The trip from Santa Monica to Los Angeles is short, it's aprox 30 min by car from Downtown but it depends on traffic and on which part of L.A you're in.
Los Angeles is a city that very few get to understand and experience. If you're just passing through for 2 days, and you're only going to the more touristic places like Hollywood, you probably won't like it. But if you dedicate a few days to get to know it seriously, live it like a true local, we promise you'll fall in love.
If you don't have that much time and you only have 2/3 days, write down these MUST DO.
If you have more time, here you'll find a COMPLETE GUIDE:
Where to stay? In order not to depend so much on the car (because traffic is terrific), we recommend staying in the most central places like Westwood, for example. We would avoid Hollywood because it's chaotic and not pretty at all.
Another option is to move a little further to be calmer and choose neighborhoods like Los Feliz or Beverly Hills. Two of the most beautiful neighborhoods that this city has.
A nice and neat Beverly Hills Hotel: Crescent Hotel.
The truth is that in Los Angeles you need a car wherever you are. It's a bit awkward in that sense. So it is better to prioritize staying in a nicer place than based on location because there is no way to get around without a car. It has several central points, a lot to explore and several places to go to eat and everything is very far from each other.
When is the best time to travel? May/June or September, to have a warm weather to enjoy the beach, but not that much warmer as if you go in July/August. In Los Angeles it hardly rains so you won't have a problem with that.
NEIGHBORHOODS:
BEVERLY HILLS
This would be the “top” neighborhood. Full of restaurants, bars and clothing stores. The vast majority are expensive and elegant venues.
Our favorites for clothes: &Other Stories / Alice & Olivia / Club Monaco
To eat: Cafe Roma. Ideal for both lunch and dinner and for a drink as well. The shrimp ceasar salad is a hit.
Also, Port Vía (the Zucchini noodles with shrimp are spectacular, it's located on Canon Drive).
For Home decor: Williams & Somona. It has everything for the house, for all environments.
We recommend you walk not only through the main streets but also through the residential part of this neighborhood. It is super quiet, with wide streets and spectacular houses where many celebrities live.
There is a very fun bar where you can eat and it closes late: NICS. They also play music to dance a little.
CALABASAS
It is said to be the "land of celebrities". The neighborhood is very beautiful with mansions and wide streets. (Fact: The classic Casablanca film was filmed here).
Other beautiful neighborhoods to visit where the great Hollywood personalities also live: BEL AIR, BRENTWOOD, HIDDEN HILLS, HOLLYWOOD HILLS, PACIFIC PALISADES, STUDIO CITY, LOS FELIZ, MALIBÚ…
WESTWOOD - UNIVERSITY DISTRICT
Very very nice, full of life and young people. We recommend visiting it during the day and also going at night to eat and drink.
There is a very good sports bar & grill called: BARNEY'S BEANERY. It is on Broxton Ave. If you want to eat something like hamburgers, Mexican, wraps, etc., this place is ideal.
HOLLYWOOD
The neighborhood itself is not pretty, but you have to go see it at least once. You have Hollywood Boulevard, the street with the stars on the floor. You also have the famous Chinesse Theater and Dolby Theater (where the Oscars® are held). And the wax museum where you can see replica dolls of all the celebrities. You can do the "Celebrity Tour" (there are several: StarLine Tours / Legends of Hollywood Tours / Another Side of Los Angeles / Hollywoodland Tours) that go through different parts of the neighborhood where some celebrities lived/live, or where they started their first jobs before being known, etc.
The famous HOLLYWOOD sign can be seen in the distance, you have to walk quite a long way to see it up close.
There are many bars and places to eat. At night it has a lot of life!
THE BEST ROOFTOP IN L.A is here, it is: MAMA SHELTER.
SUNSET STRIP
To go at night, it is full of bars and restaurants, a lot of life!
A very tasty Mexican is PINCHES TACOS. Very local style; You eat fast, good and they serve you very well. Next door you have THE DEN bar. In that bar you can eat, but the kitchen closes at 10pm. What they let you do is buy food at Pinches and bring it in. Or you can eat at Pinches and then go to the bar.
Around here you have another place to eat and drink something more elegant: BAR MARMONT, inside the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Strip Av.
FAIRFAX
One of the coolest streets to buy clothes is here and has only a couple of blocks: MELROSE AVE. Sometimes there are fashion fairs too!
You also find a very nice outdoor shopping mall: THE GROVE. If you like sushi, stop by Blue Ribbon.
LA BREA
Near Fairfax.
Not to be missed: Farmers Market . They usually do many fairs with very funny live shows.
A good local plan: at night, behind the parking lot,
LA BREA
Near Fairfax.
Not to miss: the Farmers Market. They do lots of food fairs and live shows.
A good local plan: at night, behind the parking lot, there are some stalls that surround a place with common tables in the center and parties are held with fun live local bands. The audience is more adult, but it is VERY fun and you will be able to experience a different, more local night.
LOS FELIZ
One of the most beautiful neighborhoods in L.A! Just getting lost in the neighborhood is amazing. Some celebrities live here like Gerard Butler, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Pattinson...
BURBANK
Here you have several film studios such as The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. A must for Friends fans: take the Warner tour to see the studios!
GLENDALE
Next to Burbank, it is further north (upper right of Hollywood). You will find 2 of the largest shopping malls (Americana -outdoors- and Glendale Galleria -indoor-). In addition, this neighborhood includes many restaurants and bars to get to know something different. The main street where you find the most is Brand Street.
There is one that is very cool and it is great to eat: Eden on Brand. The flatbread is delicious. You can eat inside or go up to the rooftop, both day and night there is a DJ playing music.
