Love this post? Give it a share!


5 DAY LOS ANGELES ITINERARY FOR FIRST TIMERS: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE & BEST THINGS TO DO!

LOOKING TO PLAN THE ULTIMATE 5 DAY LOS ANGELES ITINERARY?


The 5 day Los Angeles itinerary below is perfect for those visiting Los Angeles for the first time! We created and followed this itinerary ourselves a few years ago on our first and only visit to LA.

It highlights all the sights and activities we did over the 5 days in LA, more of the best guided tours in Los Angeles, where we recommend to stay and more!





💡 Psst! Find all the best Los Angeles hotels on Booking.com. Easily find, book and enjoy great deals in one place.

💡 Psst! Find all the best Los Angeles half & full day tours on Viator. Recent customer reviews and flexible free cancellation.



5 DAY LOS ANGELES ITINERARY:


For our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary listed below, we begin first in the heart of Hollywood, exploring all the top hotspots including the Hollywood sign and Beverly Hills. Spend the last few days chilling out on iconic Venice Beach in Santa Monica!


DAY 1: HIKE BEHIND THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN & THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY


MORNING: HIKE BEHIND THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN
Grab an Uber this morning to Canyon Drive and set off on this epic Runyon Canyon trail towards the Hollywood Sign on top of Mt Lee. It is best to begin early to avoid the midday heat on the walk up, as there is little shade.

The trail is around 5 miles return. Make a short detour to the Bronson Caves, most famously known for hosting Batmans ‘Bat cave’ filming location just before the trail begins.

One of the best things you can do on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary is the Runyon Canyon hike up to behind the Hollywood sign! Pictured: Jordie marvelling in the views of Los Angeles on the Runyon Canyon trail. Photograph taken by Liam.
Pictured: Jordie marvelling in the views of Los Angeles on the Runyon Canyon trail to the Hollywood sign, a must for anyones Hollywood itinerary! Photograph taken by Liam.

Reaching the top of Mt Lee, you are rewarded with a jaw-dropping panorama of Los Angeles city, perfectly framed by the iconic Hollywood Sign below! Sit, relax and enjoy the view with some snacks and drinks to refuel – you’ve earned it!

If you don’t want to hike by yourself, check out this 5* guided group walking tour to the Hollywood sign!

Top Tip: You must bring water and food with you. There are no drinking fountains on route and very little protective shade from the intense LA heat. Behind the Hollywood Sign, there are just three benches and a rubbish bin. There are also no toilets.

Top Tip: Don’t wear your best trainers for this route – the orange dirt will stain them! Wear a good pair of walking boots that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty!

Top Tip: When the dirt track ends, you hit a concrete road (about 3/4 into the trial). You can either turn left (downhill) or right (uphill). To get behind the Hollywood sign, go uphill to the right.

Top Tip: The Hollywood Sign is protected by a large wire fence. You cannot sit next to or touch the sign. If you want an undisturbed photo, get down from the viewpoint to fence level and put your lens through the fence gaps – or – get on your tip toes and take a photo from above the fence. 


One of the best things you can do on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary is the Runyon Canyon hike up to behind the Hollywood sign!
Pictured: The iconic Hollywood sign. One of the best things to do on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary is to hike the Runyon trail to behind the Hollywood sign – Just look at that view!


AFTERNOON: VISIT THE GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY
Half way back down from the Hollywood sign, follow the sign-posted route round to the Griffith Observatory. It’s an additional 15 to 20 minute walk from this point.

The Observatory is free to enter. The lower-ground level hosts multiple space-related exhibitions. Climb up to the upper level for unbelievable views of the LA skyline!

If you wanted to view the night sky through their giant ‘Zeiss’ telescopes, one of most “viewed-through” telescopes in the world, plan to visit after sundown instead. If you wanted the full experience of the Observatory without the crowds, there is the option to book a private guided tour!

