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2 Days in Los Angeles: Itinerary Based in Downtown

Today, Phil from Gourmet Globetrotter shows us how to spend 2 days in Los Angeles.  Do not fear my friend, there is a lot to see in 2 days!

There is no denying it – Los Angeles is a massive, sprawling city. However, things are slowly beginning to connect with the expansion of public transit options. In fact, if you stay downtown, there is no need to even rent a car. 

Despite downtown’s dicey past, it has come a long way with some of the city’s best restaurants and a thriving culture scene. And of course, no trip to LA would be complete without trying some Mexican food. Follow our journey through Tinseltown – where you never know who you might bump into.

Table of Contents

  • When to Visit Los Angeles
  • 2 Days in Los Angeles – Where to Stay in Los Angeles?
  • How to Get to Los Angeles
  • 2 Days in Los Angeles – How to Get Around Los Angeles
  • 2 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary- Day 1
    • MORNING
    • AFTERNOON
    • EVENING
  • 2 Days in Los Angeles – Day 2
    • MORNING
    • AFTERNOON
    • EVENING
  • More of Los Angeles
  • More of Southern California
    • Related posts:

When to Visit Los Angeles

Sunny Southern California makes a perfect destination to visit year-round. There is virtually no humidity and temperatures rarely drop below 50 degrees. But when they do, look out! You’re bound to see some shivering model or actor pass you by in full winter gear while donning a pair of sunglasses.

2 Days in Los Angeles – Where to Stay in Los Angeles?

Accommodation in Los Angeles doesn’t come cheap. Between year-round beautiful weather and no shortage of tourists, most hotels charge a premium price with a minimum of $150 a night. It can drastically go up from there depending on the zip code. 

Luckily, you can still find many free things to do – from seeing a live TV taping or watching a red carpet movie premiere. 

We recommend staying downtown at the Los Angeles Athletic Club for the best access to LA. Charlie Chaplin once lived at the LA Athletic Club when he was getting started, and hallways are lined with photos of athletes from throughout the decades. 

Your hotel stay includes all the perks of club membership. The place has tasty food (and lots of healthy Californian cuisine). On the 3rd floor, there is a fully restored bar, opened just a few years ago, which serves pre-prohibition era cocktails.

 But the best perk? Free rein in L.A.’s most extensive athletic facility, including its indoor pool featured in countless movies and TV shows. Don’t forget your swimsuits! 

If you’re looking for more budget-friendly accommodations, the Ace Hotel and the Sheraton Grand in downtown often have rates below $200.

How to Get to Los Angeles

Los Angeles International Airport, known simply as LAX to locals, is a major airline hub. It has the most flight options for both domestic and international travelers. But be prepared – during peak hours this place can be a zoo and is notorious for its bumper-to-bumper traffic jams. 

In fact, LAX is considered one of the busiest airports in the world. But most visitors we speak with don’t realize that LAX isn’t your only airport option. Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is served by several major domestic carriers including JetBlue, Southwest, and American. 

While you may not find as many flight options coming into and out of Burbank, it’s worth the extra money to avoid the headaches. Burbank is also much closer to Hollywood, West Hollywood, and Downtown Los Angeles.

2 Days in Los Angeles – How to Get Around Los Angeles

It wasn’t very long ago that the only way to travel around LA was by car. But things are changing quickly. While Uber and Lyft are great options, there are more public transportation options than ever before. 

The Metro line connects Downtown LA to Hollywood and Pasadena. And the Expo line will take you all the way out to Santa Monica’s beach.

Read More: Driving in Los Angeles: Tips by a Local

2 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary- Day 1

MORNING

Join a Broadway Historic Theater Walking Tour

Trek through this National Historic District and learn about Broadway’s evolution and ongoing revitalization efforts to bring back these incredible movie palaces that started it all. There are a variety of walking tours (and we also recommend the art deco tour).

Schedule: Saturdays at 10:00 AM inside Pershing Square Park

Length: 2-4 hours

Cost: $15 general public, $10 Conservancy members and youth seventeen and under.