In Americana there is a very good sushi place: Katsuya.
#GuestTravelTips: In this mall, if you go by car and enter the parking lot, from the time you get the ticket you have 1 hour free. And if you sit down to eat in a restaurant or buy something, in some places they validate your ticket regardless of the time so you don't pay anything. Don't forget to ask each one! In Apple, on the other hand, it is not necessary to buy something, you go to the back counter and ask them to validate it.
LITTLE ETHIOPIA
Just walk around. Just get lost in this residential neighborhood.
VICTORIA PARK DR - VINEYARD
Victoria Park Dr. runs just a couple of blocks, in a circle, through the Vineyard neighborhood. It has super residential Victorian houses, it's just to take a walk and see something different if you're in the area.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
It has changed a lot in recent years. A lot of artistic movement, giant glass buildings, many restaurants, art and culture. Here you have the Staples Center if you want to go see an NBA game.
A good rooftop is The Standard in the same hotel.
BARS, ROOFTOPS AND RESTAURANTS
It deserves a separate guide, read everything HERE.
BEACHES
Then you have all the beach areas very close to the city. There is a special guide for SANTA MÓNICA, VENICE BEACH, MALIBU, HERMOSA BEACH, MANHATTAN BEACH, MARINA DEL REY...
We recommend going on different days to see them. Read all the #GuestTravelTips for these beaches HERE.
ACTIVITIES: to experience the city as a local
HIKINGS
It is very common to go hiking in the mountains or national parks. There are so many!
If you don't have time to go far, Griffith Park Observatory is in the middle of the city (near Glendale and Burbank, in the middle of both), it's elevated, amazing view. It connects to the zoo.
Others around L.A: Cahuenga Peak, Baldwin Hills, Runyon Canyon Park, Topanga State Park, Hollywood Sign Hike, Fryman Canyon, Los Liones, Stough Canyon Nature Center…
Do not miss our post on DESERTS AND NATIONAL PARKS!
GOLF+BAR
You will shoot driving balls and take shots at the same time!
There are many. The best known is near Huntington Beach is called Hole 19 Miniature Golf.
AMUSEMENT PARK
For roller coasters and amusement parks' lovers, Six Flags is the place!
GETTY MUSEUM AND GETTY VILLA
The J. Paul Getty museum has two locations: The museum is located in Los Angeles, you leave the car in the parking lot (check out in advance because there are cheaper times!) and you get on a train. You can walk up, it's not far. It's good to find out what art and photography exhibitions are going on, but even if there's nothing of interest to you it's a nice place to get a view of the city from above. Many people just go to read when they need a little peace.
The other headquarters is the VILLA, located in Malibu. It is a center dedicated to the arts and cultures of Ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. The idea of the place is not only to exhibit art but to provide a space with "villa" type gardens to give you an idea of how they lived at that time.
BASEBALL
Being one of the most popular sports in the US, it is a nice experience to watch one of these games. Find out who is playing at the moment. Of course: they are long!
BASKETBALL
At the STAPLES CENTER. Another of the most popular sports. We recommend going to live an experience as a true local.
ELLEN DEGENERES
Book a ticket to go see the live show! Do it with time because there is a long waiting list.
DISNEYLAND
It is much smaller than DISNEY WORLD (the one in Orlando), but it is the first Disney park that was built. It maintains that essence and the magic of the wonderful world. You can get the early ticket or in the same place. Inside ask for the fastpass of each game. There are some machines that have some where you get your ticket quickly and they tell you the time you have to come back to avoid queuing. You can't draw more than one at the same time, you must expect to use one to draw the other.
#GuestTravelTips: The fastpass indicates time slots in which you have to return to the game, for example: from 11am to 12pm. From the first indicated time (11am in this case), your other fastpass will be released. For what we recommend, as soon as the schedule arrives, go and get the next fastpass and then go up to the game, so the time of the other fastpass runs while you are entertained enjoying the game of the previous one.
You cannot leave without trying the TURKEY LEG, a giant turkey leg that is eaten with your hands and melts in your mouth!
BOOK A TICKET FOR AN AVANT PREMIERE
They are held at El Capitan in Hollywood. They shut down much of Hollywood Blvd, and it's the special event before a movie premieres where celebrities parade down the red carpet and then head inside to see the movie at the Dolby Theater.
COACHELLA
One of the most famous music festivals in the world located in Palm Springs, Indio, California, in the middle of the desert. It lasts 2 weekends (Friday to Saturday each), usually in mid-April. It lasts from noon to midnight.
Read all the tips of this festival, HERE.
DESERTS AND NATIONAL PARKS
It deserves a separate guide and you can read it HERE. But a MUST near Los Angeles that you cannot miss:
JOSHUA TREE / YUCCA VALLEY: Joshua Tree is an incredible desert, to go spend the day. If you want you can camp inside, there are several places available, it's huge. When you enter, the ideal is to ask for a map at the visitor center because it is HUGE.
Outside the park, the neighborhoods are pretty country/western style. We recommend Yucca Valley. Check in advance for fairs, yard sales (with very cool and cheap clothes), festivals, vintage car events...
There is a bar called WILLIE BOYS SALOON. It is a very local bar, where everyone is dressed in country style. Many go with Texan boots and live dance with the teacher, you can join! A fun and unforgettable experience.
If you are a country lover, you cannot miss: STAGECOACH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL, in Indio, California. On the same venue as Coachella. It is usually the following weekend.
BIG BEAR
If you have a few days to spare to go skiing, this center is close by.
OTHER USEFUL GUIDES