This Hollywood and L.A. itinerary is jam-packed covering the must-see sites in just four days. It’s tough to explore a major city in such a short amount of time, but if you use this travel guide you’ll leave “Tinseltown” and “La-La Land” feeling like you’ve see it all!
HOLLYWOOD & L.A. ITINERARY SUMMARY
| Day 1 – | Travel & Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive |
| Day 2 – | Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach |
| Day 3 – | The Getty & Warner Bros. Studios |
| Day 4 – | Hollywood Sign & Walk of Fame |
Travel & Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive (Day 1)
After arriving in L.A., a great first destination is one of the wealthiest cities in the world, Beverly Hills.
Rodeo Drive is a must-visit while in the area. High-end shopping is the draw (for those with unlimited funds)!
People watching and car watching are better suited for tourists on a fixed budget. (Still fun though!) Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities.
The famous Beverly Wilshire Hotel – which gained worldwide recognition as the setting for the movie, “Pretty Woman” – is in this same area.
Also nearby on Sunset Boulevard is the historic and beautiful Beverly Hills Hotel.
Be sure to cruise the neighborhoods of Beverly Hills to see the luxurious homes too, many of which are on streets lined with beautiful, towering palms.
If you have time left in your day, shopping and/dining on nearby Melrose Avenue is worthwhile. Plus, the Paramount Pictures lot is nearby and offers tours.
Santa Monica Pier & Venice Beach (Day 2)
If you hit a good weather day for the beach, head to the Santa Monica Pier.
Various food and merchandise vendors line the pier.
A carnival area is fun stop with the rides and games.
The infamous Ferris wheel provides an opportunity to see the Santa Monica beach for an ultimate vantage point.
Next, I highly recommend renting an electric scooter or bike and cruising the sidewalks down the beach.
Make your way all the way down to Venice Beach. Always an interesting place to visit!
For lunch or dinner, the 3rd Street Promenade area has tons of food options. Or, Westwood Village is a neat area nearby to see a movie or grab a bite to eat. It borders UCLA, which is a cool campus to explore.
The Getty & Warner Bros. Studios (Day 3)
In the morning, visit The Getty Center. A tram takes you up a very large hill to the museum where you can walk through numerous exhibits. Stroll outside too; the property is really a sight to see.
Spend your afternoon at Warner Bros. Studios. This 2-hour tour was one of the highlights of our trip.
It begins with an interesting movie about the history of Warner Brothers.
After that, you board a large golf cart/tour vehicle where a guide drives you all over the lot and points out various sets and locations where TV and movies have been or are being shot.
Our favorite was the set of the opening credits of the TV show, Friends. They allow enough time for everyone to pose for pictures on the couch in front of the fountain, similar to what you see the cast do in the show.
Pictures were allowed on the rebuilt set of the Central Perk from Friends as well.
Another TV show re-created set that you can visit is Big Bang Theory:
The Harry Potter exhibit is really enjoyable too, especially if you have fans of the books and/or movies along with you.
After leaving Warner Bros, enjoy a cruise at sunset on the Pacific Coast Highway (or PCH as it’s often called) up the coast to Malibu. Beautiful views!
Hollywood Sign & Walk of Fame (Day 4)
Don’t leave L.A. without visiting the Hollywood sign. This infamous, American landmark and cultural icon can be seen from various places throughout the city.
Taking a hike near the Griffith Observatory provides one view of the sign that’s worth visiting.
Another location is even better – Lake Hollywood Park – which is in a neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills. You can get even closer to the sign, and the park is a beautiful place to have a picnic or just hang out.
Head down to Hollywood Boulevard next.
This is home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Other famous sites along this street are the TCL Chinese Theatre where many movie premieres are often held, and the Dolby Theatre which is home of the Academy Awards ceremony every year.
An area that isn’t quite so touristy for shopping and dining is The Grove.
The market area is a fun place to spend some time and browse and eat.
In the evening, consider going back to the Griffith Observatory. There is a planetarium and telescopes. It’s open until 10 p.m. Fri/Sat/Sun.
Where to Stay
I can’t say enough good things about the hotel we stayed at, The Garland in North Hollywood. It was reasonable priced, centrally located to everything we did, and overall had just a really awesome vibe.
In the evenings, we enjoyed the pool and hot tub while watching a family-friendly movie and eating dinner poolside. The restaurant onsite was outstanding for breakfast. Reservations are highly recommended for dinner.
This map shows the locations of many of the things we visited. Hopefully it gives you a good frame of reference on where a lot of things are in relation to each other.
More time in Hollywood and L.A.?
- Brentwood Farmers Market – if you’re on a mission for some celebrity sightings, this is a place with high probability.
- Catalina Island – located about an hour south of L.A., this is a memorable place to visit for a daytrip or stay on the island for a night or two overnight.
- Disneyland – Mickey Mouse has a home in Anaheim, CA too just 26 miles south of L.A.
Pin this Hollywood and L.A. itinerary for later!
More ideas for Hollywood and L.A.?
What do YOU recommend? Please include your tips in the comments section below!
And, be sure to follow “Whoa, What a View” on social media to see the comments other travelers are leaving there about their favorite parts of Hollywood and L.A. and surrounding areas.
More itineraries!
- BANFF: Visiting This Incredible Place? Here is the Ultimate Guide.
Highlights: Lake Louise, Tea House hikes, Johnston Canyon, Glacier Skywalk, the Columbia Icefield - CHARLESTON: 4 Perfectly Planned Days to See the SitesItinerary highlights: Fort Sumter, Boone Hall, Patriots Point, Rainbow Row, City Market, The Battery, historic home tours, and more.
- FLORIDA’s GULF COAST: 10 Ideas For a Great VacationHighlights: Boca Grande, Siesta Key, Don Pedro Island, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Myakka River State Park
- GLACIER NATIONAL PARK: An Amazing Itinerary for a Heavenly VisitHighlights: Going-to-the-Sun Road, Logan Pass hikes, St. Mary Boat Tour, Avalanche Lake
- GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS: Perfect Plan for a Perfect TripTrip guide to the best sites in the park, including tips for attractions in nearby Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
- HILTON HEAD ISLAND: 5 of the Best Things To Do2.5 million people visit this South Carolina destination every year. Here’s a short list of a few of the best things to do on the island.
