2 Days in Los Angeles Itinerary: The Ultimate Guide

Do you need a 2 days in Los Angeles Itinerary for a quick weekend trip to the City of Angeles? I’ll help you plan out your vacation so you can get the most out of your short stay!

This site contains affiliate links, view the disclosure for more information.

Why did I put together a 2 days Los Angeles itinerary? I love Los Angeles, and being in the entertainment industry I have tons of friends that live there or travel back and forth many times throughout the year.

Los Angeles not only has a million things to do right in the city but there are some amazing areas just a short drive away. Because of this, you could spend weeks and still not fit everything in.

But if you’ve just got time for a quick weekend, this list will make sure you use your time wisely so you get the best of what LA has to offer!

This post is all about the best things to do in a 2 days Los Angeles itinerary!

2 Days Los Angeles Itinerary

Day 1: Time for Some Amazing Adventures in the City of Angels!

Morning: Scenic Views and Iconic Hollywood Staples

On your first day, the best way to kick off your arrival in LA is by heading to the Griffith Observatory. Why? Because it’s the perfect place for spectacular views of all of LA, including the iconic Hollywood sign of course! The observatory is located at the very top of Griffith Park, which has some short hikes and trails if you want to venture out to get a little better view of the sign. I love starting at the Griffith Observatory because you can take in the expansive city you are about to explore!

Once you’ve gotten your fix, it’s time to head down to check out another iconic spot LA is known for – and that’s Hollywood Boulevard. Take a stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame and if you can find your favorite celebrity star to take a picture with!

As you’re walking along you’ll see some iconic buildings like the TCL Chinese Theatre. You’ll know it the moment you see it – you may even recognize it from its appearance in a movie you’ve seen. Its forecourt is famous for being filled with handprints of celebrities. If you’ve got extra time you can take a tour and learn more about the history and architecture of the theatre.

There are tons of local cafes around the area so if you’re in need of a coffee to push through the rest of the day or are ready for a quick bite to eat check one out!

Afternoon: Beverly Hills and a Some Art!

Now we head to Beverly Hills! Beverly Hills has quite a glamorous reputation (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills anyone??). You’ll see stunning estates, the homes to Hollywood stars and other affluent residents. One of the most famous landmarks in Beverly Hills is Rodeo Drive – where you’ll find a street lined high-end luxury boutiques. The stores can be quite expensive, so even if you aren’t trying to splurge that much while you’re there, the stunning window displaying are totally worth checking out.

For lunch, it’s time to hit The Grove! The Grove is an open air destination filled with shopping, restaurants, and even some entertainment. There are tons of beautiful restaurants to try (my favorite is Blue Ribbon Sushi Bar and Grill – which is no surprise considering my love of sushi.

If you’d rather opt for a more casual lunch than the ones The Grove has to offer, now worries. Next to The Grove is The Farmers Market that has a lot more low key restaurants that are soooo delicious! They have a wide selection of diverse food, that’s perfect for everyone to find something they are in the mood for.

Evening: Watch a Santa Monica Sunset!

As you’re starting to get into the evening hours, it’s the perfect time to head over to Santa Monica – home to one of the most beautiful beaches in LA.

You’ll definitely have to check out the Santa Monica Pier. Here you’ll find a Ferris wheel and tons of arcade or carnival type games. Whether you want to play games or not, a stroll down the pier is worth it to feel the ocean breeze from the pacific ocean and watch the sunset over the ocean. You’ll have the perfect view!

Just a short drive away, there is also Venice Beach. On Venice Beach you’ll find lots of shopping, street performers, and Muscle Beach – a famous outdoor gym where many body builders have trained.

If you don’t have time to do both before you’re ready to head to dinner, you can do one before and if you’re still up to continue the night, do that other after!

If I’m traveling anywhere near the ocean, I always try to find a beachfront restaurant. My two favorite recommendations would be either The Albright or The Penthouse.

The Albright is super convenient because it’s right on the Santa Monica pier. You’ll have ocean views and amazing seafood options – including oysters (my fave!!).

The Penthouse is a VERY nice restaurant on top of a luxury high rise. The views are stunning and the food is incredible. And they also offer oysters of course!

Day 2: Art

Morning: Getty Center or LAMCA

Lets start the day with museums and art! I have two suggestions for how to spend your morning – either The Getty Center or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

The Getty Center not only is filled with some of the most amazing art collections, it’s all filled with stunning garden and offers views of Los Angeles that are unbeatable. You can spend a couple hours here exploring all of the exhibits as well as taking in the views.

The LACMA on the other hand is more centrally located. They have a mixture of contemporary and classic styles of art, so there’s a little bit of something for everyone. Make sure you check out the Urban Light installation, something they’ve become known for.

If you opted for the LAMCA you can stop at the nearby La Brea Tar Pits if you’ve like to learn a little about some history of the area and prehistoric fossils.

