Los Angeles, USA 2 Day Itinerary
Los Angeles, USA 2 Day Itinerary
Los Angeles works against the tourist who treats it like a European city and tries to walk between attractions. The distances are real, the public transport is improving but limited, and the best things here are not the things on the Hollywood souvenir maps. Two focused days, a TAP card and a willingness to eat in parking lots will serve you considerably better than checking off landmarks.
Getting from LAX
The FlyAway bus to Union Station runs every 15 minutes and costs $12.75 one-way, taking 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic. It is the most reliable airport transfer unless you arrive at an off-peak hour with luggage and need a specific location. The Metro C and K lines connect to the LAX/Metro Transit Center for $1.75, with a free shuttle from the station to each terminal. A direct rail link from the terminal is expected to open in 2026. Rideshare from the airport at peak times can easily cost $40 to $70.
Where to Stay
For Day 1 in Downtown and Hollywood, Hotel Figueroa on Figueroa Street is a restored historic property with a pool and mid-range pricing in the thick of downtown. For Day 2, the area around Santa Monica or Venice positions you for the beach and Abbot Kinney without needing a car. HI-Los Angeles Hostel near Culver City is the budget option.
Day 1: Downtown, Griffith and Hollywood
Morning
Grand Central Market on South Broadway has been feeding Angelenos since 1917. The food stalls here represent the city’s immigrant history better than any museum: Oaxacan tlayudas, egg sandwiches, horchata, Thai noodles and counter coffee all coexist in a downtown arcade that also sells produce. Arrive before 10 am to beat the lunch rush. The Broad Museum is half a block away on Grand Avenue for contemporary art. Cindy Sherman, Jeff Koons and Kara Walker are among the permanent collection. Timed entry is required; book ahead.
Afternoon
Griffith Observatory is a 20-minute drive or Uber from downtown. The building itself is a 1935 Art Deco structure on a south-facing slope of Mount Hollywood with unobstructed views of the LA basin and, on clear days, the Pacific. Admission to the observatory is free; the planetarium shows require tickets. The hike to the Hollywood Sign from the observatory trail takes about 90 minutes round trip at a reasonable pace and is the correct way to see the sign: from Mulholland Highway, where the tourist buses go, you see the back. From the Griffith trails you see the front.
Evening
Musso and Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard has been open since 1919. The martinis are large and cold, the steaks are reliable, and the red booths have not changed noticeably since the 1940s. It is one of the few places on the boulevard worth paying attention to. The TCL Chinese Theatre and Walk of Fame are a five-minute walk east and are worth a circuit at night when the crowds thin and the neon improves everything.
Day 2: Santa Monica, Venice and Abbot Kinney
Morning
The Butcher’s Daughter on Arizona Avenue in Santa Monica is a reliable brunch spot with a clean vegetable-forward menu. Santa Monica Pier has the Ferris wheel and the Pacific Park rides, which are genuinely fun if you approach them as a fairground rather than a serious attraction. The pier has been there since 1909 and the structure itself is more interesting than the carnival games suggest.
Afternoon
Venice Beach runs south from the pier. The boardwalk has muscle beach, the skate park, and street performers operating at varying levels of commitment. It is chaotic and photogenic and worth 45 minutes. The better part of Venice is inland on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, a six-block stretch of independent restaurants, galleries, clothing shops and coffee bars. On the first Friday of every month the boulevard hosts live music and food trucks that pull most of the neighbourhood out of their houses. Blue Bottle Coffee is a consistent stop; the restaurants are genuinely good rather than tourist-facing.
The Venice Canals, two blocks east of Abbot Kinney, are a residential waterway system built in 1905 by developer Abbot Kinney in loose imitation of Venice, Italy. Most of the original canals were paved over in 1929 but a six-block section survived and the houses along them are now among the most expensive real estate in LA. The walk takes 20 minutes and feels nothing like the rest of the city.
Evening
Gjelina on Abbot Kinney has been one of the city’s better dinner restaurants for over a decade. The menu is Mediterranean-influenced with strong pizza and seasonal vegetables. Book in advance. If you cannot get in, Gjusta (the same owners, one block away) operates as a deli and bakery with counter seating until late afternoon.
Practical Notes
LA traffic is the primary planning variable. Build buffer into any schedule that involves crossing the city between 7 am and 9 am or 4 pm and 7 pm on weekdays. The TAP card covers Metro rail and buses; load it from any station machine. Parking in Santa Monica and Venice is metered and competitive; rideshare drop-offs work better. The weather is reliably good between September and November and again in March and April, with the tourist crowds lower than summer. Summer brings marine layer fog most mornings that burns off by noon, and overcast skies rather than sunshine are the default June experience. Pack a layer regardless of the season.