you can walk around, take pictures and sit on the grass to enjoy the scenery. And don’t forget to go down to the Lower Terrace Sculpture Garden.

You could technically spend your whole day here if you desired. The Getty has a beautiful view of the city. So if you can be there for sunset, do it.

If you’re there on a Saturday when it closes later, consider when you will eat dinner. There is only one restaurant that stays open past 5pm. So it’s best to make a reservation.

You can also bring outside food with you and picnic on the grass. Or the other option would be to eat a later dinner after you leave.

After the Getty it’s time to eat!

Stop #3: Dinner

Some local food recommendations nearby are:

Jemma di Mare – Italian, seafood and cocktails. The most popular dishes are the Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka, kale salad and meatballs.

Nuka Café – Turkish, Mediterranean food. Great flavors and yummy food. Right in the heart of Westwood.

Menya Tigre – Japanese ramen and curry. If you like Asian food, this place is an authentic Japanese joint run by a Japanese family. Check out their curry ramen, Keema Noodle and karaage chicken.

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Day 2

Day 2 of this 3 days in Los Angeles itinerary centers around the Hollywood area. You’ll do some hiking at Runyon Canyon, do the touristy Hollywood Blvd thing observing the stars on the ground and then the stars up above at the Griffith Observatory. Get ready for a long but fun day.

Stop #1: Runyon Canyon

8am – 10am (2 hrs)

Runyon Canyon is arguably the most popular hiking spot in Los Angeles. Runyon Canyon Park is 160 acres on the east side of the Santa Monica Mountains.

I’ve allotted 2 hours here but the time spent here will really depend on your hiking temperament. There are 3 entrances to Runyon Canyon: Fuller Ave., Vista St. and Mulholland Dr.

The Fuller Ave. and Vista St. entrances are on the south side (closer to Hollywood Blvd.) while the Mullholland Dr. entrance is on the north side in the Hollywood Hills.

There is a West Trail and East Trail. The East Trail has a couple of main stops: Inspiration Point and Cloud’s Rest where you can see the Hollywood sign and views of Hollywood in the distance.

If you’re feeling adventurous and have the stamina, I highly recommend taking the full 3.5 mile hike route. This goes through the East Trail and through the West Trail.

If you’re not a big hiker or don’t have as much time to dedicate to a full hike, do at least a short hike starting on the East Trail so you can see Inspiration Point and Cloud’s Rest. This will be just under 2 miles.   

There are a lot of people on this trail and lots of dogs on leashes. There are some steep hills and it can be challenging at times.

There are some slippery sandy spots so be careful. Be sure to wear shoes with grip, appropriate for hiking. Most of the trail is dirt. There are some asphalt walkways. 

Drive and Park: 10:15am – 10:45am (30 min)

Stop #2: Celebrity Homes Tour

11am – 1pm (2 hrs)

There are a lot of companies that offer this tour. The most notable ones are Access Hollywood, Big Bus Tours and Hollywood Bus Tours. They are all similar in terms of what you see and the duration. And they are all highly rated.

Generally, these tours are about 2 hours. You sit in an open air tour bus with a guide who takes you to the top spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills.

Most either stop or at least pass by the TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre, Mulholland Dr., Sunset Strip and Rodeo Drive.

You might also see Whisky A Go-Go, The Roxy, Beverly Hills sign, Capitol Records Building, Walk of Fame, movie and TV locations. And, of course, you’ll also see the celebrity homes of Tom Cruise, Katy Perry, Leonardo DiCaprio and more!

Seeing celebrity homes is not something you could easily do on your own. That’s why I’d recommend taking a tour like this so you can get the true Hollywood experience.

Stop #3: Hollywood Boulevard

1pm – 2:30pm (1.5 hrs)

After the guided tour, take some time to actually walk around Hollywood Blvd. Perhaps find the star of your favorite celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame or roam around Ovation Hollywood.

Watch some street performers or take some up close pictures of the TCL Chinese Theatre. But during this time be sure to grab something to eat here for lunch.

Drive and Park: 2:45pm – 3:15pm

Stop #4: Warner Bros Studio Tour

3:30pm – 5:30pm (2 hrs)

Continuing your Hollywood adventure, the Warner Bros Studio Tour is one of the most popular studio lot tours in LA. There are others such as the Paramount Studios or Sony Pictures Tour.

But the Warner Bros Studio Tour seems to be the most popular. Every studio has their own movie or TV shows they produce. At the Warner Bros Studio, you’ll see recreated sets and artifacts from DC Universe, Harry Potter, Gilmore Girls, Friends and more.

