Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) is where Los Angeles began—around the old plaza near Olvera Street—and where it keeps reinventing itself. Today’s skyline frames a walkable core filled with acclaimed museums, concert halls, murals, historic markets, and a dining scene that spans classic counters to chef-driven temples. You’ll find serious art (The Broad, MOCA), rich community storytelling (JANM, LA Plaza), and lively culture hubs (Grammy Museum, ICA LA).

Across seven days, you’ll move neighborhood by neighborhood—Bunker Hill to Little Tokyo, Olvera Street to the Arts District—connecting the city’s past and present. Expect free-admission gems beside ticketed blockbusters, hands-on history, and bold contemporary exhibitions. Along the way, you’ll eat exceptionally well: noodles in Little Tokyo, pan-Latin plates near Fashion District, rooftop cocktails with skyline views.

Practical notes: book timed tickets for The Broad (especially Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirrored Room) and check museum hours—several close Monday or midweek. The Metro (A, B, D, E lines) links DTLA efficiently; rideshares are plentiful. Flying into LAX? The FlyAway bus to Union Station is convenient, and most of this plan is possible on foot/Metro.

Los Angeles

DTLA packs a museum density rare for LA: The Broad and MOCA on Grand Avenue, the Grammy Museum at L.A. LIVE, Japanese American history in Little Tokyo, and a constellation of heritage sites at El Pueblo. In the Arts District, ICA LA anchors a creative zone of galleries, breweries, and inventive restaurants.

• Top sights: The Broad, MOCA (Grand & Geffen), Grammy Museum, JANM, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, Chinese American Museum, Italian American Museum of LA, Avila Adobe, Old Plaza Firehouse, America Tropical Interpretive Center, ICA LA.
• Where to stay: Bunker Hill and South Park for easy museum access; Little Tokyo or Arts District for a more intimate neighborhood feel. Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.
• Getting here: Book flights to LAX via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. From LAX, the FlyAway bus to Union Station (about 35–60 minutes, ~$10) is easy; rideshares to DTLA generally take 35–70 minutes depending on traffic.

Day 1: Arrival, Bunker Hill Icons, and a Skyline Welcome

Morning: Travel day. Book flights to LAX on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Aim to arrive by early afternoon. Take FlyAway to Union Station or rideshare to your hotel. Check in near Bunker Hill or South Park for walkability.

Afternoon: Start at The Broad (free general admission; timed entry). Reserve the Infinity Mirrored Room if available. Explore postwar masters—Warhol, Rauschenberg—and LA luminaries like John Baldessari. Pop next door to the plaza around Walt Disney Concert Hall for outdoor architecture views.

Evening: Dinner at Otium (wood-fired contemporary plates steps from The Broad) or Water Grill (classic seafood with a lively raw bar). Cap the night on a rooftop: Perch (French-leaning bistro, live music) or 71Above (craft cocktails from the 71st floor, reservations recommended).

Day 2: MOCA Grand Avenue, Grand Central Market, and Echo Park Twilight

Morning: Coffee at Blue Bottle or Verve on Spring Street, then head to MOCA Grand Avenue (plan 1.5–2 hours). Expect cutting-edge exhibitions, California conceptualism, and vital works by African American and Latinx artists that shaped LA’s art scene.

Afternoon: Ride Angels Flight down to Grand Central Market. Lunch ideas: Eggslut (signature egg sandwich), Sari Sari Store (Filipino rice bowls), or Tacos Tumbras a Tomas (generous carnitas and asada). Stroll historic Bradbury Building’s ground floor to admire its 1893 ironwork and natural light.

Evening: Head to Echo Park Lake for an offbeat, close-to-DTLA treat: the Swan Boat Rental in Echo Park.

Glide past lotus beds at sunset, then dinner at Bottega Louie (Neapolitan pizzas, patisserie) back downtown.

Day 3: Little Tokyo Deep Dive—JANM and The Geffen Contemporary

Morning: Breakfast at Cafe Dulce (famous for their matcha donuts) then visit the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). Moving, well-curated exhibits explore immigration, wartime incarceration, and contemporary Japanese American culture. Don’t miss the outdoor Go For Broke Monument honoring Nisei soldiers.

Afternoon: Walk to The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA for large-scale installations in a former police car warehouse reimagined by Frank Gehry. Lunch nearby at Daikokuya (rich tonkotsu ramen) or Rakkan Ramen (lighter, umami-forward broths). Sweet stop at Fugetsu-Do (family-run mochi shop since 1903).

Evening: Dinner at Sushi Gen (sashimi loyalists’ favorite) or Marugame Monzo (handmade udon theatrics). Nightcap at Wolf & Crane (Japanese whisky, casual vibe) or Far Bar (craft beers tucked into a brick alley).

