4 days in Los Angeles

The Hollywood hills. The star-lined boulevard and the old movie palace, then up into the biggest city park for an evening view over the whole basin. It is a day of short drives and a lot of walking.

1. Breakfast

   Coffee and a pastry in Hollywood

   A strong coffee with a croissant or a breakfast burrito, taken to go before the boulevard fills.

   Local tip Small cafes open early, so you can start before the crowds.
2. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Hollywood Walk of Fame

   Over a mile of pink terrazzo stars set in the pavement of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, each with a name and an emblem. Go in the morning, before the crowds and the heat.

   Go when Morning, before the heat and the crowds.

   Local tip A walk along the boulevard is enough. Look down for the stars, and keep your bag close, because it is a busy place with pickpockets and costumed characters who ask for tips.

   

   About 16 min walk0.8 mi
3. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   TCL Chinese Theatre

   A movie palace of 1927 in the style of a Chinese temple, famous for the handprints and footprints of film stars in the forecourt. Look for your favorite names in the cement.

   Go when Midday, as a quick look in the forecourt.

   Local tip The handprints are in the open forecourt, in front of the building. Check ahead if you want to see a film inside, since it is a working cinema.

   

4. Lunch

   A taco lunch

   Corn tortillas with grilled meat, onion and cilantro, and a lime to squeeze, from a taqueria or a street stand.

   Local tip Order two or three small tacos rather than one big plate.

   About 15 min by car or transit3.2 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonA half day on foot

   Griffith Park

   One of the largest city parks in the United States, a wild stretch of hills, trails and picnic lawns above the city. A walk to a high point gives a first view of the Hollywood Sign.

   Go when Afternoon, on a clear day, with water and a hat.

   Local tip The trails are dry and exposed, and it can be hot and windy. Stay on the paths, take water, and check ahead on fire closures in the dry season.

   

   About 21 min walk1.0 mi
6. 4
   EveningWorth the time, go at dusk

   Griffith Observatory

   A white art deco observatory on the slope of Mount Hollywood, with exhibits on the sky and a wide view over the city. Come at sunset and stay for the lights.

   Go when Late afternoon, to see the city by day and by night (about 7:00 PM).

   Local tip Parking fills quickly at sunset, so come early or take the shuttle. Check ahead on the shows and on any closure. The terraces are open for the view.

   

7. Dinner

   A burger and a milkshake

   A thick burger with fries, in the local style, and a shake for the end of a long day.

   Local tip Eat after the sunset, when the lines have shortened.

The center of the city. The oldest street, a market hall, a modern art museum and a concert hall of curved steel. Everything is within a short walk or a short ride on the Metro.

1. Travel from Griffith ObservatoryAbout 22 min by car or transit5.5 mi

   Where Day 1 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Huevos rancheros and strong coffee

   Fried eggs on a tortilla with a red salsa and beans, with a coffee, in the old part of the city.

   Local tip Come early, because the best places fill by nine.
3. 1
   MorningWorth a short stop

   Olvera Street

   A narrow pedestrian lane in the oldest part of the city, with Mexican food stalls, crafts and a plaza where the first settlement stood. The heart of the old pueblo.

   Go when Morning, when the stalls open and it is quiet.

   Local tip The lane is short and busy. Look for the old Avila Adobe, the oldest house in the city, and the plaza at the end.

   

   About 16 min walk0.8 mi
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Grand Central Market

   A big food hall from 1917 in the old downtown, with stalls of tacos, noodles, pastries and coffee under neon signs. Eat a little at several counters.

   Go when Midday, with an appetite.

   Local tip Walk the whole hall before you choose, then eat a little at several stalls. It is crowded at lunch, so go slightly early or late.

5. Lunch

   A food hall lunch

   A bowl of noodles, a plate of tacos or a sandwich, bought at counters inside the market.

   Local tip Share a table, and carry your own tray. Cards work at most stalls.

   About 5 min walk0.3 mi
6. 3
   AfternoonBook ahead

   The Broad

   A museum of contemporary art in a white building with a honeycomb skin, on Grand Avenue. The collection is of recent work, and it is best seen with a timed ticket.

   Go when Afternoon, with a booked time.

   Local tip Entry is by timed tickets that can sell out, so check ahead. The collection is of work since the 1950s, and the building itself is worth a look.

   

   About 2 min walkunder 0.1 mi
7. 4
   EveningAn evening stop

   Walt Disney Concert Hall

   A concert hall of curving stainless steel by the architect Frank Gehry, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Walk around the outside, which reflects the light, and check ahead if you want a tour or a concert.

   Go when Late afternoon, when the steel catches the low light (about 7:00 PM).

   Local tip You can walk around the outside, and a public garden sits on the roof. Check ahead for tours and for evening concerts.

   

8. Dinner

   Korean barbecue or dim sum

   Grilled meat cooked at the table with side dishes, or a round of steamed dumplings, in one of the big ethnic neighborhoods nearby.

   Local tip Go in a group so you can share a lot of dishes.

The west side. A hilltop museum with gardens and a view, a pier on the Pacific, then a beach boardwalk and a quiet canal walk. Allow time for the coast road, which can be slow.

