From Hollywood sign to Griffith Park, Disneyland Park and loads and loads of worth-visiting beaches, Los Angeles is a treasure trove of attractions & deciding what to see and what not to can prove to be a bit of a conundrum. One has to play smart & do their homework well, especially when you only have a day to explore LA and still want it to be a meaningful experience.
It is true that you will not be able to cover everything in a day but who said you have to, in order to have a memorable trip. In this post, we will try to narrow down the list for you so that it becomes easy for you to explore LA in a day with no regrets later.
LA’s public transport is quite good, but why spend half of your time changing buses & trains? It is always a good idea to rent a car; that way you will not have to worry about bus and train schedules.
Places to visit in LA in a day
01 Start your day with a morning hike
There is no better way to start your day than a good healthy hike, especially when it ends in some beautiful views. Start your day with an early breakfast and head towards Griffith Observatory.
There are a lot of trails that you can use to hike up to the Observatory – the most popular one is the hike from the Western Canyon which is about 2.1 miles and can be easily completed in 20 minutes. From up there you will be able to get a good view of LA basin from Civic Center to Hollywood hills and even Hollywood Sign.
Parking near the Observatory is limited but this early in the day you will be able to get a spot for sure. If coming through Vermont gate, people are allowed to park their cars for free in and around the Greek Theatre.
02 Enjoy the planetary show at Griffith Observatory
Once you reach the Griffith Observatory, explore its various exhibitions about the universe and our solar system. It has a free entry and you get access to every part of the observatory including a telescope.
However, if you want to see a demo of how our universe, galaxy and our solar system look – for that you will have to buy tickets. Check the website of Griffith Observatory to know about the current prices and the schedule of the planetary shows.
03 Next stop is the lovely Venice Beach
Venice beach is about 35 minutes drive by car from Griffith Observatory.
No LA trip can be considered complete without some beach time. After the hike and a good look at the stars and Los Angeles’s picture-perfect basin, it is time for a relaxing stroll down the Venice beach.
If you are the sporty kind, at Venice beach you will have the chance to indulge in Canoeing, Parasailing, and even scuba diving. Venice beach has a lot of café & restaurants in case you feel like having a bite after an early morning adventure. Also, check out the shopping venues at the beach – who knows you might find the souvenir you are looking for.
Make sure you visit the Small World Books and the gorgeous art district of Venice Beach.
04 Visit the West Hollywood neighborhood for Lunch
West Hollywood is about half an hour’s drive by car from Venice beach. I know you will be ravenous by now. Head directly to the West 3rd street, look around and have your pick. The place is flooded with great delis, coffee shops, taco shops, and if you are into healthy eating, the neighborhood also has organic salad places.
Most of the food places have their own parking places.
05 Get ready for a tour of a Hollywood Studio
Though Paramount is closest to the West Hollywood neighborhood than Warner Bros. Studio & Sony Pictures Studio, we still recommend Sony Pictures Studio tour. It’s up to you however, because all of these studio tours fall in the same price range; even the content-type they offer is almost similar.
People in love with Harry Potter usually go for Warner Bros. Studio. If you want to see the lovely sets of Wheel of Fortune, then choose Sony tour and if you like Lucille Ball, go for the Paramount tour instead. Research and look for the tours that can be accommodated around 3 in the afternoon. Make sure you buy the tickets in advance.
06 Visit Getty Center and then drive towards Santa Monica
Getty Center is around 20 minutes drive by car from the West Hollywood neighborhood. Getty center is a campus located in LA and consists of a museum and many other projects that fall under Getty trust noted for its gardens and splendid architecture. If you are visiting on a Saturday, it remains open till 9 PM and you will be able to catch lectures on music, art and films.
Spend at least an hour or so in Getty Center, the place has its own paid parking. From there head towards Santa Monica pier for a picturesque sunset.
07 Give a fitting end to your day at Hollywood Lights
You will just love Hollywood as the night falls, the lights get brighter and the temperature falls. You can walk aimlessly, take some photographs for a while and when you are up to it watch a movie at Cinerama Dome. If you love theater you can watch a play at TCL Chinese Theater or El Capitan. It is also a great place for music lovers; if you are visiting in summers, check out the lineups at Hollywood Bowl.
Have dinner at Daikokuya Dinner, the most happening place on the West Hollywood Sunset strip.
Helpful tip if you are doing a self-drive day tour of LA
Most of the people rent cars for one-day, which means if you pick the car at 10 AM on Monday, you will be supposed to return the car next at 10 AM. Also, you don’t have to return the car at the place you picked it. If you are taking a flight or a train back home, drop the car where it suits your schedule the best. Happy travelling!