While Los Angeles is usually used as a gateway to other places in California, there are still plenty of fun, unique things to do in two days in Los Angeles. While you could easily spend a week exploring the area, two days will give you a good sampling of the area.
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History of Los Angeles
Los Angeles has a long history shaped by Indigenous cultures, colonial expansion, and rapid modern growth. Long before European arrival, the region was home to the Tongva people. In 1781, Spanish settlers founded the city.
After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, Los Angeles became a Mexican pueblo before transitioning to U.S. control following the Mexican-American War and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.
The city soon became globally influential with the rise of the entertainment industry in Hollywood, transforming it into the center of film and television production. Over time, Los Angeles evolved into one of the most diverse cities in the world, shaped by waves of immigration and cultural exchange. Today, it stands as a major hub for entertainment, technology, international trade, and global culture.
When to Spend Two Days in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a fun place to visit any time of the year. It is the most crowded during the summer months and the Holiday season. However, you can have fun no matter what time of year you come.
How to Get to Los Angeles
Los Angeles has one large major airport: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). You can get flights here from all over the world. Depending on where you are flying from, you can get flights for as low as $40. Other airports in the area include Burbank, Santa Barbara, and Long Beach, but they are often more expensive.
Transportation in Los Angeles
To get to a lot of areas in Los Angeles, you will need a car. However, for these two days in Los Angeles, I created it so that you do not have to have a car as long as you stay in Downtown or Hollywood. I recommend renting a car through Economy Bookings as it will search all rental car companies for you. You can also use the Hop on hop off bus to get around the city.
Metro
To get around Los Angeles by public transportation, you will need a TAP Card. You can buy these at any station. The fare is $1.75 per ride and you have unlimited transfers in two hours. You can also download the app on your phone instead of using a card.
Uber/Lyft
Uber and Lyft are widely available around Los Angeles. I recommend using them in the evening or for longer distances, especially if you do not want to deal with the metro.
Getting to and from LAX
The cheapest way to get from LAX to Downtown Los Angeles is via the Flyaway Bus. You can catch this at any terminal in LAX, and it will take you to Union Station. From there, you can catch the metro all over Los Angeles. The Flyaway costs $9.75 each way.
Other options include a private shuttle, Uber/Lyft, or a taxi. All of those are a lot more expensive, but may be more convenient.
Where to Stay in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles area is huge, so you will want to choose a hotel that is centrally located if you are planning on exploring all over. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel. For this itinerary opt to stay in Downtown Los Angeles or Hollywood.
Hotels to Stay at in Downtown Los Angeles
- The Westin Bonaventure Hotel
- Hilton Checkers Hotel
- Hotel Figueroa
- Freehand Los Angeles
- Omni Los Angeles
- Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown
- Biltmore Los Angeles
- The Hoxton, Downtown LA
Hotels to Stay at in Hollywood
- Dream Hollywood (my favorite)
- The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood
- Kimpton Hotel Wilshire
- W Hollywood
- Ramada Plaza by Wyndham West Hollywood
- Best Western Hollywood Plaza Inn Hotel
- Hotel Erwin
Go City Pass
GoCity offers a ton of different sightseeing passes for cities around the world. These passes allow you to visit the best of each city for one low price, rather than paying individually for each attraction. I have used it in several cities around the world and would recommend getting a GoCity pass! Check out the options for the Los Angeles GoCity pass here. It is a great way to save money!
What to do During Two Days in Los Angeles
If it is your first trip to Los Angeles and you want to hit up the touristy sites, check out these things to do.
Day 1: Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood
Today, you will spend time exploring the main sites of Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood. While you could easily spend a day exploring each of these areas, they are combined for this two day Los Angeles itinerary. This Downtown Los Angeles tour is a good way to explore DTLA, while this Hollywood tour or this Hollywood Evening tour is a nice way to end the day if you want to flip this itinerary around.
Celebrity Homes Tour
You will start off your first morning of two days in Los Angeles by exploring Hollywood with a Celebrity Homes Tour. This tour will give visitors a great overview of the area. It takes visitors around the Hollywood Hills to the known and former homes of celebrities and some filming locations. If you are lucky, you may even spot a celebrity. Visitors will also get a tour of the surrounding area and get to know the history of Hollywood.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Next up, take a stroll along the 3,000 stars that line the Hollywood Walk of Fame. These stars are embedded in the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard to commemorate the various actors, actresses, musicians, and others who have made contributions to the entertainment industry. You can look up where your favorite stars are located here.
TLC Chinese Theater
Another stop to make during two days in Los Angeles is the TCL Chinese Theater, once known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. This theater has been home to many infamous movie premieres, such as Star Wars. Visitors can stop in front of the theater to check out the handprints, footprints, and autographs of many famous movie stars.
