Although Los Angeles Airport is located outside of the city centre, the train gets you into the city centre quickly and efficiently. There's lots to see and experience, so take advantage of any extra time to see what you can.
Hollywood
No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a visit to its most famous district: Hollywood, best known as the self-declared entertainment capital of the world. Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in Griffith Park (note that while you can drive part way up for a closer look, you can't hike all the way to the sign). The core of Hollywood for a tourist is its three fascinating boulevards: Hollywood Boulevard, is known for its entertainment history and Walk of Fame; Sunset Boulevard, for its clubs and nightlife; and Melrose Avenue for its shopping, nightlife, and eclecticism.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the unincorporated Universal City community of Los Angeles County. Universal is one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood movie studios still in use. Initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets, Universal is the first of many full-fledged studios theme parks located across the world. If you have time, a trip to "The Coolest Place in LA" may be in order.
Shop - or Window Shop - Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is known for designer label and haute couture fashion. The name generally refers to a three-block long stretch of boutiques and shops but the street stretches further north and south in Beverly Hills.
Olvera Street and Union Station
Olvera Street is the historic center of LA and the city derives its name from the pueblo established here (Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles - Our Lady the Queen of the Angels). The oldest building in the city is located here and is open to visitors, as are a number of Mexican restaurants and shops. It is located across the street from Union Station, a historic downtown site and the main railway hub for the city.
J. Paul Getty Museum
The Getty Center has a very extensive arts collection, and is well worth a visit. The J. Paul Getty Museum is widely regarded as the finest museum in the USA, matched only by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Located at the top of the Santa Monica mountains, you have a spectacular view of both the L.A. basin, the Pacific Ocean, as well as the beautiful buildings and the rose gardens. Entrance is free. Note: the old museum, J. Paul Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades is also worth a visit.
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) has three locations in greater Los Angeles. The main branch is located on Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles (near Walt Disney Concert Hall), the Geffen Contemporary, in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, and The Pacific Design Centre facility is in West Hollywood. The museum's exhibits consist primarily of American and European contemporary art created after 1940. Since the museum's inception, MOCA's programming has been defined by its multi-disciplinary approach to contemporary art.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)
The LACMA is devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography — and represents Los Angeles’ uniquely diverse population. The museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European and American art. Through a new contemporary museum on its campus, BCAM, the LACMA is creating a truly modern lens through which to view its rich 100,000 work encyclopedic collection.
As always, make sure you leave plenty of time to get back to LAX Los Angeles International Airport and clear security in time for your connecting flight. Enjoy your transit city rather than whiling away the time leaning up against your luggage in the departures lounge.
