48 hours in Los Angeles – Weekend Edition
Los Angeles In Less Than 48 Words
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the USA, and is one of the most popular cities in the world. Straddling SoCal’s Pacific coast, this bustling metropolis is a hotspot for beach junkies, party animals, and those looking to spot their favorite Hollywood stars.
Santa Monica Pier (Photo by public good)
First 24 Hours
You can fly easily to the Los Angeles International Airport, located 26 kilometers southwest of the downtown city center. From there, you can catch a shuttle bus to the Aviation station of the Green metro line. After that, you can get into a train to downtown LA stations, paying a fare of only $1.25. You may remember that Pershing Square is the most central of all the downtown stations.
Alternatively, you can take a ride in a shared van (you can find them at the airport terminal) with orange signs), which will cost you around $15. LA is a pretty big metropolis, stretching more than 81 miles, but it has an excellent transport system.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at the magnificent hotels of Los Angeles
In the city you may move first to one of LA’s excellent hotels for accommodation. One of the best in the city is the Magic Castle Hotel (7025 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90028, +1 (800) 741-4915, website). It is at a convenient location and the rooms extremely spacious and complete in amenities.
Magic Castle Hotel (Photo by Jared)
A nice alternative is the Elan Hotel (8435 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048, 866.203.2212, website), which boasts of an extremely friendly staff who advise guests on the best LA attractions and sites, and is highly recommended by former guests. You can also try out the Omni Hotel (251 S Olive St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, (213) 617-3300, website). It has a very helpful staff, and comfortable, clean, and spacious rooms at affordable prices.
SANTA MONICA PIER: Have fun at a prominent landmark
A popular tourist magnet in Tinseltown is the Santa Monica Pier (200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401, (310) 458-8900, website). It is a prominent century-old landmark known as a recreational area for locals and tourists alike. You will see there the Pacific Park, which is an oceanfront amusement park. It contains 12 rides, particularly a Ferris wheel where you can get sweeping views of the ocean, and a rollercoaster that goes around the entire park.
You can also find there a miniature golf course. And at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, you will find a fishing spot that is popular among anglers. Other attractions are an aquarium, shops, restaurants, an arcade, a pub, and a 1920 carousel. The pier itself is open 24/7 the whole year, and admission is free.
GETTY CENTER: Admire art and history
Another worthy attraction in Los Angeles is the J. Paul Getty Museum (1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049–1679, (310) 440-7300, website). It is an art museum housed in a beautiful complex, the Getty Center. It is one of the country’s most popular museums, and contains “Western art from the Middle Ages to the present.”
J. Paul Getty Museum (Photo by Duncan Rawlinson)
Inside, you will find a comprehensive collection of impressionist paintings, ancient art from Greece and Rome, and works by Van Gogh, man Ray, and Gauguin. The site is open from Tuesdays to Fridays from 10 am to 5:30 pm, on Saturdays from 10 am to 9 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 5:30 pm (closed on Mondays). Admission is free.
KODAK THEATER: See the home of the Academy Awards
Kodak Theater (Photo by Smart Destinations)
You can also visit the Kodak Theater (6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-308-6300, website). It is a famous live theater that is the permanent home of the prestigious Academy Awards. It is also a common venue for concerts, shows, and other cultural events. Once there, try to avail of a tour (open daily between 10:30 am to 2:30 pm), where you will get much information and insight into the history of the building and the Academy Awards. It will cost you around $15.
HOLLYWOOD MUSEUM: Learn more about Hollywood
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Hollywood Museum (1660 North Highland Avenue CA 90028, 323 464-7776, website). It is a four-floor museum featuring rare props, vintage photographs from the TV/film/recording industry, historical scripts, and rare costumes. The exhibits date from the Silent Era to more modern productions. You will also see unique finds such as Elvis’ favorite bathrobe, shoes worn by Brad Pitt, and Marilyn Monroe’s million-dollar honeymoon dress. The site is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, and admission will cost around $15.
