If you know me, you’ll know LA is one of my favorite places in California. I’ve published a lot of Los Angeles itineraries on the California Wayfaring blog, and today I want to pull them all together in one convenient place. My blog post will show you the best of the City of Angels and the surrounding area, from Malibu to Long Beach and everywhere in between.
Los Angeles Itineraries
Los Angeles is not only one of my favorite places to soak up the sun and scope out the scene, but also one of my top picks for a place that has a bit of everything. Whether you’re into beaches, Hollywood movies, food, hiking, or something else entirely, LA is for you.
I’ve spent a lot of time in LA over the years, and I’ve published itineraries for everything from day trips to longer visits here on the California Wayfaring blog. From Grand Central Market to Hollywood Boulevard, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, and Malibu, I’ve covered a lot of the city and county.
I plan to bring you more Los Angeles itineraries in the future, and I’ll add them to this blog post as I publish them. If you want to bookmark it or pin it on Pinterest, you can use this as an easy reference for finding all my past, present, and future LA travel guides.
Tips for Visiting Los Angeles
Before you look through my Los Angeles itineraries, it’s worth taking a bit of time to familiarize yourself with top tips for visiting the City of Angels.
First, don’t make the common mistake of thinking that Los Angeles has good weather year-round. Many first-time visitors assume that because it’s in Southern California, LA is going to be sunny and warm in the summer (and pretty much every other time of year).
The reality is that summer in LA can mean coastal fog and cool weather for at least part of the day. June Gloom isn’t just a clever expression. It can be cool in winter, too. The good news is that even if it’s foggy or chilly on the coast, a short drive inland will usually take you to much warmer weather. It’s a great excuse for a day trip.
Second, keep in mind that Los Angeles can be expensive compared to many other cites around the world. Booking things like accommodation, rental cars, sell-out activities like Universal Studios Hollywood, and day tours well in advance can help you find better rates and stay within your travel budget.
1. One Day in Los Angeles Itinerary
I’ll start my list of Los Angeles itineraries with a classic first-time visitor’s guide to the City of Angels. It’s a great one if you’ve never been to LA before and you want to get an overview of the best things the city has to offer. It’s also perfect if you have a limited amount of time in town.
My itinerary for 1 day in Los Angeles covers highlights like Downtown LA (DTLA), The Original Farmers Market, Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, Beverly Hills, and the Arts District. It also includes fun local spots (you’ll love the bookstore).
If experiencing some of the best of LA sounds good to you, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a day in Los Angeles, and it will show you some of the most popular places in the city.
2. Two Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
The next of my Los Angeles itineraries is ideal if you have a bit more time in the City of Angels. It’s a fun one if you want to see the big sights and discover a few local places along the way. It will show you a wide variety of things to do in a relatively short period of time.
My itinerary for 2 days in Los Angeles includes everything on my 1-day guide plus Venice Beach, Abbot Kinney, Santa Monica, the Getty in Brentwood, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). It also has ideas for nightlife.
If experiencing a range of things to do in Los Angeles sounds like your kind of vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. As with the previous itinerary, this one is ideal for first-time visitors.
3. Weekend in Los Angeles Itinerary
Next on my list is an itinerary for a weekend in LA. This one is great if you’re in town from Friday evening until Sunday. It has a variety of things to entertain first-time visitors and seasoned travelers alike.
My itinerary for a weekend in Los Angeles is centered around a stay in Manhattan Beach. It includes everything from exploring the South Bay to a night out in Hollywood, one of the best rooftop bars in the downtown area, and more.
If getting to know both the local areas and big attractions sounds like your kind of weekend, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a great getaway.
4. Three Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
The next of my Los Angeles itineraries is ideal if you have a bit more time and you want to discover both the big sightseeing attractions and the local areas of the city and surrounding counties.
My itinerary for 3 days in Los Angeles includes everything from my 2-day guide plus a choice between going to a theme park like Universal Studios Hollywood or exploring a coastal city like Manhattan Beach. It also has a range of good options for dining and nightlife.
If experiencing some of the best sightseeing, local areas, and big attractions in Los Angeles sounds like your kind of vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a fun one if you have a few days in the city and you want a mix of all things legendary and local.
5. Long Weekend in Los Angeles
My next itinerary is for a long weekend in LA. It’s great if you have four days and want to see a mix of the major sights and places locals spend time.
My itinerary includes a cool house rental in Silver Lake, some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles, big attractions like Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign, and famous places like Beverly Hills and Venice Beach. It will also show you local areas like Echo Park.
If spending several days exploring LA’s best landmarks and coolest neighborhoods appeals to you, you can see the full itinerary on my blog post about how to spend a long weekend in Los Angeles. It’s great for first-time visitors and repeat ones alike.
6. Four Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
The next of my Los Angeles itineraries will show you the highlights of the city and a destination of your choice in the greater area. It’s great if you have several days here and you want to see a bit more of Southern California than just the City of Angels.
My itinerary for 4 days in LA includes everything from my 3-day guide, including both a theme park and a beach city. I outlined a range of choices, so something’s sure to appeal to you no matter your travel style, interests, and preferences.
Options include Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Legoland, and the La Brea Tar Pits.
If spending 4 days experiencing the best of what Los Angeles County and the environs have to offer appeals to you, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s perfect if you like a mix of city sightseeing and venturing further afield.
7. Five Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
The next of my Los Angeles itineraries is perfect if you have a bit more time to spend in LA and the surrounding area. It’s ideal if you want to get a more in-depth feel for the City of Angels and see nearby parts of Southern California.
My itinerary for 5 days in LA includes everything from my 4-day guide plus a day in Malibu. It will show you great restaurants, beaches, shopping, and other fun things to do in Malibu.
If that sounds like your kind of California vacation, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a fun one if you enjoy getting to know a city and seeing some of the surrounding area while you’re in town.
8. Six Days in Los Angeles Itinerary
The next of my Los Angeles itineraries is perfect if you have just under a week to spend in LA County and the environs. It’s a fun one if you want to do a deeper dive into both the big attractions and local places that make this part of the Golden State so popular with visitors.
My 6-day LA itinerary includes everything from my 5-day guide plus more time to explore areas like Brentwood and Westwood. These places are popular with residents, and they’ll give you a taste of what it’s like to live like a local in LA.
If that sounds like your kind of trip to Southern California, you can see the full itinerary and map here. It’s a great one if you have a bit more time to get to know LA and the area around it.
Los Angeles Itineraries
I hope my Los Angeles itineraries have inspired you to spend time visiting this part of Southern California. There’s so much to do in the City of Angels and the areas around it, whether you want to see the big sights or get into the local scene.
I’d love it if my itineraries inspire you to discover Southern California beyond LA, too. From Palm Springs to San Diego, there’s a lot to love here!
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