In this 3‑day Los Angeles itinerary, we cover the city’s main highlights – from Downtown and Hollywood to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and a selection of museums and attractions suited to families and first‑time visitors. It’s a practical guide shaped by our own experience, designed to help you make the most of your first trip to Los Angeles, California.
We visited Los Angeles as part of our 2-Week USA Road Trip and spent three full days exploring the city. Travelling with teenage kids shaped parts of our itinerary – for example, the California Science Center was an instant favourite – while the rest focuses on the classic sights every first‑time visitor should see. Continue reading to discover what to see and do in Los Angeles in three days.
Day 1: Griffith Park, Hollywood Boulevard & Beverly Hills
Griffith Park & Griffith Observatory
Start your first day in Los Angeles with a visit to Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory. You can reach the Observatory by car via the winding road up from Los Feliz, though parking is limited and paid near the top, so arriving early helps. If you prefer public transport, the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station and drops you close to the entrance.
We took a bus to Griffith Park, as we didn’t rent a car while in Los Angeles. It’s a large park with scenic views over Los Angeles, open spaces and walking trails. Enjoy the scenery, snap a few photos with the Hollywood Sign in the background and, if you’re up for it, take an easy walk around the Observatory.
The Griffith Observatory itself is free to enter and has a great mix of exhibits for both adults and kids. Inside, you’ll find displays on space, astronomy, and the solar system. There is a historic Zeiss night telescope and three solar telescopes available on clear days. Visit the official website for the up‑to‑date visitor information.
Hollywood Boulevard
From Griffith Park, head down to Hollywood Boulevard. We took the DASH bus to Los Felix and then the Metro to Hollywood/Vine station.
Start with the Walk of Fame, where thousands stars line the pavements on both sides of the street. It’s busy street, but that’s part of the experience – spotting familiar names and watching the crowds. Pop into a souvenir shop if you’re planning to bring something home. My boys went all in, and we ended up buying a few movie posters (it was not the smartest idea at the start of a two‑week trip 🙂 ), t‑shirts featuring Arnie in full Terminator mode, and a handful of small gifts for friends.
You can also visit The Hollywood Museum located in the historic Max Factor Building. It showcases film memorabilia, costumes, props, and behind‑the‑scenes displays.
A good mid‑way stop is the Ovation Hollywood shopping mall, which has plenty of places to grab a drink or a quick snack. Make sure to get up to the pedestrian bridge or one of the upper‑level balconies for a photo opportunity facing the Hollywood sign.
Continue along the boulevard to the TCL Chinese Theatre, famous for its forecourt filled with celebrity handprints and footprints.
Beverly Hills
In the afternoon, continue west to Beverly Hills, one of the most famous neighbourhoods in Los Angeles. From Hollywood Boulevard, you can take a bus directly to Beverly Hills (though, we wanted to save a little time and opted for an Uber instead).
Beverly Hills is known for its palm‑lined streets, luxury shopping, and movie connections. It’s a place that captures the classic LA image many visitors come to see. It’s worth visiting simply to experience the atmosphere – it’s polished, elegant, and a complete contrast to the buzz of Hollywood Boulevard.
Take a stroll through Beverly Gardens Park and snap a photo with the iconic Beverly Hills sign – a must for first‑time visitors. From there, wander along Rodeo Drive to admire the window displays and the beautifully kept streets. Just nearby is the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, famously featured in Pretty Woman movie.
If you’re travelling by car, you can also drive through some of the surrounding neighbourhoods to see the city’s famous residential streets. Alternatively, you can join a bus tour to explore Beverly Hills and see some of the celebrity homes.
Grand Central Market
Finish the day with dinner close to your accommodation. We were staying in Downtown LA, so in the evening we headed to Grand Central Market – a night market-style food hall with plenty of options for late‑night eating.
Day 2: Downtown LA, Museums & LA Brea Tar Pits
Downtown Los Angeles
Start your second day with a walk through Downtown LA, to explore the area’s historic architecture, modern skyscrapers and city parks.
Begin at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the city’s main Catholic church. It’s a very modern building – not your usual cathedral style, but still interesting and an easy starting point for exploring this area.
From here, it’s an easy stroll to Gloria Molina Grand Park, a long, colourful park stretching towards Los Angeles City Hall. It’s a pleasant place to wander, with fountains, shaded seating, and views of the surrounding civic buildings.
Continue towards the Walt Disney Concert Hall, one of LA’s most recognisable landmarks. Designed by Frank Gehry, its sweeping stainless‑steel curves make it one of the most unusual buildings in the city. Just next door is The Broad, a contemporary art museum with a distinctive honeycomb‑style exterior.
A short walk away, One California Plaza shows off Downtown’s scale, with tall skyscrapers rising above a lively plaza. There, you will also find historic Angels Flight Railway, known as the world’s shortest railway.
Nearby is the Bradbury Building, one of LA’s most beautiful historic interiors. You can step inside the lobby to admire its ornate ironwork and open atrium – movie fans may recognise it from the Blade Runner.
Continue the walk to Pershing Square, a central plaza surrounded by tall buildings, before looping past Los Angeles City Hall and its surrounding park.
Next, head north to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, the city’s oldest neighbourhood, where you’ll find Plaza Olvera surrounded by historic buildings. Just across the road is Los Angeles Union Station – a blend of Spanish Colonial and Art Deco design.
From there, you can continue walking to Chinatown – a great place to stop for an early lunch.
California Science Center (or pick another museum)
In the afternoon, visit a museum. Los Angeles has several excellent options, and the best choice really depends on your interests.
