3 Days in LA: The Ultimate Los Angeles Weekend Guide

A long weekend in Los Angeles is the perfect way to soak up a mix of culture, beach time, great food, and live music. But LA’s sprawl can make it tough to plan efficiently. After doing a 3-night trip ourselves last month, we put together a guide that lays out where to stay, what to do, where to eat, and how to get around.

We had a fast but satisfying weekend packed with beach walks, great food, a concert at the Greek Theatre, and a few unexpected detours that made the trip even better. Here’s everything you need to know to help you plan.

Where to Stay in Los Angeles for a Weekend

The options are overwhelming, but we had a great strategy. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency at LAX, and we’d stay there again. It’s not trendy or centrally located, but it worked so well. Here’s why:

• Free airport shuttle, which made arrival and departure effortless.
• Quick access to rideshares without the chaos of staying downtown or in Hollywood.
• Way cheaper than options in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, or elsewhere.

The places we wanted to visit (Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Griffith Park, Los Feliz) were easily reachable by Uber or Lyft. Griffith Park was a long ride across town in LA traffic, but we had tickets to the Greek Theatre, so we needed to get over there for a day anyway.

We almost stayed a night over by the theater (at the Cara Hotel), but we had to get back to the airport either way, so we decided to just make the trek at night with less traffic, stay at the LAX Hyatt Regency, and have an easier morning departure.

Day 1: Arrive and Relax

We arrived in LA at night and immediately checked into the hotel. After a cross-country flight, we didn’t want to go far, so we just had a late dinner at the hotel restaurant. It got the job done but wasn’t memorable. We decided to rest up, so we could enjoy two very full days of LA exploration.

Day 2: Coastal Adventures – Getty, Venice, and Santa Monica

We kicked off the day with a 30-minute Uber ride to the Getty Center. This museum is perched on a hill above the 405 and offers panoramic views, gorgeous architecture, and an impressive collection of art. The grounds themselves are the biggest draw. We recommend spending about 90 minutes exploring the gardens and galleries, then grabbing a quick coffee at the cafe before heading back down the tram.

Next, hop in a rideshare toward the coast and Venice Beach. If you haven’t been, it’s a must-see just for the scene. We walked the boardwalk past skaters, beach bodybuilders, street vendors, and people filming everything for social media.

After a short stop for tacos, we continued walking north toward Santa Monica along the beach path. This stretch is what people imagine when they think of LA: sand, surfers, bikes, palm trees, and sun.

We got to the Santa Monica Pier in time to explore the pier, and we ended our afternoon with a sunset drink at Maria Sol. Yes, it’s a tourist trap, but it has tables right at the edge of the pier. We ordered a round of cocktails and watched the sun drop behind the Pacific Ocean while listening as buskers slowed things down to set the mood and add to the ambiance.

Dinner: We booked a table at Sol Agave, a lovely Mexican restaurant a few blocks from the pier. Service was fast and the food was great. It was a splurge, but worth it. We also popped into Chez Jay for a minute to check out this famous LA spot (see Goliath).

Day 3: In-N-Out, Griffith Park, and Los Feliz

This was the big day. We started slow, grabbed coffee, then walked to the iconic LAX In-N-Out Burger. We grabbed our burgers to go and took them across the street to a little park by the runway. It was packed with plane spotters and travelers doing the exact same thing as us, but it’s totally worth the experience. Watching planes land right over your head with a burger in hand is a great way to get the day started.

Side bar: If it’s your first trip to LA, you may want to add a stop here to the Chinese Theatre and check out Hollywood Blvd. It’s an easy stop to make via ride-share before our next destination below.

Next, we Ubered to Griffith Observatory around 2:30 PM. The ride took 1.5 hours with major LA traffic, but the views and experience are worth it. We spent a half hour exploring the Observatory and soaking in the scenery. You get killer views of the LA basin and the Hollywood sign. It’s free to enter the observatory but there’s not much else there.