There is a tram portion and then you’ll have time to walk around yourself. It will take you 3 hours to get through it all.

Tip: Make your reservation ahead of time.

Stop #5: Dinner

6pm – 7:30pm (1.5 hrs)

At this point you should be hungry! Grab some dinner around Universal City. Some recommendations are:

Ma’s Italian Kitchen – Located really close to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, this restaurant provides all of your classic Italian dishes. It’s a lot of pasta and carbs but every calorie is worth it!

Hungry Crowd – Also not too far from the Warner Bros. Studio Tour is this Korean fusion restaurant. You can get traditional Korean food like bibimbap and kimchee fried rice. But you can also get a fried chicken salad and a classic burger.

My Little Home Thai Kitchen – Get your classic stir fried noodles, curry, fried rices and entrees. The noodle dishes are the most popular here, but the curry is good too.

Drive and Park: 7:30pm – 8pm (30 min)

Stop #6: Griffith Observatory

8pm – 10pm (2 hrs)

Last but not least, Griffith Observatory is one of the highlights of Los Angeles. What’s nice about this place is that it’s open late and it’s free! Griffith Observatory is a modern observatory that overlooks Los Angeles and sits on Mount Hollywood.

It’s family friendly and great for all ages. What do you do here? You can look through telescopes, see shows at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and there are multiple exhibits on multiple levels to explore.

They also have talks about the Tesla coil exhibit. There are daily programs so review the calendar on their website to see what will be happening when you’re there.

Every month they hold free public star parties where you can look at the sun, moon, planets and other space objects through telescopes. It’s a fun and educational event.

From the observatory you can see the Hollywood sign. But you might be disappointed to know that it does not light up at night. So it won’t look very spectacular in the dark. It’s best to view it and get a picture of it during sunset.

Some quick notes about the Observatory. You cannot bring food and drinks inside the building, but you can definitely picnic and eat outside. There is a café there but it’s simple food such as sandwiches, wraps, salads and snacks.

Parking is probably the worst part about this place. It’s a popular place and the parking is limited. The very closest parking spaces are all paid, but it’s quite expensive and you’ll likely have to wait a while before a spot opens up. There is parking along the pathway as you go up the hill.

But if you want free parking you can park in the lower parking lots. From there you can either wait for a shuttle or take a decent walk up the hill.

Whichever way you decide to park you will either pay a lot for it, get a good workout, or possibly wait a while before a shuttle comes to pick you up. With this in mind, be sure to give yourself enough time to park.

Note: Griffith Observatory is closed on Mondays. It’s open until 10pm any other day of the week. If you plan to be in LA on a Monday, schedule this itinerary day to a day other than Monday. You won’t want to miss Griffith Observatory.    

So for day 3 I have 2 options: 3a and 3b. I’m giving two options because option 3a is to go to Universal Studios Hollywood and this will take a full day. If you would rather skip Universal and see more of Los Angeles I have an alternative itinerary which is 3b.

This itinerary explores Downtown LA which has a lot to offer first timers. This 3 day itinerary for Los Angeles is not complete without either visiting Universal Studios or Downtown LA. 

Before you decide which option you’d like to take, take a moment to understand both. You can’t go wrong with either one. It’s just your preference.

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Day 3 (Option 1)

Stop #1: Universal Studios Hollywood

Full day

Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the best amusement parks in Los Angeles. There are really on 2 major theme parks in Los Angeles. These are Six Flags Magic Mountain and Universal Studios Hollywood.

You might ask…well what about Disneyland? Technically, Disneyland is in Orange County. Same with Knott’s Berry Farm. So since this is a Los Angeles Itinerary, I’ve included Universal Studios.

Universal Studios is really a cool place. If you’ve been to the one in Florida, it’s pretty much the same. Universal Studios is different from other types of theme parks in that they put a strong emphasis on simulator rides.

If you get motion sickness, however, this place may not be the best choice for you. Since many of the attractions here are simulator or virtual in nature, your options may be limited if you can’t handle them.

There’s a lot to see and do there so make sure you definitely experience these attractions:

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – If you like Harry Potter or just wizardly magic, you’ll enjoy this land. It’s a whole themed out area where you can see the Hogwarts castle, shop at Hogsmeade and grab a bite at the Three Broomsticks tavern.

The Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride is a combination of a ride with simulation. Now, I have to warn you, this ride is not for the faint of heart. If you have any susceptibility to motion sickness, it will probably get you sick.

I’ve known a number of people who had to take a long break after that ride. The other ride in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the Flight of the Hippogriff is a short, small roller coaster. It’s skippable, but up to you.

