Will You Like It?
- Take a photo tour of Downtown Los Angeles.
- Downtown Los Angeles is overlooked by many Los Angeles visitors, but it offers the best in performing arts, great shopping, good places to eat and a glimpse into Los Angeles history.
Best Time to Go
Downtown Los Angeles can be hot in mid-summer, but otherwise it's fun almost any time.Getting There
Driving? Downtown Los Angeles is 120 miles from San Diego, 270 miles from Las Vegas, 220 miles from Fresno and 380 miles from San Francisco.Flying? LAX is the most obvious choice, or try Burbank for less congestion. Check airfares.
Take the Train Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner Line stops at Union Station Downtown Los Angeles.
Where to Stay
Check our recommended hotels.How to find a good place to stay, cheap.
5 Great Things to Do
- Take Our Self-Guided Walking Tour: You'll get a glimpse of all of the city's 200-plus-year history.
- Performing Arts: Get tickets for the symphony, Center Theater Group or other downtown performances. If you plan ahead, you may be able to get a discount.
- Take a Historic Walking Tour: The Los Angeles Conservancy walking tours are a good way to learn more about the city.
- Shop for Bargains: The Los Angeles Garment District is full of them. So's the Toy District, and the Jewelry District.
- Sports and Concerts: The Staples Center is home to basketball, ice hockey and indoor football teams, and when none of that is going on, it sometimes becomes a concert arena. Dodger Stadium is also very close to downtown.
Best Bites
A few long-time Los Angeles favorites downtown include Philippe the Original (French dipped sandwiches), Clifton's Cafeteria and the Grand Central Market.Downtown restaurants with a good track record include Cafe Pinot and Water Grill, while Liberty Grill is an innovate new addition to the downtown restaurant scene.
Don't miss
There are so many movies and other productions going on in downtown these days, it's hard to miss them, so keep your eyes open for closed sidewalks, police escorts and lines of white trucks parked at the curb.
Annual Events You Should Know About
The Los Angeles Marathon finishes in downtown, causing a number of street closures. It's held in early March.Tips
- Downtown Los Angeles is still largely a business district, so hotels have more available rooms over the weekend (Friday and Saturday nights). Check for special offers at the hotel websites.
- Keep your car parked and use the DASH bus or MTA subway lines to get around.
