Beaches, culture, and celebrities – all come together as one large city in California. That’s City of Los Angeles. Visitors go here for sunshine, awesome food and to hang out in some of the hippest bars in town. Various types of accommodation are available to suit your budget from luxurious Los Angeles mansions with a view to budget hotels. Are you planning to spend a weekend in this gorgeous city? Here’s a suggested itinerary from us!
Friday Evening. Arrive and Downtown LA
Tourist will either arrive at LAX, Bob Hope Airport or drive to the city. If you fly in, get a taxi from the airport or arrange an airport pickup to take you directly to your accommodation. Time is precious on such a short trip to Los Angeles. After dropping your bags and settling in, head downtown for a bite to eat and for a cocktail in one of the rooftop bars.
Saturday Morning. Hollywood
Wake up early and get your daily infusion of caffeine before heading to Hollywood at 10 am. Spend a few hours walking around the neighborhood and find your favorite celebrity on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Enjoy the architecture, try to spot the places the rich and famous hangout, and get a photograph of the Hollywood Sign. The district has a few theaters worth checking out and the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is the resting place of late movie stars.
Saturday Afternoon. Griffith Park
Grab a taxi to Griffith Park and hike up to the Griffith Observatory for a spectacular view of the city. This is the largest public park in LA covering more than 4000 acres and hosting the botanical gardens, zoo, and Hollywood Sign. A Greek Theater and a museum dedicated to the Wild West on the grounds aren’t to be missed too. If you’re a fan of celebrities and are hoping to spot someone, the famous residents tend to take their dogs for walks in Griffith Park.
Saturday Evening. Melrose Avenue
Take a short taxi ride to Melrose Avenue, LA’s most famous shopping street, on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Boutiques and the latest fashion and brands line the sidewalks along with numerous fine-dining restaurants and opportunities to enjoy entertainment. The Pacific Design Center, characterized by the red, green, and blue buildings are worth a photograph.
Spend a few hours wandering the streets and window shopping for the accessories only the mega-rich can afford before grabbing a drink in one of the cafes. Dining options include finding the Melrose Avenue Food Truck or choosing from one of the many restaurants along the street.
In the evening, relax along Melrose Avenue with a few hard-earned cocktails. Several bars offer various types of atmospheres from noisy nightclubs to chilled jazz lounges.
If you’re into sports, check out the schedule for the Dodger’s and you may be lucky enough to be in town when they’re playing. Locals take baseball very seriously and the atmosphere inside the stadium is electric.
Sunday Morning. The Museums
Sunday morning, assuming you didn’t have a few too many cocktails the night before, is about museums. Take the metro or a taxi to Exposition Park in Southern Los Angeles to visit both the Natural History Museum (opens from 9.30 am to 5 pm; admission: adults $17, children $10) and the California Science Center (opens from 10 am to 5 pm; admission is free to the permanent galleries).
The Natural History Museum displays dinosaurs, Indian settlements, and covers the history of Spanish colonialism in the region. The California Science Center is the home to the Space Shuttle Endeavor, which successfully completed a total of 25 missions to the Hubble Space Telescope and International Space Station. Expect to spend at least a few hours to fully enjoy both museums before rewarding yourself with a trip to the beach.
Sunday Afternoon. Hitting the Beach
Visiting LA and not seeing the beaches would be like going to Dubai and missing the Burj Khalifa. Los Angeles has several beaches and an active watersport scene. Santa Monica is the most famous. Head down to soak up some of the sunrays or hit the waves on a surfboard or paddleboard. Surfing schools along the beach teach the essentials to newbies.
The 5.5 kilometer stretch of sand has a long pier stretching out over the Pacific Ocean and a cycle path hugging the coastline. Enjoy the views and take a few selfies. If you’re feeling particularly active, rent a bicycle and cycle along the coast to the more secluded spots. After spending a few hours at Santa Monica, grab a nice cold drink and a bite to eat along Santa Monica Boulevard.
Sunday Evening. Beverly Hills or Venice Beach
Before you leave, take a taxi to Beverly Hills to see the large mansions and elegant homes. The bars around Beverly Hills are often popular places for the local celebs. Or, head to Venice Beach to grab dinner and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Both are special ways to conclude your epic weekend break to the City of Angeles. However, all good things must come to an end and your time has come to leave this wonderful city and return to reality.
The Perfect Itinerary for Los Angeles
Seeing and experiencing everything Los Angeles has to offer in such a short space of time is impossible. The sprawling city has enough activities, museums, and attractions to keep you occupied for weeks. But, make the most of these must-see places on your weekend visit and come away with a flavor of what this destination is all about.
Book Your Stay
Booking.comBook Your Tour Here
Don’t Miss A Thing!
Subscribe here and keep updated with our latest travels, new posts, travel tips, destination guides and a plethora of travel inspiration!
This article is now available as a mobile app. Go to GPSmyCity to download the app for GPS-assisted travel directions to the attractions featured in this article.
Elesa Perry
Loved your post! Cool Photos!!
This is first time I am visiting your website and I find this post very very useful thanks for giving such a great information..
Keep up the good work…I will love to visit your site again and again….