Hollywood Hysteria to Beach Bliss: What to Do in Los Angeles for 7 Days Without Losing Your Mind

Your Hour-by-Hour Blueprint: What to Do in Los Angeles for 7 Days Without Becoming Another Statistic

Consider this your survival guide to spending a full week in Los Angeles without joining the ranks of disillusioned tourists who leave swearing they’ll never return (yet mysteriously book another trip within 14 months). Each day is meticulously designed to maximize enjoyment while minimizing the existential dread that comes from sitting in standstill traffic when you could be at the beach.

Day 1: Hollywood and Beverly Hills – Where Dreams Are Made and Occasionally Crushed

Begin your Los Angeles adventure where the mythology is thickest: Hollywood. The Walk of Fame stretches 1.3 miles and features over 7,000 stars, none of which belong to the sweating tourists desperately searching for their favorite celebrity’s name while avoiding eye contact with the costumed characters demanding tips for photos. The concrete handprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre offer a strangely intimate connection to stars past and present, though it’s worth noting that Marilyn Monroe’s hands were remarkably tiny while Arnold Schwarzenegger’s are exactly as terrifying as you’d expect.

For the obligatory Hollywood sign photo, save yourself the hike and head to the Hollywood and Highland complex. The 45-foot tall letters, originally erected in 1923 as “Hollywoodland” to advertise a real estate development, are now among the most photographed landmarks in America despite being increasingly difficult to see through the smog and wildfire smoke.

Afternoon calls for window shopping on Rodeo Drive, where visitors participate in a peculiar psychological experiment: gazing longingly at handbags that cost more than the average American’s monthly mortgage payment ($2,064). The true entertainment isn’t the merchandise but watching the sales associates determine who can actually afford to shop and who’s just there for Instagram.

Cap your day with dinner at Musso and Frank Grill, established in 1919 and proudly serving martinis untouched by modern mixology trends. The waiters, some seemingly employed since opening day, wear red jackets and deliver steaks with a side of Hollywood history. For accommodations, options range from the Beverly Wilshire ($650+/night where you can pretend you’re in Pretty Woman) to more reasonable West Hollywood hotels ($200-300/night where you’ll still need to take out a small loan for parking).

Day 2: Downtown LA and Arts District – Urban Renaissance Amid Concrete

Start your morning at The Broad museum (free but requires timed tickets that disappear faster than affordable housing in Los Angeles). This contemporary art museum houses works valued at over $2 billion, making it perhaps the only place in Downtown where the art is worth more than the real estate. Next door, the Walt Disney Concert Hall stands as Frank Gehry’s $274 million middle finger to conventional architecture – its stainless steel exterior once reflected so much California sunshine that it heated nearby apartments to unbearable temperatures before being sanded down.

For lunch, Grand Central Market (established 1917) offers a microcosm of LA’s culinary diversity where $12-20 will get you anything from artisanal PBandJ sandwiches to authentic Thai boat noodles. The market represents LA’s gentrification in miniature, where traditional Latino vendors now share space with hipster coffee shops in an uneasy economic détente.

Spend your afternoon in the Arts District, where former industrial spaces now house galleries, boutiques, and residents who pay premium prices to live in converted factories. The neighborhood boasts over 100 street art installations in a 10-block radius, proving that graffiti becomes “urban art” when property values exceed a certain threshold.

Conclude your day in Little Tokyo, home to one of the largest Japanese-American populations in the US. For dinner, options range from traditional izakayas to modern fusion spots ($20-40 per person). Insider tip: Downtown parking averages $20/day, while a Metro ride costs just $1.75 one-way – math so simple even Hollywood accounting can’t obscure it.

Day 3: Santa Monica and Venice – Ocean Breezes and Bizarre Characters

Trade urban chaos for coastal quirk by heading west to Santa Monica. Rent a bike ($30-40/day) and join the procession of cyclists along the 22-mile coastal path, where the people-watching provides better entertainment than most streaming services. The Santa Monica Pier, with its solar-powered Ferris wheel (the only one in the world, because LA never misses an opportunity to combine environmentalism with entertainment), offers views that almost justify the overpriced concessions.

For lunch, venture to Abbot Kinney Boulevard, often called “America’s coolest street” by people who’ve never been to America’s actually cool streets. Nonetheless, the artisanal everything will satisfy both your hunger and your need to post envy-inducing food photos ($15-25 per person).

The afternoon belongs to Venice Beach Boardwalk, where 2.5 million annual visitors gather to watch a parade of humanity that includes street performers, bodybuilders at the historic Muscle Beach (established 1934), and skateboarders executing gravity-defying tricks while somehow maintaining perfect California hair.

