Skip to main content
Los Angeles
Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

1 Day · in Los Angeles

One Perfect Day in Los Angeles: Griffith Park to the Coast

With only one day, trace a west-running arc from the hills to the ocean, starting high at Griffith Observatory before the heat and crowds build. Drop into Miracle Mile for LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits, then break for lunch at the historic Original Farmers Market. Spend the afternoon on the coast at the Santa Monica Pier and Venice, timing the beach for late-day light and sunset over the Pacific. Los Angeles is spread out, so a car or rideshare is essential; plan for real driving time between stops and you can still cover the icons at an unhurried pace.

1 day
Things to DoRestaurantsHotelsPhoto SpotsTravel TipsItinerariesLandmarks

Day 01

The Hills, the Museums & the Coast

Los Angeles from a hilltop panorama to the ocean, a car-dependent day covering the icons west to the sea.

  1. Morning

    Griffith Observatory

    Begin high on the south slope of Mount Hollywood for sweeping views over the basin and a clear line of sight to the Hollywood Sign. Arrive early to beat the heat and parking crush; the grounds and terraces are free to roam even before the building opens.

  2. Late Morning

    LACMA & the La Brea Tar Pits

    Head down to Miracle Mile, where LACMA anchors Museum Row. Snap Chris Burden's 'Urban Light' lamp-post installation, then walk next door to the La Brea Tar Pits to see Ice Age fossils still bubbling up from the asphalt in Hancock Park.

  3. Lunch

    The Original Farmers Market

    A few minutes north at Third and Fairfax, this 1934 landmark packs dozens of local stalls under open-air stalls beside The Grove. Grab tacos, gumbo, or a deli sandwich and eat at a shared table before the drive west.

  4. Afternoon

    Santa Monica Pier

    Drive out to the coast and the end of Route 66. Ride the solar-powered Ferris wheel at Pacific Park, walk the pier over the surf, then stroll down to the wide beach and the palm-lined bluffs of Palisades Park.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Venice Beach & Abbot Kinney

    Continue south along the boardwalk to Venice, past Muscle Beach, the skate park, and the street performers. Detour inland to Abbot Kinney Boulevard for independent shops and galleries as the light turns golden.

  6. Evening

    Tacos and sunset in Venice

    Cap the day watching the sun drop into the Pacific, then settle in for dinner. Book a table at Gjelina for wood-fired plates, or keep it classic with Los Angeles's signature street tacos, al pastor off the trompo, from a neighborhood taqueria.