The Ultimate 3-day Itinerary for Los Angeles
Whether you’re in LA for a couple of days or just for the weekend, the sheer amount of things to see & do in Los Angeles is endless.
LA is one of my favorite cities in the world, it’s also considered to be the second most visited city in the United States, and with the right itinerary in place, you can actually see and experience quite a bit in a short period of time.
From the Hollywood Hills to Downtown LA check out the best things to do in Los Angeles in 3 days including museums, hiking trails, top restaurants, and more. Don’t miss my 3-day itinerary for Los Angeles below.
Planning a trip to LA? Here’s your perfect 3-day Itinerary for visiting Los Angeles
Where to stay in LA
Find the right accommodation for your LA Getaway. From the hills to the beach and everywhere in between. Los Angeles’s list of hotels is huge and can be found throughout its exciting & diverse neighborhoods.
The Hoxton Downtown LA $$ – Looking for a boutique hotel without the expensive price tag? The Hoxton in Downtown Los Angeles is absolutely gorgeous. I absolutely adore its mid-century interior. (Top rated)
The Palihotel Westwood Village $$ – Another beautiful boutique hotel at an affordable price is The Palihotel in Westwood Village. Located in the Historic District and is only a short 14 min drive to LAX airport.
The Beverly Hills Hotel $$$ – Last but certainly not least, If you’re looking to really splurge why not stay at the most iconic hotel in LA. Located on Sunset blvd and only an 8-minute walk to Rodeo Drive. The Beverly Hills Hotel is famous for its A-list guests, stunning interior setting, and exceptional service.
Best time to visit Los Angeles
One of the best perks about LA is that the weather is great, pretty much all the time. If your looking for ultimate beach weather then visiting during the summer months is best.
However, I feel the best months to hit up LA is during the shoulder seasons like March thru to May and late September to early November. The weather is generally pretty warm and you won’t have to fight your way through the summer crowds.
Getting Around
Los Angeles is the largest county in the United States, it’s roughly 500 square miles, that’s HUGE. So it’s essential that you hire a car to get around.
You’ll find that many of LA’s best attractions are spread throughout the city. While LA does get a bad rep for having the worst traffic and pricey parking especially in DTLA, it’s still the best way to get around, trust me.
Booking a rental car in Los Angeles is relatively cheap. We mostly book through Avis or rentalcars.com to compare prices and find the best deals.
If you don’t feel confident driving in LA traffic there’s always the Metro available. You can purchase a TAP card at any Metro station nearby which allows you access to both the bus and railway system.
For more information on pricing and routes check out how to ride the Metro rail here.
Los Angeles 3-day Itinerary
Day 1: Downtown Los Angeles
Day 2: Griffith Park & Beverly Hills
Day 3: Santa Monica & Venice
Day One: Downtown Los Angeles
Start the weekend off by heading to Downtown LA for some breakfast then plan out your very own walking tour of DTLA’s best sites. Downtown LA offers plenty of big-city excitement, with many historical attractions, hip, trendy restaurants, and premier shopping.
The best part about DTLA is that most of its top attractions are within close proximity to each making them very easy to walk to.
Best Breakfast Spots in DTLA
Blu Jam Cafe – Serves breakfast any time of day! The Blu Jam Cafe in Downtown Los Angeles is a great spot to hit up for breakfast. Everything is made fresh daily and sourced locally which I love.
Civilization Coffee Kitchen – The best breaky spot if you’re looking for a whole hearty American breakfast! Think breakfast burritos, french toast, and croissant sandwiches.
Brooklyn Bagel – Not so much in DTLA but close enough! This little outpost does some of the best bagels. Their version of a lux is beyond delicious.
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Stroll Around Downtown
After breakfast head on over to The Board, a beautiful contemporary art museum. In true LA style, this place is popular which means you’ll want to buy your tickets online before you head over there as walk-up entry isn’t available.
Tickets to the museum are free however you will still need to pay for parking. If you happened to park close by I highly recommend just leaving your car where it is and walking there.
