Los Angeles in 3 Days – A Highly Practical & Fun Hour-by-Hour Itinerary for First-Timers

If you have just three days in Los Angeles, you can actually see quite a lot. As a longtime local and Los Angeles expert, I’ve compiled this three-day, hour-by-hour itinerary for you, so you can be sure to get the most of your trip, even on a short timeline. From Warner Bros Studios to Santa Monica Pier and everything in between, there’s so many things to do on your first trip to Los Angeles. 

Palm trees, star-studded walkways, beaches, skyscrapers, and an incredible dining scene, Los Angeles truly has it all. One of the biggest potential hurdles to what you can see in 3 days is traffic — and that most of LA’s attractions are spread far apart. 

Planning a trip in this city involves many logistical considerations, which can be really hard to figure out if you’ve never been before. So, I’ve prepared a highly practical AND fun hour-by-hour itinerary for how to do Los Angeles in 3 days — without having to rush from place to place.

Let’s dive in!

GETTING AROUND LOS ANGELES
DAY ONE: WEST HOLLYWOOD, HOLLYWOOD, DOWNTOWN & ARTS DISTRICT
DAY TWO: FAMOUS BEACHES
DAY THREE: HOLLYWOOD SIGN & GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

GETTING AROUND LOS ANGELES

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First things first, how will you get around the city? Truthfully, renting a car is a MUST if you want total convenience, especially in a short amount of time.  

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Los Angeles is sprawling – it goes on and on, outwards instead of upwards. It’s really hard to get around here without a car in a short amount of time. 

If you fly into LAX (the major airport here), you’ll be able to take a shuttle to the rental car station. I would recommend booking a rental in advance to guarantee your car. If your budget is too tight for renting a car, definitely book a tour, like the hop-on-hop off bus tour. That’s really the only way you’re going to be able to experience the top sights in the city!

Check rates for rental cars here.

Day One: West Hollywood, Hollywood, Downtown & the Arts District

One of the biggest reasons people come to Los Angeles is to see Hollywood, which is why I’ve included it first on this three-day itinerary. Even though Hollywood does feel a bit touristy, you simply can’t come to LA for the first time ever and not see Hollywood!

9:00am: Breakfast

Start the day with a delicious breakfast in West Hollywood, one of the trendiest parts of Los Angeles filled with coffee shops. If you’re looking for a classy vibe, try Cecconi’s, one of my all-time favorite restaurants. Order the ricotta hotcakes with blueberry compote for a truly unforgettable meal. 

10:00am: Hollywood

Next up, head to Hollywood. At this time of day, Hollywood will still be waking up – but that’s a huge advantage. You’ll be able to get plenty of photos (minus a ton of people in the background!)  with your favorite celebrity’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in front of Grauman’s famous Chinese Theater.

A few must-see attractions in Hollywood:

• Take a tour of the Dolby Theater – where the Academy Awards are filmed
• See Grauman’s Chinese Theater — Browse the hand and footprints of celebrities like Judy Garland, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Will Smith and more at 
• Go shopping at Ovation — Hollywood’s new outdoor shopping center
• Check out Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Three hours here is probably enough to spend some time walking across Hollywood Boulevard, getting a few photos, and doing some souvenir shopping.

1:00pm: Downtown LA

After strolling through Hollywood and seeing a few sights there, head downtown. At this time of day, traffic shouldn’t be too bad — and the distance between Hollywood and DTLA is fortunately not TOO far. At most, it should be a 30 minute drive.

By midday, you’ll probably be hungry for lunch, so stop at Grand Central Market for food. You can find the most amazing food from Eggslut, Golden Road, and Ramen Hood.

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When you’ve feasted your heart out, cross the street and find Angel’s Flight, an 118-year-old funicular that takes you up or downhill between Hill Street and Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill. Fare costs $1 each way, but it’s well worth the price!

