Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry. From the iconic Hollywood sign to beaches along the Pacific, there are a lot of things to do with 3 days in LA.
Each time I’ve come, I’ve spent at least three days in LA, so this is my ideal, budget-friendly itinerary that I would recommend to anyone on their first trip to LA! I love how much art and culture exist in Los Angeles.
Table of Contents
LA Trip Overview
- Airbnb: average cost is $120 a night (I stayed free with my sister in Pasadena). Here are some of the best hotels in Los Angeles.
- Food costs: $15 a day, yes this is possible
- Activities: $130 entire trip
- Flight: $215 (thanks to my flight saving tactics!)
Total cost: $400
There are so many places you can add on to this three day LA itinerary – a few are a road trip along the coast, visiting Catalina Island, a trip to the central coast wine region, and two days out in Joshua Tree National Park with plenty of easy hikes. Southern California is a place you can easily spend a week or two exploring.
Tips for Visiting Los Angeles
- Be Prepared for Traffic: Traffic in LA can be intense, especially during rush hours. Plan your outings accordingly and be patient on the roads.
- Plan Ahead for the Beach: Pack sunscreen, bring a towel, and clean up after yourself. Respect the lifeguards and swim only in designated areas. Keep valuables on you while in the water.
- Everything in Los Angeles is pretty spread out. In order to really see the most you can, you want to have a car and plan an hour for travel in between places. You can also take a city tour and not stress about traffic.
- Pubic transit in LA does exist, and I have ridden the bus, but overall having a car is the best option to get around.
- Consider getting a Go City Sightseeing Pass to save on top attractions. Many of the things in this itinerary are included with Go City and using it can save you money and time.
Day 1 of 3 Days in LA
Downtown
Start the day by heading to the Broad Museum — free, 2 hours
Hours: Tuesday & Wednesday & Friday 11 am – 5 pm, Thursday 11 am – 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 6 pm
Grab Lunch with a View — $30, 2 hours
There are several different rooftops in downtown LA that offer amazing views and what better way to enjoy lunch than with an amazing view of the city and mountains? Here are a few I’d recommend:
Lunch at Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market has been open since 1917 and is a long standing market right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. There are a lot of great, affordable places to grab some food.
My favorite are the taco stands located in the center. Both are really good and the tacos are more than enough to fill you up! There’s plenty of other options for food here too though and when I stay in downtown LA I like to start the day here too. Good anytime!
LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) — $25, 4 hours
Cost: Adults $28, Seniors and students $24, Children 3-17 $13, those living in LA county get discounts
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 11 am – 6 pm, Friday 11 am – 8 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 7pm
Day 2 of 3 Days in LA
Hollywood in the morning and Santa Monica and Malibu in the afternoon
Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory — 1 hour
Hollywood Boulevard — 1 hour
West Hollywood — 1 hour
- Start at the Made in LA mural at 8025 Melrose Avenue.
- Head to Paul Smith and Carrera Cafe (right across the street from each other). Carerra Cafe will put any picture on a latte, which is crazy! We just got regular drinks.
- Crochet rainbow at 661 N Laurel Ave.
- Marilyn Monroe at 8150 Melrose Ave.
- Retna Wall at 8822 Melrose Ave.
We made a stop at Pinches Tacos, where we had some really good food, and I definitely recommend a stop here because it’s so good! I was able to get three tacos, beans, and rice for $11, which was more than enough food and worth the price. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it…
Santa Monica — 3 hours
If you are a thrill-seeker and want something unique on the Santa Monica Pier, try a trapeze class at the Santa Monica Trapeze School! It was an incredible experience to go up high on a trapeze overlooking the ocean and beach. They had a Groupon when we went, and it was just $40 for the class. Highly recommend it. They taught us some cool tricks, and the class took about two hours. There are also rides you can ride on the pier, and the beach itself is really lovely.
If you like shopping, Santa Monica has some of my favorite shopping in the area. It probably has some of your favorite stores, along with boutiques, high-end spots, and gift shops. I think it’s the perfect combo for someone who’s visiting LA because you get a little bit of everything you could shop for!