Top Tip: Along the sign-posted route to The Griffith Observatory walking from the Hollywood sign, there are water fountains to fill up your bottles!

Top Tip: There are free public toilets at the Observatory front car park.


A visit to the iconic Griffith Observatory must be added to your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
The iconic Griffith Observatory, found on the hilltop in Los Angeles.
A visit to the iconic Griffith Observatory must be added to your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary! Photographs taken by Jordie.
The iconic Griffith Observatory, found on the hilltop in Los Angeles. Be sure to add this to your Hollywood itinerary! Photographs taken by Jordie.

SPOTTED WILDLIFE!

Wild Hummingbirds
Spotted whizzing in the flowers at the Griffith Observatory! Los Angeles is home to 3 types: The Anna, Allens and Californian hummingbird. They create a subtle “hum” from flapping their wings 60 times per second!

Incredibly, they are the only bird that can fly backwards and hover in place. They also play an important part in nature – pollinating plants and collecting nectar. Another brilliant destination to see wild hummingbirds is Costa Rica.

When you visit the Griffith Observatory on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, look out for the hummingbirds buzzing around outside!


DAY 2: WALK OF FAME, MELROSE AVENUE, BEVERLY HILLS & RODEO DRIVE


MORNING: WALK OF FAME
Up bright and early today for a jam-packed day galavanting around the hotspots of Hollywood and Beverly Hills! First up is the most famous street in Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard.

Iconically known as the ‘Walk of Fame’, it is a must-do on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary. Trail the street to find the star of your favourite celebrities, you have 2,500 to choose from!

The Walk of Fame is the number one tourist stop that must be included in any first timers 5 day Los Angeles itinerary! Yes it's a tourist trap, but avoid most people by arriving early to Hollywood Boulevard. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Yes, the Walk of Fame is a tourist trap, but avoid most tourists by arriving early in the morning! It’s a given stop for any first timer to LA’s itinerary! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Pop into the Chinese Theatre, a courtyard of concrete slabs with imprinted messages and hand prints from Hollywood icons including The Rock, Dick Van Dyke, Johnny Depp and Cher!

After the Walk of Fame, look for the famous imprints in the outdoor courtyard of the Chinese Theatre next door. Pictured is Cher's hand and shoe imprints! Photograph taken by Jordie.
After the Walk of Fame, look for the famous imprints in the outdoor courtyard of the Chinese Theatre next door. Pictured is Cher’s hand and shoe imprints! Photograph taken by Jordie.

Reality Check: The Walk of Fame is unfortunately not so “glossy and glam” in real life. It is actually very grubby, with multiple stars being scuffed, stained and covered in gum. There are also a lot of homeless people here.

Top Tip: The ‘A-List’ celebrity stars tend to be nearer the main Boulevard (near Madame Tussauds and the Chinese Theatre). There are also stars for fictional and cartoon characters, not just celebrities!

Top Tip: To avoid being trampled by tourists, visit early in the morning to take your photographs of / with the stars, as you will have the majority of the Walk of Fame to yourself. Venture back in the afternoon, when the Boulevard buzz comes alive!


MORNING: MELROSE AVENUE STOP OFF (OPTIONAL)
Make a short stop off at Melrose Avenue (near the Paul Smith store) for some photo opportunities with some super quirky and bold wall murals!

Top Tip: The majority of Melrose Avenue stores do not open until 11am/12pm.

Pictured: Jordie with the mural outside Carrera Cafe, located directly opposite the pink Paul Smith store on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Photograph taken by Liam.
Pictured: Jordie with the mural outside Carrera Cafe, located directly opposite the pink Paul Smith store on Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles. Photograph taken by Liam.
Pictured: One of the iconic stores to see on Melrose Avenue is the Paul Smith store, famous for its bright pink exterior! Photograph of Jordie taken by Liam.
Pictured: One of the iconic stores to see on Melrose Avenue is the Paul Smith store, famous for its bright pink exterior! Photograph of Jordie taken by Liam.


