Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0
7 Days · in Los Angeles
Seven Days in Los Angeles: The Complete City Itinerary
A full week lets you experience Los Angeles the way residents do, blending marquee sights with slower neighborhood days. The first five days cover downtown, the Exposition Park museums, the creative east side, Pasadena, and Hollywood with the Westside beaches. Days six and seven then reach the vibrant Mexican-American culture of Boyle Heights, the museums of Miracle Mile, the La Cienega dining scene, and the food and history of Chinatown and Little Tokyo. You'll eat across the city's signature traditions, tacos, Korean barbecue, dim sum, and the French dip, and see its art, architecture, and green spaces. Each day stays geographically focused, so a week feels immersive rather than exhausting.
Day 01
Downtown, Bunker Hill & Skyline
Downtown parks, The Broad, a historic architecture walk, and a rooftop view.
Morning
Grand Park & Walt Disney Concert Hall
Start at Grand Park and Frank Gehry's stainless-steel Walt Disney Concert Hall before crowds gather, the perfect orientation to downtown Los Angeles.
Late Morning
The Broad
Spend two hours with the contemporary collection, Jeff Koons, and a timed Infinity Mirror Room, right across the street from the concert hall.
Lunch
Grand Central Market
Lunch at Grand Central Market, a century-old food hall packed with vendors, moments from the afternoon's walking route.
Afternoon
Bradbury Building & Angels Flight
Take a self-guided architecture walk through the 1893 Bradbury Building's atrium, ride Angels Flight, and browse The Last Bookstore.
Late Afternoon
Spire 73
Ride to Spire 73 atop the InterContinental, the tallest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere, for dizzying views over the city.
Evening
Arts District dinner
Close with dinner in the warehouse-lined Arts District, reserving ahead at a popular spot and toasting your first day.
Day 02
Exposition Park & USC
The Natural History Museum, the Science Center, and the Rose Garden.
Morning
Natural History Museum
Meet the dinosaur hall's T. rex growth series and explore the gem vault and dioramas; arrive early to beat the school groups.
Late Morning
California Science Center
Next door, see the Space Shuttle Endeavour and hands-on science exhibits; free admission means an early arrival helps.
Lunch
Exposition Park Rose Garden
Picnic among the beds of the historic sunken Rose Garden between the museums and the Coliseum.
Afternoon
California African American Museum
Walk to the free California African American Museum for its rotating exhibitions on art and history.
Late Afternoon
University of Southern California
Stroll USC's landscaped brick campus and quads just across Exposition Boulevard.
Evening
West Adams dinner
Dine in nearby West Adams, a revived corridor of acclaimed restaurants along Adams and Jefferson Boulevards.
Day 03
Echo Park, Silver Lake & Los Feliz
A lotus lake, murals, boutiques, and acclaimed independent dining on the east side.
Morning
Echo Park Lake
Rent a swan pedal boat on Echo Park Lake amid the lotus beds and downtown skyline views.
Late Morning
Silver Lake boutiques
Browse independent shops and cafes around Sunset Junction, and spot murals on the side streets.
Lunch
Sunset Junction lunch
Grab lunch on a Sunset Boulevard patio or choose from the neighborhood's many well-loved casual spots.
Afternoon
Vermont Avenue browsing
Wander Los Feliz's Vermont Avenue for bookstores like Skylight, vintage, and cafes on a stylish, unhurried afternoon.
Evening
Silver Lake dinner
Dine along Silver Lake and Sunset among some of the city's best independent restaurants.
Evening
Cocktail nightcap
End with a drink at an Echo Park or Silver Lake cocktail bar and the area's laid-back creative energy.
Day 04
Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
A grand estate and gardens, Old Town, and Greene & Greene architecture.
Morning
The Huntington
Explore the library, the European and American galleries, and the vast botanical gardens at this enormous estate in San Marino.
Lunch
Old Town Pasadena
Lunch in Old Town Pasadena among cafes and international spots along Colorado Boulevard.
Afternoon
Norton Simon Museum
Visit the Norton Simon's exceptional collection of European masters and its sculpture garden.
Late Afternoon
Gamble House
Tour the Greene brothers' 1908 Craftsman masterpiece to see its teak joinery and art glass; book the interior ahead.
Evening
Colorado Street Bridge
Walk across the historic Beaux-Arts Colorado Street Bridge for a serene arroyo and sunset view.
Evening
San Gabriel Valley dinner
Enjoy the San Gabriel Valley's renowned Chinese restaurants in nearby Alhambra or Monterey Park before heading back.
Day 05
Hollywood, Griffith Park & the Beaches
Ballpark history, an iconic observatory, the coast, and shopping.
Morning
Dodger Stadium
Tour historic Dodger Stadium, or catch a Dodgers day game if the schedule lines up.
Lunch
Los Feliz eats
Lunch in Los Feliz or along Hollywood Boulevard before heading up into Griffith Park.
Afternoon
Griffith Observatory
Visit the free Griffith Observatory for its planetarium, telescopes, and classic Hollywood Sign views.
Late Afternoon
Santa Monica State Beach & Pier
Relax on the sand and walk the Pier and beachfront path for quintessential Southern California views.
Evening
Third Street Promenade
Shop and stroll the Third Street Promenade and nearby Montana Avenue.
Evening
Venice dinner
Dine in Venice or Santa Monica; reserve ahead for the coast's top tables.
Day 06
Boyle Heights & the Westside
Mexican-American murals and museums, Miracle Mile art, and La Cienega dining.
Morning
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
Start near downtown at this free, first-rate museum showcasing Mexican-American culture and Los Angeles history.
Late Morning
Mariachi Plaza & Boyle Heights murals
Walk to Boyle Heights for Mariachi Plaza and the neighborhood's celebrated murals, a vivid open-air gallery of Mexican-American culture.
Lunch
Boyle Heights taqueria
Enjoy tacos, tortas, or birria at El Mercado de Los Angeles or one of the neighborhood's family-run restaurants.
Afternoon
LACMA & La Brea Tar Pits
Head west to Miracle Mile for LACMA's galleries and the adjacent, bubbling La Brea Tar Pits.
Evening
The Original Farmers Market & The Grove
Return to the 1934 Original Farmers Market and the adjacent Grove for a casual stroll before dinner.
Evening
Restaurant Row dinner
Book dinner along La Cienega's Restaurant Row, home to some of the city's most established dining.
Day 07
Chinatown, Little Tokyo & Farewell
Dim sum and history in Chinatown, plus flexible time for favorites.
Morning
Chinatown & Central Plaza
Explore Chinatown's gates, Central Plaza, and the wishing well just north of downtown.
Late Morning
Chinatown shops
Browse the herbal shops, bakeries, and galleries along Broadway, Hill, and Chung King Road at your own pace.
Lunch
Dim sum or noodles
Feast on dim sum or hand-pulled noodles at one of Chinatown's longtime, acclaimed restaurants.
Afternoon
Little Tokyo & the Japanese American National Museum
Walk to Little Tokyo for the Japanese American National Museum and the shops of Japanese Village Plaza.
Late Afternoon
Grand Park & the Music Center
Revisit Grand Park and the Music Center for a final leisurely walk, fountains, and downtown views.
Evening
Farewell dinner downtown
End the week with a favorite Los Angeles meal, tacos, Korean barbecue, or a French dip at century-old Philippe's, before departing.