The best Los Angeles itinerary for 5 days gives each day to one part of the city, so you spend your hours at the sights and not on the freeway. Spend Day 1 in Hollywood and Griffith Park, Day 2 in Downtown, Day 3 along the coast from Malibu to Venice, Day 4 at the Getty Center, Beverly Hills and the Miracle Mile, and Day 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood. Landmark hunters will love Days 1 and 3, museum and architecture fans get the most from Days 2 and 4, and families or thrill-seekers should protect Day 5.
The problem is that Los Angeles is not one place. Stops that look close on a map can sit an hour apart at rush hour, and several top attractions close on Mondays. A plan that ignores both leaves you stuck in traffic or standing at a locked door.
We have guided visitors around the city since 2007 at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours, and the order and timings below come from that experience. You get a morning, afternoon and evening plan for every day, a table of closing days, transport advice, and ways to shorten or stretch the trip.
How to plan 5 days in Los Angeles
Plan one area per day, stay in a central neighborhood, and keep Monday for sights that stay open. Those three choices save more time than any app or shortcut.
Group each day around one area
Los Angeles covers hundreds of square miles, so geography decides your pace. Santa Monica Pier to Hollywood Boulevard is about 15 miles, which is roughly 30 minutes at midday and well over an hour in rush hour. The plan below keeps each day inside one zone.
| Day | Area | Main stops | Closing days to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hollywood and Griffith Park | Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, Griffith Observatory | Observatory closed Mondays |
| 2 | Downtown LA | Grand Central Market, The Broad, Disney Concert Hall, Little Tokyo | The Broad closed Mondays |
| 3 | The coast | Malibu, Santa Monica Pier, Venice | None of note |
| 4 | Westside and Miracle Mile | Getty Center, Rodeo Drive, La Brea Tar Pits, LACMA | Getty closed Mondays, LACMA closed Wednesdays |
| 5 | Universal City | Universal Studios Hollywood | Open daily, hours vary |
The Observatory, The Broad and the Getty Center all close on Mondays, so a Monday start breaks the plan. If you arrive then, swap Day 3 into Monday and shift the rest back. Confirm hours on each official site before you lock your dates, because closing days change.
Getting around without losing hours
Renting a car is the most flexible choice, especially for Days 3 and 4. Expect to pay for parking at the Getty Center, Universal and most Downtown lots. Never leave bags visible in a parked car, because break-ins happen at tourist lots and trailheads. On weekdays, stay off the freeways from about 7 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.
Without a car, Metro helps more than most visitors expect. The B Line runs from Union Station to Hollywood and Highland and on to Universal City, and the E Line links Downtown with Santa Monica. Load a TAP card on your phone and use rideshare for the gaps. Days 1, 2 and 5 work well this way, Day 3 works for Santa Monica and Venice only, and Day 4 is the hardest.
Where to stay, when to go, and what to watch for
For a first trip, stay in Hollywood or West Hollywood. Both put you close to Days 1, 4 and 5 and within a reasonable drive of Downtown and the coast. Choose Santa Monica instead if beaches are your priority, or Downtown if you plan to lean on Metro.
LA works in any month, but timing matters. Coastal mornings in May and June are often overcast, which locals call May Gray and June Gloom, and the clouds usually clear by afternoon. Late summer and fall bring the hottest inland days and the most wildfire risk, so check air quality and local advisories before you travel. On safety, apply normal big-city sense: keep valuables out of sight, take rideshare after dark in Downtown and on Hollywood Boulevard, and stay on the busy routes in this plan.
One area per day, with no Monday museum stops, is what keeps a Los Angeles plan on schedule.
1. Day 1: Hollywood and Griffith Park
Day 1 links the Hollywood icons in one tight loop: the Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre and the Hollywood Sign view from Griffith Observatory. It suits first-timers and film fans, and it is easy on jet lag because the stops sit close together. The Observatory is closed on Mondays, so move this day if you land then.
Do Hollywood Boulevard early and Griffith Observatory late, and you get thin crowds and the best light.
Morning
Be on Hollywood Boulevard by 9 a.m., before the tour buses and costumed street performers fill the sidewalks. Walk the Walk of Fame near Hollywood and Highland first, then cross to the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre, where stars have pressed their hands and feet into cement since the 1920s. The Dolby Theatre, home of the Oscars, sits in the same complex and runs guided tours on a schedule you should check ahead.
- 9:00 a.m.: Walk of Fame stars along Hollywood Boulevard
- 9:45 a.m.: Handprints and footprints at the TCL Chinese Theatre
- 10:30 a.m.: Dolby Theatre tour, or the courtyard view of the Hollywood Sign at Hollywood and Highland
- 12:00 p.m.: Early lunch, then head to Griffith Park
Afternoon
Griffith Observatory is the best place to see the Hollywood Sign and the whole basin at once. Admission to the building is free, while planetarium shows are ticketed. Opening time differs between weekdays and weekends, so check it for your date. Parking on the hill fills up, so consider the DASH shuttle that serves the Observatory from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station.
