Los Angeles in a Day: What to Do With 24 Hours

Los Angeles is not a one-day city. It covers over 500 square miles, traffic is its defining characteristic, and the things that make it interesting are spread across a dozen distinct neighbourhoods that feel like separate cities. One day here means picking one or two areas and doing them well, rather than trying to cover Hollywood, Venice, DTLA, and the Getty in a single day.

Getting In and Out

LAX is around 30 minutes from central LA by rideshare (longer in traffic). The FlyAway bus connects LAX to Union Station and a few other points. There's no efficient rail link. If you're visiting from elsewhere in California, the Pacific Surfliner train runs from San Diego and Santa Barbara into Union Station.

Morning

Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood Hills is the best place to start a day in LA. It's free, it has the famous Hollywood Sign views, and the surrounding Griffith Park is good for a morning walk. The Observatory opens at noon on weekdays; check current hours if arriving early.

Alternatively, if you arrive early and want to start on the west side: Venice Beach in the morning, before the crowds, is the quintessential LA experience. Ocean Front Walk, Muscle Beach, and the canals a few blocks inland are all within easy walking distance.

Afternoon

The Getty Center, perched above the 405 freeway in Brentwood, is free to enter (parking costs extra) and houses one of the best art collections in the United States. The building and gardens are worth visiting regardless of the art. Allow two focused hours.

Lunch in Los Feliz or Silver Lake if you're staying on the east side; Santa Monica or Culver City if you're on the west. Both areas have excellent restaurants without the tourist markups of Hollywood Boulevard.

Skip Hollywood Boulevard. The walk of fame is a novelty that wears off in 10 minutes and the surrounding area is mostly tourist souvenir shops and characters in costumes.

Evening (if time allows)

Sunset from Runyon Canyon (Hollywood Hills) or from the Santa Monica Pier gives you the Pacific sunset that LA is famous for. The pier is busy but the sunset over the ocean is genuinely beautiful.

For dinner, the best options depend on where you're based. Koreatown, the Arts District in DTLA, and Larchmont Village all have excellent restaurants in different styles.

What to Skip

Universal Studios, Disneyland, and Knott's Berry Farm are all full-day theme park visits. Don't try to squeeze them into a broader LA day.

The drive to Malibu along PCH is beautiful but takes the entire afternoon if you want to stop anywhere. Save it for a day when you have nothing else planned.

LA is one of those cities where every visit teaches you a bit more about how it works. Our Los Angeles guide covers the neighbourhoods, transport, and how to actually enjoy one of the world's most misunderstood cities.