A Complete Los Angeles Travel Guide (Updated 2026)

Vast golden beaches, amazing mexican food, tall palm trees, outdoor everything, and some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world - Los Angeles is the third most visited city in the U.S. for good reason. As the largest city on the West Coast, LA is home to nearly four million people and offers endless things to see and do - from surfing to thrifting. Read on to discover the very best Los Angeles Travel Guide for 2026.

In this Los Angeles travel guide, you’ll find the best places to stay, top attractions, where to eat, and practical tips to help you plan the perfect trip.

Best Los Angeles Hotels

Casa Del Mar - Luxury Los Angeles Hotel

Casa Del Mar is one of the best luxury hotels in LA. Located on the Santa Monica Beach, Casa Del Mar is known for their well designed rooms, picturesque pool, top notch amenities, and stunning views of Santa Monica Beach. What I enjoyed most about Casa Del Mar was the location and views - the sunset is amazing from this hotel! Even if you are not staying at Casa Del Mar, consider dining at their beautifully appointed restaurant.

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Santa Monica Proper Hotel - Middle Range Los Angeles Hotel

Situated in Santa Monica, The Proper Hotel is the perfect choice if you are looking for a middle range hotel that feel like luxury. This charming hotel fully embodies Los Angeles' boho spirit with soft tones, natural light, and plants used throughout.

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Chamberlain West Hollywood - Budget Los Angeles Hotel

The Chamberlain Hotel is situated in West Hollywood (right next to the glamourous Beverly Hills) and offers affordable stay. At The Chamberlin Hotel you will find a pool, a bar, breakfast served daily, and more. What I loved about Chamberlain was its modern - clean cut features and rooftop pool!

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What To Do In Los Angeles

Explore Venice Beach

Venice Beach often gets a bad rap, but I think it is truly one of the most beautiful and fun places in Los Angeles. The iconic Southern California coastline, with sweeping views of the Malibu Hills is what makes me love Venice.

If you're feeling adventurous, try surfing in Venice Beach — SoCal surf culture is second to none.

Go Shopping On Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Located in the heart of Venice, Abbot Kinney Boulevard is one of the best shopping streets in Los Angeles. This trendy stretch is packed with unique boutiques, stylish concept stores, and some of the best cafés on the Westside. You'll also find plenty of vibrant street art and murals that reflect the creative spirit of Venice Beach.

Abbot Kinney is just a short walk from the beach, making it the perfect stop before or after some time on the sand. If you're feeling hungry, don’t miss The Butcher’s Daughter, a chic plant-based restaurant with a fresh, coastal vibe, or grab a coffee at Blue Bottle, a favorite for craft coffee lovers.

Visit The Iconic Santa Monica

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a walk along the iconic Santa Monica Pier. Lined with street performers, casual eateries, souvenir shops, and the famous Pacific Park amusement rides, the pier is a classic Southern California experience. It's so fun to see all the cool shops and eateries on the pier, but they are scams.

Once you step off the pier, you’ll find a wide range of great restaurants, local boutiques, and name-brand stores.

You can also have a go at surfing in Santa Monica too! If you have never surfed before try a class.

Have a Beach Day At Manhattan Beach

Manhattan Beach is my favorite beach in the Los Angeles area - it is less touristy and a bit more residential. There is also tons for cool shops and restaurants in the downtown area of Manhattan Beach. It's a great alternative to Santa Monica if you are looking for more of a local experience in Los Angeles.

Take a Day Trip To Malibu

Malibu absolutely beautiful. You could go to outdoor mall, hike, or lounge at the beach. Malibu is totally worth the visit, and it is only about 30 minute north of Los Angeles on the famous Pacific Coast Highway. The drive itself is so incredible.

Explore The Farmers Markets

I swear Los Angeles has some of the best farmers markets ever - I mean it is home to hipsters and artist. Anyway, some of my favorites I explored while in LA were the Playa Vista farmers market, The Santa Monica Farmers Market, and the Mar Vista Farmers Market.

There's actually a farmers market food tour out of West Hollywood that looks like so much fun - you can check if they have space here.

Go On a Hike

There are so many amazing hiking spots all around Los Angeles! I was only about to do a couple hikes during my time in LA. So these are the ones that I loved doing, but I am sure there are more.

I loved Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee Summit Loop. You could find the Hollywood sign on the Mt. Hollywood hike. I didn't do this, but you can take a hiking tour if you want to do the Hollywood sign hike.

Where To Dine In Los Angeles

I am no expert when it comes to food in Los Angeles, but these are some places that I went and loved!

Best Coffee Shops In Los Angeles

☕Blue Bottle - I know, Blue Bottle has locations all over the US + LA. But, this Japanese cafe is so good and definitely worth trying while in Los Angeles.

☕Gnarwhal Coffee - Located in Santa Monica, Gnarwhal is a craft coffee shop perfect for espresso snobs.

Best Restaurants In Los Angeles

🍴Sol - Sol is an amazing Mexican restaurant located in Playa Vista and is perfect for a night out or travelers looking to try the iconic Mexican food in LA.

🍴Butchers Daughter - The Butcher's Daughter is a vegan restaurant located on the stunning Abbot Kinney Blvd. You can grab food at this aesthetic California restaurant for brunch, lunch, or dinner.

🍴Bravel - Located in the Downtown area, Bravel is a awesome Middle Eastern restaurant. Be sure to make a reservation - they book up!

How To Get Around Los Angeles

It is super spread out and the traffic here is bad. Los Angeles is one of the only cities I would recommend renting a car in. If you don't have a car in LA you will probably end up spending a fortune on Ubers.

When To Visit Los Angeles

LA is great year-round. Winters tend to be a little cooler, summers can be a bit warmer. I prefer the fall or spring because the weather is just perfect.

You really can't go wrong when you visit SoCal!

Los Angeles Travel Guide FAQs:

What is the #1 attraction in Los Angeles?

The Hollywood Sign at Griffith Park is the #1 attraction in LA.

How many days do you need in Los Angeles?

You will need at least three days to see all of the main attractions in LA.

What's the best month to visit Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is beautiful year round - but I loved October in LA.

Is LA expensive for tourists?

Well, it's all relative, but yes. LA is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Los Angeles Travel Guide Wrap Up

from the gorgeous beaches to amazing hiking, Los Angeles is a stunning city with so much to do. We hope this guide to Los Angeles helps your with your trip planning! If you liked this post I think that you will love our locals guide to Boston or our complete guide to Florence.

Happy Travels,

Daisy