How to see the best of L.A. in a day or less

Even if you’re just passing through Los Angeles on your way to another destination, you can still squeeze in a spot of sightseeing.

If you have a full day to yourself, you would be surprised by how much you can fit in, but even just a few hours is enough time to get a taste of Tinseltown.

So don’t dread a long layover, there are so many ways to explore the ‘City of Angels’ that you will never find yourself counting down the hours.

And don’t fret over the logistics of getting around – we’ve done it all for you.

Check out our round up of the best tours from LAX:

Starline

Head to one of the LAX hotels on Century Boulevard and hop onboard the Starline’s orange connector service. For a quick look around some of the highlights of L.A., the Starline is the one for you. The Starline orange service will make a 45-minute loop of L.A., with options to hop off at Custom Hotel, Waterside Marina Del Rey or Fisherman’s Village in Marina Del Rey.

If you wish to explore L.A. further afield, jump off at Fisherman’s Village and take a trip on the green route. Through this one and a half hour loop, there are various stops in Venice Beach and Santa Monica, where you can tick off some of L.A.’s major attractions such as the end of Route 66 or Muscle Beach. Or just relax in the sun on the boardwalk and enjoy some people watching of L.A.’s locals.

Marina Del Rey is only 20 minutes from the airport. Credit: Discover Los Angeles

If you have even more time up your sleeve, grab a yellow route bus from Santa Monica and spend two hours exploring the Hammer Museum, Rodeo Drive, Westfield Century City and Marilyn Monroe’s final resting place.

L.A. City Tours

If you have five and a half hours to spare, then this is the perfect tour for you. Not only will it pick you up right outside your terminal at LAX, but you can bring your luggage with you on the tour van.

You’ll get the full L.A. experience, stopping by beaches, Downtown L.A., Hollywood and even a few movie star homes, before being dropped back at the airport at 5.30pm.

Take a selfie in front of the Hollywood sign. Credit: Discover Los Angeles

Make sure your flight arrives at least half an hour before tour pick-up for domestic services, and allow even more time for international fights. Your departing flight should leave an hour or more after the tour is scheduled to conclude.

Glitterati Tours

For a customised city tour, then Glitterati Tours are your best bet. Private charter tour company, Glitterati, will pick you up from your LAX terminal upon arrival and will drop you back in time for your next flight.

What will you see? Whatever you fancy! The most popular destinations include the Hollywood Sign, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the homes of celebrities, Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills to name a few!

Simply chat to the Glitterati guides about how much time you have and what you would like to see, and they’ll create a tour especially for you. You may not be able to see all of L.A., but you’ll be surprised by how much you can tick off.

If you have an evening stopover, head to Griffith Observatory for some of the best views of the city after dark.
Credit: Discover Los Angeles

The Do-It-Yourself Tour

For the slightly more curious cats with a flair for sightseeing independently, why not simply jump in a taxi and head for one of the many attractions within a stone’s throw of the airport.

For a true taste of L.A., grab a taxi or a shuttle bus from the Metro Bus Centre in the Economy Lot C car park to head to the iconic In-N-Out Burger on Sepulveda. Not only will you be able to tick this favourite off your bucket list, but you can also enjoy a bit of plane spotting at the same time.

Take a deeper look into the world of aviation and head for the Flight Path Learning Centre and Museum. This Museum was founded in 1995 to mark the 75^th anniversary of LAX, as well as the 100^th anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright brothers.

Take a break from plane watching and get stuck into a game of golf at the Westchester Golf Course, just a ten minute cab ride from the airport. Open from 5am until 10pm, with a driving range and clubs available for rent, it’s the ideal pit stop for sporty travellers.

Alternatively, you can hit the beach at one of the many nearby stretches of sand including Manhattan Beach or Dockweiler State Beach. Or take a hike amid the lush greenery of the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.

Find out more by checking out the LAXisHappening.com website.

Main image credit: LAWA

Advertise with us

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

airports Discover Discovery L.A tourism la lax us