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How many days in Los Angeles? 5 days, one area at a time
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Los Angeles is not a city you can walk: Los Angeles County is 88 cities joined by freeways, and traffic decides your day. Give it five days and stick to one area per day: Hollywood and Griffith Park; the Getty and the beach towns of Santa Monica and Venice; Downtown and its museums; Malibu or a theme park; and Universal Studios or Disneyland. Rent a car, avoid the freeways at 7:00-10:00 and 15:00-19:00, and LA becomes far easier than its reputation.
Short answer
Three days covers Hollywood, Griffith, the Getty, Santa Monica and Venice. Five days adds Downtown, Malibu and one theme park.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Hollywood and Griffith Observatory
Morning. Walk the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard early, before the crowds, past the TCL Chinese Theatre with stars' handprints in the forecourt (free) and the Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars.
Afternoon. Hike to a view of the Hollywood Sign: the Mount Hollywood trail from Griffith Observatory (about 1 hour return) or the Lake Hollywood Park viewpoint. Driving to the sign itself is not allowed.
Evening. Go up to Griffith Observatory (free entry; parking costs a few dollars an hour) for sunset over the city and the ocean; the telescopes are open on clear evenings. Dinner in Los Feliz or Silver Lake.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank (about US$70) shows working film sets and is better for film lovers than the theme-park rides.
Day 2: The Getty and Santa Monica
Morning. Visit the Getty Center (free entry, parking about US$25 per car), a hilltop campus of white stone by Richard Meier, with Van Gogh's Irises, gardens and views from the Pacific to Downtown. Take the tram up from the car park.
Afternoon. Drive 30 minutes to Santa Monica: the pier with its Ferris wheel and the end of Route 66, the beach, and the Third Street Promenade.
Evening. Walk or cycle the beach path south to Venice Beach (about 3 km) for the boardwalk, the skate park, Muscle Beach and the quiet Venice Canals at sunset. Dinner on Abbot Kinney Boulevard.
Rent a bike or e-scooter in Santa Monica for the beach path; it is one of the few places in LA where you do not need a car.
Day 3: Downtown LA
Morning. Eat breakfast at Grand Central Market (since 1917), then visit The Broad (free, timed tickets; Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Mirror Room needs a separate booking) and see Frank Gehry's stainless-steel Walt Disney Concert Hall next door.
Afternoon. Walk through Olvera Street, the oldest street in the city, and Union Station, a 1939 Spanish Mission and Art Deco masterpiece, then the Arts District for murals, breweries and galleries.
Evening. Take the Metro or drive to LACMA on Wilshire Boulevard for Chris Burden's lamp-post installation Urban Light (free to see, best lit at night), then dinner in Koreatown, famous for Korean barbecue.
Downtown is busy by day but parts of it, especially around Skid Row, are rough at night. Drive or use rideshare after dark.
Day 4: Malibu and the Pacific Coast Highway
Morning. Drive the Pacific Coast Highway north from Santa Monica to Malibu (about 45 minutes without traffic). Stop at El Matador State Beach, with sea stacks and caves below the cliffs (steps down from a small car park).
Afternoon. Visit the Getty Villa (free, timed reservation), a recreation of a Roman villa with Greek and Roman antiquities, or continue to Point Dume for the view and seals on the rocks.
Evening. Watch the sunset from Point Dume or Zuma Beach, then fish tacos at a beachside place in Malibu.
Parts of Malibu were damaged by the January 2025 wildfires, and some roads and beaches may be closed; check before driving.
Day 5: Universal Studios Hollywood (or Disneyland)
Morning. Universal Studios Hollywood (about US$110-180 depending on the date) combines rides with a working studio: take the Studio Tour tram first, then Super Nintendo World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Afternoon. Or go to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim (about 45-90 minutes south, depending on traffic) for the original Disney park and Disney California Adventure.
Evening. Stay for the parks' night shows, or end at The Grove and the Original Farmers Market near Hollywood.
Book theme-park tickets online in advance and arrive before opening; weekday visits outside school holidays cut waiting times.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, do Days 1, 2 and 3. You lose Malibu and the theme parks.
Got extra days?
With more time, drive to Joshua Tree National Park and Palm Springs (about 2-2.5 hours) or north along the coast to Santa Barbara (about 1.5-2 hours).
Where to stay in Los Angeles
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Koreatown / Mid-Wilshire | Central, cheaper motels and hotels, great food. | US$130-200 |
| Mid-range | Santa Monica | Walkable, by the beach, bike path to Venice. | US$250-400 |
| Mid-range | West Hollywood | Between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, nightlife. | US$250-380 |
| Comfort | Beverly Hills / Malibu | Luxury hotels and ocean-view resorts. | US$500-1,500 |
Getting around
A rental car is the easiest way to see LA; expect to pay for parking almost everywhere. The Metro rail (about US$1.75 a ride) links Downtown, Hollywood, Santa Monica (E Line) and Universal City, useful for avoiding traffic on some routes. Rideshare (Uber, Lyft) is widely used. From LAX, the airport is about 30-60 minutes from most areas by car; take the LAX-it shuttle to the rideshare and taxi pick-up area.
What to eat in Los Angeles
LA is one of the best food cities in the US. Eat tacos from trucks and stands (al pastor, carne asada; US$2-4 each), Korean barbecue in Koreatown, Thai food in Thai Town, and Mexican, Armenian and Ethiopian food all across the city. Try a burger at In-N-Out (order 'animal style'), the French dip at Philippe the Original (since 1908) and the brunch culture of the beach towns. Restaurants add sales tax, and a tip of 18-20% is expected.
Best time to visit
LA is sunny most of the year. March to May and September to November are best, with highs of 22-27°C. Summer is hot inland (above 32°C) but cooler at the beach, though June often has grey mornings ('June Gloom'). Winter is mild (about 20°C) with occasional rain. Late summer and autumn have the highest wildfire risk.
Month-by-month weather for Los Angeles →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | US$75 | US$160 | US$400 |
| Food & drink (with tips) | US$45 | US$90 | US$200 |
| Sights & activities | US$20 | US$60 | US$180 |
| Car (share), fuel & parking | US$35 | US$55 | US$100 |
| Total per person, per day | about US$175 | about US$365 | about US$880 |
Approximate 2026 prices in US dollars. Hotel prices exclude LA's hotel occupancy taxes (around 14-16%) and any resort fees; shop and restaurant prices exclude sales tax.
Before you go
Common questions
Do I need a car in Los Angeles?
For a first visit, yes, unless you base yourself in Santa Monica and use the Metro and rideshare. Distances are long and public transport is limited outside the main lines.
Where is the best view of the Hollywood Sign?
From the Griffith Observatory terrace, the Lake Hollywood Park viewpoint and the Mount Hollywood trail. You cannot reach the sign itself legally.
Is Los Angeles safe?
Most tourist areas are safe by day. Watch for car break-ins (leave nothing visible), and be careful at night in parts of Downtown and Hollywood Boulevard.
Universal Studios or Disneyland?
Universal for film fans and teenagers, Disneyland for younger children and Disney fans. Both take a full day; doing both needs two days.
When is traffic worst?
Weekday mornings (about 7:00-10:00) and afternoons (about 15:00-19:00), and Friday afternoons. Plan drives in the middle of the day or evening.
How this guide was made
Written by hand, without AI, from experience planning USA trips. Prices are approximate for 2026 in US dollars; confirm on the official Getty, Griffith Observatory, The Broad, Universal Studios Hollywood and LA Metro websites before booking.
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