Get Cultured by Exploring Downtown LA

If you’re looking for a healthy dose of ethnic culture, you’ll find it in Downtown L.A. Take a self-guided tour of the mind-blowing Walt Disney Concert Hall or cutting-edge Museum of Contemporary Art, pick up some inexpensive Mexican handicrafts along colorful and historic Olvera Street, and have dim sum in Chinatown. 

Also nearby is Little Tokyo, a fun shopping area and a spot known for its great sushi and ramen noodles. Another hot spot is The Broad Museum, which is a private collection of contemporary art.

Read More: Things to Do in Downtown Los Angeles

4 Amazing Downtown Itineraries

Bunker Hill buildings seen from Pershing Square, Downtown Los Angeles, California

AFTERNOON

Grab Lunch at Philippe The Original (1001 N Alameda St) or Cole’s French Dip (118 E 6th St) – $ – There’s never been such a heated rivalry over a sandwich. Both spots serve their signature French Dip. The only problem? Both places claim they invented it. Cole’s is closer to the hotel, but we’re personally on team “Philippe” (a quick Uber ride away).

If you’re still hungry, we recommend heading next to Grand Central Market (317 S Broadway). This market has survived it all – depressions, recessions and multiple phases of downtown redevelopment. Today you’ll find a thriving multicultural cross-section of cuisines and people converging in one place.

Read More: Grand Central Market

Get discovered along Hollywood Boulevard

You’re just a hop, skip and a jump away by metro from the wild west of Hollywood. Sure, Hollywood’s top attractions are a bit touristy — but if it’s your first time, definitely consider making a brief stop here.

Consider checking out the Hollywood Walk of Fame, seeing a taping of Jimmy Kimmel Live (tickets needed in advance), catching a movie at Disney’s El Capitan Theater, or running away from all the costumed characters (like I do!). 

Insider tip: visit Ghirardelli Chocolates next to Disney’s historic El Capitan Theater for some free samples of chocolate. And check out what films are coming up at this theatrical gem fully run by Disney. If you have kids in tow, they’ll love the pre-show that often includes costume characters of their favorite Disney films.

Marilyn Monroe star at Walk of Fame, Hollywood, California, Los Angeles Itinerary

EVENING

See Master Illusions at Black. Rabbit. Rose.

Now, most people in LA have heard of The Magic Castle, a private magic club with celeb fans like Johnny Depp and Quentin Tarantino. But it isn’t for a casual night out and scoring a ticket takes effort. 

Plus, there is the whole required advanced reservations, formal attire and a sit-down dinner. Oh, and no photos please (unless you’re tricky as a magician and can sneak one in like I did when my parents visited!). 

Tickets on Goldstar for Black Rabbit Rose run a cool $26 each. There is no required dinner or drinks to be purchased.

We recommend arriving about 30 minutes early and grabbing a drink at the attached bar. They have an extensive cocktail menu with a drink called the Honey Bunny (which smokes!) and the Bullet Catch, a rum and coffee concoction that is topped with a flame. 

Magic shows are held Thursday-Saturday in the basement of a historic Hollywood apartment building, once home to actors Clara Bow and Stan Laurel. You’ll feel like walking back in time with the prohibition-era bar and themed cocktails.

It is a completely different experience than The Magic Castle — much more intimate with a bar and separate theater area that holds at most 50 people. And like the previous visit, the actors focused in right on Kevin and once again pulled him up on stage! 

Shows last about 1 hour and it’s a 1920’s-inspired variety act with lounge singers, a flame eating woman and plenty of magic.

Drinks with a View

After the show, head back downtown for a nightcap at 71Above, located on the 71st floor of the US Bank Building in downtown LA. Meals can be downright pricey here. But you can get the same view by just buying a drink at the restaurant’s bar. 

You won’t get a better view anywhere else in LA — 71Above is considered the highest restaurant West of the Mississippi. Check out the soaring view of the lights spread out from downtown as far as the eye can see. And even the red tail lights of all the traffic seem calming. Well, at least from the 71st floor — sipping champagne — and where you don’t have to deal with the glacial pace.

