Skip to content

Travel guides

Los Angeles travel guide

Los Angeles is less one city than a wide basin of separate centres joined by freeways, from Downtown and Hollywood inland to Santa Monica on the Pacific. Metro rail links several of them, but distances are long and peak-hour traffic is heavy, so the district you sleep in decides how much of each day goes on the road.

By Hotel Unfiltered · Copy reviewed

Getting there and choosing your base

  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): The main gateway for long-haul flights, on the coast south-west of the centre and very busy around holidays. The FlyAway express bus links it with Union Station and Van Nuys, which makes a Downtown hotel near Union Station a simple car-free transfer.
  • Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR): A smaller airport in the San Fernando Valley, closer to Hollywood and Downtown than LAX, with flights mainly within the western US. A free shuttle runs to North Hollywood station for the B Line subway into Hollywood.
  • Union Station: Downtown terminal for Amtrak and Metrolink, with the B and D subway lines below and the A Line light rail alongside. Staying within walking distance makes rail day trips and the airport bus straightforward.

Areas to consider

Hollywood and West Hollywood

Suits first-time visitors chasing studio sights and Sunset Strip nightlife, with the B Line to Downtown. Rooms facing Hollywood Boulevard or Sunset can pick up late traffic and club crowds, so ask for a side away from the main road.

Downtown

Suits rail users, concert and sports trips, and anyone arriving on the FlyAway bus. The feel of the streets changes within a block or two; look up the exact address and the walk to the nearest Metro station before paying.

Santa Monica and Venice

Suits beach days and cooler coastal evenings, even in summer. The E Line ends in Santa Monica; measure the hotel's distance from the station if you plan to reach Downtown without a car.

Burbank and the San Fernando Valley

Suits travellers flying via Burbank or visiting Universal City on the B Line. Valley afternoons can be far hotter than the coast in August and September, so confirm the room has working air-conditioning.

When to go

The coast is often grey under low cloud in May and June, while August and September are the hottest months inland. Santa Ana winds, most common in autumn and winter, raise fire danger and can last for days. Pasadena hotels see demand around the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

Before choosing a room

  • Hotels in Downtown, Hollywood, Century City and around LAX usually charge for parking, and some are valet-only, which adds a tip. Ask for the nightly charge before choosing a car-based trip.
  • Some properties add a destination or resort fee on top of the room rate. Compare totals that include it rather than the headline price.
  • If you will rely on Metro, choose a hotel within a short walk of a B, D or E Line station; a property a mile from the line can mean a bus connection or rideshare every time you go out.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

Find a stay in Los Angeles

Set your dates and compare the room offers available for your trip.

Explore hotels

More guides for United States

All United States guides →