The World-Famous Studio Tour – This studio tour Hollywood style is a must! It’s about an hour. It’s basically a tram tour where you go behind the scenes of various TV and movie sets.

You get first hand experience as the tour brings to life different set designs. It’s like you are in the movie itself! I won’t spoil it anymore for you. You’ll just have to experience it yourself.

Super Nintendo World – This video game land is the newest addition to Universal Studios. Keep in mind that reservations through the Universal Studios Hollywood app may be necessary to enter Super Nintendo World to control the crowds.

It can be especially busy during the weekends and summertime so check the app to see if it’s necessary for the day you are going.

Alternatively, you can do an Early Access Ticket where you get to enter 1 hour before the theme park opens to explore the land. With this ticket you don’t have to make a reservation to enter.

If you have the Universal Express and VIP privileges you will get reservation free entry.

In Super Nintendo World you can ride Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge or dine at Toadstool Café. There are interactive activities if you purchase the Power Up Band.

You can meet your favorite Mario Brothers character or buy themed merchandise. The Mario Kart Bowser’s Challenge is a fun virtual ride where you collect coins and throw shells like in the video game.

There are other lands and areas you should visit, but these are a must. I’d also suggest that you check out Universal City Walk which is outside the park. Here there are many restaurants, shops and different types of entertainment.

As you can see Universal Studios Hollywood is a super fun-filled day. I highly recommend it if you haven’t been before.

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Day 3 (Option 2)

This alternative day 3 itinerary is all about exploring Downtown LA. While the downtown area is not the most glamorous, there is some charm that deserves some mention.

Downtown Los Angeles is filled with art and culture. There are museums, architectural wonders, cultural areas and art.

Transportation:

Since the itinerary for this day stops at a lot of places within DTLA, there are a few different ways to get around. You can either drive, take an Uber, take the Metro or walk.

When it comes to costs obviously walking is the cheapest option, taking the Metro is fairly cheap and driving or taking an Uber will be the most costly.

As far as the time it takes to get from one place to another, all 3 ways will take some time. The Metro is not always super punctual.

If you drive, finding parking can take some time if you’re there on a weekend or busy time of the day. Taking an Uber or Lyft will probably be the fastest.

Regarding safety, getting around any of these ways is generally safe during the day. But walking or taking the Metro at night is not recommended. The Metro can be dirty and you will likely encounter homeless people and those with mental health issues.

So just take precautions like you would anywhere else. If you are traveling around at night, avoid the Metro and take an Uber or drive.

Stop #1: Breakfast

9am – 10am (1 hr)

Grand Central Market – If you’re a big foodie, the Grand Central Market is heaven. Filled with almost 40 vendors, you can choose from a variety of cuisines such as Mexican, Italian and Asian. There are drinks and desserts too.

Since you would be here for breakfast, try Eggslut. There is a parking garage in the building right next to the Grand Central Market. Park here. You can see the rates here. M-Sun 8am-9pm. First 90 minutes is $5

Other Breakfast recommendations:
Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen – It’s about a 15 min walk to Bradbury Building, this place has a pleasant atmosphere with delicious options such as the chicken and waffles, breakfast sandwich and breakfast burrito. You can, of course, get your morning coffee here.

Bottega Louie – I’ve been here a number of times and I just love this place. The atmosphere, the food and looking at the pastries set the tone for a Parisian feel. It’s been around for a long time and it’s always busy.

This place is a bit pricey, so if you’re just looking for a quick bite, maybe choose a different place. If you choose to go here, arrive a little earlier than 9am or make a reservation.

10am – 1 min walk to the Bradbury Building from Grand Central Market. Give yourself 15 minutes to walk from Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen or Bottega Louie to get to the Bradbury Building.

Stop #2: Bradbury Building

10am – 10:15am (15 min)

Bradbury Building – If you’re into architecture, you must visit the Bradbury Building. It’s a unique Victorian style architectural landmark that was built in 1893.

It’s best known for its open atrium, iron stairs and elevators. In popular culture, it’s been featured in various films and TV shows. You can enter the building but you can only access the lobby.

If you want to learn more about this historic building, take a walking tour which will also point out other architectural buildings in DTLA. M-F 9am-6pm, Sat/Sun 10am-5pm. 

Transportation: Drive and park at the Broad or Uber. Walk across the street to the Walt Disney Concert Hall first.

Or take the Metro from Historic Broadway Station (Broadway and 2nd St) to Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill Station.  If you decide to walk it will be about 13 min to the Concert Hall.

