How to Spend 5 Days in Los Angeles According to a Local

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Los Angeles is a city that people think they know—Hollywood, beaches, celebrities—but there’s so much more to it than the usual tourist spots (as great as those can be!).

As someone who was born and raised here, I’ve spent years (read: my whole life) exploring the best that LA has to offer, from hidden gems to classic must-sees. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for another trip, I’m sharing exactly how to spend 5 days in Los Angeles with an LA itinerary will help you experience the city like a local—efficiently planned, packed with iconic sights, and balanced with amazing food, scenic spots, and a few surprises along the way.

Get ready to see LA beyond the clichés and plan a trip that truly captures the magic of the city!

Summary of Your Los Angeles Itinerary

Map of this 5 Days in LA

Los Angeles 5 Day Itinerary

Before we dive in, I just had to let you know that I’ve made a quick reference version of this itinerary via a PDF download. It’s free, just tell me where to send it.

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Okay let’s do it! And P.S. LA isn’t LA without it’s incredible food, so I’ll be sharing restaurant and meal recommendations for every day, too.

Day 1 – Icons of Los Angeles

Breakfast at Beabea’s

Start your Los Angeles trip off right at BeaBea’s in Burbank with the most incredible breakfast menu of 21 pancake options, 17 types of French toast, and 10 variations of waffles! Plus they have crepes and classic breakfast choices with eggs, bagels, bacon, sausage, and potatoes. You won’t go wrong, I promise!

After your breakfast, drive 20 minutes to one of LA’s top attractions, Griffith Observatory.

Griffith Observatory

There’s no better start to discovering Los Angeles than this icon! Sitting atop Mount Hollywood, is Griffith Observatory – one of the most iconic attractions in Los Angeles!

It is my number must-do for anyone visiting Los Angeles since its free and has the best views of downtown LA, stunning astronomy exhibits, and incredible wrap around walkways that are perfect for snapping some photos. Griffith was used as a filming location for La La Land, Transformers, The Terminator, and more!

I have an incredibly detailed guide to Griffith Observatory, with everything you need to know about parking (including how to park for free), admission, and how to get there via public transportation.

Lunch…and a side of murder

Next, head down the mountain for some lunch. My top picks are Yuca’s, a taco stand with yummy, authentic Mexican eats.

Alternatively, head to Little Armenia just down the hill to eat at the infamous Zankou Chicken, an LA chain that serves spit-cooked chicken with signature garlic spread and in the true crime world is also known for the Zankou Chicken Murders of the founding family members. It’s a grizzly tale, but the food is iconic.

Hollywood Sign/Hike

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without seeing the Hollywood Sign. It’s a classic LA once in a lifetime experience! While you may have glimpsed it from Griffith Observatory, there are plenty more great viewpoints. Here are my top places to see the Hollywood Sign:

1. Lake Hollywood Park – At the base of the mountain is Lake Hollywood Park, a dog park with dedicated parking and great views. There’s a curve in the road at one end of the park with dedicated space to take some close photos!

2. Brush Canyon Trail – This hiking trail takes you to the top of Mount Lee, behind the Hollywood Sign. This is the most unique viewpoint and definitely recommended if you want to dabble in Los Angeles hiking (we actually have lots of great hikes, believe it or not).
3. Palm Tree Insta-worthy Viewpoint – At S Windsor Blvd and 5^th Street in the actual city of Los Angeles (as opposed to the county), you’ll find the iconic palm-tree lined street with the Hollywood Sign in the background dead center.
4. Hollywood and Highland – Later in this itinerary, you’ll have the option to spend a day in Hollywood. It’s not my top recommendation for how to spend your precious 5 days in LA, but if you do so, head to the corner of Hollywood and Highland (the northeast corner) and you’ll see the Hollywood sign.

Dinner Choices

For dinner head to Lankershim Blvd which passes through Toulca Lake and North Hollywood. There are a number of great restaurants to try for dinner including Angelino’s Trattoria with amazing Italian food or Rustic Spoon that has delicious Thai food!

If you’re not burnt out from the day, you can also head to Universal CityWalk, which is free (aside from parking) and has a ton of great restaurants, shopping, and even a luxe movie theatre with reclining seats! Read my guide to Universal CityWalk to see how to get free parking when you visit the movie theatre, plus other great things to do there!