When we were planning our itinerary and discovered that the California Science Center has a real space shuttle that’s actually been to space, my boys insisted we had to include it. So we headed there on the afternoon of Day 2. We really enjoyed the space-related exhibitions, especially the impressive Space Shuttle Endeavour, all the military planes, along with many other fascinating displays at the center.
Alternatively, visit one of the following museums depending on your interests.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Located next door to the Science Center, this museum is known for its dinosaur halls, gemstones, and nature exhibits.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. If you prefer something more film focused while in LA. It’s an excellent choice for movie lovers, with exhibits on filmmaking, costumes, props, and the history of cinema.
Petersen Automotive Museum. Further away than the three museums above, but perfect for car lovers. One of the largest car museums in the world, it offers an incredible collection of vehicles – covering everything from Hollywood cars to automotive design.
LA Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Finally, head to the LA Brea Tar Pits to see one of the most unusual attractions in the city. The Lake Pit, with its bubbling tar and life‑size Ice Age animal sculptures, is free to view from outside and gives a glimpse into the area’s prehistoric past. If you have time, you can visit the museum for more context and a closer look at the fossils discovered on site.
Evening Walk
In the evening, you can take a walk through Downtown LA to see the city lights. Another option is to head to the B. Gerald Cantor Sculpture Garden near the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. There, you’ll find a ‘garden’ of illuminated city lamp posts that looks especially nice at night.
Day 3: Studio Tour, Santa Monica & Venice Beach
Warner Bros. Studio Tour or Universal Studios Hollywood
Spend your final morning in Los Angeles experiencing one of the city’s famous studio tours. Both options offer something different, so you can choose the one that best fits your interests and the ages of your travel group. Either choice works well for first‑time visitors, and both are especially fun if you’re travelling with older children.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
A great choice if you want a behind‑the‑scenes look at real working sets and soundstages. The tour takes you through iconic filming locations, props, and interactive exhibits, and it feels more focused on the filmmaking process. It’s a great choice if you prefer something immersive but not overly theme‑park‑heavy, and it’s also a more budget-friendly option. Though still not exactly cheap, at around $270 USD for a family of four for a three-hour visit.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Perfect if you want a mix of rides, shows, and film sets. The Studio Tour is a highlight, but you’ll also find attractions themed around Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and other movies. This option usually takes longer, so plan for an afternoon finish.
Full disclosure – we haven’t visited any of them. Universal Studios Hollywood would have cost around $450 USD for a family of four, and with our younger son too small for some rides, we decided to skip it. Instead, the following year, during our Asia trip, once he’d grown tall enough for all the rides, we visited Universal Studios in Singapore.
Santa Monica
After your studio visit, head west to the coast and spend the afternoon in Santa Monica. The beach is wide and easy to access, and the Pier is a classic Los Angeles stop with its small amusement park, arcade, and ocean views. It’s a great place to spend the afternoon and enjoy the ocean view.
When we arrived in Santa Monica, we saw a very sudden change in the weather – the clear, sunny sky turned into thick fog within minutes. In the photo below, you can still see a bit of blue sky on the left, but the fog is already rolling in from the ocean on the right. The rest of my photos aren’t great, because Santa Monica and Venice Beach stayed covered in heavy fog for the entire afternoon.
While you’re on the Pier, don’t miss the Route 66 “End of the Trail” sign, a fun photo spot marking the western end of the historic highway (though for us, it was actually the beginning of our Southwest USA trip).
From here, you can stroll north along the beachfront path or head up to Palisades Park. It’s long strip of green space overlooking the ocean, and with plenty of benches if you want to take a break.
If you’re in the mood for a bit of shopping or just want to grab a food, make your way to Santa Monica Place, a three‑storey open‑air mall with a mix of shops and places to grab a snack.
Continue a little further to the Third Street Promenade, one of Santa Monica’s main pedestrian areas. It’s a pleasant place to walk, browse the shops or watch street performers.
Venice Beach
From Santa Monica, walk down to Venice Beach. The area is famous for its busy boardwalk, where you’ll find street performers, artists, small market stalls, and plenty of people‑watching.
The Venice Skate Park is another highlight – it’s fun to stop and watch local skaters show off their tricks. My younger son, like many TikTok watchers, already knew about the Venice Skate Park from countless videos and was excited to finally see it with his own eyes.
As you continue along the beachfront, look out for the bright murals and creative street art that give Venice its distinctive character.
Just a short walk inland, you can explore the Venice Canals, a neighbourhood of narrow waterways, pretty bridges, and quiet residential paths. If you’re in the mood for shops and cafés, head to Abbot Kinney Boulevard, known for its boutiques, restaurants, and relaxed vibe.
Venice Beach is a great way to round off your 3 Days in Los Angeles. If you stay until sunset, the light along the beach is lovely, and everything turns a warm, golden colour – a great way to end your trip.
How many days to spend in Los Angeles?
Three days is a good amount of time to see Los Angeles’ main sights, visit one or two museums, and include a studio tour. With this amount of time, you can cover the city’s key highlights without feeling too rushed, while still getting a good sense of its different neighbourhoods.
If you have more than three days, you can slow the pace and spend longer in the places you enjoy most. Extra time also means you can visit more museums, galleries, beaches, or lesser‑known sights that don’t fit easily into a short itinerary.
If you only want a quick glimpse of the city, and you’re not planning to visit museums or theme parks, two days might be enough to see a few major spots. However, keep in mind that Los Angeles is a very large city, and distances between attractions are long. Travel times are rarely quick, even outside peak hours.
For us, three days was the perfect amount of time for our first visit to Los Angeles. We managed to see most of the sights we’d planned and really wanted to experience. There’s still plenty more we’d love to explore, but we’ve saved that for the next time we travel there.
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