As the sun sets, choose from oceanfront dining options with premium views (expect to pay approximately 30% more for each foot of unobstructed ocean visibility) or more budget-friendly alternatives just a block inland. For the perfect Instagram moment that doesn’t involve crowds, head to the Santa Monica stairs where locals torture themselves with 172 steps of cardiovascular punishment while wearing unnecessarily attractive workout attire.

Day 4: Universal Studios – Where Your Wallet Goes to Die

No week in Los Angeles is complete without emptying your bank account at a theme park. Universal Studios ($109-129 per ticket, plus an additional $20-40 if you want the express passes that actually make the day enjoyable) offers a strategic challenge: how to experience everything without spending half your day in lines averaging 90 minutes during peak times.

Priorities should include The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (arrive at opening to avoid a 2-hour wait for the signature ride), the Studio Tour (where you’ll see actual filming locations and mechanized sharks), and whatever the newest attraction is (generally identifiable by the longest line and most aggressive parental line-cutting).

Food inside the park follows theme park economics – $18-25 per person for meals that would cost $8-12 anywhere else. Consider bringing supplies instead, or engage in the time-honored tradition of filling up on overpriced churros and calling it lunch.

Transportation tip: The Metro Red Line goes directly to Universal City, saving you $25-30 in parking fees and the existential crisis of finding your car in a lot the size of Delaware at day’s end. For families with younger children or different interests, alternatives include Warner Bros. Studio Tour (more actual film history, fewer roller coasters) or the eternally terrifying prospect of attempting Disneyland as a single-day excursion from LA.

Day 5: Getty Center and Westside – Culture with a View

Dedicate your morning to the Getty Center, where free admission (though $20 parking) gives you access to art collections that would cost a small fortune elsewhere. With 1.3 million visitors annually, this architectural marvel perched above the city offers panoramic views where, on clear days, you can see all the way to Catalina Island or the disappointment on tourists’ faces trying to navigate public transportation.

For lunch, head to Westwood near UCLA where student-friendly prices ($10-15) reflect the proximity to thousands of broke college students. The area offers everything from classic burger joints to international cuisine that reminds you that LA’s cultural diversity extends beyond what gets featured in tourism brochures.

Spend your afternoon shopping at either the upscale Century City mall, where credit cards go to be maxed out, or the more character-filled boutiques of Culver City. As evening approaches, venture to Sawtelle Japantown for some of the most authentic ramen and Japanese cuisine outside of Tokyo ($15-25 per person). The neighborhood packs dozens of restaurants into a few blocks, creating what might be the highest density of umami flavors in Southern California.

Cap your evening with entertainment at the Geffen Playhouse or one of LA’s landmark movie theaters showing indie films. There’s something particularly meta about watching movies in the city that makes them – like visiting a bakery and watching them make the bread you’re eating, except with more celebrities and security guards.

Day 6: Beach Cities and South Bay – Where the Locals Actually Hang Out

Escape tourist-heavy beaches with a day trip to the South Bay communities of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. Each has its own distinct personality, with Manhattan Beach housing the most expensive real estate (average home price: $3.5 million) and consequently the most exclusive vibe. These communities represent what outsiders imagine all of California to be – relaxed, affluent, and suspiciously fit.

Activities abound along the 21-mile Strand bike path, where locals on beach cruisers weave between volleyball courts that birthed professional beach volleyball in the 1920s. Fishing from the piers provides both entertainment and dinner if you’re lucky and not too concerned about mercury levels.

For lunch, oceanfront seafood restaurants offer fresh catches with ocean views ($20-40 per person), though the best fish tacos often come from unassuming stands a block from the water at half the price. Spend your afternoon exploring tide pools at Point Dume where marine biology doesn’t require admission fees, or visit the Aquarium of the Pacific ($36.95) if you prefer your sea creatures safely contained behind glass.

As the day winds down, catch sunset happy hours at beachfront bars where signature cocktails ($12-18) come with complimentary ocean views and people-watching opportunities that rival any entertainment available on your streaming services.

Day 7: Griffith Park and Los Feliz – A Proper Farewell

Conclude your Los Angeles adventure with a morning hike in Griffith Park, a 4,310-acre urban wilderness that serves as the city’s backyard. Trail options range from gentle paths for those still recovering from South Bay cocktails to challenging routes for visitors trying to burn off a week of fish tacos and In-N-Out burgers.

