Best One Day in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has many attractions to offer for the tourist. This area can be overwhelming if you are limited on time and you’re trying to pick the best attractions in Los Angeles to visit. However, if you want to experience a slice of Southern California, this is our favorite one day in Los Angeles tour. When we have friends and family visiting from outside of California we always take them on this tour because they get to see some of the best tourist sites in the Los Angeles area. Obviously, this one day in Los Angeles tour doesn’t include theme parks and museums, but it does include the best places to see in Los Angeles area. So, come along with me as we explore the Los Angeles area in one day.

While difficult, I will tell you my favorite way to spend one day in Los Angeles, yes just one day.  But, if you are limited on time and have only one day to spend in Los Angeles, you can follow my step by step one day in Los Angeles tour.  This will give you an amazing look at Los Angeles' best attractions and will immerse you in the California vibe. This is the tour we take all our friends and relatives who come to visit us. So, put on some comfortable shoes, get in our car and start driving out of Los Angeles first.

1. Santa Barbara for 3 Hours

Santa Barbara, California – The Courthouse tower provides great panoramic views of Santa Barbara.
See my photos from Santa Barbara

9:00 am: Arrive in Santa Barbara. We're starting our one day in Los Angeles tour outside of Los Angeles in the beach city of Santa Barbara.  In order to make it early to Santa Barbara you must take into consideration your number one enemy in Los Angeles: traffic. This is why, you need to start early in the morning by driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara. Depending where you're coming from, driving to Santa Barbara can take you anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hours.

Take the 101 freeway north and exit Cabrillo Boulevard. Just follow the road and park on the street. Try to find parking as close to State Street as possible. It is easier to find parking before getting to State Street than after. Once you parked, start walking on Cabrillo Boulevard toward State Street. You can even walk on the beach if you want…I love it !

Once you get to State Street you have a few options. You can walk on the pier and then go up State Street or choose to come back to the pier later. There two easy ways to get into town. My preference is to start walking up State Street…it's takes a little longer but it's fun to see all the people and the stores on State Street. The other option is to take the electric tram. For a quarter you can get up State Street very quickly compared with walking even though the tram runs slowly.

Santa Barbara, California – Spanish style architecture abounds on the streets of Santa Barbara.
See my photos from Santa Barbara

Whether you walk or take the tram, look or ask for the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Visit the interior gardens and then start visiting the interior. Make sure you take the elevator to the top floor and go to the tower. The view from the Courthouse tower is amazing: you get to see the ocean, the mountains and of course all of Santa Barbara.

Catch the tram and go up to the Santa Barbara Mission. You can choose to visit the Mission itself or just stroll through the park in front of the Mission and definitely take some time to enjoy the gorgeous rose garden.

Best Things to Do in Santa Barbara

• The beach. Walk, sit and admire. Read my article about the coolest things to visit in Santa Barbara.
• Walk on State Street and just look at things and people.
• Santa Barbara court house and tower. Don't miss this one.
• Santa Barbara Mission.
• Santa Barbara Zoo optional. This will take you a while and it will prevent you from seeing all the other things on this tour. However, if you want to just spend the day in Santa Barbara, the Zoo is the perfect place. Read my article about Santa Barbara Zoo.
• Have lunch somewhere on State Street. There are plenty of restaurants.

Now it's time to head South toward Malibu. Take Cabrillo Boulevard back the way you came and get on the 101 Freeway South. It will take you about one hour to get to Malibu…again, depending on traffic. Just relax and drive slower and enjoy the gorgeous ocean views.

2. Malibu for 2 Hours

Malibu, California – Amazing view of the Santa Monica Bay at Point Dume
See my photos from Point Dume

We're continuing our one day in Los Angeles tour, by visiting another Hollywood famous beach city.  Malibu stretches along the Pacific Coast Highway for 27 miles of gorgeous coastline and pristine beaches.  Plan on driving slowly and even stopping on the side of the road to see the beautiful views when you can.