One of my favorite dinner options is Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, which has a steampunk vibe and a full dinner menu. The shining star of course, are the desserts. I’ve loved the chocolate bread pudding, mousse, and their crazy milkshakes, which they are known for!

Day 2 – Downtown LA

While I have a detailed 1 day itinerary for downtown LA, I’ll give you the quick version so you don’t have to click back and forth. But I encourage you to read that full guide to see allllll the options in DTLA.

Breakfast at Grand Central

First head to Grand Central Market for breakfast. Eggslut is a popular breakfast spot with egg sandwiches (or save this for Day 4), or try fresh bagels at Wexler’s Deli. One of my favorites are the strawberry donuts from The Donut Man, but note that they are seasonal.

Nearby Highlights

Next head across the street to take the world’s shortest railway – Angel’s Flight Railway. It only costs $1 each way and even less if you have an active Metro card. The views from the top are beautiful and the railway cars have been used in movies, like La La Land.

Once you’ve finished that, walk back towards Grand Central Market and pass through. When you come out the other side, go across the street to the Bradbury Building, an architectural marvel with ornate ironwork, skylights, and old-fashioned elevators. It’s been the backdrop of many movies like 500 Days of Summer and Blade Runner. It’s also free to visit!

Make your way around the block to the Last Bookstore, one of LA’s most photogenic spots with its Insta-worthy book window, a book tunnel, flying books, and even the book vault. It’s a running book shop, so pick up a new read while you’re taking photos. Note that it can get busy, so be patient when trying to take photos.

Lunch: Dive into Culture

For lunch you have two options. You should go to both anyway, but you’ll probably only be eating one meal, so you decide the order you visit based on your hunger at this point. Or eat a little bit at both places, I won’t tell 😉.

First is Olvera Street, an historic Mexican cobblestone street that’s been around since 1930 and is the street on which you’ll find the oldest house in Los Angeles (you can visit for free!).

Here, you’ll also find authentic Mexican food and street vendors, some of whom are descended from the original vendors of the 1930s. Try Cielito Lindo with incredible taquitos with a delicious avocado sauce, and be sure to grab a churro.

The second option is Chinatown with unbeatable restaurants like Yang Chow (my favorite!). Whether you eat here or not, stroll through Central Plaza to see recreations of Shanghai streets with beautiful architecture, hanging red lanterns, and shops.

Rush Hour and Lethal Weapon were filmed here and you can even spot a Bruce Lee statue.

Other DTLA Activities

The rest of the day is free to explore more of downtown LA. Other highlights include:

• Walt Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry is an architectural landmark where the LA Philharmonic plays. Catch a show or just walk around the exterior for some fun photos.

• The Broad Museum is a free art museum in downtown LA with mostly contemporary art.

• Stroll the Art’s District where you can take walkable art tours or hunt down the epic murals on your own.
• Grammy Museum is for music lovers! It has interactive exhibits and pieces of history with musician’s famous memorabilia.

• Little Tokyo is another cultural hub where you can try authentic Japanese food! This would be my choice for dinner! Marugame Monzo is a popular choice.

Day 3 – Classic Los Angeles

Have you seen the second season of You on Netflix? If so then this day is for you (pun intended). This is a classic Los Angeles day with a bit of stereotypes, but for good reason.

All of these activities are famous for a reason. This itinerary is probably what comes to mind when you think of LA…so let’s go!

Breakfast at the Original Farmer’s Market LA

On the corner of 3^rd and Fairfax sits the Original Farmer’s Market, established in 1934. My absolute favorite vendor for breakfast is Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts. Stop there first for the absolute best donuts and unique coffee slushies. *Note: they only take cash and there are ATMs on the property.

Walk around a bit. Sample Little John’s English Toffee and grab an empanada to go from Nonna’s Empanadas. You can even head over to The Grove, an outdoor mall, with a beautiful fountain, high end shopping and a three story Barnes and Noble, and even a movie theatre.

Alternatively, consider a proper food tour of the Original Farmer’s Market. I’m actually eager to do this one myself, so if you do it, report back!

