Los Angeles Activities for a First Visit
Los Angeles is 88 separate incorporated cities spread across a basin and valley system, so the single best planning move is picking activities that sit near each other rather than chasing the whole map in one day. Here is what actually clusters well.
Downtown: markets, funiculars and free museums
Grand Central Market at 317 S Broadway has run since 1917 and now holds over 40 independent food vendors, open daily 8am to 9pm with food running $5 to $22. A few blocks away, Angels Flight, the self-described shortest railway in the world, has climbed Bunker Hill since 1901 for $1 a ride, or 50 cents with an LA Metro TAP card, fares and transfers at metro.net . From the top, The Broad and MOCA are both free general admission. Search downtown LA food tours on GetYourGuide for a guided version of the market crawl.
Griffith Park, at 4,300 acres
Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the country, home to Griffith Observatory, the LA Zoo, and miles of chaparral hiking trails, including the 2.5-mile round trip Mount Hollywood Trail. The observatory itself is free to enter; hilltop parking, at a flat $10/hr, credit card only, and hours are at griffithobservatory.lacity.gov , with a free alternative at the Greek Theatre lot on non-concert days.
Echo Park Lake’s swan boats
Wheel Fun Rentals operates pedal-powered swan boats on Echo Park Lake, lit up for evening rides past the lake’s lotus beds with the Downtown skyline behind. Daytime rentals run $13/hr for an adult and $7.50/hr for a child aged 2 to 17; evening illuminated rides run $14/hr and $8/hr.
The Strand, 22 miles of flat coast
The Marvin Braude Bike Trail runs 22 unbroken paved miles along the coast from Pacific Palisades through Santa Monica, Venice, Marina del Rey and the South Bay to Torrance. Bike rentals through operators like Perry’s run $12 to $15/hr, or $35 to $45 for the day. Compare beachfront hotels along the route on Booking.com .
The verdict
A Downtown morning at Grand Central Market and Angels Flight, followed by an evening at Griffith Observatory, covers two distinct sides of the city without a long freeway crossing in between. For a longer stay, the Los Angeles 4-day itinerary strings these together with the coast. See the day trips guide for what lies beyond the city once Downtown and Griffith Park are covered.
Before you go
Griffith Observatory’s building closes Mondays and does not open until noon on weekdays, so a morning visit there means walking the grounds and lawn telescopes only.