1:00 pm: Arrive in Malibu. Drive south on the 101 freeway and go through Ventura and parts of Oxnard. When you get to Rice Avenue, exit the freeway and take a right. Go down on Rice Avenue until you hit Highway 1 PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). Take the Pacific Coast Highway South towards Malibu. Watch for Mugu Rock which should come up in ten minutes of driving on Pacific Coast Highway. It's a big pointed rock on the right hand side of the highway. You can stop and admire the view.

Once you hit the Pacific Coast Highway, continue driving South for about 30 minutes until you reach Malibu. Pass Malibu Road and watch the road for a sign on the right hand side of the road that says Adamson House. It is right after crossing the Malibu Lagoon, or in other words right after going an a large bridge. For a more precise location visit the Adamson House website.

Malibu, California – Adamson House was built in the 1930s and offers stunning views of the ocean.
See my photos from Malibu

Best Things to Do in Malibu

• Point Dume and Zuma Beach are just gorgeous places to stop and see. Especially Point Dume is a great scenic spot in Southern California. A short walk will reward you with panoramic views of the Southern California coast and if you visit during winter, you might see some whales as well.
• Adamson House is a house built in the 1930s that has kept all the furniture and kitchen appliances from that time. I believe it is well worth the one hour tour. The views from the balcony of the house are amazing.
• Malibu Lagoon Park is located right in front and to the right of Adamson House. Just exit the Adamson House complex towards the Pacific Coast Highway and keep walking on the street until you find a way to get to the beach. Or get in your car and drive a few hundred feet and park on the side close to the Malibu Pier. Then you can walk on the beach back toward Adamson House. You will come into the Malibu Lagoon Park. It is full of birds and other marine life.
• Malibu Pier is again in walking distance from Malibu Lagoon Park so it's right there for you to enjoy.

Read More: 7 Best Things to See in Malibu

Now it's time to leave the quiet Malibu behind and head for the loud and fun beach town of Santa Monica. You would have to drive a bit but again, drive slowly and make sure you admire the scenery because there is a lot to see.

3. Santa Monica for 2 Hours

Santa Monica, California – Beautiful view of the Santa Monica Pier seen from a nearby highrise.
See my photos from Santa Monica

From Malibu we're getting back on the The Pacific Coast Highway and we continue South on our one day in Los Angeles tour. We have one more stop on the coast in Santa Monica.  This is where the famous Route 66 (crossing all of USA) ends at the Pacific Ocean.

3:30 pm: Arrive at Santa Monica Pier. From Malibu, continue driving south on the Pacific Coast Highway all the way down to where it meets the 10 Freeway. Right before meeting the 10 freeway, on the right-hand side you will see a huge parking lot (click link to see the entrance in Google Maps). Pull in there and pay the daily fee ($10-$15). You will not be able to find better or cheaper parking in this area, so just pay the fee. Then walk up to the Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica, California – People walking among shops at night on 3rd Street Promenade
See my photos from Santa Monica

Things to Do in Santa Monica

• Santa Monica Pier is the heart of this beach town. It is filled at all times with locals and tourists.
• Third Street Promenade is a large pedestrian area a couple of blocks from the Santa Monica Pier. This area is filled with restaurants, a large mall and lots and lots of people and street actors.

Now it's time to leave the beach behind and visit the place of the rich and famous.

4. Beverly Hills for 2 Hours

Beverly Hills, California – The Beverly Hills Hotel is a famous landmark.
See my photos from Beverly Hills

Now we drive towards the home for many Hollywood stars: Beverly Hills. We're going to take the famous Sunset Boulevard across the Hills, back into the dense Los Angeles city traffic and continue our one day in Los Angeles tour.

6:00 pm: Arrive at Beverly Hills. Go back up north on Pacific Coast Highway all the way down to Sunset Boulevard. Take a left on Sunset Boulevard and follow it all the way to Beverly Hills. It will take you about 1 hour. You will pass right by UCLA and if you have time you can stop for a quick visit. You can also visit the Getty Center but that will take the whole day. Well, there are way too many things to see in Southern California. Ok, ok…let's just stick with my plan, so keep driving on Sunset Boulevard until you reach the famous…drumroll please…Rodeo Drive.