DINNER TIME: Discover Los Angeles’ restaurants
You can have your dinner at the superb restaurants offered by the city. One of the best dining experiences is available at Osteria Mozza (6602 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-297-0100, website). It offers delicious dishes and numerous options of cheese. Have some of the best Mexican food in the city at El Tepeyac (812 N Evergreen Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90033, 323-267-8668), serving enormous burritos and tortillas bursting with rice, cheese, meat, and sour cream.
Try out the monster burrito at El Tepeyac (Photo by Andrew Lo)
You can also try out Angelini Osteria (7313 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036, (323) 297-0070, website). It serves an authentic Italian cuisine, plus an excellent wine selection. Have a taste of Japan in LA at Sushi Katsu-ya (11680 Ventura Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91604-2613, (818) 985-6976, website), which is frequented by loyal customers for its freshly-prepared sushi that is said to be the best in the city.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Los Angeles can be used to discover other sites in the city. One of them is the Museum of Contemporary Art (250 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 213/626-6222, website). It is a contemporary art museum created back in 1940. Inside, you will see various exhibits of American and European contemporary art works. The site is open from 11 am to 5 pm on Mondays, 11 am to 8 pm on Thursdays, 11 am to 5 pm on Fridays, and 11 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Admission will cost you around $10.
LOS ANGELES CATHEDRAL: Let’s go to church
Another nice attraction in Tinseltown is the Los Angeles Cathedral (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012-2707, (213) 680-5200, website), otherwise known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Built in 2002, it is known for its unique appearance. It was designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning Spanish architect Rafael Moneo in a postmodern style of architecture. See there its bornze doors, Rosso Laguna marble altar, and impressive painted tapestries. It also has around 6,000 mausoleum crypts, as well as the remains of St. Vibiana. The site is open daily from 7 am to 6 pm (from 9 am on Saturdays).
A modern cathedral in Los Angeles (Photo by Slices of Light)
VENICE BEACH: Head to the beach
One of the best tourist attractions in Los Angeles is the Venice Beach (1800 Ocean Front Walk CA 90291). It is a peaceful, beautiful beach with a boardwalk frequented by rollerbladers, bicyclists, and those up for leisurely walks. People usually come there to watch surfers, see the houses by canals imitating those in Italy’s Venice, and of course, swimming, sunbathing, and water sporting. You can also see some basketball courts known for streetball and NBA players.
Venice Beach (Photo by AntyDiluvian)
UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD: Amuse yourself
You can also try out the Universal Studios Hollywood (100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City CA 91608, 1-800-UNIVERSAL, website). It is one of the oldest and most popular Hollywood studios still in operation. However, it is also an amusement park featuring rides based on popular movies and television series, such as The Simpsons roller coaster. The site usually opens at around 10 am (refer to its site for opening hours), and admission will cost you upwards of $69.
GRIFFITH PARK: A walk in the park
Relax at the Griffith Park (4730 Crystal Springs Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90027, (323) 913-4688, website). Often called the “Central Park” of Los Angeles, it has an area of around 4,210 acres, making it one of the largest urban parks in the continent. It is primarily a place for recreation, and you’ll see there various attractions like the Greek Theater, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Museum of the American West, a merry-go-round, two golf courses, a basketball court, a swimming pool, and the Griffith Observatory, to name some. The park is open to the public from 5 am to 10:30 pm.
NIGHTLIFE: Indulge in LA’s vibrant nightlife scene
Mood (Photo by Abraham)
Lastly, you may enjoy the nightlife offered by Los Angeles’s bars and clubs. One of the most popular is El Floridita (1253 Vine St #3, Los Angeles, CA 90038, 323-871-8612, website). It has a unique Old Havana ambience, serves LA’s best sangrias and mojitos, and offers free mambo lessons for first time dancers.
A nice alternative is Mood (6623 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, 323-464-6663, website), which is a Balinese-themed club frequented by Hollywood’s youth, and lively nights are guaranteed with its rap, hip hop and R&B dance mixes from nationally-renowned DJs. You can also try out the Rumba Room (1000 Universal City Walk #208, Universal City Walk, Universal City, CA 91608, 818-622-1222, website). It is a great place to dress up and dance to salsa, pop, or rock beats.
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