In all honesty, one day is not enough to truly explore Los Angeles. There’s so much to do, see, and experience that you will need at least 5-7 days to get to know the city.
However, it’s not impossible to estimate the true potential of LA in just one day. If you manage to visit all the key spots, you’ll get a good idea of its vibe.
So, in this post, we’ve listed all the key spots you must see in LA. Browse through and prepare for the trip!
How To Spend A Day In LA
Keep in mind that when we say spend a day in LA, we refer to a span of 24 hours. It includes the night before the daylight hours and the day hours. With that out of the way, here’s a list of things you should do.
1. Make Arrangements For Commute
You’ll need to decide your mode of transport before you begin your one-day trip. You have three options:
- Via your own car
- Via public transportation
- Via Uber or Lyft
The most convenient and cheapest means of traveling is via your car. If you’re a visitor and do not have a vehicle of your own, you can ask your friends and family to drive you around, or perhaps, rent a car. The downside is that you’ll have to take care of the vehicle.
As for public transportation, it’s cheap, but it’s highly inconvenient. You’ll have to look up schedules and figure out which metro and buses are available every time you wish to go somewhere. This, in turn, may waste a lot of time.
Also note that seasoned travelers think relying on public transportation is one of the 11 major mistakes tourists make in Los Angeles. So it’s best not to take the risk!
Finally, Uber, Lyft, and other ride services are super convenient, as you can book a ride from anywhere and you don’t need to know the routes. However, they’re a bit expensive.
Also, for the introverts out there, you can organize a Gatharing for a fun-filled night with delicious food if you don’t feel like going out. This can be an especially good option if you’re staying with friends or relatives, and they’re too busy to drive you around the city during the day.
2. Breakfast At The Venice Beach
Venice beach is one of the most lively places in LA. We recommend grabbing your breakfast from any of the nearby cafes or restaurants. Here’s a complete list for you.
Most of these restaurants are within walking distance. So once you’re done with your croissant and morning coffee, we suggest you take a walk along the beach. It’s going to be refreshing.
During your walk, explore the funky shops and stalls, watch street performers, and check out the colorful graffiti. You can also learn to surf if you’re spending at least 2-3 hours on Venice beach.
3. Visit Getty Center
It’s a good idea to spend your afternoon in LA at the Getty Center. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the city and exhibits European art and special art exhibitions.
The good part is there’s no entrance fee, and there’s plenty of greenery around the museum. The gardens are an art exhibit themselves.
After your upbeat time at the Venice beach, you’ll find it relaxing to be surrounded by art that speaks history. The environment is peaceful, but it’s usually crowded during the weekends. So if you’re lucky to be visiting on the morning of Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you won’t have to deal with a heavy crowd.
What’s more, you can get your lunch at the Getty Center too. There are two cafes and one fine dining restaurant on site. Overall, you’ll need at least two hours to see all of Getty Center.
4. Hike To The Hollywood Sign
Los Angeles is home to the iconic Hollywood sign. And the best way to see this sign up close is to hike up to it. There are four trails that lead to it. These include:
- Burbank Peak Trail
- Hollyridge Trail
- Griffith Observatory Trail
- Brush Canyon Trail
If you only want to see the sign, we recommend taking the Hollyridge trail because it’s the easiest.
However, if you want to achieve more with this hike, we recommend taking the Griffith Observatory trail. The hike takes four hours, but it allows you to visit two major landmarks along the way. Plus, there are some spectacular views along this trail.
5. Visit Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is where you can walk in to watch the stars and galaxies. It’s free to explore, and you can use telescopes to explore the cosmos.
There are also live shows at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. Each of these lasts about 40 minutes. We recommend visiting the gardens and exploring the space exhibits. If you’ve time at hand, attend the show as well!
6. Go For Window Shopping
Rodeo Drive is the most LA thing to do when in Los Angeles. It is basically a two-miles long street in Beverly Hills, and it’s home to some of the most expensive shops. From Gucci to Tiffany, you’ll find it all here.
You can still visit the street even if shopping from these names is out of your budget. Just browse through the shops, check out what’s in, and what people are up to.
Now, a lot of people expect to bump into celebrities on the Rodeo Drive. But let us tell you, it’s rare to meet celebrities shopping just like that on Rodeo Drive. You’re more likely to meet tourists and locals.
At best, you’ll need about 30-45 minutes here. You can take some good Instagram-ish pictures in the expensive streets, and we suggest winding up with a fine dining experience in a restaurant near Rodeo Drive.
A few prominent restaurants are Villa Blanca, Mr. Chow’s, and Ladurée Beverly Hills.
