Getty Center
Divide your visit between the galleries, gardens and outdoor terraces. Check admission arrangements before you go.
View attraction detailsLos Angeles Travel Guide
Los Angeles is spread out. For a first day, choose one part of town and give yourself time to see it between stops.
Before you go
When to go and how long to stay
Allow four or five days. Give the westside and the Hollywood or downtown area separate days and leave room for traffic.
Entry documents
Check whether you need a visitor visa or qualify for the Visa Waiver Program with approved ESTA. Check transit requirements too if you connect through a U.S. airport. Save your first stay’s address, return or onward itinerary and confirmation of your authorization.
Getting to the city
From LAX, use the airport shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center for regional connections, or take FlyAway to Union Station if that fits your stay.
For a rental car or rideshare, follow the terminal’s pickup instructions. For intercity rail, check your booking against Union Station or the listed departure station.
Getting around
Metro and buses work well for selected corridors. Compare the entire door-to-door trip, including wait and walk times, with a ride or car. Combine stops on the same side of town.
Payments and mobile data
Bring a U.S. dollar payment card setup and a backup card or cash. Check whether a quoted price includes tax, and whether a restaurant bill already includes gratuity. Download your local transit map and airport pickup details before flying.
Where to stay
Santa Monica suits a coastal stay, Hollywood or Koreatown can work for central connections, and downtown suits Union Station. Choose based on what takes up most of the trip.
Things to do in Los Angeles
What to eat in Los Angeles
French dip sandwich
Sliced roast meat on a roll with savory juices. Ask whether it comes already dipped or with the juices on the side.
Photo: Vranak · CC BY-SA 3.0 ↗A day in Los Angeles
Start at the Getty Center and make downtown a separate afternoon stop if you want to try a French dip at one of its old counters.