Malibu has some really awesome beaches. I’m someone who is always chasing a sunset, so an hour’s drive from Santa Monica to Malibu for the evening is no big deal for me. If you are not a sunset chaser, you could skip this and stay in Santa Monica for it.
If you’re like me though, you definitely want to make sure you choose the perfect spot—there are tons in Malibu! I’ve watched the sunset from two different beaches in Malibu and loved them both. Recommend either one for a gorgeous view.
Leo Carrillo State Beach
El Matador State Beach
Dinner in Santa Monica
Option 1: Kura Sushi
There is a row of awesome Asian restaurants in Santa Monica along Sawtelle Boulevard. Kura Rotating Sushi is cheap and always has a long line. It was so much fun to pick out different sushi rolls as they came past; they also let you order off an electronic menu if you want specific items.
They count up the number of plates you eat, and then you pay at the end. We ate four plates each and paid just $12 a piece for dinner (plus tips!), it was awesome!
Option 2: Seoul Tofu
Another awesome dinner option is Seoul Tofu, where you can get awesome Korean food! We ate here once as well and had a great time. They give you all the yummy Korean side dishes along with whatever you order. They had delicious stone bowls and yummy soups to choose from, too. Dishes cost $12 – $15.
Pro-tip: Lines for both of these restaurants can be quite long. Going on a weekday makes it way easier as far as lines go. We still waited over 30 minutes for both.
Day 3 of 3 Days in LA
I had heard about the iconic Venice Canals, and they are definitely picturesque to walk! I parked near them and walked from there to Venice Beach in about 20 minutes. It’s a fun and free way to park in the area and see a little more of LA.
Amaze Bowls Açai Bowls for Breakfast, Venice Beach, and Muscle Beach — 2 hours
I had to try an açai bowl while I was in LA because they are known for them here. I wanted to make sure I tried one of the best, so I waited for the famous Amaze Bowls where the açaí bowl comes in a coconut. It was the perfect thing to eat while I watched the skateboarders and sat on the beach.
From here, walk to the graffiti that lines the palm trees and walls in Venice Beach. Watch the skateboarders and walk the Venice Boardwalk to Muscle Beach. It was pretty fun to walk past all the different shops and see muscle beach!
Laguna Beach — 4 hours
Here is a list of beaches I recommend when visiting Laguna Beach.
- 1000 Steps Beach
- Victoria Beach
- Pearl Street Beach
For more about my favorite beaches in and around LA, check out my post here!
Other Options for 3 Days in LA
- Warner Brothers Studio Tour: Feel the excitement of a Hollywood studio with a Warner Bros Studio tour in Los Angeles. Chill with friends on the Central Perk couch and take a tour behind the scenes of your favorite shows.
- Visit Catalina Island: Catalina Island is known for its stunning natural beauty, with rugged coastline, crystal-clear waters, and lush interior landscapes. The island offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, snorkeling, kayaking, and zip-lining. It’s just a short ferry ride away from Los Angeles.
- Celebrity Homes and Hollywood Open-Air Bus Tour: Get the most out of your time in Los Angeles with this tour that takes you by popular LA hot spots, famous landmarks, and celebrity homes. Try to catch a glimpse of the stars along the way.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Experience action-packed entertainment in Los Angeles with a Universal Studios Hollywood entry ticket. Enjoy thrilling theme park rides, visit a real working movie studio, and more.
- Head to Channel Islands National Park: The Channel Islands are a beautiful group of islands located just a few hours from Los Angeles. They’re known for their natural beauty, unique wildlife, and rich history. A day trip to the Channel Islands is a great way to explore this beautiful area of California.
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I hope this post has helped you consider the best way to spend three days in LA on a budget! With so much to do, it can be hard to fit it all in. No matter what you do, you can have a great time. Thinking about 4 days in LA? Check this out! What are your favorite things to do in LA? Leave your thoughts below!
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