U-Pick Museum

Take your pick at one of these top museums in LA:

1. LACMA, aka the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a great option for art-lovers. Snaps some pics at the Urban Light display out front too!
2. Around the corner are the La Brea Tar Pits, a fun science destination for families, couples, and whoever wants to learn about the Ice Age! Walk around the grounds to see actual tar pits and watch where you step – tiny tar pits are all over the property (you can’t get stuck, but your shoes can get covered in tar).
3. Petersen Automotive Museum is an amazing and unique car museum with exhibits like the Cars of Hollywood – Science Fiction and Fantasy, Art Design, and the Fall and Rise of Electric Vehicles.
4. Academy Museum of Motion Pictures tells the stories of the movies and the awards ceremonies over the years with a look at props, costumes, and behind the scenes of your favorite films.

Lunch: Pink’s Hot Dogs or Melrose Trading Post

For lunch head to one (or both…no judgement) of these options. First is Pink’s Hot Dogs, a famous hot dog eatery near the above museums that was established in 1939. Try the chili dog and wait for the signature “pop” sound and feel that comes with your first bite into their hot dogs.

If it’s a Sunday, I recommend the Melrose Trading Post where you can shop from local vendors and grab lunch from a visiting food truck. You can purchase $7 tickets ahead of time online or in person for $5 cash.

Photo Outing

Did you really go to LA, if you didn’t take some iconic photos? Sure there are plenty of instagrammable spots in Los Angeles, but the Pink Wall is one of the best! You can find this photo op at the Paul Smith store on Melrose, near the Melrose Trading Post. Snap some pics and wander in the store if you’d like.

Some other photo-friendly options are Urth Caffe, a famous LA coffee hotspot with a location down Melrose (I love the hot chocolate here!), Carrerra Café (across from the Paul Smith store) with a beautiful floral wall on the entrance, or even the crocheted rainbow by London Kaye.

You can even hit up Rodeo Drive (and the picturesque Golden Triangle) plus the unique Spadena House, a storybook house also known as the Witch’s House.

Now would be a good time to relax back at your hotel/Airbnb and get ready for your evening.

Dinner with a View

End your day with dinner (and drinks) with a view at Perch LA, one of the finest rooftop restaurants in LA. This two story restaurant on the 15^th and 16^th floors has epic views of the Los Angeles skyline and serves fine French cuisine with options like Bouillabaisse, Fillet Mignon au Poivre, and Steak Frites. Needless-to-say the wine options are pristine.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a unique LA evening, head to Melrose Rooftop Theatre where you can eat dinner and watch a movie on the rooftop! Rooftop Cinema Club is another option with a few locations throughout the city. If it’s the summer, I recommend Cinespia at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, another special movie watching atmosphere only in Los Angeles!

Day 4 – Relax at the Beach

For today, you’ll be exploring two of Los Angeles’ most popular beach towns – Venice and Santa Monica. Each one has its own personality, so you decide which is superior.

Breakfast in Venice Beach

Start your day with some breakfast in Venice Beach. I recommend Flake or Great White, each with 4.4+ stars and hundreds of reviews.

If you want to get to the beach itself first, the popular breakfast chain called Eggslut sits just next to your first stop and has quick service sandwiches that you can take with you.

Either way, make your way to Venice Beach.

A good place to start is Windward Ave and Pacific Ave, where you’ll find the hanging Venice sign. It makes for a good photo op, but it is in the middle of a busy intersection, so please only take pictures from a crosswalk, when allowed. Don’t be that tourist standing in the middle of the street for a picture when crazy LA drivers are trying to get somewhere. Just my word of warning.

If you drive down Windward toward the beach, you’ll see some street parking and signs for public parking, which usually costs $10-20 for the day.

Explore the Ocean Front Walk

Venice Beach is one of the top 10 beaches in LA, and it is a wide beach – meaning the distance from the ocean to the storefronts/parking is far. You can absolutely walk up to the ocean, but the draw of Venice isn’t the water…it’s the people watching.

You’ll want to walk along the boardwalk or “Ocean-Front Walk” to experience the weirdness that is Venice. Enjoy the eclectic art, shops, and people. You can also find unique food, similar to that you’d find at a fair…like fried oreos!

The Ocean-Front Walk is 1.0 mile in length, depending where you start and end.

An alternative way to experience Venice is to take a nice bike ride. You can bike along the Ocean-Front Walk or on a paved path that weaves along the sand. Rent bikes from Bike Skate Surf Rentals, Boneshaker Electric Bikes, or Jay’s Rentals at the end of Windward Ave.

As you explore Venice, you might be wondering why it’s named such. It’s actually because the city has canals similar to Venice, Italy. If you drive inland a bit from Ocean-Front Walk, you’ll find them. You can’t take gondola rides down them, but the walking paths adjacent to the canals are quite lovely.

