Los Angeles, California - A Five Day Itinerary
Los Angeles is a coveted tourist destination in the world. Tourists from across the globe visit the city throughout the year. Moderate weather aids further in the city being an attraction year-round. The city is spread across more than 1200 square kilometers. Further, Los Angeles is the center of the American entertainment industry, rich in art and culture and bestowed with beautiful natural scenery. With such varied expanse and interesting aspects, it is impossible to explore the entire city in one trip. However, everyone does visit every city for the first time and many end up with just one trip. Hence we need a recommended Los Angeles Itinerary.
So here is our guide on how best to shape a five-day itinerary of Los Angeles. The itinerary is pretty flexible and allows you to plug out specific components. So you could cover specific sites on the next trips if you are in the city for a shorter duration. The itinerary aims to provide you with all the flavors of the city in five days at a relaxed pace. While this is not going to be exhaustive in any way, you should be able to make the best use of your time in the city.
For a detailed description of things to do in Los Angeles, read our article - Los Angeles, California - First Time in The Hollywood's Tinsel Town
Day 1 - Arrival, Settling-in, and Beaches
This is usually the day when you arrive in the city. We always plan to arrive in a new city in the early afternoon. This allows us to avoid getting lost in the dark and gives time to get acquainted with the city. For Los Angeles, 3 or 4 airports are catering to the city. We believe either Los Angeles International or Burbank Hollywood Airports are best to consider - you can sometimes steal a good deal to the later. Generally, we do recommend traveling in big cities using public transport. However, we recommend considering the breadth of the city that you take a rental at the airport.
We had split our stay across the New Port Beach area and Downton LA to reduce travel distances. We found Airbnb facilities were pretty good in the city and both the ones we picked provided nice accommodations and facilities. However, you could also look at finding another central location for your stay.
Once you are settled in your room, spend some time freshening and relaxing before getting onto the roller coaster ride that the city is. We recommend spending your evening on the first day on the beaches. There is nothing better than a relaxed start to a holiday unwinding on pristine sands. We spent our evening on Huntington Beach near our Airbnb enjoying the views of mesmerizing sunset. Also, a drive by the beach was a nice way to spend some time.
Day 2 - New Port Beach and Whale Watching Tour
The second day of the Los Angeles itinerary includes a unique opportunity to watch the big fish from up close. We stayed in Huntington Beach because of its nearness to the New Port Beach. If you are staying farther in the city, you may have a relatively early start to the day. Also, it is best to book your whale tour in advance. However, if you like, you can in most cases book your seat at the port itself.
The boats for whale tours are nice cruise-ships with all facilities on board. You can enjoy snacks and drinks while exploring the deep seas. Once you check-in, you are provided with a boarding time. The ship takes you to deep sees where they would birth to wait for whales to come up. Whales could take anywhere up to 20 minutes to return after their nose-dive. We had a good tour operator who kept the stopwatch on to keep everyone engaged. The tour easily takes up half your day and you return by about early to mid-afternoon.
After your tour, we recommend spending some time on the New Port beach. This is a scenic and clean beach and offers tranquil surroundings. There are several restaurants and cafes to satiate your hunger and thirst. We would like to caution on the parking scenario - though there is plentiful of public parking, there are some busy days when it may be difficult to find a spot. On such days, anyone with any spot makes the hay.
Post the exploration, you can either return to your accommodation or move to your new accommodation in downtown Los Angeles.
Day 3 - Hollywood District and Beaches
If you are in the city specifically for Los Angeles, you can start your itinerary here. The primary purpose of your visit to the city is the entertainment industry and this is where it is. Hence we take you to the Hollywood District and have you spend about half a day in the area.
Hollywood and Highlands
Our first stop of the day is the Hollywood and Highlands shopping center. This is an upmarket shopping arcade with all known brands under one roof. There is also a tourist center to guide how to explore the area. The center also houses the Dolby Theatres - the home of the Academy Awards. Guided tours are available as per schedule. In case you have a car, this is also a good place to park - validations are available for some of the tourist attractions in the area. Also, do not forget to visit the forecourt which provides a clear view of the Hollywood Sign.
Walk of Fame
As you move out of the shopping center, you are on the famous Walk of Fame. This sidewalk with names of who's who of the entertainment industry is an attraction everyone envies to be at. The road is also home to many special sites including the Madame Tussauds Museum, Kodak Theatre, Ripley's Believe it or Not and TCL Chinese Theatre. Take your time and explore the ones you are interested in. There is a Hollywood Museum around which is a good site if you are interested in the science of sound used in the movies. Once you are done with the area, it is time to take some rest at the hotel.
More Beaches
In the evening, head to the beaches as Los Angeles offers some of the awesome ones within city limits. We specifically recommend the Venice Beach and the Santa Monica Beach for their hustle and calm at the same time. While the piers at both these beaches offer tourist activities and cafes, beaches offer a nice place to unwind. Also, if you can sneak in a trip to the La Brea Tar Pits and Museums.
Day 4 - Universal Studios
Again, this day is modular in itself and you can move it to any place on the itinerary depending on your convenience. A trip to Los Angeles is not complete without exploring Universal Studios. You can explore and delve into the art of film making across this sprawling campus. The park offers several adventurous rides on one hand and an insight into the journey of film making on the other. You would end up appreciating the hard work and effort that goes into what we relish on our couches or lounges. Whether it is your first time in Los Angeles or not, this is one thing you should not take out of your itinerary.
Day 5 - Mulholland Drive and Malibu
On your last day, we recommend taking a slow drive along Mulholland Drive. The road offers picturesque views of the city and surrounding hills. There is also a spot to get a clear view of the Hollywood Sign. The 21-mile long drive is a good way to spend a morning. Depending on the time you have, it would also be worthwhile to sneak in a trip to Malibu. If not, you could spend time exploring the University of California campus which is a good spot in itself.
For more details and information visit the official tourism site - Discover Los Angeles
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