Sample Day Itineraries
Day 1: Classic Hollywood & Griffith Park
- Morning (8 AM): Breakfast in Los Feliz, then drive to Griffith Observatory before crowds arrive
- 10 AM: Hike to Hollywood Sign viewpoint (bring water, wear comfortable shoes)
- 1 PM: Lunch at Grand Central Market downtown
- 3 PM: Visit The Broad museum (pre-booked tickets)
- 5 PM: Walk Hollywood Boulevard, see Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre
- Evening: Dinner in Hollywood, optional show at Dolby Theatre or comedy club
Day 2: Beach Day
- Morning (9 AM): Breakfast in Venice, explore Venice Canals
- 10:30 AM: Venice Beach boardwalk - street performers, Muscle Beach, shopping
- 1 PM: Bike or walk to Santa Monica (rent bikes on boardwalk)
- 2 PM: Lunch at Santa Monica, explore Third Street Promenade
- 4 PM: Santa Monica Pier - rides, games, ocean views
- Sunset: Watch sunset from pier (bring jacket, gets cool)
- Evening: Seafood dinner in Santa Monica
Day 3: Museums & Culture
- Morning (9 AM): Getty Center (arrive at opening to avoid crowds)
- 12:30 PM: Lunch at Getty café with views
- 2 PM: Drive to LACMA, see Urban Light installation
- 2:30 PM: Tour LACMA collections
- 5 PM: Walk across to La Brea Tar Pits
- Evening: Dinner in Fairfax District or West Hollywood
Day 4: Theme Park Adventure
- 8:30 AM: Arrive at Universal Studios Hollywood at opening (buy tickets online in advance)
- 9 AM - 6 PM: Full day at park - Studio Tour, Harry Potter World, Jurassic World, Transformers
- Strategy: Start with Studio Tour or hit popular rides first, use single rider lines when possible
- Evening: CityWalk for dinner and entertainment (outside park, no ticket needed)
Day 5: Diverse Neighborhoods
- Morning (9 AM): Breakfast in Silver Lake, explore vintage shops
- 11 AM: Drive to Arts District, see street art and murals
- 12:30 PM: Lunch in Arts District
- 2 PM: Visit Little Tokyo - museums, shops, Japanese gardens
- 4 PM: Beverly Hills - window shop Rodeo Drive, Beverly Gardens Park
- Evening: Sunset at Griffith Observatory (second visit for sunset), dinner in Los Feliz
Tips for All Itineraries:
- Start early to maximize daylight and avoid traffic
- Build in buffer time for LA traffic (always worse than expected)
- Use parking apps to find spots in advance
- Bring layers - temperatures vary between neighborhoods and times of day
- Stay hydrated - California sun is strong even on mild days
- Download apps for attractions ahead of time to check wait times and hours