Lunch: Options Galore in Downtown Santa Monica

For lunch, head to downtown Santa Monica for some great lunch options! Try Pono Burger for classic burgers and beer with a Hawaiian theme, Tar and Roses, a higher end American restaurant that uses seasonal ingredients, or Fritto Misto where you can create your own pasta.

Honestly if you head down Wilshire Blvd or Santa Monica Blvd, you can’t go wrong!

For dessert consider the Butter & Salt donut from Sidecar Doughnuts, a delightful gourmet donut company that’s expanded with locations all over LA.

Gems of 3^rd Street Promenade

Spend the first half of your afternoon wandering through Santa Monica’s 3^rd Street Promenade. This is an outdoor walkable mall with fun activities besides shopping!

Test your hand at an incredible Virtual Reality experience at The Void, where as a group of four, you’ll be immersed in a play-able story, such as Jumanji: Reverse the Curse, Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment, or Ghostbusters: Dimension.

As the day winds down, take a lovely stroll on the Santa Monica Pier. Watch the sunset and even go for a Ferris Wheel ride at Pacific Park, the mini theme park on the pier. You can also play some arcade games, ride the original carousel, explore the aquarium, and admire the street (read: pier) performers.

Dinner on the Pier

There are plenty of food options on the pier for dinner including bigger restaurants like Bubba Gump Shrimp Co (with awesome views of the beach), Pier Burger, a classic burger joint in the center of the pier, Hot Dog on a Stick at the base of the pier, or even Maria Sol, the Mexican restaurant at the end of the pier.

Don’t forget to grab cotton candy or popcorn from Pacific Park!

Day 5 – Choose Your Own Adventure

Since there is so much to do in Los Angeles, today is the day to explore something based on your own interests or even cross off a bucket list item. It’s a freebie. However, here are some options:

1. Visit one of the many theme parks in Los Angeles

Obviously, there’s Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure with iconic rides like the Teacups, Matterhorn, and Space Mountain, and new incredible technology, especially in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. And trust me you really can do Disneyland in just one day. But, don’t sleep on these lesser visited parks:

• Six Flags Magic Mountain (or Hurricane Harbor in the summer) with above-and-beyond rollercoasters with a DC universe theme — Superman, Tatsu, and Goliath are staples.
• Universal Studios Hollywood where you can experience the Jurassic World ride, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and the new Nintendo World.

• Knott’s Berry Farm, a local Snoopy/Peanuts themed park with Soak City, the accompanying water park.
• Raging Waters, a fun water park that’s pretty inexpensive and has a wave pool, lazy river, and so many water rides! They do close during the winter so check their site for an updated calendar.

2. Take a hike…literally

• Runyon Canyon is one of the most popular trails that has nice city views
• Echo Mountain trail (my personal favorite) that takes you to ruins of the Mount Lowe Railway and the Echo Mountain House, a fancy 70-room hotel built in the 1930’s (TEMPORARILY CLOSED due to the Los Angeles wildfires of 2025)

• Brush Canyon trail goes to the Hollywood Sign from behind
• Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook to see views of downtown LA with the mountains in the background

3. Explore Hollywood

If Hollywood has always been on your bucket list, now is the time! Here are some top sights in Hollywood:

• Hollywood Walk of Fame – try to find your favorite celeb!
• TCL Chinese Theatre, an icon of old Hollywood

• See a show at the Hollywood Bowl, where sometimes tickets are as cheap as $20 (plus you can bring in outside food and drinks)
• Stroll the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (one of my favorite free things to do in Los Angeles) where you can find the graves of famous celebs like Cecil B. DeMille, Charlie Chaplin, Chris Cornell, George Harrison, and Judy Garland, among others.
• See a Broadway show at the Pantages Theatre, which is stunning in its art deco style

Los Angeles FAQ’s

Is 5 days in Los Angeles enough time?

Yes, absolutely! While I think Los Angeles has enough activities and hidden gems to keep even locals busy for a lifetime, 5 days is plenty of time to see the highlights and cover a lot of ground.

Who is this 5 day itinerary for?

This is a good first timers guide to Los Angeles. It covers everything you will want to see if you only have 5 days.

However, if you’re a local or it’s your 100^th time visiting Los Angeles, I encourage you to read my suggestions because chances are, you haven’t been to all of these places either. I definitely hadn’t as a local before I started travel blogging and actively seeking out local travel destinations.