AFTERNOON: GROVE MALL & ORIGINAL FARMERS MARKET
Hop in an UBER and get dropped off at The Grove. Let your credit card run wild in boutique stores like Anthropologie, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Nike, Sephora and Michael Kors to name a few.

Indulge in ATM Cupcakes, ice creams or revel in a maze of bustling food stalls at The Original Farmers Market next door, offering fresh fruit smoothies, BBQ grills, seafood, tacos, burgers, coffee & crêpes.

Fun Fact: You can see original works by Pablo Picasso in the Grand Lobby restroom seating areas!

Fun Fact: You can rent a free phone charger from the Grand Lobby concierge during your time at The Grove!

Pictured: The Grove outdoor shopping mall in central Los Angeles. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Pictured: The Grove outdoor shopping mall in central Los Angeles. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Stop by The Grove shopping mall and grab a delicious lunch at the Original Farmers Market next door! Photograph taken by Jordie.
Stop by The Grove shopping mall and grab a delicious lunch at the Original Farmers Market next door! Photograph taken by Jordie.


AFTERNOON: BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL
Next up is the Beverly Hills Hotel, a keeper of Hollywood history, astronomical business deals and secret celebrity hideaways since 1912. Grab a hotel sign photo & waltz up the red carpet to the main lobby.

Look around public areas or grab a cocktail in the ‘Polo Lounge’. You’re bound to spot a celebrity or two! An absolute must on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!

Pictured: Jordie grabbing a photo with the Beverly Hills hotel sign, one of our favourite stops during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary! Photograph taken by Liam.
Pictured: Jordie grabbing a photo with the Beverly Hills hotel sign, one of our favourite stops during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary! Photograph taken by Liam.

Fun fact: This hotel has been around before Beverly Hills even existed! Beverly Hills city was literally built around this iconic ‘Pink Palace’.

Fun fact: Out of the 23 bungalows on the hotel grounds, Marilyn Monroe’s favourite was #7.


AFTERNOON: BEVERLY HILLS MANSIONS & RODEO DRIVE
Get dropped off at this Rodeo Drive residential spot to see HUGE picture-perfect Beverly Hills mansions, before making the short walk down to the iconically wealthy shopping avenue of Rodeo Drive.

Want to see more Movie Star homes around Beverly Hills? Be sure to book onto this 5* guided “Movie Star Homes & LA Sightseeing” bike tour.

Fun Fact: The average house price in Beverly Hills is a staggering $3,500,000!

Be sure to see all of the incredible mansions on Rodeo Drive, where some of Beverly Hills richest residents live!
Get dropped off at this Rodeo Drive residential spot to see HUGE picture-perfect Beverly Hills mansions. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Pictured: Some of the large Beverly Hills mansions near Rodeo Drive. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Pictured: Some of the large Beverly Hills mansions near Rodeo Drive. Photograph taken by Jordie.


AFTERNOON: RODEO DRIVE SHOPPING AVENUE
Rodeo Drive – A small, famous and A-list exclusive shopping avenue lined with immaculate designer stores and to-die-for super cars. Find upmarket stores such as of Chanel, Valentino, Prada, Gucci and Alexander McQueen here.

Apart from the House of Bijan (which is appointment only), trace the steps of many celebrities and take time to window-shop inside the pristinely designed stores.

Pictured: Liam with the famous 'House of Bijan' yellow sports car outside on Rodeo Drive. Photograph taken by Jordie.
Pictured: Liam with the famous ‘House of Bijan’ yellow sports car outside on Rodeo Drive. Photograph taken by Jordie.

Fun Fact: In the movie ‘Pretty Woman’, Rodeo Drive is the movie location where Vivian (Julia Roberts) goes shopping!

Fun fact: Rodeo Drive is home to the most expensive store in the world – The House of Bijan. A tie can go for up to $1,000, a suit $25,000! You enter by secured appointment only, which must be approved by the owner. They have provided suits for the likes of Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Jordan and Tom Cruise!

