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Draft data. Times, fares and step counts are desk estimates awaiting field checks. Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify

Major city · United States

Los Angeles

Pick one base by interest: Hollywood for studios, Santa Monica for beaches. Cross-town traffic is 45–90 min; do not split nights.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Nov
avoid Jul–Sep (heat and smog), Oct–Dec (wildfire risk and Santa Ana winds)
Airport
LAX
Nights
3–4
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.

Los Angeles is a county-sized city: the city alone runs about 50 miles from the San Fernando Valley to the port, and the metro area spreads over five counties. Sights are far apart and traffic eats the day, so pick one base and one or two clusters per day. Three to four nights covers the headline sights; a car or rideshare budget matters more than a transit pass here.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Los Angeles, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • Coffee$4–7
  • Sit-down mealSit-down lunch$18–30
  • Street or quick mealTaco truck taco$2.50–4
  • BeerBeer in a bar$8–12
  • Metro or bus rideMetro ride$1.75
  • Museum or sight ticketGetty Center entryFree admission; parking $20
  • Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personUS$45
  • Mid-range bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$200
  • High-end bedMid-range double room, a night, per roomUS$380

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$110 · Mid US$200 · High US$380

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Hollywood and film studiosBeaches: Santa Monica, Venice, MalibuMuseums: Getty, LACMA, La Brea Tar PitsGriffith Observatory and Griffith ParkTheme parks: Universal Studios Hollywood
Airports
LAX Los Angeles International Airport (About 30–60 min to Hollywood or Downtown by car or rideshare; Metro rail also serves the airport area (check current connections).)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Los Angeles: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

20°C

9°C

6 rd

Feb

20°C

10°C

6 rd

Mar

21°C

11°C

5 rd

Apr

22°C

13°C

3 rd

May

23°C

14°C

2 rd

Jun

25°C

16°C

1 rd

Jul

28°C

18°C

0 rd

Aug

29°C

18°C

0 rd

Sep

28°C

18°C

1 rd

Oct

26°C

16°C

2 rd

Nov

23°C

12°C

3 rd

Dec

19°C

9°C

5 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

Metro rail covers core corridors but requires a free shuttle bus from the Aviation/LAX station to reach LAX terminals. Traffic peaks 07:00–10:00 and 15:00–19:00; plan two clusters per day.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Universal Studios Hollywood

go

Door to door: About 1 h from Hollywood

Metro B Line to Universal City, then the shuttle; or drive and park

One full day; arrive at opening to beat crowds.

Santa Monica and Venice Beach

go

Door to door: About 1 h

Metro E Line to Downtown Santa Monica, about 50 min from Downtown L.A.

Walk or bike the beach path between the two; coast is cooler than inland.

Malibu

go

Door to door: About 1 h from Santa Monica

Drive via Pacific Coast Highway

Best with a car; beach car parks fill by late morning in summer.

Catalina Island

overnight

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h crossing plus port time

Ferry from Long Beach or San Pedro

A long day trip; better as one night.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Hollywood

Walkable to the Walk of Fame and Metro; central for studio tours and Griffith Park. Noisy at night.

Santa Monica / Venice

Beach base with cooler air; 30–60 min by car to Hollywood or Downtown.

Downtown L.A.

Museums, bars and Metro hub; quieter at night in parts, so check the block.

West Hollywood / Beverly Hills

Mid-city base between Hollywood and the museums; pricier, good for shopping and dining.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$90–150 excl. bed
Mid
$150–280 excl. bed
High
$280+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Mid-range double room1 × 4 nights × US$200US$800
Food, local transport, entries2 × 4 days × US$200US$1,600
Rideshare LAX to Hollywood, one way1 × US$45US$45
Metro day pass2 × US$5US$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$250
Trip total≈ US$343 per person per day, bed includedUS$2,745

2026 estimate in US dollars; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee$4–7
Taco truck taco$2.50–4
Sit-down lunch$18–30
Beer in a bar$8–12
Rideshare, 5 milesSurge pricing after events.$15–25
Metro ride$1.75
Getty Center entryFree admission; parking $20
LACMA entry$25
Natural History Museum entry$25

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Most visits are trouble-free. The real risks are car break-ins, traffic, heat and wildfire smoke; keep to busy streets at night and leave nothing visible in a parked car.
  • Car break-ins are frequent at Griffith Observatory and beach lots: leave nothing visible in parked cars.
  • Rideshare surge pricing after events and on weekend nights.
  • Wildfire smoke and Santa Ana winds can change plans in fall: check air quality.
  • Some blocks around Downtown and Hollywood have visible street homelessness; keep to lit, busy streets at night.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Los AngelesLos Angeles

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

Most countries have consulates in Los Angeles; check your country's list for the address and hours.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • LAX → Hollywood, rideshare: $40–60, 30–60 min
  • Metro ride: $1.75, day pass about $5
  • Taxi LAX → Downtown: $60–80

Say or show

  • Thank you — Thank you
  • Excuse me — Excuse me
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the toilet?

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Los Angeles. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Sep (heat and smog), Oct–Dec (wildfire risk and Santa Ana winds) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for LAX: last Metro and rideshare cutoffs, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Hollywood, Downtown, Santa Monica/Venice, the museum mile on Wilshire.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (Griffith Observatory, Getty, LACMA, La Brea Tar Pits) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Wildfire and heat fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources