5 days in Los Angeles

The 5-day plan, day by day

1. 1

   Day 1 · Wednesday — Santa Monica and Venice introduction

   Beachfront arrival energy, classic piers, and an easy Westside sunset

   5 stops€166 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Transfer into Santa Monica

      Make your way into Santa Monica and start the trip on the coast; rideshare is the simplest option for moving between the beach districts today.

      €25 per person

      TIPTraffic builds quickly after the morning commute, so keep transfer timing flexible.

   2. 10:152

      Santa Monica Pier and Ocean Avenue stroll

      Start with Los Angeles' most recognizable beachfront scene, where the pier, beach paths, and broad Pacific views give a clear sense of the city's laid-back coastal side. Walking the pier and nearby Ocean Avenue is an easy way to settle in, with room for photos, people-watching, and a first look at the shoreline.

      Free

      TIPWalk to the end of the pier first while it is less crowded, then return for photos back toward the beach.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:153

      Lunch around Downtown Santa Monica

      The blocks around the downtown promenade and nearby streets are packed with casual cafes, patios, and quick West Coast lunch spots. It is a practical area for a relaxed first meal, with plenty of choice before continuing south along the coast.

      €20 per person

      TIPA lunch spot a block or two off the busiest promenade usually means shorter waits.

   2. 14:004

      Bike or walk the beach path to Venice

      The shoreline route between Santa Monica and Venice is one of the city's easiest classic outings, following the sand with nonstop ocean views and a steady stream of cyclists, skaters, and beachgoers. It shows off Los Angeles at its most open-air and informal, and the route itself is as enjoyable as the destination.

      €10 per person

      TIPIf renting bikes, check the return policy before leaving Santa Monica.

   3. 15:455

      Venice Boardwalk and canals wander

      Venice combines busy boardwalk energy with quieter residential canal paths just inland, giving two very different sides of the neighborhood in one visit. Expect street performers, murals, and beach culture near the shore, then a calmer, more picturesque walk around the canals.

      Free

      TIPThe canals are most peaceful after the boardwalk and are easiest to enjoy on foot.

   Evening

   1. 18:306

      Sunset dinner on Main Street or Rose Avenue

      These nearby dining streets are a good place to finish the day with a relaxed coastal meal, ranging from easy takeout to polished neighborhood restaurants. The atmosphere stays lively into the evening, and both areas work well after a beach day.

      €28 per person

      TIPSunset tables fill first, so arrive a little before peak dinner time if you want an outdoor seat.

2. 2

   Day 2 · Thursday — Hollywood and Griffith Park

   Classic film landmarks, hillside views, and a big city panorama

   6 stops€110 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Hollywood Boulevard orientation walk

      This stretch of Hollywood is full of the symbols many first-time visitors want to see: historic theaters, the Walk of Fame, and the dense mix of old glamour and modern tourism that defines the area. It is busiest and most manageable earlier in the day, when you can take in the architecture and landmark facades at a more comfortable pace.

      Free

      TIPStay focused on the theater blocks for the most interesting architecture and landmark views.

   2. 10:452

      Coffee break in central Hollywood

      A short pause in the surrounding side streets offers a reset before the uphill viewpoints later in the day. Hollywood has plenty of quick cafes where you can rest your feet and avoid trying to do the whole district in one long push.

      €8 per person

      TIPPick a cafe just off the main boulevard for a calmer stop.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:003

      Lunch in Los Feliz village streets

      Los Feliz has a more neighborhood feel than the main tourist zones, with a compact run of cafes and casual restaurants that makes an easy midday base. It also sits in a practical position before continuing into Griffith Park for the afternoon.

      €22 per person

      TIPThis is a good point to request a rideshare onward into Griffith Park after lunch.

   2. 14:004

      Griffith Observatory terraces and park viewpoints

      The observatory area delivers one of Los Angeles' defining panoramas, with the city basin, the hills, and wide open sky all in view. The building and surrounding terraces are as much about the setting as the exhibits, and the approach through Griffith Park adds a sense of scale that is hard to get elsewhere in the city.

      Free

      TIPParking is limited, so a rideshare can save time on the final approach.

   Evening

   1. 17:155

      Sunset viewpoint time in Griffith Park

      Staying through late afternoon lets the city shift from bright daylight to the first evening lights, which is when the basin's scale becomes most dramatic. It is one of the best moments of the trip for wide photos and a sense of how Los Angeles spreads between ocean plain and hills.

      Free

      TIPBring a light layer; hilltop breezes can feel cooler around sunset.

   2. 19:006

      Dinner in Thai Town or Franklin Village

      Both nearby districts are strong evening stops with plenty of casual dining and a local neighborhood feel after the city's bigger landmarks. They are good places to end the day with a more grounded, everyday side of central Los Angeles.

      €25 per person

      TIPThai Town is especially useful if you want many choices within a short walk.

3. 3

   Day 3 · Friday — Museum Row and Beverly Hills

   Art, design, shopping streets, and polished Westside neighborhoods

   5 stops€136 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:301

      Explore the La Brea Tar Pits park grounds

      The park around the tar pits is one of Los Angeles' most unusual urban landscapes, mixing lawns, excavation areas, and visible natural asphalt seeps right beside busy city streets. Even a simple walk through the grounds gives context for the area's prehistoric past and offers a memorable contrast with the modern city around it.

      Free

      TIPThe outdoor grounds are easy to enjoy first before deciding whether to add any indoor museum time elsewhere.

   2. 11:002

      Art and architecture along Museum Row

      Wilshire Boulevard's museum district is one of the city's strongest cultural corridors, where major institutions sit close enough to explore at an unhurried pace. The area rewards both short museum visits and simply walking between striking buildings, public art, and broad boulevard views.