Stop #3: Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Broad

10:30am – 1:00pm (2.5 hrs)

Walt Disney Concert Hall – A beautiful architectural wonder, the Walt Disney Concert Hall is composed of a curved stainless steel exterior. Just looking at the outside is enough to put you in awe. Inside it’s a concert hall where the Los Angeles Philharmonic and other orchestras from around the world play classical, contemporary, international and jazz music.

It has stunning acoustics and is an internationally recognized concert hall. At minimum, take some pictures of this Los Angeles landmark.

Walk back to the Broad.

The Broad – A museum of contemporary art, it also has a unique exterior. It has a ‘veil and vault’ architectural design. Inside the museum lies about 2,000 works.

They have cool exhibits, installations, events, performances, talks and discussions all around modern and contemporary art. This is a fun opportunity to tap into your creative side.

I would dedicate at least 2 hours at this museum. General admission is free, but you need to reserve a timed ticket in advance. There are some separate exhibits that have a cost and you must also pay for parking which can be a bit pricey.

$17 for 3 hrs on weekdays with validation, $17 all day on weekends.

It’s closed Mondays.

Transportation: Drive or Uber. If you drive there are many parking lots and pricing varies. If you take the Metro, get on at Grand Ave Arts/Bunker Hill Station (Flower St. between Hope St.) and get off oat Little Tokyo Station A/E Lines. If you decide to walk it will be about 20 minutes.

Stop #4: Little Tokyo

1:15pm – 3:30pm (2 hrs 15 min)

Little Tokyo – Love Japan? Little Tokyo is an area dedicated to the Japanese community and is one of 3 Japan towns in the United States. Filled with Japanese restaurants, stores and entertainment, it’s a place to immerse yourself into Japanese-American culture.

If you’re interested, there is a Japanese American National Museum that features objects, documents, photographs and more discussing the Japanese American experience from the late 1800s to present which includes their World War II incarceration and post-war activities. There are ongoing exhibits and events so check those out too.

Little Tokyo hosts a number of Japanese events such as Nisei Week in August which is open to the public. It’s a big annual event that features a pageant, food vendors, traditional Japanese dancing, taiko drum performances and other entertainment. So if you’re there during this time, expect it to be packed.

The area is not very large as it covers 5 blocks in the downtown area so you could cover this area within a couple of hours. Stop here for lunch. Here are some suggestions:

Kaminari Gyoza Bar – This place will satisfy your gyoza (dumpling) cravings! Choose from pork, chicken, shrimp, vegan or assorted gyoza. Get a bento box if you have an appetite.

Rice & Nori – For a quick bite, this place has a variety of onigiri which are rice balls filled with different ingredients and wrapped in seaweed. If you’re not super hungry, this would be a good option.

Marugame Monzo – If you’re pretty hungry, this place has yummy udon noodles. They have a unique take on udon so it’s worth stopping by to experience their miso carbonara udon or uni cream udon if you’re adventurous.

Transportation: Walk or drive to Arts District and stay between 2nd and 4th Street. Walking will take about 8 min from Little Tokyo. Driving or taking an Uber will be about 2 min. There are paid parking lots. You can’t take the Metro to the Arts District.

Stop #5: Arts District

3:45pm – 7pm+ (3.5hrs or more)

Arts District Los Angeles – The Arts District is home to many restaurants, breweries, galleries, shops, art spaces, bars and more. In recent years, the Arts District has grown and developed into a thriving gentrified area.

It’s worth hanging out here for a few hours or more depending on your interests.

Depending on your interests, here are some places I recommend. They are all walking distance from each other and span across a few streets:

Angel City Brewery – If you’re a beer drinker, this place is for you. It’s a cool brewery that’s great for hanging out with friends. There are games and lots of seating. It has a great selection of beers and some food options.

EightyTwo – I have to admit this place is pretty awesome. Think vintage arcade with a lounge vibe. There’s often a DJ with both indoor and outdoor space.

It has pinball and arcade machines, a full bar and it’s open really late so it has a nightlife scene. It’s a unique place worth checking out. There’s no cover, so no excuses!

Two Bit Circus – This is another arcade hangout but slightly different from EightyTwo. It has more of a VR, escape room, steampunk vibe. People do complain some of the machines don’t work. This place is only open Thursday through Sunday.

Hauser & Wirth – If you like art, this place will be more up your alley. This is a commercial multi-purpose space that features an art gallery, a vegetable garden and shops. It’s invested in sustainability and learning.

LA Boulders – For families or active individuals, LA Boulders is a bouldering only gym! No ropes or harnesses, you just go and climb. Test your climbing skills and see what you’ve got.

If you’ve never climbed a boulder before, book an intro class. This is a great place for kids and the whole family.

