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Street lined with palm trees in Los Angeles, California

Itineraries for Your Trip to Los Angeles

Los Angeles locals share their perfect days.
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1 Day in Los Angeles for First Timers

Curated by Lydia Schrandtwriter, editor, and award-winning photographer.

Natural beauty, creativity, glitz, glam, and the SoCal sun form a heady mix in California’s City of Angels, a.k.a. Los Angeles. There’s plenty to fill your time in this sprawling city, so planning ahead is essential to seeing more in less time. Here are some ideas for how to experience LA in just one day.


Morning

Los Angeles is the hub of America’s entertainment industry and home of numerous celebrities. Immerse yourself in the pop culture scene with a guided sightseeing tour to some of LA’s most iconic attractions, such as the Hollywood sign, exclusive boutiques of Rodeo Drive, storied Sunset Strip, and celebrity homes of Beverly Hills. Alternately, design your own itinerary on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus, with six routes.

Afternoon

It would be a shame to leave Los Angeles without soaking up some sun at the beach. Relive the glory days of Southern California, complete with ice cream shops, snack shacks, and carnival rides, on the historic Santa Monica Pier, or take in the parade of humanity—street performers, bodybuilders, evangelists, and vendors—along the bohemian Venice Beach promenade. For a bit of exercise, opt for a bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach. 

Night

When the stars come out, Los Angeles shines. Tonight, soak up the views of the city’s best after-dark spots on a night tour, with stops at the Griffith Park Observatory, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the spectacular Walt Disney Concert Hall. Check the calendar and prebook tickets to the Hollywood Bowl, a Greek-style outdoor amphitheater just north of Hollywood where musicians play live under the stars.

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