      €20 per person

      TIPChoose one main museum focus so the afternoon still feels relaxed.

   Afternoon

   1. 13:453

      Lunch at the Original Farmers Market area

      This historic market area is a dependable midday stop with many casual counters and enough choice for different tastes in one place. It works well after the museums because you can eat quickly or linger, then continue on foot or by short ride to the next neighborhood.

      €18 per person

      TIPWalk a full loop before ordering; the market has more variety than it first appears.

   2. 15:304

      Browse Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive

      Beverly Hills is worth seeing not just for luxury storefronts but for its immaculate streets, palm-lined avenues, and highly polished version of Los Angeles city life. A walk here is really about atmosphere and design details, from window displays to landscaped public spaces and the quiet side streets just beyond the busiest blocks.

      Free

      TIPInclude a few adjacent residential blocks to get a fuller feel for the neighborhood.

   Evening

   1. 18:155

      Dinner in West Hollywood

      West Hollywood's dining streets bring together lively patios, stylish crowds, and a broad range of restaurants that make an easy evening finish after the quieter polish of Beverly Hills. It is one of the best areas in the city for a long, sociable dinner.

      €30 per person

      TIPReservations help on Friday evening, especially for outdoor seating.

4. 4

   Day 4 · Saturday — Downtown Los Angeles and Arts District

   Historic core, market food, and creative streets with evening energy

   6 stops€152 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Walk through Grand Central Market and Broadway blocks

      This part of Downtown shows off Los Angeles' historic core through old theater facades, dense street life, and one of the city's best-known food halls. The combination of architecture and everyday bustle makes it an excellent introduction to central LA beyond the coast and hills.

      Free

      TIPGo early to enjoy the market before the lunch rush builds.

   2. 11:302

      Coffee and browsing in the Historic Core

      A slower break in the surrounding downtown blocks lets you notice restored facades, old signage, and the rhythm of the neighborhood between major sights. It is a good way to experience central Los Angeles as a lived-in district rather than only a checklist of landmarks.

      €8 per person

      TIPKeep an eye out for the older arcade-style passages tucked between larger streets.

   Afternoon

   1. 12:303

      Lunch in Little Tokyo

      Little Tokyo is compact, walkable, and full of places for a satisfying midday meal, along with shops and pedestrian lanes that make it enjoyable before and after eating. The district offers a different mood from the Historic Core, with a more neighborhood-oriented scale and plenty to browse.

      €22 per person

      TIPGive yourself a little extra time to browse the plazas and side lanes after lunch.

   2. 14:154

      Street art and warehouses in the Arts District

      The Arts District is one of the city's most interesting walking neighborhoods for murals, converted industrial buildings, and a creative atmosphere that feels distinct from older Downtown blocks. It is best explored slowly, with time to notice side streets, storefronts, and changing textures from one block to the next.

      Free

      TIPThe neighborhood rewards wandering, so wear comfortable shoes and keep your route flexible.

   Evening

   1. 17:005

      Golden hour at a Downtown rooftop district

      Late afternoon is a strong moment to take in the skyline and the changing light across the towers, rail yards, and low-rise neighborhoods beyond. A rooftop area or elevated terrace gives a memorable urban counterpoint to the beach and hillside views from earlier in the trip.

      €18 per person

      TIPIf you choose a rooftop bar, smart-casual clothing can be useful in the evening.

   2. 19:006

      Dinner in the Arts District

      The area comes alive after dark, with a good concentration of casual and trend-driven places in a compact section of Downtown. Ending here keeps the evening easy and lets you enjoy the neighborhood's industrial character once the streetlights and signs come on.

      €28 per person

      TIPSaturday evening is busy, so expect waits if you do not book ahead.

5. 5

   Day 5 · Sunday — Getty views and departure day

   A final culture stop, scenic neighborhoods, and a relaxed finish

   4 stops€186 in stops, for two

   Morning

   1. 09:001

      Check out and head toward the Westside

      Check out of the hotel and leave for the Westside with luggage stored or loaded for a later departure transfer.

      €20 per person

      TIPKeep bags consolidated for an easier final transfer later in the day.

   2. 10:152

      Morning at the Getty Center area

      This hilltop cultural area is one of the city's most rewarding final stops, combining strong art collections, gardens, and far-reaching views over Los Angeles. The setting itself is a major part of the experience, and the terraces make it easy to take in the city's scale one last time.

      Free

      TIPParking is the main extra cost here, so rideshare can be practical if you are not driving.

   Afternoon

   1. 13:453

      Lunch in Brentwood or Westwood

      Both neighborhoods are convenient after the morning's hilltop visit and offer a calmer midday pace than the major tourist corridors. This is a good final meal zone for a relaxed sit-down lunch or a quick cafe stop before the last sightseeing stretch.

      €22 per person

      TIPWestwood is the better choice if you want a more walkable cluster of options.

   2. 15:154

      Easy walk in Beverly Gardens or Century City area

      A final light stroll keeps the last afternoon pleasant without committing to another major attraction. These polished Westside surroundings offer a relaxed close to the trip, with broad sidewalks, landscaped edges, and a comfortable pace before heading onward.

      Free

      TIPChoose the option closest to where you want to spend the final hour to avoid extra backtracking.

   Evening

   1. 17:155

      Early dinner on the Westside

      An early final meal keeps the day comfortable and leaves a clean window for the departure transfer. The Westside has enough variety to suit either a quick, efficient stop or a more leisurely farewell dinner.

      €26 per person

      TIPSettle the bill early if you want a smoother departure afterward.

   2. 19:006

      Transfer for departure

      Leave the Westside with enough buffer for the evening departure transfer and any traffic on the route out.

      €25 per person

      TIPSunday traffic can still slow the crosstown route, so build in extra time.