01

Day 01

Downtown, the River & Skyline

Grand Park, The Broad, Grand Central Market, and the OUE Skyspace views.

1. Morning

   Grand Park & City Hall

   Start at Grand Park below the Music Center, with its pink chairs and fountain framing the historic City Hall tower. It's the ideal orientation point for a first full day downtown.

2. Late Morning

   The Broad

   Devote two hours to Jeff Koons, the Infinity Mirror Rooms, and the contemporary collection in this free Grand Avenue museum, an easy walk from the park.

3. Lunch

   Grand Central Market

   Lunch amid the century-old stalls of Grand Central Market, from Eggslut to tacos, a lively pause before the afternoon walk through the historic core.

4. Afternoon

   Walt Disney Concert Hall

   Tour Frank Gehry's stainless-steel Disney Concert Hall and its rooftop garden, the definitive introduction to Downtown's landmark architecture.

5. Late Afternoon

   OUE Skyspace LA

   Ascend the U.S. Bank Tower for the observation deck and the glass Skyslide. Late-day light and clear skies reward you with sweeping views to the ocean and mountains.

6. Evening

   Iconic local eats

   Close the day with a Los Angeles classic at Philippe the Original for a French dip, or Bestia in the Arts District, reserving ahead for the popular tables.

02

Day 02

Miracle Mile & Museum Row

LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, and the Academy Museum along Wilshire.

1. Morning

   LACMA

   Begin at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art with Urban Light out front, then the Japanese and modern galleries inside. Arriving at opening helps you outpace the day's crowds.

2. Late Morning

   La Brea Tar Pits

   Move next door to the bubbling asphalt seeps and the Ice Age fossils of the Page Museum. A timed entry ticket keeps waits short.

3. Lunch

   Miracle Mile eats

   Enjoy a casual lunch along Wilshire or nearby Fairfax, framed by the Art Deco storefronts of the historic Miracle Mile district.

4. Afternoon

   Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

   Walk to the Academy Museum for its film history galleries and the spherical Geffen theater, a fitting stop in the capital of American cinema.

5. Late Afternoon

   The Original Farmers Market

   Stroll west to the 1934 Farmers Market and The Grove, whose open-air stalls and gardens make an easy, unhurried pause.

6. Evening

   Koreatown dinner

   Dine in nearby Koreatown, whose restaurants along Olympic and Sixth cover everything from Korean barbecue to late-night tofu houses.

03

Day 03

Hollywood & Griffith Park

Studio history, the Walk of Fame, and hilltop views from the Observatory.

1. Morning

   Griffith Observatory

   Walk the grounds of the Griffith Observatory for its planetarium and the classic view of the Hollywood Sign, a green ribbon of trails spreading below the terraces.

2. Late Morning

   Hollywood Walk of Fame

   Explore the terrazzo stars along Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt, and the historic Dolby Theatre nearby.

3. Lunch

   Musso & Frank Grill

   Settle in at Musso & Frank, the 1919 institution, for a martini and a chop, or choose from Hollywood's many acclaimed casual eateries.

4. Afternoon

   Paramount Pictures studio tour

   Wander the last major studio lot still in Hollywood proper on a guided tour, a behind-the-scenes afternoon among soundstages and backlot streets.

5. Evening

   Thai Town dinner

   Head to East Hollywood's Thai Town for dinner along Hollywood Boulevard, home to some of the country's most celebrated Thai restaurants.

6. Evening

   Rooftop bar nightcap

   Finish with a drink at a Hollywood rooftop bar, soaking up the neighborhood's glittering, easygoing evening energy.

04

Day 04

Santa Monica & the Westside Beaches

A landmark pier, the Venice canals, and the Getty's hilltop galleries.

1. Morning

   Getty Center

   Spend the morning at Richard Meier's travertine campus above the 405, exploring the paintings, gardens, and sweeping city views, a highlight for all ages.

2. Lunch

   Santa Monica cafés

   Grab lunch near the Third Street Promenade, where sidewalk cafés and market stalls line the blocks a short walk from the sand.

3. Afternoon

   Santa Monica Pier

   Wander the century-old pier with its Pacific Park carousel and Ferris wheel, then stroll south along the beach path toward Venice.

4. Late Afternoon

   Venice Boardwalk & Canals

   Explore the murals and street performers of the Venice Boardwalk, then the quiet footbridges of the historic Venice Canals just inland, worth the detour.

5. Evening

   Abbot Kinney Boulevard

   Walk out to Abbot Kinney for its boutiques and design shops, a stylish stretch before dinner as the beach light fades.

6. Evening

   Venice dinner

   Have dinner along Rose or Abbot Kinney, or grab fresh seafood near the marina before returning inland for the evening.

05

Day 05

Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley

Gilded Age gardens, Old Town streets, and Craftsman architecture to close the trip.

1. Morning

   The Huntington

   Visit The Huntington in San Marino for its rare books, European and American art, and the Japanese and Desert gardens. Arrive at opening to enjoy the grounds in the cool morning.

2. Lunch

   Old Pasadena eats

   Lunch in the lively blocks of Old Pasadena, from taprooms to the cafés and taco spots that fill Colorado Boulevard and its side streets.

3. Afternoon

   Gamble House

   Head to the Gamble House, Greene and Greene's 1908 Craftsman masterpiece, an easy, rewarding tour of woodwork and art glass beneath the oaks.

4. Late Afternoon

   Norton Simon Museum

   Relax among the Rembrandts, Degas bronzes, and sculpture garden of the Norton Simon, one of the finest small collections in the country.

5. Evening

   Colorado Boulevard

   Finish shopping and browsing along Colorado Boulevard, passing the restored 1931 movie palaces of the historic district.

6. Evening

   San Gabriel Valley farewell dinner

   End your trip with dinner in the San Gabriel Valley's dense Chinese restaurant scene along Valley Boulevard; go early for the standout dumpling and Sichuan houses.