Itinerary · Los Angeles
Los Angeles 7-Day Itinerary
A realistic 7-day Los Angeles itinerary: what to see each day, where to stay, how to move between areas and when to go.
Updated 2026-07-25
How this 7-day Los Angeles plan works
LA + Palm Springs + Malibu (luxury road trip)
Each day below is grouped geographically so you spend your time in Los Angeles rather than in transit. A rental car (or Uber) is the practical way to see LA — freeways connect everything, though rush hour (7–10am, 3–7pm) is brutal. Metro Rail's E Line reaches Santa Monica from Downtown in 50 min; the K Line now connects LAX to the network via the LAX/Metro Transit Center (opened 2024). LAX Automated People Mover to airline terminals opens 2026. Between neighbourhoods, Uber/Lyft averages US$15–30.
Day by day
Day 1
Day 1–3 — Full LA highlights above with West Hollywood or Beverly Hills base.
Day 2
Day 4 — Drive to Palm Springs (2h) — Parker or L'Horizon Ranch check-in, mid-century tour.
Day 3
Day 5 — Joshua Tree National Park sunrise + Palm Springs pool afternoon.
Day 4
Day 6 — Return to LA via Malibu — Nobu lunch, Point Dume, sunset at Paradise Cove.
Day 5
Day 7 — Getty Villa (Malibu) + Santa Monica Sunday farmers market + farewell rooftop.
Where to base yourself
Santa Monica
Beach-front hotels, pier, Third Street Promenade and easy Venice bike access.
West Hollywood
Design hotels, Sunset Strip nightlife, Melrose shopping.
Beverly Hills
Grande-dame hotels around Rodeo Drive — Beverly Hills Hotel, Peninsula, Waldorf Astoria.
Downtown LA (DTLA)
Arts District lofts, Grand Central Market, Broad museum, walkable dining.
Best time to run this itinerary
March–May and September–November are the sweet spots — 20–26°C, low humidity, thinner crowds. Summer beaches (June–August) are packed but easy for kids; December–February bring 10–20°C days with occasional rain and gin-clear post-storm skies over the mountains. Award season (January–March) fills West Hollywood hotels; Coachella weekends spike Palm Springs rates.
Before you go
Rush hour runs 7–10am and 3–7pm — plan drives around it.
Beach parking fills by mid-morning at weekends.
Tipping 18–20% at restaurants is standard.
Ready to book your Los Angeles trip?
Everything in this guide is bookable through Marhaba's licensed partners.