After working up a sweat, visit Griffith Observatory (free admission) with its planetary exhibits and sweeping views where, in a quintessentially LA juxtaposition, you can spot both homeless encampments and $30 million mansions in the same panoramic vista. The observatory has appeared in so many films that walking through it feels like traversing a movie set, which is fitting for your final day in the entertainment capital.

For lunch, Los Feliz Village offers charming restaurants with outdoor patios perfect for your last taste of California sunshine ($15-25 per person). Spend your final afternoon browsing local bookstores, vintage shops, and perhaps catching a film at the historic Vista Theatre, a single-screen movie palace from 1923 that offers a cinematic experience increasingly endangered in the streaming era.

For your farewell dinner, consider one of LA’s splurge-worthy restaurants – just be sure to book 2-3 weeks in advance for popular spots where celebrities might be seated at the next table, pointedly not making eye contact with you. What to do in Los Angeles for 7 days culminates in this final meal, where you can reflect on the contradictions, frustrations, and unexpected delights of a city that’s simultaneously everything and nothing like its reputation.

Where to Stay Without Requiring a Second Mortgage

Accommodations in Los Angeles reflect the city’s economic diversity, from budget motels that have seen better decades to luxury properties where the bellhop judges your luggage. Budget travelers can find reasonable options ($100-150/night) in Hollywood, Koreatown, or Silver Lake, particularly if proximity to public transportation matters more than ocean views or celebrity sightings.

Mid-range accommodations ($150-250/night) include boutique hotels in West Hollywood or revitalized properties in Downtown LA, where rooftop pools allow you to soak in both sunshine and smog while sipping overpriced cocktails. For those with more generous budgets ($300+/night), beachfront options in Santa Monica or classic Hollywood glamour hotels offer luxury with a side of name-dropping potential.

Airbnb presents an alternative to traditional hotels, with prices varying dramatically by neighborhood. A one-bedroom apartment in Echo Park might run $125/night, while a similar property in Venice Beach commands $350/night simply for being close enough to smell the ocean and marijuana competing for airspace.

Navigating LA Without Losing Your Mind (or All Your Money)

Transportation decisions in Los Angeles carry both financial and psychological consequences. Rental cars ($50-70/day plus parking) offer freedom but come with the stress of navigation and finding parking, which in tourist areas runs $20-30/day if you’re lucky enough to find a spot that isn’t restricted by a sign longer than most legal documents.

Rideshare services present a compromise, with typical Uber fares from LAX to Hollywood running $35-45. This option eliminates parking hassles but still subjects you to LA’s infamous traffic, where you’ll have plenty of time to contemplate your life choices while inching along the freeway.

Public transportation, contrary to popular belief, does exist in Los Angeles. The Metro Rail system boasts 93 stations and 6 lines, though its usefulness varies dramatically depending on your itinerary. Downtown, Hollywood, and Universal Studios are well-served, while beach communities might as well be on another planet for all the public transit options available.

Walking, that most basic form of human transportation, ranges from perfectly pleasant to borderline suicidal depending on your location. Downtown scores an impressive 95/100 on walkability, Beverly Hills manages 78/100, and Venice reaches 82/100, but attempt to walk between these areas and you’ll quickly understand why pedestrians in LA are viewed with the same suspicion as people who don’t have Instagram accounts.

Food Adventures That Won’t Show Up in Your Celebrity Home Tour

Beyond the obvious dining destinations, Los Angeles offers culinary adventures that reveal the city’s true character. Food trucks, once considered dining options of last resort, now represent some of the most innovative cuisine in the city. For $8-15 per meal, you can sample everything from Korean-Mexican fusion tacos to gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, often parked in seemingly random locations that locals track with the dedication of bounty hunters.

For the most authentic dining experiences, explore ethnic neighborhoods including Koreatown (largest Korean population outside Korea), Thai Town, and Little Ethiopia. These areas serve as culinary embassies where English is optional and flavor authenticity is non-negotiable.

Celebrity chef restaurants proliferate across Los Angeles, though their quality-to-price ratio varies dramatically. For every establishment worthy of its famous name, three others coast on reputation alone, serving mediocre food at premium prices to tourists who value Instagram potential over flavor.

To eat like a true Angeleno, visit the farmers markets that pop up across the city on different days. Santa Monica’s Wednesday market attracts top chefs shopping for ingredients, while smaller neighborhood markets offer fresh produce and prepared foods at prices that won’t require financing. Through these markets, you’ll witness LA’s obsession with both wellness and indulgence, often embodied in the same gluten-free, organic donut.