2 Days in Los Angeles – Day 2

MORNING

Check out the views from Elysian Park.

Elysian Park Trail is a well-maintained path that will feel worlds away from downtown. It’s also one of the few hikes that allow dogs off-leash. It’s way less congested than Runyon, where we typically go for our hikes. 

Finding the trail can be slightly challenging, but we suggest entering “Grace Simons Lodge” on either Google Maps or Waze. You’ll see a big white gate (typically closed) crossing the dirt path at its entrance. The entire trail takes about 1 hour and is a loop.

AFTERNOON

Climb through LA’s secret underground passages that most locals don’t even know exist

Los Angeles is full of secrets — and I keep uncovering new things even after a decade of living here. Cartwheel Art offers one of the most unique tours I’ve ever taken: a trip deep into the underground network of tunnels that thrived in Los Angeles during the prohibition era. The 2.5 hour tour explores LA’s underground past ranging from famous Prohibition-era murders to the speakeasy haunts that the Hollywood elite would frequent. Tickets for the Underground tour are $85 per person and begin at 3 PM.

EVENING

Some Serious Italian Food

After burning all those calories between the hike and the walking tour, consider a bite at Terroni (802 S Spring St) in downtown LA. The pizza is a delish – served “Southern Italian-style.” Meaning, they won’t slice it. A fact that always revs us up. We’ve been to Italy, and they actually can slice pizza. Seriously, don’t get me started! But the food is great – especially their zucchini flower appetizer (no slicing required!).

Go inside the ‘Willy Wonka of Booze’ if you dare

Without a doubt, if you’re looking for one of the most unique things to do in Los Angeles, Lost Spirits Distillery is for you. Located in the arts district of downtown LA, the distillery doesn’t have any obvious signage. But you’ll know when you’re at the right spot when you see the giant queen of hearts with a door in the middle. 

The distillery partners can only be described as real-life Willy Wonka’s — taking you along their creative (and often strange) journey through their amusement park for adults. The 2-hour tour ($35 per person) leaves every 30 minutes between noon to 10 PM every Friday-Sunday. And by the way, advanced reservations are 100% necessary.

Powerplant turned underground club

You are just a short Uber ride away from The Edison (108 W 2nd St), one of the more unique venues in town. This renovated power plant cranks out absinthe and craft cocktails, plus burlesque and live music nights. It sort of feels like 1920’s vaudeville mixed with steam punk.

Bio: Gourmet Globetrotter is a travel blog that celebrates life to the fullest. The site is geared towards travelers who enjoy the finer things in life – including food, drink, unique accommodations and especially adventure. As a feature travel writer, my stories and photos have run in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Wall Street Journal as well as in such magazines as Lonely Planet, Intermezzo Travel, and Westways Magazine.

More of Los Angeles

One Day in Los Angeles: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Los Angeles Itinerary: 2, 3 or 4 Days in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List

Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles

More of Southern California

San Francisco Itinerary: 1, 2 or 3 Days in San Francisco

Los Angeles to San Diego Drive: A Road Trip Itinerary

Los Angeles to San Francisco Drive: A Road Trip Itinerary

5-Day Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary

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Once you complete a vehicle orientation, you'll be driven to the site within the state park and get set up with your vehicles. Your tour operator will offer directions, a map and will guide you to the area where you are allowed to drive your buggy. The park has a designated area for off-road vehicles and several restrictions with regards to speed. What I loved about the Dune Buggy ride was that I was able to choose my level of thrill. Some of the Sand Dunes were very high, and there was a high risk from coming down from a dune and getting stuck before moving back up another. For thrill-seekers, there is plenty of challenging dunes to conquer. For those less adventurous, there were some smaller hills and the very scenic ride along the ocean. Photo by Sharon Read More: Things to Do in Pismo Beach Things to Do in Avila Beach Things to Do in California - Southern California This is the part of the state I call home. After more than 15 years living here, I am still discovering new places. Check out the super fun recommendations below! Road Cycle in Santa Barbara County By Clare from Epic Road Rides If you fancy a spot of road cycling, Santa Barbara County in southern California, is a fantastic place to do it. It's a beautiful region that’s warm and sunny for much of the year. Winters tend to be short and mild. Head to the Santa Ynez valley and you’ll find quiet rolling roads that take you through gorgeous vineyards and pretty ranches with wide open fields dotted with well-groomed horses. In the village of Solvang, you’ll find an excellent bike shop that can fit you out with everything you need (you can rent too) and set you off to explore the countryside. There are around 120 wineries in this area, clustered around the pretty towns and villages of Solvang, Los Olivos and Santa Ynez. Many cyclists take the opportunity to combine cycling with a wine tour as many of the wineries open their doors to people who want to come and learn about wine and enjoy some wine tasting. Exploring by bike is the best way to really get to know a region, and I highly recommend the Santa Ynez Valley! Photo by Clare Read More: Things to Do in Solvang Mountain Bike at Snow Summit By Heather from That OC Girl If you thought Big Bear’s Snow Summit was only for winter, you got it wrong. In the summertime, the ski lifts at Snow Summit are transformed into mountain bike lifts, taking you up to an elevation of 8,000 feet and dropping you into the coolest downhill bike park in Southern California. Snow Summit has around 18 miles of mountain bike trails, including trails for the beginner all the way to the most advanced riders. The beginner level trail “Going Green” is the longest in the park at 2.5 miles, and is the most basic of all. It’s a great idea to start with this trail to get warmed up! The blue-rated trails are the most fun; this is where you can really let loose and sharpen your skills. The trails rated as black diamond are the most difficult trails in the park. You will find built-in features like jumps and berms, but most of the time you can bypass those features if you are not up for the challenge. Get some practice in at the Base Area to improve your skills before attempting those difficult trails! Day or season passes are available and the park is open to all – kids and adults! Open and closing dates. Photo by Heather Read More: Big Bear Weekend Guide Dive the Channel Islands By James from Travel Collecting One of the top things to do in California is to dive the Channel Islands. There are eight Channel Islands off the coast of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. Five of them make up the Channel Islands National Park. The largest, Catalina Island, has places to stay and shore dives as well as boat dives are available. However, you can take day trips straight from just north of LA (Ventura Harbor) to Anacapa Island and just south of LA (San Pedro) to dive sites around Catalina. Dive boats also leave from Santa Barbra to the northern islands, though these are further offshore. The main attraction is diving the Californian giant kelp forests. Kelp stretches from the sea bed up more than forty feet to the surface, creating a magical forest to swim through. Winding your way through a thick screen of golden kelp is an incredible experience. The kelp is home to cheeky seals and sea lions that zoom out of nowhere and right up to your mask, as well as bright orange garibaldi fish. This was one of my favorite dives from the many I have done around the world. It also makes a nice contrast to the other more urban things you can do in Los Angeles. Hike to the Hollywood Sign By Caroline from Pictures and Words Few things scream LA more than the glitz and glamour of Hollywood and the movie industry. One of the coolest things to do in California is to hike up to the Hollywood sign, one of the most iconic sights in LA. Technically, the sign itself is blocked off (and don’t even try to jump the fence) so you are hiking to right behind and above the sign. Still, this is the closest you can get to the sign being able