Take a right on Rodeo Drive and go down, slowly again for two block and right after you pass Camelita Ave park somewhere on the street. Then start walking down Rodeo Drive. The actual world famous street starts right after Santa Monica Boulevard…so keep walking for a little bit. If you're tired you can stop at the Beverly Gardens park which is right here on Rodeo Drive and Santa Monica Boulevard.

Beverly Hills, California – The old Bang & Olufsen electronics store on Rodeo Drive has been closed for many years now.
See my photos from Beverly Hills

Things to do in Beverly Hills

• Walk on Rodeo Drive from top to bottom. Yeah it's expensive to shop on Rodeo Drive, but nobody forces you to shop…just stare at stuff and look important! Please notice that at the end of Rodeo Drive, on Wilshire Boulevard and Rodeo Drive is the famous Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel where the movie Pretty Woman was filmed.
• Walk the streets in the residential area and admire the houses. Walk back towards your car after Santa Monica Boulevard and start walking some of the streets…it's very relaxing. You can also admire the unique houses you see in Beverly Hills. Who knows, maybe you'll run into Madonna or Elton John. Just say hi if you do !
• Avoid buying star maps…they are expensive and inaccurate. Yep, it's true ! I have bought a star map and we ended up chasing many addresses that didn't actually exist. Just save yourself the frustration. Plus, if you actually do get to see a famous star's house, be sure that it's surrounded by a tall and thick wall that will prevent you from seeing anything.

Now it's time to go to Hollywood, where the stars are made! Well, that's what people say but don't get your hopes up because you will be disappointed. Hollywood is only glamorous in the movies and not in reality. Granted, the city has cleaned up the area very much and they brought the subway all the way there. Great improvements to be fair, but the area is far from what it's made to look like in the movies and in the media. But it's fun to see it anyway.

5. Hollywood for 2 Hours

Hollywood, California – The Hollywood sign seen through binoculars.
See my photos from Hollywood

Coming toward our one day in Los Angeles tour, we arrive on Hollywood Boulevard where you will be surrounded by tourists from all over the world.  This area of Hollywood Boulevard has been cleaned up and renovated to allow for lots and lots of people to enjoy a piece of Hollywood.

8:30pm: Arrive on Hollywood Boulevard. If you still have any energy left, continue driving on Sunset Boulevard all the way to La Brea. Well it will take you about 30 minutes and you don't have to slow down because there is not much to see on this portion. However, you won't be able to go too fast anyway because traffic in Hollywood is pretty bad.

Take a left on La Brea and a right on Hollywood Boulevard and then look for public parking sign on the left right around the Hollywood Mall and the Chinese Theater. It doesn't mean that if it's public it's free…it's not, and it's not cheap either but that's your best bet for parking. Don't forget to get some dinner…not on Rodeo Drive though if you want to have any money left.

Hollywood, California – Taxi drivers waiting for customers on Hollywood Boulevard.
See my photos from Hollywood

Things to do in Hollywood

• Walk on Hollywood boulevard and take pictures with the “stars”
• Admire Chinese Theater
• Take pictures with the “movie” characters you'll find everywhere.
• Walk inside the Mall and go up to see the Hollywood Sign. They have even built a red carpet for you to walk on.
• Visit the Wax Museum. It's worth seeing…once.

If you've done well, you should be done before midnight! It's very easy to get back on the freeway from Hollywood Boulevard and go back to where you're spending the night. Just follow the road to Vine St and take a left. Follow the signs that will guide you to the 101 Freeway.

Is One Day in Los Angeles Possible?

The answer is yes, but it really depends on your expectations. As I mentioned at the beginning of my article, visiting Los Angeles in one day is difficult, but my one day in Los Angeles tour will take you to my favorite highlights of the Los Angeles area. It is true, that by the end of the day you will be dead tired…guaranteed. However, if you're limited on time, then packing a lot into this one day, will give you a great introduction into Southern California.

I do not recommend my one day in Los Angeles tour if you have small children…they will hate you for putting them through such a grueling schedule. If you do have children, you can break the trip into two days, doing Santa Barbara and Malibu in one day, and the rest on the second day. However, if your children are old enough they will also love this trip. There is plenty to see for everyone.

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