The Board houses over 2000 pieces of modern art, showcasing many famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean Michel Basquiat, and many more.
The Broad’s top attraction would have to be the Yayoi Kusama installation “Infinity Mirrored Room” – The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away.
Currently, this exhibit is temporarily unavailable, however, I recommend signing up for the museum’s emails so you can be notified when this will be available to view.
Currently on display is the inaugural installation exhibit. A collection of works by major artists like Ed Ruscha, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns all of who predominately came eminence in the 1950s to the 1980s.
After the Broad walk on over and check out the stunning Eastern Columbia Building a thirteen-story art deco building designed by Claud Beelman.
Then pay a visit to the famous Bradbury Building. This architectural landmark is best known for its incredible ornate architecture and is recognized in a bunch of Hollywood movies such as The Artist, Blade Runner, and 500 Days of Summer.
Lunch at Grand Central Market
Right across the road is Downtown LA’s Grand Central Market – A foodie lovers paradise! Grand Central offers a wide range of food options and is the perfect spot to take a break and enjoy some lunch.
We stopped at Moon Rabbit, an Asian tea and sandwich shop that does delicious bubble tea and tasty bahn mi sandwiches. We also liked Golden Road a craft brewery offering 20 different kinds of beers on tap.
Grand Central Market has been around since the very beginning when it first opened its doors in 1971. Today, it’s considered one of LA’s most well-known historic landmarks.
With over 35 food stalls, visitors can find anything they need from local grocers to delis, sandwich shops, bakeries, cafes, breweries, and more.
Funicular Views at Angels Flight
Once you’re filled up on delicious food, head to the back of Grand Central Market where you will find Angels Flight an old historic funicular railway. A vintage gem and must-see.
This 118-year-old funicular takes passengers on a short 2min ride up to Bunker Hill and back. It costs $1 each way or it’s half price if you have a metro TAP card.
It first opened in 1901 and was predominately used as a tourist attraction and a practical way for locals who wish to avoid walking down steep streets in LA.
The funicular has two cars named Sinai and Olivet which have been featured in many movies such as The Muppets & La La Land with Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles
To end your afternoon head on over to El Pueblo De Los Angeles a major cultural hub and the oldest area of Downtown Los Angeles.
Make your way through Olvera Street a colorful Mexican marketplace and discover the many local shops and restaurants that make Olvera Street so special.
Each year the vendors of Olvera Steet and the El Pueblo Historical Monument hold a variety of traditional events for all visitors to enjoy. Events include Dia de Los Muertos, Muertos Artwalk, and of course Cinco De Mayo.
Is Los Angeles Safe? Downtown LA Tips
Whilst you explore DTLA it’s best to avoid places like Skid Row, especially at night. There are many homeless people around this area and is considered quite an unsafe place to be.
That said there are a few cool bars and nightclubs in Downtown LA that are worth checking out. Always be aware of your surroundings and know where you are going.
Unpopular Opinion!
When it comes to overrated tourist spots Hollywood Blvd is, unfortunately, number one on the list! Yes, it does have the Dolby Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, however, it’s really not worth spending your time there.
On the other hand, if haven’t seen this famous landmark before and it’s your first time in Los Angeles, then yes I say take a peep even if it’s to see what all the buzz is about.
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Day Two: Griffith Park & Beverly Hills
A trip to LA wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Griffith Park and Beverly Hills!
Kick start your morning by heading to Griffith Park and checking out the Griffith Observatory and surrounding park tails. Then head to Beverly Hills for lunch and more iconic sightseeing.
Hollywood Sign & Griffith Park
Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America. It covers more than 4,310 acres of land, and is literally the heart and soul of Los Angeles!
The park features many hiking trails & iconic attractions such as the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum, and of course the famous Hollywood Sign.
One of my all-time favorite hikes is to the back of the Hollywood Sign. There are 3 main trail routes, the quickest and easiest trail is the Mt Hollywood Trail. The route is 3.3 miles long and can take up to two hours to complete. The best sunset in LA, hands down is at the top of the Hollywood Sign.