After you’re done eating, it’s time to check out some of LA’s best museums. Just a short walk away are The Broad, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and Walt Disney Concert Hall. I like to spend at least 2 hours at each museum. 

At The Broad, you’ll love Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms and the wide assortment of well-known contemporary art. Just across the street, MOCA also offers an incredible selection of contemporary artwork.

Note: Walt Disney Concert Hall is where LA Phil performs, so primarily, you’ll spend your time taking a look at the jaw-dropping, twisted architecture by Frank Gehry or you could take a self-guided tour of the concert hall.

Museums not your thing? That’s okay. You could also spend this time seeing The Bradbury Building, where Blade Runner was filmed. The interior of this building is gorgeous — designed in 1893 with wood, iron, and brick in intricate patterns. You could also check out The Last Bookstore, a super Instagrammable spot filled with shelves and shelves of books.

5:30pm: Dinner in the Arts District

It’s almost time for dinner! Head 15 minutes away to the Arts District for a reservation at (and yes, do be sure to make a reservation in advance!) LA Cha Cha Chá. This popular rooftop spot channels the energy and flavors of Mexico City, serving up tacos, tostadas, and more. Don’t miss the carnitas, my ultimate favorite!

8:00PM: Drinks at a Local Brewery

Wind down the day with a beer or two at Angels City Brewery, my favorite brewery in the entire city. You’ll really get a locals-only experience at this brewery in the Arts District, even if you’re just visiting Los Angeles in 3 days. 

Day Two: Beaches — Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach

Your second day in Los Angeles is here! This day on the itinerary focuses on relaxation. After a back-to-back first day, this day gives you some more flexibility with your time to just lay out on the sand and relax in the sun if you want to. 

The beaches in Los Angeles are some of the most well-known in the entire world. When you think of LA, you picture palm trees and surfers, right? That’s why I’ve added it as a full day on your three day trip to LA.

10:00am: Malibu Beach

Start your day on the earlier side and drive up to Malibu. If you’re doing Los Angeles in 3 days, going to Malibu is an absolute must. It’s truly the most gorgeous beach in LA and is also less crowded than many of the others. It takes about 45 minutes to get to Malibu from the westside of LA; up to an hour from more eastern areas.

In Malibu, park along Pacific Coast Highway for free and then walk to the Malibu Pier. From here, you can grab a spot on the sand or stroll and shop at a few of the stores on the pier. El Matador is the most famous beach in Malibu, but you could also just stay along the pier to save time and still get awesome views.

12:00pm: Lunch at Malibu Seafood 

Hungry? Before you head to the next beach on this list, check out Malibu Seafood Fresh Fish Market & Patio Cafe. This ever-popular lunch spot is always packed, so although you’re likely in for a long wait, it’s well worth it.

Address: 25653 CA-1, Malibu, CA 90265

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2:00pm: Head to Santa Monica Pier

After lunch, if you want to explore a different beach scene, I’d recommend driving down to Santa Monica. It’s not too far from Malibu, and you also get the chance to explore the small amusement park on the pier and Third Street Promenade, too.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to drive from Malibu to Santa Monica. I always park in a city parking structure — NOT the private structures. In the city structures, you always get two hours free.

I suggest parking in a city parking structure close to Third Street Promenade, and then walking to the beach from there rather than parking at the beach. You’ll save money and see more of Santa Monica, too!

Santa Monica has so many great things to do. At the pier, you can run wild on carnival rides or snack on ice cream and popcorn. It’s simply fun to people-watch walking up and down the pier or observe surfers in the water below.

5:00pm: Catch the Sunset at Venice Beach

Before the sun sets, I recommend heading to the Venice Beach boardwalk. If you come on a Sunday, a drum circle is held at 5pm – it’s so fun to catch it!

Venice Beach is noticeably different from Malibu and Santa Monica. It has a free spirit culture where anything goes!

When it gets dark, leave the boardwalk and walk over to Abbot Kinney. This part of Venice is more “hipster” or trendy, filled with high-end boutiques and local-owned shops.