Row DTLA – This is an upscale outdoor shopping mall that spans across 32 acres. It has shops, restaurants, offices and events. There is free 2 hour parking here.

The Container Yard – Another space for art, this place is temporarily closed but will be opening soon. It’s an event space with lots of cool artwork on walls and within buildings. If you love art, you will love this place.

Dinner options:

Propaganda Wine Bar – If you’re a wino, this is the place to go. Pair your favorite glass of wine with some delicious pizza, salad and charcuterie.

Loqui – For a cheap eat, try Loqui. You can’t really come to Los Angeles and not eat Mexican food. It’s just the best here. This place makes their own homemade flour tortillas and agua fresca. It has a simple menu and a cute atmosphere.

I hope this 3 day Los Angeles itinerary gets you off on the right track.

There are many other areas of Los Angeles that deserve a visit if you have more time such as West Hollywood, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), La Brea Tarpits, California Science Center, the Getty Villa, Olvera Street and of course all of the many music and entertainment venues such as SoFi Stadium and Crypto.com Center.

If you have more time, check out this Los Angeles 5 day itinerary. 

If you’re looking for itineraries outside of Los Angeles, check out my complete San Diego itineraries and stay tuned for my California National Park itineraries. 

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Tours

In general, I don’t like to promote a lot of tours. But short ones can be good for specific locations. Long tours on the other hand are often filled with a bunch of stops and you don’t get much time to explore each place.

However, Los Angeles is a big area and it’s not tourist friendly. Unfortunately, getting around is quite difficult without a car. Everything is very spread out and parking is expensive.

Therefore, if you don’t plan on renting a car, I recommend this tour that takes you to many of the major attractions such as Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, Griffith Park and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

This tour is highly rated. It’s a full day and will take almost 8 hours. This tour is great for anyone who doesn’t want to deal with driving to all of these locations and figuring out where to park. It’s a stress-free way to experience different parts of LA.

Los Angeles Itinerary 3 Days: Where to Stay

Los Angeles is a big place and with many options for accommodations, it’s best to stay in the vicinity of the stops. You should also stay in the safer areas of Los Angeles. This is why I recommend either staying in Santa Monica or West Hollywood. I’m suggesting these hotels for their location, great ratings, helpful staff and high levels of comfort. They are also more affordable than many other places in LA.

FOUND Hotel, Santa Monica

• Great location – it’s just a few miles from Third Street Promenade and the Getty Center.
• Beautiful decor – rooms are gorgeous, clean and modern.
• 4 twin bed option – a rare option in any hotel. This is great for friends traveling together.

Ziggy Hotel, West Hollywood

• Great location – located on the famous Sunset Strip.
• Fun vibe – features a large pool and live music and artsy decor.
• Comfortable & clean – rooms are spacious with nice beds.

3 Day LA Itinerary: FAQ

Is 3 days enough to visit Los Angeles?

LA in 3 days is enough to get your feet wet. You can experience a good amount in this short period of time if you manage your time properly. This LA 3 day itinerary gives you a good overview of this massive city.

How many days do you need for the first time in Los Angeles?

I recommend at least 3 to 5 days if you really want to get an all encompassing experience.

Can you visit LA without a car?

Yes you can. You can use Uber or Lyft or take public transportation such as the bus or the Metro.

Is LA expensive as a tourist?

It can be. Food, transportation and accommodations can all be pricey, but it’s possible to travel here on a budget.

Is it safe to go to downtown LA?

Downtown LA is safe in the main busy areas. But stay out of Skid Row. Like anywhere, always take normal precautions.

What is the cheapest season to go to LA?

Winter, specifically January and February after the holidays.

What days of the week are best to visit LA?

Weekdays will have less crowds, lines and wait times in popular areas. Friday evenings and weekends are generally the busiest. However, some main attractions are closed during the week.

For example, the Getty and Griffith Observatory are closed on Mondays. So check operating hours for the places you want to visit.

What is the best month to be in LA?

The Spring (March-May) and Fall (September-November) will offer the best weather and less crowds.

Can you visit LA on a budget?

It’s possible, but it depends what that budget is. You can minimize your spending by staying out of the expensive areas like Beverly Hills, Malibu or Santa Monica.

You can avoid eating at high end restaurants, choosing places to visit that don’t have expensive admission fees and taking public transportation.

Can Uber pick you up at LAX?

Yes! Uber, Lyft and taxis can pick you up at the Los Angeles International Airport designated area.

You will have to take the LAX-it shuttle outside baggage claim on level 1 to get to the ride share and taxi area.