Fun fact: Parked outside the House of Bijan, you will always find an iconic yellow super-car: a tribute to its late owner, Bijan Pakzad. When we visited, it was a $1.6 million Rolls Royce!


Pictured: Jordie walking up the quaint cobbles of Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, channeling her inner Julia Roberts! Photograph taken by Liam. A must do on any first timers Los Angeles itinerary!
Pictured: Jordie walking up the quaint cobbles of Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, channeling her inner Julia Roberts! Photograph taken by Liam.

Did You Know? Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place is at the ‘Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary‘ in Los Angeles, where many tourists visit to pay their respects.

Incredibly, the late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner bought the plot next to Marilyn’s grave for $75,000, stating “spending eternity next to Marilyn is too sweet to pass up!”. Marilyn was his first Playboy cover girl, and now both can be found side by side in this small, off the beaten track cemetery.

If you can, do try and add this into your Los Angeles itinerary.


DAY 3: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD


Let your inner child loose today on this full, jam-packed day of all things Universal Studios! Have your mind blown by the amazing virtual reality rides, grab a Butter beer at Harry Potter World, take the studio tour to active filming lots and see the animal stars show!

Pictured: Jordie and Liam at the front entrance of Universal Studios Hollywood. We had the best day here during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, and you absolutely will to!
Pictured: Jordie and Liam at the front entrance of Universal Studios Hollywood. We had the best day here during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, and you absolutely will to!

We highly recommend buying the ‘Skip The Line: Universal Express’ entry ticket. It provides one-time ‘skip the line’ access for each ride, attraction, seated show & the studio tour! It also gives early 9am access into ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’, before the main crowds arrive at 10am.

Top Tip: Each show at Universal Studios runs 3 times daily. Download the free ‘Universal Studios Hollywood’ App to check the time slots on your chosen day. This is a great tool to benchmark where you need to be so you don’t miss anything! Shows available are ‘Universal Animal Actors’, ‘The Special Effects Show’ and ‘WaterWorld’. This App also provides an offline map of the park.

universal studios hollywood app

Universal Studios Hollywood App
Theme Park Map and Day Planner

Download on Apple.
Download on Android.


Top Tip: The best virtual reality ride there is ‘The Simpsons’. You cannot miss it. The Harry Potter ‘The Forbidden Journey’ ride is a very close second!


Let your inner child run wild at 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' at Universal Studios Hollywood. This must be added everyones Hollywood itinerary! Photographs taken by Liam.
Let your inner child run wild at ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ at Universal Studios Hollywood. This must be added everyones Hollywood itinerary! Photographs taken by Liam.
Pictured: Enjoy a butter beer at 'The Wizarding World of Harry Potter' (left) and Jordie getting a selfie with the infamous Scooby Doo and Shaggy! Photographs taken by Liam.
Pictured: Enjoy a butter beer at ‘The Wizarding World of Harry Potter’ (left) and Jordie getting a selfie with the infamous Scooby Doo and Shaggy! Photographs taken by Liam.


DAY 4: TRANSFER TO SANTA MONICA, VENICE CANALS & VENICE BEACH


MORNING: TRANSFER TO THE LA COAST
Check out of your Hollywood hotel before heading west to the coast line of Venice Beach this morning. Drop off your luggage / settle into your new Venice Beach accommodation. The journey by UBER should take approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Spend a few days basking in the Californian sunshine on the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
You must add spending a few days down at Venice Beach on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!


AFTERNOON: VENICE BEACH PROMENADE TO THE PIER
Stroll down the bustling Venice Beach Promenade this afternoon, bursting with live street performers, budding musicians and countless thrift shops and bars.

Divert onto the soft sandy beach as you make your way towards the Venice Beach fishing pier, stealing a few selfies next to the iconic Baywatch lifeguard huts on the way!