If you’re super hungry and looking for a quick bite, stay at the boardwalk and grab a slice of pizza. But if you want something more creative and upscale, Abbot Kinney is a perfect destination for dinner.

Gjelina is one of the most popular restaurants in LA — be sure to reserve in advance. You could also check out The Butcher’s Daughter or Felix, two other great options. 

Later, The Brig is great for a casual beer and conversation. 

Day Three: Hike to the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, and Dinner in Echo Park

By now, you’ve already seen many of the top things to do in Los Angeles and also have an idea of how to navigate the city. For your final day in Los Angeles, don’t miss your chance at seeing the famous Hollywood sign!

Shockingly, I haven’t actually hiked the trail to the Hollywood sign myself yet, but my friend Taylor did during her Southern California coastal adventure.

10:00am: Hike to the Hollywood sign

There are many trails you can take to get a picture with the Hollywood sign. The most popular is the Hollyridge Trail, which is about 3.5 miles long. It will take you about 2 hours total, so keep that in mind. When you finish this trial, you’ll be directly behind the “H” of the sign and views of the city below.

Also, if you’re going on a hot, sunny day, be sure to pack sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water!

Another option is taking the Brush Canyon Trail, which is 6.4 miles long and less crowded, but still has gorgeous views of the Hollywood sign.

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The easiest hike and also the most convenient if you also want to see inside Griffith Observatory is the Griffith Observatory hike. At 2 miles long, this trail is entirely paved and will take you to a viewing area of the sign near the observatory, but not actually super up close to it.

If you’re up for an adventure, another cool thing you could choose to do is take a horseback riding tour up to the Hollywood sign. This has been on my bucket list for a looong time now! Sunset Ranch, the provider of this tour by GetYourGuide, is well-known across the city for having the best horseback riding tour.

1:00pm: Explore Griffith Observatory

Once you finish your hike or horseback ride, you can head straight inside Griffith Observatory, known as LA’s “gateway to the stars.” Explore the observatory’s many exhibits about space and natural science. 

I love coming here – Griffith Observatory is one of my favorite places in Los Angeles. The views of the city are absolutely breathtaking, and the exhibits inside always blow my mind. You can even see the Tesla Coil, which is a high-voltage transformer that generates a bright, glowing spark. Named after Nikola Tesla, the coil is on display for everyone to see inside the Observatory. 

If you can, stay to catch the sunset. You won’t believe how beautiful it is to watch the sun go down across the city skyline.

5:00pm: Dinner & Arcade Games at Button Mash

After a few hours exploring the Observatory, it’s time for some fun and good eats! I suggest going to Button Mash for vintage arcade games, great drinks, and bar food that won’t disappoint. 

I’ve always had such a good time at Button Mash. You can have so much fun playing games like Pacman and pinball. The vibe is so retro and cool.

On the menu, they have a wicked-good shiitake mash burger, sweet and spicy sticky wings, Korean fried cauliflower and more. Delicious!

8:00pm: Nightlife in Echo Park

You could spend the rest of your night at Button Mash, or hop around to a few other bars in the area: Short Stop, The Douglas, Bar Henry, Bar Flores, etc.

Better yet, you won’t feel like a tourist on this bar crawl — you’ll fit in right among the locals!

There you have it, friends! Everything you need to see and do to cover the best of Los Angeles in 3 days. From iconic landmarks, historic museums, epic hikes, and relaxing beach days, I hope you enjoyed using the itinerary I’ve created for you above.

Plan on doing a lot of group tours and activities? You might want to consider saving money by getting the LA City Pass. Check out the LA City Pass here. 

Questions? Leave me a comment or send me a DM on Instagram!

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Planning a trip right now? Here are a few of my top resources I use to book every trip. 

Booking.com for great deals on hotels.

Get Your Guide for incredible tours around the world.

World Nomads for travel insurance that has your back.

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