Day 4: El Pueblo & Olvera Street—LA’s Birthplace

Morning: Start at LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes for Mexican and Mexican American art, civic history, and rotating exhibitions. Continue to LA Plaza Cocina, a museum dedicated to the art, tools, and stories of Mexican cuisine (check rotating exhibits and possible tastings).

Afternoon: Explore the El Pueblo de Los Ángeles Historical Monument museums cluster: the 1818 Avila Adobe, America Tropical Interpretive Center (Siqueiros mural history), the Old Plaza Firehouse Museum, the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, and the Chinese American Museum (powerful community narratives). Lunch on Olvera Street: try Cielito Lindo (hand-rolled taquitos with avocado salsa) or La Noche Buena (fresh tortillas, aguas frescas).

Evening: Walk or Metro to the Historic Core. Dinner at Sonoratown (award-winning flour tortillas, mesquite-grilled meats) or Redbird (Californian plates in a historic cathedral rectory). Mezcal and margaritas at Las Perlas or whiskey at Seven Grand.

Day 5: South Park & L.A. LIVE—The Grammy Museum and a DTLA Food Tour

Morning: Hearty start at the 24/7 institution The Original Pantry Cafe (since 1924). Then dive into the Grammy Museum: four floors of music history, hands-on booths, iconic wardrobes, and deep dives into genres from soul to regional Mexican. If an exhibition is on view, add the FIDM Museum nearby (check current hours; their costume/fashion shows are often free).

Afternoon: Taste your way through the Historic Core on the Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour.

Expect historic storytelling, art deco facades, and generous tastings—come hungry.

Evening: Dinner around L.A. LIVE: Fixins Soul Kitchen (comfort classics), or head a few blocks to Bottega Louie for a lively scene. Cocktails at The Varnish (speakeasy behind Cole’s) if you’re in a classic mood.

Day 6: Arts District—ICA LA and a Night Flight over Downtown

Morning: Coffee at Maru or Stumptown. Explore the Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (ICA LA)—always free, with thoughtful, idea-forward exhibitions and community programs. Wander nearby murals and pop into galleries if open.

Afternoon: Long lunch in the Arts District: Bavel (Middle Eastern by Bestia’s team), Bestia (Italian with serious char and craft), or Girl & The Goat LA (bold, shareable plates). If time allows, peek into Hauser & Wirth’s gallery complex and courtyard; grab a scoop at Salt & Straw.

Evening: See DTLA from above on the Downtown LA Lights: Your Private Sunset and Night Helicopter Tour.

It’s an unforgettable way to understand DTLA’s scale. Post-flight brews at Angel City Brewery or a rooftop moment at LA Cha Cha Chá.

Day 7: Final Favorites—Skid Row History Museum, Central Library, and Departure

Morning: If open during your dates, visit the Skid Row History Museum & Archive (a vital lens on neighborhood activism, typically limited hours; check ahead). Alternatively, return to a favorite museum for deeper viewing or pick up any exhibitions you missed.

Afternoon: Swing by the Los Angeles Central Library for its beautiful rotunda and small-but-excellent exhibitions; browse The Last Bookstore for artful book tunnels and local zines. Grab a final bite at Grand Central Market (try Sticky Rice for Thai comfort or Clark Street for a sandwich), then depart for LAX.

Evening: Travel home. If you’re extending your stay, consider a broader city overview another day on a guided tour like the Full-Day Iconic Sights of LA for highlights beyond DTLA.

Where to Stay (DTLA)

• South Park/L.A. LIVE: Walk to Grammy Museum and Metro. Great for eventgoers and families. Compare hotels on Hotels.com.
• Bunker Hill: Steps to The Broad, MOCA, Angels Flight, and Grand Central Market. Browse apartments and lofts on VRBO.
• Little Tokyo / Arts District: Quieter streets, easy museum access, top dining. See both hotels and unique stays via Hotels.com and VRBO.

Getting Around

• Flights: Search LAX fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Local transit: The A, B, D, and E Metro lines crisscross DTLA. Base fare about $1.75; reload a TAP card at stations. Many museums are within a 10–20 minute walk of each other.
• Budget & timing: The Broad (free), MOCA (~$22), Grammy Museum (~$20), JANM (~$18), LA Plaza/El Pueblo museums (free to low-cost), ICA LA (free). Most museums open mid-morning and close by 5–6 pm; several close on Mondays.

Insider tips: Book The Broad’s timed tickets early; same for popular Arts District restaurants (Bestia/Bavel). If you love photography, check for rotating exhibits at Central Library and pop-up shows in the Historic Core. Carry a light layer—DTLA evenings can be breezy, even in summer.

In one week you’ll sweep from LA’s birthplace to its most current art spaces, tracing the city’s story through paintings, artifacts, music, murals, and food. This DTLA-focused itinerary balances must-see museums with neighborhood flavors and a couple of show-stopping experiences you’ll remember long after your flight home.