Afternoon: Exploring Downtown LA

You’ll definitely be ready for lunch when you finish up at the art destination you chose, so it’s time to head to Downtown Los Angeles to eat at Grand Central Market. Grand Central Market is a food hall that has several options to choose from – so there is sure to be something that’ll make your mouth water no matter what your taste is. Some top pics are:

Broad Street Oyster – and yes, I love oysters but they have some delicious lobster rolls you’ll be dying to try.
Shiku – a wonderful Korean spot.
China Cafe – Serving Chinese – American classic that have stayed the same since 1959.

Once you’ve filled up in Grand Central Market, it’s time to explore Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) a bit. Take a stroll and take in some of the amazing architecture that DTLA has to offer. Make sure you walk by the Bradbury Building to see it’s interior atrium and ironwork – it’s a gem!

Close by the Bradbury Building is the Walt Disney Concert Hall – where you could also do a guided tour that teaches you all about the design of the building.

Another great spot to checkout is the Crypto.com Arena (which used to be the Staples Center). Known of course for holding many huge events, from concerts to being the home of the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings.

Evening: My Personal Favorite – Malibu

One of the best parts of a little trip out to Malibu from LA, is the scenic drive down the Pacific Coast Highway. Malibu has some of the most beautiful clean beaches around. It’s a very laid back area perfect for relaxation. Some of the best beaches in Malibu I would suggest visiting is Zuma Beach or El Matador State Beach.

When I was in Malibu we ate at Duke’s which I highly recommend for dinner. If you sit on the patio you’ll have a breathtaking view of the ocean crashing up on the rocks. Plus they had great food and fun drinks!

Another great place is Malibu Farm if you want a farm-to-table type restaurant that has locally sourced dishes. It’s right on the Malibu Pier, which means you’ve got more great ocean front views!

If you’re not ready for the night to end, you can head back to Santa Monica or Venice Beach to grab some dessert or enjoy some of the night life both areas have to offer.

For dessert, a unique place to try is Salt & Straw. They have a huge selection of very unique ice cream flavors like Pear & Blue Cheese, Honey Lavender, Blackberry Tamales and so many more!

Tips for Your 2-Days Los Angeles Adventure

Transportation: When I go to LA I typically rent a car. But I would base this decision on what you plan to do. If you are following this itinerary, renting a car would probably be well worth it so when you are driving out to places like Malibu you aren’t spending a ton of money on an Uber or Lyft. LA is very spread out so having some form of transportation is essential unless you are choosing one little area to mainly stay in and explore. There are plenty of Ubers and Lyfts though so don’t fret if you don’t want to rent a car – just know it may get pricey after awhile. Luckily most of the things in this itinerary follow a path that makes sense so you aren’t hoping from place to place wasting time and money on your transportation!
Timing: For driving – your typical rush hour times are going to be rough. From 7am to 10am freeways, especially the 405, 101, and 5 get pretty congested. In the evenings from 4pm to 7:30pm you’ll experience the same type of traffic. Of course if there are any concerts or events going on that will affect driving conditions as well. I love using google maps and waze to check to see where traffic is and the best routes to take. They even have features that will tell you the best time to leave so that you are traveling in a low traffic time. For activities – I would suggest trying to get your days started as early as possible. This will help you avoid some of the crowds! For any outdoor actitivties I would seuggest either 7am-10am or or 4pm to 7pm. Both of these times usually have the best weather – not too hot and not yet chilly. Plus in the evenings you get to see beauitful sunsets. If you’re going to a beach they are the slowest on weekdays either before 11am or after 4pm. Most Museums typically have the least amount of crowds before 2pm, the earlier you go the more likely it won’t be super busy.
Packing Essentials: You’ll be doing a lot of walking so it’s a good idea to bring some comfortable walking shoes! It’s also good to bring layers because days can be hot but nights with the ocean breezes can get a little chilly. Don’t forget to bring swimsuits for the beach, maybe even water shoes for some of those rocky beaches if you plan to get in the water or walk along the more rocky coastlines. Sunglasses or a hat are always great for those super sunny days to keep you comfortable. Fanny packs for your long days of walking, beach bags if you plan to lay out for awhile, and any other bags that might make your days a little easier. I would highly recommend bringing sunscreen as well. I burn easily so I definitely had to lather up every day. Even when it doesn’t feel that hot, there’s something about the LA sun that still gets me red, so think about spraying some on before walking from one activity to the next. If you plan to do any hiking, make sure to bring whatever you may need for that – a reusable water bottle, or a hiking backpack, etc.
Reservations: For a popular spot when it comes to restaurants or activities you want to make sure to hit, look into making a reservation to ensure your spot! Weekends will of course always be busier – but also watch out for weeks where there are big events or festivals going on. Use apps like OpenTable or Resy to see what’s availble and make your reservation.
Budgeting: Los Angeles can be expensive, but there are plenty of things to do that are free or cheap to help off set those costs! Spend some time walking the beaches or walking around town looking at more of LAs famous buildings and amazing architecture.
Things to check out if you have extra time: Universal Studios Hollywood – one of my favorite theme parks