to get so up and close to the iconic monument is such a cool experience! The hike starts inside Griffith Park, from where you can take the Brush Canyon trail. It is a 6.5 mile out and back hike, and is rated moderate difficulty with an 1100 foot elevation gain. Allow about 2 1/2-3 hours to complete the hike. Also be aware that there is hardly any shade on the trail and it tends to get really hot, really fast, so be prepared and carry lots of water with you. Read More: One Day in LA: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors 2 Days in Los Angeles: Downtown-Based Itinerary Self-Guided Multicultural Tour of Los Angeles By Team Hazard Rides Again LA is incredibly diverse. There are people here from every corner of the Earth and LA is happy to give each culture its due. Tim and I once went to 3 cultural events in a single weekend – and we weren't even trying hard. On Friday night we went to a chamber music concert at the big Downtown Library. On Saturday night we were in Hollywood to see Amadou and Mariam, a blind couple from Mali who rocked the Afro-pop scene at the El Rey Theater. And on Sunday we were in Chinatown for a big cultural celebration. There is no single recipe for doing a cultural tour of Los Angeles. There are just too many options. But here are some places to look so you can put together your own multicultural tour of Los Angeles. There are neighborhoods throughout the city like Little Tokyo, Olvera Street, Little Ethiopia, Little Bangladesh and Chinatown, just to name a few. Some of them are a bit touristy, but still fun and there are also many unnamed enclaves where various cultures flourish. They often hold festivals as well. And Long Beach seems to have a festival for something every other week. Keep an eye on local calendars. There are also exhibits and performances exploring different cultures all over town. The Craft and Folk Art Museum on Wilshire almost always has something culturally unique going on, as does the Fowler Museum on the UCLA Campus. You can also check out the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena. Again, to name just a few. Then there are the performances, like Amadou and Mariam we mentioned above, or Prince Diabate whom we saw in some tiny club in Santa Monica. One of the best places to look for these more eclectic events is the LA Weekly. LA's multiculturalism is one of its most awesome features and it's something not to be missed if you're visiting the city. It's easy to stack events that are near you or that suit the dates of your visit. It's LA. There's always something going on! Hike in Joshua Tree National Park By Julie from Family Travel Lifestyle While California is famous for National Parks like Yosemite and the Redwoods, one of our lesser-known parks, Joshua Tree, offers fantastic hiking in a unique desert environment. Located in southern California – just east of Palm Springs, and less than a 3-hour drive from San Diego – Joshua Tree offers numerous trails at every level of hiking. What I love about Joshua Tree is that it isn’t as crowded as many other parks and it’s smaller which means you can do a one-day visit and still get in some great hikes and really feel as though you saw the park. Also, this park offers a lot of loop trails, which I tend to prefer to the ‘out and back’ trails. One of the most popular and can’t-miss trails in Joshua Tree is the Skull Rock loop. It’s pretty easy, good for all levels including children, and you get to see the famous and giant Skull-shaped boulder. There’s a great kids’ nature walk called the Discovery Trail that’s less than a mile if you have really little ones. The bigger hikes offer a great variety of sights. There are several hikes up to different peaks, with outstanding views of the mountains and desert. You can hike out to a palm tree oasis or walk through the boulders and include a little scrambling on your hike. The one thing to watch out for is the heat – it’s no joke at Joshua Tree, so come prepared and enjoy! VIsit the Sunny Jim Sea Caves By April from SoCalFunFamily La Jolla is known for the locals who hang around the beach. And no, I am not talking about the hodads, you know, non-surfers, but the friendly seals lounging right there on the sand. It’s also known as an incredibly fun family area, for its good food, and having the coolest sea caves. However, there is only one cave you can explore without a kayak. And that cave is only accessible through Sunny Jim’s Cave Store. From the exterior it looks just like any other beach themed gift shop, but upon further review you might see the long dark tunnel leading what looks like directly into the ground. This is the access to Sunny Jim’s Sea Cave, which was dug out in 1902. To reach the bottom you will pay $5 for adults, and $3 for children, walk down 145 dark, narrow stairs and come out on a damp wooden platform to take in the waves and views from below. This hidden gem is a unique experience if you are in the area. But, make sure to mingle with the locals on the shore below and check out the free, smaller caves right there as well. Read More: One Day in San Diego Pedal Boat At Lake Murray By Martina from Stack Your Dollars One of the best and most relaxing things to do in sunny San Diego is to take a ride on the water at Lake Murray. On a hot day, getting on a pedal boat is a great way to get a nice breeze and cool off. You’ll also be putting those leg muscles to work and getting in some