1. Travel from Walt Disney Concert HallAbout 35 min by car or transit13.0 mi

   Where Day 2 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Fruit, granola and a smoothie

   A cold smoothie and a bowl of fruit, in the style of the west side, taken to a bench with a view.

   Local tip The coast is cool in the morning, so bring a layer.
3. 1
   MorningWorth the time, go early

   Getty Center

   A hilltop museum of white travertine, with gardens, courtyards and a view across the city to the sea. A small tram carries visitors up from the parking area. Check ahead for the timed entry.

   Go when Morning, when the gardens are quiet.

   Local tip Book a time ahead, and plan for a whole morning. The gardens and the terraces are as good as the galleries, and the tram ride up is part of the visit.

   

   About 20 min by car or transit4.9 mi
4. 2
   MiddayWorth a short stop

   Santa Monica Pier

   A pleasure pier from 1909 with a Ferris wheel, an amusement park and long views up and down the coast. A classic stop at the end of the old Route 66.

   Go when Midday, then a walk on the beach.

   Local tip Walk to the end for the view back toward the mountains. It is crowded in summer, so go in the morning or on a weekday.

   

5. Lunch

   Fish tacos by the sea

   Battered or grilled fish with cabbage and a creamy sauce, in a soft tortilla, eaten near the beach.

   Local tip Ask for the sauce on the side if you do not like it spicy.

   About 12 min by car or transit2.2 mi
6. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Venice Beach

   A beach neighborhood with a lively boardwalk of street performers, skaters, stalls and murals. Come for the people-watching and the open-air gym on the sand.

   Go when Afternoon, when the boardwalk is at its liveliest.

   Local tip Keep valuables close, and be ready to say no to sellers on the path. The beach itself is wide, and the water is cool even in summer.

   

   About 9 min walk0.4 mi
7. 4
   EveningAn evening stop

   Venice Canals

   A small network of canals dug in 1905 by the founder of Venice, lined with houses and footbridges. A calm walk away from the boardwalk, best in the soft light of the evening.

   Go when Early evening, in the soft light (about 7:00 PM).

   Local tip The canals are a residential area, so keep your voice down and stay on the public footpaths. Park on the nearby streets and walk in.

   

8. Dinner

   Seafood in the evening

   Grilled fish, clams or a crab dish, with a squeeze of lemon, near the water.

   Local tip Tables with a view fill early, so book ahead.

Mid-city, then Pasadena. Ice Age fossils in a city park, the biggest art museum in the west, then gardens and a stadium in the foothills. A day of culture and a long, green evening.

1. Travel from Venice CanalsAbout 29 min by car or transit8.3 mi

   Where Day 3 ended.
2. Breakfast

   Bagel with cream cheese

   A fresh bagel with cream cheese and smoked fish, and a coffee, in the mid-city.

   Local tip Bakeries open early. Pack a second bagel for the museum.
3. 1
   MorningWorth the time

   La Brea Tar Pits

   Pools of natural asphalt that have trapped animals for tens of thousands of years, now a fossil site beside a museum. Mammoths and saber-toothed cats are found here, and the pits still bubble.

   Go when Morning, when the park is quiet.

   Local tip You can see the pits and the fossil displays in the park and in the museum. The pits give off a faint smell, and a lab shows fossils being cleaned.

   

   About 4 min walk0.2 mi
4. 2
   MiddayWorth the time

   Los Angeles County Museum of Art

   The largest art museum in the western United States, next door to the tar pits. Walk through the field of old street lamps at the entrance, then pick a gallery rather than trying them all.

   Go when Midday, in the shade of the galleries.

   Local tip Choose one or two collections rather than rushing through all of them. The field of street lamps at the entrance can be seen from the street.

   

   About 37 min by car or transit14.9 mi
5. 3
   AfternoonWorth the time

   Huntington Library

   A large estate in San Marino with a library, an art museum and a wide botanical garden, including a Chinese garden and a Japanese garden. Plan time to walk the grounds.

   Go when Afternoon, for a slow walk in the gardens.

   Local tip Wear walking shoes and bring a hat, because the grounds are wide. Check ahead on the entry, which may need a booking.

   

6. Lunch

   A sandwich in the garden

   A sandwich and a salad eaten among the roses, or a light lunch from the tea room on the grounds.

   Local tip Bring a water bottle, because there is little shade on the paths.

   About 17 min by car or transit4.1 mi
7. 4
   EveningAn evening stop

   Rose Bowl

   A huge stadium of 1922 in the Arroyo Seco, home to the Rose Bowl game and the New Year's Day parade route. The loop road around it is a favorite for a walk or a run in the evening light.

   Go when Late afternoon, for a walk on the loop in the light (about 7:00 PM).

   Local tip The loop around the stadium is a favorite with local walkers and cyclists. Check ahead for events, which can close parts of the loop.

   

8. Dinner

   Kebabs and flatbread

   Grilled meat with rice and warm flatbread, from one of the Persian and Armenian restaurants nearby.

   Local tip Order a few dishes to share, with a plate of herbs and yogurt.