Lunch at Grand Central Market
For lunch, head to Downtown Los Angeles to visit Grand Central Market. It is home to 40 stalls with a variety of food options. My favorites include Horse Thief BBQ, Eggslut, Golden Road, and DTLA Cheese and Kitchen.
Angel’s Flight
After you finish lunch, take Angel’s Flight to the top of Bunker Hill. You may recognize this from the movie La La Land. This funicular takes visitors back up to the top of the hill for only $1! It is a quick ride but offers fun views of the area as you ride.
The Last Bookstore
Make a quick stop at the Last Bookstore, a popular used and new bookstore. It is the largest of its kind in California and is also known for its infamous and unique displays of books. It is a popular Instagram spot due to these displays.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Pass by the Walt Disney Concert Hall on your way to your next stop during these two days in Los Angeles. This unique building in Downtown Los Angeles was designed by Frank Gehry and is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic. They offer many concerts throughout the year and host other special events.
The Broad
For the last stop during your two days in Los Angeles, head to The Broad. The Broad is a FREE modern art museum with a ton of amazing art installations. It is mostly known for its Infinity Mirror room! You can reserve tickets online for this exhibit and for the museum itself ahead of time. On less busy days, you can sometimes grab walk-up tickets to the Broad, but I recommend making reservations so you are not disappointed.
Dinner at Nick + Stef’s Steakhouse
Finish your first of two days in Los Angeles with dinner at Nick and Stef’s. This amazing steakhouse is known for its high-quality meats and excellent service.
After Dinner Drinks
Downtown Los Angeles is full of some really awesome and unique bars. From rooftop bars to themed bars, you cannot go wrong with grabbing an after-dinner drink. The following are some of my favorites: Clifton’s Republic, Shoo Shoo Baby, or Broken Shaker.
Day 2: The Getty and Beyond
For your second of two days in Los Angeles, you will spend some time exploring some of Los Angeles’ premier museums.
The Getty Center
Begin your second of two days with a visit to the Getty Center. This amazing art museum contains an impressive collection of European art, stunning architecture, and beautiful landscaped gardens. It is perched atop a hilltop, so it also offers sweeping views of Los Angeles. It is free to visit, but you will have to pay a fee for parking. You may also want to check out this Getty guided tour.
Lunch at The Original Farmers Market
The Original Farmers Market is a historic open-air market that has been operating since 1934. It offers a wide variety of food vendors, specialty shops and casual dining options. It is a great place to sample local flavors. If you have more time, make sure to spend some time walking around or you could head next door to The Grove Mall.
The Academy Museum
The Academy Museum is a must-visit stop during your two days in Los Angeles. It is dedicated to the art of filmmaking and motion pictures. The museum portrays the film industry’s history, science, and cultural impact. This museum is located on Museum Row near Beverly Hills. It costs $25 to get inside the museum, and you can buy your ticket here.
It is housed across 7 floors. The top floor has temporary exhibits while the other floors house permanent collections. There are also two theaters that show a variety of films. Make sure not to miss the Dolby Family Terrace for views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign.
Alternatively, you could also opt to visit LACMA or the La Brea Tar Pits.
Dinner at Pasta Sisters
To finish off your second of two days in Los Angeles, head to Pasta sisters. This casual Italian spot is known for its fresh and homemade pastas and authentic family recipes. It started as a small takeout shop and has since grown into a popular restaurant where you can enjoy simple, high-quality dishes like rigatoni, lasagna, and creamy sauces.
More Than Two Days in Los Angeles
Looking for a more extensive LA guide because you have more time? These guides will help you out!
- Best Museums in Los Angeles: What Los Angeles museums should you visit? This post will help you decide.
- Date Ideas in Los Angeles: Looking for fun date ideas? This post gives a lot of great options.
- Places to Eat in Los Angeles: Are you a foodie? This post goes over some of the best restaurants in Los Angeles.
- Day Trips from Los Angeles: Have more time than two days in Los Angeles? This post details some of the best day trips to take.
- Cheap Things to do in Los Angeles: On a budget? This post goes over some of the best deals to be found in Los Angeles and many free things you can do.
Other things to do if you have more than two days in Los Angeles include a food tour, Universal Studios, a Sofi Stadium tour, or a Dolby Theater tour.
Final Tips for Two Days in Los Angeles
If you have more than two days in Los Angeles, there are many more things you can do. A trip to Los Angeles pairs well with a visit to Disneyland. If you are a wine lover, head out to the Lompoc area. Pasadena is also another fun area to explore around Los Angeles.