fun exercise! Lake Murray is a 171 acre reservoir with a 3.2 mile shoreline; it can be found on the border of San Diego, La Mesa, and Santee. To rent the pedal boat, you have to go into the concession stand by the parking lot. It costs about $15 to rent per hour, with an additional $15 for a deposit. The boat fits about 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. This low-cost activity is a great way to get out and have fun. It allowed my family to stick to our very frugal budget. If you would prefer, there are also kayaks, canoes, row boats, and motor boats. However, the pedal boat is my favorite because it also has a canopy to block the sun! Whale Watch in Newport Beach By Rebecca from KwaFare One of the most thrilling outdoor experiences you can have in California is to get up close and personal with some of the largest animals on earth. Whale watching in Southern California can put you right in the migratory path of humpback, minke, fin and gray whales. Even orcas are spotted from time to time, as well as sperm whales and blue whales, the largest animal to have ever lived. An excellent spot for whale watching is Newport Beach, which is only about an hour from LAX airport or downtown Los Angeles. Newport Beach is a cozy community where you’ll find Balboa Pier and Island and some great beaches. My go to whale watching company here is Davey’s Locker. And for good reason. First, they regularly have sales for their whale watching tours on Groupon. So, for about the price of a movie ticket you can take a front row seat to these magnificent creatures for over a couple of hours. But what I really enjoy is hearing the excitement of the crew every time we get to see a whale out at sea. This testifies to just how electrifying it is to witness these deep sea giants in their natural habitat. Despite how many times they get to see them, every time it’s a thrill. And the thrill is definitely contagious. You just never know what you are going to see when you get out on the boat. However, if you want to up your chances of sighting whales go out during their migration times. In general, winter and spring are great times to see gray whales, humpback and minke whales. And summer and fall are ideal for blue whales, finbacks, orcas and sperm whales. So whether you find yourself in the middle of a pod of hundreds of dolphins or next to an enormous blue whale, this is one of those things to do in California that is not to be missed! Visit the Center of the World By Theresa from The Local Tourist Just inside the border in the southeast corner of the state, you can put your toes on the officially designated Center of the World. Felicity, California, is home to the Museum of History in Granite and the Center of the World and is a destination worth a visit that's a whole lot less kitschy than it sounds. In 1985, Jacques-André wrote a children’s book titled “Coe: The Good Dragon at the Center of the World.” Somehow, this Frenchman and Father of American Parachuting convinced the Imperial County Board of Supervisors and Institut Géographique National, the French Mapping Agency, that property he owned in Imperial County should be declared the Center of the World. You can visit this town, population two, and not only make a wish inside a pyramid but also browse granite tablets etched with history. They're designed to last 4,000 years and the goal is that they'll preserve the entirety of humanity for millennia to come. It's a quirky destination with a noble promise, and should definitely be on any southern California itinerary. ATV in the Imperial Sand Dunes By Kay from The Awkard Traveler It isn't general knowledge, but California has sand dunes. Some of the best California sand dunes are found in Southern California. Specifically, the Imperial Sand Dunes State Park right near the border of Mexico. Winter is arguable a better season to visit, especially when summer temperatures can easily reach over 110F. But that also means winter is the most busy time to visit. So, pick your poison. From San Diego, the drive is about 2.5hours, 2 hours from Palm Springs, and 3 hours from Los Angeles, making the Imperial Sand Dunes an easy day trip if you do not want to stay nearby. However, there are camping and RV options at the state park! To enter the park, permits are required from October 1 through April 15 each year. Permits are $35 per week in advance and $50 per week if purchased onsite. Season permits are $150. America the Beautiful National Park pass also counts for this park. Once you are all settled into the park, you're ready to ride! But before you get into your off-highway vehicle (whether it is ATV or a bike, or other), make sure to remember the basics. Wear a protective helmet, pay attention to "closed to vehicle signs," and tall visible red flags are REQUIRED on your vehicle for visibility and safety! There you have it! Tons and tons of ideas on things to do in California. Hope you find this article useful when planning your next getaway! More of California Los Angeles Ultimate Bucket List Weekend Getaways from Los Angeles Ultimate San Diego Bucket List 150+ Places to Go in Orange County Places to Visit in Santa Barbara What are your favorite things to do in California? Let me know in the comments section below. Pin “Things to Do in California” for later!, Pigeon Point LighthouseThings to Do in California: Golden State Best


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