One Day in Los Angeles Itinerary - Experience LA in a Day for Under $100

By Casey Makovich
Published: July 18, 2024

Traveling to California and only have one day in Los Angeles? Looking for just that perfect combination of must-see attractions to really make your trip shine? We’ve put together a sample one day in Los Angeles itinerary to help you make your travel plans, so you don’t need to worry about what to go and where to see with so little time on your hands. This one day itinerary includes:

  • Hop-on Hop-off Los Angeles Tour
  • Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
  • 3rd Street Promenade (free!)
  • Pacific Park - Santa Monica Pier

Spending more time in Los Angeles? Take a peek at one of our sample 2 day or popular 3 day itineraries.

Save on Attraction Admission

Visit these top attractions and save up to 50% off vs. paying at the gate with a Go Los Angeles® Card. Remember, this one-day itinerary is just one of many ways to experience Los Angeles. The Go Los Angeles® Card gives you the flexibility to create your own itinerary, so you can choose from dozens of top attractions and create a vacation tailored to your interests.

Stop #1: Hop-on Hop-off Los Angeles Bus Tour

Image of Bus, Vehicle, Tour Bus, Double Decker Bus, Person, If you've only got one day in L.A., then a tour is an excellent way to see a full overview of the city without getting bogged down in the details. Starline Tours offers a hop-on hop-off option that gives you the flexibility to explore where you'd like, or just sit back and enjoy the narration. The entire route takes about two hours to ride straight through, so that might be your smartest bet if you want to fit the most into your one day. Some of the top attractions and sites you'll see on your ride include Rodeo Drive, 3rd Street Promenade, Fox Studios, and many more. The tour departs from and returns to the Santa Monica Pier, so you're right in the neighborhood for your next attractions, too. Getting In: Hop-on Hop-off Los Angeles Tour tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card

Stop #3: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium

Image of Terminal, Banner, Text, Person, Airport, Image Credit: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is a must-see attraction in the Los Angeles area for nature and science lovers. Featuring nearly 100 different species that are all native to Santa Monica Bay, this interactive aquarium has so many fascinating creatures to examine. From eels and octopi to sharks and sea urchins, they’ve got it all. If you happen to visit on a Sunday, be sure not to miss out on the shark feeding and an informative presentation at the open-top shark exhibit. We recommend reserving between 1-2 hours for this attraction. It’s only open in the afternoon, so post lunch is the perfect time to visit. Getting In: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card.

Stop #4: 3rd Street Promenade (free!)

This downtown Santa Monica destination is a must-see for visitors to the Los Angeles area. This is really the heart of downtown, filled with all the best shops, restaurants, and more. You can just stroll about, window shop, and people watch, or spend a bit of cash on that perfect souvenir. We recommend reserving about an hour to explore this neighborhood, perhaps more if you’re really interested in some shopping or drinks.

Stop #5: Pacific Park - Santa Monica Pier

Image of Urban, City, Lighting, Person, Night Life, Club, This amusement park is conveniently located right on the Santa Monica Pier, so it’s the perfect end to your day in Santa Monica. Opened in 1916, this historic park is filled with classic rides and modern thrills. Take a spin on the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel, whip around the iconic West Coaster--the only West Coast ocean front steel roller coaster--bounce around on Inkie's Wave Jumper, surf simulation ride, drop 9 stories on the Pacific Plunge, and more. They even have a bunch of arcade games for you to enjoy, from the classic “Wac-a-Mole” to the “Riptide Ring Toss.” It’s great fun for kids and adults alike. These arcade games do require additional costs. In order to maximize your one day in Los Angeles, just check in to this attraction before 5:30 and then you can stay as long as you’d like until closing! Getting In: Pacific Park - Santa Monica Pier tickets are included on the Go Los Angeles Card.

Let’s Recap

So there’s your perfect one day in Los Angeles. From Hollywood and the silver screen to the natural world and the historical fun of a good old-fashioned theme park, this day is sure to make you smile. With the Go Los Angeles Card you can save even more on included extras like dining and shopping!

