How much time should I spend in LA? Let me start by saying that LA is a HUGE city and the landmarks are spread apart from each other. Ideally, you should try to spend 5-7 days here if you don't want to be rushed and want to see everything.
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We'll be the first to admit there's a lot to do in Los Angeles. From Hollywood showbiz and studio tours to amusement parks and beaches, can you possibly fit it all into 3 days? The answer is yes, you can!
“Massive” doesn't begin to describe it. So, do you need a car in Los Angeles? I'll let you in on a secret: despite its size, you can still get around LA without a car. The Metro system gets a bad rap, but it's a robust web of trains, buses, and bikes that serves over 227 million people annually.
Given the size of the city, and how spread out it is, I recommend a 5-day Los Angeles Itinerary. In 5 days in LA, you can avoid spending your visit running around from sight to sight, without time to really enjoy the unique atmosphere of the city.
Choose public transport over car rentalsThe LA Metro consists of buses, which cover a wide range of routes, and the Metro Rail, which connects key areas of the city like downtown, Hollywood, and Santa Monica. A loadable TAP card is used on both buses and the subway at a very affordable $1.75 per ride.
If you've ever wondered “is Los Angeles safe?” The answer to that question is yes! In fact, it received a very high overall score of 76.5 on the 2021 Safe Cities Index, making it the 18th-safest city among 60 cities worldwide.
But in general LA is not a walking city, its a car city - neighborhoods might only be a few square miles and you can walk within them, but distances between non-adjoining neighborhoods will generally be too far to walk (for instance, the center of Hollywood to the center of Beverly Hills is nearly a 5 mile walk).
Actually, Los Angeles is a fantastic walking city. Exploring it on foot is how I started to make sense of things. Of course, L.A. isn't concentrated like Manhattan, or pedestrian-friendly like Tokyo. It's not aesthetically breathtaking like Rome.
Stick to the NeighborhoodsThe best advice for avoiding being stuck in traffic is to stay off the interstates at peak times, generally from 7 to 10 in the morning and 3 to 7 in the evening.