Griffith Observatory is LA’s gateway to the universe and a great spot to view Los Angeles from above. Visitors can admire exhibits and learn about how we observe the sky and how those observations have changed how we perceive our place in the universe.
The Observatory is open 6 days a week opening from 12 pm till 10 pm on weekdays and from 10 am till 10 pm on weekends. The grounds and building are free to enter. Parking at the observatory can cost you between $4.00 to $10.00 an hour.
Griffith Observatory Tips
I would avoid visiting the Observatory on weekends as it’s far too crowded. Parking is free at the observatory before opening hours so if you’re up for a sunrise hike this is a great spot to park.
There are lower car parks that are free however you want to get in early as spots fill up quickly.
Beverly Hills
90210 here we come! When you’re finished soaking up the LA mountain views it’s time to head into Beverly Hills. For lunch why not check out the famous Beverly Hills Hotel. A great spot for a little celeb spotting!
If comfort food is more your thing you can try The Grill on The Ally, for best-baked pastries I highly recommend trying Pie Room by Gwen (love this place as it has a little bit of Aussie flair.)
After lunch make your way over to Rodeo Drive for a bit of window shopping. Rodeo Drive is known to be one of the most fashionable places to shop.
Be sure to check out the iconic Beverly Wilshire Hotel aka “The Pretty Women Hotel” this gorgeous hotel features 395 suites and has been the home to many celebrities like John Lennon & Elvis Presley.
End your day by taking a scenic drive around and admiring the homes & palm-lined streets of Beverly hills. Don’t miss Mulholland Drive a famous 21-mile road that runs along the mountains offering breath-taking views of the Los Angeles Basin.
Day Three: Santa Monica & Venice
Finish up your Los Angeles itinerary by spending the day exploring Santa Monica and Venice. Santa Monica and Venice are quite close in proximity to each other so you will definitely have enough time to explore both places.
Santa Monica Pier
When you think of the beaches in LA you automatically think of the Santa Monica Pier. Its famous Ferris wheel and arcade amusement park is an LA icon.
Start your day by strolling the pier and soaking in the beach views. If the weather is right be sure to take a dip in the ocean and make it a beach day. You’ll find plenty of parking along the streets, I generally park at the Santa Monica Place Mall, then walk down to the pier.
This is a prime spot to rent a scooter or bike. One of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles is to rent a bike and ride along the famous boardwalk all the way to Venice Beach.
Venice Boardwalk is a bustling one-mile-long stretch of street with colorful artworks, street vendors, performers, and restaurants.
Venice Beach & Abbott Kinny
Once you get to Venice Beach make your way over to Abbott Kinney for a bit of shopping and lunch. This trendy neighborhood is filled with awesome local boutiques, cool restaurants, and coffee shops.
Getting hungry? Don’t miss places like Galena, Great White, The Butcher’s Daughter, and In & Out Burger – You truly haven’t been to LA if you haven’t tried In & Out!
If you decide to head to Great White this is also your best spot at snaping a pic of the famous Venice Beach Sign. The exact location is at the corner of Windward ave and Pacific.
There are so. many things to do in Venice Beach it’s hard to narrow them down, I highly recommend taking a stroll along the Venice Canals.
These beautiful canals were modeled after the famous canals in Venice, Italy. They were built in 1095 by developer Abbott Kinney (the name ring any bells!)
They are over 100 years old and were formerly designed for families as vacation homes. Back in the day, the canals used to be much bigger. However over time with property development and the popularity of cars majority of the canals were then turned into roads.
I hope this post ticks off some of your must-see spots on your Los Angeles bucket list and that this 3-day itinerary for Los Angeles puts you at a good starting point.
3 days in LA definitely gives you the right amount of time to explore the diversity and highlights that is Los Angeles.
If you’re already planning a trip to Los Angeles I would love to know what’s on your agenda? Drop them in the comments below.
Just a heads up! This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of these links I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog. You will not pay more when you buy through these links. All opinions are my own and I would never recommend anything I don’t personally love.
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