Los Angeles 4-Day Mapped Itinerary
Give each of four full days its own area: Hollywood Hills, the Pacific coast, museums and Beverly Hills, then Downtown. The 13 mapped stops offer a balanced first visit. Allow for rides and traffic; add Universal Studios as a separate fifth day if you wish.
Explore the route stops ↓Hollywood and Griffith
Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre, a Hollywood Sign viewpoint and the observatory. Do not try to connect the whole day on foot. Swap days around Griffith’s Monday building closure; avoid adding a long hike in hot weather.
Santa Monica and Venice
Pier, coastal paths and relaxed stops in Venice. Swap the coast day in poor weather. Use a ride between areas if you prefer less walking; check return arrangements when renting a bike.
Museums and Beverly Hills
Academy Museum, Urban Light, Rodeo Drive and Sunset Strip. Choose one main museum: Petersen can replace Academy. For Getty, reshape the day around Getty and Beverly Hills instead of adding every museum.
Downtown, art and the Lakers
The Broad, Disney Concert Hall, Grand Central Market and Kobe’s statue. Swap days around The Broad’s Monday closure. If there is a Lakers home game, arrange tickets and evening transport separately; otherwise finish with the exterior visit.
Optional day 5: Universal Studios
Give the theme park a full day of its own. Check park hours, ticket coverage and the Studio Tour programme for your date; do not assume paid extras are included. This fifth day is not automatically added to the four-day draft.
Tickets and closure days
Account for Monday closures at Griffith and The Broad and Tuesday closure at Academy Museum; special events can cause additional closures. Rearrange days around bookings. A Lakers home game needs a matching fixture and separate ticket.
Map and transport
Numbers show visit order, not live navigation. Times are estimates excluding queues and hotel journeys. The Hollywood Sign pin marks Lake Hollywood Park; the arena pin indicates the Star Plaza area. Use current transit and traffic information to plan connections.
Day 1: Hollywood and Griffith
Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre, a Hollywood Sign viewpoint and the observatory.
Around 6–8 hours · including rides and breaks
Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre
60–90 minutes · excluding an interior tour
Explore the stars on Hollywood Boulevard and see the exterior of Dolby Theatre, known for hosting the Oscars. Check separate tickets and the current schedule for an interior tour.
Start of the day
dolbytheatre.com · Google MapsHollywood Sign
30–45 minutes
The pin marks the Lake Hollywood Park viewpoint. This is not a climb to the letters or access to the fenced area; continue to Griffith after photos.
Roughly 20–40 min by car; allow extra for traffic and parking
www.hollywoodsign.org · Google MapsGriffith Observatory
1.5–2.5 hours
Finish with exhibits and terrace views. Planetarium shows require separate tickets; arrive early for sunset. Swap days if the building is closed on Monday.
Roughly 25–45 min by car; extra time for parking
griffithobservatory.lacity.gov · Google MapsDay 2: Santa Monica and Venice
Pier, coastal paths and relaxed stops in Venice.
Around 5–7 hours · excluding hotel journeys
Santa Monica Pier
1.5–2 hours
Start at the pier and coastal path, budgeting separately for rides. Plan a lunch break before continuing towards Venice.
Start of the day · allow for the journey from your hotel
www.santamonicapier.org · Google MapsVenice Beach
2–3 hours
Leave unhurried time around Ocean Front Walk. Respect pedestrian lanes if cycling and plan the separate return journey to your hotel.
Around 50–70 min along the coast on foot; cycling or a ride are alternatives
beaches.lacounty.gov · Google MapsDay 3: Museums and Beverly Hills
Academy Museum, Urban Light, Rodeo Drive and Sunset Strip.
Around 7–9 hours · including traffic and meal breaks
Academy Museum
2–3 hours
Choose film exhibits that interest you. Check Tuesday closures and special events; replace this with nearby Petersen if you prefer cars.
Start of the day
www.academymuseum.org · Google MapsLACMA & Urban Light
20–30 minutes
Pause outside LACMA at Urban Light. This stop does not include admission to museum galleries; check lighting and access arrangements.
About 5–10 min on foot
www.lacma.org · Google MapsBeverly Hills & Rodeo Drive
45–60 minutes
Explore Beverly Hills streets and shopfronts without needing to shop. Shorten the walk if you spend longer at the museum.
Roughly 20–40 min by car; check current transit options
lovebeverlyhills.com · Google MapsSunset Strip
45–90 minutes
Choose a short evening walk or dinner in West Hollywood. For live music, check the venue’s ticket and age requirements in advance.
Roughly 20–40 min by car; allow for evening traffic
www.visitwesthollywood.com · Google MapsDay 4: Downtown, art and the Lakers
The Broad, Disney Concert Hall, Grand Central Market and Kobe’s statue.
Around 6–8 hours · excluding a game
The Broad
1.5–2 hours
Start with contemporary art; timed reservations are recommended for free general admission. Special exhibitions may differ; swap days around Monday closure.
Start of the day · around your reservation
www.thebroad.org · Google MapsWalt Disney Concert Hall
20–40 minutes
See Frank Gehry’s building from outside. This short stop includes neither a concert nor an interior tour; allow additional time if booking a tour.
About 5 min on foot
www.laphil.com · Google MapsGrand Central Market
45–75 minutes
Compare a few stalls for lunch. Vendor hours vary; afterwards choose transit or a ride for the arena area.
About 15–20 min on foot; consider slopes and stair choices
grandcentralmarket.com · Google MapsLakers, Kobe Bryant and the arena exterior
30–45 minutes
Visit Kobe’s statue in Star Plaza and the arena exterior; a Kobe–Gianna memorial is also outside. A Lakers game is an evening option only with a scheduled fixture and separate ticket.
Roughly 20–40 min by transit or car, depending on waiting and traffic
Crypto.com Arena / Lakers · Google Maps