3 Days of Downtown Los Angeles

Mention historic Downtown Los Angeles and the words “renaissance” or “revitalized” are seldom far behind. Since the turn of the millennium, Downtown LA has become a diverse, vibrant six square miles studded with world-class hotels and myriad entertainment, cultural, dining and retail attractions beneath its distinctive glittering skyline. Furthermore, as the hub for the city’s urban rail system, DTLA makes a great base for adventures further afield. With its Arts District, Fashion District, Gallery Row, Jewelry District, and even Toy and Flower Districts, not to mention colorful Little Tokyo and Chinatown, Downtown Los Angeles rewards visitors with endless attractions in an amazingly compact space.
TAP into Downtown LA. There’s no need to rent a car in DTLA, with so much of the area walkable and served by convenient Metro stations, some of which are tourist attractions in themselves. And Metro’s fare-capping structure means you’ll never need to pay more than $5 a day or $18 a week when using a TAP card (available online, from station vending machines and at many retail partners). Base fares remain at just $1.75 with transfers free for two hours, so get to know DTLA on Day 1 with a whirlwind Metro tour, earmarking places to revisit at your leisure later in your visit.
Dive deeper into DTLA. Now that you’ve got the lay of the land (and the Metro system), it’s time to delve deeper into Downtown LA’s culture, cuisine and retail delights. Soak up contemporary art and inspiration at The Broad; ride the memorable Angels Flight funicular, bask in the Bradbury Building atrium, or enjoy the calm of Grand Park. Along the way, refuel at eateries that are bucket list historic landmarks in themselves, including The Biltmore Los Angeles, Cole’s French Dip in the Historic Core, and the 1924-founded Original Pantry. And, now that you’re well rested from your journey to LA, there might still be gas in your tank for some DTLA barhopping or clubbing.
Take your time. On your third day in DTLA, linger over some of the area’s more involved charms. That might be an unhurried brunch, a visit to an art gallery, a world-class concert, or a sporting event at one of LA's iconic stadiums. Then say farewell to the City of Angels with a leisurely, splash-out dinner at one of Downtown LA’s many destination restaurants, as tasteful as they are tasty.