Spend a few days basking in the Californian sunshine on the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
Pictured: The buzzing atmosphere of Venice Beach Promenade is special thing to be immersed in!
Pictured: Jordie with an iconic lifeguard beach huts on Venice Beach! This is one of our favourite things to do in Los Angeles. Photograph taken by Liam.
Pictured: Jordie with an iconic lifeguard beach huts on Venice Beach! This is one of our favourite things to do in Los Angeles.

Top Tip: There are free public toilets to use right next to Muscle Beach!

Reality check: There are a lot of homeless people and their tents lined along the Venice Promenade.

Reality check: The iconic ‘Muscle Beach’ outdoor gym equipment (famed by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is now extremely run-down and rusty. It’s also much smaller than we had imagined.


Pictured: The eclectic pop up shops we spotted along the Venice Beach promenade (left) and the Venice Beach skate park (right). Photographs taken by Jordie.
Pictured: The eclectic pop up shops we spotted along the Venice Beach promenade (left) and the Venice Beach skate park (right). Photographs taken by Jordie.


AFTERNOON: VISIT THE VENICE CANAL DISTRICT
Before you head back up towards Santa Monica, you must visit the Venice Canal Historic District, a quaint residential area built upon a series of dreamy interconnecting canals. These canals were originally created in 1905 by Abbot Kinney, as part of his ‘Venice of America’ programme!

When you reach Venice Beach on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, be sure to weave down the Venice Canals district!
Pictured: The Venice Canal District in Los Angeles.

Fun Fact: When opened in 1905, the original purpose of the boat houses lining the canals was to host family weekend holidays! Now, most of them are permanent residences.

Fun Fact: There are six waterways in total: Grand, Eastern, Carroll, Linnie, Lowland and Sherman, totalling to 1.5 miles in length along a grid system.



DAY 5: SURFING LESSON, RENT A BEACH CRUISER & SANTA MONICA PIER


MORNING: TAKE A SURFING LESSON
Have some serious fun this morning learning to surf on the iconic Californian coast of Santa Monica! Catch the waves on either a shared small group 2 hour group surfing lesson or even opt for your own private surfing lesson!

 


AFTERNOON: RENT A BEACH CRUISER
Explore the full length of the coastline in style by renting a beach cruiser bike! See all bike rental shops available here. Zip along the Santa Monica & Venice coastline with ease along the Venice Boardwalk.

Another option is to rent electronic scooters called ‘Birds’ (find them all along the beach) via the ‘Bird – Enjoy the Ride‘ App.

Top Tip: The bike rentals usually come with locks to chain to available bike racks as you stop off and explore different destinations.

Top Tip: As well as bikes, you can also hire e-scooters and roller skates from most of the rental stores.


Pictured: Jordie and Liam zipping down the Venice boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice Beach on our rented beach cruisers! This was such a fun activity and time-convenient way to explore during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
Pictured: Jordie and Liam zipping down the Venice boardwalk between Santa Monica and Venice Beach on our rented beach cruisers! This was such a fun activity and time-convenient way to explore during our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
Immerse yourself in the electric beach vibes of Venice Beach on your 5 days Los Angeles itinerary!
Rent a beach cruiser and cycle along this shared boardwalk, spanning the full length from Santa Monica all the way to Venice beach!


EVENING: SANTA MONICA PIER
Wind down your day strolling the wooden walkway of Santa Monica pier. Lose yourself in old-school amusement arcades, fairground rides, magicians, performers and nautical restaurants that give Santa Monica Pier its renowned electric, vibrant vibe.

You must venture around the electric Santa Monica Pier when in Venice Beach on your 5 day Los Angeles itinerary!
Head down to Santa Monica Pier for an electric vibe, fun amusements and great seafood!

Top Tip: Get a quick workout in on the ‘Original Muscle Beach‘, a collection of modern gym apparatus and fun activities located just before Santa Monica Pier!

