LA's entertainment options are endless. But planning a night out in Los Angeles doesn't require hundreds of dollars in bottle service. Experience some of the most exciting entertainment and nightlife in LA for less than $20.
For more budget-friendly ways to experience LA, visit our guide to the 100 Almost-Free Things to Do in Los Angeles.
No matter your budget, you can find something to do in LA. These activities all clock in at less than $20.
For more budget-friendly ways to experience LA, visit our guide to the 100 Almost-Free Things to Do in Los Angeles.
Don't wait until pay day to go out on the town. Try one of LA's best things to do for $20 or less.
In addition to being the world’s movie-making capital, Los Angeles can also stake a claim to being one of the world’s great music cities, serving as the epicenter for everything from West Coast jazz to surf music and the singer-songwriter movement. LA has also made an indelible impact on the funk, punk, hip-hop and EDM genres. Covering all that musical ground in a day without wheels is a challenge, but an intrepid explorer can check out many of the city’s most famous music-related sites with a little creativity and an ear to the street.
This full-day itinerary takes approximately six to eight hours if all stops are visited. Skip stops if you are running low on time, or want to spend more time enjoying a particular point of interest.
Recommended Methods of Travel: Metro Bus & Rail, Walking
Total Distance: 13 miles. Distance Walking: 4 miles
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Downtown Los Angeles is home to some of the city’s most famous cultural attractions, from “the world’s shortest railway” to iconic architecture and historic museums. Here’s a car free tour of Downtown LA that will fully immerse visitors in the heart of this spectacular metropolis.
This full-day itinerary takes approximately six to eight hours if all stops are visited. Skip stops if you are running low on time, or want to spend more time enjoying a particular point of interest. For those who include the optional Exposition Park tour, this itinerary may be expanded to two days, in order to fully experience every museum.
Recommended Methods of Travel: Walking, Metro
Total Distance: 1.5 miles. Distance Walking: .75 miles.
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While San Pedro is part of the city of Los Angeles, a trip there would convince a visitor otherwise, as the harbor-front community offers a truly distinctive experience. With San Pedro (pronounced “PEE-dro”) annexed to LA in 1909, the Port of Los Angeles was dredged shortly thereafter, creating a thriving community of about 80,000 people comprised of a fascinating mix of Greek-, Mexican-, Irish-, Italian- and Croatian-Americans. Much of the LA Waterfront can be explored on foot or via the 1.5-mile Waterfront Red Car Line. The truly adventurous can opt for an excellent side trip to Catalina Island.
This full-day itinerary takes approximately six to eight hours if all stops are visited. You may want to set aside an entire day to enjoy the optional trip to Catalina Island. Skip stops if you are running low on time, or want to spend more time enjoying a particular point of interest.
Recommended Methods of Travel: Walking, Water Front Red Car
Total Distance: 5 miles. Distance Walking: 1.5 miles.
For more Car Free LA guides, click here.
A trip to Museum Row and West Hollywood (aka WeHo) provides a true feast for the senses, including art, architecture, history, shopping, dining and nightlife. All it takes for some instant gratification is either a rather long walk or a short local bus ride. This full-day itinerary takes approximately six to eight hours if all stops are visited. Skip stops if you are running low on time, or want to spend more time enjoying a particular point of interest.
Recommended Methods of Travel: DASH Bus, Walking
Total Distance: 5 miles. Walking Distance: 3.5 miles.
For more Car Free LA guides, click here.
Some of the best experiences in Los Angeles are by way of some its multicultural enclaves, such as Olvera Street, Chinatown and Little Tokyo. Here’s a car-less tour of these districts that offers a virtual trek around the globe but leaves the gas tank full.
This half-day itinerary takes a minimum of five hours and calls for a lot of city walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Skip stops if you are running low on time, or want to spend more time enjoying a particular point of interest.
Recommended Methods of Travel: Metro, Walking
Total Distance: 1.7 miles. Distance Walking: 1.2 miles
For more Car Free LA guides, click here.
No place conveys the healthy lifestyle often associated with Los Angeles more than the area’s coastal communities, so it’s only natural that a one-day tour of the beach cities of Santa Monica and Venice would be of the human-powered variety, with no motors required. Here’s a local itinerary that can be completed by bike, on foot or even on skateboard.
Allow a minimum of six hours walking, or three hours biking, for this day-long coastal itinerary. Essentials include comfortable shoes/sandals, sunscreen and occasional water breaks.
Recommended Methods of Travel: Walking or Biking
Total Distance: 5.6 miles. Distance Walking or Biking: 5.6 miles
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Why beat around the fact that Los Angeles is the Entertainment Capital of the World when you can delve right into it by exploring Hollywood. And the beauty of the region is that, while Hollywood covers a lot of ground geographically, many of its primary attractions are near each other. Plus the Metro Rail Red Line runs under much of the area, meaning that seeing stars doesn’t necessarily require driving cars.
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