From there, we hiked down through Griffith Park toward Los Feliz. This was a slightly challenging downhill walk, but it gave us a bit of exercise and breathing room between sightseeing and dinner. Definitely wear sneakers and sunscreen and bring water. You’ll need it!

Dinner: We had a reservation at Kismet on Vermont Avenue. It’s a neighborhood gem with creative Mediterranean small plates. The atmosphere was relaxed but stylish, and our server, Mia, was fantastic. We ordered multiple dishes to share, but nothing too heavy since we were heading to a show. If you want to save money, there are plenty of places to grab a quick bite along Vermont Ave.

After dinner, we took a short Uber ride up the hill to the Greek Theatre.

Night at the Greek Theatre

We were there to see Wet Leg, but even if you don’t know the band, go see something at the Greek if you can. It’s one of the best outdoor venues in the country. You’re surrounded by trees, the acoustics are great, and every seat has a good view.

Our seats (North Terrace J 1-3) were tucked away with only two seats in the row. That gave us space and a panoramic view of the whole venue. It wasn’t ideal for standing and dancing, but it’s perfect for relaxing and enjoying the show.

Pro Tip: At the main bar in front, we bought a bottle of wine for $60, which they poured into a plastic pitcher that stayed cold all night. It beat paying $20 for individual drinks.

When the show ended, we skipped the rideshare chaos and walked back down Vermont Avenue. That’s when we spotted The Dresden. We heard live music, saw people heading in, and followed the crowd. Inside was a retro lounge and a fantastic band, which we enjoyed with a couple of delicious but overpriced espresso martinis. It was a perfect accidental ending to the night.

We both fell asleep in the Uber ride back to LAX, but never regretted heading back across town in lighter traffic at night so we could sleep in before our flight home. We had an early afternoon flight the next day, so we took our time packing and headed to the airport using the hotel shuttle. We grabbed one last overpriced meal at LAX and called it a wrap.

Getting Around LA Without a Car

• Uber/Lyft: We relied on rideshare the entire time. It wasn’t cheap, but it was way less stressful than renting a car and figuring out parking.
• Walking: Once we got to a neighborhood (Venice, Santa Monica, Griffith Park, Los Feliz) we mostly walked everywhere.
• Public transit: For a trip this short, it wasn’t practical. LA does have public transportation, but it’s just not built for convenience.

Expect to spend on rideshares, especially during peak hours or if you’re crossing the city. But for a three-day trip, it was the easiest solution.

TL;DR: 3-Day Los Angeles Highlights

• Day 1: Relax on Arrival. Arrive in the evening, check into the Hyatt Regency LAX, and grab a simple dinner at the hotel to reset after a long flight.
• Day 2: The Getty, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica. Start the morning with a trip to the Getty Center for panoramic views, art, and gardens. Then head to Venice Beach and walk the boardwalk. Continue north to Santa Monica via the beach path, explore the pier, enjoy a sunset cocktail at Maria Sol, and have dinner at Sol Agave. Optional quick stop at Chez Jay.
• Day 3: Burgers, Views, and a Show. Begin the day with a classic In-N-Out burger experience next to LAX and plane watching in the park. (Consider adding TCL Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Blvd. here). Head across town to Griffith Observatory for views and a short visit. Hike downhill through Griffith Park to Los Feliz (note that this is a long walk). Enjoy Mediterranean small plates at Kismet on Vermont Ave before catching a concert at the Greek Theatre. End the night with drinks and live music at The Dresden before heading back to LAX and departing the next day.

There’s so much to do in LA, but this is our favorite itinerary when you have two full days. It gave us beach time, skyline views, great food, and a memorable concert. We didn’t try to see everything in LA, but we saw a lot. With the right pacing and expectations, LA makes a great long weekend.

👉 If you’re planning a similar trip and want more detail on what we spent and how we used points and credits to reduce costs, check out our separate post: Los Angeles for Less.