Fun Fact: Santa Monica Pier is the end destination of the infamous Route 66 drive!

Fun Fact: Santa Monica Pier was actually designed to protect a large sewage pipe, which originally dumped treated sewage into the sea and away from the beach.


Pictured: Get immersed in all the fun acts parading themselves on Santa Monica Pier, including magicians (left) and ad-hoc performances (right). All photographs taken by Jordie.
Pictured: Get immersed in all the fun acts parading themselves on Santa Monica Pier, including magicians (left) and ad-hoc performances (right). All photographs taken by Jordie.

WHERE TO STAY IN CENTRAL HOLLYWOOD


For this 5 day Los Angeles itinerary, we would suggest staying in Hollywood for Day 1 to 3 to be in close proximity of the inner city sights. This isn’t just more convenient, but cost effective for UBER journeys too.

Note: If you stay in Hollywood, we want to reiterate it is not safe to walk around Hollywood at night by yourself. Always get an UBER.

See below our Hollywood accommodation top picks:


🏙️ Loews Hollywood Hotel

🏙️ Hotel 850 SVB West Hollywood

🏙️ Palihouse West Hollywood


WHERE TO STAY IN VENICE BEACH


For Day 4 to 5 of our itinerary above, we would then suggest changing accommodation to stay in the Venice Beach area. See below our Venice Beach accommodation top picks:


🏝️ AIR Venice On The Beach
(where we stayed & would highly recommend!)

🏝️ The Kinney

🏝️ Venice Breeze Suites


GETTING AROUND LOS ANGELES


CAN YOU GET AROUND LA WITHOUT A CAR?


Technically, it would be very difficult to get around Los Angeles without a car. It is extremely vast and walking from one attraction to the other is just not feasible. If you aren’t fazed by Los Angeles notorious traffic, there is the option to rent a car in Los Angeles.

It is also the best way to explore key destinations surrounding Los Angeles, such as Malibu or Laguna Beach. You could even make it a Californian road trip to San Francisco!

60%

Los Angeles is incredibly vast, and the majority of attractions are not within walking distance, and there’s little to no public transport. Make use of the abundant UBER drivers in LA. You need the app installed and internet when you’re out.
Tip: No need for cash. You tip and rate the driver via the App after the drop off has completed!

25%

Once dropped off by UBER, explore the area on foot!

5%

Rent an iconic ‘beach cruiser’ bike to cycle the boardwalk from Venice Beach to Santa Monica Pier!


ALL “KNOW BEFORE YOU GO” QUESTIONS


IS LOS ANGELES SAFE FOR TOURISTS?

Before travelling to LA, it is crucial to know that due to its high volume of homelessness, the Hollywood area in particular is not overly safe for tourists to wander around on their own.

Busy tourists hotspots in Hollywood, such as the Walk of Fame for example, are OK in the day time, but just be vigilant for pick pockets.

That being said, it is not considered safe to walk on your own in a lot of places in LA at night. It is highly recommended to get an UBER to get to all of your destinations.

Make sure to download the Uber app and set up your account before you venture to LA. We used Ubers to get everywhere in LA and it was a very seamless and reasonably priced service!

UBER

“UBER”
Immediate Transport Service

Download on Apple.
Download on Android.

WHAT ARE THE BEST MONTHS TO VISIT LOS ANGELES?

Los Angeles has TWO definitive weather seasons to be aware of: A Wet and Dry season!

☔︎︎ WET SEASON
(November to March)

During these months, the iconic sunshine of Los Angeles is usually nowhere to be seen, instead replaced with winds, clouds and a lot of rain. The wettest months are between January to March. January is the also coldest month in Los Angeles, with an average of 13°c (55°F)!

🌞 DRY SEASON
(April to October)

Los Angeles dry season provides a relief for all sun worshippers, typically bringing the bright blue skies, beaming sunshine and hot balmy temperatures that Los Angeles is so well known for. Summer temperatures reach max averages of 26-29°c (78-84°F).

