Free tool
LA Itinerary Builder
Pick how long you have and what you're into. You'll get a day-by-day Los Angeles plan with one area per day, built from the places in our guides, and a link to share it.
The best way to plan Los Angeles is one area a day, so you aren't crossing the city in traffic: Hollywood and Griffith Park, Santa Monica and Venice, Mid-City's museums, Downtown, then Malibu or Pasadena. Four to five days covers the classics. Pick your days and interests below for a free plan built from our guides.
How to use this
The builder gives you the shape of a trip: one area per day, nearby areas on consecutive days, and three or so stops, lunch, dinner and an evening pick for each. Every suggestion links to the guide it comes from, so you can read why it made the list and swap it for another entry if you prefer.
Driving between areas is the slow part of any LA day. Do the far-flung days (Malibu, Pasadena, the Valley) outside weekday rush hours, and use the Metro for Downtown, Hollywood, Universal City and Santa Monica, which are all on rail lines.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need in Los Angeles?
Four to five days covers the classics if you give each day one part of the city: Hollywood and Griffith Park, the beaches at Santa Monica and Venice, the museums of Mid-City and the Westside, and Downtown. A week lets you add Malibu, Pasadena or a theme park without spending every day in traffic.
Why does the plan give each day one area?
Because Los Angeles is spread out and the freeways are slow at rush hour. Staying in one area for a day means you walk or take short hops between stops instead of crossing the city twice. The builder groups nearby areas, such as the beach cities, on consecutive days.
Where do the suggestions come from?
Every stop, meal and bar the builder suggests is an entry in one of our published LA guides, tagged with the area it is in. Tap any suggestion to read why it made the list, its price band, address and a practical tip. When we publish a new guide, the builder starts using it.
Does the itinerary work if I eat kosher or keep Shabbat?
Yes. Tick 'I eat kosher' and lunch and dinner come from our kosher guides, which name each restaurant's certifying agency. Tick 'I keep Shabbat' and Saturday becomes a day on foot near your shul, with a reminder to arrange meals ahead because kosher restaurants close.
Is my itinerary saved anywhere?
No. The builder runs in your browser and stores nothing. Your choices are written into the page address, so copying the link is how you save a plan or send it to the people you are traveling with.
Related guides
- The 11 Best Attractions in Los Angeles
- The 12 Best Neighborhoods to Explore in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Beaches in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Museums in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Restaurants in Los Angeles
- The 11 Best Hotels in Los Angeles
- The 10 Best Day Trips From LA in Los Angeles
- The 12 Best Free Things to Do in Los Angeles
Now pick the actual places
Every guide gives the neighborhood, price band, website and a practical tip for each entry.
Browse every guide