Squeezing LA’s sights, scenes, history, romantic roof-top restaurants and wild nightlife into two days is certainly ambitious.
But we did it.
Here are our tips on how to make the most of two days in Los Angeles.
Before You Go…
Consider your flights
Flying into LA late on a Friday night could give you the whole of Saturday to enjoy yourself. Similarly, you ideally want your return flight to be late on a Sunday evening (but not too late that you can’t reasonably get up for work in the morning) so that you can make the most of Sunday. Just be wary that these are peak flight times, so it may be harder to find great deals.
Book a central hotel
Don’t book a hotel on the outskirts. By staying somewhere fairly central, you can avoid wasting time travelling to attractions. The sights of LA are fairly spread out, but chances are you’ll spend most of your time between Santa Monica and Glendale. Check out this detailed guide on where to stay in LA.
Consider the Go-City Explorer Pass
The Go-City Explorer Pass can be downloaded as an app and could save you up to 50% on admission fees to attractions. It’s ideal if you want to visit museums and theme parks. Using an app, you can see which attractions need to be booked in advance.
Book restaurants ahead
So that you’re not wandering around looking for somewhere available to eat, it could be worth booking restaurant tables in advance too. This is particularly worthwhile if you plan to visit some popular restaurants. Of course, if you’re happy to stick to fast food and local cafes, there’s no need to book.
Plan for hotel check-in/check-out
If you decide to arrive early Saturday morning, you may not be able to check your bags into your hotel. While some hotels may allow you to leave your suitcase somewhere secure, you may find that it’s more convenient to look into luggage storage in Los Angeles. This may also be useful if you have to check out early on a Sunday.
Pack casual clothes
The people of LA may be known for being glamorous, but you don’t need to dress like a Hollywood celebrity to fit in. In fact, most people in LA dress quite normally. It’s better to pack casual outfits that you can quickly slip into as you’ll save time getting ready. You also don’t want to dress glamorously in areas where muggings and pickpocketing is common, as you’ll make yourself a target. Make sure to bring a jacket for the evenings when it can get cooler.
Planning Your Itinerary…
Planning the perfect 2-day itinerary depends on what type of vacation you’re looking for. However, there are a few universal tips worth considering:
Take advantage of the mornings
Planning activities early in the mornings can be a great way to avoid the crowds. It’s also not too hot at this time of day – making it a lot more enjoyable if you doing a lot of walking outdoors.
Plan how to get around
When planning your itinerary, think about the distance between attractions. See all the attractions you can in one area before moving to the next so that you’re not going back on yourself. When moving between different parts of the city, consider the best method of transport. Hiring a car isn’t really worthwhile for 2 days, so consider using a ride-sharing app instead. Public transport can be cheap, but can be slow and not always reliable.
Allow some flexibility
It’s important to leave plenty of time to get from one place to the next. This isn’t just in case of traffic jams or public transport delays, but also so that you have the freedom to be spontaneous. What if you want to stop and grab a coffee? What if there’s a cool store you want to browse? What if you stumble across some live entertainment? Make sure your itinerary is flexible enough to enjoy these exciting detours.
3 LA Weekend Itinerary Examples…
Below are 3 different ways in which you could spend your weekend in LA. Each one is fairly loose, allowing room for some spontaneity:
The cultural explorer
Saturday
- Morning: Explore the Getty Center
- Afternoon: Visit the LACMA and La Brea Tar Pits
- Evening: Dine out in the Downtown Arts District
Sunday
- Morning: Hike up to the Hollywood Sign
- Afternoon: Explore the Hollywood Walk of Fame & TCL Chinese Theatre
- Evening: Watch sunset at the Griffith observatory
The laid-back beach-goer
Saturday
- Morning: Visit Santa Monica Pier
- Afternoon: Stroll along Venice Beach
- Evening: Have dinner in Venice
Sunday
- Morning: Head up to Malibu
- Afternoon: Visit the Getty Villa
- Evening: Return back to Santa Monica for dinner
The entertainment enthusiast
Saturday
- Morning: Spend the morning in Universal Studios
- Afternoon: Have late lunch at Universal CityWalk
- Evening: Enjoy a show and dinner in Hollywood
Sunday
- Morning: Eat Brunch in West Hollywood
- Afternoon: Explore Melrose Avenue
- Evening: Enjoy dinner and drinks in Downtown LA
When you’re there…
Not everything can be planned in advance. When you get there, you may want to consider a few of these important tips:
Stock up on water
You’ll be doing a lot of walking around in the sun, so you could get dehydrated if you’re not regularly drinking fluids. Consider buying some bottles of water to take with you in a day bag so that you always have something to drink.
Keep your phone charged
Having a working phone could be necessary for taking photos, accessing attraction tickets, using apps like Lyft and checking into flights. Make sure that you keep your phone charged up. If you think it may run out during the day, consider bringing a portable charger power bank.
Apply sunscreen
If you’re a California native, you’re likely already used to the West Coast sun. However, those from the north of the state may still be surprised by just how intense the sun gets in LA. Make sure that you bring some sunscreen and apply regularly to stop sunburn from ruining your trip.
Conclusion
Los Angeles is doable in a weekend providing that you take the time to carefully plan out your trip. Being prepared to spend a little extra on the right flights, a central hotel and Lyft rides will also help you to fit everything in. For a cheaper 2 day trip, a weekday vacation may be better.
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