Los Angeles began as a Spanish pueblo in 1781 and grew into the global capital of film, music, and modern design. Beyond the Hollywood sign, the city is a mosaic of neighborhoods—each with its own rhythm, cuisine, and scene. The sprawl rewards curiosity: hills and canyons, surfers and skaters, taco trucks and tasting menus.

In one week you’ll trace movie history at the TCL Chinese Theatre, take in celestial views from Griffith Observatory, and wander oceanfront promenades in Santa Monica and Venice. You’ll dig into Oaxacan moles in Koreatown, slurp tsukemen on Sawtelle, and end nights on rooftop bars above Downtown’s glow. Culture lovers can spend days at The Getty Center, The Broad, and the Academy Museum.

Practical notes: LA traffic is real—cluster your days by area and travel outside rush hours. The Metro fare caps at a budget-friendly daily max, rideshares are plentiful, and a rental car offers flexibility. Reserve in advance for popular restaurants and museums (e.g., The Broad timed tickets; Griffith Observatory parking fills; Huntington Library uses timed entry).

Los Angeles

LA’s greatest trick is its variety. In the morning you can hike to a hilltop observatory, at lunch you can taste the world in a single block, and by sunset you’re watching surfers under a cotton-candy sky. It’s equal parts studio backlot and outdoor playground.

• Top sights: Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Walk of Fame, The Getty Center, The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Canals, Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
• Neighborhoods to know: Silver Lake and Los Feliz for indie cafés and boutiques; Arts District for galleries and destination dining; Santa Monica and Venice for beaches; Koreatown for late-night eats; Pasadena for gardens and museums.
• Where to stay: Base on the Westside (beaches) or central in Hollywood/WeHo for easy access, or Downtown for culture-forward nights.

Book your stay: Browse beachside condos, bungalows, and family homes on VRBO Los Angeles or compare hotels by neighborhood and budget on Hotels.com Los Angeles.

Getting in: Fly into LAX (most flights), or consider BUR (Burbank), LGB (Long Beach), SNA (Orange County), or ONT (Ontario) for easier arrivals. Search fares and times on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com flights. Typical nonstop domestic flights run 1–6 hours; prices often range $120–$450 roundtrip depending on season and advance purchase.

Day 1: Arrive, Check In, and Downtown LA Icons

Morning: Fly in and aim for an early afternoon hotel check-in. If you arrive before your room is ready, store bags and grab a pick-me-up at Verve Coffee Roasters (DTLA) or Maru Coffee (Arts District), both known for light roasts and precise pours.

Afternoon: Start at The Broad (free timed tickets; book ahead). Pop across to Walt Disney Concert Hall—Frank Gehry’s stainless-steel sails—and take the self-guided garden walk on the roof. Stroll Grand Park to City Hall’s observation deck for skyline views.

Evening: Eat your way through Grand Central Market—try Villa Moreliana for slow-cooked carnitas, Tacos Tumbras a Tomas for hefty al pastor tacos, and McConnell’s for Santa Barbara-made ice cream. Cap the night with skyline views at Perch (rooftop bistro) or whiskey at Seven Grand, a classic DTLA bar with live jazz many nights.

Day 2: Hollywood, Griffith Park, and Los Feliz

Morning: Beat the crowds on Hollywood Boulevard. Check out the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt handprints and the Dolby Theatre complex, then slide into Clark Street Diner (a revived classic diner) for pancakes and a patty melt or go light with a latte at Sightglass or Go Get Em Tiger on Larchmont.

Afternoon: Head to Griffith Park. Park at Fern Dell and hike the Observatory Trail (about 2–3 miles roundtrip) or drive up if mobility is a concern. Inside Griffith Observatory (closed most Mondays), explore the Tesla coil, Foucault pendulum, and city-to-cosmos exhibits; the terraces offer the best free Hollywood Sign views.

Evening: Dinner in Los Feliz at All Time (market-driven plates; great sourdough) or Little Dom’s (red-sauce comfort). For drinks, try Bar Covell for a deeply curated wine list or Tiki-Ti for a tiny, family-run tiki temple (limited hours; cash recommended).

Day 3: Santa Monica & Venice Beach Day (Optional Malibu Sunset)

Morning: Start with Huckleberry Bakery & Café (brioche donuts, breakfast burritos) or Goodboybob Coffee in Santa Monica. Walk the Santa Monica Pier and Palisades Park, then rent bikes for a flat cruise along The Strand to Venice.