HOWEVER – This typically excludes the months of May and June. During these months, Los Angeles experiences a phenomenon known as “May Gray” and “June Gloom”, where marine stratus clouds can bring in almost constant cloud cover this time of year!

We can vouch for this as we visited Los Angeles in June, and we only had one day with a bit of sunshine! The rest of the time was warm, but totally cloudy!

Though July to August brings almost guaranteed sunshine and the highest temperatures, it also results in heavy smog levels, which can make it uncomfortable to walk around and explore during the day.

OUR VERDICT – THE SWEET SPOT

Overall, we believe the best months to visit Los Angeles are between the months March to April, or September to October:

March to April have comfortably warm max averages of 20-23°c (around 70°F), with little rain, making walking around and visiting outdoor attractions much more comfortable. It’s also out of season, therefore much less crowded by tourists plus cheaper hotels, flights and tours!

In the same way, September and October also still embraces the warm heat from Summer with a max average of 26-28°c (around 80°F), less crowds and a plus of the warmest ocean temperatures of the year!

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED TO SEE LOS ANGELES?

If you were simply staying in the inner city, we would suggest 3 days would be enough to visit Los Angeles.

However, we believe to get the best out of your Los Angeles itinerary, you need at least a few more days to venture out and explore coastal areas of Santa Monica and Venice Beach too.

Therefore, for the best Los Angeles itinerary plan, we would say 5 days is the perfect amount of time to visit!

HOW CAN I SPEND 5 DAYS IN LOS ANGELES?

We have you covered! Our 5 day Los Angeles itinerary above explains how to spend an epic 5 days in Los Angeles. The first 3 days will be spent in Los Angeles city itself, with the last 2 days moving to the coast to Santa Monica and Venice beach.

WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LA?

Our itinerary above captures every major sight that everyone visiting LA should visit, including the classic hotspots such as the Walk of Fame and Rodeo Drive.

It also includes epic activities such as the trail to walk behind the Hollywood sign and renting a beach cruiser on Venice beach!

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET TO LOS ANGELES?

The best way to get to Los Angeles is by flying directly into its main airport, Los Angeles International (LAX). Check Skyscanner for flights on your dates.

From here, you can jump into one of many taxi’s waiting outside or order an Uber to take you to into the city.


LOS ANGELES USEFUL FACTS

American Dollar
£1 (GBP) = $1.24 (USD)
(figures as per 2025)

Vaccinations
Click here for United States of America vaccination recommendations. Always consult your local travel nurse for the latest advice.

Plug Adaptors
You will require an adaptor to suit Type A & B. Their standard voltage is only 120V.

Required Documents
UK citizens with a British passport must apply & be granted an ESTA before travelling to the USA. It costs $21. Apply only through the official Government website, there are dozens of fraud ‘third-party’ websites.

What To Pack
This all depends on the season. Pack plenty of layers and umbrella for LA’s wet season! If visiting in Spring / Summer, loose clothes, comfortable walking shoes, beach sandals, sun lotion and swimwear are essential.

Time Zone
Los Angeles is on Pacific Daylight time. It is 8 hours behind the United Kingdom.


CONCLUSION: 5 DAY LOS ANGELES ITINERARY


This perfect 5 day Los Angeles itinerary captures all the key hotspots, activities and experiences that anyone visiting Los Angeles for the first time must see and do!

Splitting the itinerary between Hollywood and Venice Beach keeps the itinerary fresh and interesting, as well as being jam-packed with all the best things to do. We know you will have the most amazing time, enjoy your time in La La Land!


A photo of Jordie, the author of this specific blog post and owner of the wesbite.

This blog post was written by Jordie Flain!

Founder of TheFlainsTravel.com

A travel-obsessed Sagittarius creating honest, easy-to-follow guides. Powered by tea, chocolate and a slightly concerning amount of tomato ketchup.

Got a trip coming up? Look no further than:

OR…