You cannot walk up to the sign itself, because access to the area around it is closed to the public. For a different angle, hike the trails from the Observatory toward Mount Hollywood. If you want a guide to connect these places, our semi-private Los Angeles Tour covers Hollywood and Beverly Hills in about 3 hours. It runs daily at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. for $149 per guest, with a two-guest minimum.
Evening and food
Stay for sunset at the Observatory, then watch the city lights come on below you. Sunset falls near 4:45 p.m. in December and close to 8 p.m. in June, so check the time for your dates. Afterward, drive or ride down for a classic Hollywood dinner.
- Musso & Frank Grill: one of Hollywood’s oldest restaurants, on Hollywood Boulevard
- Yamashiro Hollywood: a hilltop restaurant with views, good for a special dinner
- In-N-Out on Sunset Boulevard: the fast, cheap, very Californian option
2. Day 2: Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown is the day to leave the car at the hotel. It packs food, architecture and free museums into a compact core that you can cover on foot, with Metro to get there and back. Stick to the Broadway, Bunker Hill and Little Tokyo corridor, and avoid wandering outside it.
Downtown rewards walkers: park once or ride Metro, and everything on this route is within a few blocks.
Morning
Start at Grand Central Market, open since 1917, for breakfast from its many food counters. Eggslut is the best-known stall, and the lines move faster before 9:30 a.m. Next door, step into the Bradbury Building, a 1893 landmark with an ironwork atrium that has appeared in many films.
- 8:30 a.m.: Breakfast at Grand Central Market
- 9:30 a.m.: Bradbury Building lobby (public viewing hours are limited, so check them)
- 10:15 a.m.: The Last Bookstore on Spring Street
- 11:00 a.m.: Angels Flight railway up to Bunker Hill
Afternoon
The Broad, a contemporary art museum, sits at the top of Bunker Hill. General admission is free, but reserve a timed slot online. The Infinity Mirrored Room needs its own queue, so treat it as optional. The Broad is closed Mondays.
Across the street, the Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry is worth a slow walk around the exterior even if you skip a tour. Then go east to Little Tokyo for the Japanese American National Museum, ramen and mochi. If you prefer to ride, we run guided Segway tours that include Downtown, and e-bike routes cover other parts of the city.
Evening and food
Finish at the Arts District, a former industrial area that now holds breweries, coffee roasters and good dinners. Olvera Street, the old Mexican marketplace near Union Station, makes a quick stop on the way if you are there before the shops close. Use rideshare back to your hotel after dark.
- Perch: a rooftop French bistro with skyline views
- Arts District breweries: good for a casual beer and dinner
- Little Tokyo sushi or ramen: reliable and easy to walk to
3. Day 3: Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu
Day 3 is the beach day: drive up to Malibu first, then work south through Santa Monica to Venice for sunset. Going north first beats the crowds and puts the best light at the end of the day. Parts of Malibu and Pacific Palisades were affected by the January 2025 wildfires, so check road and business status before you go.
Start in Malibu while the Pacific Coast Highway is quiet, and end in Venice when the sun drops.
Morning
Leave your hotel by 8 a.m. and take the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. Zuma Beach has wide sand and an easy parking lot for a first look at the Pacific. Malibu Lagoon State Beach and the Malibu Pier area are good alternatives if you want a shorter walk and a coffee.
- 8:00 a.m.: Drive to Malibu along PCH
- 9:00 a.m.: Beach walk at Zuma or Malibu Lagoon
- 11:00 a.m.: Head south to Santa Monica
Afternoon
In Santa Monica, walk the Santa Monica Pier and see Pacific Park, the small amusement park with a Ferris wheel. Look for the Route 66 end-of-the-trail sign at the pier entrance, then stroll the Third Street Promenade. Then continue to Venice, where the Boardwalk, Muscle Beach and the skate park offer the best street theater in the city.
For a guide-led version of this day, our Ultimate Coastal Tour is a private tour of Venice Beach, Santa Monica and Malibu that lasts about 4 hours. It costs $299 per guest with a two-guest minimum, and parties of three or more save $25 per guest. Two guests pay $598 in total, and four guests pay $1,096 after the group saving.
Evening and food
Time your last hour for sunset at Venice Beach or on the pier. Then walk the Venice Canals, the quiet residential waterways modeled on Venice, Italy, and respect that people live there. Abbot Kinney Boulevard is the dinner street.
- Intelligentsia: good coffee before the sun goes down
- Salt & Straw: an ice cream stop on Abbot Kinney
- Abbot Kinney Boulevard restaurants: book ahead on weekends
4. Day 4: Getty Center, Beverly Hills and Miracle Mile
Day 4 is the culture day: the Getty Center in the morning, Beverly Hills at midday, and the Miracle Mile museums in the afternoon. It is the densest day of the five, so cut one stop if you run late. The Getty Center is closed Mondays and LACMA is closed Wednesdays.
Day 4 has the most stops, so choose which one to trim before you leave the hotel.
Morning
Arrive at the Getty Center when it opens. Admission is free, but parking carries a fee, and a tram carries you up the hill from the garage. Spend your time on the gardens, the views over the city and Van Gogh’s Irises, and plan for about two to three hours.