Afternoon: Explore the Venice Canals footbridges and Abbot Kinney Boulevard’s boutiques. Lunch at Gjelina (wood-fired vegetables, excellent pizzas) or The Butcher’s Daughter (plant-forward). Grab gelato at Gelato Caffe Artois or an espresso at Blue Bottle on Abbot Kinney.

Evening: Watch sunset from Hotel Erwin’s High Rooftop Lounge or the Venice Fishing Pier. Dinner options include Felix Trattoria (hand-rolled sfoglino pastas; reserve early) or Scopa Italian Roots (bustling, modern Italian). Optional: If traffic is light, drive 45–60 minutes to Point Dume or El Matador Beach in Malibu for a photogenic golden-hour finale.

Day 4: The Getty Center, Sawtelle Japantown, and West Hollywood Night

Morning: Ride the tram up to The Getty Center (free admission with reservation). Wander Richard Meier’s travertine pavilions, hilltop gardens, and European and photography collections. The terrace café has fine views if you want an easy on-site brunch.

Afternoon: Eat on Sawtelle Japantown. Tsujita LA Artisan Noodle is a benchmark for tsukemen; Daikokuya serves classic tonkotsu; Marugame Udon is quick and customizable. Browse Nijiya Market and Kinokuniya for snacks and reads.

Evening: West Hollywood dinner at Gracias Madre (plant-based Mexican with a lively patio) or Dan Tana’s (old-school red-leather booths and veal parm). Nightcaps: Employees Only (speakeasy cocktails) or Bar Lis (rooftop with a breezy French Riviera vibe).

Day 5: Arts District + Little Tokyo Food & Culture

Morning: Coffee at Maru Coffee or Blue Bottle in the Arts District, then explore independent galleries and the Hauser & Wirth complex. Tip: Waltz through the adjacent garden and bookshop.

Afternoon: Casual lunch at Wurstküche (Belgian fries and exotic sausages) or Everson Royce Bar (possibly the city’s most beloved burger). Walk to Little Tokyo: visit the Japanese American National Museum and pick up handmade mochi at century-old Fugetsu-Do.

Evening: Dinner at Bestia (Italian with house-cured salumi and wood-fired mains) or Bavel (Middle Eastern—don’t miss the hummus and lamb neck shawarma; reservations essential). Finish with a game of skee-ball and a local IPA at Arts District Brewing Co., or a nightcap at Bar Jackalope (intimate whiskey den, reservations recommended).

Day 6: Pasadena Gardens, Museums, and Koreatown Night Feast

Morning: Head to the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino (timed entry; closed Tuesdays). Roam the Desert Garden, Chinese Garden, and galleries housing Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy.” Coffee nearby at Intelligentsia Pasadena on Colorado Blvd.

Afternoon: Lunch dim sum at Lunasia Pasadena (famous for jumbo har gow and baked BBQ pork buns). Stroll Old Pasadena’s brick alleys and, if time allows, visit the Norton Simon Museum (excellent European and Asian collections; check hours).

Evening: Koreatown is the city’s late-night dining capital. Choose Park’s BBQ for premium cuts grilled tableside or Kang Ho-dong Baekjeong for energetic vibes and banchan abundance. Follow with soju cocktails at Terra Cotta or karaoke at Brass Monkey for a classic K-town night.

Day 7: South Bay Beaches and Departure

Morning: Keep it close to LAX. Start in Manhattan Beach with coffee at Two Guns Espresso and breakfast at Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (ocean-view stacks). Walk or bike The Strand past Hermosa—surfers, beach volleyball, and endless horizon.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Fishing With Dynamite (excellent oysters and the decadent key lime pie) or Good Stuff Hermosa for a faster bite. Allow cushion time to return your car and get to LAX for your afternoon departure—coastal traffic can stack up around noon.

Evening: Fly home with sand still on your shoes and a camera roll of sunsets. If you’re extending, browse options on VRBO Los Angeles or Hotels.com Los Angeles, and check fresh flight deals on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

How to get around smartly this week: Group days by area (you just did) and travel after 10 a.m. and before 3 p.m. when possible. Metro fares are affordable with a daily cap, and rideshares fill the gaps. Many museums and restaurants require or benefit from reservations—book key stops (The Broad, Bestia/Bavel, Felix, Huntington) as early as you can.

In seven days, you’ll have tasted LA’s range—art and architecture high above the basin, beach mornings and neon nights, taco counters and white-tablecloth dinners. The city rewards repeat visits, so consider this an inspired first chapter you’ll build on when you return.