2 Day Los Angeles Itinerary
Two full days, split so you’re not crossing the sprawl twice, with Hollywood and the coast on day one and the museums and hills on day two.
Two days in Los Angeles is enough to properly cover Hollywood’s icons, the coast, and the city’s best free museums without spending the whole trip stuck in traffic. Here’s how I’d split it, day by day.
Hollywood & the Museums
Start at Griffith Observatory for the view and the Hollywood Sign, then Hollywood Boulevard for the Walk of Fame and the TCL Chinese Theatre. Head downtown for Grand Central Market and The Broad, book the timed entry slot ahead, before driving out to the Getty Center for the afternoon.
End the day at Santa Monica Pier for dinner and the Ferris wheel, then walk or bike south to Venice Beach for sunset over the boardwalk’s chaotic energy.
Midday Grand Central Market, The Broad
Afternoon The Getty Center
Evening Santa Monica Pier, sunset at Venice Beach
Beverly Hills, the Arts District & Runyon Canyon
Start with a morning hike at Runyon Canyon, the Western High Way Trail gives sweeping views over the city without needing a car once you’re there. Follow with brunch and a wander through Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive is worth the photo even if you’re not shopping.
Spend the afternoon in the Arts District and Little Tokyo, street art, independent galleries and a genuinely different pace to the Westside. End the trip with dinner and cocktails in Downtown LA, LA Live and the rooftop bars around it give a fitting close to two full days.
Afternoon Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, the Arts District
Evening Dinner and drinks in Downtown LA
Getting around across both days
A rental car or consistent rideshare use is close to essential, LA’s neighbourhoods sit genuinely far apart and public transit only covers a handful of routes well. Plan around rush hour, roughly 6-10am and 3-7pm, traffic outside these windows moves considerably faster.
If you only have time for one thing each day
Day one, make it the Getty Center, free entry and the gardens alone justify the trip regardless of your interest in the art. Day two, make it Runyon Canyon at sunrise or sunset, the single best view of the city without paying for an observation deck.
That’s everything I’ve got.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government’s latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