Casey Makovich
Go City Travel Expert

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Best Hollywood bus tours in Los Angeles

It’s almost impossible to think of Los Angeles without an image of Hollywood coming to mind – the city is intrinsically linked with glitz, glamor and celebrity. Almost every visit starts with a stroll up the Walk of Fame, a visit to the TCL Chinese Theater and a hike to the Hollywood sign – followed, of course, by some very awesome pics on your Instagram reel. What many people don’t realize, though, is that all these places are actually quite far apart, and while you can walk from one to another, it will take up a lot of your precious time. Instead, one of the best ways to get around is on a Hollywood bus tour – you can travel from one spot to another in comfort while a guide directs your attention to the city’s best historical and secret spots, leaving your hands free for snapping photos (and bragging to your friends). This handy guide will compare three of the best Hollywood Bus tours, and cover: Price Locations Tour language Timing Must-see locations Bus tour #1: Hop-on Hop-Off Hollywood and Los Angeles The Hollywood and Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off Hollywood route covers 15 stops, including all the essentials like The Guitar Center, the Comedy Store and Santa Monica Boulevard. The tour operates every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving, and runs from 10am to 4:30pm, departing every 45 minutes. You can hop on and off as many times as you like for as long as your ticket is valid, and the whole circuit takes about two hours. Tickets start from $49/£47 for an adult or $35/£33 for a child, and the tour is available in nine languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese. Must-see stop: Pink’s Hotdogs If you’ve ever seen a film or tv character eating a hot dog in L.A, chances are they got it from Pink’s Hot Dogs on N. La Brea in Hollywood. They’ve been there since 1939 when Paul and Betty Pink started with a pushcart and some money borrowed from Betty’s mother. There are now several branches but this one is the original, serving around 2,000 hot dogs and burgers a day. Adding to their appeal are the unique and celebrity-inspired names, like the Lord of the Rings Dog (with onion rings), the Ozzy Spicy Dog, the Brando Dog, the Philly Cheesesteak Dog and the Martha Stewart Dog. Bus tour #2: Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Tour – One Day Our second option is the Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Tour. Its Hollywood route covers all the essentials on its 16-stop route, including the Dolby Theater, La Brea Tar Pits, Vine Street and Paramount Pictures. This tour also departs every 45 minutes between 10am and 4:30pm, and the full loop takes around two hours. Languages include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French and Italian, and tickets start from $39/£34 for an adult and $28/£25 for a child. You can purchase a ticket online, from the kiosk at the Dolby Theater, at any bus stop or on the bus itself, and it’s valid from when you first get on the bus. Must-see stop: Petersen Automotive Museum This is the ultimate destination for movie buffs and petrol heads. First, have your mind boggled by the James Bond Vehicle Collection, which includes the 2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish driven by Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day, the 1997 Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’ that Roger Moore drove off a pier in The Spy Who Loved Me, and the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which has appeared in five Bond films including Goldeneye, Skyfall and No Time To Die. Then there’s the Omaze Hollywood Gallery, where you can inspect the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future. If you fancy putting yourself in the hot seat, you can try your skills in one of the Forza Motorsport racing simulators. Bus tour #3: Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus 1-Day Classic Tour The Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Classic Tour is a great option because the 12 stops on the Hollywood route include the TCL Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, the Dolby Theater and the Hollywood Sign. It runs between 10am and 3pm every day and departs every 30-45 minutes. Commentary is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Hindi, and the whole tour lasts around two hours. If you buy a ticket on its own it’ll start from $39/£34 for an adult or $31/£28 for a child – however if you have a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass, the Big Bus Tour is included and won’t cost you a thing. Must-see stop: Los Angeles Celebrity Bike Tour With a Go City attraction pass, the Los Angeles Celebrity Bike Tour is included with your Big Bus Ticket. It’s a self-guided audio tour which includes helmet, vest, GPS audio directions and bike rental for four hours. 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Karleen Stevens

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