- 10:00 a.m.: Arrive and take the tram up
- 10:30 a.m.: Collection highlights and the Central Garden
- 12:30 p.m.: Lunch at the Getty or in Beverly Hills
Afternoon
Drive to Beverly Hills for a short stop. Rodeo Drive is for looking, not shopping, and the Beverly Hills sign in Beverly Gardens Park gives you the photo. If you want celebrity-home context, our private Ultimate Hollywood & Homes Tour runs about 4 hours for $249 per guest, with a two-guest minimum.
Then head to the Miracle Mile. The La Brea Tar Pits show real asphalt seeps and ice-age fossils, and next door LACMA holds the Urban Light installation of restored street lamps at its entrance. The lamps are visible outside any time, so you can see them even if the museum is closed. Kids usually remember the Tar Pits best.
Evening and food
The Original Farmers Market, open since 1934, and The Grove next to it make an easy early dinner stop. For something more local, Koreatown is a short drive away and known for Korean barbecue. Come back to Urban Light after dark if you want to see it lit.
- Original Farmers Market: many food stalls, good for groups that disagree on dinner
- Koreatown Korean barbecue: grill-at-the-table meals
- The Grove: shops and a fountain show next to the market
5. Day 5: Universal Studios Hollywood
Spend Day 5 at Universal Studios Hollywood, because it is the one full-day experience that rewards an early start and a plan. Buy timed tickets online and arrive before opening. If theme parks are not for you, swap in the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in Burbank or a hike at Runyon Canyon.
At a theme park, the first two hours are worth more than the last four, so go straight to your priority rides.
Morning
Arrive at the gate before opening and go straight to your top two attractions. The Studio Tour tram ride through the backlot is the signature experience, and Super Nintendo World and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter draw the longest lines. Parking is paid, and the Metro B Line stops at Universal City/Studio City, with a short shuttle or walk to the entrance.
- Opening: Super Nintendo World or Harry Potter first
- Late morning: Studio Tour
- Midday: Lunch away from the busiest hour
Afternoon
Use the afternoon for shows and rides with shorter waits, and for the lower-priority attractions. A paid front-of-line pass costs extra and changes by date, so compare dates before you buy. Single-rider lines can cut waits on some rides.
Bring sunscreen, water and a portable charger. Tickets and hours vary by day, so check the official calendar the night before. Rest breaks in shaded areas make a long day easier.
Evening and food
Eat at Universal CityWalk, the open-air strip outside the gates, so you can leave the park without a drive. If you have energy left, drive the Mulholland Drive overlooks for city lights over the San Fernando Valley. Otherwise, head back to the hotel and pack for your flight.
- CityWalk restaurants: easy dinner without leaving the complex
- Mulholland Drive overlook: valley lights at dusk, if you still have energy
- Late-night snack in Hollywood: In-N-Out is open late
How to shorten, stretch or adapt the plan
You can trim this plan to three or four days by dropping the least essential days, or stretch it with day trips. The easiest cuts are Universal and Downtown.
Shorter trips and the top five stops
If you only have time for five things, pick the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica Pier and Venice, the Getty Center, and Universal Studios Hollywood. Use the table to scale the plan.
| Trip length | Keep | Cut |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | Hollywood Boulevard, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica, Venice at sunset | Everything else |
| 3 days | Days 1, 3 and 4 | Downtown and Universal |
| 4 days | Days 1 to 4 | Universal |
| 7 days | All five days plus two day trips | Nothing |
For one day, a guided overview saves planning time. Our LA Highlights Tour covers Santa Monica, Venice, Hollywood and Beverly Hills in about 7 hours, with lunch at the Farmers Market, for $249 per guest. It is semi-private and needs at least three guests.
With kids or without a car
With children, protect Days 3 and 5, add the Tar Pits from Day 4, and make the Getty Center optional. Pacific Park on the pier, the beach and the Observatory suit most ages. Skip long lunches and schedule a rest break after lunch.
Without a car, build around Metro and rideshare. Day 2 is ideal, Day 1 and Day 5 work with the B Line, and Day 3 works as a Santa Monica and Venice day using the E Line. Replace Malibu and the Getty Center with a guided tour if you do not want to rely on rideshare.
If you have more than five days
Add a day for Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, about 30 miles southeast of Hollywood, or drive the coast north to Santa Barbara, roughly 90 miles from LA. Both are full days, so treat them as separate trips rather than squeezing them into the days above. Santa Barbara works well as an overnight stay.
Make the most of your five days
A good Los Angeles trip comes down to a few decisions. Give each day one area, schedule around the Monday and Wednesday closures, base yourself in Hollywood or West Hollywood, and start the big days early. Follow the order above, and you see Hollywood, Downtown, the beaches, the Getty and Universal without losing hours to traffic.
If you want a local guide to cover a day or two, or to fit this plan to your exact dates and group, talk with a tour expert at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours. We recommend booking as far ahead as you can, and we still handle last-minute requests when possible.