Do I have to follow this itinerary to a T?

Of course not! I recommend reading it over, picking out what sounds good, doing your own research on what activities sound fun (beyond what’s covered here), and creating your own lineup – especially for restaurants, bars, or coffee shops you may want to try! I never even mentioned In-N-Out, a California classic!

How do I get around LA?

Traveling by car is the easiest, but not necessarily the cheapest. Rental cars can cost you $20/day on the upper end, while public transportation costs $25 for the week.

It comes down to your budget and how much time you want to spend getting from point A to B. Public transportation in LA is abundant but not always efficient – meaning it might take you multiple train/bus transfers plus a lengthy walk to get to your destination.

For this itinerary, where is the best place to stay?

I would stay in Burbank, Glendale, or Silver Lake, where the prices increase in that order, generally speaking.

Burbank has a lot to do on its own and it’s just north of Universal Studios, Warner Bros Studios, and Griffith Park.

Glendale is more suburban and residential, but still has big malls and things to do.

Silver Lake is in the heart of LA in an artsy area with lots of parks, coffee shops, and bars.

If you want a livelier stay, Silver Lake is the best choice. Introverts, Burbank and Glendale are for you.

When is the best time to visit Los Angeles?

I recommend spring or fall for mild weather. The summer heat can be unbearable, especially July-September. Winter in LA is sometimes cold, especially at night but unless you’re looking for a traditional beach day, you can still see everything in winter. I would visit in early May for fewest crowds and best chance at nice weather or January and February if you don’t mind “chilly” temperatures (which for LA is in the 50s and 60s during the day).

Are people in Los Angeles rude?

Yes I’m including this in my post because I genuinely want to answer, explain, and prepare you for what people are like in LA if you’ve never been.

The answer is that if you’re from LA, it’s just the way of life. It’s not rude, it’s just minding your own business. Here’s why: LA is the most populated county in the country. In 2024 there were 9.6 million people in LA County!

When you’re surrounded by lots of people all the time, you learn to keep to yourself. People in LA generally won’t have full conversations with strangers and they don’t say hi to strangers on the street. They have places to be.

If you visit from out of town, I’m not saying don’t talk to anyone. However, don’t be surprised if people are curt. It’s a dead giveaway that you’re not from LA if you start telling your life story to strangers (I’m talking to you Southerners…for real this was the biggest culture shock when I moved to Georgia and now Tennessee).

Is Los Angeles safe to visit?

Yes and no. As with any big city, there are dodgy areas and people. Be aware of your surroundings. Never leave your belongings unattended or visible in a parked car. It’s not the South. People will take things (speaking from experience having lived in Los Angeles, Georgia, and Tennessee).

There is a big homelessness problem in Los Angeles. Don’t be surprised or alarmed if you see large encampments on the sides of roads. Homeless people are generally very nice, but be cautious.

As an example, I was leaving a restaurant once with my leftovers in hand and a homeless man approached me asking if he could have my leftovers. I gave it to him of course. Might seem sketchy at first, but often people are just desperate. Trust your gut.

In this itinerary, the dodgiest parts are the tourist areas of Hollywood and Venice’s Ocean Front Walk. Use the most caution there. Locals say that those two areas are for “freaks or tourists” only.

My Travel Essentials

• Travel Insurance – Going on an international trip? Don’t forget travel and medical insurance with SafetyWing.
• Travel Card – If you’re new to travel hacking, fear not! My favorite card for beginners gives you $750 in rewards when you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months, plus lounge access, 10x points on hotel bookings, and free TSA pre-check!
• Get Your Guide – Check out Get Your Guide for a one-stop-shop for booking travel activities.
• Booking.com – This is my favorite hotel search aggregator, specifically for reading reviews. On Booking.com, the reviews can be searched for keywords like WiFi, breakfast, pool, amenities, etc.! So helpful!
• Anti-pickpocket bag – Worried about having your valuables swiped? PacSafe makes the best travel bags with zippers and straps that lock and with mesh steel enforced fabric.
• Give the Gift of Travel – This is the perfect gift for travelers in your life! Tinggly allows you to gift experiences around the world, perfect for birthdays, weddings, or anniversaries.
• Staycation Idea – Check out Resort Pass, which gives you day passes to resorts so you can use their pool, spa, and fitness center, a great staycation idea!

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